[ Hypnos Forum ]

After having the Bass Communion box set sitting on my desk for over a year (I know), i finally ripped it to my iPod and gave a listen to the discs I hadn't heard in the past.  Particularly loving Litany 1 and 2.

https://youtu.be/2ugAMx5XY_Q (Youtube vid is a little distorted)

Also been spinning the new Ascendant album Aetheral Code, normally not too much into the more electronica influenced type of ambient but it sounds slick.

Also finally grabbed the latest Opeth Album Pale Communion, while I have enjoyed it for what it is (a 70s prog-influenced rock album), it would be nice if the next album was a return to form.

HAH! My keyboard didn't even cost me $99!

Hey thanks for listening to Quiraing, and thanks for the constructive criticism. I probably don't need to mention this on a forum of mainly musicians, but make sure that whatever your listening device is, make sure the EQ is flat.  It sounds fine in my studio, on my home theatre and even on my iPod, but I did notice some high end harshness in my car, where I usually have the lows and highs bumped up a bit, once I set it to flat, it sounded fine to me.  *shrugs*

Also.... proper mastering just wasn't in the budget this time  ;D

I've been pressed for time lately, only games I've been playing a bit are Metroid Prime and Ultra Street Fighter 4.

Metroid Prime is a classic, a long... kinda tedious at times classic.

USF4 is simply the best/newest iteration of SF4, super fun, even if I get destroyed online, fun to play with a buddy on the couch.

Missed the Stillstream premiere of Quiraing? Don't worry, because the super-cool Rusty Hodge is playing the entire album on Drone Zone on Friday January 30th at 5pm Pacific. Robert and I will be in the Relaxed Machinery Community chat while the album plays. Feel free to stop by and chat with us!

http://relaxedmachinery.ning.com

Store link: http://databloem.com/home/766-blake-gibson-robert-davies-quiraing-.html

Sounds great, thank you.  Also, remember that AWE does leave the podcasts up so you can at least listen to it.

CD this time! Limited to 100 copies.

Hello Friends!



Quiraing, the Ambient/Drone album from myself and Robert Davies will be released January 25th on Databloem. 

Taking inspiration from the epic landscapes found in Scotland, Quiraing was recorded over 2 years during 2012-2014 during what was a prolific time for Robert.  The album survived my bouts with writers block, sickness, family crisis and 2 computer failures, the fact that I stand here 3 years after we started, with a finished project to present to you, makes me extremely excited, and frankly, a little relieved.

I was stunned and excited when Robert accepted my invitation to do a record together.  Robert and I have very different writing methodologies, and working with him was both challenging and rewarding, and I feel our unique ways of working contributed to a very unique sound on this release.  It truly doesn't sound like anything else out there at the moment.  Robert really blew me away with his contributions, I loved working with him on Quiraing, and I hope it's only the first of several collaborations together.

Here's a 12 minute album preview:

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/brokenharbour/quiraing-album-preview[/soundcloud]

Tracklist:

1. Quiraing - 10:57
2. Seaside Surreal - 6:42
3. Moorlands  - 13:13
4. Stone Circle - 8:04
5. Megalith - 8:17
6. Lochs Obscured - 7:22
7. Sunshowers - 9:35
8. Only Rain - 5:26

Total Runtime: 69:42

---

Want to hear the whole thing?

Good, because At Water's Edge, Rebekkah Hilgrave's fantastic weekly radio show on Stillstream will debut Quiraing in it's entirety on January 24th, 2pm-5pm Pacific, 4-7pm Central, 9pm-1am UTC. This will be the worldwide debut of the album, and you won't hear it anywhere else!  Robert Davies and I will both be in chat for the duration of the show.  Feel free to stop in and ask us... anything.

See you there!

These guys don't really do guitar solos but their riffs are brutal and their live performances are fun.

Environmentally themed lyrics are fairly unique as well, if you can handle growly vocals.

Gojira - Toxic Garbage Island

This band has really been doing it for me in the last year.

I also like how they don't play 8 string guitars or anything ridiculous, it's just D-tuned regular guitars.

