Introducing Beneather, a BAFTA-nominated composer from North London obsessively crafting Sad, lo-fi, cinematic scandi-dreampop submerged in gently fuzzy tape loops. 

Sunken broadcasts of half recalled memories. Distant, partial and obscured. 

Debut LP - May 2022.

WIAIWYA Records. 

Inspired by the likes of Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Hammock, Grouper, Low, GAS, Huerco S., Emeralds, Jenny Holzer, William Basinski & ABBA.

Writing credits: Music & Production by Lewis Young, Vocals by Melinda Bronstein

Beneather is an exercise in hypnotic simplicity. Experimental dream-like music built on layers of scratchy electronic tape loops, chiming spacious guitars and abstract pulsing vocals. 

These cinematic songs combine Grouper's whistful deviations with the warm fuzz of Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, the nocturnal hum of Emeralds, the crackling collapse of William Basinski and LOW's glacial pop melancholy. 

Beneather depicts the journey of recollecting memories. How we process what we remember and what we don't. Some moments are strong and clear, others feel lost. Beneather explores how we observe our history. How a thought has edges. A road we can’t quite recall the end of. Missing faces. Faded buildings. Vocally nonsensical sounds, frequencies and rhythms create melodies you can't quite keep a hold of. Fond memories that have become hazy and meandering.

Dreamgaze

Maid Of Eritrea is the debut track from Beneather. 

Released on the compilation 'Object Ten' by Objects Forever - Apirl 2021

https://objectsforever.bandcamp.com/album/object-ten

Beneather - Sad, lo-fi, cinematic scandi-dreampop submerged in gently fuzzy tape loops. Sunken broadcasts of half recalled memories. Distant, partial and obscured.

Inspired by the likes of Jefre Cantu-Ledesma, Hammock, Grouper, Low, GAS, Huerco S., Emeralds, Jenny Holzer, William Basinski & ABBA.

Debut LP - May 2022.

WIAIWYA Records.

Dreaqmgaze

Maid Of Eritrea

Remix I did in 2013 for this duo. One of many organised by WIAIWYA for this release. Pretty straight-up-and-down dance-pop version. 

This was way overdue by the time I started it, and I had to knuckle down for a couple of days and sprint through it. The vocal was already at the right tempo for that just-over-pace type track; when I eventually found the offbeat triplet chord figure I knew it was going to work. It took a while to get there, but once I had that... It’s a beautiful point in the process when that happens.  

I really like this one, it’s tight and radio-ready and focussed and danceable and cogent. Did no business at all, really. Didn't even get so much as an email from the band. That’s how it goes. 

I reckon remixing is often about trusting instinct. If you think you have a decent hand, play it and let the cards fall. You might get lucky, you might not. But you should play it as if it were a monster anyway. 

Victoria & Jacob - Cry Baby (DJ Downfall Remix)

"Admiral" John Jervis, CEO of WIAIWYA Records, asked me to do a Bond theme or song for his 2015 'A Girl And A Gun' project, which you can read about here: http://wiaiwya-agirlandagun.blogspot.co.uk/

I didn't want to do one of the all-time great Bond songs because I doubted I could do it justice without descending into parody. This seemed like a slightly forgotten gem - despite it being turned down by Johnny Mathis and Kate Bush, before Shirley Bassey got yet another phone call. It's not the greatest, but it's still damn  good. Also (like Alan Partridge), Roger Moore is definitely my favourite Bond. I love watching him creak around the sets. 

I wanted a slightly spooky, but elegant feel, maybe a bit Joe Meekish. There's a master reverb over everything to hint at that 30th St Studio sound. I'd wanted to work with Theoretical Girl (https://soundcloud.com/theoretical-girl) for some time, but the right opportunity never quite arose. So I was thrilled when she said yes, and what a job she did. Always ask. You never know what might happen. 

DJ Downfall Feat. Theoretical Girl - Moonraker

The isolated multi-track vocals for my cover of You Only Live Twice for the wiaiwya James Bond covers project "A Girl And A Gun." http://wiaiwya.bandcamp.com/album/a-girl-and-a-gun

You Only Live Twice Vocals 06102015

Help Stamp Out Loneliness. The greatest band from Manchester since Crispy Ambulance. Can’t remember how I ended up deciding it should be a dub mix, but I guess I did. 

Lucky really, because someone called Tall White Guy did a cracking dance mix at tempo. If I had ended up doing a crappier version in the same or similar genre, that would have sucked, hard. 

I’m really pleased with this. I’m really proud of it, and the work that I did. I like the arrangement (which I spent a long time on), and I like the flow, and the way it fits together. I like the Billy Joelish piano at the end. I like the beat juggling. I like my bass playing. I love Dee’s vocal. I like the shifts from broodiness and melancholy to passion. 

It wasn’t effortless, I remember. It took a long time to make it work. But I’ve probably listened to it more than any other mix I’ve done. 

Help Stamp Out Loneliness -  Pacific Trash Vortex (DJ Downfall Thermohaline Mix)

Sound journal, 30th January 2016, Daylight Music at the Union Chapel. The Leaf Library, the Wave Pictures, Samplr for iOS.

leaves/waves

We Have All The Time In The World – Hacia Dos Veranos

Hacia Dos Veranos (Towards Two Summers in English) is an Argentinian post-rock band born in 2005 as a project of two friends who moved to Buenos Aires to study. So far they have released three albums.
'De los valles y volcanes' (Of Valleys and Volcanoes), released in 2007 to critical acclaim in Argentina and Spain, led to a deal with Warners. Tired of Warners dragging their feet over releasing their second album, 'Hacia Dos Veranos', they released it as a free download in 2010, to excellent reviews and plays from Gideon Coe on 6Music. Their third album, Limay, was released in the UK by Hangover Lounge records in 2013 (“there is no singer, there are distorted bits, and fast drums too. it's not jazz, it's too melodic and accessible to get Arts Council funding or be album of the year in Wire. It's the sound of Love's Forever Changes, crashing into the rich pop majesty of Nick Drake's Bryter Layter. Beautifully. In Argentina. Without words”).

Their music has been included in compilations from Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Italy and the UK, and in Martín Piroyansky's award-winning film 'No me ama' (She doesn't love me). The band's name is based on the book Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller and as they themselves say: "As (the summer) is the season that brings memories, go to two summers is like going in search of happiness ".

Hacia Dos Veranos remain the world's most enigmatic and charismatic band, and this is the first recording where they sing

A Girl And A Gun: Lockdown

We Have All The Time In The World

Hacia Dos Veranos - We Have All The Time In The World

100% unofficial and unsanctioned remix of one of our favourite AG songs. Written by Ariana Grande, Ilya Salmanzedah, Alexander Kronlund, Max Erik Martin. Published by UNIVERSAL MUSIC CORPORATION, UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING INTERNATIONAL LTD, UNIVERSAL/MCA MUSIC LIMITED, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC SCAND AB

Hacia Dos Veranos - We Have All The Time In The World

wiaiwya

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