mmxxii
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'Module'
zakè / Ossa / FAX Cassette + CD Box 12/02/2022 Credits: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè, Ossa, and Fax Guitar & synth treatments on tracks 4 and 6 by Marc Ertel Track 7 remix by James Clements (ASC) Track 8 remix by James Bernard (Influx) Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio by zakè Mastered at Ambient Mountain House by James Bernard Cover photograph by Alicia Tsuchiya [aliciatsuchiya.com] Design and layout by zakè ©℗ 2023 Zakè Drone Recordings This is ZD-022 | MMXXII zakedronerecordings.com zakedrone.com Distribution Zakè Drone Recordings, Past Inside the Present, Juno Records |
About:
"Esteemed ambient auteurs, zakè and ossa's collaborative output continues to soothe and delight in equal measure. After Syntheticopia in August 2022 and the dark long-player 'A Pale Shelter' in 2021 between zakè, ossa, and City of Dawn comes Module, a collaboration that includes seasoned electronic producer Ruben A. Tamayo, under the alias FAX. The power trio brings forth an eight-track excursion into heavy ambient atmospheres with moody soundscapes and a real weight of melancholy. As always, the textures are grainy and lo-fi, the drones long-held, and the chords which poke through the clouds, bring subtle rays of hope and optimism. It is the latest and maybe the greatest chapter in this ongoing story from zakè and ossa with featured collaborators."
-Juno Records
Pressing Info:
White matchbox-style box set with metallic blue foil printing which includes the following: (1) Blue shell cassette loaded with FerroMaster C456™ super ferric, ultra-high performance type-1 music grade analog tape secured by a foam inlay. (1) Glass-mastered, silkscreen printed CD housed in a 4-panel, 300g satin cardstock eco-pack. Outer dimensions of the box is 138mm x 136mm x 18mm. Inner dimensions of the box tray are 131mm x 131mm x 13mm. Includes download card. Edition of 50.
"Esteemed ambient auteurs, zakè and ossa's collaborative output continues to soothe and delight in equal measure. After Syntheticopia in August 2022 and the dark long-player 'A Pale Shelter' in 2021 between zakè, ossa, and City of Dawn comes Module, a collaboration that includes seasoned electronic producer Ruben A. Tamayo, under the alias FAX. The power trio brings forth an eight-track excursion into heavy ambient atmospheres with moody soundscapes and a real weight of melancholy. As always, the textures are grainy and lo-fi, the drones long-held, and the chords which poke through the clouds, bring subtle rays of hope and optimism. It is the latest and maybe the greatest chapter in this ongoing story from zakè and ossa with featured collaborators."
-Juno Records
Pressing Info:
White matchbox-style box set with metallic blue foil printing which includes the following: (1) Blue shell cassette loaded with FerroMaster C456™ super ferric, ultra-high performance type-1 music grade analog tape secured by a foam inlay. (1) Glass-mastered, silkscreen printed CD housed in a 4-panel, 300g satin cardstock eco-pack. Outer dimensions of the box is 138mm x 136mm x 18mm. Inner dimensions of the box tray are 131mm x 131mm x 13mm. Includes download card. Edition of 50.
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'Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel II'
36 & zakè Limited Edition LP [4 color variants] 11/04/2022 Credits: Tracks 1-6 Written, produced and engineered by 36 & zakè Tracks 7-12 Written, produced and engineered by 36 Tracks 13-18 Written, produced and engineered by zakè Track 18 features additional synth work by Ossa and sound treatments by awakened souls All tracks mastered by 36 Artwork, layout and design by 36 ©℗ Past Inside the Present This is PITP40 | MMXXII pastinsidethepresent.com ▽ https://3six.net http://zakedronerecordings.com Distribution Past Inside the Present, Juno Records |
About:
Mission Control requested additional sound artifacts for all travelers that commenced their maiden voyage on January 31, 2020 documented as PITP39. Eighteen chapters of aural anesthetics were dispatched to the traveling vessel. The mission was successful, the travelers received the transmission and can continue their journey through the outer reaches of space in hypersleep. These tracks are now declassified and available for public listening.
Pressing Info:
160 gram LP on 'red magmasphere' (110 copies), 'deep blue space' (112 copies), 'purple nova' (113 copies) and 'gold cosmos' (213 copies) housed in a semi-gloss jacket. Full color center labels. Records are placed in a black, anti-static inner sleeve with a .75 gauge archival polypropylene lining. Includes download card insert. Shrinkwrapped.
Mission Control requested additional sound artifacts for all travelers that commenced their maiden voyage on January 31, 2020 documented as PITP39. Eighteen chapters of aural anesthetics were dispatched to the traveling vessel. The mission was successful, the travelers received the transmission and can continue their journey through the outer reaches of space in hypersleep. These tracks are now declassified and available for public listening.
Pressing Info:
160 gram LP on 'red magmasphere' (110 copies), 'deep blue space' (112 copies), 'purple nova' (113 copies) and 'gold cosmos' (213 copies) housed in a semi-gloss jacket. Full color center labels. Records are placed in a black, anti-static inner sleeve with a .75 gauge archival polypropylene lining. Includes download card insert. Shrinkwrapped.
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'Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel' [reissue]
36 & zakè Limited Edition LP [Hyper Clear] Limited Edition LP [Mystery Galaxy] 11/04/2022 Credits: Written, produced and engineered by 36 & zakè Mastered by 36 Artwork, layout and design by 36 ©℗ 2020-2022 Past Inside the Present This is PITP39 Distribution Past Inside the Present, Juno Records |
Pressing Info:
160 gram LP on 'hyper clear' (110 copies) and 'mystery galaxy' (415 copies) housed in a semi-gloss jacket. Full color center labels. Records are placed in a black, anti-static inner sleeve with a .75 gauge archival polypropylene lining. Includes download card insert. Shrinkwrapped.