They also have the best drummer in metal. Period.

If I were to do a metal project (still might) it'd sound similar.

I find remasters often sound really good in my car.... but that's it. Likely because the noisy environment of a moving vehicle is ideal for a slammed, over compressed album, whereas, like Seren, at home I like my dynamics.

My backlog is now over 40 games long... obviously never going to play them all....

I recently wrapped Final Fantasy 7, which was great, I can see how it melted faces back in 1997.

Not sure what's next on the list.  It's hotter than Satan's blast furnace in my studio right now, so I guess I have on more month before it becomes fall and cools down enough to work in there.  Might do some Super Mario Galaxy 2, or maybe the FFX/X-2 remaster.... hmmmm.....

Geez and I always kind of assumed ambient guys were all really chill dudes....

People need to stop taking themselves so seriously and relax.

*Disclaimer: I have no idea what situation you guys are talking about.

^ I agree - sort of.

I did find the Redux ending to be somewhat asinine, why does everything have to be explained?  It just seemed unnecessary, I personally loved how the story was darker in tone during the 3rd game, as it seemed fitting because, well... organic life be screwed and all....  :P *doom*.

Alan wake is excellent as well, nice choice.

I'm currently playing Final Fantasy 7, I figured I've owned it since day one in 1997, but have only recently opened the plastic and played it.  It's been on my 'to play' list longer than any other game, 17 years in fact!  So far I'm 26 hours in, still on the first disc, I like it, it's quite dated, and going back to 320x240 resolution and badly mangled engrish translation is a little jarring, it's battle system and overall theme makes up for it.

I've been on a big Murcof kick today, so....

Cosmos
Martes
Remembranza

I used to work with the queen of psycho women up until a few weeks ago, trust me, if you aren't real friends with this person, stay out of it, don't talk about it with them, just pretend nothing has changed.

Things in life have a way of working themselves out.

If it's anxiety/stress, the best thing to do is, if possible, rid yourself of the source of anxiety/stress.

That's kind of a vague suggestion I know, personally myself, I avoid everything pharma as much as possible.

Do you have sleep apnea?  I find that depending on how well I'm taking care of myself I will snore. If I let my weight creep up above ~175lbs (I'm 5' 11") I will snore if I sleep on my back, and will wake myself up several dozen times a night.  Regular exercise and eating right will also do wonders.  Avoid alcohol as well, it might make you fall asleep better initially but then you'll have a crap nights sleep.  For a while I tried Melatonin, which actually did help, but then I felt hung over and super bitchy in the morning, I stopped after about 4 weeks.

Basically, if you aren't physically active, get active. I find that's what helps me the most.

EDIT - I used Melatonin not Tryptophan.

Man I wish I had time right now for an epic RPG like Skyrim!

Lately my time has been limited to playing quick arcade style games that can be played in increments of less that an hour...

Mushihimesama Futari - Xbox360 - A great shmup, get's crazy intense at times, a good adrenaline hit, if you hate anime style girls, beware of this one.
Battle Fantasia - Xbox360 - A fairly rare fighting game I found used for only a few bucks, cool art and character design, but a bit of a shallow experience
Viewtiful Joe - Gamecube - A classic I've owned for a year but only recently played, a great throwback beat em up that's hard as balls.
Kingdom Grand Prix - Saturn - A cross between a shmup and a racing game, haven't made my mind up on this one yet, it cost me a pretty penny so I'm going to try and stick with it.
Street Fighter Collection - Saturn - Has my favourite port of Street Fighter Alpha 2 on it, which I haven't played in years, but its just like riding a bike.
Radiant Silvergun - Saturn - Played through story mode, another hard as balls game, but has a great soundtrack and is really cinematic, this would have been mind blowing in 1998.

I was featured on today's Ambient Online podcast, you can hear my interview, as well as 2 new tunes!

We talked about my musical history, side projects, my creative process and the future of Broken Harbour.

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/s1gnsofl1fe/ambient-online-podcast-25[/soundcloud]