3 new releases for the first week of october!

First up is the long awaited full length from Operations!

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/operations-you-atomic-warfare

Operations is Chris Anderson. You may remember him from the second Dead Pilot release “Knights Move!”. Well, that was some time ago and this album has been in the works ever since, but it finally sees the light of day.

Inspired by the nuclear tests undertaken by western nations in the 1950s, this album is a deep, harrowing and affecting listen. Radio static drops in and out of dusty piano loops and delicate guitar passages over layers of feedback drenched drones. It’s highly textured yet very minimal and benefits from headphones immensely. The sound Chris has created here is very immersive and really captures your imagination; with it’s barely there instrumentation and distant noises, you will find your self discovering new sounds on each listen. The 22 minute epic “Dominic II” is one of the spookiest tracks I’ve heard in a long time. If you can imagine Godspeed and Machinefabriek soundtracking an obscure black & white horror film, I think it would sound somewhat like this. The tension created is fascinating.

Limited to 99 copies in hand stamped and hand numbered windowed digipaks, tied with string.
Second up is a new disc by the brilliant Pete Fosco!

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/pete-fosco-crescent-avenue

Pete Fosco comes to Dead Pilot after releases on Reverb Worship and the fantastic Digitalis Limited cassette range.

Crescent Avenue is made up of 2 tracks. Western Ave. I and Western Ave. II. Western Ave. I is a 32 minute dirge through volcanic rumbling tones, with semi-psychedelic licks and swells and delicate melodic passages floating in and out of the clouds. It’s quite dense and heavy in places but it never gets too bleak; there is always a nagging hopeful airy-ness throughout the piece. Western Ave. II is eerie and dark, with twisted riffs and distorted memories fighting to break free; and when they finally do, it’s chaotic but engaging and brilliant. As the track dies out, you can’t help but feel moved in a peculiar way.

Limited to 100 copies, hand stamped in new card digipaks with 4 circular holes hinting at the artwork.

Lastly is entry number 6 in the split series, from Archers by the Sea and Pine Smoke Lodge

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/archers-by-the-sea-pine-smoke-lodge-split

Number 6 in the Spilt Series sees Archers by The Sea (Vicent, previously known as The Pistil Cosmos and “V”) from France paired up with mysterious US outfit Pine Smoke Lodge.

Archers by the Sea offers up a mind blowing 32 minute track of euphoric drones and sun drenched melodies. This track is simply stunning, probably one of the best I’ve heard from Vincent. It’s kaleidoscopic, intense and uplifting. Flaming synths gush and warble above cascading textures. It’s like a journey through space at a million miles an hour. Ending with a playful psychedelic guitar passage, that seems like a dream. F**king fantastic.

Pine Smoke Lodge bring us 3 tracks of weirdo-ritualistic forest drone. Foggy tribal rhythms and lone cries of witch craft play over hazey drones and doomy textures. Like wandering through unknown lands late at night. It’s ghostly and very strange. A brilliant counterpart to Archers by the Sea.

Limited to 80 copies, in standard windowed sleeve.

Don’t forget, for the month of October, if you order 3 or more items from the store, you can use the discount code OCT10 for 10% off!!

Thank you xxx

*please note as I am currently quite ill there may well be a delay in sending out orders, so please bare with me, thank you.*

Norman reviews of Ekca Liena, Cylon and Seabuckthorn!

“This record left our Phil feeling ecstatic.

