Run For Cover……

A couple of years back I recorded a series of themes and incidental music for the web serial “Doomwatch” which is based on the classic BBC sci-fi series of the same name. The incidental music was basically a collection of short passages, influenced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, consisting of noise or repetitions of the main theme’s motif. As for the theme itself, I wanted to try to echo the dramatic, slightly melancholy music of composers such as Roy Budd and Ron Grainer. So I put together a series of similar themes of varying lengths with different instrumentation for each. Here’s my original main theme:

Anyway, a relatively new musical aquaintance, Ian Thistlethwaite, has produced a rather cool cover version of the track. Not only is it in keeping with the original mood, but it’s been revoiced for guitar and sounds bloody great! It’s great to have your music covered by someone who understands what it’s about…here it is:

2010: Reflection

From a chilly and snowbound Cardiff, as another year comes to a close, its time to look back to a year of productivity, collaboration and mixed fortunes.

2010 was a good year. The two highlights for me being my new affiliation with Yeah! netlabel; and the chance to record a live session for Greg Healey‘s Dandelion Radio show. Running a close second to that was the release of ‘Be.ep‘ and ‘4:10‘ as Cwtch, at the start of the year; my remix work and the inclusion of my cover of Doves’ ‘Firesuite’ on the charity album “Echoes In The Alleyway…“

Its been great to partake in such things, especially as the rigours of work (a day-job that demands much of my time and effort), and life (at times complicated….like everyone else’s!) sometimes prevent me from doing what I really want to do, ie: music.
Its also been great to work with some truly wonderful and talented people; albeit via this interwebnet thing. My soundtrack album for Doomwatch.org‘s audio-dramas; the remix I did of Matt Stevens’ amazing track ‘Big Sky‘; my ongoing collaboration with Marie Craven (Cwtch), and my work with Nita Disaster, all goes to highlight what talent there is out there, sometimes unsung. I’ve been really lucky to work with these guys.

Regarding other people’s music; I’ve discovered some great stuff from commercially successful, and not so commercially successful, artists.
Allow me to recommend, in particular:

Matt Stevens
Moist
The Echelon Effect
Squarepusher’s fantastic ‘Shobaleader One’
Tara Busch
THEreminGIRL
The Nurse Who Loved Me
The Honored Guests
Toffeetronic
Wire Mother
Big Block 454

Also, the bloggers and podcasters/broadcasters who do what they do because they love music

Failed Muso
Greg Healey
Gabor Kovacs
This Reality Podcast
Dandelion Radio
Mark Whitby
AnalogSuicide
Doves Music Blog
Cerysmatic
SoulJazz Records
LTM Records
Recycle (Joy Division/New Order Archivist – some great Factory freebies)

and many others that I’ve forgotten to mention.

So, there it is. Its been a busy year of listening to and producing music. And hopefully there’ll be more to come in 2011. Have a great xmas and new year, and thanks for reading/listening.
Adios…

Some Seasonal Recommendations and Stocking (ipod) Fillers

As everyone readies themselves for the onslaught of consumerism and excess that is Christmas and the New Year, its good to know that there is still a lot of quality music on the internet which can be obtained either for free, or for a minimal cost. While your credit cards and wallets take a battering this Winter, you can still obtain music which can be inspirational, exhilarating and cool, for nothing.

I’ve worked with Somojo Acoustic Artist of 2010 Matt Stevens (virtually at least) on my remix of his track ‘Big Sky’. And I only found his music by chance (via Twitter), despite his very active presence as a blogger and tweeter. For those of you still unfamiliar with his oeuvre; he creates wonderfully melodic and atmospheric instrumental tunes with just a guitar and a looper pedal. Despite my own predeliction for dense arrangements and even denser sounds, Matt’s music works best when it’s stripped-down, with all the melodic elements and layers created on just the guitar. He’s a virtuoso musician, and is able to create rich soundscapes, as well as beautiful tunes; wringing maximum emotion from his acoustic guitar.
As with most ‘reviews’, its best to ignore what’s written and just hear the music. So, check him out. A good ‘taster’ can be found in the form of Matt’s own weekly podcast ‘Sunday Free Noodle’.

The Honored Guests are a five-piece band from North Carolina. They contributed to the recent album of cover versions of Doves’ tracks entitled, “Echoes In The Alleyway”.
You could describe their music as ‘indie’, if you want to use bland generic terminology; but it wouldn’t do their music any justice. Their sound encompasses elements of West Coast rock, prog, country, folk and soul, and all points in between. They’re one of those bands (like Doves) whose music can be both uplifting and melancholic at the same time, which is a feat.
Anyway, I’m really liking their album ‘Please Try Again’.

LTM is a netlabel run by James Nice here in the UK. It deals in music which is very dear to my heart, that being rare and previously deleted post-punk music, particularly that from old-school labels such as Factory, Postcard, Les Disques de Crepescule and Cherry Red. Mainly selling newly remastered CD’s (usually for £10 each – they’d make good xmas presents!), LTM is both a business and a labour of love. If you’re not familiar with names like Crispy Ambulance, Thick Pidgeon, The Wake, Anna Domino or Biting Tongues; check them out and you’ll find quirky, sometimes challenging, pop with avant-garde leanings which has influenced a long roll-call of contemporary bands and artists. The LTM website is a relatively no-frills affair, but you’ll find some background info about the artists, as well as some rather cool reference-points ranging from obscure Belgian bands to the work of giants of European Modernist art. Its like 1982 all over again!  Also, and rather pleasingly, some of the music is now being sold as downloads on iTunes.

