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After The Satellite Sings Bill Nelson album - 30 April 1996 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Deeply Dazzled 02) Dreamster 2.L.R. 03) Flipside 04) Streamliner 05) Memory Babe 06) Skull Baby Cluster 07) Zoom Sequence 08) Rocket To Damascus 09) Beautiful Nudes 10) Old Goat 11) Squirm 12) Wow! It's Scootercar Sexkitten! 13) Phantom Sedan (Theme From Tail-Fin City) 14) Ordinary Idiots 15) V-Ghost (For Harold And Ellen) 16) Blink-Agog Digital download version bonus tracks: 17) Ordinary Idiots (Original Demo) 18) Ordinary Idiots (Live At Nelsonica 03 ) ALBUM NOTES: After the Satellite Sings is the third album recorded for Resurgence, and saw Nelson return to Fairview Studios over the Winter of 1995 to produce what would be his final album recorded in a commercial studio. After this, all of his solo output would come from his domestic recording set-up. The album is predominantly a vocal album that crosses several styles, including the then emerging drum 'n' bass genre that was a dominant part of the dance music scene in the '90s. Although promo material suggests the US release of After the Satellite Sings (on Gyroscope) was issued two weeks ahead of the UK version, their release dates appear to be effectively the same (US releases were typically issued on Tuesdays, UK on Mondays). The album was promoted with a 3 track 12" white label single (Nelson's final vinyl release for 16 years), which was issued free to subscribers of the Nelsonian Navigator . In the US, a 4 track CD promo entitled Four Songs From After the Satellite Sings was issued to promote the album, on which the track 'Dreamster 2.L.R' was called 'Tomorrow Yesterday'. A remastered version of After The Satellite Sings , was reissued in 2014 under the Esoteric/Cherry Red record label. In May 2025, the digital download version of After The Satellite Sings was released which included two bonus tracks: Ordinary Idiots (Original Demo) which was recorded at Bill's home studio prior to recording the main album, and Ordinary Idiots (Live At Nelsonica 03) recorded at 'The Duke Of Cumberland' in North Ferriby, with Bill's band at the time - 'The Lost satellites'. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "After the Satellite Sings is one of my favourite albums. In fact it functions as a key element amongst my recorded work and is an album that has apparently inspired other artists....Which is nice! "I had a great time making this album and it features some new departures for me. The whole project was written, performed, recorded and mixed in an intense 28 day session at Fairview studios, and despite the short amount of time available in the studio, I'm very pleased with the outcome." _____ "The album was an attempt to fuse rock and pop songwriting with the then cutting-edge rhythms of 'drum n' bass'. The album apparently inspired and influenced David Bowie's later 'Earthling' album, (according to then Bowie collaborator and guitarist Reeves Gabrels). It's an album I'm personally very fond of as, aside from the cool grooves it contains, it features some poetic lyrics and highly electrical guitar playing." _____ "At the start of the project, I went into the studio with no songs written or demo'd, just a rough idea of the overall concept and how I wanted the album to feel. I wrote the music as I recorded it, basically putting ideas to tape as soon as they came to me. It was a rush of inspiration, structures captured quickly whilst still materialising. "I would then take a cassette of a monitor mix, of whatever track I'd recorded that day, back to the hotel and, using a little ghetto blaster to hear it, sit on the edge of my hotel bed and dream up lyrics to suit the song. Next morning, I'd record a vocal using the previous night's lyrics, working out the melody lines as we ran through the piece. And so on, day by day until the album was completed and ready to mix. A continuous process from day one, (with absolutely zero preparation and no pre-composed music), to finished, mixed album. Some bands would still have been trying to get a drum sound together." _____ "I recall driving from Albuquerque to Phoenix, back in the 1970's. What a romantic, fabulous trip that was. Listen to those beat generation influenced tracks that are hidden away on After The Satellite Sings and you'll pick up on my U.S. romantic fantasies..." ALBUM REVIEWS: Review by Dmitry M. Epstein FAN THOUGHTS: Puzzleoyster: "The essential, and still essential, groundbreaking, After the Satellite Sings . That album broke my nuts for sure - you got an hour of pure." Bloonoise: "You's can name all the classic albums you like but if I ever got marooned on some desert island this is the album I'd pick to go with me above all others and I'd probably never want to leave either!!! Yeah that's the stuff for me-ee." Tony Raven: "I had one to simply recommend, it'd be After the Satellite Sings , an excellent range of depth & complexity, yet (in my opinion) the one that'd most readily gain widest airplay, as the nuances don't overshadow the "pop sensibilities"." Peter: "A big favorite of mine...I remember listening to this album for the first time upon its release and thinking that it possessed a sense of optimism and raw energy that I loved." "The whole thing just DOES IT from beginning to end. As with all Bill's work, it can be described as INSPIRED." Johnny Jazz: "One of my favourite albums, it's got a few wonderful 'Grooves' and 'Chops' this one." Da kril: "The sonic masterpiece that is After the Satellite Sings - each track more bona fide than the last, all fairly crackling with energy and invention." alec: "Wow! It's Scootercar Sexkitten": "is an irresistible number that is just the right length (leaves listener wanting more). I liked "Squirm" right away, too, for many reasons and one of those reasons was that it made me laugh. There's just so much going on in the track and I always appreciate when Bill throws in a strange-sounding voice. Eventually got addicted to all the tracks." paul.smith: "Deeply Dazzled": "is a superb track - the whole album took me by surprise in the mid 90's - it took a bit of time to settle in to it all those years ago but...16 years later...no ipod shuffle for that album - suffice to say...lower the lights, light the lamps and keep all channels clear, say a few mantras, turn off the mobile and listen to the whole thing in its entirety - a seminal album of the 90s." Dar: "That scratchy, staccato lead sound, at the same time the notes flow freely and fluently...I mean, who does that?!. Our Man Flint, that's who. "Old Goat" is still my top pick; always was and always will be. I'll never get over the perfect solos on that; it just has a sublime, mystical quality to it, while driving all the way in an epic groove." "The story in that song was like nothing I'd ever heard in a song at that time, woven in such colorfully descriptive ways. A great tapestry of images; a contrasting and complimentary mix of airy, esoteric musings, serious mystical evolutions, and playful, visceral goat-dancing. I was already hooked, but that was a song for my soul; I thought "here's a man of vision, and I like what he sees"." A Lad Inane: "Rocket to Damascus": "is one of those songs that I always put on repeat. It's catchy, energetic, well produced, multi-layered, and downright fun." soteloscope: "Zoom Sequence": "Groovalicious bassline in the middle and at the ending. Total disco dancing warfare going on." Merikan1: "When you get around to it, crank up "Ordinary Idiot". Holy sh*t Batman!" Jon Wallinger: "This album is one that is very close to my heart. Bill borrowed my keyboard for the recording sessions at Fairview Studios and it still brings a smile to my face hearing some of the distinctive sounds used." December Man: "Oh, what joy awaited me when I walked into a small 'used' record store to find a NEW BILL NELSON CD there for sale! And you could 'sample' it ahead of time! Ear phones soon leaped onto my head, and though the drumming felt completely alien for a BN record, the lyrics, the guitars, the vocals were just so familiar and such a welcoming noise for sore ears, I began to blissfully writhe right there in the aisle! ATSS made me fall in love with that BN sound all over again, but in a new way and with the internet now available, I soon bought my first computer and, of course, magically, joyfully, gratefully found that Bill had never really gone away, and that there was a 'community' of Nelsonians out there (the old website) and now here we are!" JovialBob: "I was also knocked over when I got After the Satellite Sings and couldn't stop playing it with a huge grin on my face." "I have to say that for pure musical energy and excitement it has to be After the Satellite Sings cos this is the album I come back to over and over. For me it is just such a complete record. Almost every track is a winner and when I attempt to wake people up to the genius of Mr N, this is the most grooooovy and exciting album to entice them with...Don't wait - Get ATSS !" Albums Menu Future Past

