The Radiophonic Workshop Returns
Marc ArsenaultShare
The legendary BBC Radiophonic Workshop that ran from 1958-1998 in its homebase at the equally legendary Maida Vale Studios has been revived under the direction of none other than Matthew Herbert. A more capable man for the task is hard to imagine. His work and ethic have been an inspiration. Not least of all through his well known manifesto – The Personal Contract for the Composition of Music. The new organization is properly decentralized with all mod cons. Gone are the days of a small room in the basement stocked with ring modulators and beat matched tape decks. I’m seriously curious to hear what this new Workshop will bring.
First out of the gate is a tribute to the recently decommissioned home of the BBC World Service – Bush House – just off of the Strand in London. I visited the building about six years ago. It was a heavily guarded thing, apart from the BBC gift shop downstairs, where I purchased a ceramic BBC World Service mug in its glorious naval blue. The thing served me well for a couple years before ultimately shattering like its companions before and since: mugs for the Descendants, Apple Computers and Chemical Imbalance zine (that one by Steven Cerio). The new Radiophonic Worksop is supported by the BBC and The England Arts Council and is hosted by The Space.