I did a track by track for the supremely top notch magazine Textura....have a look:

http://www.textura.org/reviews/backtracking_simonscott.htm

+ here is the review:

http://www.textura.org/reviews/scott_navigare.htm

2010 see's loads of new music released starting with my "Traba" ep, featuring artwork by Erik.K.Skodvin and mastering by Andreas tilliander, to be released in March by Immune Recordings:




Out now:
"Navigare"



Out now: "lure" song featured on Fugues:

Hello...so "Navigare", out now on Miasmah, is all grown up and has finally flown the nest....here are a few reviews about the albums first steps:
http://slowdivemusic.blogspot.com/2009/10/simon-scott-navigare.html
Vinyl lovers take note *Different final track on this:
http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=233667
another cd review:
http://mapsadaisical.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/simon-scott-navigare-miasmah/

Many thanks to all who have bought my album...it means everything to me!

French review: http://ondefixe.over-blog.com/article-simon-scott-navigare-38150857.html


Aquarius Records review (Highlight of the week!):
http://www.aquariusrecords.org
SCOTT, SIMON Navigare (Miasmah) 
"Ah, Miasmah! After the likes of Elegi, Jacazek, and Kreng, we're pretty much automatically interested in any new release on Norway's Miasmah label. Like this one. Add in some bits of trivia, like that Scott was once the drummer for shoegazers Slowdive, and that this disc features a guest cameo from another Miasmah artist we love, Jasper TX, and we're already pretty intrigued. We also weren't at all surprised, but certainly pleased, by the gentle swells of ambient sonics that seep sleepily from the speakers when one hits play. The first two tracks, "Introduction Of Cambridge" and "Under Crumbling Skies", are blissfully replete with quiet hum and shimmering textures, forming into and out of drifting diaphanous melodies, blurry and melancholic. Some sparse, slowed down drum skitter adds a touch of Bohren to the proceedings in the first track, while the second employs a glorious chorus of angelic drones, that graces one's ears again and again throughout the disc.
Then, suddenly upping the volume, the third track "Flood Inn" seemingly enters into a subterranean realm full of soft fuzzy distortion. Quasi-industrially rhythmic, with a distant tolling bell heard amidst the crackle, this is ambience of the heavier (but not harsh) variety, almost like something from a Nadja or Jesu album.
Having given warning of a more sinister side, the disc continues on, with seven tracks more, being a beautiful blend of dreaminess, drone and distortion. There are almost pop songs hidden here, with buried rhythms and barely-there vocals (in one instance contributed by 12K's Sanae Yamasaki, aka Moskitoo), electronic treatments rendering the sound sources (guitar, sitar, violin, cello, flute, field recordings, voice, ???) all one lush, hushed, beautifully bleary, gorgeous warm bath of song-like drone...
It's a moodier, shoegazier take on Pop Ambient perhaps, certainly something that fans of Tim Hecker, Fennesz, Final, Jasper TX, and of course those other Miasmah wonders should check out"!


Radio Mix for Fluid: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2009/10/simon-scott-exclusive/

So I am still out and about gigging this autumn/winter....UK in November and at Plateaux Festival in Torun, Poland on 19th, a solo show...Rafael Anton Irisarri providing visuals then 20th as The sight below who I play guitar and sometimes sing for. We are on after Lawrence English and before Fennesz and will be playing tracks I co-wrote for the new TSB album.
Berlin on the 4th December at Club Maria looks like fun and I am also in Dortrect near Amsterdam/Rotterdam on Sunday 6th Dec. If I have time I may try to finish a 7" single I am recording with Nils frahm at his Dunton Studio in Berlin. I also have a remix on the new "The Sight Below "Murmur" EP...and will be also releasing a 12" next spring featuring 4 tracks that I wrote immediately after I finished Navigare. It is called "Traba" and is out on Immune recordings who are US based.
I hope to start work on my second album this winter.
Stay warm....see you in the future.

CD, LP, DD: OUT NOW.



