Ramblings of Altus

Along with the standard weekly podcast, John Shanahan (the man behind the Hypnagogue podcast) also releases 30-minute spotlight shows. Altus has been chosen for the spotlight this week. Thanks John!

Direct link to the show:
http://tinyurl.com/2aw2bu3

Hypnagogue Podcast Site:
http://www.hypnagoguepodcast.blogspot.com/

Hypnagogue Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hypnagogue-Podcast/425825985421

I’ve been silent, but silently working.
I figured I’d give you guys an update on what’s coming for the rest of this year, and a couple of upcoming releases planned for 2011.

Crossroads (working title – this might change)
Release Date: Late Summer / Early Fall
This is a collaboration with Bulgarian artist trx, and will be different from anything you’ve heard from my solo releases. IDM/glitch/ambient with some minor 90s techno/trance influences. Two tracks on this release are based on pre-Altus music I wrote in the mid-nineties, re-written from the ground up.

Sleep Theory I (new series)
Release Date: End of 2010
Introducing a new series delving into deep ambient, similar in nature to fan favourite Coma Cluster. This new series will fill the void of drone and texture-style ambient, without the foreboding/creepy elements usually prevalent in those music genres. It’s main purpose is meant to be played during the late night-time period. Think of it as a comforting blanket of sound to lull you to sleep.

ECOTONE
Release Date: 2011
I’ve had this concept in mind for years, and I plan on finally getting it done next year. I’m still working on the details, but right now I have planned it sounding similar to The Wanderer and some elements of Only One Earth to Destroy.

Excursion Three
Release Date: 2011
Yet another fan favourite series, you can expect more lush, melodic, slowly moving yet progressive music.

We all know how prevalent illegal filesharing is on the Internet. The debate whether or not it does damage will never be truly resolved. Some say that they download only to see if they enjoy the music. If they don’t, they delete it immediately… otherwise, they purchase it. Others say that it can act as promotion for the artist, exposing their work to people who may have never heard it otherwise. This is why the debate will never end, because in their own twisted way, they are valid points to some people. But it’s technically still illegal, no matter what.

I know that this issue doesn’t affect me directly, as I freely give away my work. But in the case of my fellow ambient musicians, who can rarely make ends meet with their music, I absolutely believe that filesharing is harmful.

I beg those of you who do download music illegally to please stop. Do it as a sign of respect for the artists you love. The intimate genre that is ambient allows people, in most cases, to purchase directly from the artist. They work hard in their craft, and by purchasing their music from them, you’re letting them know without a doubt that you appreciate that hard work.

I hope my words have made an impact, however small, on this on-going problem.

I’m pleased to announce a collaboration with visual artist and animator, Sharon Katz of Ottawa, Canada.
You can read more about the animated short “Ooh La La” here.

This was my first attempt at writing music to visuals, and I’m very happy with the results. At this time, I can’t share it with you all online. However I believe that once it’s made the rounds at various film festivals, it will be made publicly available.

You can now download the 2006 release The Wanderer in FLAC format.

For those who are unaware, the FLAC format is a lossless audio codec, which means that the quality is the same as any audio CD. It also allows you to listen and burn to CD without any gaps between tracks that exist when using MP3 files.

You can learn everything you need to know about FLAC here:
http://flac.sourceforge.net/

I’ve created a straight-forward discography page with links for when you’re looking for a specific album, but not sure what year is was written.

http://www.altusmusic.ca/discography.html

Bert Strolenberg of Sonic Immersion has written a review about “Coma Cluster“.
Check it out here.

Thanks as always, Bert!

“Coma Cluster” – New release in October, exclusively on Endless Ascent.

It’s been two years since my last contribution to an Ambient Collective release, and I’m happy to say my return couldn’t be more appropriate. Introducing The Serene Files: Part One, featuring new music from Mooma, Modulator ESP, Bluejooz, Michael Meara and usr/sbin… among others.

Enjoy!

My name is Scott Raymond, and for those of you who don’t know me, I’m a New Age/Ambient/Electronic music DJ with WVKR-FM. WVKR is a 3700 watt non-commercial station broadcasting from Vassar College to the greater Hudson Valley region. My show, “Secret Music”, has been on for over 22 years and has a large and devoted audience. The show airs every Sunday from 9AM to 12 noon EST. For more information or to listen in online, check out our website at www.wvkr.org.

[SNIP]

WVKR-FM “Secret Music” Top 20 Playlist
August, 2009

1. Forrest Fang – Phantoms – Projekt
2. Steven Lance – 4 Never And Ever – Self Released
3. Mank – Isbjorn – Self Released
4. Robert Rich – Live Archive Vol. 5: Cowell Theater, S.F. – Soundscape Productions
5. James Blackshaw – The Glass Bead Game – Young God
6. Lisa Hammer – Dakini – Projekt
7. Robert Rich – Live Archive Vol. 2: Due Acque – Soundscape Productions
8. Landschaft – Nostalgia – Atmoworks
9. Christopher Tignor – Core Memory Unwound – Western Vinyl
10. Markus Reuter – Dervish – DiN
11. Sleep Whale – Little Brite – Western Vinyl
12. Kori Linae Carothers – Trillium – iRoknNod Records
13. Sumner McKane – What a Great Place to Be – Don’t Hit Your Sister
14. Atomic Skunk – Binary Scenes – Self Released
15. Open Canvas – Travel By Sound – Harmonic Resonance Recordings
16. Jim Kirkwood – Mother Redcap’s Basket Of Strange Weather – Self Released
17. Disturbed Earth – Hotel – Atmoworks
18. Jerome Froese – The Speed of Snow – Ricochet Dream
19. Altus – Excursion Two – Earth Mantra
20. Mike Howe – Time Stands Still – Real Music