Illustrious: 'Mesmerine 111' - new album soundscape by MARTYN WARE (Heaven 17, B.E.F., ex-The Human League) & CHARLES STOOKE | out 05.09.25 on Cold Spring

Illustrious Company presents ‘Mesmerine 111’. This is a 3D soundscape based on / inspired by the frequency 111Hz, which has been historically and scientifically proven to induce a trance-like state.

Findings of MRI scans suggest that at exactly 111hz, the brain switches off the prefrontal cortex, deactivating the language centre and temporarily switches from left to right-sided dominance, which is responsible for intuition, creativity, holistic processing....inducing a state of meditation or a trance.

These findings have been confirmed by archeo-acousticians in studies regarding ancient and Neolithic shamanistic burial rituals around the world. The album title is a take on the use of sound as pharmacology (and the name of an imaginary drug).

The soundscape of the ambient Dose 1 (CD1) is 50 minutes in duration, long enough to induce a true trance-like state. Dose 2 (CD2) continues with a calming vocal mix performed by Charles Stooke. Bringing to mind HAL 9000 ('2001: A Space Odyssey'), the sound is simultaneously reassuring and disquieting.

The world premiere of the 3D sound composition of ‘Mesmerine 111' was at the FOCUS Art Fair in New York, Spring 2025.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Martyn Ware is a musician, producer, designer and innovator from Sheffield. He formed The Human League in 1978, followed by British Electric Foundation and Heaven 17 in 1980. He has featured on recordings that have totalled over 50 million sales worldwide, establishing himself as a pivotal figure in the development of popular music. He has also worked as a producer for the likes of Tina Turner, Terence Trent D'Arby, Chaka Khan, Erasure, Marc Almond and Mavis Staples.

Ware founded Illustrious Company with Vince Clarke (Erasure, Depeche Mode) in 2000 to explore the creative and commercial possibilities of their unique 3D sound technology, subsequently creating immersive sound experiences for clients that have included the British Council, Science Museum, The Royal Ballet, Amnesty International, the Victoria & Albert Museum, Mute Records, BBC TV, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, BAFTA, Museum of London and Tate Britain.

He also created sonic architectural works in the British Pavilion at the Venice Architectural Biennale in 2006 and has designed sound installations in extraordinarily diverse settings across five continents. He lectures extensively on music production, technology and creativity at universities and colleges worldwide.