The Botanical Speedboat Experience Inevitable
Parker Williams
The Botanical Speedboat Experience Inevitable brings together a sequence of texts attributed to Parker Williams in a work where writing, voice and fiction continually shift their positions. Interpreted and set to music by soprano Claire Michel de Haas, the publication transforms language into a vocal composition in which literary and musical forms become inseparable.
Speckled Toshe, 2022, SPT22-1
Clear transparent Vinyl, 12”
Cover Art: Individually painted covers by John Armleder.
225 numbered and signed copies with 12 pages booklet containing the lyrics.
All lyrics by Parker Williams, except ‘Nothing’s Left’ by Fitzgerald Warth Fallsworthy
The Botanical Speedboat Experience Inevitable was developed by John Armleder and Claire Michel de Haas around a selection of unpublished texts attributed to Parker Williams and Fitzgerald Warth Fallsworthy, two heteronyms created by Armleder. Both fictional authors have appeared at different moments in his work, extending questions of authorship into invented identities and literary production.
Claire Michel de Haas developed the musical setting of the texts, composing and performing the vocal parts. The writings are not simply read or recited: their words become the material for melody, rhythm and vocal phrasing, giving each text its particular musical form.
The record brings these fictional writings and Michel de Haas’ compositions together in a publication conceived jointly with Armleder. For the edition, Armleder painted each record cover individually, making every copy a variation within the edition.
The resulting publication combines texts by Armleder’s fictional writers, compositions and vocals by Michel de Haas, and an individually painted cover by Armleder.
A1 Un Monde Qui Pouvait Te Sembler Familier 0:57
A2 Che Fare 1:00
A3 504 3:38
A4 Nothing’s Left (Text by Fitzgerald Warth Fallsworthy) 4:32
A5 Work Art In Progress 2:46
A6 Ne Dites Pas Non 2:34
B1 The Botanical Speedboat Experience Inevitable 1 5:12
B2 La Chapelle Du Souvenir 7:32
B3 The Botanical Speedboat Experience Inevitable 2 6:10
Parker Williams, John M Armleder, Speckled-Toshe – record concept
Parker Williams – texts
Fitzgerald Warth Fallsworthy – text for Nothing’s Left
Claire Michel de Haas – musical settings and vocals
John M Armleder – individually painted covers
Eleonora Polato, Masé Studios, Geneva – recording
James Plotkin – mastering
Flo Kaufmann – lacquer cut
The texts were written by Parker Williams and his shifting fictional identities, then interpreted and set to music a cappella by Claire Michel de Haas in exchange with their author; or authors.
Each copy is housed in a unique, hand-painted cover by John M Armleder. The paintings are original works; all copies are individually signed and numbered.
Limited edition of 225 copies on clear vinyl, accompanied by a twelve-page booklet containing the complete texts.
The Botanical Speedboat Experience Inevitable was developed by John Armleder and Claire Michel de Haas. The publication brings together texts attributed to Parker Williams and Fitzgerald Warth Fallsworthy, two heteronyms created by Armleder, with music and vocals by Michel de Haas. She developed the musical concept, composed the music and performed the vocal parts, while Armleder conceived the publication and painted each record cover individually.
John Armleder
John Armleder is a Swiss artist based in Geneva. A co-founder of the Ecart group and closely associated with Fluxus, his practice encompasses painting, sculpture, installation, performance, sound and publishing. Collaboration, appropriation and the displacement of artistic identities recur throughout his work, alongside an interest in the conditions through which artworks are produced, presented and circulated.
Claire Michel de Haas
Claire Michel de Haas is a Geneva-based vocalist, musician and artist. Her practice brings together voice, composition, performance and collaborative artistic projects. In The Botanical Speedboat Experience Inevitable, she transformed texts written by John Armleder under two heteronyms into a sequence of vocal and musical compositions.
A-Sides is a series of artist records developed within the research project A-Sides at HEAD – Genève. Conceived around the vinyl record as a medium for artistic research, the project brought together artists, musicians and researchers in editions where listening, publication and exhibition became part of a shared editorial practice. Several of the editorial and conceptual approaches explored in A-Sides later became integral to the direction of Speckled-Toshe.