Dear All

I’m delighted to announce that Mr Neofolk’s videos of three of my recordings and a Sol Invictus track that I appear on, previously on YouTube, are once again available courtesy of Dailymotion, the videos are of -

Have you news of my boy Jack? [Peter Bellamy/Kipling, arr. King]

War Poem [Yugoslavian trad., covered by Laibach, arr. King]

The Three Ravens [Thomas Ravenscroft/Sacred Harp/King]

and Down the road slowly [Sol invictus]

The Videos are available here:

http://www.dailymotion.com/misterNEOFOLK

Best wishes

Andrew

For those who are interested, I have just put a veritable cornucopia (well, seven) of my recordings online via the website ReverbNation, see: http://www.reverbnation.com/andrewstewartking

The pieces are different from the ones available on MySpace and cover virtually all of my styles and genres, being as follows:

The Week Before Easter (from The Amfortas Wound, 2003)

When The Bells Justle In The Tower [live] (from A Mythological Prospect, 2006)

The Dark Eyed Sailor (from Thalassocracy, with Brown Sierra, 2008)

Raven Chorus (Sol Invictus cover, 2002)

Dear Boss (from 1888, with Les Sentiers Conflictuels, 2006)

Black Crusade (from Ghosts, with Tony Wakeford, 2008)

The Sprig of Thyme [demo] (previously unreleased, 2001)

Best
Andrew

I hope you have all had a good Holiday and that this will be a prosperous New Year for all.

Latest Parish Notices

Recordings

• Work on the held-up Deus Ignotus continues apace at Retina II studios and we are now in the final stages of the mixing, a complex task as sections of some of the songs date back as far as 2002! Mastering will follow soon. I am still decided on issuing this magnum opus on my own label, Epiphany, though may consider otherwise if offered vast sums of money by any labels courageous/foolhardy enough to want to issue it.
• The Kraken, the projected 7” with Brown Sierra on Dais Records, now looks set to be a 12” with another track by Brown Sierra and – possibly – one of the original, improvised takes from Thalassocracy.
• The Cruellest Month the long awaited new studio album from Sol Invictus is nearing completion, I recorded a few vocals for this, but having not yet head it can’t yet testify to which bits have survived the cutting room floor! Rest assured that if it doesn’t meet with my satisfaction I will unleash my straw-chewing be-smocked minions on Tursa House to wave their cudgels and sing interminable ballads through the letterbox ;) !  
• The harmonium part of my track In Upper Room (from Deus Ignotus) has been given the Marco magic and will be appearing in some form or other (with Italian vocals) as a Foresta Di Ferro track, I will put up details as & when I know about its release.

• April 4th: Sala Demonix, Barcelona, With Shining Vril [John Murphy]
• July 12th: Ship of Fools at Bar & Co, Temple Pier, Victoria Embankment, London.With Naevus

Anyway, on that note I’ll end

Hopefully see some of you at one or other of the forthcoming concerts.

Best

Andrew

Best
Andrew

Albums

2008: The Triple Tree (Tony Wakeford & Andrew King): Ghosts (Cold Spring – CSR96CD): £10
An extended homage to the supernatural fiction of M. R. James (with a certain nod to his notable studies in the New Testament Apocrypha) the greatest ghost story writer in the English language, and the finest medievalist of his generation. Digipack with 16 page lyric booklet graced by sundrie delightful photographs of Dr. Wakeford, the Rev. King, and their friends and servants. Contributions from M, Autumn Grieve, Kris Force, Guy Harries, Renee Rosen & John Murphy. See also http://www.myspace.com/thetripletree ."English, I presume – by moonlight."....

