post-rock

Concept “Airship” Artwork

| Forgotten Fields

airship_rough_1
airship_rough_2

These are two rough composite “sketches” I quickly put together. They illustrate the images in my mind when I am writing music for the “Airship” concept album. It’s a perfect summer’s day in the early 1900s. Somewhere, on a forgotten field in France, a crowd has gathered. They are there to watch the first flight of a new airship. There is excitement in the air as the behemoth gently rises. Children point and gaze, open-mouthed in wonder: Look, it’s flying! The pilot and crew are nervous, a tense expression on the faces of the pilot and engineers… Oh, man. I hope, eventually, to create detailed pencil drawings, watercolours or, perhaps, digital illustrations to accompany the music.

Post-Rock and I

| Forgotten Fields

The first post-rock I was ever exposed to was at a party. Stephen, of Axxon fame, was the DJ. I asked him what that beautiful sound was. “God Is An Astronaut”, he answered. I was hooked. The algorithms of things soon had me bask in the glories of Eluvium, Explosions In The Sky, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, a host of bands and solo artists changing my music collection, forever.

(My interest in this style of music making began years before. Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” has an epic instrumental opening. I remember thinking: if only there was an album of just the music…)

It wasn’t long before I discovered post-rock’s ambient subgenre. Thomas Köner was an instant and unexpected favourite. His soundscapes were haunting, mesmerising chants filled with beautiful textures and strange droning themes. To me, it was a revelation: noise as music. I listened for hours on end, sometimes looping the same track like a meditation. I longed to create music in that style, one day—and here I am, learning.