#spectral ambience

[unsoundedupdates]

Ch18, page 153

•LATEST UPDATE HERE•

Cutter is so good at villain speeches, especially when they're delivered among the ambience of screams and spectral blue fire.

-Ashley

•••••••••••• Discuss the comic on Discord or Reddit

[feukt-42]

Big spoilers for an optional and fairly hidden area in SOTE ahead !

Holy fucking shit midra is so fucking cool

The abyssal woods have the creepiest ambience out of any game since bloodborne's cathedral ward imo, loved every bit of it. My only complaint is they are a bit too big and kinda feel empty as a result. Other than that, the winter lanterns, the in-game messages and the music are a 10/10 for me.

Midra's manse is wonderfully creepy, with its labyrinthine halls that loop back into each other and hidden passageways behind paintings. The enemy selection was very fitting, going from spectral inhabitants and guardians to a veritable legion of inquisitors, probably the ones responsible for midra's current state if you ask me.

And oh my goodness that boss. That was honestly my favorite boss of the entire game. No bullshit, no endless combos, no ludicrous delays, just an overall great boss. It's up there with lady maria as one of my fav fromsoft bosses tbh. The fight feels so smooth, elegant, its just a banger all around. The ost is also just peak. I also love that little introductory part where you just beat an old wounded man for a minute before the fight starts, its that little fromsoftware goofyness in the middle of this daunting dreary place, i love it.

Overall, one of the best dlc areas so far for me, the build up, the dungeon and the boss were all brilliant.

My biggest criticism is the remembrance. The greatsword of damnation should have been a madness weapon tbh, it would have felt much more fitting. Its also a bit sad that we don't get midra's drip, it would have been great if they did sth like the dragon hearts or lamenter's visage where you use an item to get the frenzy head and boost madness incantations/skills. That incantation is pretty cool though.

[dustedmagazine]

Seawind of Battery — East Coast Cosmic Dreamscaper (WarHen)

Photo by Christoper Bruno

Seawind of Battery, the ambient guitar project of New Yorker Mike Horn, has always been a serene and unruffled enterprise. In a review of the debut cassette two years ago, I noted that “Melodies push forward shyly out of long, pensive drones, yet the mix feels light as air and unconflicted.”  Now, in the band’s first post-COVID album—and the first to include Jarrod Annis on lap steel—the pace has picked up, but the aura of calm remains. Even when the rhythms push the hardest, as on standout “New Moon,” long tones float like cirrus clouds above it all. This latest album is an engaging mix of drift and propulsion.

To hear the progression that Horn and Annis have made, you can start by comparing the two “Moon” tracks, coming at first and second position in the album sequence. “Blood Moon” emerges from a sea fog of long wavery sustained notes, the lap steel carrying a slow melody, every note proposed, considered, and allowed to linger. After a little while the other guitar—Horn, I gather—enters strumming an ambling rhythm. Even here, the song is in no hurry. It tarries here and there in the sunshine, a bubble of optimism rising out of its gentle cadence. “Blood Moon” is not so different from what came before it.

“New Moon,” however, edges away from ambience into something adjacent to space rock. It starts in a twinkling rustle of interstellar hisses and bleeps, then a staccato guitar rhythm intervenes. It is driving but tranquil and full of clarity. It divides the song into clear, legible measures, giving it a throughline and a sense of purpose, but also remains open ended; it could go on forever, it seems. Amid these ratatat contours, Annis executes fluid pedal steel flourishes—I picture lush vines pushing up a trellis here. A little bit of percussion adds urgency, twitching, shaking, and slapping hard on the twos and fours.  The point is that if “Blood Moon” is an oasis, “New Moon” is a journey. It moves. It strives. It aspires.

Country and folk themes run through East Coast Cosmic Dreamscaper, in the twanging lyricism of “Maze of Roses” and the boot-stomped four on the floor of quasi-title track “Dreamscaper.”  Yet these rustic influences are spectral, allusive, and never overwhelming. Think of a hoedown reel distilled to clear liquid and imbued with an inexorable sense of movement. In this new, more mobile iteration, Seawind of Battery may be caught in a daydream, but it is a dream with a plot and a beginning, middle and end. 

Jennifer Kelly

[cruel-nature-records]

FINAL TAPE RELEASES FOR 2023

Hi everyone

Hope all is good. Just letting you know that our final batch of tapes for 2023 are now available at https://cruelnaturerecordings.bandcamp.com/

They are:

1) ST JAMES INFIMARY "Abandoned"

SJI take on Americana. Where Nashville is Newcastle, Lee Hazlewood lived in Ashington and The Byrds wrote 'Sweet Heart Of The Rodeo' in Bedlington. Wry humour, societal reflections and dark observations, with rousing bittersweet melodies.

2) LOOK TO THE NORTH "A Shadow Homeland" (3 copies left)

Dronefolk duo David Colohan (Agitated Radio Pilot, Raising Holy Sparks, United Bible Studies) and Zachary Corsa (Nonconnah, Lost Trail, Pines, Yearlings) serve up a mesmerising otherworldly work of atmospheric ambience, sparse piano, spoken word & field-recordings.

"A Shadow Homeland sees Colohan and Corsa expose the kind of folk drone that feeds into the morbid darkness this time of year brings. " - Sun 13

3) MADRELARVA "Tierra de Silencio"

Epic soundscapes from Spanish experimentalist Julio Tornero, a tour de force, journeying through spacious rhythms, modular arpeggios and analogue bubbles. Channeling artists like Conrad Schnitzler and Nurse With Wound. A homage to the formative years and evolution of electronic music.

4) NONCONNAH "Shadows From The Walls Of Death"

Memphis-based experimental music duo who explore themes of memory and the past, the lingeringly supernatural, and the profoundly American through hallucinatory layers of guitar and the spectral decay inherent in ‘obsolete’ recording mediums. Drawing on sonic traditions as varied as ambient and drone, shoegaze, noise, psych-rock, post-rock, and the occasional touches of old time/Appalachian folk music.

