007/100 - “Amazing Tales of Time and Space (waag_rel067)” by Cousin Silas and Kevin Lyons

I love visual music. I have always been drawn to ambient music that paints pictures in my mind, music that conjures up the places and spaces that I can only read about in sci-fi novels and weird fiction.

“Amazing Tales of Time and Space (waag_rel067)” by the enduring partnership of Cousin Silas and Kevin Lyons transports me to alien landscapes and disreputable townships, the kind imagined by visionaries such as Lovecraft or Aldiss; It makes for captivating listening albeit not entirely restful if one is gifted with a vivid imagination.

This is an exceptional release from two inspired musicians.



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Why only 100 words?

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Repost - Presenting … ending the year on a high 2014 (waag_com003)

*** REPOST FROM WEAREALLGHOSTS.CO.UK***

Presenting … ending the year on a high 2014. A compilation album that features twenty tracks from some of my most favourite people in independent ambient electronic music. There is well over 2 hours of music here to be consumed, music that I personally find tremendously inspirational and deeply thought provoking.

I have spoken, at length, about the power of ambient music to give the mind space to wander and the music presented here does just that. The music created by the folks on weareallghosts is truly exceptional - music from Cousin Silas and Christopher Alvarado, Brother Saturn and Kevin Lyons, Stephen Briggs and Tim Rowe, Negative Spectrum and Sound Awakener, Delicate Apparatus and Scott Lawlor, William Spivey, Wolfgang Merx and Rhys Anslow, Mystified and Microvolt;

The tracks demonstrate the breadth of talent from further afield too - the music presented from the likes of Orbit Over Luna, åpne sinn, Row Boat, Daniel Prendiville, and Twin Cities; is truly awe-inspiring. I cannot thank each and every artist enough for their contributions.

Normally I would put this compilation out for free as a wee token of appreciation to our faithful supporters and fans, but this year I would like to try something different: I have set a minimum price of £5 or 25p per track. ALL PROCEEDS from this album will go to the charity HOSPICE UK (formerly HELP THE HOSPICES), a charity that supports the development of hospice care in the UK and internationally.

weareallghosts is my main side-project and something I do for the love of it. My main employment is as a Business Analyst in Glasgow, Scotland; my current employer actively and generously supports HOSPICE UK and doubles any donation made by her staff - by donating for this album I will hopefully be able to raise some money for a really great cause and give a little good back into the world.

My sincere thanks to all the artists who have contributed to the making of this album - they have given their time and, more importantly, their music for free to aid this worthy cause.

Whilst it would be wrong of me to single any individual artist out, I have to mention a generous gift provided by Mark Wardale aka Row Boat. He has offered his exceptional post-rock album - In Between (https://enjoyrowboat.bandcamp.com/album/in-between-2) - for FREE to the first twenty people who pay MORE THAN £5 for this album. I am indebted to Wardale for his generosity!

This album will NOT be available on Archive.

Tx






TRACKLISTING

01. Cousin Silas and Christopher Alvarado - Elysian Fields | 06:36
02. Orbit Over Luna - It Seems A Small Thing | 06:37
03. Christopher Alvarado - The Amity Order | 04:26
04. åpne sinn - Auspice | 10:34
05. Cousin Silas - Recollections | 06:02
06. Row Boat - Draugen | 06:23
07. Brother Saturn - God Never Skips A Beat (Space Dimension 9) | 08:32
08. Kevin Lyons - The Burning Sky | 05:48
09. Daniel Prendiville - Floaty Floaty | 02:52
10. Stephen Briggs - Fuzz And Karbonades mk2 | 12:30
11. Tim Rowe - Orange | 06:26
12. twincities - Minim | 03:10
13. Negative Spectrum - Now You Know Where I Come From | 10:12
14. Sound Awakener - Sketching | 01:46
15. Delicate Apparatus - We Are Celestial | 04:21
16. Scott Lawlor - Night Terrors In The Darkness Of Space (Tribute to H.R. Giger) | 14:00
17. William Spivey - A December's Wish | 04:02
18. Wolfgang Merx and Rhys Anslow - Innocent | 01:59
19. Mystified - Perseverance | 04:27
20. Microvolt - Raintown | 03:35

Presenting ... "The Sound of Silas (waag_CDr001)" by Cousin Silas

Over on weareallghosts.co.uk I've shared some details on the first physical release on my wee netlabel:

The first weareallghosts physical release features photography by Oleg Tishkovets in a beautiful fold out digipack created by Brin Coleman (aka Bing Satellites) for scramsons.co.uk. 

