’68 is the debut album by the Goldsmiths Laptop Ensemble. The ensemble compose, program and improvise using a variety of controllers, objects and laptops.
At the core of ’68 is the use of instruments from the Hugh Davies Improvisation Collection, which is housed in Special Collections at the Goldsmiths Electronic Music Studios. This collection of instruments was used as part of Hugh’s rotating improv setup, alongside his unique ‘Shozygs’ and live electronics.
Hugh Davies (1943–2005) was a musicologist, composer, and inventor of experimental musical instruments. 20 years on from his death, ’68 pays homage to Hugh’s legacy at Goldsmiths; he was the founder and original director of the university’s Electronic Music Studios, established in 1968.
The works in this series were taken from performances and improvisations by the ensemble, recorded between winter 2023 and summer 2024. At the time of recording, the ensemble was directed by Dr. Jenn Kirby, with Niamh Gallagher.
The performers on this album include: Jun Chen, Jiawei Chong, Mike Eden, Aisling Gallagher, Niamh Gallagher, Alexander Iliashenko, Taehoon Park, Anirudh Sathyanarayanan, Leonid Vasyukhnov and Pannavich Weswibul.
’68 is released by the in-house label at Goldsmiths, NX Records.
