In conversation with the quiet side of life.... (Request for advice please.)

So, a lapsed, long term Bill fan here. My first BN album was Getting the Holy Ghost Across bought from Boots in York on account of the 'what the hell is going on here' cover?!! (Not remotely religious but always deeply spiritual....) I then bought pretty much everything post BeBop days and some of the early Bill stuff is still my favourite. Joined the Cocteau Club and somewhere in the attic are a load of 7" singles. I think my last vinyl album was probably Optimism then my musical tastes drifted off in other directions and I lost touch. Over the years I did pick up four or five other albums on CD - Buddha Head, Electricity Made Us Angels, Captain ????'s Circus (!), After the Satellite Sings but that was about it. This Christmas my present from my wife was money to 'indulge' in music, video-games, books etc etc of my choice. I took a punt on Quiet Bells which is now an absolute favourite and recently I bought Auditoria which, again, I very much enjoy.

Now, my favourite Bill stuff has always been the more instrumental, ambient, introverted(?), spiritual music - I do love the sheer energy, creativity and invention of the two 'bookend' discs of Auditoria but I am naturally drawn to disc 2. In the same vein I always loved the instrumental pieces of The Love That Whirls and discs like Chance Encounters, singles like Villefranche, albums such as Simplex, Map of Dreams etc are still firm favourites. I saw Bill and Ian perform Altar Pieces at Wakefield Cathedral years ago and cassette number 306 is sitting on my bookshelf. (Had the Channel Light Vessel stuff too.)

Anyway, long story, cut to the chase. I'm wondering what I've missed, in terms of albums like Quiet Bells, whilst I've been away? What would be people's recommendations? I hope I've described the type of Bill's music I most love clearly enough?? I was tempted by Silvertone Fountains the other day but it's currently unavailable.

And finally, thank you Bill, thank you for all the wonderful music over the years. So much pleasure and thoughtful 'brain candy'.

19 comments

19 Comments

dadadi

Jul 11, 2020

Orpheus in Ultraland, After the Satellite Sings, Return to Jazz lights, Practically Wired, Mr. Mercury, Quiet Bells, Luxury Lodge, Romance of the Sustain...Oh my gosh....there's so many....not able to name them all!

Have fun, Still!

Quinault

Jul 10, 2020

Put down the Cinnamon, Chamomile and Lavender tea and pick up: Practically Wired...Or How I Became Guitar Boy. It was an album done in a fortnight. Blank tape to final mix. Magic.

Parsongs

Jul 09, 2020

Satellite Songs, Orpheus in Ultraland, Whimsy all have great songs and singing.

Major Snagg

Jul 09, 2020

A lot of the CDs that you are listing are the sort that don't float my particular boat. I much prefer the more song based ones...After The Satellite Sings, Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars, Fancy Planets, New Northern Dream, Electric Atlas, Satellte Songs.... However, Theatre Of Falling Leaves, Gleaming Without Lights and Dynamos & Tremolos are all great instrumental albums...I could list dozens...there are lots of different styles for everyone.

Tourist

Apr 14, 2020

It you like the more atmospheric, ambient type of recordings, you really shouldn't miss Stereo Star Maps and the quite recent The Last Lamplighter release...Both essential imho and two of my personal faves.

..and, as alec mentions, Theatre Of Falling Leaves, again a definite must have, and (as both wadcorp and myself have commented a couple of times before), unbelievably still available as a physical CD😲, for the bargain basement price of £5:99!!...you'd be a fool to miss it, and much the poorer.😉

..and as Andre mentions, Gleaming Without Lights.....

Alec

Apr 14, 2020

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Replying to

I remember there was a review you wrote, Tourist, about Stereo Star Maps, and I don't remember exactly what you said, but you paired it with some other BN release that I've forgotten the name of, but I tried that pairing out and it changed how I heard it. It's so much more enjoyable now after reading that.

Something about those long sections are so unique, unique even to what Bill has ever done. It's astral traveling, to quote the title of a particular Pharoah Sanders track that I love, a track that happens to have been written by Lonnie Liston Smith.

Yes, there's a lot of astral traveling in Stereo Star Maps and it's gorgeously out there.

Corduroy Institute

Apr 15, 2020

Replying to

Gleaming Without Lights and Stereo Star Maps quite good, each with its own moods and tonal colors (blame the new effects units obtained in the interim?). Fans of nuanced reverbs with love the latter.

Alec

Apr 14, 2020

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The Theatre of Falling Leaves, The Jewel, Custom Deluxe, Luxury Wonder Moments ...

https://billnelson.bandcamp.com/

Parsongs

Apr 14, 2020

Here Comes Mr. Mercury is a good one!

Quinault

Apr 13, 2020

Well, if you want to play catch up and not just stick to one category of music: I suggest the comp albums - The Dreamers Companion Vols. 1-3. Download now.