The Focus Group
Encyclopedia
The Focus Group is a project of experimental electronic musician and graphic designer Julian House
. His releases are on his own label, Ghost Box Music
. The Focus Group's sound is a blend of influences ranging from old library music
sounds, sixties-inspired pastiches, and soundtrack
s to 1970s films and programmes, as well as the sound collage
of musique concrète
.
produced in the 1970s, to soundtrack documentaries
, public information film
s, and soundtrack
s.
, Stereolab
, Martina Topley-Bird
, Razorlight
, and Primal Scream
.
Julian House
Julian House is a graphic designer, a musician, and the co-owner of the Ghost Box Music record label.-Graphic design:House is associated with Intro, a London-based design/production direction company who work in many media...
. His releases are on his own label, Ghost Box Music
Ghost Box Music
Ghost Box Music is an English independent record label, established in 2004 by Julian House and Jim Jupp.-Concept:The concept for the label was hatched by House and Jupp Ghost Box Music is an English independent record label, established in 2004 by Julian House and Jim Jupp.-Concept:The concept for...
. The Focus Group's sound is a blend of influences ranging from old library music
Production music
Production music is the name given to recorded music produced and owned by production music libraries and licensed to customers for use in film, television, radio and other media.-Introduction:...
sounds, sixties-inspired pastiches, and soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s to 1970s films and programmes, as well as the sound collage
Sound collage
In music, montage or sound collage is a technique where sound objects or compositions, including songs, are created from collage, also known as montage, the use of portions of previous recordings or scores...
of musique concrète
Musique concrète
Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
.
Influences
House has acknowledged the debt that The Focus Group's sound owes to library musicProduction music
Production music is the name given to recorded music produced and owned by production music libraries and licensed to customers for use in film, television, radio and other media.-Introduction:...
produced in the 1970s, to soundtrack documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, public information film
Public information film
Public Information Films are a series of government commissioned short films, shown during television advertising breaks in the UK. The US equivalent is the Public Service Announcement .-Subjects:...
s, and soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s.
Awards
- Hey Let Loose Your Love was featured in The WireThe Wire (magazine)The Wire is a British avant garde music magazine, founded in 1982 by jazz promoter Anthony Wood and journalist Chrissie Murray. The magazine initially concentrated on contemporary jazz and improvised music, but branched out in the early 1990s to various types of experimental music...
s top 50 albums of 2005. - BroadcastBroadcastBroadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
and The Focus Group investigate Witch-cults of the Radio Age was The Wire 's top album of 2009.
Graphic design
House is also noted as a graphic designer; his work has included cover art for BroadcastBroadcast (band)
Broadcast are an electronic music band, founded in Birmingham, England. Original members were Trish Keenan , Roj Stevens , Tim Felton and James Cargill . Various drummers played with the band, including Keith York, Phil Jenkins, Jeremy Barnes, Steve Perkins, and Neil Bullock...
, Stereolab
Stereolab
Stereolab are an alternative music band formed in 1990 in London, England. The band originally comprised songwriting team Tim Gane and Lætitia Sadier , both of whom remained at the helm across many lineup changes...
, Martina Topley-Bird
Martina Topley-Bird
Martina Topley-Bird is a British vocalist and songwriter who first gained fame as the featured female vocalist on trip hop pioneer Tricky's debut album, Maxinquaye...
, Razorlight
Razorlight
Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...
, and Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
.
Discography
- 2004 Sketches and SpellsSketches and SpellsSketches and Spells is an album by Julian House, under the pseudonym of The Focus Group. The album was released on CDR in 2004 on the Ghost Box Music label.-Track listing:#"Stringed Winds" - #"Verberations" - #"Open The Gate" -...
(CDRCDR- Medicine and health care :*Clinical data repository, a medical database system designed to provide a realtime summary of a patient's condition*Clinical Dementia Rating...
, album) - 2005 Hey Let Loose Your LoveHey Let Loose Your LoveHey Let Loose Your Love is a mini-album by Julian House, under the pseudonym of The Focus Group. The album was released in 2005 on the Ghost Box Music label.-Track listing:#"Icicle Wheel" - #"You Do Not See Me" - #"Clockbell" -...
(CD, mini-album) - 2007 We Are All Pan's PeopleWe Are All Pan's PeopleWe Are All Pan's People is an album by Julian House, under the pseudonym of The Focus Group. It was released on 26 March 2007 on the Ghost Box Music label...
(CD, album) - 2009 Broadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults Of The Radio AgeBroadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio AgeBroadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age is an album collaboration by Broadcast and The Focus Group, released by Warp Records on October 27, 2009. It was voted the best album of 2009 by The Wire...
(CD, collaboration with BroadcastBroadcast (band)Broadcast are an electronic music band, founded in Birmingham, England. Original members were Trish Keenan , Roj Stevens , Tim Felton and James Cargill . Various drummers played with the band, including Keith York, Phil Jenkins, Jeremy Barnes, Steve Perkins, and Neil Bullock...
. Released on Warp RecordsWarp RecordsWarp, commonly referred to as Warp Records, is a pioneering independent British record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the more enduring artists in electronic music....
)