New DC Sound Collective albums and EP

Two + years in the making, two new DC Sound Collective albums have been issued. The first album "A Memory of Errors" was released on Tuesday, October 27th at iTunes and Monday, October 12th at Band Camp. Musicians featured on this project include David Duhig and Colin Henson from Jade Warrior, Bruce Hazen (from The 350's, Hi-Fi and Iain Matthews) and James Havard. An EP "Drifting Away" was released August 31st exclusively at Band Camp and has the single mix of "Drifting Away" from "A Memory of Errors" plus a full-length version of "Molecular" from the same album, and a non-album track "Outtake". On December 1st another companion album "A Memory of Errors Volume 2" will be released - all-instrumental compositions featuring most of the same musicians from Volume 1 plus others. Pre-order at Amazon!

Saturnalia Trio's "Skin, Wood and Steel" released August 11th

 The first Saturnalia Trio album since 2009's "Hummingbirds" was released on Tuesday, August 11th on iTunes, Amazon, et al. Recorded this past winter/spring, "Skin, Wood and Steel" features mostly Medieval and Renaissance tunes and original tunes in the style of historic Medieval dance tunes - sprinkled with a few original songs and a cover of The Beatles "Norwegian Wood". 
 English publication fROOTS said "Pleasant, undemanding, yet curiously uplifting Medieval and modern tunes sounding at times like Robin Williamson’s Merry Band or the soundtracks to Robin of Sherwood or Merlin."
 This album is available as a limited run CD and is downloadable from Band Camp. You can also order from CD Baby and Amazon. Read a review here.

Here's the track list:

01.      February Blues (Crommie) 1.42 For John Renbourn

02.      Pastourelle (Crommie) 2.24

03.      Chansonnette (Colin Muset) 13^th C. 1.39

04.      Cats & Birds (Crommie) 2.27

05.      La Mora de Borja (Alfonso X) 13^th C. 2.17

06.      Ungaresca 16^th C. 1.28

07.      Norwegian Wood (Lennon/McCartney) 2.25

08.      Ladyglen (Crommie) 1.07

09.      Branle (C. Gervais) 16^th C. 1.29

10.      Allemande (C. Gervais) 16^th C. 1.38

11.      Tourdion (T. Arbeau) 16^th C. 2.13

12.      Trillium Tarentelle (Crommie) 1.33

13.      The Lady in White (Crommie) 4.13

14.      Golden Sickle and the Wren (Crommie) 2.30

15.      The Stags Dance (Crommie) 1.46

16.      Schiarazula Marazula (Mainerio) 16^th C. 2.49

17.      La Tierche Estampie Real 14^th C. 3.22

18.      Ungaresca Reprise 16^th C. 1.50

19.      Morrison Jig (Irish trad.) 2.04

Daniel Crommie: vocals, six-string dulcimer, flute, recorders, balalaika, whistles, cornamuse, bul bul tarang, jaw trump, aux percussion, electric dulcimer.

Leslie Gray: violin & viola.

Michael Treadwell: bodhran, tombec, frame drums, glockenspiel.

With:

Jamie Haggerty: hurdy gurdy, glockenspiel and percussion.

New Daniel Crommie solo album released July 21st

A new ambient flute-based album was released at iTunes, Amazon et al on July 21st and a month earlier at Band Camp with 2 exclusive Band Camp-only tracks. Recorded in April and May 2015, this album is dedicated to the ambient music stylings of Eno/Fripp and Jon Hassell. All instruments were played by Daniel: concert flute, synthesizers, drum loops and devices.

Track list:

Ether Oro 8.50

Leaf Maze 2.31

Found Jewel 5.05

Deep Cave Antlers 5.41

Aluminum Flyer 4.34

West of Reason 4.47

Shine On Ceres 2.11

Rock Face 5.12

Metal Petals 1.51

Feldspar 3.53

Glass Cloud 3.32

Torque 2.57

Moonlit Procession 5.04

Savanna 7.04

Listen to a song sample here.

Here's a review

New review of "Rotation" from DPRP

The Dutch progressive rock online site DPRP has a positive, well-written and informative review of the 2013 DC Sound Collective album "Rotation".

"Musically, the album creates an ethereal ambience as it gently glides along. Variation is given by musical devices such as the clever use of counter melody between the voice and guitar on City Of Industry. It serves to create the necessary degree of disturbance, while the tune never moves above its slow-paced start. Eldon contributes a funky bass throughout, which comes to the fore on the light-fingered instrumental A Jungle Of Apparitions; winding, snake-like around the rhythm, as keys and guitar create the wash of sound above."