Modern Music Be Bop Deluxe album - 10 September 1976 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this 2-CD Set TRACKS: 01) Orphans Of Babylon 02) Twilight Capers 03) Kiss Of Light 04) The Bird Charmer's Destiny 05) The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow 06) Bring Back The Spark 07) Modern Music 08) Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) 09) Honeymoon On Mars 10) Lost In The Neon World 11) Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids 12) Modern Music (Reprise) 13) Forbidden Lovers 14) Down On Terminal Street 15) Make The Music Magic ALBUM NOTES: Modern Music is the fourth album by Be Bop Deluxe. It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London during June 1976, and maintained the band's profile in the UK while adding to their international reputation in North America. Modern Music was the first Be Bop Deluxe album to feature an identical line up, in the form of Bill Nelson, Simon Fox, Charlie Tumahai and Andy Clarke. By now the band was establishing itself on the North American touring circuit, without forgetting about their home support. To have delivered two successful albums in one calendar year while undergoing a gruelling touring schedule is therefore all the more impressive. The album appeared on vinyl and cassette, and was promoted by the release of the single Kiss of Light , which failed to repeat the success of their previous release. Vinyl copies were released in a single sleeve, and the record was housed in an inner sleeve bearing lyrics to all songs. For North American radio use, Modern Music was promoted by a special "Banded for Air Play" edition, which featured a modified track listing. When reissued on CD in 1990, EMI elected to enhance the album by adding 6 bonus tracks, although the tracks they included were more relevant to other Be Bop Deluxe albums, instead of the the Modern Music sessions. If you no longer kept your vinyl copy, and require song lyrics, then this CD edition satisfies that need, and the informative sleeve notes penned by Kevin Cann provide useful context. In April 2017 Cherry Red and E soteric R ecordings , who, since 2011, have done so much to raise the profile of Bill Nelson's solo recordings from the period 1980 to 2002, acquired the rights to release the Be Bop Deluxe and Red Noise material issued between 1973 and 1979. While this resulted in the deletion of existing physical editions, Cherry Red kept Modern Music on catalogue from 1 June 2017 via the usual download sites such as Amazon and iTunes while an expanded edition was prepared for a 2019 physical release. On 6 December 2019 Modern Music became the third Be Bop Deluxe album to be issued as a Deluxe Edition comprising: a freshly remastered version of the original album. a 2019 remix of the full album. 2 unreleased studio recordings. previously released live 'BBC In Concert' recorded for Radio. a bonus CD of a previously unreleased "official bootleg" of a performance at The Riviera Theatre in Chicago in March 1976 recorded for FM Radio. the original album presented in a 5.1 mix and the previously released OGWT appearance from November 1976. The album was presented in a triple fold out digi-pack and contained a 68 page booklet with an essay penned by Bill Nelson, previously unseen photographs from the period, postcards and a replica poster. A 2CD edition of the album was also released at the same time as the Deluxe Edition featuring Discs 1 and 2 which also replaced the standard download edition. The full track listing for the Deluxe Edition is: Disc 1: 01) Orphans Of Babylon 02) Twilight Capers 03) Kiss Of Light 04) The Bird Charmer's Destiny 05) The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow 06) Bring Back The Spark 07) Modern Music 08) Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) 09) Honeymoon On Mars 10) Lost In The Neon World 11) Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids 12) Modern Music (Reprise) 13) Forbidden Lovers 14) Down On Terminal Street 15) Make The Music Magic Bonus Track 16) Shine (B-Side Of Single) Disc 2: 01) Orphans Of Babylon (New Stereo Mix) 02) Twilight Capers (New Stereo Mix) 03) Kiss Of Light (New Stereo Mix) 04) The Bird Charmer's Destiny (New Stereo Mix) 05) The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow (New Stereo Mix) 06) Bring Back The Spark (New Stereo Mix) 07) Modern Music (New Stereo Mix) 08) Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) (New Stereo Mix) 09) Honeymoon On Mars (New Stereo Mix) 10) Lost In The Neon World (New Stereo Mix) 11) Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids (New Stereo Mix) 12) Modern Music (Reprise) (New Stereo Mix) 13) Forbidden Lovers (New Stereo Mix) 14) Down On Terminal Street (New Stereo Mix) 15) Make The Music Magic (New Stereo Mix) Bonus Tracks 16) Shine (New Stereo Mix) 17) Forbidden Lovers (First Version) 18) The Bird Charmer's Destiny (First Version) Disc 3: 01) Maid In Heaven (BBC In Concert 1976) 02) Bring Back The Spark (BBC In Concert 1976) 03) Kiss Of Light (BBC In Concert 1976) 04) Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape (BBC In Concert 1976) 05) Fair Exchange (BBC In Concert 1976) 06) Ships In The Night (BBC In Concert 1976) 07) Twilight Capers (BBC In Concert 1976) 08) Modern Music (BBC In Concert 1976) i. Modern Music ii. Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) iii. Honeymoon On Mars iv. Lost In The Neon World v. Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids vi. Modern Music (Reprise) 09) Blazing Apostles (BBC In Concert 1976) Disc 4: 01) Fair Exchange (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 02) Stage Whispers (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 03) Life In The Air Age (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 04) Sister Seagull (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 05) Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 06) Maid In Heaven (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 07) Ships In The Night (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 08) Bill's Blues (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) 09) Blazing Apostles (Live 1976 – Previously Unreleased) Disc 5: 01) Orphans Of Babylon (5.1 Mix) 02) Twilight Capers (5.1 Mix) 03) Kiss Of Light (5.1 Mix) 04) The Bird Charmer's Destiny (5.1 Mix) 05) The Gold At The End Of My Rainbow (5.1 Mix) 06) Bring Back The Spark (5.1 Mix) 07) Modern Music (5.1 Mix) 08) Dancing In The Moonlight (All Alone) (5.1 Mix) 09) Honeymoon On Mars (5.1 Mix) 10) Lost In The Neon World (5.1 Mix) 11) Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids (5.1 Mix) 12) Modern Music (Reprise) (5.1 Mix) 13) Forbidden Lovers (5.1 Mix) 14) Down On Terminal Street (5.1 Mix) 15) Make The Music Magic (5.1 Mix) Bonus Tracks 16) Shine (5.1 Mix) 17) Forbidden Lovers (First Version) (5.1 Mix) 18) The Bird Charmer's Destiny (First Version) (5.1 Mix) 19) Forbidden Lovers (BBC Old Grey Whistle Test - November 1976) 20) Down On Terminal Street (BBC Old Grey Whistle Test - November 1976) PAST RELEASES: The album can be found in a number of guises. The 1990 CD edition was released as a physical CD, but strangely not as a download in its own right. The album without the bonus tracks was included in the budget box set Original Album Series (2014), as well as on Disc 3 of the Futurist Manifesto box set (2012). Extra songs on the 1990 CD: 16) Futurist Manifesto 17) Quest For The Harvest Of The Stars 18) Autosexual All 3 are Drastic Plastic outtakes and were all previously on The Best Of and the Rest Of . "Futurist Manifesto" was the b-side to the Japan single, and was therefore on Singles As and Bs. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: The 2-CD set is available for purchase in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "Modern Music came directly from my experiences on the American tour. I'd been exposed to American culture for years, through movies and television and music so I imagined that when I got there it would be something very familiar. But it was so foreign that it seemed almost like being on another planet." (from an interview in Guitarist Magazine, 1996) _____ "The entire "Modern Music Suite" for instance, is about my experience of touring the USA but has sequences that seem surreal and dream-like." _____ "I've used voice samples for more than 30 years...the intro to Be Bop Deluxe's "Modern Music Suite" being an early example. I like the way a voice sample can add an enigmatic spin to an instrumental." _____ "The voice/radio collage at the start of the "Modern Music Suite" was a combination of random radio dial spinning and some deliberately chosen recordings." _____ "You'll notice, if you have heard all the band's albums, that, after Sunburst Finish , the music becomes slightly less guitar focused and moves into synthy textures with the guitar becoming sort of 'orchestrated' or integrated into the songs, rather than constant up-front solo improvisations. The emphasis switches to songwriting on Modern Music and to more surreal/sci-fi atmospheres on Drastic Plastic before flipping over into the near-future dystopian moods of Red Noise. But those first three albums were intended to bring the guitar playing thing to the fore." _____ Commenting on the Modern Music watch and badge from the cover: "I thought up the idea and gave a written description/drawing of the style of the items. They were actually made by the same BBC props department who provided gadgets for the 'Doctor Who' tv series at that time." ALBUM REVIEWS: Review on Prog Rock Music Talk Review on God Is In The TV Review on ProgNaut Review on Louder Than War Review on Spill Magazine Review on Goldmine Magazine Review o n At The Barrier Review on Exclusive Magazine Review on Sea Of Tranquility Review on LMNOP Review on Part-Time Audiophile Review by Michael Doherty Review on Music Street Journal Review by Dmitry M. Epstein Review on Musoscribe FAN THOUGHTS: Prey: "I go back to that afternoon in the 70's when listening to Modern Music for the first time when an emotion washed over me that the music I was hearing was the music of the future, unlike anything else at the time. Modern Music was a revelation for me at that point, it affected me deeply and I never forgot that day." paul.smith: "Modern Music is my favourite Be Bop album - I've always seen it as a concept album full of many rich layers, twists and turns and real musical cohesion." Debtworker: "Modern Music is the album where I really came on board, as a Be-Bop Deluxe fan. The music is still as fresh today, as it was all those years ago. It's a great album packed full of well crafted songs and tight melodies, whilst still pushing Bill's musical boundaries - even though he was constantly touring America at the time, if I remember right." TwentySmallCigars: "I've been a fan of Be Bop Deluxe (and eventually Bill Nelson) since the mid-70's when a friend of mine bought a copy of Modern Music because Ace Frehley mentioned Bill as one of his favourite guitarists in an interview in Circus Magazine." Mick Winsford: "Modern Music is for me, my favourite BBD album. There's just something really special about this album, from the opening acoustic riff of "Orphans of Babylon" to the the simple beauty of "Make the Music Magic". This was the second BBD album I heard (SF being the first one) and that image I have of me traipsing up stairs on Xmas night with my copy of MM in my hands and putting it on the stereo for the first play has never left me. I loved it from the first play and haven't fallen out of love with it since." Steve Zodiac: "Like many here I've been a listener of Bill's music since the seventies. I have clear memories of playing my Modern Music LP over and over as a teenager; it must have been Christmas '76 when I asked mum & dad to buy it for me as a present and I remember being absolutely bowled over by it. I had already seen BBD live at the Liverpool Empire 23 Jan 1976; I think that may well have been the first gig I ever went to. I saw them again Feb 1978 for the Drastic Plastic Tour and saw Red Noise in March 1979." Parsongs: "Sunburst Finish , purchased at Korvette's in Matteson, IL, right after seeing BBD for the first time. Within a month, I returned and bought Futurama and Axe Victim . After seeing BBD about 8 months later, I returned and bought Modern Music (first time I ever saw a rock & roll band in business suits!!)." CoachMatt: "Bill, I am, and believe all of us here are enjoying the journey with you. Ever since running home from school to hear Scott Muni of WNEW, New York City play the whole side two of Modern Music !" Tourist In Wonderland: "I met Charlie backstage during the Modern Music tour after a show and he was indeed a very nice person. He greeted us warmly and made us feel very welcome...he was very open and friendly and yes, he did have that lovely warm smile on his face...from my experience, he was a true gentleman...in fact I still have a tour program that Charlie and the rest of Be Bop signed, something I will never part with. Simon and Andy were equally friendly and it was a great atmosphere after a fabulous live performance...Bill had slipped off early via the back exit on this occasion, I think Jan waiting in a rather nice Jaguar XJS in the rear car park, if memory serves accurately?...wonderful memories..." Ged: "Modern Music will always hold special memories for me - remember the Newcastle City Hall gig Garry - mirror ball, videos in the background - absolutely wonderful - My son Mark (15 years of age) has taken all of my Be-Bop CDs into his room - (I haven't heard the Kaiser Chiefs or Franz Ferdinand for weeks!!) He absolutely adores Modern Music and its lovely to hear "Terminal Street" and "Orphans of Babylon" blasting from his music system - He asked me to get him a Be Bop Deluxe badge today. He saw Bill and the Lost Satellites twice last year and said they were awesome - a new generation Nelsonian." Zen Archer: "If I were the sort to make those comparisons, I'd say Modern Music was Bill's Abbey Road, but I'm not, so you didn't hear that from me." Albums Menu Future Past

Loose Routes: One album - 1991 various artists Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Guitar on three tracks:- "A Little Bit Of Nelsonia", "Outro To The Friend" and "Dear Mr. Fantasy". Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Plaything Bill Nelson album - 25 January 2004 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) The Revenge Of The Man In The Burning Ice-Cream Van 02) A Prayer To Sleep With Mercurial Women 03) Come To Me In My Dreams 04) Beauty In A Sparkly Bra 05) Nipples Of Venus 06) The Embarkation Song Of The Last Fast Airship 07) Luana 08) Spanish Galleons Cruise The Sunrise 09) Lagoon 10) Lost Planet Sunset 11) Six Legged Critter Singing In The Trees 12) Rainclouds Over Paris Of My Dreams ALBUM NOTES: Plaything is an album of guitar instrumentals issued in a one off pressing of 500 copies on the Universal Twang label. Much of the material on this album stemmed from the same sessions that had produced The Romance of Sustain . Plaything was first made available on the evening Nelson performed a solo set at the Mick Jagger Centre, Dartford. As with Nelsonica '03 , attendees could purchase a second copy to forward to fans who couldn't attend the show. The few remaining copies were then made available for sale at the Rooms With Brittle Views website. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . IF YOU LIKED THIS ALBUM, YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY: Romance of Sustain , Plectrajet , Dreamland to Starboard , Custom Deluxe , Wah-Wah Galaxy , Sparkle Machine , Gleaming Without Lights , Loom , Astroloops , And We Fell Into A Dream , Quiet Bells , Awakening of Dr Dream BILL'S THOUGHTS: " Plaything is a unique album in some ways, (and not least because it has absolutely wonderful cover art by my friend Frank Olinsky). "There are some unusual tracks on the album, covering a lot of guitar oriented, musical-instrumental territory ie: twisted, wah-wah, avant noise guitar and free-jazz piano on the track "The Revenge of the Man in the Burning Ice-Cream Van". Romantic, nostalgic sonic cinema in "The Embarkation Song of The Last Fast Airship". And psycho-erotic music in "A Prayer to Sleep with Mercurial Women" as well as poetic, yearning, melancholic dreaminess in "Raincloud Over Paris of My Dreams". "It's perhaps a slightly overlooked album of mine...but nonetheless a deeply satisfying one, at least in my opinion." _____ "The Embarkation Song of The Last Fast Airship": "an 'operatic' guitar instrumental, (if you can imagine such a thing). Flying from a flowery meadow across a crystal cityscape whose architecture looks like a combination of a 'Little Nemo' dreamtown and the 1920's towers of 'Metropolis'. The airship floats away to the coast, carrying its gorgeously attired passengers into an art-deco sunset." _____ "A darkly erotic listening suggestion..."A Prayer to Sleep with Mercurial Women" from the Plaything album. This track uses various noisy by-products of amplification and the muted crackle of acoustic ambience as a backdrop for a piece that sounds, to my ears at least, like a half-demented, perverse Flamenco player, struggling with a steel stringed acoustic guitar whilst simultaneously trying to resist being sexually entertained by a crazy, full-bosomed, high-heeled bordello madam wielding a vintage 1950's tremolo unit. Our poor guitar player, after experiencing a little more mercurial shenanigans than he'd initially bargained for, finally exits on a rattling tram, vowing to be more careful about what he prays for in future." FAN THOUGHTS: Westdeep: "Plaything is an essential purchase. For me it is one of a golden trio from that period along with The Romance of Sustain and Dreamland to Starboard . They are all subtly different but all wonderful instrumental albums...Wonderful stuff." Douglas Barry: "The album was inspired after Bill received a gift, and listening to it again I wondered if this might have been an early seedling that eventually blossomed into Signals From Realms of Light . Either way, for me, both albums demonstrate Bill's unique talent and consummate inventiveness with sound beyond the guitar that remains undiminished from one year to the next. And long may his muse cajole him!" Peter: "This is a really fun album. Just have to say that the song titles on this one brought a smile to my face. The music had me grinning more than a few times also, with joy. A couple tracks feature acoustic guitar, which is nice to hear, as Bill can really play. "Lagoon" stands up for me with anything Bill has done recently and "Rainclouds Over Paris of My Dreams" is an ethereal wonderland. One can sense that Bill really enjoyed making this one. And, not to be overlooked, the cover design is fantastic!" fricker: "Well, just sitting in the garden wondering which album to play and plucked Plaything out. What a choice! Forgot how good it is. Anyway, was drifting when "Lagoon" came on. What an atmospheric track that is. I could have been on a dessert island! And before anyone says it - No I haven't had a drink or anything else. Fantastic Bill. You put me in the Caribbean for the price of a CD." wadcorp: "Absolutely love Bill's work with samples. "Come to Me in My Dreams" is one of my top fave Bill tracks. The voices capture my imagination in that one." Sue: "Come to Me in My Dreams": "I remember the house where I was born" fits so beautifully into the music on that track, I love it. And I also love "Come to Me in My Dreams" so much that I had it tattooed onto my wrist. In fact, I love Plaything , it's a fabulous CD." Pathdude: "Lost Planet Sunset": "is one of my all time faves. Definitely the highlight of the album for me." james warner: "A strong, but judicious use of guitar effects creates a series of beautiful instrumental soundscapes. Music to float away on!" Dar: "Just have to say that this is now on my Top Five List of Bill's releases. Headphone heaven, baby. Hypnotic dreamsville of guitars and noises from an electrified wonderland. Impossible to even choose only 5, yet this one is filled with so much that is quintessential Bill that it's an easy pick." "Six-Legged Critter Singing in the Trees": "This track is my favorite example of an evolving, loop-constructed piece that just keeps on morphing subtly from one minute to the next. It stays in the same general area and becomes more detailed and embellished...6-legged changes it's skins but not its bones, and became an instant classic as soon as I heard it; utterly engaging and hypnotic. It's more about playing various parts over the basic loop rhythm and chord progression; whatever, the effect is amazing and I always wished more were like this." Albums Menu Future Past

Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars Bill Nelson album - August 1992 Albums Menu Future Past TRACKS: 01) Ancient Guitars 02) Girl From Another Planet 03) Spinnin' Around 04) Shaker 05) God Man Slain 06) The Dead We Wake With Upstairs Drums 07) New Moon Rising 08) The Glory Days 09) Wishes 10) Angel In My System 11) Wings And Everything 12) Boat To Forever 13) The Invisible Man And The Unforgettable Girl 14) So It Goes 15) Fires In The Sky 16) Dream Ships Set Sail ALBUM NOTES: Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars saw Nelson return to a major label for the first time since 1986 – and maybe had the album taken off, bigger and brighter things may have followed. This is a further example of Nelson having completed a set of demo tracks, which he intended to revisit and flesh out with a full band, only for those plans to be changed, and the demos to be issued rather than see them gather dust. Originally the album was issued in CD and cassette, and for the first time in 10 years Nelson would achieve a simultaneous US release of a new album (with the added bonus of not having to amend the track listing or artwork to suit record company moguls or the moral right wing elements of society). It was rarely this simple for the collector of Nelson's work! CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Though now deleted in a physical format in 2008, the album was reissued as a digital download through major online retailers. BILL'S THOUGHTS: "The album is one of those collections of recordings that I regarded as demos or 'sketches' at the time. I'd originally intended to re-record these songs in a proper studio, possibly with a band, though this never proved viable. Virgin were interested enough to release the demos as they were. "It's interesting to see that some people are fond of the album now as it wasn't so well received at the time...at least in terms of sales. It didn't take long for it to become a 'lost' or overlooked work. Perhaps, like many of my albums, several years need to pass before the music starts to feel like it might belong to the mainstream, and therefore become acceptable." FAN THOUGHTS: bradford mick: "My fave being Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars , it's so full of colour, mystery, symbols and intrigue." alec: "I can remember crying after listening to "So It Goes" from Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars . Trying to find that exquisite emotional connection again was elusive but did happen a few times, after that, with that song." Dar: The most powerful album cover: "maybe Blue Moons and Laughing Guitars . Lots of powerful medicine there." "Had no idea what any of the symbolism on the cover was about at the time, thinking "this is an interesting person"." Paul Andrews: "Earlier on this evening I was playing Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars and thinking "this is bloody wonderful!"." Grey Lensman: "Some great musical moments throughout the album. Textured, woven and crafted with that outstanding ear for detail and harmony that Bill has." Anorak: "I'm not one for listing things in order, but if I did then surely this album would be in my top five of Bill's work at the moment, although I still have many more future albums of Bill's to listen too." tommaso: "I bought Blue Moons way back in the early 90s, and having become a Bill fan via his 80s electronic work, I was almost shocked to hear so many guitars on the album (especially because I couldn't stand 'rock' music at the time). But guitars or not, it immediately became one of my favourites among all of Bill's albums and has remained so ever since. "New Moon Rising", "Angel in My System" and especially the utterly beautiful final song, "Dream Ships Set Sail" are my favourites, and I agree that there isn't a single weak moment on the whole of the album." mthom: "Don't forget "The Invisible Man and The Unforgettable Girl", quite possibly MY desert island classic...A shining example of Bill's irony, word-play and heart on its sleeve. And not to mention the blazing guitar work and thundering drums. Oh my." G. Vazquez: "A favorite of mine as well...If I need to choose just one among all Bill's albums to keep, it would be that. Years ago, in times of (emotional) trouble, this record helped me a lot." Mr. Mercury: "Blimey Charlie, I tell you, from "God Man Slain" on, this is a fantastic record! It sounds great in 'demo/sketch' form, but if this album had been given the full studio treatment/label support it deserved, I truly believe it could have been a MASSIVE record!...can you imagine it?!!...(sigh) "I think this album is easily your most immediate, accessible and 'mainstream'. Not as complex as Golden Melodies or your other recent material, but a collective of simple, perfect pop songs." wadcorp: "Blue Moons & Laughing Guitars is still one of my all-time faves. Gee, the denizens of Dreamsville tend to say that quite a bit." Albums Menu Future Past

Dreams & Absurdities album - 2015 Dave Sturt Production/Contribution Menu Future Past TRACKS: 01) Mirage 02) Transcendence 03) Hollow Form 04) Bouncing Like Gagarin 05) Jaffa Market 06) (In My Head) I'm Swimming 07) Unique & Irreplaceable 08) Dreams & Absurdities 09) Whites & Greens In Blue 10) Vast Indifference BILL: Guitar, E-Bow and co-writing on one song, "White & Greens In Blue". NOTES: "Bill plays an absolutely beautiful solo that gets better every time I hear it! So understated and yet it's perfect for the track." - Dave Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Three White Roses & A Budd ep - 2002 Harold Budd, Bill Nelson & Fila Brazillia Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Guitar and Co-Writer on all tracks. NOTES: The brief liner notes say that it was recorded at "Stunk Dusty" (duo Fila Brazillia's studio?) in 2000, although not released until 2002. Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Forum Members To test this feature, visit your live site. Categories All Posts My Posts Login / Sign up The Dreamsville Forum Create New Post William's World A forum for discussing the work of Bill Nelson! subcategory-list-item.views subcategory-list-item.posts 1.2K Follow World Outside The Window A forum for the discussion of more general topics. subcategory-list-item.views subcategory-list-item.posts 979 Follow The World And His Wife A forum for fans to discuss their own music, artwork, poetry...or whatever talent they may wish to share! subcategory-list-item.views subcategory-list-item.posts 252 Follow New Posts Alec Moderator Dash · 6h CHIMERA (1983) William's World Like 4 4 comments 4 DogBoy 3h Working On Another Thingy. World Outside The Window Icosa Sphere Build Like 2 3 comments 3 DogBoy 17h Aluminati Guitars- 'The Nedulous' (fretless Aluminum necked twanger for Ned Evett) ((with light-up Perspex body)) World Outside The Window Aluminati Guitars (@aluminati_guitars) • Instagram photos and videos Ned will have it on the 'Surf the Hydra' tour with Satch and Vai Like 1 0 comments 0 Forum - Frameless

Live Show Archive We would like to build a comprehensive archive gallery of Bill's shows. If you have any great pictures or memories that you would like to share... Please contact us HERE Competition Winner's Meet & Greet - 1983 Nelsonica 02 Nelsonica 03 Be Bop & Beyond Tour - 2004 Nelsonica 07 Plectronica - 2018 Old Haunts Launch Party - 2019

Shining Reflector Bill Nelson album - 8 December 2014 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) BC1675 02) Up In The Attic, Down In The Lab (Hubble Bubble And Starshine) 03) Watchword (A Return) 04) How Near We Are 05) Snoozy Winks 06) Beyond All This 07) Our Lucky Stars 08) Rapture Parade 09) December Days-Diamond Bright 10) Starlight And Moonbeams 11) Shining Reflector 12) It's A Comic Book World 13) Come Closer And See My Dreams 14) The Girl In The Glass Aeroplane ALBUM NOTES: Shining Reflector is an album mixing vocal and instrumental pieces issued in a one-off print run of 500 copies on the Sonoluxe label. The material included on Shining Reflector was created during the Stereo Star Maps sessions when that album was planned as a double. In the end Nelson decided to split the material into three different releases (Swoons and Levitations being the third album), and Shining Reflector was available within a month of Stereo Star Maps . Issued on 8 December 2014, it sold out in an impressive 10 days. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download in the Dreamsville Store . IF YOU LIKED THIS ALBUM, YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY: Dream Transmission Pavilion , Swoons and Levitations , Perfect Monsters , Stereo Star Maps , Clocks & Dials , Modern Moods for Mighty Atoms , Secret Club for Members Only , Return to Jazz of Lights , Plectrajet BILL'S THOUGHTS: "Shining Reflector contains vocals and instrumentals recorded earlier this year but has a different feel to Stereo Star Maps . It's a bit more up-tempo and slightly 'pop-rocky' but it has a wide-screen sonic quality too." FAN THOUGHTS: jetboy: "There's smoke coming out of my ears at the moment. In parts it's dirty, electric, loud, playful. It soars, sweeps, twists and turns. Catherine wheel guitars. It's the new thing." andygeorge: "Bloody hell Bill! Shining Reflector is a wonderful breath of fresh air, an instant attention grabber, frequently made me stop what I was doing to take in what I was hearing...some albums take a while to sink in, but this one hits me like a train wreck! Brilliant guitar work by Bill and for those yet to hear it...it'll knock your socks off!! Love it!" noggin: "I'm happy to report its well up to Bill's usual high standards. I've listened to it three times thus far and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Quite how Bill remains so prolific yet continues to produce albums of such consistently high quality though, remains one of the mysteries of our age." BobK: "Beyond All This": "is what they call achingly beautiful." Face In The Rain: "IMHO Shining Reflector is one of the best albums Bill's made since Orpheus in Ultraland and, like Orpheus , is exactly the sort of album BBD would be making now (well of course it is, you idiot, because it was made by the bloke in BBD, wasn't it). Sorry. I'll get my coat." "Bill's music brings me a lot of joy and I want him to know that and to go on making it whatever health and financial tribulations he's beset by. Call that sucking up to teacher, but I don't mind." Merikan1: "As I commented in another post, this is a great time to be a Bill Nelson fan. The hits just keep coming. Stereo Star Maps , Quiet Bells , Shining Reflector . One and all to my taste and among my new favorites. All sit nicely with many other classics such as Palace , Signals , (going back a bit now), Secret Club , Gleaming , and at least a dozen others. No other artist I can think of produces so frequently and consistently such amazing music. Thank you." Prey: "If I had to pay Bill Nelson for every smile, every tear, every bright start to a day or every calm ending that he's responsible for...he'd own my house, car and girl friend. Keep on truckin' Bill." Albums Menu Future Past