◾️◾️◾️ REVIEWS ◾️◾️◾️
"If you’ve ever seen a space-travel movie, you’re probably familiar with the concept of longterm stasis, aka hyper sleep: just a bunch of humans chilling in torpor en route to some newer, brighter world, light years away from the marvelous blue marble we call home. Hypothetically, the trope may become a reality further down the line; the aerospace engineering company SpaceWorks, for instance, has proposed “torpor-inducing transfer habitats” as a means of smoothening mankind’s eventual journey to Mars (assuming we make it there before bringing about our own demise, of course.) Until then, we’ll have to settle for the soundtrack, Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel. A collaborative release between the British producer Dennis Huddleston (aka 36) and Zaké, a “healing sound propagandist” from Indianapolis, IN, it’s a sonic approximation of the impossible (and impossibly expensive) space nap, manifested here as three soft, soothing, melancholic ambient movements: the four-stage title track, which represents the journey away from home; a nostalgic, field recording-flavored “extended hypersleep program” inspired by all the places left behind (caves, rain, cities); and at the end of the tranquil dream, a trilogy of “reductions” to let us back down to earth. I highly recommend listening to this record at night, looking up at the stars, bundled up in your favorite sweater. It’s not the same exact thing as a stasis pod, but it’s close."
—Zoe Camp, Bandcamp (Best New Ambient Music on Bandcamp)
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"Given the respective outputs of committed ambient explorers and sound designers Zake (best known for releasing no less than five fine albums in 2019) and 36 (most recently seen on A Strangely Isolated Place with the superb album "Fade To Grey"), you'd expect this trip into aural deep space to be rather good. It is of course, with the four tracks mixing echoing sonic tones and drifting sound effects with slow-burn electronic melodies and the kind of immersive, sustained chords that were once the preserve of German maestro Pete Namlook. The third track in the suite, appropriately titled "Stage 3", is little less than stunning, in part because of its grandiose, almost classical intent."
-Juno Records
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"The first collaboration between frequent Past Inside the Present contributor 36 and the label’s founder zakè tells a very human story through layers of literal and figurative atmosphere. The album voices a personal longing for others to feel content with switching off, for self-reflection and stillness. The album comes in three “movements;” the introductory self-titled track attempts to capture what’s being left behind, “Extended Hypersleep Program” is the central narrative, and “Reduction” is its denouement (it could be read either as a return to Earth or a further descent into uncharted territory). The drowsiness instilled by the implied cryogenic slumber feels manufactured, the rounded-off sonic edges reminiscent of the album’s futuristic, clean, and sterile setting. There’s a surrealism that pervades the album that not only assists in telling its story, but gives it its own unique tonal flavor."
—Ari Delaney, Bandcamp (Best New Ambient Music on Bandcamp)
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"On Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel, Dennis Huddleston, who, once again, appears here as 36, and Zach Frizzell, the very founder of the Past Inside the Present label, who also records under his zakè moniker (also known as 扎克), offer us over 90 minutes of space roaming drift. The yellow and red swirly transparent vinyl and its beautiful transparent cobalt brother featured the first four stages of this extended voyage, while the digital release on Bandcamp includes the Extended Hypersleep Program [this one is composed solely by Huddleston] and additional “reductions” [in turn composed solely by Frizzell] to truly bring your self-inflicted chaos to a still. The release is an ideal selection of mind settling music, especially during these times of self-isolation, where, interestingly enough, the [human] world found itself slowing its pace."
-Headphone Commute
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"The now veteran of the ambient-drone Dennis Huddleston, aka 36, of Leeds, and zakè, of Indianapolis, unite to describe in this album one of the typical sci-fi scenarios, namely that of the journey long lasting in the cosmos. In particular, they refer to the process of "hibernation" of the astronauts, a state of deep and prolonged sleep that could make possible operations such as the colonization of Mars or the exploration, with human crew, of our Solar System. The science fiction pretext of "Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel" is, however, the occasion for a reading that combines the space theme with the meditative one: the Universe intended as a place of exploration of thought, boundless field of introspection.
Ideally divided into three large parts, the work articulates its 97 total minutes as follows: a 28-minute suite in four "stages" that closely follows the typical sounds of film science fiction, with a very slow fanfare diluted in subliminal melodies that recall Vangelis to the point of colliding with a sidereal wind, a meeting point between the cosmic restlessness of Klaus Schulze and the new age poetry of Constance Demby; after a piece dedicated to the stasis room (for about 6 minutes), a 30-minute triptych of nostalgic dreamy frescoes appears, animated by minimal sounds and clouds of drones, as well as by more descriptive field-recordings, which remind us of the landscapes in a moving way Earthlings (a cave, rain, a city at night). Three conclusive "reductions", diluted versions and pareidolitic illusions of the sounds already listened to, which translate the border between dream and wakefulness into music, recalling the splendid, rarefied and imaginative journeys of the Stars Of The Lid, culminating in the final "Reduction 3 ", a full 21 minutes.
What distinguishes the dream from death? In the first with the immobile body a mind coexists that explores an inner universe, abstract and soothing, synesthetic and hypnotic; in the second, they dominate total anguish and, afterwards, a boundless nullity. This "Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel" is never eerie, because a spark of emotion animates its long suites and contrasts the journey of the mind with the stasis of the body. Far from the metropolitan chaos, from the incessant stimuli of the hyperconnected global village, from the pressing deadlines and from the alarming breaking news that take sleep away, we find ourselves meditating for an abundant hour and a half, leaving for a while that with the movement of the body replace the boundless journey of the soul. It is no coincidence that 36 published the EP "Music For Isolation" in early April: what is the quarantine that the world has been experiencing in these months, if not a long standstill?"
-Ondarock, Italy
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“Since its earliest iteration, ambient has consistently been defined by the idea of concept – as explicitly representing an idea, space, or journey. The new collaboration between 36 & zaké is an exquisite example of this tradition, as Stasis Sounds is a “soundtrack that commences at Earth’s thermosphere, gently moving towards the untraveled parts of space, lushly floating on forever.” This is a record that evolves slowly, like water gently trickling from a glacier, drawing the listener in to get lost in its subtly epic scope. The gleaming tape loops, the thoughtful synths that stretch tantalisingly into the infinite distance, Stasis Sounds feels like stepping into the turn of Earth.”