2008: Andrew King & Brown Sierra: Thalassocracy (Epiphany – Epiphany 05: CD): £10
An unashamedly "difficult" album, an experiment that includes field recordings, Musique concrète, and home made tone generators, the 70 minutes of which (consisting of four instrumentals, six arranged songs and one unaccompanied song) adding  up to what is probably the most left-field album of traditional songs in existence! 12p lyric booklet. It is also available as an official download from CDBaby at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/kingsierra

2006: Sol Invictus / Rose Rovine e Amanti / Andrew King:
A Mythological Prospect of the Citie of Londinium (Cold Spring – CSR75CD): DELETED
Split album, released at the Cold Spring concert featuring all three acts, on 2nd December 2006 at the Water Rats Theatre, London. Nine exclusive tracks, three from each band. Guest appearances from Hunter Barr, John Murphy, Tony Wakeford, & LSC. 

2006: Les Sentiers Conflictuels & Andrew King: 1888 (Athanor – atnr 32): £10
I read the letters purportedly from Jack the Ripper to a disturbing, dense, neoclassical soundtrack of drones, mechanical instruments, and old cylinders, constructed and orchestrated by the great Les Sentiers Conflictuels. A dark journey into the streets of Whitechapel, London, 1888. Limited edition 3 panel digipack.

2005: Changes / Andrew King: [untitled] (Terra Fria – TF007: CD): DELETED
10 track split album with the elder statesmen of "apocalyptic folk", five tracks apiece. Issued to commemorate our concert at the Associação Os Aliados, Sintra (S. Pedro de Sintra), Portugal, and the beginning of their "Men Among the Ruins" tour. Guest appearances from Hunter Barr, John Murphy, Lisa Knapp, Laurel Swift, & Richard Peirson. Issued in small DVD case. Although deleted, copies may still be available from Changes at: http://www.nmia.com/~thermite/merchandise_albums.html 

2004: The Harbinger of the Decaying Mind (Old Europa Café – OEMP 010: 10" mini-album): £8
Six track mini-album of miscellaneous live and studio recordings from 1999-2003, mixed and mastered by myself and the noted experimental artist Andrew Liles in Brighton, England, May 2004. Guest appearances from Hunter Barr, John Murphy, Andrew Trail, & Andrew Liles.

2003: The Amfortas Wound (Athanor – ATNR 022: CD): £10
My magnum opus, recorded in 1999, but not issued until 2003. Heavily influenced by traditional British sources, it is one of the most important neo-folk (or new traditionalist) albums issued. Back in catalogue, digipack with 16 page lyric booklet, it is also available as an official download from CDBaby at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/andrewking

1998: The Bitter Harvest (Epiphany – Epiphany 01: CD): £10
Issued by World Serpent. This, my first album, is mainly unaccompanied, & I now see it as a prentice work, though a valiant effort. Guest appearances from John Murphy, Andrew Trail, David Kenny, & Karl Blake. Last copies.

Compilations

1998: Variations 3: track Ninety and Nine (Paradigm – PD 10: CD): £9
Experimental compilation; also tracks by Clive Graham (Morphogenesis), Bob Cobbing, Syngen Brown, Wits, Phil Durrant, Voltage, Aquiles Pantaleão, & Hastings of Malawi!

Miscellaneous

2005: How to Placate Spirits (Epiphany Publications: 12 page A5 Exhibition Catalogue): £3.50
Signed and numbered, issued to commemorate my solo exhibition at Germ Books + Gallery, Philadelphia's premier alternative independent bookshop and art Gallery.

Other Artists

2007: Brown Sierra: Mallory and Irvine (National Express – 0.09: CD): £8
Thirty minute experimental mini-album. An account of Mallory and Irvine's incredible harsh climb and deaths on Mt Everest in 1924, dressed only in tweed jackets and layers of woolly jumpers. Were they the first to reach the summit? Had the accident occurred on the upward or downward climb? These hard cold electronic oscillating tones draw no conclusions. CD in Artist multiples hand-made packaging.
For more on Brown Sierra see: http://www.myspace.com/brownsierra

2005: Leisur Hive: 3 Ton Edition (Actual Size – RRL031 / actcd01: CD): £6
Seven track mini-album of abrasive, angular, post-punk songs from Daniel Knowler, Maria Vellanz, Mark Bishop, and Robert Allen – Oh! And I play musical glasses on one track! (& Maria plays violin on my forthcoming album "Deus Ignotus")
For more on Leisur Hive see: http://www.myspace.com/leisurhive

All prices are inclusive of postage & packing ..UK.. & Europe, with the exception of The Harbinger 10", please add £2.50 to cover postage if out of the UK for this one release.

