Received... in the post

Its always nice to receive a package in the mail... today, I received two. One was a CD wrapped in a brown paper bag (pictured above and below) from Ed Rotherham. The CD is entitled "Start Listening" by the Being Human Project and can be downloaded for free from Come and Live.



Now... I am not usually a fan of worship music... but this has that something special about it. I loved the small details... like the wax seal on the back of the bag or the stamp on the front. They are nice touches, in my opinion... that amplify the music contained within the bag.

Thanks Ed!



I also received this nifty little tin from Roy Petersen who recently tour Hong Kong and New Zealand. Apparently he saw it and thought of me... not sure what that says about me (I guess I am a bit red) but I love it and have immediately brought it into use as a 'business' card holder. I holds a dozen nicely.

Thanks Roy!

What I am listening to... (2)

The following have been on rotation over the last week or so...



Farewell Shadows by Canyons of Static

I've been given this and the following album to review for Noor Kadiwala's site 'the Future Elements'. I'm excited at this opportunity and whilst I don't want to give anything away... if you like post-rock then you'll love this album.



Underneath the Stars by Good Weather for an Airstrike

Again... I can't say anything at the moment other than... OMGoodness!!!



Deep Politics by Grails

The next few releases were picked up due to their inclusion on the Silent Ballet's top 100 albums of 2011.

If you are a fan of instrumental post-rock, like me, then it doesn't get much better than Deep Politics by Grails. They create wonderfully deep and immersive soundscapes that bewitch the listener. Truly brilliant and their listing at no1 on the Silent Ballet's top 100 was well deserved.



Celestial Lineage by Wolves in the Throne Room

I'm not a big fan of extreme metal... whilst I love the music, the vocals leave me cold. WINTR however have something magical about their sound... a deep ambience within the dark metal guitars... that helps me to warm to their harsh vocal stylings. Its an acquired taste... and we do have some ideological differences but there is more to agree on than disagree... and their pounding drums do help at the gym.



Red Riding Hood OST by Brian Reitzell and Alex Heffes

Soundtracks do not get better... or darker... than this one or the next in this list. Deliciously dark and mysterious... the electronics work well with the orchestral accompaniment to make a truly excellent backing. The inclusion of Fever Ray is simply inspired... I love her vocal style and electronic soundscapes... they really fit into the over ambience of the recording. I haven't seen the film but I want to.



The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo OST by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

I haven't seen this film yet but I have read the book... and I can't think of anyone more appropriate for the starkness and brutality contained within the pages than Trent Reznor... whose pairing with Atticus Ross (whose soundtrack to 'The Book of Eli' is brilliant and a favourite of mine) is truly inspired.

The opening track... a cover of Led Zep's "Immigrant Song" with Karen O on vocals... is so raw and direct that it took my breath away when I first heard it. It still does affects me after repeated listens.

Whereas the closing track... a cover of Bryan Ferry's "Is Your Love Strong Enough" by How To Destroy Angels (a band which features Mariqueen Maandig Reznor on vocals as well as Reznor and Ross) is almost directly opposite... it is exquisite in its beauty and delicateness.

Truly brilliant... and with 39 tracks... well worth the investment.



Plains of the Purple Buffalo by *Shels

More metal sounds... this time from a band I hadn't heard before their listing on the Silent Ballet's top 10. They infuse their metal with ambient soundscapes and even brass instrumentation to create something truly special and beautiful.

Have a wee listen below to see what I mean:



That's me for now... keep supporting independent music... and check out The Silent Ballet for the heads-up on other great albums/artists.

Tx

my first 'intentional' online fast

One of my intentions for 2012 is to consume less... and on Friday night... over to Saturday morning I did just that... I held an 'online fast'. From 1900hrs until I woke at 0815hrs on the Saturday I was offline.

No Twitter, Facebook or this blog... no Wikipedia, Flickr or Tumblr... I was offline.

Instead of being online... I read two longform articles from Loops Journal and watched a couple of Bear Grylls shows with Dayna and Olly. I listened to a live King Crimson CD (The Great Deceiver vol1) and Bon Iver's eponymous album from 2011. I drank tea and let go.

I know 13 hours isn't that remarkable... especially when 8 of them passed with me sleeping... but it is a start.

What did I take from the experience?

