Background

The Asphixiation project was a major set of integrated works devised by Philip Brophy for the group → ↑ → in 1980. Subtitled "What is this thing called 'Disco'?", its premiere manifestation was comprised of an installation, a performance, and a catalogue essay. Following the work's premiere, a record was released of the music from the performance, and a music-video was produced for the record.

Installation, George Paton Gallery, Melbourne © 1980

Credits

Installation soundtrack

Composition & production - Philip Brophy
Guitars – Leigh Parkhill
Sax – Ralph Traviato
Drum machine & keyboards – Philip Brophy

1980

George Paton Gallery, Melbourne

Overview

"What is this thing called 'Disco'?"

For Philip specifically and → ↑ → generally, the sound of Disco was a world by itself - an especially more exciting and sensory world. The music was minimalist, electronic, technological, artificial, glamorous, unreal, heady, immersive, alienating, perverse and pop. Disco always stated itself with extreme clarity; it was solipsism made sonic. The Asphixiation installation was the space to hear this.

Installation, George Paton Gallery, Melbourne © 1980

Technical

The George Paton Gallery (housed within the Student Union building of Melbourne University) was a contemporary art space consisting of 2 gallery spaces: one large open space, and one slightly smaller area strangely divided into 6 open cubicles, 3 on each side of a central open corridor. The space logistically ideal for the Asphixiation project: each 'room' was treated as a 'sonic zone' containing aural elements of Disco musical motifs contained separately in each space. The 6 zones were:
1. saxophone
2. guitar
3. lyric-less voice
4. bass synthesizer
5. electronic keyboards
6. drum machine

Each of the open cubicles 'sounded' these motifs by playing disembodied fragments of each of these instruments mixed onto a tape loop (the TDK 'Endless Loop' cassette). At one end of the gallery space, a synthesizer was plugged into an amplifier, playing a fixed deep Disco thud-pulse which boomed throughout the space. Cassette decks played the musical fragments in each of their zones, contributing to a floating mass of sounds, all grounded by the dominant thump. The end result was like floating through a deconstructed Disco club environment.