-All Things Loud
--
“Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel, sees UK ambienteer, 36, collude with US ‘healing sound propagandist,’ zaké, in a field recording-infused ‘extended hypersleep program’ inspired by nostalgia for an imagined left behind (cities, caves, rain). Spatial transmissions awash with billowing tones for quiet reflection—an act congruent with the tenor of life on this current version of Earth.”
-Igloo Magazine
--
"Past Inside The Present are on a mission to make you slow down and enjoy the now more than we do in modern life. They do so with this latest 12", which features four accompaniment programs "designed to give the stasis user a pleasurable experience in extended hypersleep." This is hi fidelity listening music that is as cathartic and escapist as it comes. Each track is like tuning into and endless continuum of sound that ebbs and flows infinitely. Celestial and delicate, if you can't relax in the company of these then you got real problems."
-Juno Records, Essential Listening
160 gram LP on 'hyper clear' (110 copies) and 'mystery galaxy' (415 copies) housed in a semi-gloss jacket. Full color center labels. Records are placed in a black, anti-static inner sleeve with a .75 gauge archival polypropylene lining. Includes download card insert. Shrinkwrapped.
◾️◾️◾️ REVIEWS ◾️◾️◾️
"If you’ve ever seen a space-travel movie, you’re probably familiar with the concept of longterm stasis, aka hyper sleep: just a bunch of humans chilling in torpor en route to some newer, brighter world, light years away from the marvelous blue marble we call home. Hypothetically, the trope may become a reality further down the line; the aerospace engineering company SpaceWorks, for instance, has proposed “torpor-inducing transfer habitats” as a means of smoothening mankind’s eventual journey to Mars (assuming we make it there before bringing about our own demise, of course.) Until then, we’ll have to settle for the soundtrack, Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel. A collaborative release between the British producer Dennis Huddleston (aka 36) and Zaké, a “healing sound propagandist” from Indianapolis, IN, it’s a sonic approximation of the impossible (and impossibly expensive) space nap, manifested here as three soft, soothing, melancholic ambient movements: the four-stage title track, which represents the journey away from home; a nostalgic, field recording-flavored “extended hypersleep program” inspired by all the places left behind (caves, rain, cities); and at the end of the tranquil dream, a trilogy of “reductions” to let us back down to earth. I highly recommend listening to this record at night, looking up at the stars, bundled up in your favorite sweater. It’s not the same exact thing as a stasis pod, but it’s close."
—Zoe Camp, Bandcamp (Best New Ambient Music on Bandcamp)
--
"Given the respective outputs of committed ambient explorers and sound designers Zake (best known for releasing no less than five fine albums in 2019) and 36 (most recently seen on A Strangely Isolated Place with the superb album "Fade To Grey"), you'd expect this trip into aural deep space to be rather good. It is of course, with the four tracks mixing echoing sonic tones and drifting sound effects with slow-burn electronic melodies and the kind of immersive, sustained chords that were once the preserve of German maestro Pete Namlook. The third track in the suite, appropriately titled "Stage 3", is little less than stunning, in part because of its grandiose, almost classical intent."
-Juno Records
--
"The first collaboration between frequent Past Inside the Present contributor 36 and the label’s founder zakè tells a very human story through layers of literal and figurative atmosphere. The album voices a personal longing for others to feel content with switching off, for self-reflection and stillness. The album comes in three “movements;” the introductory self-titled track attempts to capture what’s being left behind, “Extended Hypersleep Program” is the central narrative, and “Reduction” is its denouement (it could be read either as a return to Earth or a further descent into uncharted territory). The drowsiness instilled by the implied cryogenic slumber feels manufactured, the rounded-off sonic edges reminiscent of the album’s futuristic, clean, and sterile setting. There’s a surrealism that pervades the album that not only assists in telling its story, but gives it its own unique tonal flavor."
—Ari Delaney, Bandcamp (Best New Ambient Music on Bandcamp)
--
"On Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel, Dennis Huddleston, who, once again, appears here as 36, and Zach Frizzell, the very founder of the Past Inside the Present label, who also records under his zakè moniker (also known as 扎克), offer us over 90 minutes of space roaming drift. The yellow and red swirly transparent vinyl and its beautiful transparent cobalt brother featured the first four stages of this extended voyage, while the digital release on Bandcamp includes the Extended Hypersleep Program [this one is composed solely by Huddleston] and additional “reductions” [in turn composed solely by Frizzell] to truly bring your self-inflicted chaos to a still. The release is an ideal selection of mind settling music, especially during these times of self-isolation, where, interestingly enough, the [human] world found itself slowing its pace."
-Headphone Commute
--
"The now veteran of the ambient-drone Dennis Huddleston, aka 36, of Leeds, and zakè, of Indianapolis, unite to describe in this album one of the typical sci-fi scenarios, namely that of the journey long lasting in the cosmos. In particular, they refer to the process of "hibernation" of the astronauts, a state of deep and prolonged sleep that could make possible operations such as the colonization of Mars or the exploration, with human crew, of our Solar System. The science fiction pretext of "Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel" is, however, the occasion for a reading that combines the space theme with the meditative one: the Universe intended as a place of exploration of thought, boundless field of introspection.
Ideally divided into three large parts, the work articulates its 97 total minutes as follows: a 28-minute suite in four "stages" that closely follows the typical sounds of film science fiction, with a very slow fanfare diluted in subliminal melodies that recall Vangelis to the point of colliding with a sidereal wind, a meeting point between the cosmic restlessness of Klaus Schulze and the new age poetry of Constance Demby; after a piece dedicated to the stasis room (for about 6 minutes), a 30-minute triptych of nostalgic dreamy frescoes appears, animated by minimal sounds and clouds of drones, as well as by more descriptive field-recordings, which remind us of the landscapes in a moving way Earthlings (a cave, rain, a city at night). Three conclusive "reductions", diluted versions and pareidolitic illusions of the sounds already listened to, which translate the border between dream and wakefulness into music, recalling the splendid, rarefied and imaginative journeys of the Stars Of The Lid, culminating in the final "Reduction 3 ", a full 21 minutes.
