Before Ancestral Voices, Liam Blackburn was known as Indigo. One of the most in demand Indigo releases for Samurai Horo - the Reaching The Source EP, has now been re pressed for 2019 on a new coloured vinyl.
A singular artist who's sonic identity is constantly morphing, ENA's 'Binaural' LP stands as one of his defining releases. With the vinyl version of 'Binaural' containing 12 totally separate tunes to the CD release of the same LP, the vinyl version has long been out of press and has built into a very expensive item on Discogs. The 'Binaural' LP is repressed for 2017 in it's original full artwork jacket and now on solid white vinyl.
Liam Blackburn's transformative 'Night Of Visions' LP as Ancestral Voices forged a bold new sonic identity for an influential figure on the electronic music scene. From his groundbreaking work as Indigo and onto the success of Akkord's hybrid electronic melting pot (with Synkro), the quest for forward movement is intrinsic to everything Liam produces. To further celebrate the 'Night Of Visions' LP release, we asked some of our favourite producers to reconstruct some of 'Night Of Visions' highlights in their own style.
Samuel Kerridge requested to use elements from 2 tunes and marry them in one remix. Elements from 'Sleepless Night, First Light' and 'Ritual Terre' are dissected, reversed and used as haunting ghost like layers that coil themselves around an assortment of off kilter drum hits, guttural murmurs and sound effects that often feel like they are designed to test the flexibility of your speaker cones. 'Vine Of The Soul' gets the Pact Infernal treatment - all rattling percussion and high drama, there's a sense of dread that dominates the atmosphere, but this time it's combined with a ghoulish operatic layer. Perhaps the most overt of all the Pact Infernal productions, it just may be a forecast of what's to come for the debut Pact Infernal LP, due in late 2016.
Support from: Lucy, Svreca, Eomac, Neel, Tommy Four Seven, CioD'or, Shapednoise, Paula Temple, DJ Pete and more.
Lucy
“Absolutely stunning release. Really top of the top.”
Paula Temple
“The Samuel Kerridge is something else entirely, a very special track, wow.”
DJ Pete
“Nice remix competition ... won by Pact Infernal.”
A – Causeway | Kiyoko is renowned for deep atmospheric works that drift and intertwine the imagination of the listener, this is very evident in this piece of music that is both powerful and thought provoking in one production. Causeway has a cold overall feeling that would be well suited to a set piece of outer space scenery from the world of sci-fi movies.
The pad sounds are straight from the farthest reaches of space and are full of otherworldly intentions. The key changes add to the visual style of the tune and the addition of the rising synth noises increase the intensity and motion of the track.
The percussive elements that arrive are minimal, but superb in terms of quality. Solid kick drums boom through the mix, delayed claps and snare have a definitive clarity whilst sounding almost industrial in their tonality. This is set at a half speed pace that whilst not energetic to go bonkers too does ultimately give more space and depth to the overall soundscape of the tune.
B- Dear Friends | This track comes from a warmer place than the “A-Side” with its downtempo chill out approach. The pad sounds are so deep and fulfilling, the mellow heads out there will be in aural paradise. These pads are complimented to perfection with jaunty eastern flutes that draw you into their relaxing melodies.
What makes this tune really stand out is the live sounding beat structure. The groove of which is magical and awe inspiring. The drum sounds have the feeling of swaying kelp in the ocean, with gentle precision. The programming of the beats has a delicate and intricate touch and are so well suited to the musicality of the tune.
If all this wasn’t enough the edition of a warm tonal bass sound completes the overall togetherness of “Dear Friends”. This track is outstanding and worth the admission price alone. This EP offers different shades of the lighter warmer side and the colder dark side of Kiyoko’s palette of sounds. Both tracks compliment each other perfectly and this is a must have slab of vinyl for the deeper collectors out there.
Marbled 10" Vinyl
Two all new Kiyoko tracks taken from 'The Horo Files' - a collection of Kiyoko releases for Samurai Horo.
Liam Blackburn's transformative 'Night Of Visions' LP as Ancestral Voices forged a bold new sonic identity for an influential figure on the electronic music scene. From his groundbreaking work as Indigo and onto the success of Akkord's hybrid electronic melting pot (with Synkro), the quest for forward movement is intrinsic to everything Liam produces. To further celebrate the 'Night Of Visions' LP release, we asked some of our favourite producers to reconstruct some of 'Night Of Visions' highlights in their own style.
Each remixer chose their own track from 'Night Of Visions' to work with. The first name on our remix list was Swedish producer and Northern Electronics label head - Abdulla Rashim. Choosing 'Invocations', his remix focuses on the hypnotic power of the original, turning the tune into a golden loop with subtle kick drum stabs, sweeping percussion and a dangling tension that hangs through the entire 7.33 minutes. ASC& Sam KDC chose 'Feathered Serpent' and using just touches of the original tune have masterfully built an all new backbone that demonstrates clearly the ability of the 'Grey Area' sound to work at 2 different tempo's and weld together with straight techno.
a. Invocations (Abdulla Rashim Remix) 07:33
b. Feathered Serpent (ASC & Sam KDC 'Grey Area' Remix) 07:55
A truly bold sound explorer, Lucy has always added a skewed, angular version of modern techno. The outer edge of his experiments bare particular mind food, and his release for Horo adds a new slant to his sonic identity.
