Global Communication’s Tom Middleton announces new solo project GCOM, with debut album ‘E2-XO’ out on Oct 29th via !K7. Galactic Communication: the 21st-century solo recalibration of the Global Communication concept and collaboration with Mark Pritchard.
GCOM follows the reissue of Global Communication ambient masterpiece ’76:14′ via Warp last year.
Signifying a technological, creative and philosophical evolution into the new era; through Tom’s study of neuroscience and music psychology, fascination with exoplanet exploration, astrophysics and cosmology, and interest in anthropogenic climate change and planetary stewardship; a discussion for the need of cultivating deeper human and planetary empathy if we are to evolve in consciousness to travel beyond ourselves in mind and soul, and outside the solar system in body.
‘E2-XO’ album is some of the most advanced music Tom Middleton has ever made, both in sound and concept. A decade in the making, inspired by themes surrounding Anthropocene humankind’s impact on climate, conscious AI, acceleration for interplanetary travel to habitable exoplanets, the hunt for Earth 2.0.
Superhabitable Exoplanets environmental conditions could be even better than ours. — Tom Middleton
The themes of the original Global Communication album are developed for current times with familiar leitmotif about human empathy, education and inspiration framed within the technology, ideas and channels that Tom can now use to deliver entirely new perceptual and cognitive experiences way beyond the dancefloor, for musical art informed by science.
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Exclusive Premiere - Valentina's 'Love Myself' goes House with Flaurese Remix‘E2-XO’ album is an audio movie, a space opera, a psychic investigation of the human mind in space, a demonstration of – in the words of the great Alvin Toffler – “the habit of anticipation”, a journey from Earth to a habitable exoplanet, a fully immersive experience.
I began exploring alien sonic textures and sound design in 2011, avoiding as many of the perennial cliches as possible such as known drum machines and synths. Three of the tracks ONLY use a flute as the sound source, nothing else – eg Ocean Dreams.
Previously Tom interest in sleep science led him into helping people with sleep problems using brainwave entrainment. He is currently enrolled on a Neuroscience and Psychology Masters program at Goldsmiths College to research in supporting human problems like anxiety, stress, sleep disruption and human performance using sound.
Dr Lucy Rhoades worked on the original Global Communication manifesto back in ‘94 and has now authored a short story narrating ‘E2-XO’ album journey from the perspective of conscious AI. Paul Nicholson (GC’s regular design partner who also created the iconic Aphex Twin logo) worked on ‘E2-XO’ artwork and packaging for E2-XO. The album lets you hear echoes of Vangelis and Tomita, through Tom’s white heat of discovery alongside Richard D James, Matthew Herbert and friends, right through to his collaborations with technological innovators today: E2-XO acknowledges the past envisioning the future.