"like Flying Saucer Attack meets John Carpenter" - Les Hall, Cutters Choice Radio

Shipping now.

Thanks

Steve xx

[geeknik]

31 Days of Halloween: Day 9, The Bird Cage Theater

As we venture further into the realm of Halloween, our path leads us to the Bird Cage Theater, a notorious and haunted establishment nestled in the historic town of Tombstone, Arizona. Filled with tales of gunfights, gambling, and ghostly encounters, the Bird Cage Theater stands as a testament to the wild and lawless days of the Old West.

Historical Background

The Bird Cage Theater, constructed in 1881, was a lively and raucous gathering place during the heyday of Tombstone. It served as a saloon, gambling hall, brothel, and theater, attracting a colorful cast of characters, including lawmen, outlaws, and the women of the night. The theater was named "Bird Cage" due to its use of iron grilles or "cages" to separate the audience from the performers and the working girls.

Ghostly Legends

With its turbulent past, it's no surprise that the Bird Cage Theater has gained a reputation for being one of the most haunted buildings in the Old West. Numerous ghostly legends and chilling encounters have been reported by both staff and visitors. Some of the most notable stories include:

The Phantom Poker Game: It is said that the spirits of those who perished in gunfights and gambling disputes still linger within the Bird Cage Theater. Visitors have claimed to hear the clinking of poker chips, laughter, and whispered conversations as if a ghostly poker game is still in progress.

The Lady in White: A spectral woman in a flowing white dress is often spotted roaming the theater's balcony area. Some believe she may have been a working girl at the establishment, forever bound to the place where she met her untimely end.

Apparitions in the Dressing Rooms: In the backstage dressing rooms, ghostly figures have been glimpsed in mirrors, caught in the act of dressing or rehearsing for performances long past. These ethereal entities add an eerie atmosphere to the already haunting ambience of the theater.

Exploring the Bird Cage Theater

Visiting the Bird Cage Theater offers a chance to step back in time and experience the Wild West for yourself. The theater's original décor, bullet holes in the walls, and preserved artifacts serve as reminders of its tumultuous past. Guided tours provide a fascinating glimpse into the theater's history, highlighting the stories of the notorious characters who once frequented its halls.

During the Halloween season, the Bird Cage Theater often hosts special ghost tours, allowing brave souls to explore the building after dark and potentially encounter the spirits that still linger within. These tours combine history, ghost stories, and paranormal investigations to provide a unique and spine-tingling experience.

Conclusion

As our journey through 31 days of Halloween continues, the Bird Cage Theater in Tombstone, Arizona stands as a haunting testament to the wild and untamed days of the Old West. Its turbulent history, ghostly legends, and lingering spirits add a chilling element to our Halloween adventures.

Whether you choose to visit during the day to explore its historic artifacts or join an after-hours ghost tour to delve into the spectral realm, let the spirit of Halloween guide your exploration of the Bird Cage Theater and the otherworldly tales that reside within its walls.

[grindpromotionrecords]

Decay, despair and bubbling rot come to the surface with the abhorrent opening piece. Setting a gargantuan monolith to crumble before us, the intensity is high even before we truly begin. Roaring vocals and meaty riffs stain the air as pummelling drums bludgeon the skull to smithereens. The raw and ineffably dark production is one that will immediately leave non-die-hards running with their tails between their legs. But those who can hack the savage attack of the senses will hear some truly phenomenal, atmospheric and yet unforgiving Death Metal that spews rot and hacks limbs while some cleverly placed riffs give a very uncomfortable ambience to the whole thing. The gripping and unique approach is delivered at high-tempos to insure maximum damage while some gloomier passages give a rich, textured and hauntingly ghastly dynamic to the record. Blending the cacophonous Finnish Death Metal titans of old with some South American Death-Thrashing violence, Astriferous conjure an atmosphere and sound entirely of their own while reading from the ancient tomes of morbidity. Firing on all cylinders, this record is an amalgamation of the bands best works. The doomy parts are more spectral than ever, the bestial aggression is unrivalled in savagery and the progression as putrescent as one could dream of. Those who have followed the Astriferous journey can revel in the splendour that they have reached here with their best achievement to date. New maniacs can be won over by their first experience being a truly remarkable milestone in Death Metal from a far-off corner of the world, proudly planting the Costa Rican flag in the underground’s conscious with a truly marvellous, menacing and engrossing cut of excellence. Much like the chasmic, void-like vortex of grotesqueries on the cover art, this album will pull you into a pool of macabre oddities and never let you go… #astriferous #pulsationsfromtheblackorb #mesacounojorecords #metal #death #deathmetal #osdm #vinyl #vinyladdict #vinyllover #vinylme #vinylrecords #grindpromotionrecords (presso Grindpromotion Records Hq) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIrCt0IFKL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[kontaktlab]

iZotope — RX 10 Pro Audio Editor Advanced (Windows) Download

Elevate your audio editing and repair capabilities with iZotope RX 10 Pro Audio Editor Advanced. the industry-leading solution trusted by top post-production professionals. Designed to handle the toughest audio challenges, RX 10 provides precise tools to restore and enhance recordings, ensuring clean and professional results.

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Selection Feathering (New Mode): Achieve seamless edits with enhanced spectral selection tools.

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De-rustle: Remove rustling sounds in dialogue-heavy recordings.

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Experience unparalleled precision and creativity in audio repair with Download Here iZotope RX 10 Pro Audio Editor Advanced.

[connectparanormal]

Phantom Nuns

Phantom nuns are ethereal beings that appear in many myths and spook stories all over the world, especially in North America and Europe. A common description of these apparitions is that they are ethereal women clad in traditional nun's habits who glide softly through monasteries, convents, and other historic structures. Their presence combines ghost stories with religious iconography to create an atmosphere of mystery and paranormality. Ghost stories usually come from areas where there has historically been a significant religious presence. These stories frequently take place in churches, schools, and abandoned or repurposed convents. Reports of unusual noises, such as cloth rustling, murmured prayers, or the quiet echo of footfall in empty hallways, frequently accompany sightings of these spectral individuals. These components add to the spooky ambience that surrounds the legends.

