Name: Astrophysicist and author Janna Levin reads "Berryman" by W.S. Merwin by brainpicker
Duration: 1 min 52 s
Description: Recorded for Brain Pickings. Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/03/18/merwin-berryman/

The Moorish Shield is a subjective navigation. The main beacon on this poetic and haunted route is a villa from the beginning of the twentieth century, called La Mauresque, located in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, on the French Riviera. Its owners (past and present), its location (nested at the end of the cape, almost invisible…) and the spirit of this place (where, through the ages, the stunning beauty of the landscape always hides a darker dimension…) give matter to sonic explorations, based on field recordings, out of tune pianos, radio interceptions, ghostly tones and tape manipulations. The title comes from a Moroccan symbol placed at the entrance of the villa by its most famous owner: novelist William Somerset Maugham. The main traditional function of such a symbol - central to Maugham’s life - is to protect from the evil eye, while deflecting the evil power back onto the malevolent. The eleven tracks of The Moorish Shield explore this ambivalent relationship between sun and shade and question what a Riviera landscape hides in the Mediterranean bright light, behind the perfectly maintained hedges, through the passing of decades.

Written and produced by squncr
Mastered by Julien Bayle/Void Label
Designed by Daniel Crossley

squncr - Umbrella Pine

Ocoeur - Progression

Part of the "Trance Frendz", recorded live in Berlin and included on the 2CD "Collaborative Works" by Erased Tapes Records.
Performed live with Oberheim 4 Voice

Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm - 23:52

Taken from his forthcoming album 'Spells' out June 10 on Erased Tapes.

Pre-order the LP/CD/DL here: www.erasedtapes.com/store/index/ERATP085
iTunes: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spells
Spotify: http://snip.ftpromo.net/goldentimes
Bandcamp: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spellsbc
or any other good record store worldwide

"It's just incredible" – Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6 Music
“Strangely upbeat nocturnes" – The Wire

‘Spells’ merges programmed piano pieces with live instruments, combining the controllable technical world and the often unpredictable aspects of live improvisation. In some ways it continues where his underground debut ‘Gravity’ left off, though a lot of weight is lifted, making room for a lighter and more energetic listen. Friend and fellow Erased Tapes artist Nils Frahm mixed and mastered both albums. Ben is not a master pianist like his dear friend, but his sound collages are so meticulously designed that after hearing the result an impressed Nils declared: “from now on, if anyone asks – this is a real piano”. 

His intricate, humanised programming – enhanced by drummer Achim Färber, cellist Anton Peisakhov and harpist Lara Somogyi, and a considerate selection of echoes, delays and compressors – has been used to create a hybrid sound that intends to deceive, question and challenge existing listening habits. Utilising the contrast between reduction and decoration, ‘Spells’ can be seen as a quest to find out how much or how little composition is required to constitute a song. Why the ear can and should be deceived about the authenticity of instruments. What significance these instruments have within this process, and why the personal perception of balance and sound exclude ultimate truths. 

Linking the two albums are the four movements of ‘Nocturne’, an ever-developing conversation that on occasion flirts with the grandeur of compressed rock drums. The first single, ‘Golden Times 1’, received a world premiere by BBC 6 Music’s Mary Anne Hobbs, proclaiming it as "incredible." An alternative version of ‘Sleepers Beat Theme’ – composed for the soundtrack to a short film about the Trans-Siberian Express – opened Jon Hopkins’ Late Night Tales album from 2015, who noted “I thought it was such a calming and sensitive piece that sounded to me like the beginning of something...the warmth and depth of the sound entrances me every time”. 

Though ‘Spells’ and ‘Gravity’ are his first albums recorded under his own name, as acclaimed electronic producer HECQ he’s released nine albums since 2003, exploring everything from ambient to breakcore. He has simultaneously established himself as a trusted composer and sound designer, working for a wide array of clients including Amnesty International and Marvel Comics; composing for feature films, games, art installations and convention opening titles.

After embracing this demanding line of work, in 2010 Ben felt the need to explore his roots and early education, which inspired these albums under his own name. Born in 1981 as the third child of opera singer Deirdre Boysen and actor Claus Boysen, his classical music training on piano and guitar began when he was seven years old; the works of Bruckner, Wagner and Bach laid an important foundation. Rediscovering this music shared with his parents – united with the sounds of Autechre, Cristian Vogel and Jiri.Ceiver to Pink Floyd and Godspeed You! Black Emperor – brought back an understanding of why he wanted to write music in the first place.

“Finding my views understood, reflected and welcomed by Erased Tapes was an encouraging experience, crowned by the offer to release ‘Spells’ and re-issue ‘Gravity’ with them. Through many caring conversations with Robert I felt that there’s no better home for the existing ideas and no better cradle for new ones.”  – Ben Lukas Boysen 

TRACK LISTING:  	

01. The Veil  02. Nocturne 3  03. Sleepers Beat Theme  04. Golden Times 1
05. Nocturne 4  06. Keep Watch  07. Golden Times 2  08. Selene

Spells

Golden Times 1

Buy LP/CD/DL

Ben Lukas Boysen – Golden Times 1

Opening track + track two from the ambient album 'This is soon too late'. 
FDL#05.

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Herbstlaub - Tijd als beloven / Du nahmst ganz einfach meine Hand (FDL#05, 2016)

Hauschka Kosminen Zeigler live at Radialsystem on 13 September, 2015.

With the celebrated experimental pianist Hauschka, the Finnish percussion wizard Samuli Kosminen and the cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, former member of the legendary Kronos Quartet, UM:LAUT brought together three exceptional and internationally renowned musicians for the first time ever in Germany: Entirely based on free improvisation and the exploration of space with sound and rhythm...

Special thanks to the artists for a great performance, to Michael Buchholz for the amazing sound and to Carlo Grippa for mastering this tune.
Recorded at Radialsystem, Berlin.
Published with permission of the artist.
Photo: Ioana Taut

Hauschka Kosminen Zeigler @ UM:LAUT - Live Snippet 1

This EP was recorded around a documentary film "Papa Hédi", that looks at the life and legacy of celebrated Tunisian musician Hédi Jouini. 
We started writing the score in the summer of 2011 as specific cues for the film and using short samples from Hédi's music. 
In the autumn we decided to develop the cues to make full tracks and the results are on this record. 

Hobi

String Quartet No. 1

Fiona Brice String Quartet No. 1 - Mvt.1 (Holographic Field Rework)

Recorded for Brain Pickings. Poem text and context: https://www.brainpickings.org/2019/03/18/merwin-berryman/

Astrophysicist and author Janna Levin reads "Berryman" by W.S. Merwin

brainpicker

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