Boomkat "Album Of The Week": "Simon Scott is something of a hero in underground music circles, having made his name as part of Slowdive - one of shoegaze's genre-defining acts - only to remain an intensely active presence on the scene through his collaborations with Rafael Anton Irisarri (as part of The Sight Below's live band) and Isan's Antony Ryan (recording together as Seavault). In addition to these projects, Scott curates the label Kesh, releasing works from the likes of Sebastian Roux, Hannu, Mark Templeton and Aus. Throughout all these various elements of Scott's work you can trace a common thread running throughout; there's a fixation on the more sculpted, textural aspects of sound. 'Navigare' fully embraces the idea of sound-sculpting whilst retaining the more suggestively song-driven impetus of Scott's past, and the resultant album marks a new evolutionary step for Erik Skodvin's Miasmah imprint. 'Introduction Of Cambridge' sets the album on its course, flooding the speakers with a sun-dappled, ventilated drone sound that shifts around harmoniously until guitars and eventually very quietly mixed drums emerge from the distance - it could almost be a post-rock track were it not for the blurry edges and the disproportionate volume difference between the monolithic central droning soundscape and the more conventional instruments. When 'Flood Inn' fires up a fuzzy, scratchy old drum sample is at the heart of the mix, swaddled in Gas-like ambient textures and heated-up crackle. While much of the Miasmah catalogue to date has tended to emerge from darkness, skulking in shadowy electroacoustic recesses, Navigare is a brighter affair - the gravitas and sheer sonic density remains familiarly in place but there's a certain quality of iridescence to these productions that binds them to the dream-pop movement. This link is never clearer than on 'The ACC', which takes slow-mo drums and trad rock band dynamics only to dissolve them into a thick, goopy sonic splurge reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine or Fennesz. Another great entry into Miasmah's rock-solid catalogue, and a wonderfully rich ambient record in its own right - one whose residual echoes of a shoegaze past give it an appeal that transcends the usual parameters of drone music".

Norman records review http://www.normanrecords.com/records/111286:
 "I'm fairly sure Simon Scott is a name that will be familiar to many of you as a member of Slowdive, The Sight Below and Seavault etc. Well he has a spankingly delicious solo CD called 'Navigare' out on Miasmah and what a fine specimen it is. Applying all the haze of his shoegaze history to moving and vivid experimental ambient music really works a treat. He creates an ultra dreamy state of consciousness before 'Flood In' kicks in with it's lush repetitive beat that carries the layers of decaying crackles. Some of the heavier sounds give me the feeling of being a drop of water traveling through the weather system. Some of the dissolving textures really hit the spot. This is the type of stuff I really enjoy after a hard days work, I put the headphone on while I'm on the bus making my journey home and for just under an hour I'm no longer on the bus but in a different world completely. To throw a spanner in the works the CD and LP both have different final tracks on them".

Fluid-Radio 10/10:
"Every now and then an album rises up from under the radar that has me engrossed to the point that it feels almost impossible to pen my thoughts and feelings. And so it is with Simon Scott’s new release ‘Navigare’ soon to be released on the Miasmah label.

Being a huge fan of all things Miasmah and seeing how they have managed to produce breathtaking releases from day one, I was intrigued to discover that Simon was back in the studio constructing the next Miasmah offering, and also fascinated to see if he would be able to provide the label with a worthy composition befitting to the strong back catalogue already in place.

‘Navigare‘ has managaed to do just that and so much more…

The album emerges with ‘Introduction Of Cambridge‘, the inaugurate for the next fifty minutes or so of a euphonious, engaging listen.  Drawing you in ever so gently with a seductive nature, the track cloaks the listener immidiately with a sense of awe and wonder, ever so slowly building into what is without doubt one of the most atmospheric introductions I have ever heard. Resonating strongly with Deaf Center’s ‘Path To Lucy‘, yet always managing to have it’s own distintive approach, Simon’s intro maps out the foundation and sets things up perfectly for what is a breathtaking mellifluous odyssey.

The rumbling of distant thunder is how the journey continues with ‘Under Crumbling Skies‘. Again we see clearly from this track how Simon masterfully creates a framework that allows a gentle progression of sonic movement that builds with such ease as orchestral tones are intricately introduced to the piece. What I admire here is Simon’s adeptness to introduce the appropriate sounds into the arrangment without it ever sounding over complicated or to sparse. An aptitude many artists never trulely manage to accomplish with any real conviction. Throughout the album it is evident that Simon pulls this off with ease.