A phantom nun's past frequently includes tragedy or unfulfilled vows. Common narratives tell stories of nuns who died young, mistreated, misled, or whose lives ended violently or in sadness. It is thought that their sad pasts keep their spirits bound to this world, where they are unable to find peace. For instance, there are stories of nuns who fell in love, violated their chastity vows, and faced punishment or shunned as a result, leaving them plagued by uneasy dreams. The phantom nun also touches on more general issues in ghost stories, such as the notion that ghosts hang around because of unresolved feelings or unfinished business. One may interpret their ghostly apparitions as manifestations of grief, guilt, or a yearning for justice. Nuns' religious associations also offer another level of intricacy; their eerie presence frequently prompts reflection on religion, atonement, and the afterlife. The story of the "White Nun" at England's Borley Rectory, often ranked among the nation's most haunted homes, is one famous instance. The myth goes that a monk and a nun from a nearby monastery fell in love. People claim that after their tragic deaths due to their forbidden love, her spirit roams the grounds, searching for her lost love. The public's fascination with this narrative has fueled the legend of the phantom nuns and the larger canon of ghost stories.

Certain civilizations also view phantom nuns as guardians or omens. People may perceive their presence as an omen, cautioning the living to avoid danger or serving as a reminder of their spiritual or moral responsibilities. These traditions are all the more fascinating and enduring because of this duality, in which an apparition can be both a protector and a sign of an impending disaster. Like many other spectral beings, phantom nuns act as a link between the material and spiritual worlds, the past and the present. Their tales delve into the more profound significance of hauntings, addressing love, grief, and the yearning for a connection that endures after death. Whether perceived as ghostly protectors or as terrible relics from the past, ghost nuns continue to captivate people who encounter their tales.

[akashi-reddeath]

BAD CHOICE

Like all cosplayers, Ravvcoser in search of improving the ambience of her photographs, began to go to different places in the city; always in search of giving the best quality result... But, going into an abandoned train station, was not the best decision she made in her life, and her disappearance not only from social networks, if not everywhere was proof of it.

The only thing that was found of her in that place was her cell phone that contained a faint recording of her running and then the cell phone falling to the ground while the woman screamed and a kind of spectral gasp could be heard...

[violetvaughnart]

In the quiet reprieve of a bustling station, a solitary figure stands stark against the monochrome flurry of the crowd. Pencil strokes weave the fabric of this scene with soft shades of gray, wrapping each passerby in a veil of transient movement — a sketch of life's constant ebb and flow. The train, a silent behemoth, breathes a muted sigh, its sides streaked with the tales of a thousand journeys.

Amidst the sea of commuters, there is a pulse of introspection. One soul amongst the many is entrapped within the still frame of contemplation, veiled in the soft chiaroscuro of shadow and light that dances across the platform. Their face, turned aside, is a canvas of introspective thought; every line a delicate etch of their inner soliloquy.

This rarely trodden moment of solitude, in the midst of society's orchestrated chaos, paints an ambience of melancholic serenity. The world whirls in its perpetual motion, yet here, in this ephemeral snapshot, time dallies, inviting the observer into the soul's silent discourse with infinity.

Unseen, the traveler’s gaze may sweep over the horizon of their reflections, a horizon that ebbs into the softest whispers of what might be and what once was. It is a poignant embrace between heartbeats, where the inhale of breath tastes of longing and the exhale speaks of quiet resilience.

There is a spectral grace to the stark black lines that frame each figure, a testament to the shared odyssey of existence. It is as if each silhouette is a word in a poem, a note in a symphony, all converging in this place of crossing — a testament to life's intricate symphony.

In this cavern of echoes and whispers, reality blurs; the tangible intermingles with the wistful imaginings of what lies beyond those steel chariots of passage. The sketch renders a harmony of souls, rooted in the mundane yet stretched toward the profound.

For a moment, the scene is suspended in the cathedral of stillness, a tableau of wistful connection to the universal human journey, a spellbound understanding that each of us is at once isolated and infinitely intertwined.

[soundbanks2342]

iZotope RX 8 Advanced (MAC) Download

Download

Pro-level Audio Restoration Software If you’re a forensic audio expert or post-production engineer, you need powerful tools. That’s why critical projects demand iZotope RX Advanced. Like a photo editor, RX Advanced paints away buzz, clicks, hiss, and more with a single mouse gesture. It’s a must-have — and version 8 ups the ante with a bevy of new features. Guitar De-noise tightens up noisy guitars. Spectral Recovery restores clarity to internet-compressed audio. Wow & Flutter corrects pitch drift from physical media transfers. Loudness Control finalizes your audio for broadcast. You also get an overhauled Batch Processor and Music Rebalance module. Beyond that, you get the AI-assisted processing that RX is renowned for. Enhance. Restore. Repair. If it’s broken, RX 8 Advanced can fix it.

