Presenting ... 11 Tales of Space and Intrigue (waag_rel135) by Cousin Silas & Kevin Lyons

Cousin Silas and Kevin Lyons make the spookiest of sci-fi inspired ambient music and "11 Tales of Space and Intrigue (waag_rel135)" is a superb addition to their body of work.

Theirs are the sounds of abandoned space-stations and far-off moons and the imagined goings-on of the extra-terrestrial stars of loved children's TV shows ... their evocative music is the music that feeds the imagination and inspires daydreams of burning worlds and the most captivating of deserts on the Red Planet.

I, for one, am a huge fan and love nothing more than to sit back with my headphones on, basking in these soundscapes.

I am delighted to see their ongoing partnership with artist, Andreas Schwietzke, continues unabated. As I have said before, his art so effectively catches the gist of what they are saying with their music. Once more, our thanks go to Andreas for the permission to use his wonderful work.

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’.

- Thomas

https://archive.org/details/waag_rel135

Presenting ... Dronescape 043 (waag_drs043) by Cousin Silas

What makes a Christmas song or film? Is it some explicit? Is it bells ... like the bells in "All I want for Christmas?" Or is it the subject matter ... like the lyrics to "O Holy Night"? Yes and yes ... but there is also something more, something implicit, something you attach to a piece of music or to a film you watch ... "Die Hard" isn't an explicitly Christmas movie ... but it is definitely part of so many people's traditions at Christmas that it is fundamental viewing in the Advent season, mine included.

There is something magical about Cousin Silas' latest dronescape that makes me think of Christmas and I'm not entirely sure I can explain it. There is an expansive quality about the piece: an openness and a lightness that makes me think of walking in freshly fallen snow, basking in that special morning light that we only see when the sun gently reflects on the white powder ...  there is a quietness to this moment too, a peaceful muffled stillness ... just the crunch of your feet as you slowly walk along. And yet, for all the quietness, there is a sense of grandeur too ... a sense of the awesome that I find intoxicating.

For me Dronescape 043 will be remembered as Cousin Silas' "Christmas" drone, implicit as it is, and I am so grateful for it ... for, as always, it arrives exactly when it is needed. I hope you will treasure this longform piece as much as I will.

It is important to note that weareallghosts is funded through the money we receive for albums and dronescapes such as this. For us to realistically continue to put out this level of quality in the quantity that we do, we need to levy a small charge for our releases. Please help out by buying the dronescape.

That said, if you aren’t able to then please note a 320kbps version of this release will be available in the next couple of days over on Archive for free.

- Thomas

https://archive.org/details/waag_drs043

Presenting ... "Into Air (waag_rel134)" by Er Go

From the opening of “Serenity”, with the piano and synths in delightful collaboration, I knew I was onto something special ... and I was not disappointed: “Into Air (waag_rel134)” by Eric Goldberg aka Er Go is simply stunning, something truly beautiful.

Eric’s emphasis on melody and the warmth of the expansive ambient soundscapes that compliment these melodies really struck me as being very special indeed. His is a soothing, joyous, uplifting sound; the counterpoint to some of the darker ambient released on waag.

Eric is new to weareallghosts and I welcome him into the fold. His attention to detail and desire to create unique music is evident in this release, and I hope to work with him again.

Of his release, Eric said this ...

"On "Into Air (waag_rel134)" there are 7 tracks of varying lengths that meld into one another, receding from higher to lower energy, and shifting from structured compositions to free-form soundscapes. Amidst this ongoing movement is a cohesive (and slightly retro) sound palette, maintained by just a few synthesizers with piano and marimba in varied combinations. It is perhaps more melodic than most ambient music I'm used to hearing, but the slowly evolving compositional style lends itself well to this type of listening experience. Hence, I hope this album finds a unique space within listeners' environments, and offers something special to anyone willing to explore the album."

I hope you will enjoy "Into Air (waag_rel134)" as much as I have and hope it does find that unique space in your hearts. As always, I would welcome all the support you can give Eric.