The next three tracks ‘Flood In‘, ‘Derelict Days‘ and ‘Repulse‘ all proceed in the same flawless fassion submerging the listener ever deeper into the idiosyncratic workings of ‘Navigare‘.

As if time itself has stood still we arrive at the half way point greeted by ‘The ACC‘, for me the best track on the album. Dark, eerie and penetrating right to the heart of experimental electroacoustic frequencies, this track is way ahead of it’s time in so many ways and will without doubt be prevalent in the Fluid Radio playlist over the coming weeks. The guitar riff sustained throughout the track reminds me of some of Playb’s recent work especially with the low fade drums hovering distantly in the background. What makes this track so distinctive however is the reverberating bass and spine-chilling horn sample manipulated to create a bullet proof composition that has to be heard loud for full emotional impact!

The journey continues between light and darkness with ‘The Old Jug And Drum‘, ‘Ashma‘, ‘Spring Stars‘ and concludes with ‘The Night and The Artificial Light‘, and as we approach the end of the ‘Navigare‘ tale the listener is left in a state of exultation knowing they have just listened to what has to be one of the best Miasmah releases to date". 10/10

Review by Daniel Crossley – Fluid Radio

Track List:

Introduction Of Cambridge
Under Crumbling Skies
Flood In
Derelict Days
Repulse
The ACC
The Old Jug And Drum
Ashma
Spring Stars
The Night and The Artificial Light



http://bakedgoodsdistribution.blogspot.com/:
'Simon Scott has a notable musical past: in the early 90's he was the drummer for the renowned shoegaze band Slowdive, whose acclaimed 'Souvlaki' album is still considered by many to be one of a handful of landmark releases from that scene. Upon leaving Slowdive he formed the experimental, and more electronic-based group Televise. He also set up his own label, Kesh Recordings, and has so far released titles by the likes of Hannu, Sebastian Roux, Aus and Mark Templeton. More recently Scott has been involved in several diverse projects, including his work as a member of Seavault (with Antony Ryan from Isan), and collaborations with Machinefabriek, Jasper TX and Emmanuele Errante, offering live guitar treatments, providing remix work and in turn being remixed himself. Regular appearances alongside Rafael Anton Irisarri as the live incarnation of The Sight Below (Ghostly International), have seen the duo enthralling audiences with their submerged post-Chain Reaction guitar/techno ambience. With 'Navigare', his debut solo release for Miasmah, there are shades of Scott's previous output and musical interests, but as a whole the album marks a bold new direction, taking his music into new uncharted territory.

What really devastates here is Scott's ability to merge ambient passages with such memorable melodic cycles, taking at times the simplest of ideas and building on them, generating murky hooks and submerged 'riffs' - melodies are initially buried beneath a haze of sound, and then over time are lifted to the forefront. Scott explores textures using a variety of instruments including sitar, violin, cello, and flute, merging them with excerpts of field recordings; it all sounds so effortless. The looping rhythms and slow guitars rise and grow, at times approaching something oppressive; select pieces such as 'Flood Inn' house an underlying weight, comparable to Justin K. Broderick's Jesu and Final projects. Perhaps the hazy drums, bass and guitar drift of 'The ACC' presents the most recognizable of stylistic qualities from Scott's back catalogue; a groove that recalls the 'Souvlaki' era sound in all its glory, reimagined in a new, darker and more expansive form.

Simon Scott's 'Navigare' marks a new chapter in the development of Erik Skodvin's impeccable imprint; a sound at once in keeping with the label's identity, but equally something of a shift in style and approach. Its harrowing beauty opens up the possibilities of new sonic landscapes created by Scott, in what seems to be a deeply personal instrumental journey. '

 http://mapsadaisical.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/simon-scott-navigare-miasmah/

"Navigare is another masterful addition to their catalogue: Miasmah rules the (air)waves".

