Site Nonsite

@sitenonsite

“Eerily beautiful experimental compositions”—Electronic Sound / Musician and sound artist specialising in magnetic tape and field recording

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Bluesky

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Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· 13d

Today is #HiroshimaDay, 81 years since the devastating atomic bombing. My song Paper Cranes documents an emotional visit to the peace museum and an encounter with a survivor. Every 6th August, I donate any sales to a Hibakusha charity. sitenonsite.bandcamp.com/album/hirosh...

Site Nonsite's Hiroshima EP, special edition cassette version. Photo shows the components including clear cassette and cover featuring a tram, full map insert detailing recording locations, sticker, origami paper and diary.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jun 12

A black and white photo of David Hockney, in his studio. Probably late 1960s.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jun 11

Balades Sonores, Paris. New location since my last visit, and much bigger now. One of my faves thanks to the deep electronic and jazz sections, the hard-to-find Japanese releases, and resident cats.

Stroking a cute cat sat on a shelf in Balades Sonores.

A cute tabby cat wearing a blue bandana, sat on an audio equipment in Balades Sonores.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jun 8

Future music from Germany.

Kraftwerk performing at Nottingham Royal Centre tonight, bathed in red light, taken from near the back of the stalls. The four musicians wear light suits and stand at matching consoles, Ralf Hütter furthest left. The consoles are drawn with light strips and so is the platform. There are no background visuals in this shot.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 28

Here we go…

The new Boards of Canada album, Inferno, vinyl copy and inner sleeves and flexi disc with shelves of vinyl records.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Apr 28

Back from a week working and walking on the edge of Saddleworth. Nothing restores my positivity quite like spending time on the Pennine moors.

On the high moors between Uppermill and Dove Stone, in gorgeous evening sunlight.

My temporary studio setup at the barn: old piano, RODE mics in ORTF, MBP and Adams DV3 monitors, Push 2, Minilogue XD, Go:Piano 61, Mood pedal, Tascam 414 4-track, Launchpad Mini, and loads of other stuff. Everything's setup next to a huge arch window looking out onto the moors.

Me reflected in the big window, my music stuff in the foreground and the moors and blue sky reflected behind me.

A beautiful sunset, with the sun disappearing behind the hills above Uppermill and several beams reaching out towards me.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Mar 7

Saturday afternoon with Taeko Ohnuki’s Sunshower — a fave city pop treat and comfortingly toasty on tape.

An off-white Sony Walkman WM-22 with a white printed cassette inside, next to the outer sleeve of Taeko Ohnuki’s Sunshower cassette, with the inner liner unfolded underneath, showing b&w photos of the artist plus Ryuichi Sakamoto and others from the studio.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Feb 17

Found a couple of hours to give this the attention it deserves. Sometimes it’s too much: knowing it’s the last time he’ll play these songs, hearing him struggle for breath. And yet some of his most beautiful pieces have never sounded so good.

Ryuichi Sakamoto's Opus, his final performance on 4xLP box set, 2024 Japanese edition. Photographed on wooden floor with all four inner sleeves showing black and white photos of the performance.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Feb 8

…bought from (L-R) Tower Vinyl, Ella Records, Flash Disk Ranch and Siam Time, plus Waltz and Coconuts Disk. I skipped Disk Union and Kankyo because I’d already exceeded my packing (and spending) limit.

Looking up at the amazing grey and yellow Tower Records building from street level Shibuya.

Me reflected in the window of Ella Records, Hatagaya, with Technics deck and amp in foreground, records and reflected street behind.

A bright yellow handmade sign for Flash Disk Ranch at the bottom of the stairs on the street in Shimokita.

On an underground street, a neon sign reads Siam Time and lots of bins holding citypop records are stacked below, with eight albums displayed on a stand in the foreground.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Feb 7

Good haul from this Tokyo trip — focused on classic 70s/80s city pop and YMO/Sakamoto, but couldn’t resist the 1978 Japan pressing of The Kick Inside, a 1985 Hounds of Love tape, and that Kid A obi. (See ALT text for details)

Non-Japanese artists, clockwise: Japan, Tin Drum; David Sylvian, Brilliant Trees; Rockin’ On magazine, Radiohead cover; Fleet Foxes, Crack-Up cassette; Kate Bush, Hounds of Love cassette; Kate Bush, The Kick Inside 1978 Japan pressing; Radiohead, Kid A with Japanese obi.

City Pop, clockwise: Toshiki Kadomatsu, Touch & Go; Tatsuro Yamashita, Ride on Time; Mariya Takeuchi, Request; Akiko Yano, Oh Hisse Oh Hisse; Akiko Yano, Ai Ga Nakuchane; Shigeru Suzuki, Band Wagon cassette; Tatsuro Yamashita, Circus Town.

Ryuichi Sakamoto, clockwise: Thousand Knives of, Async, Opus 4 x LP box set 2024 Japanese edition; two magazine specials.

Yellow Magic Orchestra, clockwise: debut album, Japanese edition; Solid State Survivor; Public Pressure.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Feb 3

Returning a nonsite to its site.

Holding a copy of Site Nonsite’s Tokyo EP casssette against blue sky with the Skytree and column blossom in the frame

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jan 28

Many Sakamoto moments on this trip. Watched the Tokyo Melody 4K restoration and also got up close with his Fairlight CMI. The highlight was an afternoon at Sakamoto Library (secret location, strictly no photos). Quietly reading a book that I know he cherished and finding his pen notes was moving.

Vinyl, magazines, and stickers from this trip.

Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Fairlight CMI, as featured in the Tokyo Melody film.

Illuminated Tokyo Melody film poster at 109 Cinemas Shibuya.

