Presenting ... Flux (waag_rel120) by Matthew VandenBrook

I have a real fondness for Matthew VandenBrook and his uniquely particular (and particularly unique) version of experimental electronic music.

He pushes boundaries and, at times, challenges me within his prolific expressions ... often leaving me perplexed until (as much through exposure as epiphany) the lightbulb comes on and I get to see (hear) his music through his eyes (ears). "Flux" is such an album.

I cannot begin to describe the sounds featured on "Flux", it truly has to be heard ... to be experienced ... to be worn in. What I will say, however, is that "Flux" is most definitely in keeping with the rest of his body of work and I am proud to present it on weareallghosts.

As before, my thanks goes to the wonderful waag community ... for their generous support.

A 320kbps version of this release will be available, for free, over on Archive with a lossless version available here on Bandcamp for ‘pay what you want’.

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https://archive.org/details/waag_rel120

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Presenting ... Oblique (waag_rel095) by Matthew VandenBrook

Oblique, the latest release by Matthew VandenBrook on weareallghosts, is a fully immersive and adventurous journey ... from the opening atmospherics of "An evolution of the path" to the closing piano of "The Transcience of Beautiful Things" ... the listener is bathed in exotic, otherworldly ambience that enthrals and engages. 

VandenBrook's use of sound is remarkable ... I have always thought this but he really has confirmed it on Oblique ... the quirky notes and electronic patterns that create engaging atmospheres, the drones that bathe the listener in light, the sounds that entertain; Oblique truly is a delight. 

I really hope there is more Matthew VandenBrook in waag's future. I love his music and have throughly enjoyed what he has released through this little netlabel.

Thanks to the support of Cousin Silas and Warren Daly … and the wonderful waag community ... I’m proud to be able to offer a 320kbps version of this release for free over on Archive with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for ‘pay what you want’.

I really hope you will enjoy Oblique as much as I do.

- Thomas

https://archive.org/details/waag_rel095

Presenting ... "Extropy (waag_rel083)" by Matthew VandenBrook

Extropy … a noun … the theory that cultural and technological development will expand indefinitely and in an orderly progressive manner throughout the universe, the tendency of systems to grow more organised.

I am proud to present a wonderfully atmospheric and very “sci-fi” (as my daughter described it) album from Matthew VandenBrook entitled “Extropy” … more ambient than his previous release, the marvellous “Sound Then Silence (waag_rel064)” released just over one year ago, “Extropy” has an eerie cinematic quality about it that I love.

This is music that paints pictures in my head: abandoned places in the furthest reaches of our imagination, late at night in a Blade Runner-esque dystopian urban expanse of neon and reflection, the chattering of Gibson’s sprawl at dawn … the kind of things that seem to run contrary with the title.

Who knows what the future will bring … will it expand indefinitely? I don’t know. What I do know, however, is that I will enjoy this album for years to come. VandenBrook has surpassed himself.

A 320kbps version of this release will be available over on Archive for free with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for ‘pay what you want’ which does include ‘free’. If you decide to download this album here for free, and you can with our best wishes, then all we ask is that you please tell people about it.

Tx



https://archive.org/details/waag_rel083

Presenting ... LOOKING BACK moving forward VOL.001

LOOKING BACK moving forward VOL.001 features new music from Cousin Silas, Kevin Lyons, David Gerard, and Brother Saturn; tracks that will either appear on new releases in 2016 or are exclusive to this compilation.

As with last year’s compilation, there will be a small charge for the music featured during the month of January. All proceeds will be donated to HOSPICE UK, a charity based in the UK 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 Senior Business Analyst in Glasgow, Scotland; my employer actively and generously supports HOSPICE UK and doubles any donation made by her staff - by paying for this album (22p per track) we will hopefully be able to raise some money for a really great cause and give a little good back into the world.

The album will not be available on Archive although you will be able to stream it on Soundcloud.

My sincere thanks to everyone who released their music on weareallghosts in 2015 … and to Cousin Silas and Kevin Lyons for helping me choose the tracks featured.

Here’s to 2016 … we will feature some new names along with all the old favourites this year. I hope you enjoy what’s to come as much as I do!