Fancy Planets Bill Nelson album - 20 July 2009 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Fancy Planets 02) The Golden Days Of Radio (Compact Mix) 03) Kiss Me Goodnight, Captain Marvel 04) The Land Of Dreams Is Closed 05) This Leads To That Leads To This 06) Where Are We Now 07) Twice In A Blue Moon 08) Everyday Now Is Forever Again 09) She Dreams Of Fires 10) I Hear Electricity 11) Mysterious Object Overhead 12) Dream Cities Of The Heart 13) Mystery Engine 14) Golden Days Of Radio (Hypermix) ALBUM NOTES: Fancy Planets is (mainly) a vocal album issued on the Sonoluxe label in a single print run of 1000 copies. The album had a working title of Sway and Swoon and was designed to complement another album then called Sparkle and Spin (which was issued as Theatre of Falling Leaves ) which were being worked on in tandem. Eventually Nelson renamed the album Fancy Planets . As the album was being mastered, Nelson noticed that the vocal track on "The Golden Days of Radio" wasn't coming through as clearly as he had wanted. Nelson therefore re-did the vocals on an alternate mix version (sub-titled Compact Mix) and added the original version (sub-titled Hypermix) as a bonus track. Additionally, to avoid having an album with 13 tracks, Nelson then created an extra track "Mystery Engine" from scratch on the eve of the final mastering session and added that to the album too. The album was - alongside Here Comes Mr Mercury – the first Bill Nelson CD to feature 'CD text' allowing you to see the title of each track as it played on certain in car and hi-fi systems. The album includes the 'A' side of the free digital single I Hear Electricity , issued previously on Nelson's 60th birthday (18 December 2008). CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . IF YOU LIKED THIS ALBUM, YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY: Joy Through Amplification , Orpheus in Ultraland , Kid Flip , Special Metal , Satellite Songs , Blip! , Blip 2 , Captain Future's Psychotronic Circus , Modern Moods for Mighty Atoms , Golden Melodies of Tomorrow BILL'S THOUGHTS: "Fancy Planets will have a rock/pop orientation, albeit with a twist. I'm not sure how to exactly describe the music to you as, even within one song, there are lots of ideas at play. The music is very rich sounding, sometimes a 'wall of sound' with lots of guitars and crunchy, chunky drums and beats. It's big, tough and flamboyant, but beautiful too. A couple of tracks, (at least), conjure up the term 'retro-contempo psychedelic glam rock with poptone tints'. Yes, a weird and funny description but it fits some of the material like a glove! "Many of the songs offer an ironic and post-modernist tip of the hat to my rock band past whilst warmly embracing certain nostalgic elements. The material can be enjoyed on multiple levels and I'm sure many of you will have fun spotting the various musical references and cross-references contained on the album. For instance: The song "Dream Cities of the Heart" contains a reference to Be Bop Deluxe's "Night Creatures". In the same verse comes a mention of a much later solo album song of mine, "Fairyland Before the Fire". It's meant to hint at that ambiguous, bisexual, glam thing of first line-up Be Bop. (Later in the same song, there's a veiled reference to sexual magic/tantra too.) "The album is smart and dumb, subtle and flashy, gentle and ultra-violent, funny and serious, all at the same time. It's a terribly irresponsible album for a sixty year old to make!" _____ "That little zip-cut [in the beginning of the title track] is intentional, as if someone had spliced the tape. Also, the second repeat of one of the bridge sections, where the vocal sounds like tape cut-ups, ("all moments exist at once...") is also deliberately fractured...but not by digital, Pro-Tools style cutting and pasting. I actually sung it like that in real time to produce the sliced n' diced effect. Hopefully, it's the real time elements in all this music that separates it from the general software/sequenced/copy and paste methods used by every man and his dog these days." FAN THOUGHTS: Peter: "Wow. On first listen, love Fancy Planets ...Bill, you can still rock, dude. And don't EVER believe the guy in the mirror or anyone else...there isn't an electric guitarist on the planet that can do what you do. And the songs? Again, wow!" WalterDigsTunes: "Easily one of my favorite 21st century releases. With classics like "The Golden Days of Radio", "Where Are We Now", "She Dreams of Fires" and "I Hear Electricity", it's no wonder I feel like it ought to be required listening for anyone curious about the artist's recent output. If there's any album that could lure back fans of 70s guitar heroics or 80s/90s songcraft, it's certainly this one." BFD: "A real gem which is bound to resonate with all BN fans, a very satisfying listen...all the more amazing when you consider its all one (overworked) hyper-perfectionist playing everything. As a guitar freak I especially appreciated the pics/liner notes." knight on the tiles: "It's not a Be-Bop Deluxe album, which I didn't really expect it to be, or want it to be - sometimes the past is best left alone. But the heritage is clear and that works for me. The same sort of things that attracted me to BBD are there; the guitars, the distinctive phrasing Bill has, the subject matter, the balance of pace, the sweet tunes, the staccato rhythms but there's a lot of new stuff too. I also love the retro futurism setting that the cover artwork sets the scene for and the music backs up." wondertoy: "Holy Crap!!! This is some potent stuff. Thank you sooo much Bill for bringing this to the outside world. If this planet had any brains, "The Golden Days of Radio" would be a top ten hit right now. Give it time and maybe it will. The guitar solo on "She Dreams of Fires" is the most brilliant guitar solo I have heard in quite some time. "Mysterious Objects Overhead" totally blew me away. And "Mystery Engine" is a very beautiful piece of sonic artwork that I am very happy to have hanging in my musical gallery. You have outdone yourself once more, Bill. Again the fact that this music is being made by one man in a room upstairs should make a lot of musicians feel REALLY embarrassed to be walking into high priced studios today. Pure magic. Go buy this album now. Can't wait to sit down with this album over and over." Sue: "HOW on earth did Bill fit that band into his bedroom, for surely that can't all be him...But what an amazing album, only had time for a couple of listens so far but I love it, and with all the nods to the past it's a bit of a trip down memory lane too." andygeorge: "Fancy Planets is bloody amazing! Got it this morning and I can honestly say that every track is a beauty. Bill's playing is exquisite, especially on "Dream Cities of the Heart", and as for "Mysterious Object Overhead"...WOW!!" BobK: "These are 13 incredibly catchy and beautifully melodic songs. After quite a few plays they are whirling round and staying in BK's conscious! Lots of retro nods to the past, in the playing, tone and lyrics which are fun spotting. Easy to underestimate how tough it is writing a great melody or a great song. Take a listen to the guitar intro to "Land of Dreams", simple(ish) to play, maybe, but dammed gorgeous and try coming up with something as good as that yourself - few artists do. This is a terrific set of songs!" Merikan1: "I am really loving this one. Right now the two favourites are "Where Are We Now" and "Mysterious Object Overhead". "Where Are We Now" is dreamy, beautiful. Almost a lullaby. The warmth in Bill's voice is perfect. It just wafts me away. "Mysterious Object Overhead" just rocks gloriously. Licks abound. GEEETAR. An instant classic." swampboy: A Favorite Track of Bill's?: "I'd have to say "Twice in a Blue Moon" from 'Fancy Planets'. Like most of Bill's songs, a rollercoaster ride in the dark. You never know when the twists and turns are coming. Pure adrenaline joy!" Littlun : "Thanks for this album. It's as Little Richard once said about Jimi Hendrix - you have made our toes shoot up in our boots once more. You've always been at your best when you are getting down and dirty, and Rocking. Now what's my favorite track again?!" KEVWILKINS: "Where Are We Now": "has totally blown me away. I got really emotional listening to this today. Ten times. I can honestly say I have never been so choked listening to a track in my entire life. Absolutely beautiful." Swan: "Oh!...at the end of the alternate mix of "Golden Days of Radio" Bill plays the riff from "Sister Seagull" as it was and then plays it slowed well down, as if it is dying and struggling for breath. Symbolic I'd say...there won't be another album like it." Colourbox: "Caught myself whistling "Kiss Me Goodnight, Captain Marvel", in that whistling to yourself through the teeth stylee whilst in Sainsbugs this morning." seakret: "His best in years - and I thought Clocks & Dials was extraordinary. I have nearly all of the past 15-20 Sound on Sound discs and this is way up top already. Lots of nods to the past - the guitar is riveting and way up front (short, sharp shades of Red Noise in some of the faster rhythm guitar parts). If you downloaded the "I Hear Electricity" free download and thought Bill was onto something, then this album not only contains that song but also an amazing collection of similarly catchy tunes. Nice one Bill!" Angie: "Just listening to Fancy Planets for the first time...shivers up and down my spine. I love them all, but I think this album is going to be one of my favourites. Thanks, Bill, for thrilling my ears, painting pictures in my mind, and feelings in my heart for over 30 years." GettingOnTheBeam: "Fancy Planets is a classic...I can't stop playing it. I was going to burn a copy for a friend of mine...but couldn't bring myself to thievery, so I ordered him a copy through SOS." captainknut: "From some other thread in this forum I saw someone give someone else the advice to start with Fancy Planets if you like the BBD sound and want a way in. So I followed it, too, and ordered Fancy Planets from SOS. It arrived in the post a few days ago, and I just can't stop playing it. It's that good." Albums Menu Future Past

Rice Music album - 1982 Masami Tsuchiya Production/Contribution Menu Future Past TRACKS: A1) Rice Music A2) Se! Se! Se! A3) Haina-Haila A4) Tao-Tao A5) Neo-Rice Music B1) Kafka B2) Rice Dog Jam B3) Secret Party B4) Silent Object B5) Night In The Park BILL: E-bow guitar on the tracks 'Rice Music' and 'Tao-Tao'. Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

Lovesnake album - 1991 Jean Park Production/Contribution Menu Future Past BILL: Producer of two songs: "Your Body in Soap" and "Feel Like A Wheel". Production/Contribution Menu Future Past

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 William's Study (Diary Of A Hyperdreamer) May 2010 Jan Jun Sep Nov Dec Tuesday 25th May 2010 -- 2:00 pm The gaps between diary entries become wider as the complexity of daily life increases. As I've said so often before, finding enough free time to write up this odd little journal is not always easy. My previous entry, dated 5th January, seems an eternity ago. So much has happened since then that it would be impossible for me to record everything in detail here without spending several hours typing. Instead, I'll attempt to fill in the missing pages in as condensed a form as possible. The last few months have certainly been eventful. During a bout of severe winter weather Emiko and I were involved in a car accident up in the hills of West Yorkshire, not far from Emley Moor. We were driving through a fairly remote area of countryside, on a narrow country lane running down a very steep hill, when, despite progressing slowly and carefully, we lost control of the car and slid sideways down the hill and into a grass verge, narrowly missing a tree. A large four wheel drive vehicle then came over the brow of the hill, stopped for a moment then attempted to drive around us but hit the same treacherous section of ice and snow and also lost control, slamming violently into the side of our car. We were lucky in that we were not physically hurt but we were badly shaken up by the event. Our car, however, suffered some quite serious damage which required it to be sent to an accident repair centre for extensive (and expensive) work. It was off the road for several weeks. Luckily, we were fully covered by our insurance and were given a courtesy car until the repairs were complete. The car is now visibly as good as new. A very unpleasant experience however, and not one that Emi and I would care to repeat. Another unpleasant experience was had when I fell ill with a very nasty gastric flu virus. It started with sudden shivering and aching body, then a very high temperature and stomach pains. I was confined to bed for three or four days, feeling absolutely awful, then not out of my dressing gown for a week. A further week passed before things really began to improve and I felt strong enough to venture outside. I always seem to catch some evil bug or other in the period between New Year and Spring. However, the really annoying aspect of this particular illness was that it caused me to miss the Rufus Wainwright concert in Sheffield for which our good friends Steve and Julia had provided us with tickets as a Christmas gift. I had been so looking forward to seeing Rufus and was terribly disappointed at being too ill to attend. A severe and prolonged toothache has also proved debilitating. It's settled down now but is still somewhat uncomfortable,especially when eating. Of course, my phobia regarding all things medical works against me in these situations. I tend to endure the problem until it resolves itself. Although I consider myself a reasonably bright chap, I certainly can be stubborn and stupid sometimes. I've also been spending time with my mother every week, travelling over to Wakefield to take her out for dinner, giving her a hand with supermarket shopping, etc. Also helping her to deal with the conclusion of the litigation process that she was forced to undertake in order to gain a little more security, all as a result of inadequate provision being made for her in her late husband's will. The whole thing proved to be a tough and totally undeserved ordeal for my mother but, after more than two years of legal action and a modest settlement, there are still a couple of loose ends to tie up. Hopefully, these final issues can be resolved as soon as possible and mum can put this unfortunate situation behind her and get on with her life. Another major pre-occupation for me has been the preparation of volume one of my autobiography. I began work on this project several years ago but, due to various other responsibilities, haven't touched the manuscript for quite a while. A recent decision to privately publish volume one in book form has meant that I've had to devote several weeks of my time exclusively to reviving the project. I've adjusted and re-written large chunks of the original text and compiled over seventy photographs from family archives which I'm hoping to include in the book. The work has required intense concentration and long hours each day to pull it together but it's now almost ready for a rough mock up to be produced so that any final layout/cosmetic changes can be made before it goes off to the printers. The book's title is 'Painted From Memory. Volume One: Evocation Of A Radiant Childhood.' It covers the period from my birth to leaving school and tells how I first became bewitched by guitars and my consequent attempts to learn how to play the instrument. I suspect that a publisher would, in the interests of commerce and conciseness, edit the manuscript quite dramatically...but I'm determined to make this privately printed, limited edition version of the book as true to my original concept as possible. It is packed with detailed descriptions of my early life and provides a unique view of the post-war, working class life in which I grew up. I'm hoping that it will have a broader appeal than a 'How I Became Guitar Boy' type of story, (although that aspect is more than adequately taken care of in the text). My hope is to have the book printed and available to fans of my music by November. Which would coincide perfectly with this year's Nelsonica fan convention. Nelsonica 10 is an ongoing and important preoccupation for me, even at this early time of the year. This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of the event and the Nelsonica Team and myself are trying our best to make it a special one for fans. After some deliberation regarding practicalities and dramatically increased production costs we've decided to attempt a complex two-day event to mark the occasion. I've concocted a fun title for the event: 'Captain Future's Psychotronic Circus,' which suits the playful nature of this special anniversary Nelsonica, and also reflects my childhood fascination with circuses and science fiction. So...this year's event will include a three-part live concert on Day One and a number of interesting presentations on Day Two. The live performance, due to its wide-ranging nature, presents me with a challenge in itself, even before the features of the second day are taken into account. I'm planning to put together a solo set of guitar-based instrumental music with video backdrops, followed by a trio-based set as 'Orchestra Futura,' (which will concentrate on improvised music featuring Theo Travis on saxophone, flute and loops and Dave Sturt on bass guitar and lap-top treatments, plus myself on guitars and loops.) Then there will be a third set featuring my 7-piece 'Gentlemen Rocketeers' band playing a selection of music from my past, (but with a subtle hint of the future!) Choosing, preparing and rehearsing such a complex and extensive 'one-off' show will certainly prove time consuming and physically exhausting but will also offer convention attendees a rich and rewarding listening experience. A fully-packed evening of live music and visuals. The second day will feature special presentations that the Nelsonica Team and myself are already in the process of planning. Amongst these presentations will be an exhibition of my guitars. One of the exhibited jewels in this particular collection will be a unique Campbell Nelsonic Transitone guitar that has been hand painted for me by American artist Nicholas Del Drago. Nicholas is a renowned painter of motorbikes, custom cars and guitars. He is also a guitarist in his own right and a friend of guitar super-star Joe Satriani, (for whom he has also painted a guitar). The Nelsonic guitar that Nicholas has painted for me features a wonderfully retro panorama inspired by some pulp 1950's sci-fi illustrations I sent to him just over a year ago. Nicholas has achieved, on this guitar, a fabulous, deep metalflake paint effect that really sparkles and comes to life when lit by strong light. The sides of the guitar feature a 'flip paint' finish that changes hue depending from which angle it is viewed. The instrument is equipped withAlumitone pickups which in themselves are quite different from any of my other guitars' pickups. In short, it's a very special piece and I'm extremely grateful to Nicholas and Dean Campbell for creating such a striking instrument for me. I've already used the guitar on some of my new but as yet unreleased recordings and it sounds just as good as it looks. Recording, of course, is a continual process for me, an almost daily exercise, or, (dare I say it?) a sort of meditation on 'being,' in the Buddhist sense of the word. (Yes, I dare...) There's something both compulsive and revelatory about just 'doing the work'...I suppose, for me, it's the creative process itself that throws the switch that turns on the internal lightbulb, rather than anything to do with what people might perceive as the musical end result. That old cliché about the journey being more important than the arriving fits my experience perfectly because, whilst the finished albums finally find their meaning with the listener, it's the creative act, the private ritual of making, that ultimately illuminates things for me, especially as I compose and record these albums in an extremely solitary fashion, all alone here in my tiny studio. Since my previous diary entry I've released an album of the soundtrack music I created for the documentary film 'American Stamps.' The film was aired on the US television PBS, (Public Broadcasting Service), channel last year. The music has produced a pleasant and colourful album and, judging from comments posted on my website's forum, seems to have charmed those who have heard it. The album is titled 'PICTURE POST' and it's packaging features a set of imaginary stamps depicting some of my own American pop icons such as Orson Welles, Les Paul, John Cage, Duane Eddy and Fred Astaire. As expected though, I'm already deep into recording brand new music for release later in the year. At this point in time, the aim is to gather together the best, or most compatible, pieces into two distinctive albums. One of these albums will become this year's Nelsonica special edition CD. It will, like the convention itself, be titled 'CAPTAIN FUTURE'S PSYCHOTRONIC CIRCUS' and should be loosely, (though not exclusively), themed around that particular concept. The second album is to be titled 'MOON GOLD PALLADIUM' and, if all goes to plan and I don't shift my conceptual gears, be a lush, richly textured, epic but deeply romantic, (in the poetic, painterly sense of the word), album of vocal-based songs. It will also contain a few appropriate instrumental interludes. All of this is ongoing and organically developing. Lots of work done so far but I still feel that I need to continue along these particular mysterious garden paths until I've gathered enough flowers to make a beautiful arrangement. The vase in the window is patiently awaiting (and anticipating), the artist's hand. Thankfully, the sun is out and the Idea Bird is singing. What else? Well...A shiny new computer sits in front of me as I type these words. Yes, finally, I am connected to broadband and am able to access the internet in a far more contemporary and speedy fashion than before. My new iMac takes up less space than my old G4 Mac and things look slightly less crowded in this tiny home studio than previously. I've yet to fully understand the finer points of some of the latest software, but all that will be resolved in time. My previous computer was ten years behind my current software so there's a reasonably steep learning curve to deal with, especially when it comes to things such as Photoshop and Final Cut. But it's really inspiring to suddenly have the opportunity to move my creative work forward with the help of this sleek machine. It's as if I've moved from gas to electricity! And there are changes in our domestic life too: We are currently being assaulted by banging, hammering, drilling and sawing. Our old, rotten, leaky and unhygenic kitchen is in the process of being completely renovated. I'd hung on to our old kitchen for a long time, hoping that I could postpone the radical changes, (and expense), required to drag us into a more clean and contemporary realm. But, suddenly, there seemed no choice but to 'bite the bullet.' Things were falling apart in a bad way and what had once seemed charmingly 'shabby' had become frustratingly useless. Actually, our home desperately requires a variety of renovations, most of which are currently beyond our reach... but the kitchen's many problems are finally in the process of being rectified. The work began with us emptying stuff from the old kitchen cupboards. An astonishing amount of 'stuff' as it happens. It is now occupying the dining room, actually filling the entire space! AND overflowing into the lounge and into the little study, (a room that was already almost impossible to enter due to accumulations of this, that or the other item of 20th Century bric-a-brac.) The physical work of demolishing the old kitchen began last Wednesday and since then we have had no means of cooking, (or washing up). Today the installation of the new kitchen units has begun, though there's much more to be done in that department, including fitting the worktops, sink and various items of hardware. Still, the tiled floor has already been completed and a new 'range-style' oven will be delivered on Thursday. Hopefully, with the exception of re-decorating the walls and ceiling, the new kitchen should be operational by the early part of next week. Emi is very much looking forward to finally having a decent, practical and easier to clean kitchen to work in. She's thrilled about it all and can't wait to see the finished thing. Lots of plaster dust in the air at the moment though, even up here in my studio...A fine layer of it seems to cover every surface. The cleaning up process will involve more than the kitchen and dining room areas by the look of things. Meanwhile, we've been eating out every evening, (but tonight we had fish n' chips from the village chippie). Had dinner with Elle and Elliot at Ceasar's Italian restaurant in town last night. They're busy people and I don't get to see them as often as I'd like. Rehearsing and performing with 'Honeytone Cody' takes up a lot of their time. I'm just as wrapped up in music too, I guess. But they're very talented and I'm extremely proud of them and it's always good for us to spend some time together. This last weekend was more like summer than spring: bright, clear blue skies and hot golden sunshine. As the kitchen company were not working at our house on Saturday and Sunday, Emi and I took the opportunity to get away from all the kitchen debris and distraction for a while. On Saturday afternoon we went to Knaresborough and enjoyed apple pie and ice cream whilst sitting at the edge of the river, watching the little rowing boats drift by beneath the old Victorian railway bridge. A favourite fair weather spot for us. Later, we drove to Harrogate for dinner and ended up at a restaurant called 'William And Victoria.' It was the first time we'd eaten there and it was extremely enjoyable. Sunday we drove to Whitby, 'though the traffic was terrible and it took us far longer than usual. Had lunch at a place called 'Marine' which we hadn't been to before. Very nice it was too, we'll be going back next time we visit Whitby. The weather was beautiful and we sat overlooking the harbour after lunch, just taking in the view. I love visiting that place, even though it's sometimes very busy with tourists. Sadly, one of our favourite Harrogate restaurants has unexpectedly closed down. 'San Martino' is no more, a victim of the economic climate by the look of it. Such a shame. But there are so many places suffering the same fate. 'The Lamb and Lion Inn' in York was another favourite eatery of ours. Several weeks ago now, Emi and I drove into town to have lunch there, only to find the place locked up and in darkness. Gone forever due to the Royal Bank Of Scotland calling time on the business, despite the owners turning things around and getting it into profit after the losses incurred by previous owners. We miss the place very much as it had become a regular haunt of ours. And I still miss 'Borders' bookshop in the centre of town. The building it occupied remains empty and forlorn, the 'Borders' logo remains displayed within its walls but there are only the ghosts of books and the ruins of bookshelves to remind one of the place it once was. As I've probably mentioned elsewhere, 'Borders' opened here several years ago now, with such promise and style, only to slowly deteriorate, its original wide-ranging stock becoming narrower and narrower, less specialist and more predictable. A victim of the bland and mediocre consumerism of the modern marketplace? Or just bad management and exorbitant rents? Actually, the effects of the economic malaise seem to be more acute than ever. And, despite the usual hopes that accompany a general election, all I can see from the results of the recent hung Parliament is an exercise in spin that somehow defines the naivety and the gullibility of much of the public. Throughout the election campaign, the word 'change' was bandied about like a toy balloon at a children's party. And a children's party, I fear, is what we may have ended up with. I hope this uncomfortable coalition will not be as disastrous as it might appear...but I watch the television images of Cameron and his new found Lib-Dem pals sitting side by side and don't know whether to laugh or cry. What should we call such an alliance, other than 'disappointing?' The 'Con-dems' maybe? An arrogant toff with no upper lip and a fake Yorkshireman who resembles The Mekon but doesn't have green skin? Ok, that's rather unfair of me, I know. I'm just having a go, all in fun. Still, that old satirical tv show 'Spitting Image' would have a ball with this lot. Maybe they're very nice people and kind to their grannies, etc...but, despite their best efforts they come across, to me at least, as condescending and not a little devious. (But that's often a trait of the political classes, so nothing new there.) It will be interesting and darkly entertaining to see which way their wind blows though. I'm trying to think of other things I should include in this 'catch-up' of a diary entry but am finding it hard to think at all due to the threateningly loud sound of drilling and sawing coming from the kitchen below me. So, maybe that's enough typing for now. Until next time. ***** The images accompanying this diary are as follows:- 1: A shot of a corner of Bill's studio showing iMac and Rocketship Nelsonic Guitar. 2: Photo of Bill in front of Whitby Harbour, May 22nd 2010. 3: Photo of boats in a corner of Whitby Harbour taken by Bill 22 May 2010. 4: Bill with Rocketship Campbell Nelsonic guitar. May 2010. 5: Close up of Bill's Rocketship Campbell Nelsonic guitar painted by Nicholas Del Drago. 6: Weird creatures lurking in a corner of Bill's studio. Taken by Bill, March 2010. Top of page

