ghost box study series 05 and 06

ghost box
study series singles 05 & 06
hintermass gbx705
jonny trunk gbx706



image:©japanese forms

A third batch of the very fine Ghost Box Study Series singles arrived in the post yesterday. Yet another fine pair I must say. 05 features Hintermass; a collaboration between Jon Brooks (The Advisory Circle) and Tim Felton of Seeland. Excellent hauntological pop with (gulp!) proper vocals. Reminds me of early Broadcast and Stereolab. 06 has a wonderful sixties sounding electronic feel to it courtesy of Jonny Trunk. "Le Train Fantome" stands as one of the best sounds ever to emerge from Ghost Box. Very highly recommended. one2zero

phantasmagorical wonders : krautrock mix

Phantasmagorical Wonders... by Dunwich Radio on Mixcloud

radio belbury (programme n°1)

Programme 1 : "Holidays & Hintermass" by Ghost Box on Mixcloud

ghost box - mixtape

Ghost Box

ghost box - study series 03 & 04

on the turntable:

ghost box
study series 03 - gbx703
belbury poly
mordant music
study series 04 - gbx704
broadcast and the focus group

image: japanese forms

Numbers 3 and 4 in the Ghost Box Study Series. As with the previous singles these
two feature superb Julian House designed artwork and come in super heavyweight vinyl. N°3, Welcome To Godalming features "house" band, Belbury Poly with the utterly fabulous "Swingalong" while the b-side features Mordant Music with what the label describes as "...an ecstatic piece of pastoral electronica." Couldn't put it better myself. The fourth Study Series, Familiar Shapes and Noises, probably the most collectable single so far, features Broadcast and The Focus Group who continue where they left off with what was one of the best albums of last year; "Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age." Very highly recommended hauntological brilliance! one2zero

buy / download: ghost box

ghost box - study series singles 01 & 02

on the turntable:

ghost box
study series 01 - gbx701
the advisory circle &
hong kong in the 60s
study series 02 - gbx702
belbury poly &
moon wiring club

image: japanese forms

I'm sure lots of fans of Ghost Box will welcome with open arms these first two singles from the label's Study Series. Up until very recently the label has been strictly a CD (and download) only one but, at last, they've opted for vinyl releases as well. Beautifully designed artwork by Julian House plus super heavyweight vinyl make for an essential buy for all admirers of the label and, of course, of the music of the bands featured on them. N° 01, "Youth & Recreation" has brand new material from Belbury Poly and Moon Wiring Club while N° 02, "Cycles and Seasons" features the pastoral electronics of The Advisory Circle plus the soothing sounds of Hong Kong in the 60s; who make their debut on the label. Sublime.

These are the first two releases in the series with N° 03 & 04 due out in September one2zero

buy / download: ghost box

I've been a bit slow on updating this blog recently due to having lots of other time-consuming things to do. I've also acquired quite a good few discs; including the two beauties featured here, since I last updated so expect to see some more posts over the next week or so. one2zero

the advisory circle - mind how you go

on my turntable

the advisory circle
mind how you go
(revised edition)
gbx013 - lp & download


image: ©ghost box


Classic hauntological Advisory Circle reissue; includes bonus tracks and re-workings. What we get here are the seven tracks from the original 3" CD as well as five other tracks of exclusive compositions and remixes from Belbury Poly and Seeland. I'm afraid I only have the download version of this LP which comes in a proper full colour sleeve. I would, of course, prefered the LP version but it's not that the vinyl is that expensive, it's the postal costs that you have to pay. A must have for any Ghost Box enthusiast. one2zero

Just a word to say that, finally, I couldn't resist buying the highy desirable vinyl version. See a photo of it here.

"An expanded album length version of the 2006 Advisory Circle EP Mind How You Go, inspired by the world of TV Public Information Films. Featuring two new tracks by The Advisory circle and re-imaginings of two of the original tracks by Seeland and Belbury Poly. Remember, electricity cannot be seen or heard. Harmful, invisible forces surround us everywhere we go. Fortunately The Advisory Circle is on hand to help us make the right decisions. Mind How You Go is an alchemical distillation of the sound of Public Information Films. Spooky, catchy and witty." © Ghost Box

Web:
Ghost Box Boomkat

broadcast and the focus group - investigate witch cults of the radio age

on my turntable

broadcast and
the focus group
investigate witch cults
of the radio age
warpcd189


image: ©japanese forms

I'm not too keen on the "best of..." lists that nearly every magazine prints at the end of each year -what one likes or dislikes is all very subjective so I never really bother about choosing a personal top ten, or twenty, or whatever. However, in my opinion, I'll go along with The Wire* in stating that this is one of the best albums released in 2009. Released a couple of months ago, I didn't pick up my copy until recently as the the local (shitty, chain) stores didn't have any copies in stock when I happened to drop in on any my rare visits to them. Thankfully Amazon, and the internet in general, exists. Anyhow, this 50-minute, 23-track album is really something special; probably the best ever by Broadcast. Of course, the selection of extra-special, added sound ingredients, by Ghost Box and The Focus Group mainman Julian House, enhance this recording immensely with Trish Keenan's voice making it an essential buy. one2zero

* "It really is quite fabulous… (Broadcast) crowned themselves dark monarchs of hauntology’s expanding kingdom" ALBUM OF THE YEAR – The Wire

Web:
warp/broadcast the focus group ghost box broadcast myspace

ghost box - rutual & education

on the turntable:

ghost box (v/a)
ritual and education
no cat. N°

image: ghost box

Excellent sampler from the Ghost Box label only available in download format. Features tracks from all of the bands on the labels' roster; Belbury Poly; The Focus Group; Mount Vernon Arts Lab; etc. etc. (one2zero)




Download / Buy - Ritual and Education from Ghost Box