For outside Europe, please add + £1 per CD, and + £4 for the 10" to cover postage, thank you. (though orders of £50 or over, post free)

Paypal Payment Only....

Paypal address: andrewstewartking@hotmail.co.uk

Andrew King & Brown Sierra: Thalassocracy

Thalassocracy consists of songs that I (usually) perform unaccompanied, mainly of a nautical theme. They were initially recorded as unaccompanied performances in late 2006, after which the Art group Brown Sierra [ see: http://www.myspace.com/brownsierra ] constructed suitable arrangements for each song, from which the three of us, in close collaboration, devised final arrangements over the subsequent 18 months.

As Brown Sierra don't do tunes, & I've kept my usual tendency of adding suitable harmonies in check, this is consequently an unashamedly "difficult" album, an experiment that includes field recordings, Musique concrète, and home made tone generators, the 70 minutes of which (consisting of four instrumentals, six arranged songs and one unaccompanied song) adding up to what is probably the most left-field album of traditional songs in existence! Nonetheless, it was not our intention that this release should simply be an exercise in experimentation for experimentations sake – there are, after all, quite enough of those – but rather that its should be an exercise in seeing what could be produced by the happy combination of two conceptual artists – who have a knowledge and understanding of vernacular culture – working in close collaboration with an expert in traditional song, who has a knowledge of, background in, and understanding of experimentation. As such we believe that in this release we avoid the glib categorisations of simply being seen as experimental, improve., traditional, folk, or neofolk.

The final running order is as follows with [i] denoting an instrumental, and [u] an unaccompanied song –

01. HMS Advance [i] 2:47
02. Nancy of Yarmouth 7:05
03. Banks of Green Willow 5:18
04. The Good Luck Ship 4:01
05. Polly on the Shore 7:40
06. HMS Resolution [i] 3:37
07. Nelson's Death [u] 5:49
08. HMS Audacious [i] 5:23
09. The Captains Apprentice 5:33
10. The Dark Eyed Sailor 5:00
11. The Bold Princess Royal 5:20
12. The Bonnie Bunch of Roses 8:30
13. HMS Defiant [i] 4: 21
Total time: 70: 26

The CD was mastered by Hunter Barr at Retina II studios, and comes with a 12- page booklet of lyrics and exhaustive song notes!

In keeping with Brown Sierra's previous releases, issued as art multiples rather than as generally available commercial releases, it was decided that this release should be totally self produced and self issued, it therefore marks the return of my own label Epiphany Records and is consequently directly available from all the artists involved.

Those wishing to buy a copy directly from me can do so via Paypal for £10 inclusive, with payment being made to the following email address: andrewstewartking@hotmail.co.uk

We are very proud of this album.

Best    
Andrew King

Dear All

A number of parish notices today,

1.   WGT: Firstly, a very big thank you to all those who came to see me perform at the 17. Wave Gotik Treffen, Leipzig last Saturday, good sound, good turnout, and good company. An especial thank you to Andrew T. of KnifeLadder for arranging the concert and to Gary C of Joy of Life for allowing me to use his laptop for the images.

Apologies if I walked past/looked blankly into the middle distance/accidentally ignored any of you, but I'm always stressed before a concert and rarely recognise people, so if I did any of the following, it wasn't intentional. 