That is all…..

MonoStereo ep3 now available

Episode 3 features music by AnyColorBlack, The Honored Guests, The Disappeared, The Nurse Who Loved Me, Wire Mother and Alambradas. This is MonoStereo: a no-nonsense music audioblog featuring eclectic music from across the globe…with some nervous stuttering from me in between!

Tracklist:

You – Any Color Black

Paper Trails – The Honored Guests

Karen Silkwood – The Disappeared

Slowest Summer – The Nurse Who Loved Me

Atomised – Wire Mother

Melody Calls – Alambradas

Go HERE to listen or subscribe.

Its also available at Last.fm and Soundcloud as a free MP3.

Available for weddings, birthdays and bah mitzvahs…..

Just a reminder that my albums are free (pay-as-you-want: no minimum) at Bandcamp.com, under Creative Commons. That means you can download the music, enjoy it, share it with others and use it to soundtrack your wedding video. Any video actually; as long as its not for commercial use and you credit me for the music. In fact, you may want to make a video for my music (which would be cool) if you’ve got the skills. If you do, let me know and send me an MP4 so I can put it on my YouTube channel (with full credit to you, of course).

That’s all I wanted to say really. There are also lots of CC freebies on Last.fm (albeit 128kbps).
Cheers.

A Very Short Bulletin

Echoes In The Alleyway is available now. Its free, but with an option to make a donation to the Teenage Cancer Trust. My version of ‘Firesuite’ is the opening track. http://www.echoesinthealleyway.com/download/

Also, November 25th sees a free download release of my live session for Greg Healey’s Dandelion Radio show on Yeah! netlabel’s site; with new tracks available shortly after.

Happy days!

‘Echoes In The Alleyway’ Press Release

Fans echo their heroes in aid of charity

04 October 2010 – Epic Mancunian rockers, Doves, may be embarking on a self-imposed hiatus, but that hasn’t stopped a group of fans from celebrating their sound in a novel way.

Echoes in the Alleyway – a tribute to Doves is a compilation album of Doves cover versions performed and recorded by the band’s own fans. Available to download for free from 18 October, the album is the brainchild of Doves fansite creator, Nicky McMillan. “It was born out of a drunken conversation after a Doves concert,” admits McMillan, “but after floating the idea on my fansite, it was obvious that people wanted to be involved.”

The album – available in both MP3 and WAV audio formats – showcases the talents of 23 bands and individuals performing their own take on Doves’ songs such as The Cedar Room and Snowden. Its release is timed to coincide with Doves’ final concert in their hometown of Manchester on 16 October.

“This is a way for artists to show their appreciation of Doves in the 12 years since the band’s Cedar EP was released,” McMillan explains. “That said, there is also another point to it.”

In August, it was announced that the Teenage Cancer Trust would benefit from the fan’s album. Although downloads are free, people will be asked to make a small donation.

“Our fundraising target is a modest £500, but if we can make more, that would be fantastic,” enthuses McMillan.

“Echoes in the Alleyway” will be available for download at www.echoesinthealleyway.com from 18 October. Voluntary donations can be made to the Teenage Cancer Trust through the website or via the Teenage Cancer Trust website, http://www.teenagecancertrust.org.

Contact: Nicky McMillan
Tel: +1-312-927-9702
Email: info@echoesinthealleyway.com
Web: www.echoesinthealleyway.com

‘Echoes In The Alleyway’ Tracklist

Well, its almost two weeks to the release of the album, and Nicky (MacMillan – the guy who brilliantly put this all together) has sorted out and issued the tracklist.
The order of play has been much thought about. Despite the fact that you can download individual tracks separately, as many people will, this is still an ‘Album’ (capital A) and is intended to be heard from beginning to end.
Anyway, Nicky’s done a great job of coordinating all this.
Remember, this album can be downloaded free, but a decent contribution to the Teenage Cancer Trust would be most welcome.

Release date: 18th October 2010

‘ECHOES IN THE ALLEYWAY: A TRIBUTE TO DOVES’ TRACKLIST:

‘Disc One’

01. Dementio13 Firesuite

02. The Honored Guests M62 Song

03. Tom Hummer House Of Mirrors

04. A Clearing Snowden

05. Substance Sea Song (Substance Sonar Remix)

06. springtide Rise (Live From Abandoned Seaside)

07. Thoughts Of Crossing Compulsion

08. Loren Carpenter – Red Guts The Last Son

09. prAnkster Caught By The River

10. Ella Constantinides – Friday’s Dust

11. Clarion Words (Reprise)

12. Bradley Rains The Cedar Room

‘Disc Two’

01. Supercade Eleven Miles Out

02. Town Criers Black And White Town

03. Fourteenhours Here It Comes

04. Dr.Keys Dub’s House Of Mirrors

05. Silentjets The Outsiders

06. Substance Spellbound (Substance Quartet Mix)

07. The Jetsprays Brazil

08. Alambradas Melody Calls

09. Loren Carpenter – Red Guts Some Cities

10. Richard Stephens and John Howe Andalucia

11. John Rockliffe Caught By The River

12. The Nurse Who Loved Me The Cedar Room

13. Modeon Ambition