en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal The Last.fm journal for northcape. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2011/08/01/4imj3h_in_praise_of_the_album Mon, 1 Aug 2011 13:24:50 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2011/08/01/4imj3h_in_praise_of_the_album I'm writing this blog in response to a recent blog Eclecticism and what makes a good album by the electronica artist Dementio13 on his website. The blog started me thinking about the reason why the album still exists in an age of digital music; the point is made several times in the blog and subsequent comments that the album isn't as important as it used to be. When its so easy to pick and choose, download only your favourite tracks, and play them in whichever context you want, what is the point of an artist putting out an 'album' rather than just 'a collection of tracks'?

I'm going to make the declaration straight away that I don't think I'm ever going to stop listening to albums as albums. I very rarely put my ipod on shuffle, when I decide to listen to an artist, I generally listen to one of their albums or EPs, front to back. This definitely makes me a more demanding listener - an artist can have great tracks, but if they fail to put an album together without a few tracks that need to be skipped, either due to the quality or due to them being completely out of place in the collection, I'm likely to listen to the artist much less than I would otherwise. I'm aware that I may be unusual in listening like this, but I don't think I'm unique, and the important point I want to make here is that I feel I get more out of the music by listening to it this way. This might be one reason why my favourite artists are all good at this. I get frustrated with them when an album is just that bit too long, or contains a few weak tracks that should really have been left out.

People can of course listen to music however they want, as a random shuffled collection of tracks or whatever. But as a fan of the album, I think they are losing something fairly significant by doing that if the artist has released the tracks as a coherent whole. The best albums really are a lot more than the sum of their parts and form a story, whether it's done with similarity, contrast or progression it adds something subtle to the meaning of the individual tracks and builds something bigger. I agree with the point on Dementio13’s blog that this can be done with contrast, even jarring contrast, as well as with similarity. In fact the album, by its very format, forces you to listen to more challenging tracks that you otherwise might not have given a chance, and it's these that often stay with you, and also make the sense in context that they might not have made in isolation. But it’s important to point out that the best albums don't make this completely opaque either. Whatever the intention of the artist was, if to the listener the album does indeed sound like just a collection of tracks and doesn't communicate something more, in my opinion it has failed. One of the things that keeps motivating me to make music is the idea of the album that really does hold together and communicate something more profound than the individual tracks on their own. It’s obviously less important for pop music which has always been all about the single, but I can (subjectively) list great artists in a range of genres, from Boards of Canada to U2, and they are almost invariably associated with a strong and successful album (normally more than one), not a collection of (even great) tracks. In the past, making an album as a clear statement of intent has repeatedly made musical reputations. I also believe that, even today, it's the artists who are able to do this that really make a name for themselves in the genres that I prefer to listen to. But even if I'm not right about this, I'm not planning to put the album aside as, whatever the state of technology, I don't want to lose that more subtle and sometimes more profound listening experience.

As an artist (Northcape), the challenge of this really appeals to me. It's relatively easy to put together a collection of tracks, even good tracks. Putting together something that flows, or not, in a logical way that really makes sense to the listener, has a signature sound or a clear evolution of sound, a strong unifying idea or concept, and transcends its individual components is much, much harder. And getting it right must be that much more satisfying.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2011/06/13/4fmz59_alluvial_ep_now_out_on_elpa_music_%28free_dl%21%29 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:02:08 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2011/06/13/4fmz59_alluvial_ep_now_out_on_elpa_music_%28free_dl%21%29 The new 4-track Northcape Alluvial EP has now been released by Latvian netlabel ELPAMUSIC for FREE download (sorry for the slight delay).
The catalogue number is Elpa70 and you can find the label here: http://www.elpamusic.lv. The release can also be found on its internet archive release page: http://www.archive.org/details/elpa70.
The 'Alluvial' EP is inspired by geology, human prehistory and the idea of 'deep time' (I was reading about some of these subjects when producing the EP!). I have tried to express a sense of scale, which is in contrast to the more personal landscapes that inspire much of Northcape's material. The result is this EP which contains four slow-building but still melodic tracks with a more ambient feel. Some of the tracks are inspired by the idea of human habitation in the distant past, and others by geological space- the release image is pretty much a landscape I was imagining when I was writing the tracks.
The sound is definitely an exploration of new ground - expect something a bit different from my normal approach to melodic electronica (which has more obviously in common with melodic electronica/ IDM artists such as Ulrich Schnauss and Boards of Canada)- but I think these tracks still keep a recognisable sound, albeit with maybe a touch more influence from more ambient music (artists I have enjoyed and who may have had a small influence on this EP include Biosphere, Stars of the Lid and Global Communication but I'm not claiming that the EP sounds like any of these!)...
Thanks to ELPAMUSIC for releasing this EP, they have released some great material in the past and I'm glad that this release will be on there.


