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.

Download 24 Hours
Download Only One Earth to Destroy

Silvercord and Altus – Lullaby

I’m happy to announce the 2006 collaborative release with Silvercord (Geoff Nostrant) has finally been given a proper home at Earth Mantra.

This re-release contains higher bitrate MP3s, as well as lossless FLAC. So if you already have this release and it’s one of your favourites, it’s certainly worthwhile to replace those old files.

Black Trees Among Amber Skies

The latest from Altus is now available to download in MP3, and FLAC for those who rather to burn to CD.

Ambient music for night-time Winter walks in the city.
Originally planned to be released in early January, this album was put aside for other projects. Hence the reason it’s an out-of-season theme. Even if you’re not a lover of Winter, don’t let that stop you from enjoying the album.

Full-length previews are also available at last.fm.

Tune to stillstream.com at 11pm EST on March 26th (Friday) to be the first to hear the latest offering from Altus. (The release will likely play around midnight)

The sound of Black Trees Among Amber Skies is classic Altus. Melancholy and haunting, yet with that pinch of hope. This release is what you’ve been waiting for… The reason you keep coming back for more.

Join us in the Stillstream chat room, and links will be made available to download the release before anyone else. I hope to see you there!

The release date for everyone else is March 27th.

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.

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.