1 Giant Leap

Philip Cornwel-Smith was an interviewee and consultant on the Thai section of this multi-country,
multimedia music documentary, which was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards.

Created by Jamie Catto of Faithless and Duncan Bridgeman, the project was groundbreaking in many respects. It was one of the first musical projects conceived from the start as an album and film and documentary. It was one of the first films ever recorded just on an Apple laptop, as a fully mobile recording studio, which was powered in remote locations, like a boat in India, by a belt of the power packs used by news cameramen. It was an early experiment in virtual recording, with the music being composed in layers, with musicians in various countries playing along with the basic rhythm track and other musicians who’d played earlier in the trip. The final production interleaved the most successful virtual jamming and singing, along with spoken word from the prominent thinkers interviewed along the way, from Ram Das to Ashile Bosle, Anita Roddick to Dennis Hopper, Kurt Vonnegut to Brian Eno. It was a round-the world journey, going from London to Africa, India, Thailand, Australia and the USA.

The film/album 1 Giant Leap – Unity Through Diversity / All Who Wander Are Not Lost (2002)was released on Channel 4, and there was a six-part ‘making of’ documentary. The lamb spawned three singles. "My Culture" feat. Robbie Williams & Maxi Jazz (May 2002), reaching No. 9 in the UK, ‘Braided Hair’ feat. Neneh Cherry & Speech (August 2002) and ‘I Love The Way You Dream’ feat. Michael Stipe.

Philip (right) with Duncan Bridgeman (left), Jessica Catto and Jamie Catto (middle) after a shoot in Bangkok for 1 Giant Leap