columns of grey smoke ascending

since my last detailed field report i have been kept busy with a whole host of various strands, all of which do seem to be progressing most satisfactory indeed. so much is occurring at all times that it is hard to keep track. still, how these reports help me to sort the wheat from the chaff and detail the most pertinent elements therein. suffice to say much is still on the horizon, drawing ever nearer, looming with grim intent.

as somewhat of an aside, i actually found myself back in london, england, for the first time in six months. i was due to head back there to attend the wedding of two wonderful friends, but how it gave me cause to catch up with many other friends and family besides, and to wander passed a few spots that have given me great cause for inspiration in the past. london is truly the one city that i could call home yet still how, aside from dear friends and family, it seems as if little more than billowing columns of grey smoke across abandoned sites. however, that is another field report entirely.

gladly, as always, my trusty walkman was with me at all times. there is something very satisfying about listening to the 'six pack o' death' ep whilst riding the underground, crossing london bridge, or staring out of a train-car carriage as the sprawl of south london extends before oneself. i also spent a good deal of time audtitioning my test mixes of the AbSUrd beats for the forthcoming coffin cutters album, and how it will be something truly devastating indeed. gladly still, i also had the wonderful fortune of being armed with a mixtape from decorative stamp's very own nadia d' alò, which added soothing instances in amongst the mayhem, most notably the wonderful 'calvary cross', a personal favourite indeed.

so. it seems that there has been a resurrection of discussions between bill van cutten and myself, regarding the completion of an ep project together which we began in the summer of 2009 with the recording of two, as yet unreleased tracks under the working titles of  'mrs snow' and 'landing land'. it is our intention to prepare a number of further tracks, sound-pieces, field recordings and the like to put together what may hopefully become a vinyl release in the not-too-distant future. expect desperately dark electronic-noise-rap-nihilism in a dickensian vein, or something equally challenging.

i have also turned my attention further towards the upcoming marvel that will be 'decorative stamp volume two', and how it will be a majestic beast indeed. it is my intention to keep the details vague for the time being but, suffice to say it is already beginning to take the shape of something very special. it would only be fair if i were to confess that 'decorative stamp volume one' was very much put together with a view to simply getting something out there to give people an idea about who we are as a collective, whereas volume two will be something much more considered. there is still a fair ways to head down the path yet, but the current list of selections is already displaying signs of something really rather wonderful.

in other news, the absolutely horrifying goats gloom project is continuing to ooze from the furnace in spectral waves; hearing the dual-rantings of dug yuck and babel fishh over waves of the most psychedelic frkse noise is certainly an intense listening experience. i am still outlining the victims in chalk at this stage, but intend to don the chemical suit and manipulate the remains over the next few weeks or so. hopefully, the results will be made available in the not-too-distant future. whatever happens, do expect the darkness to gather and loom heavy as the sky turns red, the seas boil and blood rains down from the turbulent heavens.

possibly just as sinister, although less biblical, i can announce that, upon returning to the safehouse from london, i discovered a package i assume was sent direct from the mysterious iron filings and sellotape hidden compound, containing an assortment of materials; collected papers, blueprints, reports, cassettes, films-reels, slides and still photographs with detailed instructions on how to compile them into what will become the first iron filings and sellotape release, to be issued on the decorative stamp, possibly even next month. i have been instructed that time is of the essence and that these mateials must see the light of day before the end of the summer. i am not wholly sure as to the relevance of this timeline but, needless to say, i am already re-adjusting my agenda to allow this to be a possibility. so, do expect a full-length iron filings and sellotape release, sometime before autumn descends.

in other news, decorative stamp has struck up a splendid deal with the extraordinarily decent folk over at yellow dog in japan. do wander over to their site and find selected decorative stamp releases now lining their virtual shelves, a marvelous development indeed. i have also been having the speakings with three of the outrageously talented wild dogs in winter regarding a host of planned releases and additional ideas, much will transpire, i am quite sure. i also had the wonderful opportunity of getting to spend some time with the legendary 2econd class citizen back in london and how i am hazarding a guess that the two of us might try to turn our attention towards something new over the coming moons. the caterers and coffin cutters projects are both quite healthily underway at this stage, and there should be a few other releases coming out here and there over the rest of the summer months too. and be sure to fix yourself a free download of another lost track from the mighty epilog's 'fehlfarbenfangen' release, this time featuring myself and the superb cocon over an azabeats track by the name of  'zähne'. onwards and upwards then, onwards and upwards.

keep safe

jamesreindeer