What distinguishes the dream from death? In the first with the immobile body a mind coexists that explores an inner universe, abstract and soothing, synesthetic and hypnotic; in the second, they dominate total anguish and, afterwards, a boundless nullity. This "Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel" is never eerie, because a spark of emotion animates its long suites and contrasts the journey of the mind with the stasis of the body. Far from the metropolitan chaos, from the incessant stimuli of the hyperconnected global village, from the pressing deadlines and from the alarming breaking news that take sleep away, we find ourselves meditating for an abundant hour and a half, leaving for a while that with the movement of the body replace the boundless journey of the soul. It is no coincidence that 36 published the EP "Music For Isolation" in early April: what is the quarantine that the world has been experiencing in these months, if not a long standstill?"
-Ondarock, Italy
--
“Since its earliest iteration, ambient has consistently been defined by the idea of concept – as explicitly representing an idea, space, or journey. The new collaboration between 36 & zaké is an exquisite example of this tradition, as Stasis Sounds is a “soundtrack that commences at Earth’s thermosphere, gently moving towards the untraveled parts of space, lushly floating on forever.” This is a record that evolves slowly, like water gently trickling from a glacier, drawing the listener in to get lost in its subtly epic scope. The gleaming tape loops, the thoughtful synths that stretch tantalisingly into the infinite distance, Stasis Sounds feels like stepping into the turn of Earth.”
-All Things Loud
--
“Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel, sees UK ambienteer, 36, collude with US ‘healing sound propagandist,’ zaké, in a field recording-infused ‘extended hypersleep program’ inspired by nostalgia for an imagined left behind (cities, caves, rain). Spatial transmissions awash with billowing tones for quiet reflection—an act congruent with the tenor of life on this current version of Earth.”
-Igloo Magazine
--
"Past Inside The Present are on a mission to make you slow down and enjoy the now more than we do in modern life. They do so with this latest 12", which features four accompaniment programs "designed to give the stasis user a pleasurable experience in extended hypersleep." This is hi fidelity listening music that is as cathartic and escapist as it comes. Each track is like tuning into and endless continuum of sound that ebbs and flows infinitely. Celestial and delicate, if you can't relax in the company of these then you got real problems."
-Juno Records, Essential Listening
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'orchestre de poussière [redux]'
zakè & City of Dawn Limited Edition 2xCassette Box 10/31/2022 Credits: Written, recorded and produced by zakè & City of Dawn Sequencing and continuity by James Bernard Originally mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio by zakè, 2021 Remixed, engineered and mastered at Ambient Mountain House by James Bernard, 2022 Layout and design by zakè ©℗ 2021-2022 Zakè Drone Recordings This is ZD-018r zakedronerecordings.com zakedrone.com Distribution Zakè Drone Recordings, Juno Records |
◾️◾️◾️ ABOUT ◾️◾️◾️
'car nous sommes poussière, et à la poussière nous retournerons.'
Pressing Info:
2x gold/silver shell cassette tapes. Housed in a clear, vertical stack norelco box. Full color j-card. Loaded with FerroMaster C456™ super ferric, ultra-high performance type-1 music grade analog tape. Cassette box housed in a clear front, silver/gold back stand up resealable pouch. Edition of 50.
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'Unfurled Works'
zakè Limited Edition Cassette 10/7/2022 Credits: Track 1-2: Written & produced by zakè Track 3: Written & produced by zakè & Wayne Robert Thomas Track 4: Written & produced by zakè & Slow Dancing Society Track 5: Written & produced by zakè & Wayne Robert Thomas, reworked by Black Swan © 2019-2022 Zakè Drone Recordings This is ZD-LOOP1 | MMXXII zakedronerecordings.com zakedrone.com Distribution Zakè Drone Recordings, Juno Records |
◾️◾️◾️ ABOUT ◾️◾️◾️
Unfurled Works is a long-form EP consisting of selected tracks from zakè's back catalogue that have been extended from their original lengths. Track one originally appeared on ZDR Subscription Series Vol. IV, titled as 'Sound Space 8.2'.Track two originally appeared on 'Milieuxia'. Track three originally appeared on 'Remembrance'. Track four originally appeared on 'Mirrored', a collaboration album between Slow Dancing Society and zakè. The final track originally appeared on "To Those Who Dwelt in a Land of Deep Darkness" as 'Addendum II' and was beautifully reworked by close friend Black Swan.
Pressing Info:
Orange shell cassette with black imprinting, housed in a clear/black norelco box. Loaded with FerroMaster C456™ super ferric, ultra-high performance type-1 music grade analog tape. Shrinkwrapped.
Kind Words:
"Space is the place - at least, it's the place uppermost in the mind of midwest US label Past Inside The Present owner zakè and his sonic partner Ossa - location given as the north pole according to his Twitter - as they embark on collaborative 10 tracks. The fact that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA to you and me - has supplied them with celestial sound emissions for the tracks is a bonus. But ultimately, the real headline factor once it's actually on your turntable is the vivid atmospheres and gorgeous textures that the pair are capable of generating. The album's closer, 'Metric Expansion', is a tremulous glory, peaking and slipping away like rays of sunlight. 'Space & Time', meanwhile, is a simple, gliding analogue delight, and 'Drifting' proves you can carve imperceptible beauty from a couple of well crafted chords."
Juno Records
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'Syntheticopia'
zakè & ossa Limited Edition LP [2 variants] 9/2/2022 Credits: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè and Ossa Celestial sound emissions by National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio (IN/US) by zakè Mastered at Black Knoll (NY/US) by Rafael Anton Irisarri Design and layout by zakè ©℗ 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings This is ZD-021 | MMXXII zakedronerecordings.com zakedrone.com Distribution Past Inside the Present, Zakè Drone Recordings, Juno Records |
◾️◾️◾️ ABOUT ◾️◾️◾️
Welcome to Astronomer, Inc. (AI) is a non-government agency that is responsible for auditory research of deep space phonic transmissions and sound exploration. AI’s research is a mix of disciplines which encompasses earth-based instrumentation and sound devices, while capturing celestial phonic emissions. AI approved a new mission and the program was titled, ‘syntheticopia’. Classification ID for this voyage was ZD-021. The goal of this mission was to collect and study sound origins of the cosmos.
