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The Pride of Calais

by David Blamey

supported by
Graham Dunning
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jaketilson
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marnoi
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laura
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about

MS Pride of Calais was a cross-channel ferry owned by P&O Ferries. She operated the Dover–Calais route between 1987 and 2012. After a lay-up in the Port of Tilbury the ship was eventually sold for scrap and ended her days beached at a salvage yard in Turkey in 2013.

At the very end of the Pride’s last summer season transporting holidaymakers back to the UK from France, I was homeward bound during a night crossing. The weather was horrid, our suntans had already faded, and the first shooting pains of seasonal adjustment disorder were making their presence felt. On our final approach to the Port of Dover the captain abruptly announced that the sea was too rough to enter port. He would have to weigh anchor and wait until morning before attempting to reach shore. Knowing a bit about the layout of the ship from previous voyages, my partner and I beat a hasty path up to Langan's Brasserie where we knew there were a couple of sofas to sleep on.

I have never forgotten that night. The wealth of sounds produced by the old boat under pressure from the elements was so beautiful that I just couldn’t sleep. Underneath the jingle of slot machines and creaking hull whirred a gentle engine drone. Whilst the vessel tilted from side to side her hold doors irregularly swung open before instantly banging shut again. At sunrise a couple of waiters began to lay the tables in preparation for breakfast service: the chime of water glasses and teacups forming a discreet melody locked in dialogue with a rhythm section comprised of teapots, plates and saucers being absent-mindlessly consigned to their uniform positions.

In that moment I vowed to make a work of art that might capture something of the polyrhythmic harmony of that random transitory situation. Ten years later, here it is.

credits

released November 25, 2022
Mastered by Taku Unami
Design by David Blamey and Valerio Di Lucente

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all rights reserved

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about

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Continuous Tone London, UK

David Blamey lives and works in London. He established the Continuous Tone online platform for artists working with sound in 2019. The Wire described his O.K. cassette release for My Dance the Skull’s Voice Studies series as ‘something quite strange, creepy and good’. ... more

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