:-)

:::Update 24_09_09

My album Navigare is out 12th October 2009 on Miasmah: Here is the first review: "...one of the best Miasmah releases to date. 10/10"

http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2009/09/navigare/#more-4325

http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2009/10/octobers-top-10/

::"Sign Of The Times" @ Sacred Trinity Church Manchester: I have a sound installation in the fishbowl area within the church as part of this new art exhibition. The installation is an endless loop that was taken from samples recorded within the church at 11pm on May 11th 2009. Please go to Salford and drop in as it is NOW ON :)





: Don't forget that I am also playing live with The Caretaker October 6th at Colchester Arts Centre: www.colchesterartscentre.com

¬
+ cambridge, london and manchester in November:



¬

I put together some of my favourite tracks for a type records (xela, mokira, peter broderick, machinefabriek, helios, grouper, william fowler collins, ryan teague, zelienople and more) podcast for you to enjoy:

http://typerecords.com/typecasts/9

So my debut album "Navigare" sleeve is finished:















Out on Miasmah Recordings 12th October :)

I was asked to explain where the hell the ideas for my forthcoming album "Navigare" came from for a US website "Modifier". I dug deep and contained are some themes of death, hope, a close family members alcoholism and childhood dreams:

http://modyfier-modifying.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-post_31.html

"Navigare" is release in October 2009 on Miasmah Recordings.





 


 

yup that's right...

SIMON SCOTT CONFIRMED AS FEVER RAY SUPPORT IN LONDON: 16th july = TOMORROW!http://www.o2shepherdsbushempire.co.uk/

On Stage 7.30 :)

http://www.last.fm/event/1056466

Tickets available now!

So my debut album is now being released in October by Miasmah but if you want to get hold of a few unreleased tracks try this remix I recently made for Boomkat from files by Martin Herterich: http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=195845&highlight=195853

I also contributed a track using an old tape track to "88 Tapes" released on Kesh and it was mastered by Taylor Deupree and go check out the other artists on the compilation as I am surrounded by outstanding musical talent:
http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=153395&highlight=153414

Type Records, owned by John from Xela and featuring the mighty talents of Helios, Peter Broderich, Svarte Greiner, ON, Richard Skelton and William Fowler Collins, have began a new Typecast radio show. I have my Simon Scott podcast due for release any day now so go check out a few old, new and future tracks that I think will be of interest to anyone with a love of electronic, electroacoustic, experimental and post rock music:
http://typerecords.com/typecasts

I contributed some hard drive sound to a collaboration I did with Machinefabriek called "Soundlines" and I feature on the third and final track. It was released as a Norman Records exclusive three inch cd release and there are only a few copies left so snap it up:
http://www.normanrecords.com/records/108488
+ DIGITAL DOWNLOAD AT BOOMKAT:
http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=211353&highlight=211357

Finally, many thanks to all who made the effort to come and see me play shows this summer. Also thanks to Rafael Anton Irisarri aka The Sight below and Erik K. Skodvin aka Svarte Greiner who I shared the stage with.

Date: 26 Jun 2009

Orla Wren tape "Noises" and Current mood:  awake *±^<>::: **My album "Navigare" is out on Miasmah in September on vinyl, cd and as a digital download. ***I am flattered to have contributed tape manipulations to a track called "33 fainting spells" on the new album from Orla Wren released on Flau: OUT NOW!!!!!! http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=186610 "A graduate of Expanding Records, Orla Wren decamps to the Flau label for an achingly lovely collection of waifish soundscapes and vaporous vocals. It's an incredibly delicate blend of sonic elements, reportedly influenced by indigenous musics from places as wide and varied as Japan, the Georgian Republic and of course the UK, but in truth this really doesn't sound like music that could be attributed to any real-life territories or cultures. Compositions like 'Book Of Frost' and '33 Fainting Spells' are remarkably well-assembled, lifting field recordings from the natural world and intermingling them with intimate snatches of abstract instrumentation and human utterances. Recommended". http://elbo.ws/post/1783684/orla-wren-the-one-two-bird-and-the-half/    ******sound sample here of "33 fainting spells"!!! http://www.normanrecords.com/records/107369 http://www.flau.jp/artists/orlawren.html *It is a very special album indeed and you need to go grab a copy pronto :) Ciao.

I recently answered a few questions about my music past, present and future for Drowned In Sound online music magazine:

http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4136609?shoegaze

ta ta.