Fairlight data samples on floppy disks and other materials on display in a metal case.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jan 24

Spent the day re-recording software piano parts on a lovely Yamaha YU-11 in a tiny Harajuku studio — then went record shopping.

Black Yamaha upright piano with mixer, microphones, laptop and chair in a tiny studio.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jan 21

Visited the ramen bar featured on the cover of Rod Modell & Taka Noda’s ambient masterpiece Glow World. (Hat tip to my old friend Patrick Lauke for sharing this location: Hakata Tenjin Ramen, Shinjuku.)

My photo of Hakata Tenjin Ramen, Shinjuku, taken this evening.

The cover of Rod Modell & Taka Noda’s Glow World, featuring the ramen bar illuminated with doors open on a hot night.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jan 21

It’s been almost eight years (which is eight years too long) and I’m so excited to be back 🇯🇵

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jan 9

Bowie's passing really hit me a year later, at X Japan's Wembley Arena show, when rock guitarist Sugizo reappeared alone in the Earthling coat with a violin and this happened. Sat in the front row, I was overwhelmed by memories of my dad and how Bowie soundtracked our life, and I cried buckets.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Nov 24

I never expected to see Akiko Yano play live, let alone briefly meet her and get an album signed. Good fortune to discover that the closing night of the London Jazz Festival at The Barbican was happening the day after Radiohead, so we stayed in London for it. She’s amazing.

Signed copy of Akiko Yano’s Iroha Ni Konpeitou album.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Nov 23

Yet to come down from last night’s Radiohead gig. We were lucky to get codes and decided we’d stump for vip tickets if that’s all there was, and got front row. I’ve seen them several times, including Glasto ‘97, but last night was perfect, the entire band giving everything. Just… wow. Here’s Jonny…

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Nov 22

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Sep 4

Having a tape stock sale, from now until end of #BandcampFriday. I've found enough EP tapes to create five bundles — all four tapes (without maps or other extras) for £20 Reductions on everything else: Live at Delia’s £6, Remixed £5, Japan Series compilation £7 sitenonsite.bandcamp.com/merch

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Aug 6

Today is #HiroshimaDay, marking 80 years since the devastating atomic bombing. My song Paper Cranes documents an emotional visit to the peace museum and an encounter with a survivor. Today and every Aug 6, I’ll donate any profits to a Hibakusha charity. sitenonsite.bandcamp.com/album/hirosh...

Cassette copy of Site Nonsite's Hiroshima EP, with contents displayed: cassette case and cover, diary entry, unfolded map insert, stickers and origami paper.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jun 4

Lost several hours to the new ’Your Ears Later Will Know to Listen’ exhibition at Nottingham Contemporary, which explores “how sound connects us with histories, places and identities”.

Detail from John Peffer's artwork, Notes on Cuts. Shows a Technics turntable with record playing, and accompanying documentation showing photos of found records.

Detail from Simnikiwe Buhlungu, Same-ing the same sames, showing a Sony reel to reel and part of a very long tape loop suspended along the gallery wall.

Detail of a painting by Satch Hoyt from his installation.

Detail from Hong-Kai Wang's Southern Clairaudience installation, showing radios, cassette players and headphones with supporting photos on the wall.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· Jun 3

Closing in on something.

Ten photos of various experimental arrangements on a green cutting mat. Most items are contained within a plain reel to reel box, and the item placeholders include reels, cassettes, unspooled tape, photos, notes, data sheets, and other things.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 27

Immersed in experiments on a rainy afternoon.

Studio desk showing music production equipment including Ableton Push 2, Korg Minilogue XD, Tascam Portastudio 414, Akai reel to reel, effects pedals, big screen, loads of tools and postits around a green cutting mat.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 23

Tested several different cassettes in the 414 today. RTM won every time. Imagine if the made a Type II. www.recordingthemasters.com

Audio cassettes on desk, with post-it notes concerning various audio tests.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 17

Fun with Oaka Instruments’ weatherised, water-resistant Tellus contact mic in the Pyrenees a couple of weeks ago. I like to capture unusual, earthy micro textures to play with later and use them to underpin songs about the place. The results are always interesting and, sometimes, eerily percussive.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 12

My recent short residency at @campfr.bsky.social with other musicians and artists was a transformative experience, and the perfect start to this Summer's ACE-funded activity. I preserved a little time each day to reflect and write; here's everything tagged Camp France. colly.com/journal/tag:...

Monopoly of Bells play their first ever show in the main studio at Camp.

A cyclist tackles one of the many hairpins on Col d'Agnes.

Tascam DR-40 recording close to ferns and mosses.

Photo of a Saturday night improv jam in the main studio. The light is low so the four figures appear almost in silhouette. The nearest plays piano, one plays a wind instrument, others percussion.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 11

Testing another USB-powered field setup in the garden, and it might be my new fave. Midi keys into Ableton Move; Portastudio 414 for tape textures, loops, pedal Send & return and overall mixer, all being captured (along with environment) by DR-40.

Image shows music equipment arranged on two low tables on a rug. Midi keys, Ableton Move, Portastudio 414, Mood pedal, and lots of wires and USB charging brick, all going into a DR-40 recorder.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 6

Seeing sound and feeling things: “Being at Camp has actually helped me shed any remaining feelings of inadequacy. I now feel like I too am a legitimate musician, with absolutely nothing to apologise for or doubt.” colly.com/journal/seei...

Monopoly of Bells plays their first ever show in the main studio at Camp.

Site Nonsite@sitenonsite· May 5

Another step taken: "I thought about it, listened to yesterday’s work again, and then committed. And so I worried about that for the rest of the day. But then again, I came here knowing I needed to find myself in this situation in order to grow." (Photo: Daniel Jones) colly.com/journal/anot...