We Are Stones, We are Glass

From my upcoming album, ‘Salvation’.

Floating Tongue, Feather Spoken

A song off my upcoming album, ‘Salvation’.

Flowing Field

To be released on my upcoming album of instrumental music, ‘Fields’.

A long overdue update

Hello everybody,

It has been a very long time since I’ve emailed an update, but certainly not due to a lack of activity on my end. Firstly, I have rereleased the ‘Prayers to Not Knowing’ EP–which was originally my 2009 US Tour CD–on bandcamp. This EP was recorded at the same time as my debut album, released at ‘Sun Sea Sky Productions’ in the same year. You can read more details and buy/download it here.  It’s only $5.

Over the next few months, I plan on releasing several retrospective ‘collections’ of my music through ‘bandcamp’ from the very early demo periods through to material completed in the last few years. I’ve only officially released one album, but have written and recorded probably more than 100 songs in the last six years. I’ve been feeling burdened, somewhat, by this lately, so it’s time to get it all off my shoulders. There is a lot of great material, and I’m looking forward to collating it and presenting it to you in such a convenient and high quality format as bandcamp offers.

I have also recently finished recording what I think of as my official follow up album to my debut, entitled ‘Salvation’. I’m presently brainstorming ways in which to fund its release (mastering and the cutting and packaging of the vinyl), which I’m hoping to do in a deluxe 12″ vinyl package with download coupons. Once I have a clear idea of what the budget will be, I’ll probably attempt to crowdfund the project through Pozible, and through preorders, so I’m going to need all of your help! I have uploaded one of the (unmastered) songs for you here. The album was recorded largely in my parent’s home in Portarlington, and like my debut album, the songs were composed and recorded, initially, without thought of release. I soon realised I was capturing something that felt truly special to me, and I hope you feel the same upon hearing it. More details about this release soon.

A few things I’ve been up to outside of TBWSC. I’ve recorded and arranged an album with good friend, Adam Cole (formerly of Arrosa, Kali and The Pollen Choir), under the moniker, Trappist Afterland. This has been a wonderful, inspired collaboration between the two of us, and much more will be forthcoming. The album, which will be released hopefully this year, is entitled ‘The Round Dance of the Cross’, and explores alchemy, ritual and devotion through musical means. We’re both very excited by its future release. You can hear some samples by clicking here.

Finally, I recently completed a tour with Trappist Afterland and my favourite American band from Brooklyn, Water Temples. While they were in Australia, I recorded an EP for them, and have been busy arranging piano, strings, voice and many other oddities over their creation. Their music is a wonderful combination of extreme black metal stylings blending with shoegaze sensibilities: it’s been so much fun going back to my metal roots(!) and constructing something I feel is quite beautiful over their harsh sounds. I’ve also recently recorded Tom Woodward’s new record here in my new home in Coburg, Melbourne. He’s an amazing singer/songwriter with so much talent I was almost falling out of my chair as I hit record for each take. It’s a wonderful pleasure working with someone who seems to find writing songs as simple as breathing. I’ll send some links of both Water Temples new EP and Tom Woodward’s album when they become available.

Sorry for the very long update: I really should do these more often so I don’t burden you all with such a long email! Please keep your eye out, Melbourne folks, for my shows. I’m planning on playing a few in the future. Also, international tour plans are in the mind’s eye, but not the pocket as yet. My best wishes and love to all of you who support me and have supported me.

xo, Adam

Frayed Love

Knowing desperation,

watching it.

Much love to you,

I burn to speak,

not yet sure

who will hear it,

but I want to say it again

and again, through tears

and bandages,

I want us

to dress in blood shadows,

my fingers skimming

the pools in your hands, your eyes

are twice as large, beneath this

lowered sky, that rests on our heads,

our crooked necks extend, push,

we begin where need starts,

I can see your outline, a barely erased wraith

in my mirror, the reflection

reaching out, could burn

down buildings, could wipe out cities.

The Seal Woman Suite

The artwork is coming along.  Here are some more images…

All images by Mathieu Bauer.

http://www.mathieubauer.com/

A Different Door

I didn’t notice the doors,

glancing back,

they were inconspicuous,

cloaked in monotone off-white,

matte grey door levers (surely they are not handles)

with sharp ends

that don’t squeak at all

when opened.

Of course I paid no attention to these doors,

until I saw yours in its difference.

Your door was beautiful,

framed in red stained glass

with the warmth of light

giving the impression of a portal

that led to smoke and the smell of pinecones,

except your house smells like cat’s piss,

even when I walk away from the door,

and glance into your backyard,

the stench of ammonia clings to the back of my throat,

and my palate quivers just a little.

on tour

Hi everybody,

Again, a long time between posts.  I seem to get so caught up in organising tours, international bands, making flyers, posting up flyers, contacting venues etc etc that nothing web related gets done!  Well, just a quick update before I hit the road again to play the Grace Emily in Adelaide…The Points North from Boston, Massachusetts have been living with me and rehearsing in my house every day for the past two weeks and we’ve already performed two shows together, one at the Vanguard in Sydney and the other at a beautiful house at Whale Beach, a beautiful Northern Beach town in Sydney.  It’s been a total thrill working alongside these guys.  I’m recording their next album in a few weeks and we’ve already done a preproduction recording which sounded beautiful.  More news soon, I promise!

xo, Adam

some piano

I recently took a trip to my sister’s house to babysit her children, and I decided to make a night of it, and brought my recording gear with me and recorded myself playing our (deceased) Grandmother’s upright piano.  I improvised for about an hour and these are two snippets I really like.  The piece entitled ‘Fading Sun’ I played with my eyes closed, moving my hands wherever they wished to go without any thought.  Funnily, this was the final portion of the improvisation.  The piece entitled ‘As High as Heaven, as Deep as Hell’ was the very beginning of the improvisation.  These are reflective pieces of music that I believe invoke much space in the listener if they’re willing to take some time out and absorb the simple sounds.  They may turn into something else over time, but for now, they will remain unadorned.  Clicking the link below will take you to a download page, then right click the links (or ctrl click for Mac) and choose ‘save as’.  I hope you enjoy.

Faded Sun & As High as Heaven, as Deep as Hell

Strange Fruit

‘Strange Fruit’ is a song I’ve known for quite a while now, but it was only when doing research into the lynchings of African Americans in the late 1800s that I came across this song again, and it meant something completely different to me.  As some of you know, my day job is a university tutor/lecturer, and I have had to teach a bit of slave literature amongst indigenous writings.

There are quite a few people out there that have covered this song, and my favourite is the Nina Simone version.  Just today, as a bit of an experiment, I recorded myself playing it, accompanying myself on the electric guitar.  I liked the way it came out, so thought I’d post it up (the link is just below).

I was just talking to my friend Tonnie, and he said it was a dangerous cover to do, and I agree.  It’s such a breathtaking song.  Even Jeff Buckley’s version is pretty bad in my eyes, so why should I try it?  Well, it’s simple really.  If I feeling something resonate with me, I simply engage in that vibration.  So that’s all this is.  Me enjoying the feeling of such a desolate song, but also, involving a piece of myself in the (in)comprehension of atrocity.

Please enjoy:  Strange Fruit mp3 by the Boy Who Spoke Clouds

Southern trees
Bearin strange fruit
Blood on the leaves
And blood at the roots
Black bodies
Swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hangin
From the poplar trees
Pastoral scene
Of the gallant south
Them big bulging eyes
And the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolia
Clean and fresh
Then the sudden smell
Of burnin flesh
Here is a fruit
For the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather
For the wind to suck
For the sun to rot
For the leaves to drop
Here is a
strange and bitter crop