2.   Video: Mr. 7 Tage Regen has come up trumps again, with another video to one of my songs; to my surprise it's the very early recording "War Poem", my cover of a Laibach cover of a partisan song (Vojna Poema)! Originally issued on the compilation Schlecht Und Ironisch, it can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWEHnpbAiTk

[PS: the Baroque intro is an addition, and wasn't on the recording] 

3.   Concerts: My next live performance will be at the MLB festival, when I will be headlining on the opening night, Thursday 29^th May, along with KnifeLadder & Wertham, see: http://www.myspace.com/mlbfestival

The next Sol Invictus concert is in Utrecht on 9^th August as part of the Summer Darkness festival, see: http://www.summerdarkness.nl/ 

4.   Album info:

         i.     Andrew King & Brown Sierra: Thalassocracy: Alas! Alas! TNT  deliveries buggered up getting my new album to me on time [it was booked to arrive NO LATER than 9am, it arrived at 9.27, seven minutes after I'd left to get my flight] so no new album at Liepzig, but at least I had the joy of finding 10 boxes awaiting me on my return! I'm going to do a separate blog in a moment about this album, in which I will tell all you lucky people how you can purchase your very own copy of what is probably the most left-field album of traditional song, field recordings, Musique concrète, and experimental electronics in existence.

         ii.    The Triple Tree: Ghosts: Dr. Wakeford & the Rev. King have hung up their smoking jackets and opium pipes and the album will be pressed in the next few weeks.

         iii.    Andrew King: Deus Ignotus: A few weeks ago this nearly became the "album that never was" – which bearing in mind the album's title would be apposite if unfortunate – when we had a software meltdown, wiping major parts of the album, and even a few tracks, and for a week or so it was definitely a case of touch and go (I was rehearsing my "Animal Hospital" voiceover if the worst came to the worst) but thankfully the little fellow pulled through (mainly courtesy Mr. Hunter Barr's know-how) and the album is now back on track, albeit a month or so behind schedule.

Anyway, that's enough general stuff, I will now get round to doing a Thalassocracy blog.

Best

Andrew

Whilst I'm not for one moment assuming that anyone would wait for one of my album's with the same delight and anticipation with which we stand at our dreary bus stops in merry anticipation of the N8, W15 or one of those wonderfully dangerous bendy buses, it is indeed true that no less than THREE of my albums will be seeing the light of day in the next two months, hopefully in time for this years Leipzig Wave-Gotik-Treffen.

Namely -

i.           Andrew King + Brownsierra: Thalassocracy

ii.          The Triple Tree [Tony Wakeford & Andrew King]: Ghosts

iii.         Andrew King: Deus Ignotus

Thalassocracy consists of songs that I (usually) perform unaccompanied, mainly of a nautical theme, which were initially arranged by the Art group Brownsierra
[ see: http://www.myspace.com/brownsierra ] and subsequently arranged by the three of us in collaboration.

As Brownsierra don't do tunes, and my own settings are only tangentially tuneful this is a self-avowedly "difficult" and challenging collaborative album. A "Folk Roots New Roots" for the 21^st century if you like, but minus the charm, musicianship…or tunes.

But it is a rigorous and honest work, and we are very proud of it.

The final running order is still to be finalised, but here is a provisional list of the album tracks, with [i] denoting an instrumental, and [u] an unaccompanied song –

I.      HMS Advance [i]

II.    Nancy of Yarmouth

III.   Banks of Green Willow

IV.   The Good Luck Ship

V.     Polly on the Shore

VI.    HMS Defiant [i]

VII.   Nelsons Death [u]

VIII.  HMS Resolution [i]

IX.     The Captains Apprentice

X.       The Bold Princess Royal

XI.     The Bonnie Bunch of Roses

XII.    The Dark Eyed Sailor

XIII.   HMS Audacious [i]

The CD will be coming out with a 12-16 page booklet of lyrics and exhaustive song notes!