NOW PLAYING:What’s New in RX 8 | iZotope

Michael Brauer for RX 8 | iZotope

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Top 8 Ways to Use RX 8 for Music Production | iZotope iZotope RX 8 Advanced is loaded with powerful restoration tools: Guitar De-noise tightens up noisy guitar recordings. Batch Processor enables you to process several files in one pass. Music Rebalance grants you independent gain adjustment of the elements of a mix — after it’s already mixed. Repair Assistant uses machine learning to solve common audio issues faster than ever. De-hum removes ground loop hum and line noise. Loudness Control prepares your recordings for final delivery with detailed level readings and loudness management. Variable Time adjusts the time stretch amount of an audio selection without altering its pitch. Variable Pitch adjusts the pitch of an audio selection while preserving its time and length. Composite View removes unwanted sounds captured with multiple microphones by editing multiple files at once. Mouth De-click gets rid of distracting mouth noises. Spectral De-ess transparently attenuates sibilance with iZotope’s spectral shaping technology. De-bleed eliminates headphone bleed from acoustic guitar tracks, removes click track bleed from vocal takes, and solves other signal bleed problems. Spectral Repair visually paints away audio problems like ringing cell phones, birds, and squeaky bass drum pedals. Voice De-noise is fine-tuned for vocals, reducing unwanted steady-state or changing background noise like air conditioning, refrigerator hum, and amp hiss. Breath Control attenuates distracting breaths between words and phrases. De-plosive repairs unwanted plosives with a single click. Spectral De-noise reduces amp buzz, tape hiss, and other unwanted steady-state background noise. De-click cleans up vinyl clicks, softens up clicky bass guitars, and more. A new low-latency algorithm enables you to use De-click directly within your DAW or NLE without introducing sync issues. De-clip patches up digital and analog clipping artifacts to restore distorted audio. As well as these exclusive Advanced-only features: Spectral Recovery restores clarity to internet-compressed audio. Wow & Flutter corrects pitch fluctuations from physical audio recordings. Dialogue Contour reshapes the intonation and inflection of a dialog track. Dialogue De-reverb removes unwanted ambience from dialog clips. De-rustle eliminates lavalier mic rustle from dialog with a single click. Dialogue Isolate extracts dialog from loud environments with background sounds like clanging plates in a restaurant, traffic noise, and machinery. De-wind removes low-frequency wind rumble from location dialog. Ambience Match fills in the constant background noise under constructed sentences and ADR lines. EQ Match imparts the EQ profile of one file to another, great for matching ADR to location dialog. Enhanced options for audio pros RX 8 Advanced is a worthy update. It makes restoring clarity to internet-compressed audio like remote meetings, podcast interviews, video calls, and real-time audio streaming a breeze, thanks to Spectral Recovery. Effortlessly correct pitch fluctuations from physical audio transfers from vinyl and cassette with Wow & Flutter. Recovering a dialog performance is easier than ever with Dialogue Contour. Remove unwanted ambience from dialog tracks with Dialogue De-reverb. You also get modules such as De-rustle, which eliminates lavalier mic rustle from dialog, Dialogue Isolate, which extracts dialog from loud environments, and De-wind, which removes low-frequency wind rumble from location dialog. Ambience Match fills in the constant background noise under constructed sentences and ADR lines, while EQ Match creates consistent sonics between two different dialog recordings. On top of that, RX Advanced supports multichannel audio up to Dolby Atmos 7.1.2, making it an indispensable tool for post-production and video game projects.

Repair Assistant makes audio restoration easier than ever The engineers here at Sweetwater will tell you — audio restoration is a time-intensive endeavor. But not anymore! RX Advanced’s Repair Assistant makes short work of clipping, clicks, and more without the usual tedious trial-and-error workflow. All you need to do is select the type of material, be it music, dialog, or other, and let RX Advanced analyze the audio. It then gives you processing suggestions to point you in the right direction, along with three different intensities for each. You then review and audition the different suggestions, hit render, and you’re good to go.

Music Rebalance gives new meaning to “fix it in the mix” Mastering a badly mixed song is an uphill battle. Now, thanks to RX Advanced, that’s no longer the case. Its Music Rebalance tool allows for independent gain adjustment of vocals, bass, percussion, and other elements of a mix — after the project has been mixed. Drums too loud? Vocals not loud enough? Music Rebalance allows you to fix these and other similar problems. Beyond that, you can export these individual elements as stems for further processing and mixing. Music Rebalance is also available as an AudioSuite plug-in.

iZotope RX 8 Advanced Features: NEW Guitar De-noise tightens up noisy guitars by taming amp hum, fret squeaks, and pick sounds NEW Overhauled batch processor enables you to process multiple files with a single pass NEW Spectral Recovery restores clarity to internet-compressed audio formats NEW Loudness Control finalizes your audio for broadcast with unprecedented intelligibility NEW Wow & Flutter corrects pitch drift in physical media recordings NEW Music Rebalance separates mix elements and exports them as stems for re-mixing NEW 32-audio tab limit (double that of previous versions) makes tackling large products a piece of cake NEW Horizontal scrolling lets you scroll across the X-axis for lightning-fast edits NEW Upgraded De-hum module eliminates ground-loop hum and line noise better than ever Pro-level audio restoration and repair tools for forensic audio experts and post-production engineers Paints away buzz, clicks, hiss, and more with photo editor-like mouse gestures Dialogue Isolate, De-rustle, Music Rebalance, and Breath Control available as AudioSuite plug-ins Multichannel support up to Dolby Atmos 7.1.2

[elliott-fyp]

recording improvised piano

i started my music journey as a classical piano student. for years my practice involved playing notes from sheet music without understanding why the composition sounded nice to me. even after i learnt harmony and started thinking of chords in terms of scale degrees and chord qualities, i would play progressions from existing songs instead of improvising to express myself.

only recently did i realise how cathartic playing whatever comes to me in the moment can be. when i play in this manner, it is not strictly in time. but rather than sounding bad, i find that my playing sounds raw and contemplative. that said, i was afraid that it would come across too sparse and meandering by itself, so i tried to record over the film ambience track that i previously made. i really like the result. the human-ness makes it more compelling, just like the piano playing featured in Spot Dog by The Japanese House.

because i was reminded of that song, i decided to duplicate my piano recording and run certain parts through a spectral granulator, to create the effect i hear so much in The Japanese House's music.

[serephinastardust]

The Book I'm writing: Requiem of the Rising Flames Rewrite #1 Chapter 3

As Odessa descended through the moonlit depths of the ocean, her silver hair billowing around her like a celestial cloak, the world above grew faint. The rhythmic lull of the waves seemed to cradle her descent, the ocean depths embracing her in a silent symphony of the abyss.

Amidst the murky blue expanse, a glimmer caught her eye. Her locket, containing the spirit form of her wise master fox, floated gracefully toward her. It danced in the water, a tether to the life she knew, a beacon of guidance in the watery depths.

