Blackout

Bill Thompson is a video and sound artist living in the UK. He is a self-described throwback to the 60s and enjoys breaking things to hear what they sound like.

Blackout was composed using a system that draws upon a living archive of sounds culled from compositions, improvisations and field recordings from the past 20 years.

This is the final work using this system before commencing its deconstruction through the removal of sounds as they are used in subsequent pieces.

Blackout represents the final stage then, before letting go, not only of the archive and the system that maintains it, but also of the self by way of the many personal associations related to the compositions, improvisations and field recordings contained within.

Bill Thompson is a sound artist and composer. Although originally trained as a guitarist, Thompson has worked with live electronics for the better part of 20 years. His work involves the combination of found objects, field recordings, repurposed live electronics, and digital media to create evolving structures for installation and live performance. Since 2016, however, he has returned to guitar performing with a Moog guitar combined with miscellaneous table top devices, found objects, flashing lights, and the occasional vibrator.

http://www.billthompson.org