I haven't posted some pics on this blog for a wee while because, if I am honest, I've been in a bit of a funk with my photography of late. I was bitterly disappointed when I didn't get to second at a wedding recently and... well... I kind of lost interest for a while. What's more... the gang of photogs at my work have all went their own way... and I'm not as free at lunchtime now that I'm a gym-bunny.
Anyway... I got out into Olly's garden this morning with my trusty Nikon and was able to get a few shots. Olly also moved the pole we hang the fat balls off of to the front garden and was able to get some shots of our starlings... I say "our" because they live in a gap on our roof.
I can't wait for the clocks to change as we head into Spring... I'm in desperate need of some light. Hopefully the muse will inspire me once more.
"This is comfort food for the ears. If Alan Rickman from “Man vs Food” were to challenge this release… this delicious slab of sonic soulfood would win… hands down… especially after listening to the ninth track “greenie beanies”.
Do yourself a favour… download this album… put some headphones on… lie back and crank it up. You will thank me.
"There is such diversity of sound that it just makes my heart sing: drones… field recordings of crickets and the gentle trickle of water… chanting and subtle ethnic percussive moments… all coming together and working to make something sincerely beautiful."
My 12 year old, Dayna, sat me down tonight when I was meant to be in my bed... and made me watch this video. This is the first campaign she's really gotten behind and I am really supportive of her.
Please take the time to watch the video... and do all you can to raise awareness of the work of Joseph Kony and LRA.
When I get followed on Twitter I check out the follower... I'm a curious chap and I like to check out what a person is all about. This is especially true of musicians... if they have a bandcamp page I will check it out or have a wee nosy around their website.
Getting to know Steve Jones aka Stylusboy came from just such a nosy... I was curious and my curiosity paid off big time when I discovered his music. I predominately listen to ambient, electronic, post-rock and neoclassical soundscapes... lately I have been reviewing music in this genre for Alternative Matter and The Future Elements. This takes listening from solely a pleasure to a pleasure and a role... and there are times when I need to rest... to take the foot off the pedal and coast. The music I tend to listen to... when I am coasting so to speak... varies from classic rock music to sacred choral music... from opera to film soundtracks. I also have a real soft spot for acoustic singer/songwriters... it comes, in part, from my father's love of Simon and Garfunkel... and also from a love of stories and storytellers.
Stylusboy really tickles this soft spot for me... his music is wonderfully jaunty in a lo-fi, indie kind of way... upbeat and honest... with an earnest authenticity that I can really connect with.
His recent EP - Whole Picture - is a breath of fresh air... it features Jones on vocals, guitars, bass and glockenspiel; Rachel Grisedale on vocals; Tim Bowes on drums; and Chris Smith on keys; It has a roundness that is wonderful... a completeness that makes me scratch my head in wonder - how can Noah and the Whale be out in the mainstream and these guys aren't. The music industry doesn't make any sense sometimes.
Take the third track - "Left to hide" - for example... it features the cello of Peter Wilson and a real low key vibe... it is simply stunning... it builds in intensity as it unfolds and displays real musical talent. It is independent music at it's very best... and a poignant reminder the Britain does indeed have talent... it's just not on the reality TV shows.
Watch this video of the sixth track - "Dave's Song" - to get the gist:
Anyway... I took the opportunity to ask if Jones wouldn't mind answering my wee interview... he jumped at the chance... here is what he had to say:
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1) Who are you and what do you do?
I am Steve Jones aka Stylusboy, a singer songwriter from Coventry. I play music that has been described at "enchanting lofi folk". Lazy Acre Records release my music on a 'pay what you want' basis. I make all the cd sleeves myself by hand which is really important to me.
2) What are you working on at the moment?
My latest release is a live album called Four Walls which is a collection of songs recorded at various house shows I played last year.
I am also working on a collection of songs which will go on my debut album. I am really excited about this project.
3) Who inspires you? - Name an artist who has inspired you.
Laura marling.
- Name place that has inspired you.
My home.
- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
Being a dad to two amazing children, so the thing is their birth!
4) What drives you to do what you do?