Her thoughts, a cascade of memories and what-ifs, swirled like the currents around her. Images of her family, the Nightshade clan house, and the laughter of her younger sister mingled with the vision of a future stolen by treachery. Her mind wandered to the potential life she could have lived, the destiny she had sought to shape for herself.

As Odessa sank through the silent depths of the ocean, her senses dulled, and the world above transformed into a distant memory. The water, cool and weightless, cradled her descent like a cosmic cradle, an ethereal journey into the heart of the azure expanse.

In the stillness, fragments of her life played before her eyes like a fragmented mosaic. The vibrant laughter of her family, the echoes of her mother's wisdom, and the innocent giggles of her younger sister flickered in her mind. The Nightshade clan house, with its grandeur and familial warmth, seemed like a fading dream. These memories, once vivid, now swirled in the oceanic currents like ephemeral specters.

The stolen essence, her Kitsune heritage reduced to a malevolent glow in Tristan's vial, tugged at the threads of her identity. The treachery on the cliffside, the cold malevolence in Tristan's eyes, left her with an aching sense of betrayal.

As she sank deeper, thoughts of what could have been surfaced. The life she had envisioned, free from the shackles of tradition, danced before her like elusive reflections. An existence where her destiny was hers to shape—a future unbound by the constraints of an unwanted engagement. The ocean, seemingly vast and limitless, now became a reflection of her lost aspirations.

Yet, amid the turmoil of her sinking consciousness, a glimmer of silver caught her eye. Her locket, containing the essence of her wise master fox, floated gracefully toward her. It seemed to materialize from the watery shadows, a beacon of guidance in the depths.

In the moments before her vision faded, Odessa's mind held a cacophony of emotions. Regret, defiance, and a flicker of hope intertwined. Her thoughts, like underwater currents, carried her toward the precipice of unconsciousness.

And then, as her surroundings blurred into an indigo haze, the ethereal form of her master fox manifested. His presence, a spectral reassurance in the watery silence, offered a lifeline in the oceanic abyss. The ancient eyes of the Kitsune held a wisdom that transcended the depths, echoing with the promise that even in the darkest currents, the Kitsune spirit endured.

In the twilight expanse that stretched into infinity, Odessa found herself in the company of another soul—Sera Veridale. The surreal ambience of the realm seemed to absorb their presence, casting an otherworldly glow on the meeting of these two displaced spirits.

As Odessa gazed upon Sera, a moment of silent recognition passed between them. The energy of the twilight expanse resonated with unspoken connections, threads of fate weaving an ethereal tapestry. Instincts whispered to Odessa, guiding her to share the fragments of her story, to unravel the events that led her to this spectral meeting.

In the quietude of the twilight realm, Odessa began to speak. Her words, carried on the echoes of the infinite expanse, painted a tale of treachery, stolen essence, and the betrayal that had severed the tether between her soul and her mortal vessel. Sera, a fellow soul adrift in this enigmatic realm, listened to the haunting narrative, the shared threads of their fates intertwining in the silent dance of spirits.

Once Odessa had laid bare the intricacies of her existence, the burning question lingered in the twilight air. With a somber gaze, she turned to Sera, her voice resonating with a quiet intensity.

"Sera Veridale, fellow soul in this cosmic expanse, I ask of you a grave question. If I were to willingly grant you access to my memories, my essence, could you carry out revenge on the one who severed the ties between my soul and my earthly vessel? And all other hidden enemies that would have appeared if tonight hadn’t happened?"

The request hung in the air, the weight of the words echoing through the infinity of the twilight expanse. Odessa, aware that her soul might never return to the mortal realm, sought a form of retribution beyond the boundaries of the tangible world.

In the luminous twilight expanse, Sera Veridale, another soul adrift in the cosmic sea, contemplated Odessa's request. After a moment of solemn reflection, Sera nodded, her eyes mirroring a determination that transcended the boundaries of the ethereal realm.

Sera's voice, a soothing echo in the boundless twilight, conveyed a promise as she spoke, "Odessa, your tale resonates with the echoes of shared pain. I accept your request. I will carry your story and seek justice in the realm beyond. May your soul find peace, and may retribution be wrought upon the one who wronged you."

As the words lingered, the twilight expanse began to fade, its ephemeral glow giving way to a different reality—a reality where the ethereal and the tangible intertwined.

In the mortal realm, the master fox, once a spirit guide, now stood in a divine Kitsune form. Humanoid with fox-like features, he exuded an aura that transcended the mortal coil. As he pulled Odessa's limp form from the ocean's embrace, his divine Kitsune blood, drawn from between his own brows, pulsed with a sacred luminescence.

With a tender grace, he placed the divine blood within Odessa, sealing it with an ethereal touch. The essence, a fusion of Kitsune magic and divine energy, became a reservoir of rejuvenation.

As Odessa's eyes fluttered open, the luminous glow of the divine Kitsune blood coursing through her veins, she found herself in a world that felt both familiar and foreign. The once ethereal expanse had given way to the reality of the mortal realm, but something had shifted.

The master fox, his divine Kitsune form fading like the remnants of a celestial dream, regarded her with eyes that held a knowing wisdom. His voice, tinged with both acknowledgment and reassurance, echoed in the air.

"Odessa," he began, "the tapestry of fate has woven a new chapter. A soul, not yours, now resides within this vessel. Fear not, for Sera Veridale has willingly taken on the mantle of your essence to carry out the justice you seek."

Master Fox didn’t direct his words to Sera in Odessa’s body, but out to the universe in hopes Odessa’s actual soul would hear his words. And then redirected his next words to the new Odessa. "Sera," the master fox acknowledged the new inhabitant of Odessa's body, "may the remnants of Kitsune wisdom guide you on the path you've chosen. Your actions are now intertwined with the destiny of this vessel."

"Fear not, Odessa," he spoke, his divine form radiating a serene warmth. "I have given you my divine blood, sealed and potent. It shall rekindle the flame of your cultivation and grant you the strength to navigate the path that lies ahead."

