Alva Noto - Xerrox Vol. 1 - 2x LP Vinyl

2017 repress; originally released in 2007. Gatefold sleeve. Originals are unique, be they genetic codes or image and sound documents. Their copies are mere means of distribution. To secure these originals from misuse is increasingly at issue in the 21st century. The essence and potential of the copy, on the other hand, is mostly disregarded.

In a world of constant reproduction, only the replication counts as original; the single object is a sheer copy of the prefiguration, which is abstract and becomes an icon. The uncountable number of multiplied images confirms the original, but immediately the copy withdraws and assesses its own value. By virtue of the mechanism of copying, the copy often contains mistakes and abstractions that differ from the original. These simplifications and deformations inherent in the copying process lead to a gradual loss of copies' connection to the original and result in a substantial change of meaning. Although there is still a source, the original message disperses in the white noise of reproduction. In the end, the observer can hardly discern whether the origin is part of the information transferred; whether there is still an integral material component of the original or if this can only be projected.

This question remains unanswered. What finally remains is the process of copying itself. It becomes a creative tool by analytically accomplishing something new. The mutating copy provides space for development; he copy becomes original again. Xerrox is the self-contained project of Alva Noto, which, like his Transall series, is intended to be released in five parts. On Xerrox, Alva Noto works with samples from muzak, advertising, soundtracks, and entertainment programs -- sounds one hears randomly in everyday life in an ever-present and available kind of public domain. With Xerrox, Alva Noto manipulates these recognizable melodic (micro-)structures by the process of copying. He alienates them beyond recognition so the results manifest their connection to the original only suggestively. The original is copied to the original.

Alva noto used several samples from these sources: Narita International Airport (Tokyo), AirFrance in-flight program, Lufthansa telephone wait-loop, Apollo Opéra Hôtel (Paris), Suizanso Hotel (Yamaguchi, Japan), 7-Eleven (Tokyo), Forma (London), Reaktor, kkmovie.com. Xerrox sample transformer designed by Carsten Nicolai and built by Christoph Brünggel. Mastered at Calyx Mastering.

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