Tremulous Antenna retrospective collection - 27 May 2002 Be Bop Deluxe Collections Menu Future Past TRACKS: 01) Life In The Air Age 02) Sister Seagull 03) Third Floor Heaven 04) Blazing Apostles 05) Maid In Heaven 06) Kiss Of Light 07) Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape 08) Fair Exchange 09) Ships In The Night 10) Modern Music/Dancing In The Moonlight/Honeymoon On Mars/Lost In The Neon World/Modern Music (Reprise) 11) New Precision 12) Superenigmatix 13) Possession 14) Dangerous Stranger 15) Islands Of The Dead 16) Panic In The World NOTES: Tremulous Antenna is a remastered edition of the Radioland CD (1994) which provides a compilation of the band's BBC recordings for In Concert made in 1976 and 1978. Sourced from 3 different shows, each recording was edited when compared to the original broadcast material. The subsequent release of At the BBC 1974-1978 (2013) with the inclusion of the previously omitted tracks makes this CD redundant. Tracks 1-4: Recorded for BBC's 'Radio 1 In Concert' at the Paris Theatre 15.01.76. Producer Jeff Griffin. Tracks 5-10: Recorded for BBC's 'Radio 1 In Concert' at the Hammersmith Odeon 20.10.76. Producer Pete Dauncey. Tracks 11-16: Recorded for BBC's 'Radio 1 In Concert' at Golders Green Hippodrome 19.01.78. Producer Jeff Griffin. PAST RELEASES: Previously released as Radioland (1994). CURRENT AVAILABILITY: This compilation is now out of print. Collections Menu Future Past

Picture Post Bill Nelson album - 7 April 2010 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Sunny Day For A Happy Postman 02) Postcard To A Penfriend 03) Music Spins My Globe 04) I Send These Dreams To You 05) A Christmas Cowboy Outfit 06) Skimming Stones 07) In Anticipation 08) Shibuya Screen 09) September Promenade 10) Airmail Guitar 11) A Day At West Acre 12) Greetings From Surf Guitar Island 13) Beach Hut Beauties 14) Dream Of An American Streetcar 15) Mobile Homes On The Range 16) Surf King Sails In 17) Big Ship 18) Filigree Balcony 19) Clouds Drift North 20) The Toy Trumpet 21) Pageant 22) Emphatically Yours ALBUM NOTES: Picture Post is instrumental album issued on the Sonoluxe label in a single print run of 1000 copies. The album was created from the soundtrack that Nelson was commissioned to write for a documentary called American Stamps , broadcast by the PBS channel. Attendees of Nelsonica '08 were treated to the premier showing of American Stamps on 1 November 2008. The album was recorded in 2007, and was originally to be released in tandem with another album, but the past practice of releasing albums simultaneously had proved uneconomic. So from Picture Post onwards Nelson's albums would appear on a 'one at a time' basis. Picture Post sold out in January 2022. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . IF YOU LIKED THIS ALBUM, YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY: Pedalscope , Theatre of Falling Leaves , The Years , Model Village , All That I Remember , Sailor Bill , Albion Dream Vortex , Simplex , Chameleon , Caliban and the Chrome Harmonium , Map of Dreams BILL'S THOUGHTS: "Those of you who managed to catch the documentary television film the music was created for will have had a taster already, but the album presents the soundtrack in full focus without the documentary voice-over/narrative necessary to the film version. It's an album of 'miniatures', 22 short pieces of very detailed, lush sounding instrumental music. The closest I can get to describing it is to say that it combines the keyboard approach of Theatre of Falling Leaves with some of the orchestral textures of The Alchemical Adventures of Sailor Bill . This mixture is sprinkled here and there with electric guitar, sometimes in a slick, jazzy mood, sometimes in a chromium-plated, surf mood. There's also a touch of banjo and slide guitar. Oh, and a hint of electronica. It's a very fine sounding album that conjures interesting pictures in the listener's mind and, as always, it offers a different approach to the previous album." _____ "Each piece of music was created to reflect the thematic content of the relevant part of the documentary film. For instance, the music that I created for the chapter on musical stamps covers a variety of musical genres within its short time span, from Rock n' Roll thru jazz, modern composition, etc. The pacing of the piece and points where the stylistic changes occur are dictated by the real-time physical edits of the images in the film. In fact, these diverse images, their style and their pacing became the actual 'score' for each piece. None of the tracks were conceived separately from this 'score'...they were built for purpose, even down to leaving space for the documentary voice overs...the whole thing was carefully constructed as a harmonious whole. "However, I liked what this did to the music as it forces one to think in non-linear ways about composing and produces musical effects that might not 'normally' occur. Listening to the music without the visuals that it was designed to accompany was, for me, interesting and satisfying as it produced an eclectic and almost unpredictable listening experience. The result was something that I couldn't have achieved without the film's template." _____ "There's a nice twist in that all the stamps used as part of Picture Post' s package design are NOT authentic postal stamps as were used in the documentary film, but are actually fake stamps of my own invention, featuring images I chose and altered to represent my personal, 'imaginary' America. So, you'll see idealised skyscrapers, graphically-adjusted portraits of Orson Welles, Fred Astaire, Roy Rogers, Les Paul, Duke Ellington and Duane Eddy...also a cowgirl, Superman, etc. It's an idealised, mythical America that existed in my imagination long before I ever was able to visit the USA...an America I could only access, as a boy, via the imported medium of comic books, Hollywood films, jazz and rock n' roll music. By creating these non-existent stamps for the album artwork I was able to bring the project into the conceptual framework of my own experience, an expression of my own history." FAN THOUGHTS: steve lyles: "It's a fabulous album...both epic and intimate. "Postcard to a Penfriend" was an instant hit for me, as was "Shibuya Screen" and "Big Ship". As always, amazed at Bill Nelson's ability to make such interesting and beautifully textured music." mark smith: "Just had to share my fondness for the latest CD release from Bill and how much this little beauty has been making my busy driving of late a pleasure not a chore. It's been living in my car since it arrived in April and full of all those beautiful moments I have been looking for in other artists but is seemingly abundant in Bill's art. I just want to thank you Mr Nelson for these compositions and hope others enjoy this disk as much as I have." bobbyboy: "Got my copy a few days ago, and I cant stop playing it. And I finally saw the documentary, very nice, and informative. Loved hearing Bill in the background, it flows perfectl y!!! Where's my "grass skirt", it's time to hula again???" BobK: "This is a very charming, likeable and quite beautiful CD." major snagg: "This is smooth as silk. I was relaxing with a glass of wine, listening to this CD just last night. Bliss." felixt1: "I've always thought Picture Post was criminally under-appreciated! It is predominantly a keyboard album but the two guitar driven tracks are a couple of Bill's absolute best - "Music Spins My Globe" and "Airmail Guitar" - totally essential Bill Nelson guitar instrumentals. Overall, Picture Post has an undeniably feel-good vibe to it." "Music Spins My Globe": "This tune brilliantly captures the vibe of America in the fifties/early sixties. An absolute classic in my opinion..." "Air Mail Guitar": "the guitar playing on this track alone is worth buying the album for." Palladium: "A Day At West Acre": "really captures the wistful quality that runs through much of Picture Post . (The two guitar pieces it's sandwiched between aren't bad either!)" ladesco: "Beautifully melodic and lofty. Upward and forward...these heavenly oral veins waft, warp and wane toward new lights and heights of humanity. Earthly and grounded, majestic brush strokes direct and move the sound upwards, enlightening even the most disheartened vantage point to such a nether... Lovely! Thank you, Bill..." thunk: "Picture Post has been weaving wonders here too - At 1 mins, 30 secs of "Music Spins My Globe", I can just see this 'swing yer legs & kick yer shoes off'-type dance kicking-in to the brass swing section. And I've just been smitten by the lovely string arrangement on "A Day At West Acre" that comes in at around 3 mins, 12 secs...aaaaahhhhh..." Alan: "I know this is not Bill's first soundtrack, but he is very good at it. As someone else in another thread mentioned, I had a hard time paying attention to the dialogue, trying to hear the music...Once again, Bill has outdone himself. He's simply an amazing artist, and I'm glad to be along for the ride." novemberman: "What a gem!! I have to be honest - the idea of music to accompany a documentary on American Stamps didn't exactly excite my interest, but if you do not own this album don't be put off. For your money you will get 1 hour of sublime instrumental music of the highest quality, it's not a solely guitar album and has keyboard very prominent throughout. So if you don't have this yet put to the top of your SOS [Bandcamp] list for your next purchase." Albums Menu Future Past

