Presenting ... "Curious Warnings (waag_rel036)" by Kevin Lyons

"St Bertrand de Comminges is a decayed town on the spurs of the Pyrenees, not very far from Toulouse, and still nearer to Bagnères-de-Luchon."

And so begins "Canon Alberic's Scrapbook" from Dr M. R. James' "Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" ... or at least my Penguin Books copy from May 1941 does.

I received this copy from Cousin Silas when I stayed at his house at the end of August. This was the weekend that I met Ade Hodges and Kevin Lyons, the weekend where Lyons explained his plans for a trilogy of dark ambient albums inspired by Dr M. R. James' writing.

To this point, I wasn't familiar with James' writing but was eager to know more. I am a big fan of 'weird fiction' and early 20th century sci-fi / horror ... Dr M. R. James' writing fit nicely into this list.

When Lyons told me of his intended trilogy, I was fascinated and wanted to know more - more about the music and the writer. I was not disappointed by either.

Curious Warnings (waag_rel036) is a real treat ... one that captures the deliciously uncomfortable nature of James' writing ... and translates the unsettling atmospheres into sound.

I do love some dark ambient and this album is a fine example of the genre. I hope you enjoy it 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 (albeit paying supporters also get unlimited mobile access using the free Bandcamp listening app).

Tx

PS Amazon has Dr M. R. James' "Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" (parts 1 and 2) for the Kindle for free. Recommended reading ... especially on Christmas Eve.



https://archive.org/details/waag_rel036

Presenting... "Knurled Fog | Agerich (waag_sng005)" by Red Pools

Since 2008 I have been producing and releasing music under various names, most notably electronic music under the name Artificial Sun Project. In 2013 I ended this project, and out of it's ashes came Red Pools.

This is my first double single of my new material, reflective of a new style of music, and a new direction.

Two sides of mournful techno ... with swaying, claustrophobic atmospheres that gurgle and crackle in a rather delightful manner with murky thumping, quasi-wurlizer, piano recomposition and intercepted transmissions.

Many thanks to Martha Agerich, Wolfgang Merx and Thomas Mathie.

waag_sng005 is dedicated to Steve Morton ... a true fan of music.

- Sean Cotterill aka Red Pools
redpools.bandcamp.com + weareallghosts.co.uk

----------

I am a big fan of Sean's music. His Artificial Sun Project was a real pleasure and I was one of a small but dedicated band who mourned the project's demise.

I was understandably delighted to hear of Red Pools rising, like a phoenix, from the ashes of ASP ... and over-the-moon when I was approached by Sean to release the first single.

Sean's description of his music - swaying, claustrophobic atmospheres - is apt and I welcome it, and him, to weareallghosts.

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 (albeit paying supporters also get unlimited mobile access using the free Bandcamp listening app).

Any monies raised will go to Sean Cotterill to keep those musical gears turning.

- Thomas

Credits
Released 25 November 2013
Music composed & recorded by Red Pools aka Sean Cotterill
Artwork by Sean Cotterill
Design & Logistics by Thomas Mathie for weareallghosts.co.uk

https://archive.org/details/waag_sng005

Presenting ... "The Space Between The Leaves / Meadows of Summer (waag_rel035)" by Scott Lawlor

Scott Lawlor is a tremendous supporter of weareallghosts, playing our music on his show on stillstream. He is part of the waag familia  and I am proud to present two longish ambient drones from him.

"The Space Between The Leaves" - is the first in a series of longer-form drones called "The Space Between" ... this is an ongoing project from Scott and I hope to bring you further instalments in the future.

"...The Leaves" is a darker, noisier drone that almost overwhelms but ultimately rewards the listener with an immersive experience.

"Meadows In Summer" is a lighter longer-form piece with a haunting and rather surprising ending which I found an utter delight when I first heard it.

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 (albeit paying supporters also get unlimited mobile access using the free Bandcamp listening app).

Tx



https://archive.org/details/waag_rel035

Presenting ... "Dronescape 013 (waag_drs013)" by Cousin Silas

It has been just over a month since we released the previous 2 instalments of Cousin Silas' Dronescape series ... and I couldn't wait to bring another one to you.

And what an instalment this is!!! The 13th Dronescape is a bold, upfront exploration of space and time through ambient sound. It is 70 minutes of sheer of unadulterated joy ... a truly immersive longform journey with an almost tangible sense of cinematic proportion ... and I, for one, love it. This series just gets better and better.

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 (albeit paying supporters on Bandcamp also get unlimited mobile access to "Dronescape 013 (waag_drs013)" using the free Bandcamp listening app).

We are currently exploring options for a physical Cousin Silas release. Any funds raised by 013 will go towards this.

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.

We will post more information regarding the physical release in due course but for now ... enjoy 013.

- Tx



https://archive.org/details/waag_drs013

Presenting ... "The Sound of Space (waag_rel034)" by Colin Blake

With "The Sound of Space (waag_rel034)", Colin Blake has expressed his love and admiration for all things 'space'.