As the master fox's form began to fade, he imparted the knowledge of a tonic—an elixir that would hasten the revival of her cultivation. The spectral twilight expanse, their meeting ground, lingered in the fading echoes of the divine transformation.

With a final, ethereal smile, the master fox bid farewell. "Go, Odessa. Your journey continues, fueled by the resilience of a Kitsune spirit and the touch of divine essence. May the threads of your fate weave a tapestry of renewal and purpose."

Sera, determined to forget her past and embrace her life as Odessa, felt a tear fall down her cheek. In respect to the little girl who she now was, she whispered, “I will make that elixir, master, and I will bring you back so you can teach more of this wide expansive world.” After giving nine kowtows to emphasize the seriousness of her promise, she got up and, forever becoming Odessa, walked back to the Nightshade clan's home. Not even the Crown Prince was the wiser of what had happened on the cliffside behind the palace.

[dustedmagazine]

Dust Volume 10, Number 6, Part II

Matthew J. Rolin

The June dust continues with artists from the second half of the alphabet. Check out Part I, too, if you haven't already.

David Murray Quartet — Francesca (Intakt)

David Murray’s playing has always contained a dialogue between jazz’s vanguard and its canon, but as befits an artist who has sustained a music career since the 1970s, he’s not immune to the lure of practicality. These impulses converge in this quartet, which includes drummer Russell Carter, pianist Marta Sanchez and bassist Luke Stewart. It’s capable of containing moments of combustion within a framework sufficiently swinging that you could book the band into the Village Vanguard. The material is mostly original, save a waltzing interpretation of Don Pullen’s “Richard’s Tune” that contrasts the popping ebullience of  the leader’s bass clarinet against Sanchez’s sumptuous piano, and if you have followed Murray in recent times, you’ve heard some of them elsewhere. Thus the record becomes a chance to appreciate Murray’s bold tenor sax tone and full-to-bursting phrasing within an idiomatic context.

Bill Meyer

Noroth — Sacrificial Solace (Carbonized)

This new slab of OSDM from Seattle-based Noroth may be ironically titled. If you play this record loud (and there is no other thinkable way to experience it), solace is surely what you will sacrifice. Song titles are suggestive: “Poisoned Ash,” “Pleading Depths,” “Devoid of Grace.” The band keeps things succinct (eight tunes that linger around the three-minute mark, and most of them short of that) and very, very far removed from anything smacking of subtlety. It’s all down-tuned strings, repulsive growls and gut-shuddering riffs, just the thing for your next abject crawl through a dank, dismal dungeon. Or for your next run to Costco. Which are essentially the same thing. It’s nice to know that bands still want to make this sort of record: gross, but not replete with itineraries of torture performed on women’s bodies; piledriving, rather than invested with the tedious dissonance of much current war metal; stoopid, but not edgelord-ish about it. Sort of refreshing, if a record including a song called “Symphony of Decay” can be conceived of as refreshing.

Jonathan Shaw

Old Million Eye — Quartz Hive (Feeding Tube)

COVID’s been around long enough that we now have post-pandemic rock. Old Million Eye is mainly one guy, Dire Wolves bassist Brian Lucas, and prior recordings have demonstrated that he can definitely go it alone. But who among us didn’t want to make up for bypassed hangs when the proscriptions against gathering were lifted? Eleven musicians join Lucas here and there across this LP, but honestly, the guest keys, reeds and strings all melt into Lucas’ existing sound world so completely that naming the players seems gratuitous. Let’s just suppose that they had a good time laying tracks down together, and that these good vibes have nestled themselves into the spaces between the reverberating twangs, distant voices and slow-flowing, melodic textures. Never mind the before and afters, this stuff is all about putting the brakes on the present.

Bill Meyer

Only Now — Eyes of Pain (Shaytoon)

Bay Area producer Kush Arora AKA Only Now, filters Punjabi music through a mixture of drum & bass and harsh ambience to produce a harder version of what Talvin Singh and Badmarsh & Shri were doing around the turn of the century with Indian classical music and dance beats. Eyes of Pain skips between the extreme cut-up of the title track and the spectral ambience of the excellent closing track “Perma.” The former is deconstruction of Punjabi percussion and vocal samples set to thumping club beats which creates stifling intensity though repetition. All tension, no relief. The latter a lengthy exercise in abstraction and space, which builds into a lattice of drones before folding in on itself. For the most part Arora emphasizes abrasive textures, lightning edits, and blistering tempos. You can dance but it will hurt, in a good way.

Andrew Forell

REZN — Burden (Sargent House)

The chaps in REZN have a lot of feelings, buried deep inside, in need of expression. These are not nice feelings, haunted as they are by obsidian streams, liminal cells, suffocating silence, useless intentions, the razor’s edge and the human condition. To facilitate their expression, the quartet aim for a heavy, claustrophobic mirror of existential dread. Bleak burdens weigh them down and they are never quite able to get out from beneath them. At once seductive and repulsive, the miserabilism of Burden will no doubt exhilarate many and not completely without reason. But these fever dreams produce rather timid monsters. Caught somewhere between metal, goth and grunge they end up in a performative no-man’s land It’s not awful, just not enough and despite the sax on “Soft Prey,” the opening riffage on “Chasm” and moody instrumental interlude “Descent of Sinuous Corridors,” Burden feels bloodless.

Andrew Forell

Matthew J. Rolin — Twos (Dead Currencies)

The second installment in Matthew J. Rolin’s series of odds-and-sods collections of solo recordings from the past few years, Twos is more polished and cohesive than Ones, which was released in 2021. Whereas the earlier album features artifacts of the recording process such as hiss and the shuffling of the guitarist getting ready to play, Twos has been professionally mastered so that the sound is consistent and pristine. Rolin sticks mainly to the acoustic six-string, with one piece each on 12-string and electric, and the tracks are more concise, ranging from three to six minutes. Several are also sweetened with unobtrusive electronics and/or studio effects, including the 12-string piece (“Candle”). The standouts such as the jaunty “Maple Leaves” and the leisurely “Untitled 2” rank with the best of Rolin’s compositions, and Twos over all provides a welcome check-in following the outstanding Passing from 2022 and in anticipation of his next solo guitar release.

