Rythmetic: The Compositions of Norman McLaren. Out November 29th.
“McLaren specialised in radical short animations, feeding off everyone from Mondrian to the surrealists, and encompassed a huge variety of techniques.” – The Guardian
“He’s a constant source of invention, wit, exhilaration and delight.” – British Film Institute
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Pioneering Scottish-Canadian animator Norman McLaren (1914-1987) – creator of seminal short films Dots, Neighbours, Synchromy and many more – as founder of the animation studio at the National Film Board of Canada is remembered in first ever release of soundtrack works, self-composed from the 1940’s to 1970’s and forecasting the following half-century of electronic music.
Norman McLaren was once described by composer, music theorist, and mathematician Milton Babbitt as “the first electronic musician.” In addition to his pioneering work in animation at the NFB, the electronic soundtracks McLaren created for his own films employ astonishing foresight and a characteristically precise methodology. They also crystallise boundless creativity, wit and whimsy, and illuminative brilliance into a unique insight into his remarkable mind, with or without visual accompaniment.
Rythmetic: The Compositions of Norman McLaren, out November 29th and co-release via indie labels Phantom Limb (UK/EU) and We Are Busy Bodies (US/CA/World) marks the first time his soundtracks have been released on record, carefully curated from his most important film works, hours of archival tapes, and multiple versions of the same key compositions – all drawn from the NFB vaults. It represents an essential overview of McLaren as a composer, in neat dovetail with McLaren the filmmaker. Both are crucial figures in the respective developments of their fields, opening doors to a future that might not have existed without McLaren.