I can never spell Ekca Liena right. I always spell one of the words wrong and then I have to go and correct myself. There’s only nine characters in there as well so it’s not hard. The urge to put the C before the K is strong….The last Ekca CD blew my face off and we gave it album of the week… We sold out in a day!! Here is his proper follow up album called Sleep Paralysis on the Dead Pilot label. The album lulls you into a false sense of security with the opener being a warm floaty drone track sucking you into it’s niceness before track two (‘Ceiling Ghosts’) comes in with some dark droney forboding pulsing fuzz which will have you caked in fecal fun. It’s intense stuff alright. the production is amazing and it becomes completely clear on ‘Heavy Weather’ where some backwards guitar intertwines with some melodic electronics to stunning effect. Later in the track some thunderously loud drums come in and it’s starting to remind me a of track from Boards of Canada’s Geogaddi. That is until the walls of guitars which have slowly built up hit you in the face like a hammer shapped fist. The whole album has a dark feel to it…. like there’s some evil presence hanging around. I think fans of Sunn O))), Utech etc will like this as there’s a metal influence in there lurking ‘n all. It’s a damned special album! Comes in a diecut cardboard gatefold sleeve limited to 250 copies! CD only!!”

http://www.normanrecords.com/records/110150

This record left our Ant feeling happy.

There is a whole ton of dreamy drifty ambient type gear in this week. We’re literally drowning it… Hey there’s some good stuff though…. Cyclon is Jannick Schou and his ‘Resonanz’ album for Dead Pilot will have you floating away in no time. It’s basically some really subtle, ultra chilled ambient gear to get lost in. It’s quality stuff and the way it gradually evolves is real nice. Limited to 250 copies in stamped hand numbered sleeve.

http://www.normanrecords.com/records/110119

This record left our Phil feeling ecstatic.

Dead Pilot really has come into its own lately with almost every release on the label being super good. I just plucked the Seabuckthorn out of the review pile mainly cos I liked the name. The opener is a stunning track where you’re thrown into a dark jangly folk inspired romp with pounding drums that sound like someone is beating on your head…..Then some wierd Plaid-ish fuzzy electronics kick in and then it turns into an acoustic guitar raga. It’s an incredible piece of music which ducks and dives and does things you wouldn’t expect. That’s just the first track as well! It’s quite cinematic in its approach and the rest of the album follows a similar suit. The percussion that’s on the albm is nice and loud in the mix which is something I’m a fan of. The tracks veer from solo acoustic guitar workouts to weird electronic folk in the blink of an eye. Somersaault of Thought is an amazing tune which is very Fahey-esque and if you’ve been digging the recent folks like Cam Deas and Spoono doing such things then you’ll enjoy this. ‘Distant Summer Storm’ is a cracking album which comes with my total recommendation yah. Well good!!

http://www.normanrecords.com/records/110149

Huge thanks to Phil and the team at Norman records!

New Ekca Liena Album Out Now! Plus Seabuckthorn!

The brand new Ekca Liena full length “Sleep Paralysis” is now available for purchase!

“Dan Mackenzie aka Ekca Liena’s debut album “Slow Music For Rapid Eye Movement” was described as “music that may alter your perception of the word epic”, “with more warmth, depth and soul” than had been heard in a long time. Almost a year later, Dan presents us with the follow up album entitled; “Sleep Paralysis”.

The album begins with “Sleep”, a ghostly and tension building introduction, with long sustained organ tones and subtle guitar riffs. Crumbling low end kicks in followed by eerie fuzz and static as the second track begins. Waves and swells of textured synths are the prelude to an epic chorus of screaming drones. The mood of the album really sets in place by track 3, entitled “Heavy Weather”, a near 14 minute mash of blissful guitar noise and pulsating electronic beats. The depth of detail in this track is incredible and has to be heard through the finest of speakers or headphones to be fully appreciated. The track “Sulk” is a rare acoustic track from Ekca, bringing an organic or ‘human’ edge to this other wise otherworldly and celestial album. It also acts as a breather between the huge and intense music Ekca has created here. Although that is not to say the track is of any less importance at all.

This album represents Ekca Liena’s sound polished and honed to perfection, as well as a tonne of new ideas fully realized. It’s dark and heavy as well as uplifting and emotional. As the album is book ended by the magnificent “Paralysis” you will want to pick your jaw up off the ground and listen again, just to be sure that the sounds you have just heard are truly real.

