48 Cameras was an avant-garde music collective that owed its name to a twist of fate, rather than the presence of any actual cameras. Formed in 1984 by Belgian poet and photographer Jean-Marie Mathoul, 48 Cameras was a constantly evolving project where collaborators often never met. This unconventional approach to music production allowed for a curious blend of spoken word, ambient music, and a diverse range of musical styles from folk to industrial, creating a unique tapestry of sound that defies traditional genre classifications.
The collective's ethos was built around the philosophy of non-collaborative synergy; different artists would contribute parts independently of each other, with the final result being a collage of various pieces fitted together by Mathoul. Over the years, 48 Cameras' works have been marked by this methodical fragmentation, creating enigmatic and often haunting soundscapes. Their body of work includes intriguing titles that capture the essence of their art, such as "Chosen Songs" (2018), which can be seen as a retrospective anthology of their vast and eclectic output. Other notable releases include "After All, Isn't Tango The Dance Of The Drunk Man?" (2011), and the evocatively named "I Swear I Saw Garlic Growing Under My Father's Steps" (2007), both contributing to their enigmatic discography that invites listeners to explore the rich, uncharted territories between musical genres and artistic expression.
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