By K.A. Laity
Musician, engineer, writer Sarah Angliss has embarked on a round of performances under the aegis of Spacedog, Her unique combination of nerdy science knowledge, inspired music and automata brings together technology, history and the spirits of the dead, including the titular dog, Laika the canine cosmonaut.
I think I first came across her work while researching puppetry. Her essay on the "Uncanny Valley" led me to exploring the fascinating compositions and videos she has created. Angliss characterises her work as a heady mix of unexpected elements:
Trained in electroacoustics, music and robotics, I specialise in creating original sound installations, exhibits and live performances that mix cutting-edge technology with curious or vintage sound equipment and little known stories from the history of science. I’m particularly interested in creating sonic art that enables people to generate or manipulate sound using novel physical elements (e.g. robots; motion sensors). Whenever possible, I try to avoid compositions that generate music entirely through software – I find algorithmic music is richer and more delightful when it’s coupled to the real world in some meaningful way.
Spacedog will be appearing as part of the Brighton Fringe Festival on May 24th and on June 10th as part of the lecture "Ghost Radio" at the Last Tuesday Society. Angliss describes her approach to this task:
In the early 20th century, radio and gramophones seemed so remarkable, some tried to use these inventions to explain the spirit world and telepathy. I’ll recall this strange time when a handful of physicists flirted freely with the paranormal. This talk includes live aether music (performed on the theremin) mixed with genuine voices from beyond the grave – early messages home and prison recordings of soldiers who were lost on the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars.
Further appearances include The Absinthe Ball (18 June), Cabaret Futura (20 June) and the BEAM Festival (25 June). Plenty of opportunities to see a unique performer in action.
See her new video of the piece for Laika featured in the show Televisor:
K. A. Laity writes so much that she had to create some pseudonyms to keep her colleagues from thoughts of murder. A tenured medievalist at a small liberal arts college, she mostly tries to find ways to avoid meetings in order to write more . Find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter where she shamelessly self-promotes albeit in a dignified and tasteful manner.
Image via sarahangliss.com/Gaynor Perry