Quiet Bells Bill Nelson album - 9 March 2015 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) We Here Who Were There 02) Vapour Grey 03) The Day I Dreamed You Up 04) Shifting Sands 05) Ocean In The Sky 06) I Dream Of Waves 07) Seaglass 08) Sun On Water, Wind In Wire 09) The Fields Beyond 10) Beneath Her Dappled Apple Tree 11) Chiming Shires 12) Boy Chases Butterfly 13) Ghosts Of The Space Age 14) Transcendental Tittycups 15) A Perfect Night - The Dawn Rejoices 16) Theme From Uncanny Valley 17) Quiet Bells 18) In Dreams Awake ALBUM NOTES: Quiet Bells is an instrumental album issued in a one-off print run of 500 copies on the Sonoluxe label. The album was the first to be commenced after Nelson had been diagnosed with a hearing problem, and was deliberately styled to be quiet and discrete. Work on Quiet Bells was commenced in July 2014 and was completed by September 2014. The album was released on 9 March 2015, and like its predecessor, Shining Reflector , sold out in 7 days. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "This album is a semi-ambient guitar instrumental fantasia, situated somewhere in mood between the Rosewood acoustic albums and the more electric Dreamland to Starboard , And We Fell Into A Dream , and Signals From Realms of Light albums. "It is predominantly guitar based but with lots of AxeFX processing and features the prototype of my 'Astroluxe' signature guitar. The album contains 18 tracks and enough musical mysterioso to keep you digging deep for many months. "It is also the first album I've recorded since my uncomfortable and debilitating hearing loss. Working on this album has been a real challenge, difficult and frustrating yet, despite all that, I think it has turned out ok. By the time it has been mastered at Fairview by John Spence, I think you will find that it's more than acceptable! It has a lovely, gentle, ruminative atmosphere which will, I hope, provoke deep thoughts and technicolour dreams." _____ "John Spence, when we mastered this album, said it was 'thoughtful'. I'll agree with that too...it has some deep and dark stuff going on in it somehow. It's one of the more 'soulful' albums of mine, despite the ambient nature of it." _____ "The photograph on the back cover of the album, (with the tree and landscape), was taken by me, only a few yards away from my house. Incidentally, the interior photo's of the Buddha statue, (with Emi's flowers), and the Carp pond, (plus the dragonfly image to the right of it), are my photo's too." FAN THOUGHTS: Palladium: "Completely 'blown away' by this (Quiet Bells ) - although it's not what I'd expected from reading the above comments. Very different in texture and sound from previous 'ambient'-leaning guitar instrumentals. Seems experimental, fresh, new, invigorating - the kinds of things you don't expect from an artist who has recorded a hundred or so albums! How many times have I listened to a new BN album for the first time, and at certain points thought "this is the best thing I've ever heard". I get a lot of that with Quiet Bells - like when I listened to "A Perfect Night - The Dawn Rejoices" first time." "The first thing that struck me about Quiet Bells was its depth and coherence, given some of the reviews and BN's own typically modest comments about it leading up to its release. In other words, I didn't expect it to be the major album I think it is." Parsongs: "What a wonderful album it is. "Bill has applied his ambient sensibilities (think Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights ) to his best instrumental guitar compositions (a la Romance of Sustain ) to produce a completely new style and mood. "The music is soothing, relaxing, meditative, introspective. I recommend playing it start to finish, then repeat! I must add that the sonic fidelity is incredible; what a great mix! You never cease to amaze us, Bill!" machman767: "I've only been able to listen once but I'm amazed at the quality. Even more astounding is that it's been created whilst suffering the hearing problem, I can only assume that we really are in the presence of a gifted musician, not that there has ever been any doubt. I don't usually "get" these style of CDs but this is something much more deeper, as Bill says, it's got soul." RJR: "It hearkens back to the very awesome Rosewood CDs and meanders through Neptune's Galaxy , Silvertone Fountains , and other non-vocal collections. But, it is unique and stands on its own. I have a hunch that this one is one that will continue to grow as the spring and summer nights become more the norm. I told my wife that this one is a "floater" (please remove the first visions that just came to your mind) in that it creates an atmosphere where it augments the visual surroundings and creates a feeling of inner levitation." Face In The Rain: "Held off posting anything about Quiet Bells to give myself a chance to listen to it a few times, just in case I was wrong. But I'm not. It's my favourite BN album. Simple as that. I think that about each new release but this time I mean it. The sound is gorgeous - plus it's Bill doing what he does best which IMHO is noodling away on an axe. Maybe it's because I'm of a certain age and in increasingly contemplative mood but this album just completely hits the spot." Alan: "This album is absolutely beautiful. Nothing short of sublime. The music on this album is seamless in its ability to entertain. "Thanks so very much Bill, for providing the soundtrack of my dreams for all these years. And, it just gets better all of the time." andygeorge: "When I die and go to Heaven, and I will 'cos I'm a good boy, this is what I expect to be playing...wonderful music Mr Nelson!" Albums Menu Future Past

Astral Motel Bill Nelson album - 7 September 2002 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Whistleworld 02) Noonday Venus 03) Unsaid (Starry Lamps And Blazing Comets) 04) Autumn And Spring 05) Dippety-Doo 06) Nothing Up My Sleeve 07) Incident At Astral Motel 08) Beyond Recall ALBUM NOTES: Astral Motel is an album issued on the Almost Opaque label exclusively for Nelsonica '02 . Astral Motel was the first of Nelson's albums to be restricted to a single print run of 500 copies, a situation that in time would become the norm. After Nelsonica '02, the album was sold exclusively through the Rooms With Brittle Views website, where it remained on catalogue for approximately 1 year. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . FAN THOUGHTS: Marshall: "A terrific and very coherent piece of work with a little bit of everything -- kitschy pop tunes, gorgeous ambient pieces, soaring guitar instrumentals, all in one tasty package." Dar: "Astral Motel is a true gem, nothing less." Mick Winsford: "My favourite song at the moment in all of this is a fairly obscure track called "Beyond Recall" (final track on Astral Motel which is currently haunting my conscious and unconscious mind). That little keyboard motif that is used throughout the song just keeps spinning around my head and I can't get rid of it." paulnery: "It has one of Bill's best tunes - "Beyond Recall" - simply wonderful!" dbodom: "Nothing Up My Sleeve": "In my top five best BN tracks. The guitar work is fantastic and it's so Bill, if you know what I mean. "Here...I'll set the metronome...". " Peter: "This album is worth it for the solo on "Nothing Up My Sleeve" alone. I also really like "Beyond Recall". Very majestic and uplifting. And the rest of the album is pretty damned good too!" Alan: "Beyond Recall": "is wonderful, as are all the tracks. I have to say I listened to Astral Motel all weekend and every track is fantastic." Albums Menu Future Past

Arcadian Salon Bill Nelson album - 14 October 2006 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Premium Standard No.1 02) The Girl In The Galaxy Dress 03) Take It Off And Thrill Me (Jazzy Option) 04) Memory Skyline 05) Distant Town With Different Lights 06) The Song My Silver Planet Sings 07) Spaceport 08) Superadventure (Sound-On-Sound) 09) Playful 10) Transparent Towers At Dusk 11) El Swingo Collapso 12) The Rest Of The World Rolls By 13) Wind Chimes Of Memory 14) Take It Off And Thrill Me (Rock Option) 15) Sequinned Skeleton Blues 16) Snow Is Falling 17) A Buddha For My Brother ALBUM NOTES: Arcadian Salon is an album mixing vocal and instrumental pieces issued exclusively for Nelsonica '06 in the then customary limited pressing of 500 copies on the Discs of Ancient Odeon label. As soon as Nelsonica was over the remaining 250 or so copies of Arcadian Salon were sold through SOS, and on 25 October 2006 (11 days after release at Nelsonica ) an announcement was made on the Dreamsville Forum that the album had completely sold out. The frenzied speed at which this title went out of print, together with some intense feelings expressed by members on the forum, would lead to a change of policy for the following year's convention CD. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "The first six tracks are all from the Return to Jazz of Lights sessions and have a very jazzy feel. I couldn't find space for them on that album so they are presented here instead." _____ On the digital reissue: "I haven't listened to Arcadian Salon for several years, (due to my inescapable, constant, upward and onward work momentum,) but I have to admit to being somewhat astonished by the quality of the songs when listening to the album after its re-release in digital form. This is definitely an album I can feel proud of." FAN THOUGHTS: RJR: "For those of you who do not have this collection of songs for whatever reason, I HIGHLY recommend that you download it ASAP. I am a regular lurker on this board, and when I come out of cyber-hibernation it has to be for a good reason. This is definitely one of those occasions. Arcadian Salon is, in my humble opinion, in the top five of ALL of BN's releases (and I have been a follower since 1977). Each and every song grabs and stays with you. "The Girl in the Galaxy Dress" is gold. "Both versions of "Take It Off" are excellent...This is truly an awesome song. In fact, the whole CD contains some of BN's finest guitar work bar none." "You should be proud, Bill -- this collection is magical. As I said: DOWNLOAD THIS CD or forever regret it." adancetothemusicoftime: "I'd heard it for the first time...and it had that WOWEEEBLOODYHELL reaction. In fact, listening along we missed the turning on the A19 and ended up East of Ipswich, well, Wetherby." BobK: " Arcadian starts off cool, jazzy and groovy becoming, stylistically, more rock/pop in the second half. There are so many instantly loveable tunes on this." Radium Girl: "The vocals on Arcadian Salon are absolutely stunning! Thank you Bill, the whole CD is just gorgeous!" paul.smith " Arcadian Salon has so many great tracks which have become 'standards' for me over the years..."The Girl in the Galaxy Dress" is simply stunning...utterly beautiful vocals/guitar/instrumentation...I never fail to be astonished by the qualities of this classic track. "Transparent Towers at Dusk" is another track that hit with me soon after some repeated plays...and, of course, "The Song My Silver Planet Sings"...absolutely sublime!!!" old_goat: "Listening to "Take It Off and Thrill Me", "Memory Skyline" beginning...I'm so blown away!! OMG, it feels sooooo good!! The vocals are very playful, very jazzy guitar, and the "flute"...I'm am sooo loving this!!!" chromiumlad: "Got a kick out of Kansas being mentioned in "Transparent Towers at Dusk". And love "El Swingo Collapso" after just one listen. Fabulous playing Bill. You could play alongside whatever musical hero you desire." thunk: "Gotta say 'The Rest of the World Rolls By' is a 'corker' - gonna blast that one up in the car & drum the steering wheel 'till, well, the lights change!" mthom: "Two classics on this one: "Memory Skyline" and "The Rest of the World Rolls By". Essential listening to these ears. (oh yeah, don't forget "Snow is Falling"!)" tommaso: "Snow is Falling": "is a truly stand-out track, not just on this album, and the final "A Buddha for my Brother" is a very, very beautiful farewell gift to Ian. Oh, and GREAT cover design!" Flying: "There is an emotional and profound communication going on here that hits a deeper note, simply because it is obviously straight from the heart - and not going through the filter of a jazz or any other kind of theme. Genius is effortless." damien dale: "Bill, this is with out a doubt one of your finest albums ever. Take it from your fans; we would not lie to you! Albums Menu Future Past