Ghosts is by The Triple Tree [see: http://www.myspace.com/thetripletree ], which for this release consists of Tony Wakeford and myself aided and abetted by M, Autumn Grieve, Kris Force, Guy Harries, Renee Rosen & John Murphy, and is an extended homage to the supernatural fiction of M. R. James (with a certain nod to his notable studies in the New Testament Apocrypha) the greatest ghost story writer in the English language, and the finest medievalist of his generation.

Join Dr Wakeford and the Rev. King as they search for the Three Crowns, attempt to Cast the Runes, purchase The Mezzotint, follow Mr Abney's "remarkable enlightenment" in Lost Hearts, and join Count Magnus on the "Black Crusade"! Winter evenings will never be the same again…

I.          Ghosts – Prologue

II.         Three Crowns

III.        When I grew in the Wood

IV.        The Mezzotint

V.          Mrs. Mothersole

VI.        The Ash Tree

VII.       The Malice of Inanimate Objects

VIII.      Lost Hearts

IX.         Casting The Runes

X.           Black Crusade

XI.         Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You

XII.        Ghosts – Epilogue

As with Thalassocracy the CD will come with a full lyric booklet, the digipack cover will bear a painting by my own good self, and the valiant label issuing it will be Cold Spring.

Last and certainly not least we have – 

Deus Ignotus my solo magnum opus, and first true solo album since 2003's The Amfortas Wound.

Recorded by the ever patient and cheery Hunter Barr at Retina II between 2002-2008 with the involvement of John Murphy, Maria Vellanz and Saint Paul, this work is a complex offering of traditional, Medieval and self-penned pieces, some with the densest of arrangements (Sic Mea Fata, Sir Hugh), and some unaccompanied (Edward, Lord Lovel), including texts in middle-English, Latin, and Altdeutsch, as well as another of my settings of the great modernist poet David Jones.

For my setting of the middle-English Judas - the earliest ballad to be included in Child's famous canon - I was privileged to be granted access to the only known manuscript of this song, residing at the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, where I was able to check previous editions against the source text for the purposes of this recording.

At one and the same time an experimental and a traditional work, this album is an important statement of my cultural interests and aesthetic, and concerns not just the "Matter of Britain" but also the wellsprings of pan-European balladry.

It also has some dam good tunes!

I.          Corvus Terrae Terror (King)

II.        The Three Ravens (Thomas Ravenscroft, 1592-1635/Sacred Harp)

III.       The Wife Of Usher's Well (traditional)

IV.        Sic Mea Fata Canendo Solor (Carmina Burana, 13th Century)

V.         Edward (traditional) [u]

VI.        In Upper Room (David Jones/King)

VII.      Judas (English, 13th Century/King)

VIII.     Lord Lovel (traditional) [u]

IX.        Fröleichen So Well Wir (Oswald von Wolkenstein, ca. 1377-1445)

X.          Sir Hugh (traditional)

As per usual, the album booklet will come with full lyrics and my inevitable pedantic footnotes!

Taster tracks from each album will shortly be available to hear on this site and all three will be available in the next 6-8 weeks.

All the best

Andrew
Xvii/iii/mmviii  

A week or so ago I was checking up on the url of the video of "Cruel Lincoln" when to my amazement I found a video had been made of my recording of Peter Bellamy's setting of Kipling's "Have you news of my boy Jack?", a track that I recorded a few years ago for the Prophecy/Auerbach Tonträger 4 CD set "Looking For Europe" (subsequently reissued by Index Verlag).

As well as being flattered and humbled to discover that someone had gone to so much trouble over one of my recordings, I was doubly delighted to discover that it was also a very good video that really does the recording justice.

My thanks to 7 Tage Regen for doing the video, and for subsequently going to the trouble of adding to it an additional photograph of my grandfather and his comrades that I thought would be suitable, here's the link to the video –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAMNJskKjQ4

& for those who don't know it, here's Kipling's poem –

Best

Andrew