Jim Marks

Christelle Séry / Jérôme Descamps — Te Ti’amā (Clean Feed)

Here’s a recording situation you don’t find every day. Both guitarist Christelle Séry and trombonist Jérôme Descamps have a bit of classical training, and an audible influence in their playing from decidedly non-classical sources. But Descamps has spent the last quarter century off the continental touring circuit, working as a music professor in Tahiti, where he also plays in a duo that serenades newborns at the local neonatal unit. Séry’s background is a bit less exotic. She’s recorded new composed music, which she has mostly presented in France. The joint credits for this encounter, which was recorded in Tahiti, leave ambiguous how much was composed and how much improvised, so let’s just say that they avail themselves of maximum freedom. Séry plays multi-hued, post-Sonic Youth noise one moment and slithery blues gestures the next, while Descamp seems equally comfortable crafting arcing, eerie melodies and throat-parching rasps the next. They move easily in and out of idiomatic contexts, sounding equally persuasive across the spectrum.

Bill Meyer

Chloë Sobek, Tim Berne — Burning Up (Relative Pitch)

The plan to get Chloë Sobek and Tim Berne to partner up didn't necessarily make sense. The two both show a great willingness to experiment, but Sobek's violone — an ancestor of the double bass that she frequently supports with electronics — wasn't necessarily calling for Berne's alto saxophone as natural conversationalist. The two artists met when they came in to record the improvised pieces that became Burning Up. The two might have been new to collaborating with each other, but they took to the arrangement quickly, Berne figuring out how to control his sound against Sobek's soft instrument as each artists nimbly moved between textural scaffolding and more aggressive lead lines. Part of the initial joy in listening to the album comes from hearing them slide in and out of complimentary roles. That begins to sound almost easy, though, as they become more confident and ambitious. On “Icarus and the Phoenix,” Sobek matches Berne's staccato bursts; it's tough to tell who provides direction when the two lines intertwine so nicely. “Burnishing” briefly sounds bluesy, but the artists move into stranger territory, Sobek's deep pulse building menace into the night. The pair turn a corner late in the track, Berne brightening his lead and Sobek taking the edge of her sound before gradually fading out. It's nice finish showing the pair's joint storytelling and agreeable styles, giving the feel of something even more remarkable than it was unexpected.

Justin Cober-Lake

Zosha Warpeha — Silver Dawn (Relative Pitch)

Zosha Warpeha is a Minnesotan based in Brooklyn, and if you trawl through her social media wake, you’ll find that she runs with an improv crowd. But the sound of Silver Dawn, her solo debut, will point your ears in another direction. She plays a hardanger d’amore, which is a recently devised instrument that combines aspects of the resonant strings of a Norwegian hardanger fiddle with the larger size and lower pitch of the baroque viola d’amore. Instrumentation isn’t exactly destiny, but it’s a strong influence; if you hear its ringing strings and spare lines from the next room, you might think that Silver Dawn is idiomatic Norwegian folk music. But if you listen past the folkloric sonorities, you’ll hear Warpeha breaking things down and seeing what she can do with the parts. It will be interesting to hear where she takes this sound.

Bill Meyer

Why Bother? — Serenading Unwanted Ballads (Feel It)

Why Bother?’s Serenading Unwanted Ballads plays like a fractured survey of 20th century (mostly) underground rock. There’s “Frothy Green (Live Dec. 2020),” roaring with melodic, Husker Du-ian heft or “Heroin Dancer,” which pushes a dead-eyed vocal over deep, menacing surf grooves, like Iggy Pop covering Link Wray’s “Rumble.” “Your Love Will Die” convincingly mines 1960s psychedelic garage rock — it wouldn’t sound out of place on a Nuggets compilation — while the stomping electronic miasma and croaked vocals of “Run from the Sun” (sample lyric: “Total disgrace/has found its place/inside my soul/and it takes control”) could be a long lost David Berman-Ausmuteants project. Without completely (or at all, in the case of “Frothy Green…”) abandoning the rapid drum fills and racing guitars that give the album a hardcore edge, these songs, as well as the glowing, raw-boned goth sounds of “High as the Heavens,” show off the group’s rangy pop chops.

Why Bother? cover a lot of ground here and, like a compilation, it doesn’t always cohere. Still, Serenading Unwanted Ballads, in all its guises, from the bare, bluesy “Testify” to the Minor Threat frenzy of “Feckless World” and New Order fantasy of “Until,” works like an antic, woozy singles collection: a glimpse of everything the band can do.

Alex Johnson

Mars Williams & Tatsu Aoki — Stooping To Talk To a Cat On A Doorstep (Asian Improv)

This album’s title may be cumbersome, but it nicely conveys the music’s vibe. It was recorded at a Chicago arts space where acoustic bassist Tatsu Aoki booked a concert series for a few years. While both he and saxophonist Mars Williams are willing to rumble, they’re also inclined to pause and appreciate the simple poetry of the moment. The two musicians also share a life-long engagement with Chicago’s self-starting, improvisation-informed movements, wherever they might manifest; you can hear them thread between blues reflection, AACM-informed little instrument exploration, solemn ceremonial evocation and wooly extrapolation throughout the album. Sadly, it’s also an invitation to reflect on Williams’ passing in November 2023. While he toured the world with the Psychedelic Furs and Peter Brötzmann, among others, when he came back to Chicago, he played with equal commitment at little storefront gigs like this. Whatever he played, whoever he played with, he was 100% on, and this session is no exception. He is missed.