Tx



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Tracklisting
01. Cousin Silas - Berlin Evenings (edit) 06:11
02. Cousin Silas - Dronescape 028 edit with guitar 20:16
03. David Gerard - Hypnotique 18:14
04. Symatic Star & String Theories - Compressionism (Symatic Star & Stephen Briggs) 11:32
05. Cousin Silas & Kevin Lyons - The Desolation 11:14
06. Kevin Lyons - Learning to Let Go 07:24
07. Cousin Silas - Dronescape 002 edit with guitar 04:28
08. Symatic Star & String Theories - Yearning (Symatic Star & Cousin Silas) 09:19
09. Brother Saturn - Beacons 14:14
10. Cousin Silas - Returning to Dust (January 1974) 07:13
11. Matthew VandeBrook - Metempsychosis 04:20
12. Cousin Silas - Tim Jones - Kevin Lyons - Narcoleptic Summer 05:24
13. Cousin Silas - Dronescape 030 edit with guitar 11:26
14. Cousin Silas - Further East 07:22
15. Brother Saturn - Snowdrift 04:14
16. Scott Lawlor and The Gateless Gate - Lemurian Shores- (a) Pleasure Garden (b) Temple 16:08
17. Cousin Silas & Kevin Lyons - The Backstreets Of Marsport Ain’t No Place For Tourists 04:56
18. Kevin Lyons - Dark Flow 05:16
19. Cousin Silas & David Gerard - Bagatelle for Harp and Orchestra 03:54
20. Brother Saturn - I’ve Never Felt This Way Before 06:41
21. Cousin Silas - Tim Jones - Kevin Lyons - Radio Dunwich 07:22
22. Cousin Silas - The Other Jezebel 04:09
23. Cousin Silas - Old Tin Hat 04:39

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a bonus track from Gurdonark: "Constellation Blackbird"

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Presenting ... Sound then Silence (waag_rel064) by Matthew VandenBrook

“Sound then Silence (waag_rel064)” from Matthew VandenBrook is a wonderfully inventive album that brings a new dimension of sound to weareallghosts, something uniquely expressive and engaging.

“Sound then Silence (waag_rel064)” explores more electronic and IDM-related genres, and does so in a manner that doesn’t negate VandenBrook’s ambient, drone-influenced, origins. In fact, tracks 6, 7 and 9 - “Reincarnation”, “Metempsychosis” and the title track “Sound then Silence” respectively - are the most delightful of ambient soundscapes. However, his use of percussive elements, found-sounds, sequencers and vocal samples to complement his emotive ambient electronic soundscapes on the remains really caught my attention and left me wanting more.

From the opening chords of “Ashes from the Sky” I knew I was in for a treat and I am delighted to say Matthew VandenBrook did not let me down. I cannot recommend “Sound then Silence (waag_rel064)” enough, it really has a hold of me and I hope it finds a place of prominence in your collection.

An MP3 version of this album is available for free on Archive or a lossless version available on Bandcamp for 'pay what you want' which does include £0 ... and remember, paying supporters on Bandcamp also get unlimited mobile access to the album using the free Bandcamp listening app.

If you do decide to download this album for free then all we ask in return is that you tell your friends, tweet a link or post it on Facebook, write a review and spread the word.

- Tx



https://archive.org/details/waag_rel064

Presenting ... "Without Sin (waag_rel047)" by Matthew VandenBrook

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I am deeply honoured to present "Without Sin (waag_rel047)" from Detroit based musician Matthew VandenBrook and am proud to welcome him to the weareallghosts community.

"Without Sin (waag_rel047)" is a fitting piece to be released on Good Friday, 2014 ... and while each listener will make of it what they will ... I, for one, have received remarkable inspiration from this piece as I have walked my own, personal Lenten journey.

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.

I am grateful to Matthew VandenBrook for submitting "Without Sin (waag_rel047)" and am proud to add it to the weareallghosts canon. I look forward to the possibility of more from him.

I hope you enjoy "Without Sin (waag_rel047)"as much as I do.

An MP3 version of this album is available for free on Archive or a lossless version available on Bandcamp for 'pay what you want' which does include £0.

If you do decide to download this album for free then all we ask in return is that you tell your friends, tweet a link or post it on Facebook, write a review and spread the word.

- Tx

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https://archive.org/details/waag_rel047