The flight personnel for this mission was zakè and Ossa. Transmission Engineer was Rafael Anton Irisarri. zakè and Ossa documented their earth-based sounds prior to departure. Through AI’s space link transponder, collected sounds from the deepest parts of space were sent back to accompany their previously documented work. The flight personnel never returned to their earthly home. Transmission Engineer Irisarri fine-tuned the sound data at his satellite location, Black Knoll Studios.
Pressing Info:
160 gram LP on purple swirl (100) and audiophile black vinyl housed in a matte jacket. PITP branded center labels. Record placed in a black, anti-static inner sleeve with a .75 gauge archival polypropylene lining. Shrinkwrapped.
Creation:
Each track on “syntheticopia’ features sound recordings and radio emissions captured by various NASA spacecrafts including: Juno, Van Allen Probes, Cassini, Galileo, and Stardust. “Soaring to the depths of our universe, gallant spacecrafts roam the cosmos, capturing the sounds of celestial wonders.“
Earth-based instrumentation includes the following devices:
Korg Minilogue XD Polyphonic Analog Synth
Moog DFAM Semi-Modular Eurorack Analog Synth
Moog Mother-32 Semi Modular Analog Synth
Poly D Polyphonic Analog Synth
Tascam DR-44WL Field Recorder
Tascam DR-40X Field Recorder
Kind Words:
"Space is the place - at least, it's the place uppermost in the mind of Midwest US label Past Inside The Present owner zakè and his sonic partner Ossa - location given as the north pole according to his Twitter - as they embark on collaborative 10 tracks. The fact that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - NASA to you and me - has supplied them with celestial sound emissions for the tracks is a bonus. But ultimately, the real headline factor once it's actually on your turntable is the vivid atmospheres and gorgeous textures that the pair are capable of generating. The album's closer, 'Metric Expansion', is a tremulous glory, peaking and slipping away like rays of sunlight. 'Space & Time', meanwhile, is a simple, gliding analogue delight, and 'Drifting' proves you can carve imperceptible beauty from a couple of well crafted chords."
Juno Records
"This album is pure synthesized bliss."
James Bernard (Influx/awakened souls)
"A wonderful collage of synthesizer sequences to relax the mind to."
James Clements (ASC/Comit)
"A really lush collection of synth-based vignettes."
Dennis Huddleston (36/Syne)
"Imagine becoming one with a transmission from another place. Not space, not another world but rather, another place.
Cocooned on all sides by the warm static and energy this message is made of."
Drew Sullivan (Slow Dancing Society)
"This album is a absolute must buy, sonically this feels like a filmic experience and a sci-fi-esc soundtrack.
The variety and flows on the syntheticopia are a joy to behold! zakè & Ossa deliver a masterful album."
Simon Huxtable (Aural Imbalance/Inhmost)
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'To Those Who Dwelt in a Land of Deep Darkness'
zakè & Wayne Robert Thomas Limited Edition LP 8/4/2022 Credits: Written and produced by zakè & Wayne Robert Thomas Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio by zakè Mastered at Schwebung Mastering by Stephan Mathieu Design and layout by zakè © 2022 Past Inside the Present This is PITP31 | MMXXII pastinsidethepresent.com pitp.shop Distribution Past Inside the Present, Zakè Drone Recordings, Juno Records |
◾️◾️◾️ ABOUT ◾️◾️◾️
‘To Those Who Dwelt in a Land of Deep Darkness’ was originally released as a hi-fidelity 10” lathe which sold out almost immediately. Reissued as a proper 12” vinyl release, the album includes three new tracks taken from the original recording sessions, in addition to a gorgeous remastering of all arrangements by Stephan Mathieu at Schwebung Mastering.
"For many, music and art are invaluable when it comes to coping with dark and trying times. This can be true for both the creator and the listener. zakè & Wayne Robert Thomas offer a pensive and ultimately healing deep dive into what it means to continue living life in the face of loss and uncertainty. These arrangements explore the emotional depths of struggle, perseverance, and growth."
Pressing Info:
160 gram LP on metallic green vinyl (100) and transparent clear vinyl (200) housed in a matte jacket. PITP branded center labels. Record placed in a black, anti-static inner sleeve with a .75 gauge archival polypropylene lining. Shrinkwrapped.
Reviews:
“‘To Those Who Dwelt in a Land of Deep Darkness’ is centered around a 40-minute piece that loops a gentle, layered melodic phrase ad infinitum, with only subtle alterations along the way. It was created as a kind of healing balm for people who have experienced deep loss, and I think therein lies its emotional power. To me it feels like the sun gently breaking through clouds as you start to move on and learn to live with grief. More active addendums distills the essence of the main arrangement. A quietly powerful album with a beautiful stillness at its center.”
-Ambient Music Guide
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"zakè & Wayne Robert Thomas come together to serve up a thoughtful and healing deep dive into "what it means to continue living life in the face of loss and uncertainty." Their album is one of great depth emotional and full of subtle struggles that we can all relate to. 'To Those Who Dwelt in a Land of Deep Darkness' was first put out as a 10" lathe but now gets pressed up properly to 12" vinyl with three extra tracks taken from the original recording sessions. They say the best art comes out of adversity and that is certainly true here."
-Juno Records
|
'Stay With Me'
zakè & T.R. Jordan Limited Edition CD 7/29/2022 Credits: Written, recorded and produced by zakè & T.R. Jordan Vocal accompaniment on 'Stay With Me' by marine eyes Field recordings and cover photograph captured on the coast of Lake Erie, 41°25'25.9"N 82°36'27.4"W Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio by zakè Mastered at AMH by James Bernard Photography and design by zakè © 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings This is ZD-020 | MMXXII zakedronerecordings.com zakedrone.com Distribution Zakè Drone Recordings, Juno Records, Past Inside the Present |
◾️◾️◾️ ABOUT ◾️◾️◾️
"
I need you close
Twin spirits never stray
Our love, so tender.
