What Light There Is Tells Us Nothing

For over 20 years, British sound artist, Janek Schaefer, has earned significant international acclaim & awards for transforming the power of half-forgotten memories into otherworldly works, that are often as ambiguous as they are evocative. Previous collaborators include Charlemagne Palestine, Philip Jeck, Stephan Mathieu, and a work-in-progress with William Basinski. Schaefer’s compositions primarily occupy and inhabit the spaces between sadness and joy, and relish in the unpredictability of emotional gravity. It is this transience that makes his new album, What Light There Is Tells Us Nothing, so resonant. 

In 2014, with Robert Wyatt’s blessing, Janek Schaefer was commissioned by the Sounds New Festival in Canterbury, England to compose a new, original piece of music created entirely from elements of Wyatt’s Cuckooland album. The composition was crafted using Schaefer’s custom two tone-arm ‘Twin’ turntable with effects pedals and digital collage. Originally presented at the festival as an immersive, multi-channel radio installation, his cloud of sound is a sublime meditation on the profundity of Wyatt’s work, and its transporting idiosyncrasies. Schaefer presents that piece as the title track of this new full-length opus, which is complimented with seven original compositions that not only exist in the same wondrous space, but echo its playfully poignant resonance, well after the album has ended...

Packaged with breathtaking monotone and multi-color artwork by Bas Mantel in an old-style tip-on gatefold jacket with spot gloss varnish and Soft Touch™ satin coating, the first 1,000 copies of this audiophile-quality 100% virgin vinyl record are pressed onto Transparent Gold coloured vinyl. Not to be outdone, the CD package is an exquisite 6-panel gatefold monotone and multi-color design, replete with spot gloss varnish and Soft Touch™ satin coating.