"...notably using her voice to abstractly hint at higher powers, as if she is immersed in a primeval choir that has somehow been beamed into the 21st century."
- The Quietus.
ABOUT
"Wonderfully whimsical, providing falsetto fairytale folk songs from the frost bitten fells of Rochdale"
- Flux Magazine
Magpahi is the enigmatic and haunting music of composer, visual artist and curator Alison Cooper. In a connective exploration of sound she works to develop new understandings between narratives of landscape, material culture and human interaction. Influenced by the intriguing nature of archive and museum collections, Alison’s work bridges historic narratives bringing them into a contemporary space. Narratives and emotional spaces which can never truly be replicated, only re-visioned. The collecting and research of deeply personal accounts & anecdotes, studying of archives, folklore, material culture and landscape are central to her work.
As a song writer and composer, writing lyrics, melody and various instrumental accompaniments give her the freedom to compose witout limits.
Skilled with a unique vocal style and adept multi instrumentalist Alison works across both acoustic (guitar, flute, piano, recorder, harmonium) and electronic instruments (analogue synthesisers, Fx units and samples). Recording in her home studio gives the flexibility to create unique sounds. Alison’s enigmatic vocal style has been described as an “abstract(ly) hint at higher powers, as if she is immersed in a primeval choir that has somehow been beamed into the 21st century.” (The Quietus)
Having toured the UK and Europe she also has numerous releases via labels Twisted Nerve, Bird Records, Finders Keepers Records, Folklore Tapes and A Year in the Country. Alison works as a visual artist in a variety of mediums including photography, printmaking, animation, textiles and has a foundation course in herbal medicine.
Recent clients include Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Manchester International Festival, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, Jane Weaver, Folklore Tapes, In-Situ (Pendle), Gallery Oldham, Touchstones Rochdale Art Gallery & Museum, Edwin Waugh Dialect Society, Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, Ebor Studio, Yorkshire Sound Women Network, South Square Gallery, Littleborough Arts Festival, Salford University and The Whittaker Museum (Rawtenstall).