Endless as where water meets sky
Infinite sand of shorelines
Please stay with me
Never say goodbye.
"
Review:
"Given the amount of collaborations he undertakes, Past Inside The Present boss zake is not so much musically sociable as utterly gregarious. He's also one to choose a good theme with which to imbue his musical productions with definable atmospherics. This collaborative effort with T.R. Jordan has water at its heart, with field recordings captured on the coast of Lake Erie - which straddles the US/Canadian border - fed into the mixes, giving them a distinctive psycho-geography. Spread over four slow moving tracks, including 'Stay With Me' with ghostly vocals by the aptly named marine eyes, the arrangements revolve around the sound of traditional and electronic pianos interplaying. That said, all the meticulous detail and sonic trimmings you'd expect from a Past Inside The Present release are in there too, working away in the background."
-Juno Records
|
'An Orchestral Suite For Tape'
zakè & City of Dawn Limited Edition Cassette 6/22/2022 Credits: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè & City of Dawn Mixed and curated at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio by zakè Mastered at Schwebung Mastering by Stephan Mathieu Design and layout by zakè © 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings This is ZD-COMP02 | MMXXII zakedronerecordings.com zakedrone.com Distribution: Zakè Drone Recordings, Juno Records, Past Inside the Present |
◾️◾️◾️ ABOUT ◾️◾️◾️
'An Orchestral Suite For Tape' is a compilation specifically curated for playback on the noble cassette tape format. Featuring orchestral arrangements by zakè & City of Dawn, this collection includes songs from four albums and one compilation. This is the first time these tracks have been available on tape.
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'Sound Space Variations'
zakè Limited Edition Digipak CD & Cassette 5/27/2022 Credits: Written and produced by zakè Mixed and mastered at Ambient Mountain House by James Bernard Guitar accompaniment on “Bewrayeth“ by Kévin Séry Photography and design by zakè © 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings This is ZD-011 | MMXXII zakedronerecordings.com zakedrone.com Distribution: Zakè Drone Recordings, Juno Records, Past Inside the Present |
◾️◾️◾️ REVIEW ◾️◾️◾️
The Moments Between Sounds - A Musical Artwork
“Sound Space Variations" is a delicate and restrained sound bath. A mix of atmospheric, suspenseful drone sounds and meditative aspects. It is an album made for those moments when we just are.
zakè has managed to capture the moments that lie between sounds. I am sure you know those unagitated murmurs and atmospheric hisses. The artist connects this in-between-world and our earthly one with calm and sonorous scores, making us think about everything and nothing.
The six pieces on the record do not seem heavy-headed or overloaded but much more airy, wide and open for interpretations. They stimulate the imagination – in a wonderfully unbiased way. In the last track, "Bewrayeth", Kévin Séry makes a surprise appearance – he has added an excellent guitar accompaniment to the song.
James Bernard mixed and mastered the album, written and produced by drone artist zakè, at Ambient Mountain House Studio. zakè himself provided the artwork and photos himself.”
Cardamomchai
Anne Reis, Music & Sustainability Blogger Hamburg (DE) / cardamonchai.com
The Moments Between Sounds - A Musical Artwork
“Sound Space Variations" is a delicate and restrained sound bath. A mix of atmospheric, suspenseful drone sounds and meditative aspects. It is an album made for those moments when we just are.
zakè has managed to capture the moments that lie between sounds. I am sure you know those unagitated murmurs and atmospheric hisses. The artist connects this in-between-world and our earthly one with calm and sonorous scores, making us think about everything and nothing.
The six pieces on the record do not seem heavy-headed or overloaded but much more airy, wide and open for interpretations. They stimulate the imagination – in a wonderfully unbiased way. In the last track, "Bewrayeth", Kévin Séry makes a surprise appearance – he has added an excellent guitar accompaniment to the song.
James Bernard mixed and mastered the album, written and produced by drone artist zakè, at Ambient Mountain House Studio. zakè himself provided the artwork and photos himself.”
Cardamomchai
Anne Reis, Music & Sustainability Blogger Hamburg (DE) / cardamonchai.com
|
'Remembrance'
zakè Limited Edition 2xLP US Version [200 units] (180g pine green w/ white) EU Version [100 units] Limited Edition LP (180g marble transparent green w/ solid green splatter) Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records ZD-015 // DNK21134 2/25/2022 Credits: Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio by zakè Mastered at SDS Studio (WA/US) by Drew Sullivan Vinyl pressed at Dunk!Pressing (Zottegem, BE) Poetic narrative 'A Heart Mirrored’ and track titles by Julia Frizzell Photography by Benoît Pioulard Design and layout by zakè ©℗ 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records This is ZD-015 // DNK21134 Distribution: Zakè Drone Recordings, Dunk!Records, Juno Records, A Thousand Arms, Church Road Records, New Noise China |
Remembrance follows a similar formula found on zakè’s previous effort, Geneva (released on Past Inside the Present, 2020). He produced eight short phonic motifs and then invited artists to collaborate, rework, and expand upon the source material resulting in a new, unique creation.
The album consists of eight short vignettes by zakè, six collaborative pieces, and eight completely reworked tracks. The track titles and overall theme of these works are based off the gorgeous poetic narrative “Remembrance” written by Julia Frizzell.
“Collaborating with other artists, along with passing songs and ideas to artists to rework is one of the most enjoyable experiences when writing music. Co-creation captures the heart, soul, and music artistry combined, allowing for a bigger canvas of aural exploration and expression. I am truly humbled to work with such incredible artists.”
-zakè
Tracks 1-8: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè
Tracks 9-14:
'Release' collaboratively produced by Color of Time & zakè
‘A Breath’ collaboratively produced by Benoît Pioulard & zakè
‘Glimmer' collaboratively produced by City of Dawn & zakè
'Held' collaboratively produced by Grandbruit & zakè
‘Catch' collaboratively produced by Wayne Robert Thomas & zakè
‘Heart Mirrored’ collaboratively produced by Jonas Munk & zakè
Tracks 15-23:
Source material by zakè
Reworked and produced by the following in order of appearance:
marine eyes, Cat Tyson Hughes, Robert Farrugia, Belly Full of Stars, anthéne, Ai Yamamoto, 36, Patricia Wolf, & Christina Giannone.
