gesellschaft zur emanzipation des samples: uguisubari

Faitiche present the launch of its new Acoustic Surveillance Series. Each 7" vinyl single in the series presents a historical system for acoustic surveillance, beginning with Uguisubari by Jan Jelinek's field recordist pseudonym G.E.S.. The pieces feature recordings of uguisubari -- special floors in Japanese temples and castles. The nightingale floor was a popular acoustic warning system. It was very simple: when someone stepped on the floorboards, the nails holding them in place rubbed against metal clamps mounted on the underside of the boards, raising the alarm by creating a squeaking noise that resembled the chirping of the Japanese nightingale.