Landscape 1971 by Alf Bower

Never released avant-garde jazz, DIY electronics, distorted psych-rock fuzz. Recorded at Sheffield City Polytechnic, 1971.

Digitised and restored in 2024 from original 1/4" tapes.

Film and sonic arrangements by the late David 'Alf' Bower and friends.

MEMDANCE03 is the first in a series of Alf activations.

This one simply titled 'Landscape 1971' is an edited live session of four extended tracks broken down into the wildest bits across 8 pieces.

The chugging touchstones of Kraut and CAN are here, wah-wah guitar and wonky stoned free jazz piano lines go off in all directions, while parping sax and whooshes from an in-house synthesiser blast off into nothingness. All this was likely made in some backroom at the Psalter Lane Art School Sheffield, South Yorkshire by Alf Bower and unidentified friends.

Alf Bower was a very important figure in the independent filmmaking culture in Yorkshire during the 70s-80s across Sheffield, Bradford, Leeds. Alf is largely unknown, except to those who worked with him, learnt off him, and speak highly of him (including Roger Deakins of Coen Brothers fame, no less). We celebrate his legacy here. Rest in power.

Sharing never-known work from the archival fringes of post-punk, jazz, noise, synthpop, soul, electronics, and everything in between those cracks. Mainly always Northern.