04 January 2022: Mythos; Ian Boddy & Nigel Mullaney

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The music you hear on tonight's show is available on the artists' Bandcamp pages and websites (links below) and makes a great gift for the holidays as well as brightening the musicians' holidays.


For 25 years, Mythos has been creating timeless, ethereal music fusing electronic beats with vocals, piano, acoustic guitar, synths and sounds from around the world. 2021 marks the 25th Anniversary for the duo of Bob D’Eith (producer and piano) and Paul Schmidt (acoustic guitar) with special guest performances from Jennifer Scott (vocals), Jasmin Parkin (vocals), Rene Worst (bass), Pepe Danza, (percussion), Niko Quintal (percussion) and many others.   

 Bob’s father spent many years trying to convince him to work with his brother’s talented friend Paul. When Bob was trying to create music for film and television, he teamed up with Paul to co-write together. As Bob and Paul started producing music and working with Vancouver session players Jennifer Scott and Rene Worst, it became apparent that they had created something special. Mythos was born. In 1996, Mythos released the “Introspection” EP independently. The first single “November Dance” (in instrumental dance track with no lyrics) was released and much to the surprise of the artists became a commercial radio hit and retail success. “Introspection” went on to win a WCMA Award and was nominated for a JUNO Award. “Introspection” was picked up by a Bay area label entitled XDOT25 and released internationally. 

The second release “Iridescence” was released briefly in Canada, however Max Amadi from XDOT25 pitched Mythos to the Malibu based label Higher Octave (Virgin/EMI0). Max’s suggestion of the pairing of Mythos with the brilliant fine artist Gil Bruvel led Higher Octave to release the 16 track self-titled “Mythos” (1998) that went on to be released in 33 countries and sell in the high five figures. Hot on the heels of the success of “Mythos”, Higher Octave released “Reality of a Dreamer” (2000) and “Eternity” (2002). Mythos spent years in the Billboard charts and was added to many essential compilations in the time. Mythos was also used for “Victoria’s Secret” Cannes runway production during this time. Mythos won a second WCMA award during this period. 

Once Higher Octave merged with their parent label, Mythos moved over to Alula Records/Allegro (Oregon) releasing “Purity” (2006) for the world less Canada that was retained by Adagio Music/Pacific Music/Warner.  For a few years, Paul went to Korea to teach English and Bob developed his career building Music BC (a non-profit music industry association) and his entertainment law practice. In 2012, Bob and Paul re-united for the album “Journey” released through Adagio Music/IODA (2013). In 2014, Adagio Music released a “best of” series of Mythos tracks including a special Vinyl release. A new Album “Journey” (2018) was released on Adagio/The Orchard. 

2021 is Mythos’ 25th Anniversary and this year we are pleased to release “XXV” a 14-track album including 5 new tracks and 9 fully remastered classics. The lead-off single “Legacy” featuring Cam Blake (Bob’s son and Indie Rock artist in his own right), uses progressive rock and electronic elements and was produced with returning performances by Jennifer Scott and Rene Worst. “Fly Away” is going to please many Mythos fans, getting back to Mythos’ musical roots. “Bonum et Malum” explores the dichotomy between good and evil, sadness and joy. “Progression” is a piece that evolves through the addition of ever complex melodies, all woven together into a tapestry of sound.  “Recuerdos de la Alahambra” originally composed by Francisco Tárrega and arranged for guitar and strings by Mythos, features a beautiful classical guitar performance by Paul Schmidt. The balance of the tracks (November Dance, Brazil, Planinata, Alchemy, Ascent, Icarus, Surrender, Eros and Spiritus) are a selection of Mythos’ most enduring tracks from previous albums fully remastered for the digital environment.

 

Mythos continues to have a great following around the world with over 10 Million streams  from over 90 countries.  

 


 Ian Boddy & Nigel Mullaney:  Smoke & Mirrors

Playing live can often be a challenge when using modular synthesisers and one approach that can be taken is to use a lot of equipment on stage. This was certainly the case with this concert recorded at the Capstone Theatre, Liverpool on 18th November 2017. DiN label boss and long time musical collaborator Nigel Mullaney really went for it using several Eurorack modular cases as well as Ian Boddy’s Serge modular system & VCS3 and Mullaney’s Elektron devices & Korg Wavedrum. The duo further complemented this set up with Boddy's French Connection Ondes Martenot style keyboard controller and a Moog keyboard each. Cameras captured their performance live and projected it behind the duo onto a massive screen for a totally immersive live experience.

This concert is now being released on the DDL digital only sub-label of DiN and showcases these two musicians in their natural element improvising a series of musical sections that segue seamlessly together to create a constantly unfolding tapestry of sound. From the haunting, spacey legato atmospheres of the opening track Forever through to Berlin School inspired sequenced sections such as Orthogenesis and Paradigm Shift the music never stays still. More abstract, experimental pieces such as the pair of Noise Lab tracks give way to heavier, rhythmic sections such as Vanguard and the full on encore track Run The Clock Down.

This cross pollination of genres and styles is something central to the core of the DiN ethos. At the end of the day it’s all just music and as such this approach can take the listener on a unique sonic journey.
 

credits

released December 3, 2021

All tracks composed, played and produced by Ian Boddy & Nigel Mullaney.

Recorded live at the Capstone Theatre, Liverpool on 18th November 2017.

Mastered by Ian Boddy November 2021.

Concert promotion Neil Campbell.

Ian Boddy:
Eurorack & Serge modular, VCS3, Analogue Systems French Connection, Moog Voyager, Elektron Analog 4, iPAD running Borderlands, Make Noise 0-Coast

Nigel Mullaney:
Eurorack modular, Elektron Machinedrum, Octatrack, Analog 4, Digitakt & Rytm, Korg Wavedrum, Moog Sub37,
Teenage Engineering OP-1

www.ianboddy.com
www.nigelmullaney.com
 
all rights reserved 
 
ambient em electronic electronic music electronica vcs3 downtempo elektron eurorack modular synth moog serge Sunderland