Imagination School Biog
Imagination School has been in existence for over ten years, with self-released albums and EPs emanating from its base in the depths of the Sussex countryside. The music is a mixture of progressive, experimental, post-rock, classical and folk styles, and has a wide range of influences, ranging from Cardiacs to Bach, via Radiohead, Yes, Vaughan-Williams, Shirley Collins and techno.
Imagination School is the brainchild of composer and producer Laurence Harwood,
who, as guitarist and songwriter in punk-pop band Buzztonic, toured and released
records in Europe and America in the mid nineties (you may have seen them
supporting acts such as Big Country, Carter USM and in one unforgettable
show, Ace Of Bass). Laurence left the band to study music at university,
and started Imagination School as an output for all of his seemingly incompatible
musical ideas.
Most of Imagination School’s music is instrumental and has a strong emphasis on melody and atmosphere. Melancholy, folk-like tunes permeate the dark electronic soundscapes, and even a sample of Dungeness nuclear power station has been manipulated and utilised as an instrument on ‘Winter Constellations’, a track on the 'To The Level Of Light' album.
Imagination School imagery has always included depictions of bleak power stations, disused machinery slowly being reclaimed by nature, desolate country and coastal scenes, and the ‘mask’ logo. A touch of the post-apocalyptic is also lurking beneath the surface of much of Imagination School’s imagery and sound.