The music on this double CD was mastered by Tim Jones. 

The first CD contains remastered 'classics' along with a brand new mini dronescape whereas the second CD contains approximately 70 minutes of brand new music. 

On the inside Kevin Lyons waxes lyrical for the liner notes, giving us food for thought on his pal Silas. 

The physical copy will contain a weareallghosts badge and a postcard with a download code to a remix album with tracks revisioned by Jack Hertz, Kevin Lyons, Bing Satellites, Shane Morris and Ade Hodges. This remix album is only available via this CD. 

This is the first time we have released a CD so please, please be patient. We aim to get the CDs in the post as near to release date as possible. 

When you pre-order the CD, you get 5 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it's released on the 29th September 2014.

Packages will ship on or just after the 29th September too.

There will only be 100 made ... and I'm pleased to say we have pre-orders for 54 so far. The CDs are £10 + Postage & Packing (which varies depending on where you live).

Here's a wee sneak peek at the CD:







More details, including some more photos of the CD packaging, are available over on weareallghosts.co.uk

Cousin Silas' Dronescape series now 20 strong

Over the weekend, I was proud to release the twentieth Dronescape from Cousin Silas.

In the liner notes I waxed lyrical about what this longform drone reminded me of ...

This Dronescape reminds me of the first H.P. Lovecraft story that I read: "The Nameless City". I read it because it was the first story in an anthology that I had purchased for pennies for my Kindle. I remember vividly being hooked with the sense of mounting terror that Lovecraft conveys. My mind was brought back to this story when I heard this Dronescape and, in particular, a point where the terror had taken hold and the protagonist recalled the following: 

"I repeated queer extracts, and muttered of Afrasiab and the daemons that floated with him down the Oxus; later chanting over and over again a phrase from one of Lord Dunsany's tales - 'The unreverberate blackness of the abyss.'" 

The twentieth Dronescape is an excellent form of ambient impressionism, portraying, as it does so well, this quote from Dunsany - 'the unreverberate blackness of the abyss'. It is what came to mind when I listened to Silas' latest offering, for both the quote and the drone complement each other so completely.

For more go to weareallghosts.co.uk ... or have a wee listen below:

The latest circumambient podcast features music from weareallghosts

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Reposting this from circumambient.co.uk ... the latest podcast features a guest mix from Ade Hodges that celebrates the music of my own netlabel: weareallghosts. Hodges was given carte blanche to curate a mix of the very best of the label and I am delighted with his output, which features music from Cousin Silas, Brother Saturn, Colin Blake, Christopher Alvarado & Stephen Briggs, William Spivey, Toaster, Kevin Lyons, Alison G. Madrigal, Ivan Ganza, and Red Pools ... as well as a collaboration between Hodges and Cousin Silas.

Please support the artists featured by downloading their music and spreading the word.

Dive deep!

Tx

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circumambient 019 ... (right click your mouse and choose "Save As" to download the Podcast)

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Circumambient 019 (guest mix by Ade Hodges) by Headphonaught on Mixcloud

or via iTunes ... please subscribe to catch all the episodes.

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For tracklisting, please visit ... http://www.circumambient.co.uk/2014/07/circumambient-019-guest-mix-from-ade.html

Two powerful ambient releases for Good Friday

Recorded one year ago (but released in July) ... "Good Friday (waag_rel026)" by Stephen Briggs features 160 minutes of deep, dark improvised ambient music ... in keeping with the mood of that dark day.

As I said in the release notes...

To say this is an expression of Briggs' faith would not be entirely accurate … this is an expression of more than his faith … it is an expression of his humanity and his experience … and I am grateful for this whole-of-self expression. It inspires me.

