Presenting ... "Mourners (waag_rel029)" by Toaster

I'll let you into a wee secret. I don't release anything on weareallghosts unless I dig it ... I am a fan, first and foremost, and I do what I do because I am simply that ... a fan of music and, in particular, the kind of music I've been privileged to release.

It is with this in mind that I approach “Mourners (waag_rel029)” by Toaster aka Todd Elliott ... a musician whose ambient soundscapes and off-kilter techno tracks are something I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy. In particular, it is Todd’s musical adventurousness that I treasure.

I am, therefore, delighted to welcome Toaster to weareallghosts with “Mourners (waag_rel029)” ... a collection of 3 ambient soundscapes that showcase, dare-I-say, his mellower side ... a collection I totally dig and have wanted to share with you for a while now. Whilst “Mourners (waag_rel029)” isn't as frenetic as some of his self-release music is, it still holds true to his truly independent and uniquely individualistic vision. Todd makes music that he himself wants to hear and as a fan of that kind of intention, I am totally onboard.

I really do hope you enjoy “Mourners (waag_rel029)” as much as I do. Please welcome him into the weareallghosts family.

As before, an MP3 version will be available over on Archive weir free with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for ’pay what you want’ ... which does include £0. Don't worry if you can't pay ... I have the credits ... all I would ask, if you download “Mourners (waag_rel029)” for free, that you post about it on Twitter or Facebook and tell all your friends about Toaster’s music and this wee netlabel.

- Tx



Archive

Presenting ... "Dronescape 010 (waag_drs010)" by Cousin Silas

I recently met Cousin Silas for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I was taken by how genuinely lovely he was … a real down-to-earth chap with a wicked sense of humour … generous to a fault and a pleasure to be with.

I say this because whilst I was down staying with him … he spoke of the Dronescape series and made particular mention of this instalment - Dronescape 010 (waag_drs010) - his tenth dronescape.

He spoke of this being his best yet. Not in a bragging kind of way because he doesn't do that … he only brags about his wife and family … but more matter-of-fact, as is his way.

I have to say I agree with him … but then I have spoken before of how his dronescapes just seem to get better and better … especially the wee details and flourishes that he adds to keep his listeners engaged, something I had noticed.

I hope you enjoy this longform piece … it is a belter … one that sits just over 80 minutes in length (a fact Cousin Silas apologises for to the folks who burn these pieces to CD).



As before, an MP3 version of this album will be available for free on Archive with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for “pay what you want”. If you do decide to download the album for free then please tell your friends about Silas’ music and this wee netlabel.

- Tx

Archive

Presenting ... "Sunset at the Yacht Club (waag_rel028)" by Clutter

Dreams do come true.

I am releasing an EP from one of my musical heroes: Shaun Blezard … the founder of Earth Monkey Productions, maker of musical malarkey under the Clutter alias, and vicious 'Words with Friends' player.

It was Shaun who introduced me to the concept of the netlabel with his seminal netlabel 'Earth Monkey Productions'. Some of the music on there is still on my iPod five years after the label went on indefinite hiatus … including a number of pieces by weareallghosts stalwart Cousin Silas.

It was on Shaun's label that Cousin Silas released the first two  of his 'Ballard Landscapes' series (emp007 and emp030, if memory serves), for example.

In fact, it was to EMP that I looked when I thought of starting weareallghosts … and it is to his legacy that I compare this humble endeavour.

To consider, therefore, that I am able to release an EP of his on waag is a dream come true … the circle is now complete, so to speak … and what an EP it is. I have caught myself wondering what I was listening to when listening to the preview copy … then experiencing a mixture of shock and pleasure when I realise it was an EP destined for my wee label.

Shaun has done me proud with soundscapes that are an utter delight. I hope you enjoy what is presented as much as I do!

As before, an MP3 version of this album will be available for free on Archive with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for “pay what you want”. If you do decide to download the album for free then please tell your friends about Shaun’s music and this wee netlabel.

- Tx

http://archive.org/details/waag_rel028



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Original material was provided by:
Frank Schultz
Scott Burland
Bill Brovold

Clutter:
Website: shaunblezard.net
Facebook: facebook.com/cluttermusic 
Twitter:  @cluttermusic

Duet For Theremin & Lap Steel
Website: duetonline.net
Facebook: facebook.com/duetforthereminandlapsteel
Twitter: @duetonline

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Presenting ... "Seconds (waag_rel027)" by Kevin Lyons

As I write these liner notes, I reflect on the weekend that I have just had ... a weekend of music ... a weekend of cementing social media friendships with physical bonds ... a weekend where I got to meet in the flesh for the first time, so to speak, three chaps that I greatly admire: the musician - Dave Hughes aka Cousin Silas; the painter - Ade Hodges; and the focus of these notes - musician Kevin Lyons.

Believe it or not but Dave and Kevin are the only musicians on weareallghosts that I have actually met in the flesh ... and I only met them a couple of days ago. Its crazy to think this but at the same time in today’s always-connected age it makes perfect sense.

