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The first of a new series of limited edition (100) sound work
collections that illustrate the various utilization of field /
environmental recordings. This is intended to be an ongoing
curatorial invitation-only project that might expand into becoming
more than just a disc release in the future. Maybe a multi-media
disc-zine? Who knows where it may lead?

Partially because the and/OAR schedule is usually booked up well
in advance and there is only so much time in a year to release new
work, and since there are so many interesting and talented sound
artists in the world flying within range of the a/O radar, that one
solution was to create a vehicle which would enable the
presentation of many different artists' work at one time, and yet still
be able to present pieces of longer duration than compilations
normally do. This would also help alleviate the time it would take to
issue countless 3" releases as well. And while the main focus of the
series is to help get lesser known artists work heard,
occasionally a track by a more known artist might appear as well.

This time the works featured are by American composer Maggi
Payne, American sound installation artist / phonographer Perri
Lynch, and French sound artists Pali Meursault, Christophe Havard,
and Emmanuel Mieville.

Track listing:

1. Maggi Payne: It's Elemental
2. Pali Meursault: Keleti Pàlyaudvar
3. Christophe Havard: Ouïe Ou Non!
4. Perri Lynch: Precisely Known Completely Lost
5. Emmanuel Mieveille: Mort De La Phaléne*

* NOTE: Due to a communication error, the inserts list an incorrect
title for track 5. The correct title should be "Le Cavalier King Charles".

TOUCHING EXTREMES (JUNE 2006)
The thin line between acoustic pollution and insightful exploration is
easy to trespass, yet Overheard And Rendered is one of the finest
compilations of unprocessed field recordings in recent times.
Environmental sounds have a vocabulary of their own, but it's the
composer/soundscaper who applies the necessary touches to
transform common hearing in artistic sensitiveness. Focus and
perspective are fundamental in all of these five pieces, which exploit
the attributes of simple elements and everyday's objects but also
disguised monstrosities: Pali Meursault's creation for power units
and air extractors in Budapest's railway station has some
impressive sinister buzz which one would never notice while
traveling. And what about the ever-emotional ship horns echoing in
Perri Lynch's track? What this listener means is that by isolating a
sound - or a series of sounds - from its original context, we can
appreciate a whole new aural dimension that is the key to a better
appreciation of our own reality as perceptive human beings. Or - as
Emmanuel Mieville calls it in the liner notes - "oscillate from
microcosm to macrocosm" (and vice versa) will allow to better
develop a personal discipline that must necessarily include a
change of attitude towards our surroundings. (Massimo Ricci)

SMALLFISH (AUGUST 2006)
A wonderful 5 track CD with pieces contributed by Maggi Payne, Pali
Meursault, Christophe Havard, Perri Lynch and Emmanuel Mieville.
Mainly constructed from field / location recordings, it's a fascinating
document revealing a wealth of differing production techniques.
From Payne's completely untreated sounds which are free from
layering or any type of processing, through to a more constructed
and arranged sound from the other artists. An interesting narrative
exists within each piece and, once again, and/OAR proves itself to
be an innovative and thoroughly excellent label. Recommended.
(Mike Oliver)