Saturday 19th December 2009 -- 10:00 pm Catch up time yet again: Emiko returned from Tokyo on the evening of the 7th of December as planned. Her ordeal in Japan now over although the emotional and physical exhaustion has clearly taken its toll. She's been extremely tired and, sadly, visibly depressed since attending her mother's funeral...which of course, is only to be expected. I've been trying to lift her spirits on a daily basis but there's only so much I can do. The reality is that she will have to work her way through her bereavement and the inevitable grief in her own time. I'm simply a shoulder to lean on and must try to stay aware of that and not try to force the issue with false bonhomie. There is no way to magic the pain away. I can't heal her hurt, only share it. But, Christmas is rapidly approaching and may well provide distractions or social interactions that might help to soften the impact of her sadness. At least I hope so... For myself, I think I coped reasonably well whilst Emi was away, though I missed her terribly as always. At least, it was only ten days this time and there were no unexpected cat crises. My sixty-first birthday yesterday. The years absolutely fly by now...the actual numbers becoming increasingly unreal, or so it seems to me, a man hardly out of short trousers in some ways. How fleeting are our lives...and how mercifully ignorant most of us are of time's violent, impassive acceleration. And yet...there is still so much to achieve, so many things to explore, such a lot to enjoy and to learn from... Or, as the cliche has it: 'so much to do, so little time.' Is this why the Buddhist teaching of reincarnation holds some sort of cuddly, consoling appeal for me? The possibility of an ongoing story, a kind of infinite apprenticeship before inevitable, blissful enlightenment finally places Buddahood's bright and golden crown on our rusting, befuddled and exhausted minds? Or, (more realistically), is this just one more crock of wishful-thinking born from our mortal inability to deal with the very real possibility of utter nothingness, utter meaninglesness at the end of our lives, no matter how long or brief those lives may be? Well, one part of me, actually the gut-instinct, primal-intuitive part of me, says it's all nonsense, an empty, desperate grabbing at thin, broken, rotten straws. Ego clinging to motes of dust...and dust clinging to an illusion of light, emptiness suspended in a black, bleak nothingness. Maybe the 'here and now' is ALL we ultimately have to cling to, regardless of whether our particular, personal here and now is little more than an illusion. (And, I have to say that 'here and now' seems always to be particular, subjective and personal. At least, according to my experience.) So, yes...Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Orson Welles, as Citizen Kane, gave the dying Kane the word 'Rosebud' to whisper on his terminal bed, as his personal enigma and mantra, a mystery suspended, hovering in air and slowly dissolving like those aforementioned, light-levitated, motes of dust. And who was, (or what was), 'Rosebud?' In Orson's film, it turned out to be a child's sled fixed in a snow-dome-idealised, frozen winter landscape. A metaphorical lifeboat for childhood's innocence and faith. Well, William.I think that's enough melancholy reflection for today. Christmas is coming, though with somewhat less sheer exuberance than previous years. Nevertheless, it presents us with an extra opportunity for warmth and love, something which I'm very much in need of during these cold, cynical, dark days. Yesterday and today, thick, white, lingering snow. Very cold and icy, particularly the isolated lane that leads from our house to the more-oft used road that winds into the village. Tricky conditions for driving and walking. Fabulously seasonal visuals though, a vintage Christmas card come to life. So...to all dear readers of this old Hyperdreamer's diary, I wish you a Very Merry, Joyous and Warm Christmas, and a miraculous, magical, life-enhancing 2010. As Tiny Tim said: "God bless us, every one." Top of page William's Study (Diary Of A Hyperdreamer) December 2009 Jan Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 Thursday 31st December 2009 -- 6:00 pm New Year's Eve, 2009. Let me see if I can get this entry written and posted before the clock ticks its inevitable tick-tock steps across the border between 2009 and 2010. I'll try to keep it short and to the point. No images, just words. It's cold still. The snow that fell before Christmas only now just gone, but more is promised, apparently. It's been white and icy for a week at least...very dangerous in the backyard, and on the dark lane outside our house. The main roads have not been too bad but it has certainly felt like an old-fashioned winter around these parts. Colder and more bleak than previous years and only lacking in horse-drawn coaches and post-horns. A Dickensian Christmas card come to life. Christmas Day was spent with our good friends, Steve and Julia, who live down the lane. I brought my mother over from Wakefield to spend the day with us and them...and to stay over for boxing day when Elle and Elliot came to visit. Lights twinkling on the tree, Christmas cards suspended from the wooden beams in the living room, electric icicles and neon sparkles hung in the trees in our snow covered garden, candles and incense and the sensation of mellow, melancholy but benevolent ghosts of Christmases past, hovering and humming in the frosty air. Hornby Dublo train sets, Meccano and Dinky Toys glowing in the living room of memory. Magic hour! I was given some nice gifts, for birthday and Christmas, as always: Emiko had bought me an Andy Warhol wristwatch whilst she was in Tokyo. Made by Seiko for the Warhol Museum, it's a little beauty...(just like my lovely Emi!) Lots of books given too, which suits me just fine. My home is like a library. Got the following from Emiko: ''Perfecting Sound Forever - The Story Of Recorded Music' by Greg Milner. 'Orson Welles At Work.' (A thick, lavishly illustrated coffee table book published by Phaidon.) 'The Art Of Osamu Tezuka' by Helen McCarthy.' And from My friend Paul Gilby I received: 'Shop America. Mid Century Storefront Design-1938 to 1950.' And: ''Architecture Of The Air - The Sound And Light Environments Of Christopher Janney.' (Ironically, I also bought the same 'Shop America' book as my Christmas gift to Paul! Well, great minds think alike, etc...) Elliot and Elle bought me: 'John Barry - The Man With The Midas Touch' by Geoff Leonard, Pete Walker and Gareth Bramley. (Nicely illustrated, this one.) My friends Steve and Julia bought me 'This Is The Way To The Moon' (A reproduction of the children's classic by M. Sasek, beautifully illustrated.) And just before Christmas, I treat myself to a book or two: 'Phallic Frenzy, Ken Russell And His Films' by Joseph Lanza. 'All Is Change, The Two-Thousand Year Journey Of Buddhism To The West' by Lawrence Sutin. 'Prophet John Wroe, Virgins, Scandals And Visions' by Edward Green. 'The Barnum Museum' by Steven Millhauser. 'Death On A Branch Line' and 'The Last Train To Scarborough' (Both titles by Andrew Martin, part of his 'Jim Stringer, Steam Detective' series and the latter book signed by the author himself.) Other gifts included a quirky old Russian Nomo 'Cosmic Symbol' camera bought for me from the internet by my youngest daughter Elle, a very stylish neck-tie bought for me by Emiko from Tokyo, a box set of George Formby DVD's, (also from Emiko). A bottle of Chanel 'Egoiste' cologne, (Emiko again), and lots of light-hearted, fun, stocking-fillers. One of the most generous gifts that Emi and I received came from Steve and Julia: two tickets to Rufus Wainwright's upcoming concert at Sheffield City Hall in April of 2010. A totally unexpected treat and VERY much appreciated by both of us. As readers of this diary already know, Emi and myself are big fans of Rufus' work and we're both looking forward to seeing him perform in April. 'Borders' book store closed just before Christmas. (Did I already mention this in an earlier diary entry? Maybe not.) Browsing the York store was almost a daily ritual for me, part of my afternoon escape from the confines of my recording room. It was from Borders that I purchased American magazines that were not easily found in UK stores: 'Guitar Player', ' Vintage Guitar Magazine', ' Downbeat' jazz magazine, the now defuct '20th Century Guitar' magazine and many other imported titles, including the magnificent 'Fretboard Journal' magazine, a publication that only recently appeared on Borders' shelves here in the UK. When Borders first opened in England, it seemed like a breath of fresh air: it featured specialist sections dealing in left-field books, periodicals, CDs and DVDs, items that appealed to those of us who sought out the more unusual, less mainstream aspects of contemporary culture. Borders recognised that there was a need to cater to those whose tastes ranged beyond the populist staples.. Unfortunately, the last two or three years of the store's life has seen an erosion of such provision. The once broad-based CD racks became much diminished, not only in size but also in the quality of their contents. The jazz, folk, country, world music and classical sections all but vanished...then the rock and pop music sections began to dwindle too and have now, along with everything else the store contained, gone forever... The store closed its doors just before Christmas Eve for the very last time, never to re-open again. Another victim of the internet's ruthless undercutting of high street retail store values. I was there at the York store's closing, but walked out just five minutes before the final bell when the last customer left and the doors were locked for the last time. On that final day, Borders offered a 90% discount on previous prices, but the place looked like a jumble sale with books piled up on tables and none of them of any interest to me. Now, I have no real place to browse for my American music magazines and contemporary art periodicals on my daily, routine, stroll around town. W.H.Smith somehow doesn't have the same vibe, (or stock the same titles), nor does Waterstones, although it is now the main bookseller on the high street. A great shame I think. And even more of a shame: the helpful and once enthusiastic staff who, sadly, have been made redundant. Thankfully, York does have several small independent, antiquarian and second hand bookshops. They will, I'm sure, provide me with some unforseen discoveries, not to mention the tactile shopping experience denied to me by the internet retailers. But it's not just Borders that has suffered...so many others businesses are still floundering too, both big and small. The fashion retailer 'Ghost' has just vanished from the city after a closing down clearance sale. Far too many shops, large and small, emptied and abandoned, their leases not taken up. For all of York's boastful tourism, many traders are struggling for economic survival. The much-touted 'recovery' seems to be little more than hot air. And it seems that It may remain so for some time yet. As for music. I can definitely see the negative effect that illegal internet torrent sites and unauthorised downloading is having on the recording industry in general, including my own tiny cottage industry and others in the same modest position as myself. Whilst the internet has provided small volume, specialist artists with a new outlet for our non-mainstream work, it is also clear that it has had a negative effect on our situation. An awful lot of damage has been afflicted on the entire industry too. But, whilst the major artists and record companies are equipped to weather the storm, those of us depending on small-volume sales are gradually being swept away, never to return. We really are at the mercy of consumers and need, more than ever, an audience who value our contribution and recognise that they, as individuals, are an important component of our survival. And of the survival of music that exists beyond the corporate net.Those who buy direct from the artist are not just consumers but, more importantly, patrons and co-conspiritors, fellow collaborators, preservers of ideals. It all seems to be coming down to a choice between mediocrity or marvelousness. Will the future be blatantly banal or benevolently beautiful? And, with that thought, I wish all readers of this Hyperdreamer's diary, a healthy, peaceful and enlightened 2010. Much love from Bill and Emiko. xxx Top of page

Radioland retrospective collection - 5 October 1994 Be Box Deluxe Collections Menu Future Past TRACKS: 01) Life In The Air Age 02) Sister Seagull 03) Third Floor Heaven 04) Blazing Apostles 05) Maid In Heaven 06) Kiss Of Light 07) Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape 08) Fair Exchange 09) Ships In The Night 10) Modern Music/Dancing In The Moonlight/Honeymoon On Mars/Lost In The Neon World/Modern Music (Reprise) 11) New Precision 12) Superenigmatix 13) Possession 14) Dangerous Stranger 15) Islands Of The Dead 16) Panic In The World NOTES: Radioland is a compilation of the band's BBC recordings for 'In Concert', made in 1976 and 1978. Sourced from 3 different shows, each recording was edited when compared to the original broadcast material. The same compilation in remastered form and in new artwork was reissued as Tremulous Antenna in 2002. The subsequent release of At the BBC 1974-1978 (2013), with the inclusion of the previously omitted tracks, makes this CD redundant. Tracks 1-4: Recorded for BBC's 'Radio 1 In Concert' at the Paris Theatre 15.01.76. Producer Jeff Griffin. Tracks 5-10: Recorded for BBC's 'Radio 1 In Concert' at the Hammersmith Odeon 20.10.76. Producer Pete Dauncey. Tracks 11-16: Recorded for BBC's 'Radio 1 In Concert' at Golders Green Hippodrome 19.01.78. Producer Jeff Griffin. PAST RELEASES: At the time of its release, none of the material on Radioland had officially been issued. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: The physical CD is out of print, but the album is available as a download on internet download stores. Collections Menu Future Past

Nelsonica 07 Live Archive For the Nelsonica 07 convention, held on the 27th October 2007, a new venue was required. The Park Inn , in the centre of York provided much better seating arrangement, as well as a break-away bar and plenty of rooms for attendees to stay over, should they wish! The theme and title of this year's convention was 'Secret Club For Members Only'. Attendees would receive a 'Top Secret' envelope containing their convention CD along with other goodies. Bill performed a solo set, split into two sections to allow for a break. Here's the set list for the show... Set One: 1: Gloria Mundae. 2: I Always Knew You Would Find Me. 3: The Raindrop Collector. 4: Golden Dream Of Circus Horses. 5: Night Song Of The Last Tram. 6: Beatniks From Outer Space. 7: Imperial Parade. 8: Somewhere In Far Tomorrow. 9: A Dream For Ian. 10: Contemplation. (Vocal.) 11: Ghost Show. (Vocal.) Set Two: 1: Mars Welcomes Careful Drivers. 2: Beyond These Clouds. 3: Artifex. 4: Teatime In The Republic Of Dreams. 5: Secret Club For Members Only. 6: Sleepwalk. 7: Hey, Bill Diddley!' (Part vocal.) 8: Neon Lights And Japanese Lanterns. 9: The Girl On The Fairground Waltzer. 10: Quinta Essentia. Here's a few pictures...if you have any you would like to add, please get in touch!