In all my conversations with Kevin over the weekend ... on such topics as role of “the ancient” as filler on “Tales of Topographic Oceans” or the genius of Hayao Miyazaki ... I was struck by how genuinely nice Kevin was. He holds a wealth of information, predominately about films and progressive music, within his Mekon-like noggin. This conversation helped me form the context for “Seconds (waag_rel027)” ... his second release on weareallghosts.

His style of electronic music is broadly ambient and is flavoured by his obsessions with weird fiction, progressive music (especially the Berlin School) and modern sci-fi cinema. All these ingredients come together to form a heady mix of eery darker ambient soundscapes and lighter, more progressive tracks that tell their own individual stories of moments long gone as well as those still to come.

I hope you will enjoy this album as much as I do. I find Kevin’s music to be very visual and take great pleasure in letting my mind wander through the landscapes he paints with sound. It was a pleasure to meet him and it gives me great delight to support and encourage his musical endeavours through weareallghosts.

As before, an MP3 version of this album will be available for free on Archive with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for “pay what you want”. If you do decide to download the album for free then please tell your friends about Kevin’s music and this wee netlabel.

- Tx



http://archive.org/details/waag_rel027

Presenting ... "Dronescape 009 (waag_drs009)" from Cousin Silas

On the 8th instalment of the Dronescape series, Brian Bourassa said this ...

"If your a "Dronie," then Cousin Silas's Drone series should be topping your list. I'd invite you to follow the progression from "Dronescape 001 through Dronescape 008" and beyond."

I couldn't have put it better myself! Thanks Brian.

For the 9th Dronescape ... Cousin Silas has really pulled out all the stops ... creating an utterly engaging longform piece that is exceptionally expansive and filled with ridiculously generous amounts of both grace and light.

I really love this drone ... I love the tone of this piece ... the atmosphere ... the sense of peace it leaves with me long after it is finished. I love the subtle harmonics that twinkle like stars.

I am very proud to release this drone on weareallghosts ... and thank everyone who supports both Cousin Silas and myself in this endeavour.

As before, a MP3 version will be available on Archive for free with a lossless version available here on Bandcamp for 'Pay What You Want' … which does include free. All we would ask is that if you grab it for free then tell everyone you know about the release and the man behind it.

Enjoy

- Thomas

http://archive.org/details/waag_drs009

Presenting ... "Good Friday (waag_rel026)" by Stephen Briggs

"Good Friday was inspired by observing the power of crowds … how the spirit of a crowd can change a person … take over them … make them do things they wouldn't otherwise consider doing. This spirit … the spirit that can turn a respected school teacher into a looter grasping for a TV in a riot … was evident on the first Good Friday … a day when the crowd took over. 

Good Friday was also inspired by the spirit that exists in a room or a building ... be it an incense-rich 15th century church in rural Spain or a grease-filled garage near my home in New Zealand. 

Take, for example, the room I live and work in ... it is full of the memories of souls and conversations … thousands of them. From day old babies to 90+ year olds. Somehow I channel their thoughts and feelings into my music. Just as I try to revive their tired life-force and help them to get better from their injuries … they help and inspire me to create and express what is inside me. 

My music comes from my soul. I hope … in handing what is inside me over to you … that this will act as a catalyst for you … that you may be inspired too." 

- Stephen

"I really connect with Stephen's music … it have connected with it since the first time he let me hear the start of what we now call 'Good Friday (waag_rel026)'. He is a talented musician and a genuinely beautiful human being … someone who gives generously from the deep well of his soul to all who know him. 

I am honoured to know him and am equally honoured to release 'Good Friday (waag_rel026)' on weareallghosts. We always have room for inspired improvisational ambient music. His is a powerful music … a music that comes from all that dwells within him. It is fascinating to listen to. 

To say this is an expression of Briggs' faith would not be entirely accurate … this is an expression of more than his faith … it is an expression of his humanity and his experience … and I am grateful for this whole-of-self expression. It inspires me. 

I hope you are as challenged and inspired by 'Good Friday (waag_rel026)' as I was and am." 

- Thomas

As before, an MP3 version will be available on Archive for free with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for 'pay what you want'. If you decide to download this album for free, and you are able to do so with our blessing, then please tell everyone you know about it … and then tell us. We always enjoy hearing from the folks who've taken the time to download and really listen. Its what we're about afterall.



- or -

http://archive.org/details/waag_rel026

Presenting... Dronescape 008 (waag_drs008) by Cousin Silas

I genuinely get excited when I get a wee message from Cousin Silas telling me that his latest dronescape is in our shared dropbox folder.

I have grown very fond of these longform drones and consider them an utter treat to listen to … and I hope you will enjoy the eighth instalment as much as I do!

As before, a MP3 version will be available on Archive for free with a lossless version available on Bandcamp for 'Pay What You Want' … which does include free. All we would ask is that if you grab it for free then tell everyone you know about the release and the man behind it.

Enjoy

- Thomas