Browning Mummery

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The first known Browning Mummery was an Australian opera tenor and actor of the 1920s and '30s who achieved a considerable reputation in Europe as well as Australia. He was born 12 July 1888 in Melbourne, and died 16 March 1974.

The tenor's name was adopted in Sydney in 1983 by Australian electronic musician Andrew Lonsdale (1961-), as a vehicle for his contemporary electronic sound works. The name was taken from the label of an old 78 rpm platter without realising the original history of the artist. Originally never intended to be used for more than one performance (as was common at the time) the name stuck. The growth of information availability via the Internet has however made it clear there are two very different Australian Browning Mummerys.

Contents

[edit] The contemporary Browning Mummery

Andrew Lonsdale began producing electronic and experimental music in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia in 1980, and after relocating to Sydney in 1981, became part of the early electronic/industrial/experimental music scene, releasing several cassettes and performing as boxmusik, ISMism (a collective experiment aka 47 1/2), and Atomic Disease (with late artist Nigel Gurney).

Browning Mummery appeared in 1983 with a live to air radio performance on 2MBS-FM in Sydney. Browning Mummery released several cassette albums in the 1980s on the Boxmusik label, and became one of the original acts released by the Extreme cassette label. Browning Mummery has appeared on compilations including the legendary Lunakhod cassette album (1984), with Severed Heads and others. The film/performance Square by Jo Cunynghame, with Browning Mummery's soundtrack, was a showcase feature at Melbourne's Arts Festival (1985), and Browning Mummery has composed or contributed to several independent films, stage performances, and installations in the last 20 years. Browning Mummery also has the honour of having several tape releases unofficially re-released by European labels. Browning Mummery has so far released two CD albums and one EP, and four cassette albums and two EPs, as well as numerous compilation appearances.

The Browning Mummery sound is regarded as idiosyncratic and evolving: Browning Mummery has never performed the same composition twice in the same way over almost 25 years. Browning Mummery draws on influences from the Australian experimental underground, as well as techniques from dub, improvisation, industrial music, musique concrete, montage / cut-up, and environmental soundscaping. Browning Mummery has evolved from using tape and analog gear for composition and recording (including home-built instruments and processors by SwSW Thrght), to the use of digital equipment and computer-based techniques since 1988. Compositions have developed from interests in psychic and environmental phenomena; "classical"; electronics and experimentation with sound; cultural traditions of mysticism in sound (such as Tibetan and Sufi music); with a postmodern perspective.

Browning Mummery, labelled by some as a ‘quiet pioneer’ of contemporary Australian electronic and experimental music, has been observed by Tom Ellard (Severed Heads) and Philip Brophy in articles on Australian electronic music as being at the forefront of Australian experimentation with audio montage and soundscaping. Browning Mummery has been credited as being highly influential by numerous 'new generation' performers. Browning Mummery has also performed live on many FM radio stations around Australia, including 4ZZZ (1999, 2004), 2RSR (1983), 2MBS (1982-85), as well as on American and European FM radio playlists in the 1980s.

Based in Brisbane since 1993, in recent times Browning Mummery has performed at many events and venues in Northern New South Wales and Brisbane, including the Livid fringe (1995 and 99), the West End Festival (1999), Straight Out Of Brisbane (2003), Small Black Box (2002 and 2004), and frequently with the Electric Tipi Collective. Working with artists such as John Murphy (Whirlywirld / Hugo Klang / NON) Browning Mummery has recently had recorded work released in Europe. Other members include Max Hawk (electric 12-string) from Electric Tipi. Launching into digital multimedia as part of the well-regarded 'Obelisk' web site (1995-2000) and with a self-titled 1997 CD release, Browning Mummery's sound and interview featured on Optus Localvision's FOI video documentary (1998).

Browning Mummery most recent CD Audiomorphica, was released in late 2005. Browning Mummery recently completed a feature film soundtrack, and is producing a retrospective DVD of live performances and experimental film and multimedia works. Browning Mummery is one of a small number of 1980s Australian experimentalists still operating (in 2005). Others include Severed Heads, Loop Orchestra, John Murphy (Kraang), Ron Brown (Art Poetry, Lunaman), and Ian Andrews (Cut With The Kitchen Knife).

[edit] Releases by the contemporary BM, 1983 onwards

[edit] Cassette

  • Evidence of Ritual, c30, boxmusik (1983), Zero Cabal (1990s) (originally performed as 'boxmusik')
  • Oracles & Prescriptions, c60, boxmusik (1983), Extreme (1985), Zero Cabal (1990s)
  • Obiter Scripta, c60, boxmusik (1984), Extreme (1985), Zero Cabal (1990s), Irre (1994), (incorrectly aka 'Browning Mummery')
  • Rustic Acts Without Reality, (25 min.), 2MBS-FM (1984), 'Lunakhod' compilation
  • Heautontimoroumenos, c30, boxmusik (1984) (very limited edition)
  • An Obscene Delirium, c30, boxmusik (1985) (very limited edition)
  • Undata Vol. 1, (c60), Extreme (1986)
  • Atmospherics, (c60), (1987 - not released)
  • Opera, (c60), Cosmic Conspiracy (1989) (incorporates much of Undata)

[edit] CD

  • Browning Mummery, Obelisk (1997) (material from Obiter Scripta, Undata, Opera, with unreleased live & new studio tracks)
  • The best time to buy is when the blood is flowing in the streets, Obelisk (1998) (EP - very limited edition)
  • Audiomorphica, Obelisk (2005)

[edit] LP

  • Obiter Scripta, Tesco, (2005), (forthcoming)

[edit] Film/Video/Soundtracks

  • Light Industry, 10 min. 8 mm film soundtrack, (1983) (film by P&J Productions)
  • Soldiers of the Cross, 10 min. 8 mm film + soundtrack, (1984) (film by BM)
  • Square, 25 min. 16 mm film soundtrack, (1984-85) (film by Jo Cunnynghame)
  • FOI, Optus Localvision documentary, (1998) (interview, live footage, and sound)
  • Chop Wood, 10 min video soundtrack (2003) (film by Brett Paradise)

[edit] References

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