IN 1976, a derelict police station on Prescot Street, opposite the Royal hospital, was rented by a group of artists to serve as a work and exhibition space. They named it Bridewell Studios. Subsequently the artists purchased the property and it is now one of the oldest independent art spaces on Merseyside.

Its present exhibition is Kensington Cradle Songs, a work by Glasgow-based artist Hannah Tuulikki. Nine members of Kensington’s diverse community were invited by Tuulikki to a group session and asked to sing lullabies from their own cultural backgrounds, slowly and at the same time.

In doing this, the group became less focused on the language and structure of their individual songs and became immersed in the natural harmonies and rhythms of the group. Tuulikki recorded and subsequently slowed down and distorted the singing to create the sound production of Kensington Cradle Songs.

Lullabies are found in the music of all cultures and have remarkably similar features across the globe. It is believed this is because their sounds and rhythms mimic the sounds of water and the mother’s heartbeat that the baby hears whilst in the womb. Tuulikki’s work is intended to bring out this essential core at the heart of these songs.

The completed piece, accompanied in the exhibition space by characterful pen and ink sketches of the participants, is subtly affecting. Its sounds stimulate on a level above that of ‘normal’ music. Reflecting perhaps the ambient works produced by the likes of Aphex Twin.

This is an unusual piece of artwork, whose ethereal sounds can have quiet a powerful and meditative effect on the mind and ear of anyone willing to give it a small portion of their time.

UNTIL November 22. Open Thurs, noon-7pm, Fri, Sat, noon 5pm.

KENN TAYLOR