Limited to 250 copies for the world. Black bottomed CDr housed in standard Dead Pilot windowed sleeve. All artwork and layout by Dan Mackenzie.”

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/ekca-liena-sleep-paralysis

Also out now is the new album from Seabuckthorn! A new name to Dead Pilot and a new sound too. Acoustic ragas meet eerie electronics.

“

Seabuckthorn is the instrumental project of Andy Cartwright, mainly focusing on acoustic guitar ragas and ambient electronics.

“Distant Summer Storm” begins with “Galloping into Thin Air”. A fantastic opener, throwing you right into the thick of things with a thumping beat and chaotic guitars. As the album develops further there is a real feeling of deep un-ease and anxiety. The subtle electronics, ehoeing whispers and warm drones melding with the psychedelic acoustic guitars create a real trippy sense of unsettling darkness.

Andy’s music was once described as the “meeting point between Bert Jansch and Boards of Canada” and I can totally hear that on this album.

Limited to 150 copies in full colour card wallet inside a plastic wallet.”

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/seabuckthorn-distant-summer-storm

Clips are on the myspace player! Full streams will be on last.fm soon!

Couple of distro items will be added shortly too!

xxxxxx

PS. Anyone who has ordered Message to Bears – Departures in the past week or so, I am unfortunately way behind in assembling the packaging for them, so please bare with me. Hopefully the wait shouldn’t be any longer than 2 weeks, as I am awaiting more Arigato paks to arrive from the USA. Thanks for your patience. Please email me if you have any concerns. xxx

Cylon pre orders shipping from wednesday

I’ll begin shipping the Cylon pre orders from Wednesday so it’s your last chance to order it at the reduced price! It will go up on Friday!

Also, hoping to have Ekca Liena and Seabuckthorn albums out this weekend and a couple of new distro items to be added soon too!

xxx

An Avalanche of Swollen Tongues

Anthony Saggers aka Stray Ghost was one of those random Myspace finds for me, back when I was first starting up Dead Pilot. I was immediately impressed with his claustrophobic Hecker style drones and contacted him promptly about the label. We had planned a split record between him and another ambient artist I had been in contact with. This, however, never saw the light of day but instead Ant gave me a 2 track disc entitled “Fabula/Sjuzhet”, which featured 2 tracks of fierce and dark textured ambience. I loved it, but was itching for more. Ant was working on various other projects for other labels around the time, but the wait was worth it.

When Ant first hinted at what this album may be like, I was overwhelmed with his ambition. The early demo I heard was staggering. When Ant uploaded a rough version of the full album, I was blown away.

“An Avalanche of Swollen Tongues” opens with the 23 minute long title track of kaleidoscopic spectral ambiance. Swells of celestial tones reach back and forth around your mind, surrounding your sense in a warm glow. The glorious “Grains and Waves” follows. An outstanding piece of melodic genius; euphoric and intense and filled with overwhelming emotion. At around the 5 and a half minute mark in this track, your hairs will stand on end and you will be lifted out of your body and mind, transcending into pure bliss.

Ant has channeled some deep emotions into his work on this album. It’s intensity, along with it’s fragility, evokes otherworldly imagery and feelings. “Sunday’s Tape Hiss” sounds like the exploration of wreckage’s and ruins; finding small hints of what was once there. Ghostly, dark and deeply catastrophic.

Released on PRO REPLICATED CD (NOT CDr), limited to 500 copies, packaged in 4 panel brown recycled card digipak.

http://www.myspace.com/strayghost

http://www.last.fm/music/Stray+Ghost/An+Avalanche+of+Swollen+Tongues

Stray Ghost Pre Order now!

Yes, I know, another pre order, but they really are the best way to pay for this bigger run releases… anyway…

An Avalanche of Swollen Tongues is the brand new full length from Anthony Saggers aka Stray Ghost. Here he brings us over 1 hour 20 minutes of his finely tuned experimental music. 6 tracks, pressed on CD (not CDr!), 500 copies, in 4 panal sleeve.

