8th December 2010

Well, the experimental series is complete! I haven’t been checking all the relevant websites lately, so I completely missed the fact that my stereo split with Absence.Insolution, Vaginal Tear, came out last Thursday. Whoops. 25 copies are available from Indestructible Object. And with that, normal service is resumed. This time last year I was looking at my entry on Discogs and realised how little music I’ve released. Instead of waiting for Safernoc to come out and then do another album two years later and keep it up like that, I decided instead to try and build a little momentum by continuing recording. It would have been possible to build an album (maybe even a double album) out of the year’s musical experiments, quite an abstract, ambient record, but instead I felt it would be more interesting to let listeners into the audio research I was carrying out. So not all of it’s “complete”, not all of it’s “essential”, and some of it is fairly self-indulgent (especially the surge of harsh noise at the end of the year). Themeatically, Safernoc needed to follow up Vacuum Road Songs, and the next album needs to follow Safernoc, so there was never a complete album to be made out of it all. But some of it I’m incredibly proud of, and ideas from every release will be expanded upon when recording music in the future, so it’s been a useful year. So, goodbye 2010, year of experimentation, drones, collages, lo-fi songs, harsh noise, strange packaging, DIY releases and free downloads. It’s been stressful but mostly fun.

Safernoc and Syophonic should be with us at the start of 2011, and then it’s looking towards the future properly.

1st December 2010

The third Lemony Nougat disc is out today, my favourite so far, the Jack Anderton one. The project is becoming a pain in the arse as making the artwork is more tricky than it looks. Still, three down, four to go (although there may be an 8th in the future… news on that next year at some point). Trawling through my old cassettes continues. Some of my first cassettes as Ross Baker are rather great, nice to discover my glitchy keyboard fuckups recorded, some 25 minute field recordings, an electric piano duet with my dad and some other stuff. Most excitingly, the aforementioned Mike Oldfield inspired ‘Cliff Edge’ turned out to be rather good, each 23 minute side a morphing, evolving improvised piece which contains some really interesting melodic ideas. Might take inspiration from this in the future.

I’ve done my first work on actual Second Thought material in months this afternoon, putting some final touches to a couple of tracks on what will probably be the follow-up to Safernoc. I actually used one of the field recordings from my old cassettes on one, which worked nicely in terms of what I was trying to create, and the concept of the album. More of that when it’s more relevant.

26th November 2010

11 days without me prattling on? You lucky sods. I have now listened to every one of my early collaborative (er, “band”) tapes and am today about to commence listening to all of my solo material, mostly me + guitar + cheap Casio keyboard. I have a feeling this will mostly be a very painful, unmelodic racket, but there are some themes in there, such as my 45 minute Mike Oldfield-inspired opus ‘Cliff Edge’, which I haven’t heard in years. I have (probably unrealistic) high hopes that something will be sampleable. We shall see.

Speaking of cassettes, yesterday marked the release of the first Second Thought cassette, a noise/experimental split with Esion on Sludgesicle Records. It’s good to be on tape at last. It costs $4 in the US and $6 for the rest of the world (about £3.50, then), and is limited to 33 copies. Pick one up before they sell out!

The Awakenings gig is officially confirmed, I am performing on 5th February 2011 in Burton. Tickets will be available in the new year from the Awakenings website (along with a very, very old picture of me). I’ve also submitted some songs for next year’s Awakenings compilations, including a live in-studio version of VRS’s ‘Night’ from earlier this year, an excerpt from one of my recent live rehearsals, and a couple of tracks which combine influences from Berlin school electronica and more contemporary sounds (one of which was due to appear on Cataclysmic Variable Star). I’ll let you know more about those when they happen, first one should be in January/February, I think!

I think it’s customary to end posts with ‘Safernoc news soon!’, isn’t it?

4th November 2010

It is with a mixture of sadness and relief that I announce the scrapping of the forthcoming space ambient album Cataclysmic Variable Star. I could probably write many, many paragraphs detailing exactly why, although that would be a mostly futile attempt to define what the ‘Second Thought sound’ is, which is pretty much impossible. What I can say though, is the album no longer seems like a suitable release. Sadly, a musician gets defined by his releases, particularly full-length releases. With Safernoc due out around the same time as it, there would have been an immediate competition for attention, and that is not something I’d want. Truthfully, whatever the ‘Second Thought sound’ is, I try and make albums as honest and personal as possible. Purlieu and Vacuum Road Songs were very literal aural descriptions of places in my head, and Safernoc is a little more vague, but still has some very specific ideas there. There’s a distinct atmosphere. Future albums will, in some way, follow this trend. With this in mind, the concept of a space-themed record seems (ironically) very alien, and doesn’t express what I want to express through my releases which get the most focus. I want the ‘experimental series’ over with asap and this leaves the album sat between my ‘main’ releases and ‘experimental’ releases. When I began to think “well, maybe I could only promote it on this forum” and “I could simultaneously release it with Safernoc – one the past, one the future” I realised that it just wasn’t going to work. There’s also the fact that the second track is a bit shit at the moment. That needs a lot of reworking.

