Showing posts with label dub. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dub. Show all posts

28 July 2026: Timothy Pure "Blood of the Berry"; James Murray "Islands Alight" QD52

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Timothy Pure biography
American progressive rock band from Georgia has made 3 albums so far, two of them are concept albums. With a lush songwriting approach and a conceptual and highly symbolic perspective on lyrics, the band excels in building up structures of emotional richness that allow for an uninterrupted storyline immersed in drama and sharp social analysis. Their music is a mixture of sweet atmospheres and fine prog passages. Certainly influenced by PINK FLOYD, they manage to produce a typical dark and melodic sound with very strong lyrics.

"Blood Of The Berry" is a concept album that tells a story of love and sacrifice. The music features light and dark musical tones and flows which is what makes this American band so good. The last album "The Island Of The Misfit Toys" (2000) is something more than a prog album: music and words seem to tell us a story you never would be over. This album describes the problems and nightmares children and adolescents deal with nowadays (mainly because of war or child abuse). Matthew Still has a beautiful and emotional voice, the instruments are played in a very subtle way and the production is high standard. Fans of bombastic or overly complex music would be advised to look elsewhere. This is very emotional music which should appeal to fans of concept albums. A must!
(Claude Bpl)

 Review by tszirmay
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator


4 stars This sophomore album was a definite harbinger of things to come as the next "Island of Misfit Toys" will consecrate Timothy Pure with prog excellence. The band came out of peachy Atlanta with a decent debut that had all kinds of promise plastered all over it. A few personnel changes to set the boat straight and a style is born, a strong spacey Floydian influence but thankfully without the immense showoff egos. Matthew Still is an effective keyboardist but an even better vocalist, owner of a dreamy set of pipes that amplifies the murky energy of the music and can snarl when needed. Andre Neitzel on bass does a lissome job weaving his down low notes deep into the rhythmic fabric set by drummer Chris Wallace. Guitarist Zod (yeah, I know.) does not attempt to be a guitar god (zod=god?), staying well within his tonal limitations and sealing the arrangements as a team concept and not 4 virtuosos showing off their chops. Let it be said right away, this is not the most complex material ever recorded but it has a very original style that reverberates often through the course of these tracks that flow into one another, as if one long suite. Not much change of pace either, Timothy Pure come across as jacks of one trade, relying on some superbly mysterious melodies to keep the doom moving forward. "Blood of the Berry" has some luminous moments, such as on the fantastic "Slide", the extraordinary "The Afterglow" and the lilting "Magdalena Hell", all imbued with a mystical haze that is quite attractive, even after multiple spins. There is a slight similarity with fellow American bands Singularity and Discipline, both having made some admirable recordings. While this is a good release and thoroughly enjoyable, it still lacks some fire in the belly which would catapult it into the upper reaches of excellence. The best is yet to come. 
 

                                                        James Murray  "Islands Alight"
 
From Alex at Quiet Details:
Very happy to say that next in the quiet details series, with his second solo album, is an artist with a uniquely special talent - UK-based James Murray, with Islands Alight
 
Full release 29th July 2026.

Undoubtedly familiar to followers of the label - James first appeared in collaboration with our good friend Ian Hawgood on qd15 Slowreels - Everyday Exotic, a gorgeous example of what can happen when two wonderful musicians come together. Then again on his first individual album, qd23 Weeds - another spellbinding album.

Along with all his many other releases on the likes of Home Normal, Ultimae, Eilean Rec, Fluid Audio, Morr Music, his own Slowcraft and more - James is an artist dearly loved across the community.

Islands Alight is James combining his peerless ability to craft deeply touching synthetic vistas, now sent through a prism of rhythmic forms. Four years in the making, and much inspired by the history of dub in electronic music, James has made a singular and mesmerising work of art.

The introductory lush chordal waves and modulating melodic shapes are soon joined by the first indication of the true direction of this album - textural percussive patterns give us an initial glimpse into James’ vision.

Huge spaces open up and the drums morph into new forms; psychedelic echoes disintegrate into the distance; the emotions of the listener are brought to the forefront by radiant synth contours that reach into your consciousness.

The album evolves from here - countless textures and beautifully subtle percussive programming meshes perfectly with James’ melodic refinement - hypnotic, all- compassing, and one of a kind.

