Today I released a six track, digital only, self-titled EP under the moniker ‘ease and desist’. It’s far more chilled out and heavily sample based than anything else I’ve done before, so probably fits into the ‘samplewave’ genre that I definitely didn’t just make up. You can have a listen/download over on Bandcamp.
Artwork comes from the fantastic Jake Brown.
After the last few posts concentrating largely on gear and production stuff, it’s good to be able to follow up with one centred on music.
I had planned to wait until I had an album together before releasing anything, but it became clear that a number of the earlier tracks had a sound that naturally branched off in a group. As a result, my first release in 4 years will be a 5 track EP titled ‘really something’. I can’t quite believe it’s been that long, but there we go.
The tracks themselves are all fairly laid back, and stripped back a lot from my previous sample-heavy chiptune releases. The only time the pulse really increases a shade is on ‘Down Street’, a track which previously only ever featured on the ‘Relycs‘ collaborative release that was put out on cassette, and dedicated to abandoned tube stations.
It feels like a nice transition. Listen out for my pal Haigie’s laugh on track 5.
The whole thing is up to stream/download for free over on bandcamp.
Tracklist:
Way back in April 2012, intrepid musical explorer Ash Cooke – aka Pulco – got in touch to ask if I’d be up for contributing to a collaboration inspired by some of the many desolate tube stations that lie under the City of London.
Having worked on a host of projects with Ash before, I knew how dedicated he was at coming up with really unique and experimental ideas, so agreed without much thought.
Fast-forward to 2013, and the release is finally (almost) upon us – penned in for the 30th of September.
The format will be limited edition C30 magnetic cassette tapes, each with 3 full colour numbered postcards, a credit sheet, as well as the digital download (obviously). There will only be 30 copies available. Ever. Full stop.
Here’s what the official press release says:
‘Songs For Abandoned Tube Stations’ is an EP of
songs by RELYCS (Ashley Cooke, Adam Leonard &
Stephen McLeod Blythe) inspired by the sights,
sounds and ghosts of the dozens of closed,
unused, or only-travelled-through-at-speed
Underground tube stations beneath the streets
of London. The EP contains 3 tracks – ‘Aldwych
Branch Line’, ‘Lord’s Station’ and ‘Down Street’,
recorded by Ashley Cooke (AKA Pulco), Adam
Leonard and Stephen McLeod Blythe (AKA
Unexpected Bowtie) respectively. The music
literally travels from Cooke’s complex and highly
evocative subterranean soundscape, past
Leonard’s dark, dripping platform of ominous
organ music, terminating at Blythe’s wonderfully
simple yet affective[sic] chip tune Nintendo Gameboy
programming, like the music from some
uncreated ‘Super Mario London Underground’
game. Mind the gap and enjoy your journey…
Aside from my burbling chiptune sounds, the other guys are great at what they do.
For more info on them, check out their respective sites:
Adam Leonard – www.themessagetapes.com
Ash Cooke – www.pulcomusic.com
The EP will be available from Monday 30th September at http://pethaugarw.tumblr.com/
the economic benefits of individual contraction
So far there haven’t been too many elongated track titles on this collaborative jaunt, so the time is right; the time is now.
Delay Trees are a ‘dream-pop’ foursome from Helsinki, Finland. They have all the delicate nature and sing-songy delight of the rather good Iain Archer, and they provide the ambient background to the latest track. There’s an interesting mix of Gameboys, mandolin and other effects to be found. Drums come courtesy of Keith Grantham, who’s already been introduced.
You can find more of Delay Trees at their Soundcloud.
the economic benefits of individual contraction by unexpectedbowtie