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

- Thomas

https://archive.org/details/waag_rel134

Presenting ... Cosmic Oblivion (waag_rel133) by James Hoehl

It is with great delight that I bring to you "Cosmic Oblivion (waag_rel133)" by James Hoehl and, in doing so, welcome him into the WAAG fold.

James has been a keen supporter of weareallghosts for sometime now and I am over-the-moon with what he has created for his first release with us ... a five-track album of drifting, spacey, ambient drones that collectively speak of the vast ocean of stars that sits just beyond our horizon.

Ironically, James wasn't sure there was an audience for the music he makes but I can assure him that he, most definitely, has a home with us. I, for one, have thoroughly enjoyed the sense of weightlessness and feeling of timeless wandering that these drones conjure up.

I hope you will enjoy this album as much as I do.

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 on Bandcamp for ‘pay what you want’.

Thomas

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https://archive.org/details/waag_rel133

Presenting ... Ho Katechon (waag_rel132) by Cousin Silas & Sergio Mariani

Ho Katechon (waag_rel132) by Cousin Silas & Sergio Mariani is an album that I have been very eager to share with you... 

Ever since I heard Mariani's self-released "Secret Place", an album I absolutely adore, and then heard that Cousin Silas intended on recording a collaboration with him, I've been rather excited to hear it ... and once I heard it, I couldn't wait to share it with you.

Ho Katechon (waag_rel132) is a truly exceptional album, filled with the kind of drifting, air, expansive ambient music that I simply adore. Its long, languid parts are unbelievably gracious and restorative ... this is music for the soul, deeply relaxing and meditative.

Ho Katechon is Latin for "He who restrains" and I felt restored rather than restrained ... I felt the busyness of my life and all the negative pressure was kept aback, restrained even, as I listened, I was able to truly relax ... and I commend Cousin Silas and Sergio Mariani for that. 

This album is simply something beautiful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have and will in the days to come.

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’.

Thomas

https://archive.org/details/waag_rel132

Presenting ... The Fortean Project - Phase Two (waag_rel131) by Cousin Silas & Kevin Lyons

I recently renewed my Audible subscription and have been intently listening to the audiobook I downloaded from the HP Lovecraft Historical Society's anthology, it boasts of being the complete works of HP Lovecraft and it is a most wonderful listen. The HPLHS have invested a considerable amount of time and effort to really make the stories shine, if shine be the right term for such sinister and otherworldly eldritch tales.

If I were to read these weird tales rather than listen to them then I would always seek out some aural accompaniment that would drown out any distraction from those around me. And top of the list of suitable soundtracks would be the further aural investigations of Silas & Lyons.

"The Fortean Project - Phase Two" is the follow-up to their well-regarded collaboration from December, 2018; and consists of a further selection of eerie, slightly ominous dark ambient tracks inspired by the Fortean Times, a British monthly magazine devoted to "anomalous phenomena".

It is a melancholic affair, one for late nights and dark rooms ... a collection of music that is felt as much as it is heard ... an album that is dedicated to the memory of a dear friend & advocate of experimental music, Candy Lozier, who recently passed away.

Thomas

Archive :: https://archive.org/details/waag_rel131

Presenting ... Music for Sleep (waag_rel130) by Brother Saturn

Sleep is starting to become a theme for WAAG, what with me talking about sleep for Dronescape 042 and now this cracker of an album ... "Music For Sleep (waag_rel130)" ... from long-term contributor, Drew Miller aka Brother Saturn.

There’s something magical about this album. It reminds me of old slightly wonky sleep-tapes and the glorious ambient music we are all fond of ... the music that works just as well front and centre as it does in the background ... fluid chords that shimmer and dance to form the most delightful of soundscapes.

This is an album that really does show an artist growing in both ability and confidence ... Drew has used all midi-based electronics and synth sounds, instead of his trusty guitars for the first time ... and it shows.



This album will also be released on Symbolic Insight, an avant-garde label from the North West of the United States, who are preparing a short-run physical release ... so if you dig what you hear, please keep an eye out over at symbolicinsight.bandcamp.com and support Drew by buying a CD.

Music For Sleeping (waag_rel130) will not be released on Archive.