I’m putting forward the first track, Magnetospheric Eternally Collapsing Object, for the first Awakenings compilation of 2011, and will probably rework some of the material from PV Telescopii Variable for the future. In all honesty, I think the first track will be better for everyone on the compilation, as it will sit quite comfortably alongside similar music, more people will get to hear it and hopefully enjoy it, and it might even pick up some interest from people wanting to buy Cataclysmic Variable Star – it’ll almost certainly be sat alongside similar music that’s a lot better than PV Telescopii Variable!

To fit all of this, I have re-arranged the discography a little on my website. I have now made a distinction between the main albums (and associated EPs) and the ‘experimental series’ – 2010’s 13 releases.

2nd November 2010

Well, the first Absence.Insolution split’s out, although sales aren’t going as well as I’d hoped. Maybe we mis-judged the artwork concept – Lucy and I came up with 19 sleeves based around things we were planning on throwing away, thus recycling rubbish into art. A nice idea, and hopefully something to catch the eye of potential buyers! Or maybe not. Ah well. We’ll see how that goes in time, anyway. Either way, it just leaves two more releases – the Esion split, and the second Absence.Insolution split, which I received the artwork for earlier in the week and is looking nice.

It’s funny, I was excited about all this at one point, and then concerned, and then relieved, but now kind of bored. I suppose this is what such a ridiculous stream of releases does to you. I do still check my download totals regularly, so I pay attention, but still. This year’s nearly over, and the year of experimentation with it. And for all the trouble it’s caused, I have come away from it having learned something. The experiments this year will go towards future releases. Treatments’ and Dungeness’ drones, Canal Seven’s collage work, 60 Degrees South’s synth improvs, Oncoming Storm’s Ableton experiments, The Curse of Kevin Carter’s songform, Small Black Box’s sound experiments – all of these ideas will re-appear on future Second Thought albums. Some of these records have been more well formed than others. Some simply sound like experiments, others might seem like complete records, but each one was an exercise; a new approach to creating music for me. Just rather than taking the best bits and making an album, I decided to put it all out, to open up and let anybody hear who wishes to hear. I could probably have saved them up and made a more ‘traditional’ Second Thought album, but that wouldn’t have felt right at this time. Instead, I’ll be picking the best ideas and using them as inspiration in the future. Some of these will seem very obvious, in time. Others, less so. But it’s been a lot of fun. And a little bit of stress.

I did some synths for a track I’m working on with Loose Link this afternoon, some nice sounds going down there, but it did bring to mind that, one way or another, I’m not in such a compositional, creative mood at the moment. I’ve rediscovered the joy of listening to music again, after several months of simply making it and going over my own work. I’m going to focus on going through old tapes, CDs and field recordings in the next few months, to try and get myself prepared for working on a new lot of material in the future. Not that that’ll be anytime soon, I’m taking a well-earned break. Got a Noisesurfer remix to work on this week and that’s it. Just going to work on organising and arranging sounds for a while without any need to actually write music. Which feels like quite a relief!

26th October 2010

The Noisesurfer split came out yesterday and has picked up a fair few downloads already. I hope everyone’s enjoying it – it can be downloaded here, if anyone’s not heard it yet. I’d say it’s probably my favourite electronic work of this autumn’s experimental series, some very sinister drones and harsh ambience. Noisesurfer have provided a series of really excellent fuzzy tracks for it too! They’re improving at an incredible rate, from some sketches and demos earlier this year towards making this really interesting dark, atmospheric music already. Impressive stuff.

