news, updates and ramblings
Thanks to everyone who was involved and came along on Saturday night. It was an absolute blast. If anyone has any pics or video footage or anything, that would be ace.
The new t shirt colourways are in the store now! Limited to 25 of each colour so be quick!!
Plurals/Tuluum Shimmering Split will be available by next week, just had a slight cock up with the CDrs, oops.
Merry Christmas! x
Added some amazing releases to the store just now. Firstly is the newest release by Celer; “Close Proximity and the Unhindered Care-all” on SRA and secondly is the 2 newest releases on the ever excellent Hibernate. All well worth a purchase in my opinion!
Also, an ace review of Stray Ghost’s “An Avalanche of Swollen Tongues” has appeared on Textura. Check it out here!
The gig is looming ever closer and it would be amazing to meet some fans of the label/artists. Remember it’s FREE and you’l be able to get some merch and some freebies! Anyone thinking of coming but needs help with travel and directions please do not hesitate to get in touch!
Alot to say tonight!
A bunch of new distro items have been added recently;
Fugues – Unreleased Tracks Compilation
A great comp featuring Message to Bears along side some other fantastic artists.
Field Rotation – Licht und Schatten
Second release from up coming Fluid Audio label.
And the 2 latest releases from the fantastic Home Normal label have also been added to the store.
The October sale ended last weekend, so the OCT10 10% discount code can no longer be used. Thanks to everyone who ordered and made use of the discount! I’m still keeping a bunch of items at a lower price though, you can check them out here. You can now also buy Stray Ghosts “An Avalanche…” with the t shire at a special package deal price here!
I’ve just confirmed that the wonderful Experimedia will be stocking Dead Pilot releases! I’ll let you know as soon as they have them in stock. Huge thanks to Jeremy! Hibernate have also just launched a shop and will soon be stocking select releases as well!
Fluid Radio will be broadcasting a mix made by me on Saturday November 14th. It features a bunch of great music from Dead Pilot releases as well as some from my favourite non Dead Pilot artists! After it’s been broadcast, I’ll upload it for download.
The remixes for the bonus disc for the re-release of Ekca Liena’s “Slow Music…” have now been confirmed and are as follows:
- Into The Wind (Cover by Duncan Harrison)
- Post Altitude (Remix by Pupilar)
- We Are Dying Flames (Remix by Stray Ghost)
- Fire Emerging From Mist (Remix by Kixotek)
- Fire Emerging From Mist (Remix by Nadja / Aidan Baker)
I’m so pleased and thrilled with this line up. I can’t wait to get this out. More info on it’s release soon.
And lastly, the first every Dead Pilot gig is taking place in Aylesbury on Saturday December 12th with Message to Bears, Winter in Montreal, Timothy C. Holehouse and Plurals. Hopefully this will be the first of many. More info here and here. If you are interested in coming and have no idea where Aylesbury is, please do get in touch and I’ll help you out.
I think that’s just about everything. As I said, I’m taking a break from releases for a month or so, but expect to see something special soon.
xxxxx
The Stray Ghost special editions have now sold out! Although, you may be able to grab copies from the following places:
http://www.normanrecords.com/poogle/index.php?q=stray+ghost&format=&btnG=Search
http://www.homenormal.com/archives/category/shop/other-labels/dead-pilots
That brings me neatly onto the next point; Home Normal and Databloem are now stocking Dead Pilot releases! Check the link above for Dead Pilot on Home Normal and the link below for Dead Pilot on Databloem!
http://www.databloem.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&label_id=137&Itemid=2&vmcchk=1&Itemid=2
Many thanks to Ian/Ben from Home Normal and Dennis at Databloem. I’m working on getting a few more stockists at the moment, so am holding back on the next few releases until I’ve secured them.
I’ve added a new 3″ EP by Operations to the distro section of the store. It’s called “Sundevil” and is abit different from the usual Operations sound, but is definitely worth a listen. Plus it’s highly limited to just 30 copies!
Okay so there are ALOT of releases planned for the next few months; it’s going to be really busy and very exciting. Also new t shirts coming soon too. I’ll be taking a break for while to sort out new stockists and a few other things, but expect a bunch of new releases next month.
Thanks as ever. x
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.*
So, as we say goodbye to the month of September and hello to the month of October, I’d like to bring a few things to your attention(s).
First off:
Stray Ghost’s fantastic full length “An Avalanche of Swollen Tongues” released a few weeks has had a bloody fantastic review by our friends at Sonic Reverie.
“There are strains of the Japanese aesthetic Wabi Sabi throughout Stray Ghost’s music, the fact that we cannot quite hear what is buried below the synthetic drones and static makes it seem all the more appealing in it’s imperfection. We are forced to press our ears to the speakers and listen closely to catch scintillating frames of the beauty which is buried beneath the kind of harsh protrusion of external noise which invades our hearts and minds on a daily basis.”
Read the full review:
http://sonicreverie.blogspot.com/2009/09/stray-ghost-avalanche-of-swollen.html
Secondly (and whilst on the subject of “…Swollen Tongues”:
You can now purchase the limited, hand numbered, tied with string and with bonus disc version of the album on it’s own WITHOUT a t shirt. So, those of you who like to listen to music topless, but still want the limited edition special-ness and bonus disc, can now purchase it on it’s own!
http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/artist/stray-ghost
For all the Stray Ghost purchasing options!
Thirdly:
New distro items have been added from the lovely Hibernate records and my favs Small Doses. Check out the distro section for these gems (limted copies of everything!):
http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/category/distro-items
Lastly:
With the nights drawing in and such (and the amount of amazing and larger scale releases planned over the next few months) I’ve decided to do a bit of a sale to shift the last few copies of some releases and make way for all the lovely new ones.
http://deadpilot.bigcartel.com/category/sale-items
Some stuff is down to just ONE COPY so if anything does take your fancy, get on it or be disappointed!
Also, during this sale time, if you order 3 (THREE) or more items (releases, distro items, sale items, t shirts ANYTHING!), you can use a special discount code: OCT10 for an extra 10% off. PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS ONLY TO BE USED ON ORDERS OF 3 (THREE) OR MORE ITEMS, NO LESS. ANY ORDERS NOT FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED AND YOU WILL LOSE OUT. SORRY.
Okay, that wasn’t quite last; final things:
Regarding the re-release of Ekca Liena’s Slow Music; please join the mailing list (on the home/start page) to be kept up to date on when this will be out. Joining the Facebook group and following the Twitter page wouldn’t help either. This way you will be notified of all goings on.
A few new places will be stocking Dead Pilot releases! More info shortly. Mega thanks to those guys for stocking us!
Out next week: Pete Fosco – Crescent Avenue (ltd. 1oo), Archers by the Sea/Pine Smoke Lodge – Split (ltd. 80) and Eyeballs – The Roof of the World re-issue (ltd. 40)
Finally, thanks to everyone for your continued interest and support. Keep it up and keep physical music and the DIY ethic alive!
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
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
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
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