"Good Friday (waag_rel026)" by Stephen Briggs is available for 'pay what you want' over at my netlabels' bandcamp page ... take a listen below:



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Released yesterday, "Without Sin (waag_rel047)" by Matthew VandenBrook is a sub-60 minute longform ambient piece that works for Good Friday. While it wasn't necessarily intended for Good Friday I have received remarkable inspiration from this piece as I have walked my own, personal Lenten journey.

As I say in my notes...

It is a dark, brooding piece of longform ambient music that threatens to break out into glorious celebration at any moment. It has a sense of anticipation that I find infectious ... it draws you in as a listener and carries you along with the thought: 'what comes next?' ... there is a percussive sound, for example, that could be soldiers marching ... there are voices that appear as if they are on the wind ... there is a tolling bell near the end ... it is a fascinating journey.

"Without Sin (waag_rel047)" by Matthew VandenBrook is also available for 'pay what you want' over at my netlabels' bandcamp page ... take a listen below:



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Four more releases from weareallghosts

Dronescape 015 has been a blessing to me ... aiding my painfully slow recovery ... and helping me to rest. My sincere thanks to Cousin Silas for the care he has poured into this dronescape ... it is appreciated, especially at this time.

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"Both expansive & dystopian, these sounds present the future of our dreams as being more akin to the stuff of our nightmares ... they give the listener an all too brief insight into the eerie unsettling liminal state just beyond our reckoning, just beyond our remembering, where we span two worlds and stare into the deepest recesses of the unknown."

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"This is music for both the head and the heart, a late-night hit of somatic bliss that, in equal measure, inspires and comforts."

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"It is an album bursting with new ideas and fresh expression ... an album that features the kind of engaging sound-pictures in each of its twelve tracks that I simply cannot get enough of. It shifts from dark, eerie ambience to moments of futuristic expressionism with ease ... filling my ears with that most wonderfully oxymoronic of all musical joys ... familiar yet utterly new soundscapes."

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My week netlabel is growing from strength to strength ... and I am delighted with this current batch of releases.

Tx

A round up of recent music on weareallghosts

I am a bit behind in promoting the recent releases on my netlabel - weareallghosts ... so here goes the catch up:

First up, we have some fine analogue ambient guitar loops from Stephen Briggs:


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We then have the 14th long-form dronescape from Cousin Silas ... ambient bliss at its very best.


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... followed by some dark ambient:


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We then had our end-of-year celebration with a compilation of new and innovative tracks from the waag stable plus other artists such as Row Boat, and Crows Labyrinth & Microvolt. This is a free download that should be on your mp3 player of choice.


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We then have some wonderfully futuristic sci-fi sounds from a rising star in the ambient community, Ade Hodges:


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Following Ade was the latest album by Wolfgang Merx ... "Security (waag_rel040)" is a collection of seriously of deliciously abstract Krautrock synth anthems:


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After Merx, we released a collaboration between Christopher Alvarado and Stephen Briggs ... this track was intended for the end-of-year compilation but I missed it in my in-box. When I found it, I thought it so good that it merited its own release:


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The penultimate release in this round up is a collection of utterly compelling sci-fi soundscapes from Ivan Ganza:


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Lastly, we have today's release ... or should I say 'rerelease'. I'm proud to rerelease "Translucence" with a couple of bonus tracks. Alvarado's form of ambient music is deeply engaging and well worth checking out:


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Do what you can to support truly independent musical production.

Tx

Three more releases on weareallghosts ...

First up ... we have 2 longer-form ambient pieces from Scott Lawlor ...

"...The Leaves" is a darker, noisier drone that almost overwhelms but ultimately rewards the listener with an immersive experience.

"Meadows In Summer" is a lighter longer-form piece with a haunting and rather surprising ending which I found an utter delight when I first heard it.

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We then have a single release from Red Pools - the new project from Sean Cotterill aka Artificial Sun Project ...

Sean's description of his music - swaying, claustrophobic atmospheres - is apt and I welcome it, and him, to weareallghosts.

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Lastly, we have a darker ambient piece from Kevin Lyons that is inspired by the ghost stories of Dr. M. R. James ...

