Chris Brierley
Biography:
After classical violin studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, Chris helped found the Kreisler String Orchestra who later signed to the classical wing of Factory Records; the orchestra has since toured Europe from Barcelona to Moscow and widened its musical horizons through collaborations with Youssou N'Dour, John Cale and Brian Eno.
Chris joined The Band of Holy Joy in the early 90's and eventually formed a song-writing partnership with lyricist/vocalist Johny Brown and keyboard player Alfie Thomas (Franny Armstrong joined us briefly on drums before we lost her to Spanner).
Chris and Alfie now work together as Glue Ear, writing and recording music for features, commercials and documentaries (including four of Spanner's). They perform as Society of Imaginary Friends with vocalist Louise Kleboe.
Chris also writes and performs in the Vastearth Orchestra which sets the poetry of the 12th century mystic Muhyiddin Ibn 'Arabi to music.
CRUDE DIARY ENTRIES
Chris visits with his musical offerings
Franny visits some of her great support network
Read more about The Age of Stupid orchestral score here.
PICTURES
Composer Chris Brierley (sitting) and Sound recordist Paul Sampson (lying down) mixing the orchestral score in Paul's 'studio' in Coventry. This was the first time Chris & Paul worked on a cinema film, which is more complicated than usual because you're mixing for surround sound (or 5:1 as it's known in the business), where you have speakers in front, to the side, and at the back of the cinema and you can choose which sounds should come from which speakers. As they couldn't afford a proper studio (massively expensive) they set up a budget surround sound mixing studio simply by placing various speakers around the room. Which meant had to lie in the middle of the floor to hear the mix properly.
Date: May 2008
Location: Paul's studio in Coventry
Copyright: Spanner Films
Credit: Spanner Films
Restrictions: Free for use in Age of Stupid-related promotion. No resale.
The makeshift studio worked brilliantly and the industry professionals who gave the surround sound mix full marks were shocked when they saw these photos of the process. Especially as their studios cost thousands of pounds a day for people to book and Paul managed to get great results from this simple set up.
Date: May 2008
Location: Paul's studio in Coventry
Copyright: Spanner Films
Credit: Spanner Films
Restrictions: Free for use in Age of Stupid-related promotion. No resale.
Chris & Paul were sitting in similar positions, in this identical room, about 20 years ago, mixing various bands' albums. Including albums Franny played the drums on back in her rock and roll days. She said the room was exactly the same as the last time she saw it except for nowadays you could actually see the carpet rather than it being covered in cigarettes, beer bottles and other band paraphernalia.
Date: May 2008
Location: Paul's studio in Coventry
Copyright: Spanner Films
Credit: Spanner Films
Restrictions: Free for use in Age of Stupid-related promotion. No resale.
Stuff done:
- "Fuse", 2004, 9mins, Composer: In a powercut, a boy plays with matches. His father comes home late, drunk.
- "Drowned Out", 2002, 75mins, Composer: An Indian family choose to stay at home and drown rather than make way for the Narmada Dam.
- "McLibel", 1998, 85mins, Composer: McLibel is the inside story of the postman and the gardener who took on the McDonald's Corporation.
- "Jupiter", 2007, 9mins, Composer:After a storm two boys find themselves marooned on a beach.
- "Love Never Fails", 2002, Band of Holy Joy: Rough Trade Records
- "Green Bird", 2007, Vastearth Orchestra: Beshara Publications
