Semi-detached

Astley’s Junctures

newspaper clipping photo of E F Astley

A series of sound works based on sketches and texts from the recently unearthed book: ‘Astley’s Junctures’ by the seminal land/sound/outsider artist Edward Frederick Astley (1863–1929). E.F Astley’s rituals, performances and installations all took place in and around Burgess Park in Southwark where he lived from 1899 until his death. The books and sketches were discovered in 2007 by a local archeological team investigating an Iron Age Hill Fort in the area. Wood, bone, metal and stone objects were also discovered. Many of his works have been (re)created and will form part of the forthcoming retrospective of Astley’s work at the Untold Gallery on Rowcross Street, London.

Originally broadcast on Resonance FM Spring/Summer 2009.

Episodes

  1. Episode 1

    episode 1

    Introductory piece inspired by the cover of the book ‘Astley’s Junctures’.

  2. Episode 2

    episode 2

    Untitled piece from a graphic score found on p64.

  3. Episode 3

    episode 3

    Untitled ritual piece written in 1909, to be performed on a sunny morning by up to 29 people, 9 of whom are to be wearing reflective clothes and jewellery.

  4. Episode 4

    episode 4

    A recording of ‘Or Bed Is The Moon And Bright’, from appendix C of the pamphlet ‘When Time Arrives’.

  5. Episode 5

    episode 5

    Excerpt from a performance of ‘Beyond The Fragile Geometry Of Space’ recorded on 29th December 2008 in front of an invited audience.

  6. Episode 6

    episode 6

    Extract from a re-enactment of a performance piece written in 1927. ‘In Every Grain Of Wheat There Lies Hidden The Soul Of A Star&squo; was recorded at sunrise on May 29th 2009 in Burgess Park, Southwark.

  7. Episode 7

    episode 7

    Re-enactment of Astley’s ‘Self-Love and Map Making’ from 1921–22 which was inspired by Austin Osman Spare’s ‘The Focus Of Life’.

  8. Episode 8

    episode 8

    Cassette-only unreleased recording by psych-art legends The Blue Fold performing Astley’s ‘Skin On Bone’.

  9. Episode 9

    episode 9

    Excerpt from 29 minute performance of Astley’s ‘Leather Or Prunella Not I’ from 1917.

  10. Episode 10

    episode 10

    From a recording made inside the Astley memorial on the corner of Humphrey Street and Old Kent Road on the 5th Wednesday in August 2008.