Spent the weekend in Hinckley, which was pleasant, and got me considering my future prospects once again. I suppose being back really reminds me of the previous productive period of Second Thought, 2002, which produced a lot of sketches earlier on, plus the whole of Twenty-Four and half of Purlieu. As much as the quality of a lot of that material is lacking, I’m still very fond of it as it felt entirely honest, with ne’er a genre exercise in sight. I want to head back that way, towards the days when it wasn’t so easy to categorise my music into “drone”, “Berlin school”, “noise” and so on. Give it a bit of time! A walk to Fosse Meadows yesterday morning did a lot on the inspiration front, but it always seems to. All of the initial plans for Dead Hymns were conceived on a walk around there during Christmas 2004 (which is a rather strange inspiration, bizarrely, but still), the place just seems right for imagination to me. Some of what was Habitats is based around the place. But you won’t be hearing that for a year or so yet. What a tease.

My split with Esion was awaiting my re-arrival in Folkestone. I haven’t listened to it yet, but the tracklist is now in the discography and I’m putting some photos up tomorrow, once my camera battery’s charged. Nice DIY sleeve, limited to 33 copies. I’m incredibly happy to have a cassette release! It just seems so right for noise. So hopefully that’ll do well once it’s released. Should be out at some point in November apparently, once the label is officially up and operational once more. The Absence.Insolution Recycled split is out a week today, just leaving our ‘stereo split’ release to come out at some point when Indestructible Object are ready to go with it. Might not be until next year, annoyingly. Still, what to do?

Things are coming together nicely, anyway.

15th October 2010

In an attempt to slowly draw in the number of releases I have lined up once more, I’ve been revisiting old ideas and working out what to do with them. This is quite a fun practice, as in the past I’ve often finished a song or album, and left it at that, with the idea that each record is of its own moment – something that is regularly a fair point, but I’ve discovered it can be very enjoyable to rework stuff once I’ve given it some space.

To this end, the previously announced follow-up to Canal Seven will not be coming out in any recognisible form, and won’t be appearing in any form for quite some time now, to free up some space in the release schedule next year. After the two EPs and handful of splits that remain this year, its all go for Safernoc and, at the same time the free Syophonic EP from the same sessions, at the beginning of 2011. Then it’s time for a special release recorded for my performance at the Awakenings show in Burton-on-Trent, which has been confirmed as the first show of the year, on 5th February. I’ll be playing alongside Nick Robinson again, and the headliners are Endgame. Given that the events focus on the more traditional end of the EM spectrum, expect the show and its accompanying release to show considerable influence from space ambient and Berlin School electronica. More news on those soon!

Once Safernoc and the Awakenings album are out, I should have one release outstanding, which is an exciting collaborative effort I’ll explain about nearer the time. It’s something that’s been worked on for quite a while and should be excellent. And after that, it’s on to pastures new and a return to the standard album releases I’ve been talking about. As the very first entry to this blog said, the future’s bright, the future’s storange.

11th October 2010

I’ve spent the best part of today mixing down the next Noisesurfer album. Joachim – who released a solo album called Noisesurfer on Jerky Oats earlier in the year – has been joined by Rachel to form the duo. Given the task of working out a running order for their debut album, I suggested maybe having a go at stitching the tracks together Second Thought style, to make a flowing album, and it’s worked out fantastically. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done – the album actually flows better than some of my own records, particularly Vacuum Road Songs! – but credit goes to Noisesurfer for creating this series of dark, sinister ambient techno in the first place.

When looking at my website this morning, I looked at the cover for Purlieu and it sent a jolt of emotion through me, in a sort of ‘I want to be doing that again’ kind of way. I think working on this Noisesurfer record has been quite a good way to deal with my need to get back to old style Second Thought soundscape albums while I wait for Safernoc to come out.

The Curse of Kevin Carter came out this morning, and I’m happy to say it’s proving to be really rather popular. Lucy’s beautiful art is going down well and all comments have been really positive. I was nervous about the release, as not only is a deeply personal record, but the style is so different to my normal stuff – even with my noisier diversions – that I wasn’t sure if people would accept it or not. Seems I had nothing to worry about, though!

Lucy and I are finishing up the artwork for the Cementimental/Fist Taker/Second Thought split tomorrow – just in time for Wednesday’s release!

10th October 2010

Once in a long while, things go reasonably well for me. After that long rant a couple of days ago, I’ve been fortunate enough to have several things fall into place. News on the experimental series:

This afternoon saw the release of Thatcher With A Dick, my aural description of David Cameron.

Two tracks of harsh noise released on the brilliant Hum and Hiss Netlabel, who also helped with the hilarious artwork. Parts 1 and 2 of the track form 20 minutes of harsh, disgusting noise.