Those intrigued by Lucy's live performance at Mutek 2015 or his monthly sound bath meditation sessions in Berlin, will find 'Eat, Drink, Shop, Relax' represents a combination of both these events. Recorded live to tape in Lucy's Berlin studio, the 4 tracks work together in a perfect continuum. The mood achieved is a warm, comforting bubble of hypnosis that feels at times like the machines have developed their own language and Lucy is their chosen conductor.
The EP title finds its meaning in a critical perspective on consumerism, but while the world continues to move at a breakneck pace driven by people's acquisition of 'things', Lucy's experiments exude a notion of peace and contentment. Perhaps the underlying theme of 'Eat, Drink, Shop, Relax is a time and place where freedom from the clutches of consumerism can, and will be the norm. If this is the soundtrack to an idealistic future, it's an attractive place.
Samurai Horo starts 2016 with the second part of Pact Infernal's concept release 'The Descent'. Split into 2 sections, both releases are collectively themed around the infamous 'Inferno' section of Dante Alighieri's 'Divine Comedy' poem from the 14th century. 'Inferno' is an allegory telling of the journey of Dante through Hell, guided by the Roman poet Virgil In the poem, Hell is depicted as nine circles of suffering located within the Earth. Allegorically, the Divine Comedy represents the journey of the soul toward God, with the Inferno describing the recognition and rejection of sin.
This dramatic setting is the perfect canvas for the music in 'The Descent' [Chapter II]. Subtle ghostly echoes hang ominously over the entire release. Cruelly menacing with a perfected subtle brood dominating the overall atmosphere, Pact Infernal use percussion and mutated chants to massage their driving rhythms.
Preferring to stay anonymous has given Pact Infernal the ability to create an other worldly musical environment devoid of pre conceptions and human imagery attachments. Their sound has attracted people like Lucy from Stroboscopic Artefacts (who remixed The Descent Chapter I) and Samuel Kerridge. We predict many more converts to the Pact Infernal sound with the release of Chapter II into the world.
Support from: Ancient Methods, Bill Kouligas, Logos, AnD, Cassegrain, Marco Shuttle, Cio D'Or, Lakker, Inigo Kennedy, Manni Dee, Francois X, Edit Select, Ntogn, Pfirter and more
"Absolutely amazing and stunning. Genius work." - Lucy.
The debut LP from Ancestral Voices now repressed for 2017 in an all new vinyl colour.
The birth of Ancestral Voices represents a new path for an established and highly respected producer.
Liam Blackburn carved out a singular musical voice as Indigo, and also more recently as half of acclaimed duo Akkord. Inevitably a new approach to creating music has developed into a new identity: seeping with textures, loaded with a taut energy that whispers tales of shamanism and transformative life experiences.
Stripping back an already unique creative process proved a challenge that has paid off, and Blackburn's evolving sound has no immediate sonic comparison. With distinct resonances of his musical heritage flowing through a more mature filter, there is a mystical atmosphere that resounds through the LP as you hear AncestralVoices emerge triumphantly into the world.
The Ancestral Voices debut LP is an insight into a subconscious journey; fully formed as one accomplished 'Night Of Visions'.
A1 – Track 1:Kiyoko are back on Samurai Horo with another slice of that deep dank goodness. Starting off dropping a very atmospheric ambient oddity that has that Kiyoko stamp of quality. Lush pads rise and fall over the piece with a sense of urgent abandonment. The track has a very hypnotizing feel, and the soundscape of the tune really does take you away. This combined with metallic percussive slices and dramatic sounds complete a worthy opening to the EP.
A2 – Track 2: Offers a more beat oriented and glitch based vibe. The percussion on the tune has an edgy, snappy feel, rolling hats and wood block hits give this a jumping groove. The baseline has a modern funk swing to it and really stands out; small vox samples cut through the mix and when coupled with the deep stabs and synth sounds add up to a complete and well-executed banger.
B1 – Track 3: Ambience is the key word here, deep Sonics and space vibes echoing throughout. Flutes from the future spring to mind whilst listening. The way that Kiyoko places sound and space is very well conceived, with nothing over-worked. The beat work here is top drawer; crunches and hits of various ferocity give drama and flow. The contrast that the gentle stabs and raw vox fx have do soften the hits.
B2 – Track 4: Here we have a filmic vibe. Sounds like a rustling newspaper page folding, coupled with pads and piano add a mysterious yet wondrous feeling. The editing is superb, placement of key elements works great, and the supporting beats are laid back and mellow.
The Kiyoko EP sums up what Kiyoko himself is as an artist, deep atmospheres coupled with well-paced and intricate detail. The EP has variety in the sense of differing energies, working as one complete project. This is highly recommended for Kiyoko fans, and if you are new to the sound give it a go it does not disappoint.
'Sacrificial Red' 12" marbled vinyl only (no digital release)
The Descent (Chapter I) introduces Pact Infernal to the Horo series.
A sinister soundtrack of the journey down through the 9 Circles of Hell as told in Dante's Inferno, each Circle is used as a theme to map out a tense underworld of dramatic sonics.
The beginning of something very special, expect Chapter II to burrow further into the scorching netherworld.
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