The album consists of eight short vignettes by zakè, six collaborative pieces, and eight completely reworked tracks. The track titles and overall theme of these works are based off the gorgeous poetic narrative “Remembrance” written by Julia Frizzell.
“Collaborating with other artists, along with passing songs and ideas to artists to rework is one of the most enjoyable experiences when writing music. Co-creation captures the heart, soul, and music artistry combined, allowing for a bigger canvas of aural exploration and expression. I am truly humbled to work with such incredible artists.”
-zakè
Tracks 1-8: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè
Tracks 9-14:
'Release' collaboratively produced by Color of Time & zakè
‘A Breath’ collaboratively produced by Benoît Pioulard & zakè
‘Glimmer' collaboratively produced by City of Dawn & zakè
'Held' collaboratively produced by Grandbruit & zakè
‘Catch' collaboratively produced by Wayne Robert Thomas & zakè
‘Heart Mirrored’ collaboratively produced by Jonas Munk & zakè
Tracks 15-23:
Source material by zakè
Reworked and produced by the following in order of appearance:
marine eyes, Cat Tyson Hughes, Robert Farrugia, Belly Full of Stars, anthéne, Ai Yamamoto, 36, Patricia Wolf, & Christina Giannone.
|
'Tape Hymns'
zakè & City of Dawn Limited Edition LP US Version [200 units] (180g transparent natural/green split) EU Version [100 units] Limited Edition LP (180g transparent green smoke) Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records ZD-016 // DNK21135 2/25/2022 Credits: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè & City of Dawn Field recordings on 'Hymn No. 1' by awakened souls Additional sound textures by Joachim Spieth Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio (IN/US) by zakè Mastered at SDS Studio (WA/US) by Drew Sullivan Vinyl pressed at Dunk!Pressing (Zottegem, BE Design and layout by zakè ©℗ 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records This is ZD-016 // DNK21135 Distribution: Zakè Drone Recordings, Dunk!Records, Juno Records, A Thousand Arms, Church Road Records, New Noise China |
Tape Hymns is a mesmerizing amalgam of sounds carefully crafted by frequent collaborators zakè and City of Dawn. The warm hiss of analog tape as the foundational structure of these arrangements brings forth pastoral mediations with becalmed, atmospheric intent. Tape Hymns mix echoing sonic tones, slow-drifting sounds with immersive low-end frequencies.
Rather than linger in the imperfections of media, the duo pursues an attention to fidelity that forces them to get the fine details just right. Tape Hymns is a convincing display of just how much can be done within a relatively strict conceptual framework.
One of the joys of drone in forms tied to ambient electronica is the deceptive sense of depth - refrains often hang on a single central tone but float, glide and flow in a manner that creates textured soundscapes on such a huge scale it is rarely far from the mind's eye. These arrangements are case in point, offering plenty of calm but complex scores primed for the self-reflective moments in time we spend considering the beauty of our world.
Rather than linger in the imperfections of media, the duo pursues an attention to fidelity that forces them to get the fine details just right. Tape Hymns is a convincing display of just how much can be done within a relatively strict conceptual framework.
One of the joys of drone in forms tied to ambient electronica is the deceptive sense of depth - refrains often hang on a single central tone but float, glide and flow in a manner that creates textured soundscapes on such a huge scale it is rarely far from the mind's eye. These arrangements are case in point, offering plenty of calm but complex scores primed for the self-reflective moments in time we spend considering the beauty of our world.
|
'Pinehaven'
zakè & City of Dawn Limited Edition LP US Version [200 units] (180g transparent light green w/ green center splatter) EU Version [100 units] Limited Edition LP (180g cloudy green w/ white center blob) Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records ZD-017 // DNK21136 2/25/2022 Credits: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè & City of Dawn Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio (IN/US) by zakè Mastered at SDS Studio (WA/US) by Drew Sullivan Vinyl pressed at Dunk!Pressing (Zottegem, BE) Design and layout by zakè ©℗ 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records This is ZD-017 // DNK21136 Distribution: Zakè Drone Recordings, Dunk!Records, Juno Records, A Thousand Arms, Church Road Records, New Noise China |
Pioneers of slow-evolving minimal drone, zakè & City of Dawn transform unadorned inputs into beautiful complexity in their latest effort, 'Pinehaven'. The drone duo is known for their carefully crafted textures, avoiding sudden shifts or abrasive sonorities. Their focus, as heard in previous efforts, offer up the steady ebb and flow of sound, cultivating a profound sense of meditative stasis and explorations of high-fidelity sound.
Eight expressive ambient soundscapes explore the timbral effects of gradual shifts in density, waves of sound almost imperceptibly carrying the melody from one instrument to another. There is a graceful poetry to the cadence of each track, reminding us that silences are as important to communication as sound.
Eight expressive ambient soundscapes explore the timbral effects of gradual shifts in density, waves of sound almost imperceptibly carrying the melody from one instrument to another. There is a graceful poetry to the cadence of each track, reminding us that silences are as important to communication as sound.
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'Frizzell & Duque: Orison'
zakè & City of Dawn Limited Edition LP (180g grayscale splatter) US Version Limited Edition LP (180g smoke splatter) EU Version Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records ZD-008 // DNK21140 2/25/2022 Credits: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè & City of Dawn Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio (IN/US) by zakè Mastered at Schwebung Mastering (Bonn, DE) by Stephan Mathieu Vinyl pressed at Dunk!Pressing (Zottegem, BE) Design and layout by zakè ©℗ 2022 Zakè Drone Recordings // Dunk!Records This is ZD-008 // DNK21140 Distribution: Zakè Drone Recordings, Dunk!Records, Juno Records, A Thousand Arms, Church Road Records, New Noise China |
Orison is the latest aural exploration between zakè & City of Dawn and a predecessor to their previous orchestral effort, 'A Sorrow Unrequited'. Orison is a prayer or plea to a deity. The archaic origins of the term stem from the Latin language simply meaning to ‘speak to God’. Patient and solemn symphonic drifts that foster stillness, boundless thought, introspection, and eternal contemplation.