Curious Warnings (waag_rel036) is a real treat ... one that captures the deliciously uncomfortable nature of James' writing ... and translates the unsettling atmospheres into sound.

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Enjoy.

Tx

Three recent releases on weareallghosts

First up ... we have the three-way collaboration between Cousin Silas, Ade Hodges & Kevin Lyons entitled "The Silent Citadel (waag_rel033)".

I look back on that weekend with fondness. It was a magical weekend … one I hope to relive. I don't get the chance to talk about 70s prog rock and the cover art of pulp sci-fi novels very often … at least with folks whose eyes don't glaze over almost immediately. It was a special time and, I think, this is encapsulated in the music presented in "The Silent Citadel (waag_rel033)".

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We then have the debut release on weareallghosts for Colin Blake - "The Sound of Space (waag_rel034)".

I thoroughly enjoyed this album when I received it for consideration from Colin … and I have found it an album filled with surprise and wonder, like the subject matter it narrates. It fits naturally with what has come before it and couldn't wait to share it with our dedicated community … a community of which Colin is a key part. Colin is a tremendous supporter of weareallghosts and it is with delight that I return his enthusiasm with some of my own.

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Lastly, we have the thirteenth (yes, thirteenth!!) Dronescape from Cousin Silas.

The 13th Dronescape is a bold, upfront exploration of space and time through ambient sound. It is 70 minutes of sheer of unadulterated joy ... a truly immersive longform journey with an almost tangible sense of cinematic proportion ... and I, for one, love it. This series just gets better and better.

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54 releases and counting.

- Tx

Recent releases on weareallghosts

"Mighty Skies (waag_sng004)" by Fragile Faith is a wee free download of late 80's indie guitar / synth pop ... given to me to release from an ex-colleague.



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Our FIFTIETH RELEASE is the second compilation of collaborations from Cousin Silas and his chums ... truly exceptional.



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We then have two truly brilliant longform ambient dronescapes from Cousin Silas:



Described by Brian Bourassa as ...

"A very mellow calming drone with not so frequent melodic accompaniments. More simplistic than recent dronscapes, yet not any less effective."

and



Described by Brian Bourassa as ...

"Seems to me that after countless listening sessions of twelve releases of these dronscapes I should be made an honorary second "cousin" of Cousin Silas! But, then again that would make for a very large family!

Yet another compelling dronescape by the master himself. 

Cousin Silas = Dronescape, Dronescape = Cousin Silas!"

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Enjoy.

- Tx

Three recent releases on weareallghosts

First up ... we have "Tales of Space Exploration 9-16 (waag_rel031)" by Brother Saturn ... with artwork by Adam Howie:

"I hear real progression in these tracks … Miller is growing as an artist and as a musician … creating truly beautiful ambient soundscapes that speak of travel, desolation, loneliness, and the yearning of home … wherever or whatever home may be."

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We then have a collaboration between Jack Hertz and Cousin Silas entitled "the Quiet Forest (waag_rel030)" ...

The music Hertz & Silas have made here is the kind of music that holds that extra special added dimension ... theirs is the kind of music that transports the listener to far off realms and alternate realities. Field recordings underpin dark, eerie synths to create the soundtrack for one or more Lovecraftian dystopias. “South Wind”, for example, reminded me so much of “At the Mountains of Madness” that I was compelled to reread Lovecraft’s classic story.

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Lastly we have three tracks from Toaster ...

I am delighted to welcome Toaster to weareallghosts with “Mourners (waag_rel029)” ... a collection of 3 ambient soundscapes that showcase, dare-I-say, his mellower side ... a collection I totally dig and have wanted to share with you for a while now. Whilst “Mourners (waag_rel029)” isn't as frenetic as some of his self-release music is, it still holds true to his truly independent and uniquely individualistic vision. Todd makes music that he himself wants to hear and as a fan of that kind of intention, I am totally onboard.

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Please support independent music.

Tx

Playing catch up with the releases on my netlabel

First up we have "Some Hollow Lullabies (waag_rel025)" by emptywhale ...

From the opening refrain of "The Boy Who Could Hear Colours" through to the closing of "Seeking Reason" I am captivated by the care and attention emptywhale has poured into this release. His piano playing is exemplary and his use of sound to convey an atmosphere is simply remarkable - it is dark and brooding … almost Lovecraftian in suggestion.