Elpa Music Blog

If you want to hear more from Northcape, check out the latest album Captured From Static out now on Sun Sea Sky Productions, and the Northcape website at http://www.northcapemusic.co.uk.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/04/06/3jl6q1_captured_from_static_by_northcape_-_now_released_on_sun_sea_sky%21 Tue, 6 Apr 2010 09:42:48 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/04/06/3jl6q1_captured_from_static_by_northcape_-_now_released_on_sun_sea_sky%21
The new album Captured From Static by Hove, UK-based electronica producer Northcape is released today by Sun Sea Sky Productions.
The product of an extended period of work refining, developing and deepening the distinctive Northcape sound, the album spans a range of genres from IDM to ambient and emotions from upbeat to meditative. Inspired by travel, landscape and personal experience, Captured From Static contains 11 of Northcape's best tracks so far, chosen to form a coherent and evocative collection of music. Please check it out.

"... This is an album where each and every track is a gem... an album of considerable beauty, an album that enchants and invites the listener to visit spaces of memory and imagination.
Greg Healey ,Redefine Magazine

The music may well appeal to fans of like-minded melodic electronica from artists such as Ulrich Schnauss, Global Communication, and Boards of Canada. Sun Sea Sky Productions have also released superb albums from artists such as Boc Scadet, Boy Is Fiction (new album also out today!) and the ambient post-rock classic Garmonia by Lights Out Asia. Northcape has previously released on the monotonik netlabel, following a couple of self-released albums, the latest being 2007's Detach.
Captured From Static is streamable on last.fm; many of these tracks have not been heard before today! The album is available for purchase as CD, mp3 or lossless FLAC from the Sun Sea Sky website and is also available for download from many leading digital retailers including ITunes, Amazon and eMusic. The CD is mastered by Audible Oddities, who have previously, among other things, worked on a large part of merck's back-catalogue including releases from Helios, Kettel, Sabi, Proem and others. Album artwork is by Liam Frankland.
Visit the Sun Sea Sky website here : http://www.sunseasky.com]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/03/13/3hg90y_moitessier_%252B_2_remixes_available_now%2521 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:26:32 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/03/13/3hg90y_moitessier_%252B_2_remixes_available_now%2521

It's been a bit of a wait, but the release of the new Northcape CD album "Captured From Static" from Sun Sea Sky Productions is planned for the 6th of April 2010!
Before the main album release, the final album version of "Moitessier" plus two exclusive remixes by Northcape (as Moitessier + 2 (Single) ) is available now for mp3 and FLAC (lossless) download from the Sun Sea Sky Productions website.
The single is an intriguing mix of blue-water ambient and electronica, with the remixes both standing alone as distinctive Northcape tracks and also expanding on different aspects of the original.
"Moitessier" is inspired by the French yachtsman Bernhard Moitessier, who took part in the first solo, non-stop round-the-world yacht race in 1968, and the film "Deep Water" (which comes highly recommended if you haven't seen it).
Moitessier abandoned the race to continue around the world a second time.
The single can be found here.
The track listing is
Moitessier
Moitessier (360 Degree Horizon Mix)
Moitessier (Red Morning Mix)