Writing songs soothes my soul. As cheesy as that sounds it really is part of who I am. I love the full process of writing, right from the very beginning of a song through to completion. Recording and releasing the music and then communicating the song to people. I love how songs than take on a life of their own and have new meanings through the people who listen to them.
5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
A sense of hope. A lot of my songs ask questions about this journey of life. I also write quite a lot about love and family. My songwriting now is becoming a more collaborative process with my good friend Rachel Grisedale. We are writing a lot about sacrifices and determination.
6) What role does community play in what you do?
Community is hugely important for me. As a musician, fellow musicians are often friends and playing new songs to each other is a great way of developing. Also the online community through twitter and Facebook is brilliant. Twitter has created a amazing support for my music.
7) What is next for what you do?
Writing more songs for my album and starting to demo them. Also recording couple of live sessions, one for a German blog and one for a radio station in Indonesian! All very busy and exciting....
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Please follow his links... make contact and, most importantly, support fantastic independent music like Stylusboy. I've embedded a couple of his releases after the links... have a wee listen and, if you can, throw him a couple of quid or whatever you think his music is worth.
I am in the process of setting up a non-commercial netlabel entitled We Are All Ghosts and am working with one of my favourite ambient musicians to release some of their wonderful soundscapes in the near future.
I'll share more when I am able to.
My thanks to JD Blundell... he's my webninja of choice and a dear friend.
The iOS puzzler 90º features the brilliant post-rock soundscapes of the Echelon Effect as its soundtrack... I can't stress how much this enhances an already great wee game... it adds an immersive quality that is simply brilliant.
The crazy thing is... it isn't even mentioned in the developer Widebeam Digital's promo blurb. For me its a unique selling point... and got me thinking... imagine if indie developers used the music of indie musicians... it would be a great revenue for both parties... I for one would buy a game if it featured one of my fave musicians... I mean, I did with 90º.
The game itself is fab... a real treat for puzzle fans... something different and very imaginative... centred around innovative gameplay and a beautiful design, as you can see from the screenshots.
Recommended... especially considering it is a universal app.
When Futuresequence releases one of their free compilations... I listen. Today sees the release of their Sequence3 compilation.
I will post some thoughts on it in due course... but wanted to raise awareness for it. Please take some time to download this compilation and here some of the best new ambient and experimental music.
I was delighted to receive a press pack from Plum aka Shona Maguire recently that contained a copy of her latest album "The Seed"... I have a lot of time for her and I was not disappointed with what I heard. So much so I kept asking myself why isn't this lass in the mainstream... why isn't she selling gazillions of records and attend Oscars parties?
Seriously... the album is that good. It has the sound and feel of music from the leftfield of mainstream. Think Goldfrapp... think Imogen Heap... think The Knife but with Scottish pronunciation and you'll get a glimpse of what Plum offers on "The Seed".
Her music is wonderfully diverse - this album is filled with fuzzy bass and singalong choruses ("The Seed")... glacial electronics with subtle acoustic guitars ("The Truth & The Knife", "Dirt" or "The Climber")... beautifully layered vocals, melodic percussion and neoclassical strings ("Dust")... big, bass-heavy percussive electronics and effects ("Smile" or "Chrysalis")... found sounds ("Butterflies")... straight up acoustic guitar ("Quietly") and even full-on jump up party electro ("Secret Roots"). It is a distinctly varied release that makes for the most delightful attention-keeping journey.
I can't stress how truly lovely this release is... it deserves wider recognition... it is certainly far better than the pap that appears in the charts these days.
There isn't a bad track on this album. 12 tracks. 41 minutes of the most excellent and inventive electronica-influenced music I've heard in a while... really beautiful with a sense of longevity... this isn't a flash-in-the-pan release but something that will mature nicely.
My only criticism of this release is that it's not available on Bandcamp. I would have loved to have embedded the player at the bottom of this post and let you hear it. I have mentioned Bandcamp to Shona and I hope she gets the album up there ASAP. I want this release to have as wide a reach as possible and see Bandcamp as a huge stream for awareness and potential revenue for her.
All in... The Seed is a fantastic release that truly deserves all the recognition it can get.
