Basic Maths: Soundtrack From The 1981 TV Series

Limited black vinyl. Full color sleeve with unseen pics of Ron Geesin in his studio doing math stuff on the back. Ron Geesin made this kooky electro groovy score to a really progressive math educational program on Central TV in 1980, and it’s musically anarchic and amazing, and it’s never been issued before. Until now.

“Basic Maths was the second educational TV Series for the Midlands-based ITV station for which I composed, played and recorded all music and noises. The first series, also for budding mathematicians in the 7-10 age group, was Leapfrog in 1978 produced by ATV (Associated Television): Basic Maths was for the newly-formed Central Television, the work spanning 1980-1981; both series were of twenty-eight parts. The most-worthy idea for both of these series was to project mathematics into life by means mainly of non-verbal sound and vision, with both animated and live action films, linked by two presenters, Fred Harris and Mary Waterhouse. In my role as media composer, I had had quite enough of voice overs, therefore music well under, so this fairly radical educational approach at the time encouraged my creative juices to run unhindered. Of course, the sound had to do something with the picture and not just use it as a carrier for peacock display. It had to duet, play with and explain the visual content using novel and engaging techniques, so this involved the usual and sometimes intricate mathematical calculations which constantly exercised my already reasonable school maths.” –Ron Geesin