As James says:

Islands Alight making landfall amidst these relentless heatwaves and impending drought feels about right; environmental anxiety courses through the album like wildfire, consciously balanced only by the rising of pale, elemental waters.

Developed over four years, the origins go back further still. Drawing together wide- screen melodic, rhythmic and electroacoustic concerns, Islands Alight stands as a deliberate, defining work at the confluence of ambient dub roots and the artist I am now.


Huge thanks to James, a fantastic addition to the series.

The artwork was made as always influenced by the music and idea behind the album - originating from a photo from James which was then captured with analogue photography and processed here at quiet details studios.

As usual, the album is presented on the physical edition, a custom six-panel digipack with a separate fine art print too.

The CD also has a special long-form continuous mix of the album, unique and representing the music in its purest form.

Credits:
Music by James Murray
Mastered by Alex at quiet details studios
Artwork by quiet details in collaboration with James Murray
Design by quiet details
© quiet details 2026 all rights reserved
 
 

02 January 2018: IO Earth / Cousin Silas & Glove of Bones

IOEARTH are a project from Birmingham/UK headed by Dave Cureton and Adam Gough who each master guitars, keys, bass and vocals. They have been good friends since they met in school at the age of 12. Their writing partnership strengthened and by the time they were 15, composing and performing their own music started at small local venues with a band made up of their friends and relatives.

They both enjoy music of all kinds. As for the inspirations Frank Zappa is just one of the earliest. You'll also find examples of contemporary rock, commercial pop, classical, jazz and everything in between and they have always enjoyed juxtaposing these supposedly completely different styles in their own compositions.

Much of their early work was guitar based rock in the same vein as the likes of Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. While this element remains in their songs to this day, they have very much moved away from emulating their influences and have created a unique sound of their own. Many band members came and went through the years, each bringing their own styles and influence to the work, but the one constant has been Dave's brother Richard Cureton (drums).

It was in 2004 that Dave Cureton and Adam Gough decided to start working on their first studio album. Some time later they took their ideas to the recording studio where they met Miguel Seco, a very talented musical engineer and producer from Portugal. Finally it took nearly two years to work out their same-titled debut album, holding 20 songs with the help of several competent friends, featuring vocalist Steve Balsamo for example.

Released in 2009 the whole production is a melting pot of different styles and offers a cinematic vibe, like a soundtrack for lovers, full of relaxing, charming melodies - however contrasting with heavy rocking impressions here and there - provided to tell a complete story in (prog) music divided into three movements. IOEARTH are recommended to fans of sophisticated rock music.

Dub is not a genre of music I have explored to any great degree. I am familiar with the work of Osbourne "King Tubby" Ruddock, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Mad Professor, and Adrian Sherwood; but not really gone further than that. However, the work of Cousin Silas and the Glove of Bones has really whetted my whistle for more!

I thoroughly enjoyed their previous output - "Ornithology" and "Mabinogi" - but "New Dub Manifesto (waag_rel109)" feels so much more ... it is the realised potential that the first two releases pointed to, a glorious coming-together of two very talented chaps.

"New Dub Manifesto (waag_rel109)" is a powerfully dense and wondrous musical tsunami that knocks you off your feet and leaves you on your back with a smile affixed to your face. It is a wondrous testament to sound that will test the very best headphones and hi-fis and yet still sounds fantastic in my puny little EarPods.

There's not much more I can say about this release other than that it needs to be felt as much as it is heard. There is, at times, so much going on that it can be disconcerting but I would urge you to go with it ... give it time ... and you will be rewarded. I certainly was.

As before, my thanks goes to Cousin Silas ... Warren Daly … Kevin Lyons ... Adrian Nicholls ... Drew Miller ... and the wonderful waag community ... for their generous support.
A 320kbps version of this release will be available, for free, over on Archive (archive.org/details/we-are-all-ghosts) with a lossless version available here on Bandcamp for ‘pay what you want’.
- Thomas
 

credits

released December 16, 2017

Music by Cousin Silas & the Glove of Bones

Cousin Silas: Guitar | Pads | Sounds | Tweaks
The Glove of Bones: Beats | Glitchery | Voicescapes

Main artwork & track artwork by Adrian Nicholls