Author: dave

Brain Oscillations is a return perhaps to a more Ambient Space Music aesthetic after the rather organic and poignant piano based “Urban Nature” although I would consider this more like head space music.

The initial impetus of this release was born from the sad passing of Klaus Schulze an artist that was synonymous with the “Kosmische Musik” of the early 70’s and someone who was very much regarded as one of the true pioneers of this music which spawned from the early experimental kraut rock movement in Germany.

The passing of Klaus had shocked and moved the electronic music scene across the board, his trademark hypnotic sequences had left a huge influence on the dance music scene that emerged in the 80’s and continues today which is why he was given the hefty title of “The Godfather Of Techno” but there was so much more to his music than this.

So, upon his passing I found myself revisiting some of his works and reading the liner notes of a particular album Klaus had described his style of music creation as “Brain Oscillations” this very distinct & descriptive term got me thinking about possible music that may inspire me and perhaps be my own homage to his influence.

At first I thought it would probably be just one piece of music if I was lucky enough to get inspired. The first track I created which is the opening piece was born from the deep ascending shifting poly synth sound I had created from on my Prophet Rev2 that appears at the twelve minute mark. I turned to my trusty Moog Grandmother and built up a selection of various modulated frequencies, these formed the slowly developing intro of the track as more sustained poly drones & classic sounding synth parts etc were added. The bones of track one was developed in one evening.

I also made a conscious decision not to use any sequenced synth parts as I felt this would have been the most obvious element to emulate but instead to use lengthy poly synth chords, drones, keys, leads and wild synth modulations that suggest a burst of neuron activity or that may stimulate the mind on a sensory & emotional level.

Luckily this mindset of creative thinking led me to completing two other tracks within a short time frame which I felt had a strong continuous theme.

For KS.

Equipment used on this album.

Dave Smith Prophet Rev2
Moog Grandmother
Korg MS20 Mini
Emu ESI 4000 sampler
Electro Magnetic contact Mic
Acoustic Guitar
Ableton Live 10 for audio sequences mix and digital FX & treatments

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The first 50 orders will receive a free nətɪvɪti CD by World Circuit & Autumn Of Communion.This has never been available on CD before.

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*The boxset and bonus cd’s are a pre order and will be released in September*

The latest in this outstanding series…

“We’ve always worked apart. For us, it’s nothing new. Large online servers have been in place for years but at some stage, we always meet up while working on an album to pour over the details, tone and running order. We create storyboards and write text to support and form the ideas. However, this process and the simple ability to sit in the same room just wasn’t possible during the pandemic. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; on this project we believe that it has helped us to capture the isolation a photographer seeks with their subject. It’s an attempt at slowing down and finding something internal. When the chatter stops, the creative intentions seep through. Music For Photographers was first created as a functional tool. For the last two years, we’ve been photographing our city and the brutal architecture that sits within the landscape. Throughout this process many mistakes had been made, resulting in many return visits to repeat work already undertaken. Rushing, aimlessly collecting and near misses are all common problems. Photography, just like any other artform, needs to be practiced and the skills need to be attained. Like music, it’s a constant battle. Something was needed to aid the art being sought. We created Music For Photographers with two simple rules; to be void of human voices and that it should be played in full when visiting any location. Our approach to composing the music and visiting the locations evolved. It helped the whole process become a more fluid exchange of ideas and we repeated the process later while editing the photographs. The book Brutal Sheffield provided a full stop for the creative process, finding that perfect balance between function and form. Music For Photographers has now become a fully functioning sigil in our creative process. Rather than just invoking, it also evokes and goes beyond being a simple function. Listen carefully and you can hear the bréton brut!” Features Oliver Ho.

“Urban Nature” was recorded in late spring/early summer of 2021 and was inspired by a wonderful section of wild land known as the  “The River Dodder Valley Park” that sits between two urban locations near my home. The river Dodder springs from the Dublin mountains, the park it’s full of wildlife and has a path that runs through it for about 5km, which has recently been expanded.

I’ve always found it fascinating that this thriving natural habitat sits near dual carriageways, the M50 motorway, its flyovers, local shopping centres and even a cement plant nearby.

There’s a waterfall and a weir and remnants of the old canal system that led from the old developing Tallaght village to the heart of Dublin’s city centre. 

So armed with my Zoom portable recorder I gathered lots of various recordings, nature and urban sounds and they inspired me to improvise over these elements using keys and subtle synths & effects etc. 

I tried to capture certain locations along this path with certain sonic aesthetics. Part 3 for example was inspired by a large electrical pylon that sits close to the river bank and its heavy cables span across the river. Birds nest nearby and I can imagine the possible electrical interference that the various animals may hear or feel so the piano part modulates and gets almost lost at times with a slightly unsettling level of interference & unnatural noise.

Ultimately, I created the album to be listened to in one sitting, trying to capture a soundtrack to the 5-6km walk with the different sounds and feelings you may gather from these polar opposite environments coexisting, so the CD is mixed as one track but each piece is easily identifiable as they start and end. 

The album is dedicated to the memory of Steve Brown.

Mick Chillage

April 2022

“The New Backwards” was conceived by Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson in 2007, revisiting stray tracks which hadn’t seemed to gel with the material he had chosen for the more somber “Ape of Naples” from 2005, COIL’s initial posthumous release, a sort of requiem and a kiss-goodbye to his then recently deceased partner John Balance. It is high time to rediscover this timeless album with the Infinite Fog release, available for the first time on vinyl in its full form without 3 skipped tracks! Besides that boasting nine further tracks of previously unheard material from the same sessions, rough working stages and surprising remixes which will surely delight the dedicated COIL archaeologists, as they shine yet another light on the creative process and on what could have been.

Recorded at Swanyard, London and at Nothing Studios, New Orleans, 1996.

Thanks to everyone there, especially Trent Reznor who made it all possible

Written & Produced by Coil & Danny Hyde.

Remixed by Peter Christopherson & Danny Hyde, Bangkok 2007.

For that session Coil were: Peter Christopherson, Jhonn Balance & Drew McDowall.

Mastered by Jessica Thompson.

Front artwork by Ian Johnstone.

Artwork licensed from The Estate of Ian Johnstone.

Layout Cold Graves & Oleg Galay.