In his intricate notes that accompanied his submission, he speaks of the birth of new stars, and of life on more than just Earth … of comets, and the songs star-clouds sing as new stars are born … of solar flares, and travel to distant galaxies; it makes for fascinating reading.

More than that, it makes for fascinating music - sci-fi orientated ambient electronic soundscapes that paint mental images of new worlds and rocket ships … of nebulae and the glow of distant suns.

I thoroughly enjoyed this album when I received it for consideration from Colin … and I have found it an album filled with surprise and wonder, like the subject matter it narrates. It fits naturally with what has come before it and couldn't wait to share it with our dedicated community … a community of which Colin is a key part. Colin is a tremendous supporter of weareallghosts and it is with delight that I return his enthusiasm with some of my own.

I must make mention here too of the artwork of Ade Hodges and his unfailing support of waag. His painting made perfect sense as a backdrop for an album with a space theme … and I am glad to share it here.

As always, an MP3 version of this album will be available for free on Archive and 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

Credits
Released 28 October 2013
Music by Colin Blake
Artwork by Ade Hodges



https://archive.org/details/waag_rel034

Presenting ... "The Silent Citadel (waag_rel033)" by Silas + Hodges + Lyons

In late August I travelled to deepest, darkest Yorkshire to hang out with Cousin Silas and two of his chums - musician and film geek, Kevin Lyons, and painter and music-fan, Ade Hodges - over a weekend. We filled the days with music and film; sci-fi and books; bacon sandwiches, pizza, and curry; in what was one of the nerdiest weekends I've had in ages. We filled the days so well that we failed to do what we intended: to record, package and release some music.

Instead, we dreamed fantastic sci-fi dreams … hatched plans and generally looked to the future. More practically, I worked on the artwork for Kevin's second release on waag (Seconds (waag_rel027)). We did record something … but nothing like what I, myself, had hoped for.

Thankfully, however, the chaps got their act together when I left (hmm … maybe I was the distraction???) and recorded some wonderfully vivid ambient soundscapes … that, after a bit of spit and polish from our favourite Cousin, are presented to you now for your listening pleasure.

I look back on that weekend with fondness. It was a magical weekend … one I hope to relive. I don't get the chance to talk about 70s prog rock and the cover art of pulp sci-fi novels very often … at least with folks whose eyes don't glaze over almost immediately. It was a special time and, I think, this is encapsulated in the music presented in "The Silent Citadel (waag_rel033)".

The internet is a wonderful enabler for collaboration and Silas is a wonderful collaborator. In fact, the recent "Silas & Friends vol.2 (waag_rel032)" was birthed entirely online. "The Silent Citadel (waag_rel033)", on the other hand, wasn't. It was conceived and created by three blokes sharing the same space and time … working together in such close synchronicity that it was a pleasure to watch. Whilst I didn't get to sit in on much of the actual recording … my name being attached to what was the first real track to come from the session and the only one I was witness to … I did get to experience the chemistry of the group and I can testify to it … whatever 'it' is … being something very special indeed.

I hope you enjoy these tracks as much as I do.

As always, an MP3 version of this album will be available for free on Archive and a lossless version available on Bandcamp for 'pay what you want' which does include £0.

We are currently exploring options for a physical Cousin Silas release. Any funds raised by "The Silent Citadel (waag_rel033)" will go towards this.

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.

We will post more information regarding the physical release in due course but for now ... enjoy "The Silent Citadel (waag_rel033)".

- Tx

Credits
Released 19 October 2013
Music by Cousin Silas, Ade Hodges & Kevin Lyons



http://archive.org/details/waag_rel033

Presenting ... "Mighty Skies (waag_sng004)" by Fragile Faith

THIS IS NOT AMBIENT

Fragile Faith were a short-lived indie rock / synth pop band from Glasgow who, to my knowledge, only recorded two tracks - "Mighty Skies" & "You Can't Leave".

I used to work with their guitarist/keyboardist, Kevin Cairns. We got talking one day about music and he told me the story of his band from the late 80's. He offered to let me hear the two tracks that remain of his time with the band and I agreed. I was blown away by their raw indie rock / synth pop sound and suggested I release the tracks as a wee free single on weareallghosts.

This is not ambient music. This is not what our community expect from waag but I decided to release it because I believe it is beneficial to mix things up every-so-often. I hope, when you have a listen, you'll hear what I hear … a golden snippet from another time and place. The music presented by Fragile Faith is simply too good to be left of Kevin's hard drive or decaying on an audio cassette.

These tracks will only be available as a free download on our Bandcamp site.

Enjoy.

- Tx




Credits:
Released 16 October 2013
Music by Fragile Faith - Recorded in April, 1988.

Vocals by Mark McLeod
Guitars & Keyboards by Beeg aka Kevin Cairns
Bass by Paul McBain
Drums by David Honeyman