Vents Magazine interviews Daniel Crommie

Read A recently published online interview for Vents Magazine with Daniel Crommie, where Daniel talks about his past, present and future musical projects and working with the Jade Warriors.

Precious Time - 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

On March 25th, New Weave released a newly-remixed deluxe edition of Daniel's ground-breaking 1989 album "Precious Time" exclusively at Band Camp. This new remastered edition digitally remixed in January 2014 from the original DBX-encoded cassette portastudio multitrack tapes includes all of the tracks from the original 1989 cassette album, the bonus track from the 1998 CD release, plus an additional previously unreleased track. This is easily the best sounding remaster of this milestone album. Here's a 1990 review: "Crommie’s musical timespan stretches from the middle ages right through a digital sampler into 1990. He plays instruments as diverse as the recorder, the psaltery, the synth, and the dulcimer, and creates gorgeous compositions which utilize medieval sounds alloyed with a new age aesthetic. Your first comparison might be to Mark Isham’s music, although Crommie is more delicate – he doesn’t go in for Isham’s grandiloquence. Crommie’s synthesizers are subtle, creating a sort of dreamy context which allows the acoustic instruments’ voices plenty of room. If you’re into medieval music, you may hear it in a new light on this tape. And if your taste runs to new age, this is a must, a distinct cut above the audio anesthesia you hear from the larger new age labels these days." – John Baxter

Option Magazine / March 1990.

Here's a recent review:

"You will not find many intense instrumental workouts here, that's not what Precious Time is about. If, however, you enjoy instrumental music where the pieces flow seamlessly together and the ambience never gets too heavy, Precious Time might warrant further investigation."

New Daniel Crommie limited release

A new album of rarities has been released as a Band Camp exclusive for the low price of $5. PsychedelicMedievalSpaceJazz features eight tracks recorded between 1996-2008 - out-takes from Sargasso Manuscript and Life Rattle  including an extended mix of "The Spell is Broken". Much of this was previously released in 2006 as a limited release under the title of PsychedelicMedievalJazz. All instruments: Daniel Crommie except on Distant Train Calling where Jess Fry played percussion samples. 

Here is the track listing: 

1. The Spell is Broken (extended mix #2) 2. Flutter & Fade 3. Bug Zapper Waltz 4. Warning 5. Short Circuit 6. The Zenith Curse 7. Faces in Stone 8. Distant Train Calling 9. Chrysalis 2 10. The Pillars at Dawn 2

Daniel Crommie "A Silent Sea" set for release

A new ambient album "A Silent Sea" was released at iTunes, Amazon, etc on Tuesday, February 4th 2014. This instrumental set includes contributions from Eldon Hardenbrook, Jon Davis Miller and Michael Treadwell and features several ethnic flutes - some of which were built by Daniel Crommie. You can download it from Band Camp several weeks earlier for a mere $7. Here is the track listing: 

1. Lunar Asters

2. Samain

3. All Saints Day

4. Contrails

5. A Silent Sea

6. Chasing Phantom Ships

7. Megasaurus

8. Two Lynx

9. Ice Fractals

10. Bamboo Bird

11. Ecuador

12. A Silent Sea (reprise)

13. Outposts

14. Etude #1

Contemplative. Experimental. Melodic. Dissonant. Quiet. Dynamic. Soporific. Other-worldly. Organic. Electro-acoustic. Neo-ethnic. Fluty. Enigmatic. Improvisational. Moody. Colorful. Textural. Poetic. Cinematic. Wallpaper. 

Read a review here.

Creatures of Habit released at Band Camp

You can download Daniel Crommie's 2003 instrumental compilation at Band Camp.

Originally a set of demos for potential commercial film & television inclusion, this collection of short pieces originally released in 2003 has some recycled/remixed material from works released previously on Group Du Jour and Daniel Crommie solo albums.

credits

Selective Amnesia Volume 2 - The Early Years 1976-1984 released

The earliest studio recordings of Daniel Crommie are now available on the newly released "Selective Amnesia Volume 2 - The Early Years 1976-1984".

"Due to the vast array of styles brought together on this album, there's no denying that Selective Amnesia Vol 2 makes for an unusual listening experience when taken in one sitting. The album basically splitting in two distinct halves as you venture through the years with Crommie. For fans of the man's music, it is a must, collecting together recordings barely available before and delivering them into the digital age. However the quality can in truth vary significantly and while there are some aspects which link the music from song to song, there's a strong chance that those enticed by the folky nature of the earliest tracks on show, will be left cold by the electro-synth of later years and vice versa.

All in an interesting, eclectic and challenging collection. A statement which in itself describes the music of Daniel Crommie perfectly." - Steven Reid / Sea of Tranquility

DC Sound Collective "Rotation" released!

The newest collaborative album featuring Daniel Crommie and Eldon Hardenbrook with guests David Duhig and Colin Henson from Jade Warrior was released on Tuesday, May 14th on New Weave. This ambitious project includes a 25-minute epic composition co-composed by David Duhig and also has Jon Davis Miller, Leslie Gray (Saturnalia Trio), Michael Maldonado and David Stone contributing stellar musical performances. You can order it from Amazon.

Track listing: Riff Raff, Trash Can Sam, Panorama Drive, City of Industry (departure), A Jungle of Apparitions, No Room to Dream, Throwing Bones, Calm Before the Storm / Apophis.

You can watch the video for "No Room to Dream" on You Tube.

Here's a review: "I really like it! Don’t ask me for a reason why, I couldn’t give you one. I just do, and so might you dear reader, if you were to give it a listen. Go on, we could all benefit from a touch of the bizarre now and again!" - The Progressive Aspect 2014