Artwork is by Liam Frankland, mastering by Audible Oddities, who has previously mastered albums by such artists as Helios, Proem, Kettel, Sabi and many other well-known names in IDM and electronica. Previous releases from Sun Sea Sky include superb electronic albums by Boc Scadet & Boy Is Fiction among others, and the ambient post-rock masterpiece Garmonia by Lights Out Asia. Northcape has previously released 2 independent albums and also an EP on the monotonik netlabel.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/01/23/3d0up8_internet_scams_using_last.fm_free_downloads_without_permission Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:10:01 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/01/23/3d0up8_internet_scams_using_last.fm_free_downloads_without_permission Thanks to Pixieguts for letting me know about a free download scam that several websites are running on direct download mp3 links, including all of those at last.fm. Example sites using these links are bomb-mp3.com, beemp3.com, abmp3.com, mp3raid.com... and probably others. As I really don't want my music 'harvested' without permission and commercially/ fraudulently exploited by other sites (Northcape gets none of the money that comes out of any 'sales' made on these sites- for example ringtone sales with very expensive hidden terms and conditions), I've decided to remove all direct download links from last.fm, the Northcape website and elsewhere on the internet.
However I'm making sure that the tracks are still available! I'm slowly working through the Northcape website (www.northcapemusic.co.uk) replacing all links with non-direct ones. Most free downloads will now be available through bandcamp.com at higher quality than previously. More free downloads are still available for mailing list members only.
Pixieguts' blog about the mp3 download scam is here. If you're an artist with music on sites such as last.fm, it's worth reading.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/01/17/3cgl3f_pixsid_-_atoms_apart Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:35:14 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2010/01/17/3cgl3f_pixsid_-_atoms_apart PIXSID is an intercontinental collaboration between Sid (aka. Dj Sid-the Apocalypze) based in Ohio, USA, and Pixieguts (aka. Australian vocalist Marie Craven), and Atoms Apart is their debut album, broadly downtempo hip-hop beats, trip-hop and electronica with Pixiegut’s vocals. The album also features a remix by Sheffield, UK-based electronic producer Adrian Carter and was mastered by Canadian DJ Crimson Death. Lyrics on ‘The Sea’ are by Canadian Andrei Masliev. The title is therefore very appropriate given the huge geographical distance between the collaborators but Atoms Apart conclusively demonstrates that distance is no barrier to electronic collaboration (maybe there’s a reference to quantum mechanics here?). This is an album that could only have been made in the 21st century but before I get too distracted by the process, it’s the music itself that’s the point.
There really are some great tunes on this album and Marie’s voice has a fantastic clarity that has proven in the past to work with a huge range of electronic collaborators. It has to be said though that this particular collaboration is among the best that she has ever done. DJ Sid’s electronica is firmly rooted in classic hip-hop and downtempo electronica such as Portishead and Morcheeba. Sid also successfully cultivates the classic vinyl feel so successfully evoked by artists such as DJ Shadow, whose spirit can definitely be heard here. The production is full of subtle analogue warmth, giving the music texture through imperfection and a perfectly evoked modern urban melancholy. The soulful distant horn samples on the instrumental ‘Paper Hearts’ and the vocal track ‘The Sea’ for example gain force through their previous use in this genre. The superbly deep sine melody in the intro to the smooth ‘Soft and Hard’ is another case in point. Across the whole album the instrumental elements have an instinctive depth and power which attest to DJ Sid’s talent as a composer. The solid beats are equally important to the success of this album as well as its overall sound, with a punchy hip-hop feel and some creative drum processing. I also like the use of remixes of some tracks, which helps to give the album a feeling of coherence. Adrian Carter’s remix of ‘Lullaby’ is particularly arresting as the most experimental point on the album, using vocal samples from Pixieguts as the rhythmic element under burbling acid synths. ‘Atoms Apart’ is a very solid album indeed with a deep, chilled downbeat and thoughtful feel to it – an appealing soundtrack to the concrete jungle.If I had to pick out one track it would have to be the absolutely beautiful ‘Wish I’, which boasts a soaring, emotive vocal melody and lyrics ‘wish I was dreaming again, wish I was in that other place’, swept along by waves of synth textures and slow beats. This track is in fact provided in two versions, ‘Wish I’ and ‘Wish I (reprise)’ and my only complaint is that given the effectiveness of the guitar introduced in the second version it definitely should be longer! I really could listen to this track again and again. Highly recommended.

PIXSID - http://pixsid.blogspot.com/
DJ Sid The Apocalypze –http://www.myspace.com/apocalypze
Pixieguts – http://pixieguts.com]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2009/12/24/39vmwz_healeyisland%3A_not_afternoon%2C_but_evening Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:17:39 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2009/12/24/39vmwz_healeyisland%3A_not_afternoon%2C_but_evening “Not Afternoon, But Evening” is the 2nd album from solo electronic artist HealeyIsland, signed to the White Label Music independent, and like his previous work is mainly electronic and an all-but-indefinable blend of lounge, techno, and downtempo influences. It’s an intriguing combination of sounds; the album explores the shadowy territory on the border of all these genres. As the title suggests, this album is darker than HealeyIsland’s debut release, though still containing snatches of humour in parts it has a dark, downbeat and introspective feel. The first few tracks on the album are low-key and instrumental- rather than making every track a big event HealeyIsland obviously knows what he wants to express, and slowly leads you into an album of considerable depth and subtlety.
“Your Final Journey” is the album’s first real statement of intent, containing bolder downtempo beats under a deep, eccentric lounge vocal and sparkling lead line. Slurred, indecipherable vocal samples complete the mix, lending the track a mysterious aspect that continues throughout the album. Like the next track, “Edwardian American Prefab”, much of this album edges into more uneasy territory with a lurking sense of self-doubt and accusation. “Ballad of a Nobody” is one of the standout tracks, and also the track that expresses this insecurity most clearly with the mocking humour of the lyrics addressed to a “shaven-headed fool” whose life is “way off track”, offset by bright cascading synths.
Although it often has dark undertones, the album as a whole is far from being unremitting gloom. “Moments After Joining” is one of the more upbeat moments, with a brilliantly exaggerated deep, smooth, unintelligible yet somehow euphoric vocal that feels like a celebration of the music in its lack of a need to be understood. A twisting jazzy instrumental and organic-feeling bass add up to make this my personal favourite from the album. “Red Car Crossing A Dimly Lit Bridge” contrasts this with acid electronic sounds, and more half-heard, distorted vocal samples return the sense of menace.
Euphoria never lasts for long before the album returns to lonely, twilight urban surroundings and smokey basement clubs. “Recriminations” is another standout, with more dark playfulness in the threatening, robotic vocal, before “Facsimile Fountain” which effectively utilizes a fast/ slow dynamic where some anger finally breaks through the surface in the more driving electronic sections. This is followed by the album’s one genuinely shocking moment, more so for the quietly restrained feel that much of the album retains despite its inventiveness.
“Not Afternoon, But Evening” is definitely head music- claustrophobic in places and understated in others, but crucially maintains a quirky creativity, coherence and balance between lightness and shade that make it a very rewarding listen.