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'Agape'
zakè & City of Dawn Limited Edition LP (opaque white w/ green) Digital Azure Vista Records vista012 1/28/2022 Credits: Written, recorded and produced by zakè and City of Dawn Mastered at Schwebung Mastering (Germany) by Stephan Mathieu Artwork and design by Jakob Skøtt Photography by Jonas Munk ©℗ 2022 Azure Vista Records, Denmark This is VISTA012LP Distribution: Azure Vista Records, Past Inside the Present, Juno Records, Norman Records |
On Agape, pioneers of slow-evolving minimal drone, zakè (a.k.a. Zach Frizzell) and City of Dawn (a.k.a. Damien Duque) transform unadorned inputs into beautiful complexity. The drone duo, based in Texas and Indiana respectively, is known for their carefully crafted textures, avoiding sudden shifts or abrasive sororities. Their focus offer up the steady ebb and flow of sound, cultivating a profound sense of meditative stasis and explorations of high-fidelity sound.
These six extended pieces are organic and minimalist in nature, but has an ethereal, mirage-like quality to them. Somber, yet incredibly uplifting. Agape is the kind of ambient record that refuses to be reduced to mere background music – the harmonic foundation and the details of the soundscapes are too compelling for that. Frizzell and Duque manage to expand rather simple sonic ingredients into weightless ambient perfection.
Review ▪️▪️
"zakè and City of Dawn return to their longstanding collaboration for a new album, 'Agape', delivering a slow-droning album that bucks the trend of ambient's original purpose as background music. The Texas-Indiana duo steadily eases into great time-dilated deluges of sound, slowing everything down, yet not giving into pure depth, spanning both high and low frequencies. A natural theme is unearthed across the six pieces, producing a sublime soundscape reminiscent of Steve Roach, Bvdub or GAS meeting the thematic motifs of Shelley or Wordsworth"
-Juno Records, UK
These six extended pieces are organic and minimalist in nature, but has an ethereal, mirage-like quality to them. Somber, yet incredibly uplifting. Agape is the kind of ambient record that refuses to be reduced to mere background music – the harmonic foundation and the details of the soundscapes are too compelling for that. Frizzell and Duque manage to expand rather simple sonic ingredients into weightless ambient perfection.
Review ▪️▪️
"zakè and City of Dawn return to their longstanding collaboration for a new album, 'Agape', delivering a slow-droning album that bucks the trend of ambient's original purpose as background music. The Texas-Indiana duo steadily eases into great time-dilated deluges of sound, slowing everything down, yet not giving into pure depth, spanning both high and low frequencies. A natural theme is unearthed across the six pieces, producing a sublime soundscape reminiscent of Steve Roach, Bvdub or GAS meeting the thematic motifs of Shelley or Wordsworth"
-Juno Records, UK
|
'A Pale Shelter'
zakè, City of Dawn, Ossa Limited Edition LP (transparent scarlet) + 11" print Limited Edition LP (transparent crystalline) + 11" print Digital Past Inside the Present PITP-V056 12/15/2021 Credits: Written, recorded, and produced by zakè, City of Dawn, Ossa Additional production and vocals on ‘A Pale Shelter’ and ‘Solace Awaits Us’ by Benoît Pioulard Mixed at Kaleidoscope Tone Studio by zakè Mastered at Black Knoll (NY) by Rafael Anton Irisarri Poetic narrative 'A Pale Shelter' written by Julia Frizzell Photography by Benoît Pioulard All song titles by Julia Frizzell Design and layout by zakè ©℗ Past Inside the Present This is PITP-V056 | MMXXI |
Review ▪️▪️
"A Pale Shelter is the kind of record that stops you dead in your tracks without actually really doing very much to create a sonic blockade. It ebbs and flows, glides and meanders through constant refrains, slowly pulling you deeper into thickly textured, minimal waves of ambient, chimes twinkling somewhere in a distant background, echoes of melody creating centrepieces to the arrangements.
It's a classic example of what makes Past Inside the Present's output so mesmerising and beguiling. It's in the quietest, most serene moments that we feel the greatest power in the music. At times, it's the aural equivalent of watching the shadows of a fire dance on stone walls. Elsewhere, it's more like gazing out over endless beauty. Ultimately, this is exactly why they say less is more."
-Juno Records, UK
“
Stillness as we collide
Mounting a retreat
A pale shelter offered
Only to divide
Mourning shadows we perish
A failing of will
Alone in a moment
Who do you cherish
Soon holding on, the solemn embrace
Like a whisper unheard
No solace no grace
Yet today is all we have
In silence she speaks
The rivers below
Valleys and peaks
As a pale shelter once cherished
The shadows we mourn
Have all but perished
“
"A Pale Shelter is the kind of record that stops you dead in your tracks without actually really doing very much to create a sonic blockade. It ebbs and flows, glides and meanders through constant refrains, slowly pulling you deeper into thickly textured, minimal waves of ambient, chimes twinkling somewhere in a distant background, echoes of melody creating centrepieces to the arrangements.
It's a classic example of what makes Past Inside the Present's output so mesmerising and beguiling. It's in the quietest, most serene moments that we feel the greatest power in the music. At times, it's the aural equivalent of watching the shadows of a fire dance on stone walls. Elsewhere, it's more like gazing out over endless beauty. Ultimately, this is exactly why they say less is more."
-Juno Records, UK
“
Stillness as we collide
Mounting a retreat
A pale shelter offered
Only to divide
Mourning shadows we perish
A failing of will
Alone in a moment
Who do you cherish
Soon holding on, the solemn embrace
Like a whisper unheard
No solace no grace
Yet today is all we have
In silence she speaks
The rivers below
Valleys and peaks
As a pale shelter once cherished
The shadows we mourn
Have all but perished
“