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We then have the eighth instalment of Cousin Silas' dronescape series ...

I have grown very fond of these longform drones and consider them an utter treat to listen to … and I hope you will enjoy the eighth instalment as much as I do!

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The next release is "Good Friday (waag_rel026)" by Stephen Briggs ...

I really connect with Stephen's music … it have connected with it since the first time he let me hear the start of what we now call 'Good Friday (waag_rel026)'. He is a talented musician and a genuinely beautiful human being … someone who gives generously from the deep well of his soul to all who know him.  

 I am honoured to know him and equally honoured to release 'Good Friday (waag_rel026)' on weareallghosts. We always have room for inspired improvisational ambient music. His is a powerful music … a music that comes from all that dwells within him. It is fascinating to listen to.

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From there we move to another of Cousin Silas' dronescapes ...

I really love this drone ... I love the tone of this piece ... the atmosphere ... the sense of peace it leaves with me long after it is finished. I love the subtle harmonics that twinkle like stars.

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After Dronescape 009 came "Seconds (waag_rel027)" by Kevin Lyons ... a lovely chap who I recently had the pleasure to meet ...

I hope you will enjoy this album as much as I do. I find Kevin’s music to be very visual and take great pleasure in letting my mind wander through the landscapes he paints with sound. It was a pleasure to meet him and it gives me great delight to support and encourage his musical endeavours through weareallghosts.

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From one top bloke to another ... one of my musical heroes - Shaun Blezard aka Clutter with "Sunset at the Yacht Club (waag_rel028)" ...

To consider, therefore, that I am able to release an EP of his on waag is a dream come true … the circle is now complete, so to speak … and what an EP it is. I have caught myself wondering what I was listening to when listening to the preview copy … then experiencing a mixture of shock and pleasure when I realise it was an EP destined for my wee label.

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Lastly we have the 10th instalment in Cousin Silas' dronescape series ... which is, possibly, his best yet ...

I have to say I agree with him … but then I have spoken before of how his dronescapes just seem to get better and better … especially the wee details and flourishes that he adds to keep his listeners engaged, something I had noticed.

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Enjoy.

Tx

Two recent releases on weareallghosts ... Scott Lawlor and Cousin Silas

Two recent releases on my wee netlabel ... both wonderfully longform ambient pieces.

First up we have ... "like a pelican of the wilderness" by Scott Lawlor ...

It is an utterly beautiful piece … full of light. It is the soundscape for a truly open space. There is, however, an air of mystery … a sense of the unknown that underpins this space.

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We then have the 7th dronescape from Cousin Silas ...

I've never liked the tag 'chill out music' ... I've always considered it a lazy term ... but today, after experiencing a wonderfully chilled out experience, I can happily call this dronescape 'chill out music'.

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Enjoy ... Tx

A couple of recent releases on weareallghosts

New releases on weareallghosts includes a delightful EP from Adam Greenhead aka Coloured Lines ... "Silence in the House of God" features 4 tracks of deliciously upbeat electronic music:

The EP features four wonderfully crafted tracks which are unashamedly electronic in nature, vibrantly coherent in expression, and delightfully downtempo in their presentation.

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We also have the 6th dronescape from Cousin Silas:

His ability to engage the listener in a fully immersive sonic environment truly amazes me. I have all his dronescapes on my iPhone and have been known to move from one to another when I am in need of extended periods concentration and/or escape.

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Enjoy. Tx

Five recent releases on weareallghosts

Its been a busy old time in waag HQ. Since the last time I blogged about my wee netlabel on here we've seen the release of the fifth instalment in the dronescape series from Cousin Silas ...


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a belter of a double-album from Cousin Silas ...


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and a cheeky wee single from the man himself too ... a track that I missed from "East (waag_rel021)".


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We released a brilliant remix by Apta of an exceptional track from Northcape ...


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and an utterly delightful ambient electronic album from William Spivey that sounds particularly good in a bubblebath.

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Please check them out and, if you can, help support the work of weareallghosts.

Tx