1. I had time to think... and to consider new ideas.
2. I got to spend time with Olly and the we'ans... and was with them... not partly but completely.
3. I got to appreciate the 'yin and yang' of contrast... I appreciate more being online for having been offline... I was able to rest.
4. I was able to experience 'real time' again... the sense of a hour feeling like an hour.
5. I recovered a sense of control... I could say no to my iPhone and it's attractive distractions.

I gained as much as I missed... and I'd do it again.

Yes... I am probably over-analysing the experience but it did work for me... so much so that I believe it could become part of my weekly rhythm.

Tx

new URL... same content

I recently won a domain and hosting in a competition run by NSDesign... a Glaswegian design company who my friend Marc de Ridder speaks very highly of. Gary Ennis' "twelve days of tweetmas" was a great wee comp and I won a caption competition by referencing the Social Media workshops he runs.

Anyway, whilst I was choosing the domain for "a hint of bergamot" I decided to get another "vanity" URL - I own www.headphonaught.com already and decided to get www.headphonaught.co.uk for this ol' nanolog. I've had this blog since 2005 and I can't think of any reason to change it... so I just changed the URL.



The old address (www.nanolog.blogspot.com) will redirect to it no problems albeit Google are telling porkies as they are still hosting it... only the name has changed.

I would heartily recommend both NSDesign for their service and JDBlundell for his web-ninjutsu... I'm such a newbie when it comes to setting up domains and hosting... and he sorted it all for me without any hassle. He is a star and a true brother.

Tx

Three key releases at the back end of 2011

There were three key releases in December that I missed off my lists that warrant acknowledgement now:

First up... we have the "more hope for Japan" compilation is simply stunning with 37 tracks from a wide range of artists in the ambient, electronic and postrock fields. This compilation, curated by Noor Kadiwala from The Eternal Twilight and Adam Homfray from Oxide Tones, is simply wonderful. Both deep and wide, instantly accessibly and rewarding of repeated listens... it trumps it's predecessor and comes in as THE best compilation of 2011, in my humble opinion.

There are too many artists to name on this recording... and I wouldn't do justice to those I'd miss out by doing so... instead I will recommend you buy it, support the Japanese relief effort and, in doing so, have something beautiful to fall in love with and treasure for a very long time.

€10 for download with other options available

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We then have the fourth and final instalment in the Echelon Effect's Seasons series of EPs. One track coming in at more than twenty three minutes is a fitting end to the project. Rogers' work has been exemplary in the intersection between ambient and postrock and whilst it will be sad to think their will be no further output from him during 2012... I feel his hiatus has been more than well deserved.

Pay what you want

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Lastly we have Rainer Straschill's "akustik kies" which is a collection of piano-orientated neo-classical soundscapes that are partnered with electronics, manipulation and a whole heap of dissonance to create something truly interesting and engaging. I find I have to be in the right mood for this album but when I am... I marvel at Staschill's inventiveness and imagination.


Pay what you want

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Please support independent music.

Tx

My top 30 artists in 2011 per Last.FM

According to Last.FM... here are the top thirty artists I listened to in 2011... determined by the number of plays 'scrobbled' which takes into account plays on my MBP, my iPhones, iPods and iPad. It doesn't take into account any plays of CDs or vinyl on my hi-fi or in my car.

Tx

Things I intend to do in 2012...

I love Christmas and New Year's almost as much as I love my annual holiday to somewhere warm and sunny... they are different in many ways but they are the same in two... (1) I get to spend time with my family and (2) I get to think.

I don't like the idea of a resolution so I've headed this post "things I intend to do in 2012"... it's all about my intention... the battle being before I even get down to doing it.

I intend to do the following...

1) Read more. 
I am working on this. Finding time to read in the bath or on the train. My Kindle is great for this... I just wish it was waterproof so I didn't worry as much. I also have a ton of physical books I haven't read yet that I need to dig into.
I intend to read at least 12 books and read my Bible everyday using the YouVersion app - I'm currently working through the NT using the Optina Monastery plan.
I am working through H.P. Lovecraft's short stories... Lewis Hyde's "The Gift" and David Allen's "Getting Things Done"... and intend to finish them too.


2) Write more.
I love to write and I intend to continue writing here, on the Something Beautiful podcast blog and as a "digital disciple" on the Big Bible blog.
With regards this blog... my aim is for 1 post per day. I want to do all I can to support the musicians and artists I find.