You can also find HealeyIsland here:
http://www.last.fm/music/HealeyIsland
http://www.myspace.com/healeyanalogueisland

The album is available from White Label Music as both CD and mp3 download.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2009/09/22/313n7j_star_%28northcape_pixieguts%29_-_mellow_vocal_electronica Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:21:31 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2009/09/22/313n7j_star_%28northcape_pixieguts%29_-_mellow_vocal_electronica A new Northcape collab. track with vocalist Pixieguts is now up! Pixieguts is an Australian vocalist who has worked with a hugely diverse range of musicans across the world, if you have heard any of her work previously you'll realise why I was so happy to collaborate with her on this track! Thanks a lot to Pixieguts for giving me the opportunity to do this...

Star (feat. Pixieguts) is now up here for streaming and free d/l. Vocals by Pixieguts, lyrics based on the writings of Andrei Masliev, and instrumental music/ production is by Northcape.

Comments and feedback are very welcome! The superb quality of Pixieguts emotive, folk-influenced vocals obviously make this track- if you like this one, please check out the other tracks on Pixieguts page and please also support her at her bandcamp page:
pixieguts.bandcamp.com and her website http://pixieguts.com..

Northcape is a British electronica producer currently based in Hove, UK, producing warm, melodic electronica, ambient and IDM. His last EP Some Bright Valley was released on the monotonik netlabel and the new album is finished and expected to be released early next year. The music may appeal to fans of artists such as Ulrich Schnauss,Kettel,Boards of Canada and Global Communication but has its own distinctive feel.

If you're interested in staying informed about future Northcape material- including the forthcoming album which will be announced shortly as well as planned future collaborations- please join the Northcape mailing list here!]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2009/07/03/2ues6d_moitessier%3A_a_new_track_from_the_forthcoming_album Fri, 3 Jul 2009 22:21:37 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2009/07/03/2ues6d_moitessier%3A_a_new_track_from_the_forthcoming_album Another new Northcape track is finally up. "Moitessier" will appear on the forthcoming album and can be found here for streaming: Moitessier. It is inspired by the French yachtsman Bernhard Moitessier, who took part in the first solo, non-stop round-the-world yacht race in 1968, and the film 'Deep Water' (which actually focusses on Donald Crowhurst who committed suicide during the same race, and is very highly recommended if you haven't seen it). Moitessier abandoned the race to continue round the world a second time.
The track itself is a chilled, evocative combination of electronica and ambient, having sections of both, and aiming for a sense of smooth, continuous motion. .
Comments are as normal very welcome! Other new tracks are available here: New Tracks.

If you want to hear about the new album, please join the Northcape Mailing List
+ you can also follow my updates on twitter!
Cheers,
NC

PS The samples in the track are all used under creative commons licence or in the public domain.
Ship sound: Hello Flowers @ freesound.com
Halyard sound: P.Caeldries @ freesound.com
Possible points of reference: Biosphere,Ulrich Schnauss,Boards of Canada,Global Communication,Carbon Based Lifeforms]]> http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2008/12/07/2bmax9_new_northcape_website%2C_new_track... Sun, 7 Dec 2008 22:45:54 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/northcape/journal/2008/12/07/2bmax9_new_northcape_website%2C_new_track... Hi,

Its taken quite a bit of work, but the redesigned website for independent electronica producer Northcape is now uploaded... the concept and layout are completely redesigned for a cleaner feel. If you like electronica, and particularly the chilled melodic type, please visit! Design is all by Northcape... let me know what you think and if you have any problems.There's also a new track up on the website only to celebrate the website 'opening', alongside many other streams and downloads. You'll also find some new content in other places as well :-) Clear Moment can be found on the music page of the website and is available for streaming and also as a free download for mailing list members. Its a nice example of the more chilled-out side of Northcape, occupying some deep contemplative ground somewhere between ambient, minimal and idm, and will definitely feature on the next album.
Cheers,
NC
http://www.northcapemusic.co.uk
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