The Belbury Tales (pre-order now for 24th Feb)

The new album from The Belbury Poly, The Belbury Tales is due out on the 24th February. This time round the album explores ideas about the re-invention of the past and along the way spins some tall tales about childhood, the supernatural, initiation and pilgrimage (both spiritual and physical). A concept album in the spirit of British prog, its appropriately dressed up in even more lavish than usual Julian House artwork featuring a wonderful piece of Belbury based fiction by Electric Eden author and journalist, Rob Young.

For several tracks on this album the Belbury sound is augmented by two very talented guest musicians: drummer Jim Musgrave (Land Equivalents) and bassist and guitarist Christopher Budd (Chris also dreamt up and co-wrote the track Earthlights) . 

Here's a selection of clips, a few other tracks have been aired in some of the recent Radio Belbury shows...

It'll be available on Vinyl, CD and download. You can pre-order it right now in the Ghost Box shop. Vinyl customers will be entitled to a free download version (offer exclusive to Ghost Box shop customers only).

Black Mill Tapes: Volume 3 - coming soon

The Head Technician at Pye Corner Audio kindly sent me a promo of the latest Volume in The Black Mill Tapes series and it seems he's save the best till last. This is the most fully realised of the lot so far and really cements the Pye Corner Audio sound in a world of  rain swept, industrial spaces and forlorn dance floors. That's not to say this is a bleak or miserbalist affair - the tunes range from melancholy to awe-inspiring to damned funky.
  

Another of the vicar's partisan reviews maybe - but I strongly recommend you give this a try. You can get it here on 24th January.

Also I'd like to share the exciting news that Pye Corner Audio are working on an album for Ghost Box, hopefully to see the light later this year.

Intermission

Robert Popper and Peter Serafinovicz's  film for the Look Around You 10th anniversary at the BFI. 

The Advisory Circle Winter Mix

Nadolig LLawen

Friends of this parish, Golau Glau (that's goll-eye gl-eye to non gallophones)have just released a free and very seasonal download EP. It includes a remix by The Advisory Circle, yet again interfering in other people's work.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our readers and listeners for their support over the last year.  Everyone in the parish of Belbury and all at Ghost Box wish you the complements of the season and a joyful new year.  He is here, rejoice !

Open the Christmas Box

There's a Christmas sale over at the Ghost Box shop from now until the end of December, with reductions on all vinyl and CD albums still in stock.

Radio Belbury 7: "Tall Tales"

The Belbury Tales - 24th February 2012

Modular Minitronics

Fresh from mastering the new Belbury Poly album , The Belbury Tales (more on this soon),  Jon Brooks gets to grips with his newly built modular synthesizer. In another self imposed creative exercise,  Jon has limited this work to simple overdubs using only the modular system with no multi-tracking or post-production. A remarkably lovely and fully realised piece of work it is too.

I think 03 is my favourite at the moment (I have to say though you could have tried harder on those titles Jon).

Ghost Box Badge Pack A

Get this first in a series of packs of 25mm Ghost Box badges, only in the Ghost Box shop, now.

I did have a spare pack to give away but it seems to have gone missing since the verger came in to dust the other day.

Autumnal Activities and Way of The Morris

First of all a reminder that Study Series No. 7 "Autumnal Activities" by Pye Corner Audio (feat. The Advisory Circle) is released today. Its in the Ghost Box shop and many of the usual stockists now on 7" vinyl or download.

Secondly there's the exciting news that Jonny Trunk has set up a sister label to Trunk Records. Its called OST and it will be dedicated to contemporary scores and soundtracks. Jonny kindly sent the first release to the vicarage.

Its Adrian Corker's beautiful soundtrack to a new documentary film called Way of the Morris by Tim Plester. A delicate blend of electronics, traditional instruments and field recordings its not at all what you might expect. It also features performances from amongst others, the Adderbury Village Morris Men and Chris Leslie of Fairport Convention. Highly recommended.