Silent Flow, who released Treatments earlier in the year, are lining up a release for my split with Noisesurfer, which contains three harsh/dark ambient pieces from myself – “LZT” Leads To Melt The Room, RECAB-A.Exception and Maelstrom – and six shoegaze-ambient works from Noisesurfer.

My third and final split for the moment will be a rhythmic noise/experimental release with Absence.Insolution, and we’re working out label info presently.

This now only really leaves me one release hanging at the moment, so I’m rather happy and feel the weight being lifted from my shoulders a bit at a time. In a few weeks, I’ll hopefully be clear of releases and be able to focus on the future.

This afternoon I have been working with Noisesurfer to get their next album up and running. I’m quite enjoying the run of releases happening on Jerky Oats at the minute. I was thinking, at one point, of opening the label up to anybody, but realised that would take the fun out of it. The label is by myself and Lucy, and will operate to release music by people we know. A little collective, helping to give friends a release or two and help them up the ladder in music. I’ve been listening to the next two Lemony Nougat contributions – Noisesurfer and Jack Anderton – and the series is coming along brilliantly.

So. Things are looking up at the moment!

8th October 2010

Long-time fans of Second Thought will remember the 2T project which recorded between 2001 and 2003, the name of which still occasionally appears credited as artwork designer. Upon revisiting some of my old music, I renewed my interest in the harsher and more experimental ends of my music – noise, industrial, drone, harsh noise wall, breakcore and all the other ridiculous stuff 2T used to come out with. In a recording spree of a few weeks I came up with a startling amount of this material and am now faced with the rather worrying prospect of a billion different releases. Only one has come out so far – last week’s Torn Vision 3″ CDr.

Fortunately, a fair amount of it will be appearing on compilations over the coming months (more news on them as and when they’re released). I’ve also come together with a few artists to release some splits. Next week will see a CDr release on Jerky Oats of a three-way split between myself, Cementimental and Fist Taker. It’ll be limited to 30 copies, digipacked with more artwork by Lucy Wade, my beautiful girlfriend and co-conspirator in the creative world of Jerky Oats Records and Merganser. The album is 75 minutes of harsh noise wall and should be approached with caution and curiosity by anyone not familiar with this end of my music. I have another split on its way, with Absence.Insolution (who is releasing one of the aforementioned compilations), we’re just looking for a label for that, and third split with Noisesurfer due out as a netlabel release before the end of the year. Which leaves me two 20 minute records which I’m currently submitting to a few cassette labels. If they ain’t interested I’m heading outwards to some CDr labels, although I like the noise cassette scene so it would be sad not to have at least one of them released on cassette. These, coupled with The Curse of Kevin Carter’s song form, Dungeness’s dronescapes and the unmelodic textures of Small Black Box, mark a very experimental final quarter of 2010 for Second Thought.

The reason for the push on getting these out is I want a clear run in the new year. I don’t think they’ll all be out by January, but I really want to be able to categorise this period as the experimental period, when a lot of unusual sounds and ideas were put out at once. It’s like a scrapbook, lots of ideas and genre exercises and experiments, put out for free, or as limited editions. And I’m tired of seeing all this stuff lined up and not actually releasing it. It’ll clear my mind and inspiration to get it out of the way, because I feel like this era is over in my head and I hate holding on to stuff. 2010 has been a year of experimentation, with all sorts of new releases and directions for me. It’s been the re-emergence of Second Thought with a bang, and I’d like things to calm down a bit now.

The new year will see Safernoc released, and an accompanying EP of outtakes, Syophonic. Safernoc is the big statement, the proper follow-up to Vacuum Road Songs, after all these years. There are a couple more things due – some remixes, and follow-ups to Canal Seven and 60 Degrees South, but overall I want to let everything breathe. And I want to work towards a more streamlined future. Once the follow-up to Safernoc is out (yes, I’m that far behind on actually releasing stuff), I’m calling an end to side-projects and experiments, and putting everything out as ‘proper’ releases. This might mean two albums a year rather than one album and six experimental EPs, I don’t know. But it will make Second Thought feel more like Second Thought again. I kind of miss the days when I’d record a bunch of tracks, and as they went along they’d begin to make sense and an overall sound would become evident, and after a while, 12 or 13 tracks would fit together nicely and become an album. It felt very honest and I’m looking forward to returning to that mindset again.

Anyway, that’s a lot of ranting for what is effectively “expect a lot of weird unlistenable shit before Christmas”.