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/stray-ghost-an-avalanche-of-swollen-tongues

There’s also a VERY LIMITED version with a bonus 3″ disc and a t shirt, so order now!

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/stray-ghost-an-avalanche-of-swollen-tongues-limited-edition

Thanks alot. There will be more info about it soon, but for now, grab it while you can!

xxxxxxx

cylon – resonanz

http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/cylon-resonanz

**PRE ORDER ITEM, SPECIAL PRICE, REGULAR PRICE £6.50. EXPECTED TO BE SHIPPING EARLY AUGUST. PLEASE ORDER SEPARATE FROM OTHER ITEMS, THANK YOU**

Cylon is danish musician and net label co-founder Jannick Schou. I first heard his music through Ian who runs Heat Death, who sent me a copy of a demo Jannick had sent him. I was instantly in love with what I heard; 6 tracks of totally amazing subtle ambiance. I’m pretty lost for words when I think about this release, but I can say that it is totally ethereal and mesmerizing. I have lost my self in this album several times and each time I discovered new depths to it. It sounds like floating in clouds, it really does. Magical, elegant and uplifting; Jannick has created something really wonderful here and it gives me great pleasure to release it.

Limited to just 250 copies, packaged in a hand numbered and hand stamped 4 panel recycled card digipak with inserts.

Check out Jannicks free release here:

http://ia331411.us.archive.org/3/items/winterEP/winterEP_vbr_mp3.zip

Head over to his myspace to hear 3 tracks from the album.

http://www.myspace.com/schoudk

…and keep your eye out for more from Jannick in the future.

xxxxxx

Stray Ghost – An Avalanche of Swollen Tongues preview

Message to Bears – Departures review!

Check out this lovely write up about Departures:

http://sonicreverie.blogspot.com/2009/07/chat-with-message-to-bears.html

Thanks xx

Douleurfantome OUT NOW plus other news

Douleurfantomes’ epic “Part 1.5″ disc is available now in the store!

“

Douleurfantome, aka Creature, is Vincent Vigier. A one man guitar manipulator, thrasher, noiser, droner, genius. People who have been following the store for some time now will know that Vincent’s album under the Creature alias was one of my favourite listening experiences in a long time. After exchanging a few emails and doing a few trades, Vincent started sending me demos of a few tracks he was working on and the result is this release; Part 1.5. Two tracks totaling at 22 minutes.

The first track entitled “50Moloch” is a slow builder of dread filled static that erupts with fierce and intense walls of screaming guitars. It’s like a tangled radio broadcast from a war torn future, ending with mournful yet harsh and crusty guitar clatters.

The second and final track entitled “55Leviathan” is a bleak dirge through melancholic noise explosions and celestial textures. There is an underlining sadness to be heard through the layers of fuzz and sludge that is touching and unique.

Packaged in card windowed digipak with art by Vincent. Limited to 100 copies.
“

Buy it: http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/dourleurfantome-part-1-5

Stream it: http://www.last.fm/music/Douleurfantome/Part+1.5

Also, the Drone Poets compilation is now available to pre order. I’m very excited about this as I’ve managed to get together a fantastic set of artists and they’ve given me some amazing music to use on the comp. Full tracklisting and info is here: http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/product/drone-poets-2xcdr-comp-pre-order

Also, an update on the progress of Message to Bears – Departures. Apologies for the delays. I am awaiting the final parts of the packaging (stickers and stamp) and then I will be able to start assembling them and sending out the pre orders. Whilst I’m, here, I should add that Jerome is playing his first live gig with Message to Bears. Fingers crossed the album will be ready in time and I will be there to sell it!

More info: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=78155009&blogId=490006893

Finally, lots of releases planned for this year. Including some pretty epic big wowzer ones. More info soon.

Thanks xxxxxxxx