John Foxx and The Maths Belbury Poly Remix

Following on from Interplay earlier this year, John Foxx and The Maths have just released The Shape of Things. It has a slightly different feel to Interplay and features songs that are more melancholic and introspective. There's also a selection of beautiful analogue instrumental miniatures.

This special edition is so far available only in the official John Foxx store, and comes with a bonus CD of remixes, including one of the Interplay track, Summerland by Belbury Poly. Here's a clip...

Meanwhile work continues on the forthcoming collaboration between Belbury Poly, The Advisory circle and John Foxx. More news on this very exciting project early next year.

Study Series 07 Pre-orders Open

Study Series no. 7 by Pye Corner Audio (featuring The Advisory Circle) is available on pre-order at the Ghost Box shop right now. Release date 18th November. 

The Advisory Circle's "Autumn Cycles" cloudcast

Here's a new cloudcast from The Advisory Circle to keep you going until the Radio Belbury transmitter is re-erected this December.

Annual Magic

Earth mysteries, crafts, folklore, ghosts, puppets, eccentrics, landscape archaeology and rude rhymes; The Puffin annual series commenced in 1974 with distinctive cover art by Puffin's in house illustrator Jill McDonald and illustrious guest illustrators such as Raymond Briggs, Edward Ardizzone, Quentin Blake, Fritz Wegner and Tove Jansson. With fiction and articles by the likes of Michael Bond, Susan Cooper, Tove Jansson, Norman Hunter, Roald Dahl and Nicholas Fisk. Contributors to number one also incuded Joyce Grenfell and Prince Charles !

I post these excerpts not simply as an exercise in nostalgia - I never owned them as a kid and I can't imagine there would have been many children who were completely absorbed by them -  it would have been a disappointing Christmas gift from a distant "auntie" perhaps, that would  slowly grab your interest later in the year. But its instructive to remember how childrens' entertainment of this period, for some at least, lent a sense of enchantment to the world, maybe educated, but also mystified, terrified and occupied. You could say that these annuals are a kind of snapshot of British childrens' fiction and television of the period too. Its a glimpse of a world before CGI, licensing, Cowell and Cbeebies drained any real magic from our childrens' culture.

Watch out those wires are live !

This weekend why not discover
your own ley lines, or... 

make some Smilers.

Dad ? What's a palimpsest ?

Did this Peter Edwards character come from Clinkskell ?

A little sinister maybe but not as much as this...

at home with the author of "Cruise of the Happy-go-Gay".

Will this be in the test sir ?

Concert of new work by Drew Mulholland

Drew Mulholland, the founder of Mount Vernon Arts Lab, is currently working as a composer in residence at Glasgow University. A concert of new pieces commissioned by the Department of Astronomy including Stella Nova inspired by the early 19th c. belief in the "Nebular Hypothesis" will be held in Glasgow in November.

Performers: Drew Mulholland, featuring the Edinburgh String Quartet, Jemma Knox (Percussion), Laura Baxter (Piano), and The Madrigirls (Choir).

This FREE concert begins at 7.30pm on 2nd November  in the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel.

Helping you make the right clothing decisions.

A new range of Advisory Circle garments is available now in the Ghost Box shop. The Advisory Circle mandala design by Julian House is featured on the As The Crow Flies album artwork, and  comes in white on green T shirt, yellow on black T shirt or yellow on black long short sleeve T shirt.

Study Series 07: Pye Corner Audio

18th November sees the release of  the next single in the Ghost Box Study Series, No. 7 "Autumnal Activities". This time its by special guests Pye Corner Audio with the B side in collaboration with The Advisory Circle. Until then here are some clips...

Solar Flares Burn For You - This Friday

Don't forget this Friday, 16th September, Bethnal Green Working Men's Club 8:00 til 2:00.

Psychedelic Underground Film from the BFI, live cosmic music from Raagnagrok, eye poppin' visuals from Bardo Light Show and Ghost Box DJs and films from 11:30ish on.

Tickets and more info here.

Edgar Winter Band - Frankenstein

Stick with it for the nutso synth antics towards the end. Whispering Bob says all that needs to be said.

(with thanks and greetings to Dan Tucker.)