[ Hypnos Forum ]

If I ever manage to get website savvy and actually create one I would love to give some of my music as free downloads - but not make that my main focus. I sent Mike a couple of tracks as possibles for the 'Sounds of a Universe Overheard' compilation and would be happy releasing the unused track in that way, possibly other unreleased tracks too - in a way knowing I would not be aiming for a physical release all the time, with the consequent effort on art etc could make me (and i am only commenting on my own processes here) a bit freer in wilder experimentation, which of course would echo back into my sounds on the more formal planned projects too. i would enjoy the interaction between listener and creater in that sort of context.

Also as time passes I might look on early releases and might consider reworking them so that the original limited editions would still be unique, but have some of the tracks available for free in some way.

BUT, it feels important that I make that choice either way, for myself. Not feel I should do one thing or another because of modern technology, peer pressure or the need to make a living. I suppose I need to be free to make my art/music, even if I have no skills in marketing/publicising or any other form of getting it out there.

I think there is always a balance between energy put into something and what comes back, and that energy could be feedback, just knowing it is out there being listened to and also financial return. Artists in many fields juggle with these concerns all the time and despite the very public figures who may get rich it seems most muddle along to one level or another, often using unexpected finances if a piece is bought to finance the next.

My only concern is that the returns, of whatever form, make the efforts worthwhile. If I just felt it was a black hole sucking all my creativity, it would become unpleasant and a drain.

I am currently working on a project which will include a very limited run with a lot of artwork included - it's not cheap getting the printed I want done and i know the exchange rates are going to be a real issue for this. But in a family with, until very recently only one wage earner, I cannot afford to have an expensive hobby that uses up our food money, I'm not rich enough to have that freedom.

Here is the soapbox bit - I do feel the overwhelming desire to expect or have everything for free is a pernicious part of modern culture. Nothing is for free and you can't do or have what you want when you want it just because you do want it. we don't actually have rights to anything - just agreements that some things are considered good and others not.

Much of the current financial and social problems have been caused by that belief (and the more intricate and dangerous ways of making more and more money in order to fuel it). expecting everything for free is unsustainable whether you are an individual or a government and only develops if you do not have a clear awareness of everything going on (which is almost impossible in current situation - despite the information highway and overload). The Dineh, or Navajo, have a sayingwhich is something like "You act as if you have no family" and indicates a dangerous and unhealthy level of self interest.

OKOK could go on but will stop here

Lots of great music listed here. I've always loved Irrlicht and Cyborg by Klaus Schulze and Zeit by TD - I consider them dark in tone. I love  Where the Black Stars Hang and Zoetrope by Lustmord, I've picked up the impression that Black Stars was a seminal album, perhaps not so much the cheese as the mold later cheese was made in, but please correct me if I am wrong.

I also Like Mathias Grassows Dissolution - a great slab of very dense dark ambient. Also Refract Nick Parkin - not so much scary but dark and watery (and every sound sourced from metal).

Would the Backward version of TG's Second Annual Report (I think that was the one, I had it many, many years ago) count as darkest ambient - not just in the sound andenergy but also in the subject matter......

Vidna Obmana- Memories 1- Monument Of Empty Colors/Gathering In Frozen Beauty; Delicate and ghostly, and a definitive study of isolation. Any Vidna fan who hasn't heard these early classics should look these up.

I'd echo this in shimmering sorrowness. the early Obmana is great stuff, with great titles.

Quote from: mgriffin on July 15, 2008, 04:04:21 PM

I always think it's an overstatement when people describe Lustmord as "evil" or even "scary" (I might go as far as "dark" or "spooky" or "sombre") especially considering that he seems such a good-natured guy.

I have to agree, I've gotten to know Brian over the years, he plays up a bit the "evil" "dark" images but its always with his tongue in cheek.

I'd agree with this too. Although he has recorded in some so called 'morbid' places and explores very dark places with some of his music IMO he does not appear to revel in the sense that would create the feeling of evil. This makes his creations very different to some who also explore the darker side of human nature but carry a very different feeling in their music

I started my social work diploma at 35 eleven years ago. Mainly as I lived in a very rural area where residential care was almost the biggest employer in the area. I really enjoyed it at the time, even though doing it with the Open University whilst spending 84 hours a week at work (including the laughably called sleep ins!!). Did the equivalent of two full time courses on each of the two years of the course - was bloody hard work (which Ileft me with w very strong resistance to further 'study') and there is the constant pressure to continue developing professionally which my heart is just not really into..... I would love to just go to college to learn something for the hell of it, maybe silversmithing or taking my interest in quantum physics theories into something further.

I really love the music to the film 'Black Robe'. I find it haunting, powerful, melancholic and uplifting. The musical movements when the troupe are travelling really generate the sense of huge wilderness.

At work so unable to provide the name of the composer.

I think the film balances the happy feel of 'Dances with Wolves' - some of the actions are very cruel and no wonder the europeans shit themselves when they met them for the first time, they looked bloody scarey.

Hawkwind were my first favourite band - mainly as the music included many of the noises i had made for years (and annoyed my father with) - so it felt like home. From there I discovered electronic music in 1976/77.

As I said in another thread, I saw them as often as possible over a few years. Tried to get back into them a little while back but although i love the music I find the lyrics now psycho babble or depressing.......something pointed out by my wife and grudgingly agreed with...

But my listening to all of the albums up till Levitation make the soundtrack of my youth - my first LP was Roadhawks and the version of 'You Shouldn't Do That' is a damm good stonking , noisy track.

The DVD of space ritual is audio only (they do use some of the graphics from the album cover, but it is very basic, they could have put more effort into it)  the packaging did not make this clear so I was expecting to watch the show and felt that UA sold us short. There are seperate clips of performances of Urban Guerilla and Silver Machine with Stacia dancing. The cover is very good and the booklet goes into some detail of the artistic intent put into the stage show, including colours and 'astrological resonances' for each musician.....

The CDs in the set are great, with alternative live versions of some of the tracks including a wonderfully chaotic one of (I think) Time We Left.

Wow, I've been in the Hawkwind cockpit for days now:

Xenon Codex
Electric Tepee
Chronicle of the Black Sword
etc.etc.etc...

It never ends...and I love it...

Do you have a favourite Hawkwind period?

David Darling - Cello and Darkwood.
Lustmord - Zoetrope.
Oophoi - Bardo
Awakenings 2008 Vols 1 & 1.5

Steve does such a wide range of music that there is something there for almost everyone. And I've not seen any of his albums universally slated by fans/nonfans, which perhaps says a lot for the general quality of the releases as most bands/artists seem to have periods generally considered 'golden'. But knowing how different people define TD or Hawkwind Golden Periods - even that could be argued.

I love some of Steve's stuff - and some does very little for me - sitting there until I either give it away or sell it. The ones I really like reach across some of the width of his releases rather than every cd in a particular shade or vein. It would be hard for me to argue for or against on a music point because of that.

It's my own personal taste that is either touched or not touched by an artist, and whether it's the music or an aspect of the presentation that pushes my buttons does not matter - it's still my personal taste. I'm not sure it's possible to take the music out of the context, though I admit I do like some music by 'awful' artists [madonna -frozen] but I like the music in spite of the context. I don't mind the shamanic aspects and inspiration to Steve's work and understand that as it underpins almost everything he does that it could put others off.