"Apophis is certainly the highlight of Rotation and makes the album a worthwhile purchase for lovers of the kind of airy, electric ambience I have attempted to describe."

Roger Trenwith - DPRP, December 2014

Read the full review here. Buy "Rotation" at Band Camp or Amazon.

New Group Du Jour live compilation

Just released at Band Camp - a new compilation of Group Du Jour performances recorded from 1986 - 1993, "Group Du Jour - Live 1986 - 1993" is the first in a series of Official Bootlegs.

From Group Du Jour's performance heyday in Portland, Oregon come these recordings - direct to digital stereo - and featuring songs and improvisations unavailable anywhere else. Guests include saxophonist Michael Maldonado, didgeridoo player Jean George Poulot and Ghanaian master drummer Obo Addy. This official "bootleg" is a high quality document with over an hour of GDJ's unique "techno-ethnic" sound - highlighting their more experimental direction.

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Paul Parker: electric guitar, bass, fretless bass and electric kalimba.
Bo Parker: rhythm guitar, xylimbas, various percussion and vocals.
Daniel Crommie: synthesizers, drum programs, flutes, vocals, harmonica.

with:
Michael Maldonado: saxophones.
Obo Addy: talking drum and djembe
Jean George Poulot: didgeridoo.

Track listing:

1. When the Moon Turns Blue (live 1986)
2. Dissatisfied (live 1986)
3. Motion of Sand (live 1992)
4. DMZ (live 1992)
5. Didgeridoo Jam (live 1992)
6. Lost World (live 1993)
7. Animosity Killed the Cat (live 1993)
8. The Hedgerow (live 1993)
9. Jammin' with Obo Addy (live 1993)
10. Sleepwalking Improvisation (live 1992)

A new Daniel Crommie album released - "Penumbra - Summer Solstice Sketches"

A new instrumental / ambient album "Penumbra - Summer Solstice Sketches" was released on Tuesday, October 21st on iTunes, CD Baby and at Band Camp one month earlier on September 22nd. Read a review here.

The first long hot day of springtime and molecules are beating faster - rapid movement from all creatures, plants, insects, animals in the warm draft of air. The excitement is palpable. Trees grow, leaves reappear, flowers bloom, people shed their winter clothes and all creation is on the upswing. Rain nourishes the fecund gardens and a shaft of sunlight slices through the storm clouds, inciting the streets and sidewalks to steam. Rain returns, sun performs an encore to the delight of butterflies, birds and worms. The truncated nights are dewy, with sweetness emanating from blood-red roses wafting in the breeze. As the sun sets, Robins alight to their nests and the  dusky streets are abuzz with restless strollers. The lotus moon rises, nighttime falls in a hush and leaves rustle awaiting the new days dawning. Come morn, the first rays emanate from the east and the new season triumphs with birdsong and distant train horns.

This project was created spontaneously: conception, composition, recording and mixing taking place over a ten day period bookending the summer solstice. Daniel Crommie played all of the instruments, engineered and mixed the album at Digitalis in June 2014.

Revisionist History

For many a millennia the solstice arrives - familiar, yet always unique.

Rain Outside the Temple

Tall trees shelter tiny flowers and ferns on the forest floor.

Jungle Wire

Brambles and vines reach out through the thickets.

Summer Solstice Eve

On the eve, the short night sings.

The Leaf Gatherers

Squirrels and birds gather their nest material from arboreal heights.

Branch Water Avenue

Below the clouds, the sidewalks hum with activity.

4 July / Penumbra

On a midsummer evening, the moon casts its shadow.

Wind Dancer

A breeze winds its way through the vibrant growth. Birds soar.

Aunt Lion

Midnight dreams occupy sweet slumber.

Seeding the Clouds

Sea air moves in to nurture the landshape.

Daniel's 1988 album "Animosity" released at Band Camp

Daniel Crommie's 1988 album "Animosity" - an album previously only available on cassette has been released digitally at Band Camp. An experimental collection of works with only one vocal piece (a Medieval one at that...) and featuring synthesizers: "Animosity is a challenging album and one which it can at times be difficult to stick with, its stand offishness a real force that can prove overwhelming. Those with a fascination for 80s electronic that isn't commercial will find much to engage, those not will feel on the outside looking in, until "Still Life" reveals its brooding beauty." Read the full review here.

Steven Reid - Sea of Tranquility

Here's the track listing:

There Once Was a City, Red Sandstone Cliffs, Concrete, Horror of Horrors, Jump Barrier, (Sex) WalkieTalkie, Snake Oil, Vertical Ocean, Still Life, Birdhouse Metropolis