S Poddar
If, like many, you’ve always thought that Oasis’ “Champagne Supernova,” didn’t go on long enough-by its original seven-and-a-half minute running time, at least-but just was never quite enough, well, cheer up. Noel Gallagher has made a six-hour ambient version of the magnum opus from the defining album of Britpop: Oasis’ “Morning Glory?” He’s done it specifically for an exhibit at London’s National Portrait Gallery.
Later this month, the long-form remix will be screened alongside a portrait of Gallagher himself as part of photographer Zoe Law’s Legends exhibition. Black-and-white photography is something that Law is highly known for, and her Legends exhibition presents 100 portraits of influential figures in her life and career, capturing their personalities and significance in striking monochrome. Gallagher’s ambient reimagining of “Champagne Supernova” serves as the soundtrack to his portrait, giving gallery visitors an immersive, atmospheric experience.
The show does not just feature Gallagher, but also portraits of many other celebrities, from sports greats to celebrated thespians. Among them is a previously unreleased portrait of actress Sienna Miller, posing with Gallagher’s treasured 1967 Epiphone guitar-the one he used to pen “Champagne Supernova.” Other sports and arts icons in Law’s exhibition include English football icon Sir Bobby Charlton, actor Orlando Bloom, and Kim Cattrall, who starred in Sex and the City.
For the Oasis fanatic, Gallagher’s ambient track is a bold innovation of a tune beloved by countless others, rearranging it into an ambient soundfield that stretches for hours on end. This is experimental mixing working well with the general theme of the show, the fusions of visual artwork and music unveiling the influence of British iconography.
Oasis will also reunite next year for the first time since their last tour in 2009. They are scheduled to tour the UK and Ireland, but also Australia, North America, and South America. Fans should expect a combination of popular hits and perhaps a few unexpected deep cuts from their vast discography.
A memorable chapter for the band and their fans, it marks a comeback to stage each other after more than a decade apart. Oasis will surely win fans’ hearts once again reliving the very powerful energy that made the band a pillar for the cornerstone of Britpop, though many hope that Gallagher’s ambient rework makes an appearance on tour in some way.
In the midst of all the excitement involved in the reunion and Gallagher’s new art project, the Legends exhibition is sure to capture every attention from the music and art-lovers’ side. Iconic figures like Gallagher whose influence has endured bring a study of visual and auditory encounters in a way which will keep fans connected with familiar figures in a more contemplative and introspective setting.
Whether it is to catch Gallagher’s six-hour remix or to view Law’s inspiring portraiture, the Legends exhibition offers a fresh perspective on some of Britain’s most iconic figures and their impact.