Bill Meyer

Your Music Encountered in a Dream – David Grubbs and Liam Keenan (Room 40)

Improviser David Grubbs was finishing up a tour of Australia when he and singer/songwriter/guitarist Liam Keenan decided to meet up and record electric guitar duets. Keenan is best known for the first two of the aforementioned hyphenates, but he more than holds his own with Grubbs. “Fallowfield” is built on small pitch cells and tremolando, introduced by Grubbs and then bandied back and forth between the two musicians. They both pick up each other's shifts, even the smallest details, with an impressive seamlessness. “Gemini Cluster” begins with various treatments and repetitions of a single note which is then juxtaposed against a gradual unfolding of other repeated notes and modal harmonies. The recording concludes with “Miracle Bowling Club,” which opens with a memorable riff that eventually is treated as a cresting wave above some serious rocking. Given distance, it might be hard for this fulsome collaboration to continue. Perhaps Grubbs will take another trip down under or, better yet, those of us in the United States might get a visit from Keenan.

Christian Carey

[brewtalyhonest]

Title: "The Whispering Wings of Luminae" 

In the heart of a mystical forest, veiled by mist and time, stood the grand library of Luminae. This ancient edifice, a labyrinth of stone and timber, housed a myriad of books. Its most striking feature, however, was the cascade of extravagant flowers that flowed like a vibrant waterfall over the shelves, their petals aglow in the soft candlelight. 

Guarding this sanctum of knowledge was a shapeshifting owl being, known as Aethon. Cloaked in shadow and mystery, Aethon had watched over Luminae for centuries, his form shifting from owl to shadow, ever-vigilant, a spectral warden in the twilight corridors. 

On a moon-drenched night, a young girl named Elara, driven by a thirst for forbidden knowledge, breached the long-forgotten walls of Luminae. Her eyes, wide with wonder, reflected the tapestry of books and blossoms that surrounded her. Unbeknownst to Elara, her arrival had awakened the attention of Aethon, whose eyes glittered from the darkness, observing her every move. 

As Elara ventured deeper, the library seemed to stir to life. Books, as if enchanted, fluttered from their shelves, their pages beating like the wings of birds, casting flickering shadows in the candlelit ambience. The flowers, too, seemed to dance, their whispers filling the air, each petal a syllable in an ancient language. 

Elara, undeterred by the supernatural spectacle, continued her quest. Her goal was a tome of lost knowledge, a book said to contain secrets of forgotten magic. It was this lure that had drawn her into the heart of Luminae. 

Meanwhile, Aethon watched. His form, now a mere wisp of shadow, trailed Elara silently, his presence an ethereal whisper in the dim light. In his ancient heart, a conflict stirred. He was the guardian of Luminae, tasked with protecting its secrets, yet he saw in Elara a burning passion for knowledge that mirrored his own. 

Finally, Elara found the tome she sought. As her fingers brushed its ancient cover, a soft glow emanated from the pages, illuminating her face with a spectral light. It was at this moment that Aethon revealed himself, materializing from the shadows in his majestic owl form. 

Elara, startled, stepped back, but her eyes held no fear, only determination. Aethon, sensing the purity of her quest, spoke in a voice like rustling leaves, offering her a choice. She could leave with the knowledge she sought but would be bound to return to Luminae, to learn and eventually become its guardian. 

The young girl, with dreams of magic and discovery shining in her eyes, accepted the pact. As the first light of dawn crept through the stained-glass windows, casting prismatic colors over the sea of books and flowers, Elara left Luminae, the ancient tome in her hands and a new destiny in her heart. 

Aethon, once again alone in the vast halls of Luminae, resumed his vigil. In the young girl, he had found not just an intruder, but a kindred spirit, and perhaps, in time, a successor. The library of Luminae, with its whispering wings and haunting shadows, stood eternal, a bastion of knowledge and wonder in the heart of the mystical forest. 

[buyofficialpainting]

Naked Man with Knife: A Deep Dive into Jackson Pollock's Expressionistic Journey

There is a certain raw intensity that characterizes the work of Jackson Pollock, the celebrated American painter renowned for his unique contribution to the Abstract Expressionist movement. Among his many works, one piece that stands out for its intense energy and dramatic portrayal of the human form is "Naked Man with Knife" (c.1938-1940).

Naked Man with Knife: An Overview

In stark contrast to Pollock's later, better-known "drip paintings", "Naked Man with Knife" is a figurative piece that presents a compelling visual narrative. The artwork portrays a nude male figure in a dynamic, twisting pose, knife in hand, amidst a swirl of indeterminate forms and figures. While the subject matter may appear confrontational and intense, it is a profound representation of Pollock's exploration of Jungian psychoanalysis and symbolism.

The Power of Primitivism and Surrealism

"Naked Man with Knife" bears the hallmarks of Pollock's fascination with primitivism and surrealism. The primal intensity of the nude figure is reminiscent of primitive and tribal art, which Pollock admired for its direct, unfiltered expression of human emotion and experience.

The piece's dream-like, somewhat chaotic arrangement of forms draws heavily from Surrealism. During the time he created this painting, Pollock was undergoing Jungian psychotherapy, which used dream analysis and symbolism to resolve subconscious conflicts. This influence is evident in the spectral shapes and the dream-like ambience of the painting.

Reflecting Inner Turmoil

"Naked Man with Knife" is also a testament to Pollock's personal struggles. Known to have battled alcoholism and mental health issues, Pollock often turned to art as an outlet for his emotional turmoil. The raw, almost aggressive portrayal of the male figure could be seen as a symbolic representation of Pollock's inner battles.

The Journey towards Abstract Expressionism

While "Naked Man with Knife" may not be as famous as Pollock's drip paintings, it marks an important phase in his artistic journey. It embodies Pollock's experimental spirit and his willingness to explore various styles and themes. Moreover, the emotional intensity and the focus on subconscious imagery in this work foreshadow the elements that would later define his contribution to Abstract Expressionism.

In conclusion, "Naked Man with Knife" offers a captivating insight into Jackson Pollock's artistic evolution. This striking piece not only reveals his influences and stylistic explorations but also provides a deeply personal glimpse into the emotional intensity that fuels his work. While Pollock's drip paintings may have earned him the title of 'Jack the Dripper', it is pieces like "Naked Man with Knife" that truly capture the essence of his artistic journey – raw, intense, and profoundly expressive.