Our glassie Azoth
New release of my noiser side-a short foray into flying things., more is imagined…It’s always a good time to subscribe to get subscriber exclusives-in the last couple of months there have been two subscriber first/exclusive releases (a total of 7 subscriber only releases) and the entire digital catalog of LVOF (14 digital albums), future digitals and reduction on physicals. Subscribing makes a big difference and the current price is £35 per annum.
This one is stream able or buy it for £1 at Bandcamp
Caerdroia/unland
Very excited to be playing alongside Angharad Davies & Rhodri Davies in a novel (for me) first time out door performance, JWDR offer part installation part improvisation and live electronics with the Davies violin/harp epiphanies, filmed as part of the ongoing well project by Culture Colony and we need you a participating audience…this unfolding is part of World Listening Day (week) and the last instantiation of unland-later in the year it will resolve into a tape/booklet but for now, we need you, tickets are by donation via Eventbrite
This event takes place in Tregaron, Ceredigion in case you didnt’ know….
In a Strange Garden
This is the first collection of a few of the live recordings we’ve taken at Listen to the Voice of Fire. I wish we’d recorded everything, alas no; but there’s no good reason for these desk recordings to remain hidden on my hard drive (now). As is common with LVOF releases my attention to detail is absent. I don’t know what these individual tracks should be or are called. I guess at least with the Susan Mathews’ and Ian Holloway’s performance being an improvisation I should label it Improvisation 1. So, all these names may be taken as casual and incorrect-maybe, make your own! I coined A Powertool Cynghanedd for Ffrwd-it fits the bill I think.
The Ceredigion Museum provided an atmospheric home to several of the first runs of LVOF. I remember this evening very well. A glimpse of Ffrwd with iron bar may give an inkling why. I’d say that all here enjoyed themselves. Our young photographer was palpably taken aback as FFrwd lurched/menaced towards him intoning a car mechanic manual or was it Iolo Morgannwg?
Whilst Ffrwd has come back several times, the other players that night remain singular and fond in recollection whilst our paths have not crossed (yet) again. Both Ian Holloway and Susan Mathews performances were gelid drone mediations and suited the crowd sprawled out, dazed and strangely in place amidst the odd mix of agricultural and Edwardian regalia stored in the amgueddfa. Subversive Frequencies were possibly the most elaborate technological outfit I’d seen for a while, their own visual displays making sense as they got into stride with their dystopian electronic mash. It was pretty Hawkwind like I thought at the time.
I’ll get round to editing the next volume of live recordings in the fulness of time. The In a Strange Garden title (cf Frank Denyer) was chosen for the 2 days we had of Astral Folk and Molten Electronics- in March 2019 and that will be the next stop. I need to check what I have actually got on file…itdreamedtome, Sharron Kraus Band, Bell Lungs, Hawthonn, Ashtray Navigations & Laura Nettz…fingers crossed.
Apple Tree Lament-LVOF related on new release in aid of Terrascopaedia
Hello! Heads-up on a great new compilation that has an LVOF overlap-so I hope you’ll want to check it out. I just started dipping in, many unfamiliar and fondly recalled names here-all raising funds for the Terrascopaedia.
Sharron Krauss (see image) turns in a live cut form a pre pandemic performance at Listen to the Voice of Fire (March 2019) in Aberystwyth, the Astral Folk and molten Electronics shindig, during torrential rain battering the old Ceredigion Museum…hmm, I meant/mean to do a release of live tracks from LVOF and maybe that is still worth doing, let me know!!! There’s much goodness in the archives (Hawthonn, Ashtray Navigations, Laura Netz, Barrets Dottled Beauty, Kitchen Cynics Ceylan Hay, FFrwd, Somatic Frequencies, itdreamedtome spring to mind), and especially with the recent Gwyl FFynnon Caron-but there never seems to be always the time & nowadays the energy levels flux more now.
The compilation include my long-time firm favourites like Kitchen Cynics and Pefkin. I’m pleased to see names I fondly recall like Tangle Edge so there is much for me to explore.
Terrascopaedia is a lovingly crafted letter press zine that articulates affectionate and close understanding of obscure but should be better known psych music. Music that may be long dwelling underneath the mossy rock but which deserves our attention. It’s an outstanding affair. Let’s help Phil keep this going as we’ll be much worse off without it! I don’t know if there is doom in the air but goodness knows how he manages to craft it at such a reasonable cost.
Of course, a little closer to home, I’ll blow my own trumpet, my track- Into Fields (Alphane Moon -this time with Alan Davidson/Kitchen Cynics on reed organ and bowed bass) is worth a listen-previously unreleased or only on the subscriber only Sister of the Wood release, from December 2021-but I’m glad that it’s here.
Link Below!
Promo T shirt-The Final Countdown
Dear All
Many said they fancied a correctly spelled Carausias T Shirt for the Gwyl Ffynnon Sant Caron—-it’s only available for another 9 days-and yes, we get a few pounds commission but, after the 17th he disappears back into his crypt below the church for another year…(ie the T shirt is not available)
Thanks again everyone-lovely to meet and hear you and I am sure that there’ll be some kind of digest or posting once photos etc come in from Felix
https://www.streetshirts.co.uk/sell-t-shirts?PFC[SSDKlcshLEPtOQBKamo4b4WNR9k5mN]
St Caron’s Day Festival of Folk and Strange music-Ticket Update
Dear All we have sold out of Saturday Day & Weekend Passes!! Many thanks to everyone who bought early. Don’t worry -tickets remain for some outstanding sonic treats on Friday Night and Saturday Night-but remember these are limited-and we can only take cash on the door if we have not met capacity so-buy now to avoid disappointment.
Sonido Polifonico & Listen to the Voice of Fire-The Raffle!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gwyl-ffynnon-sant-caron-st-carons-well-festival-tickets-243477316207
Guardian Folk Album Winners to play at Gwyl Ffynnon Sant Caron this Saturday 5th March
Some good news!
Alula Down are playing this Saturday in Tregaron at Y Banc. These Guardian Folk Album winners have drawn attention for their inspired folk and ambient moves.
Playing traditional and self written songs using sound collage and semi-improvisation. They “conjure their vision with fields of minimalist sonic repetition and tell whispered tales of the people who wander by.” Stewart Gardiner, Concrete Islands
The duo of Mark Waters & Kate Gathercole are praised by Jude Rogers in the Guardian who writes:
” Echoing rain blends with shuddering drones and lyrics…. Post-rock and ambient fans will relish the shape-shifting textures… Gathercole’s voice is featherlight and meaningful, recalling Vashti Bunyan and late 60s private-press folk”
This is high quality stuff. Be sure to get yourself a ticket for the Saturday concert:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gwyl-ffynnon-sant-caron-st-carons-well-festival-tickets-243477316207
Here’s snip of their treatment of Master Kilby to whet your appetite!
Playing alongside Rhodri Davies, Ceri Rhys Matthews & De Louet savour the gestalt effect.
Sad News, Sad news—–
Dear Friends—alas, Debbie is unwell and thus Burd Ellen will not be with us on this occasion. Let’s wish her the swiftest of recoveries! Fret not though, we still have a full kit of sounds to inspire and delight……