3) Exercise more.
This is something I always struggle with but my intention is to be more active.
As such, I've joined a gym in Glasgow's City Centre (The Gym Group - corner of Jamaica St - £10.99 per month) and intend to visit it at lest three lunchtimes a week with @myopicaardvark - instead of playing Yahtzee we're going to the gym... because I, for one, need the moral support.
I will also keep the gym on at the Boathouse... and try to go twice or three times a week too.


4) Photograph more. 
I need to keep moving with my photography and intend to undertake a "project 366" and take a photo-a-day during 2012. I also want to take the pictures of at least 100 people. Lastly, I intend to resurrect "a hint of bergamot" and will let you know more about this ASAP.


5) Consume less. 
I need to learn how to work with what I have... and intend to consume less:
* buy less stuff and celebrate what I have already... this includes apps for my iOS toys and books for my Kindle as much as physical stuff like clothes, CDs & books - consume less so I can appreciate what I have more.
* stop spending as much time on the Internet and use my time more productively - consume less so I can create more or spend time doing the top four.


I have a few dreams that I'd love to see happen... but will talk about them some other time.

I'll keep you posted.

Tx

What I am listening to... 9 from Bandcamp (1)

( Raleigh ) by Amberhaze

Sitting in the crossroads between ambient, electronica and shoegazing post-rock... this is an EP filled with powerfully evocative soundscapes. Repeated listens bring out new sounds and textures.

Free download

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Sleep EP by Artificial Sun Project

I love this follow up EP to 62204... Sean's particular style of deliciously dark electronica is my kind of wonderful. There are so many sounds in these tracks... they feed my imagination and provide the soundtrack to my day.

Pay what you want

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Without the World by Birds of Passage

An engaging recording from the immensely talented Alicia Merz... deep ambient drones and acoustic instrumentation combined with the most haunting and ethereal vocals to make something very special indeed.

$9 for download with CD + Vinyl options available

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Alone together by Norah Lorway

Discovered this EP today... thanks to a recommendation from Wolfgang Merx... and instantly fell for her glacial drones and engaging ambient sounds. Lovely.

Free download

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Expeditions on the Grayscale (one tiny, two medium and a grand one) by Le Berger

An EP of truly exquisite ambient soundscapes... with the opening track now my ringtone on my iPhone. I can't express how beautiful this EP is to me... and how disappointed I get when it finishes. It's exemplary of the best in ambient electronica.

Pay what you want

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Festive Greetings from Hibernate and Home Normal

I know the Festive period is nearly passed... but this compilation of Festive / Christmas themed tracks from the Hibernate and Home Normal stables was a welcome and valued addition to my Advent music collection.

It was originally released as a CD edition of 100 and given away for free at the Hibernate/Home Normal Christmas show on the 18th December last year... but I am grateful they released it as a download. All proceeds from the recording go to the Archway Foundation... which was established in Oxford in 1982 by Paul Hawgood to help serve those hurt by loneliness.

This was one of two "charity" downloads that I happily bought because of the content presented... the fact the proceeds went to a good cause was a wonderful extra. I look forward to next Advent... I have a feeling this album will become a regular on my Festive playlist.

£5

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the forgotten t​(​h​)​ree by flyingdeadman

I feel bad that I missed this album when it came out in August... but was delighted to hear it when I was recommended it recently (I've forgotten who recommended it... sorry!)

The album contains some wonderfully powerful, imaginative and emotionally charged post-rock soundscapes... that make me smile and remind me of all the reasons why I love post-rock music.

Free download

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Infinite Prayers by Phillip Wilkerson

A deeply spiritual and engaging longform drone from one of my favourite ambient soundsculptors. Beautiful!

Pay what you want

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Cathedrals of Gravity by Sublamp

An engaging and immersive three-track EP of minimal ambient electronic soundscapes... that leaves me eager for more.

Free download

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That's me for now... loads more to share but I need to get offline and spend some time with my family.

Please do what you can to support independent music.

Tx

Happy New Year

inni... a film by Sigur Ros

I was very grateful to receive "inni" by Sigur Ros on both CD and DVD for a Christmas present. The recording is amazing... it reminds me of when I saw them live in Glasgow a few years back.

What's more... the way the film has been shot... in very grainy black and white... is very much in keeping with my current photographic aesthetic. It's simply a wonder to behold.

Recommended... especially if you are a Sigur Ros fan.

Tx