Let's get this new forum started off right. I know Bill would love to hear your thoughts on his new album set...
Discussion
Having been a big fan in the 70s (saw BBD at Liverpool Empire 1976) then losing touch, then coming back 3 years ago to discover Bill's astonishing output over the years, and being blown away by him twice at the Clothworkers, today I started on a bonkers project I've been thinking about for ages. To listen to the lot, chronologically, working from a discography. This can't include all versions and obscurities etc, I know! But at least all the available albums. Call me crazy! (no don't :-) np: https://www.billnelson.com/sounding-the-ritual-echo cheers! Toby
Loving IT! Some Very beautiful stuff on all 3!! Been listening to it a lot! Fave of the whole set at the moment is CD2, track2, When Midnight Falls..Just beautiful!! Too short!
That's my favourite track too! Although I tend to listen to the track before it over and over again too.
Bill never fails to amaze me, and always produces quality albums.
Auditoria has been on constantly since I was fortunately able to get a copy at Nelsonica December last year. Beautiful sounds, layers & textures.
I have recently had some bad news and this album has been a huge help to me when I've been in the deepest and darkest of places and because of this I will treasure this piece of work/art/music.
Thank You Bill
Very sorry to hear you've bad news, Axe Victim. Hope you're managing to keep your spirits up.
I just bought the download and have added it to my BluOS music database. Looking forward to listening to this in addition to the other CDs of Bill's music I have been gathering from around the world, 14 this week alone. Will provide a list at some point in the next few weeks.
Wow, that's certainly a bumper crop of tunes you've got to listen to...enjoy the experience!
@Jon Thanks I'm looking forward to it. I just successfully found and bought Bill's 'The Practice of Everyday Life' 8 CD collection. The musical story arc greatly appeals to me.
As a music archivist I fully intend to acquire all of Bill's music both for my own enjoyment and, more importantly, as a prime example for other music artists to keep creating and disseminating their music for as long as they can.
@Irwin Glenn Hi Irwin. The Discography section in Bill's website will provide the best guide to make sure you find all Bill's music. All the essential releases are there. As time goes by, we will be adding in the remaining items - mostly promotional releases left to go. The Compilation Appearances and DVD/Video sections will eventually have full pages devoted to each release (like the rest of the discography).
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask - some of the releases are quite rare. Instead of paying top dollar for the rarest ones, it may be better to wait until Bill releases them on Bandcamp. That way you can support Bill as you fill out your archive.
John
I was lucky enough to get one of the last copies from Burning Shed. Have probably only played through once, but cd3 seemed to make the most impact. I am currently changing to a new computer and have yet to burn Luxury Lodge and Altar Pieces to disc before abandoning the old machine (keeps freezing).
Love both of those, and have not played them as much due to the computer issues. Sorry for the digression.
You might consider re-downloading those two releases from Bandcamp and burning them to disc on the new computer (instead of putting up with the freezing issue on the old one).
@John Fisher Luxury Lodge burned okay, but when I go to print the cd label onto the cd (Canon Pixma) the computer then freezes every time. Will work on things today, I would hate to have it fail to start. I thought it was a graphics issue and put in a new card - still freezing though. Luckily the card can be reused in it's replacement. I did not know I could redownload so thanks for that.
Yes I agree that Disc 3 is arguably the strongest of the set. One of the best things of this release is the tone that Bill gets from his guitars. Just so rich and really draws you in. Given Bill’s health issues for the first time I worried about his technique but the album betrays all such worries. His playing is as strong as ever, and actually I struggle to understand quite how he achieves this.
My personal favourite is disc 2, 'Mysterium'. I think it's probably the more sophisticated of the 3 discs, but, of course, they're each intended to plough a slightly different furrow. But in terms of personal artistic satisfaction, I like 'Mysterium' the most. 😋
Any favorite track on Mysterium? The entire CD is very engaging.
By far the disc I like most. You could have written three discs of 'the same' for me!!
Ok, so discs three and one are growing on me rapidly. I am automatically drawn to disc two, what with being an introverted miserable Puritan (!!) but I cannot fault the creativity and energy of it's bookend discs. I do find that listening on the car or van stereo is not really conducive to appreciation - it really needs play back on a decent hi-fi system to hear all the wonderful subtleties. Overall, a really great album. I took a punt on Auditoria having been, (largely), away from Bill 's music from a great many years since Optimism. (There are three CDS that made it though the 'gap' years though') But I bought Quiet Bells at Christmas and was blown away - still am, it's playing right now.
Questions for Bill: anything in particular going on with the two Crimsworth references??; do I detect a revisit to 'Another Happy Thought'?; you seem to have gone all Aphex Twin on Hocus Pocus!! - plus there's something on the end of this track I cannot quite place - it's really bugging me!!
Not played it yet. Downloaded Return to Jazz of lights today. A big backlog to play. Had a sneak preview of both though! only four left for the complete set now!
Track 7, disc 2, 'Back of Beyond' - like lying under the dark cosmos and bathing in the stars, dark, mysterious energy. Awash. Partial to tracks 9 and 10 now too. The deeper, the darker, the more mysterious the better!!
"Immersive" seems an overused term these days, but I think it applies to Auditoria. Also, after noticing the varied styles, it now seems a very cohesive trilogy to me. I think the packaging helps in that (I was lucky enough to get the physical album) and certainly colours the way I experience the music - in a subtle way at least. I've been listening to it a lot; it really does create a whole universe you want to spend time in to recharge the batteries of poetic sensibility, as it were (and to get away from the more depressing and tedious aspects of everyday living!).
Since it's release. I've been a little too busy to give any listening time to any of the three discs. However, lately I have set some time to concentrate on Auditoria...Disc 3 ... (don't know why I didn't start with disc one ! but there you go) I have begun to really like it a lot. So, here goes with disc two. I'll report back in a while.
Only played the first CD so far. Too busy! Thoughts? I'll reserve them until I've played everything.
I have now listened to all three CDs. For me, it gets better as you work through the CDs. I am not liking disc one. Disc two and three are better and the stand out track is 'Back of Beyond', and I like most of the instrumental pieces. This is my opinion and I know I will be criticized for saying what I say. The guitar playing is lovely though.
Agree with you. Though disc 2 is my personal favourite. 'Back of Beyond' is superb as you say. I much prefer the instrumentals to the songs but then I always have.
Well, I've listened only once to all three discs now. I must agree that disc 1 has not grabbed me at all yet. I don't think it ever really will. Maybe in a tear or so? But by then there'll be other music to listen to...and enjoy much more. My favourite of the three CDs... is disc 3 ...quite closely followed by disc 2. I have been enjoying Electric Atlas...BUT, I always skip track 1.'Atoms And Electrons'. I'm quite perplexed as to why this odd-ball track is the opener for the CD.? I just find it a little too far-out there and even a little unpleasant to listen to ...so I don't....One other track I always skip is Track 13, 'Mind Is Harbour From Which Dreams Set Sail'...but it's nice title ! 12 tracks out of 14 isn't bad is it.
Been listening to it extensively for the past three days.
This is a joyous train ride to heaven (are there trains to heaven?).
... and we, early on (and later on), take detours to some odd planets.
I find 'Icing On The Cake' and 'Ghosts of Ancient Orchestras' satisfying, the way they both surf the "wrong" notes.