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2013 William's Study (Diary Of A Hyperdreamer) December 2007 Jan Feb Apr May Jul Sep Oct Nov Monday 24th December 2007 -- 10:00 pm Some sad developments since my previous diary entry but I'll refrain from documenting them here and now. These things, because they are painful and difficult, must wait for a while. So...maybe next time? Well...next time. might be more sensible. But, tonight it is Christmas Eve and some light, no matter how feeble or flickering, should shine on my readers, no matter how dark my own corner of the universe might appear from this current vantage point. Zipping back in time a few weeks: Emiko and I had a lovely night out, at the start of this month, with the Nelsonica team at a favourite restaurant of ours in the city of York. It was the occasion of the annual Nelsonica 'thank you' dinner, a chance for us all to spend time in each other's company and enjoy a relaxing evening after the complex demands of this year's fanconvention. It was also an opportunity for the team to observe their (hopefully still) esteemed hero lowering his less than inpenetrable defences and succumbing to the dubious charms of Bacchus. Which simply means that I allowed myself to become more and more hopelessly and joyfully inebriated as the evening progressed. (Oh, vine-adorned Lord of the grape, forgive me, for I know EXACTLY what I do, and more's the pity.) As a modest token of thanks, I gave each member of the team an individually burned CDr of some brand new material that I'm considering for inclusion on my next album, 'SILVERTONE FOUNTAINS.' It's still, inevitably, a work in progress but this preliminary cdr has at least allowed them a glimpse of the ongoing process. I'm hoping to have the final track-listing completed in time for a late February release although this is entirely dependent upon me feeling that the album has reached its natural conclusion. Things could yet change quite dramatically as the music, and my imagination, is perpetually in flux. Frustratingly, during the last week or two, I've created three totally new instrumentals, all three of which are more than good enough to be considered as potential tracks for the album, (alongside the 16 tunes already on the short list). So, the project is growing, changing, slowly finding its way to its final conclusion. To saddle it with a contemporary cliche: It's an organic, ongoing process. All I can do is act as midwife. Some of the tracks will inevitably be set aside, probably for inclusion on next year's limited edition fan-convention album, whilst others will stay, (provided they belong to the 'Silvertone Fountains' atmosphere). As always, I'm more enthused about the latest pieces than the earlier ones. Despite the chopping and changing, (or even because of it), the album will, I think, turn out to be a very nice work. No, let's allow no false modesty, it will be a BEAUTIFUL work! Not long after the Nelsonica dinner, I succumbed to a nasty cold virus that has only now, two weeks later, begun to fade. Emi caught it too, (as I predicted), and she's had some uncomfortable nights, coughing and coughing and feeling totally wretched. This time of year is always busy for Emi and it's not the best time for her to feel ill. Not that there's ever a best time to feel ill. Despite the debilitating bugs, I have managed to deal with the Christmas shopping demands...at least to a standard that won't leave me feeling totally embarrased and inadequate. O.k...perhaps not QUITE as focussed as last year but, hopefully, not really letting anyone down. As mentioned in earlier diary entries, I do tend to take an inordinate amount of time searching for what I feel are the most appropriate gifts for my family and friends. I take a personal pride in this and get quite frustrated by having to make snap decisions because of lack of time. Unfortunately, despite all best intentions, time and circumstances have been against me, and more than ever this year. Predictably and pathetically, like many people of my generation, I'm beginning to wonder whether the original spirit of Christmas has finally been buried under the icy avalanche of commerce. The festive season seems to have become more and more stressful (and artificial) with each passing year. Yes, I know that such an opinion is regarded as a cliche and I also accept that it's probably always been that way, (despite those fantasy snow powdered dreamy Christmases of my first ten years on this earth...) But, what the heck. I STILL expect the impossible. I demand miracles and magic. But my life has already had more than its fair share of that. Anyway, shopping done, food in the fridge and freezer, lights lit in the lounge, gifts awaiting my fumbling at the wrapping paper. (And I must turn my attention to this last task SOON.) Still I sneak away from it all, up here to the broom cupboard that I'm audacious enough to call 'my studio,' to pick up a guitar and play. Plink, plonk, plink, strum, twang...Not for any great purpose, not for the 'latest' album or an adoring, paying audience, but simply because picking up the instrument, cradling it against my chest, feeling it resonate, hum and sing beneath my fingers, is the most satisfying, rewarding, and honest expression of being alive that I can muster. I pick up a guitar for no other reaon than the sheer JOY of doing so. Appears sad and pathetic written down like that, doesn't it? Well, dear reader, let me assure you that it's NOT. In fact it's magnificent, empowering, enobling, energising, ecsatatic and marvellous. I wouldn't exchange it for untold millions or the glamour and fame of a movie-star. (OR a wealthy rock star for that matter.) Despite all the hundreds of recordings I've made, there's more vibrant, essential music created in moments of spontaneity in this little room, than has ever found its way onto album, tape or hard disc. In those unrecorded, unplanned, ungaurded moments, it's just me and a guitar and the original mystic spark that united the two of us in the first place, back in 1958. For me, at 59 years old, there's simply no other reason to be doing this... Christmas every day, a birthday every hour, ice cream for breakfast and warm, warm lips for the kissing of... xxx A VERY MERRY YULETIDE TO ALL READERS OF THIS HYPERDREAMER'S DIARY! Top of page

Plectrajet Bill Nelson album - 10 August 2015 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) I Always Knew You Would Find Me 02) Time Travel For Beginners 03) Imperial Parade 04) Small Red Birds 05) Beyond These Clouds The Sweetest Dream 06) The Girl On The Fairground Waltzer 07) Electric Milkcart Blues 08) If I Was The Pilot Of Your Perfect Cloud 09) B-Movie Bug Boy 10) Neon Lights And Japanese Lanterns 11) Luxeodeon 12) Only A Dream, But Nevertheless ALBUM NOTES: Plectrajet (Painting With Guitars Volume Two) is an instrumental album issued in a one-off print run of 750 copies on the Sonoluxe label. The album is essentially a compilation of pieces that Nelson had been performing live over the previous two decades, but which hadn't yet found their way onto albums. The title Plectrajet had been around for about ten years also and was first suggested for the possible title (along with The Guitar Room ) of a compilation of guitar instrumentals from Nelson's back catalogue that was initially being considered in 2005. Although mentioned as recently as 2012, that compilation idea never saw light of day, and was supplanted by The Dreamer's Companion series of comps. The title then lay dormant until being considered simultaneously as a possible title for what became the Fantastic Guitars album, as well as for a proposed second volume of Painting with Guitars (both of which were works in progress in 2013). A second volume of Painting With Guitars had been an often mentioned idea over the years, although Nelson himself sometimes dismissed this as some of the material that naturally would have made up such a volume had been used on the Wah Wah Galaxy album. However, the popularity of this idea with fans would ensure that it never completely disappeared from the schedule of potential releases. The Romance of Sustain ( Painting With Guitars Volume One) was eventually reissued as a digital download in 2015, and was soon followed by Volume Two in physical form, to which Nelson assigned the title Plectrajet . Work began on the project in February 2015 and took approximately 1 month to complete, preparing a total of 33 tracks. No sooner had Nelson settled on the track listing for Plectrajet , he then assembled running orders for two further volumes (titled Six String Super Apparatus and Astral Overdrive respectively). As Nelson himself says, they represent "a farewell to an era". At the time of writing, Astral Overdrive is still in the pipeline of future releases. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . IF YOU LIKED THIS ALBUM, YOU'LL PROBABLY ENJOY: Romance Of Sustain , Six String Super Apparatus , Sparkle Machine , Tripping The Light Fantastic , The Awakening Of Dr Dream , Loom , Practically Wired, Gleaming Without Lights , Plaything BILL'S THOUGHTS: "I've begun work on 'Painting with Guitars Vol 2' which has the working title of PLECTRAJET . This one has been a long time coming. It's basically gathering together some of the pieces I've performed live in my solo concerts over the years. I'm transferring the backing tracks from the CDs I use in a live situation to my multi-track recorder and adding the guitar parts to them, as if I was playing live. The tricky bit is getting the two components to sit together well. The backing tracks have a 'fixed' mix and individual instruments can't be re-balanced to suit the guitar overdubs. In a live situation, with all the vagaries of live sound, this doesn't present a great problem but in the studio, the situation is different. The tracks are exposed to much more scrutiny and their flaws become more apparent. Still, I'm treating them like a live performance and not aiming at sonic perfection...(actually, I have no choice in the matter), so hopefully the end result will be acceptable." _____ "There are a few rarities amongst these...some pieces that have only been performed live once or twice, but some more regular numbers too, which have featured in my solo concerts more frequently." _____ "There are three more volumes completed and coming out soon. They gather together all the tracks I've performed in my solo concerts over the years. 'Plectrajet' will be the first release of these." FAN THOUGHTS: Angie: "Oh I'm thrilled, I've been able to get this one..."Beyond These Clouds the Sweetest Dream" has been a favourite of mine for years so to have it on CD will be wonderful. In fact, my eyes are welled up at thought. "Imperial Parade" too. Another favourite. These tracks will bring back such happy memories of Nelsonicas and my Nelsonian friends." seakret: "All I can say is WOW. This is a marvel of guitar...This one is riveting." "Also wanted to point out that Plectrajet is an even more appealing treat for us Yanks since most of us yearn for a Nelsonica nearby but it was not to be. So these tracks, which bring great memories to many of you, are fresh as daisies to us!" novemberman: "Well what can I say...Plectrajet is absolutely superb!!! I have always been amazed by Bill's output, but with all that he has gone through over the last year or so, to produce music of this quality is simply astounding!! I do not know how you do it Bill, but thanks all the same." Axe Victim: "Love the way it sounds really raw and spontaneous." felixt1: "Great, happy, celebratory music and lashings of great guitar." andygeorge: "Imperial Parade": "Simply hypnotic, beautiful and mesmerising! Love it and the whole album, been playing it to death since I got it, all killer and no filler as they say...album of the decade from Bill if you're asking!" "Plectrajet for me is what defines Bill, I love his guitar based music and this album is full of happy memories for me from years of Nelsonicas and live gigs...which is why I said it's the best album Bill has put out in the last decade." Howden End: "Quickly become one of my all time favourite Bill albums. He covers so many of his signature guitar styles on it, and on so many tracks once again find myself thinking, "there is no one who does it as good as Sir Bill"; have adored "Beyond these Clouds..." since I heard it at Metropolis and his interpretation on Plectrajet is simply superb." meederr: "I must say I immediately liked Plectrajet . Nay, love every track. Congrats. I'm listening to The Years , and am liking that too. Thank you for challenging me, and zagging when I expect you to zig." Tony M: "What a great album! From "I Always Knew You Would Find Me" to "Imperial Parade" (my favorites) and much more. If you don't have this one, you are definitely missing out." Albums Menu Future Past

The Dreamer's Companion Volume Three retrospective collection - 13 January 2014 Collections Menu Future Past Bill Nelson Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) One Thing Leads To Another (Modern Moods For Mighty Atoms) 02) Night Is The Engine Of My Imagination (Golden Melodies Of Tomorrow) 03) Melancholia Lagoons (Fantasmatron) 04) Bramble (Rosewood Volume Two) 05) Tin Sings Bones (Orpheus In Ultraland) 06) Rainclouds Over Paris Of My Dreams (Plaything) 07) The Silver Darkness Whispers Yes (Clocks And Dials) 08) Sex Magic (Joy Through Amplification) 09) The Captain's In The Wheelhouse (Fantasmatron) 10) Music Spins My Globe (Picture Post) 11) The Raindrop Collector (And We Fell Into A Dream) 12) Wireless World (Fables And Dreamsongs) 13) All These Days Are Gone (Return To Jazz Of Lights) 14) Where Are We Now? (Fancy Planets) ALBUM NOTES: The Dreamer's Companion is a three volume series of compilation albums designed to introduce both new and lapsed fans to Nelson's recordings from the 21st Century. These are significant in that they represent the point where Nelson embraced the notion of downloading as a way of generating additional interest in his music. Prior to their announcement in August 2013, there had been frequent mention by fans of the advantages that Nelson would see from going down the download route, but the artist consistently resisted doing so on the basis that he remained unconvinced that it would yield much in the way of sales. What seemed to change his opinion, or at least convince him to give it a go, was a Be Bop Deluxe Facebook page which clearly indicated that there are a significant number of fans who knew little of Nelson's work over the previous 30 years. Nelson therefore set about compiling three volumes in The Dreamer's Companion series that provided a detailed overview of his output since 2003. Even for fans who had rediscovered Nelson's music at some point in the period from 2003 to 2013, these offer some out of print material. And for the lapsed fans that knew nothing at all from this period, they offer them a chance to find out precisely what they have been missing. For those who aren't willing or able to spend £30 on a full set, each volume of The Dreamer's Companion is available at £10 each. The 42 tracks featured are taken from a total of 28 different albums, and provide a healthy mixture of vocal and instrumental pieces covering a range of styles and moods. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "There's nothing difficult or tricky about any of my music, it's all very easy to listen to. I certainly don't aim at purely esoteric targets, I just make pop music with a twist. But, if you're feeling a bit nervous about buying some albums, it doesn't get less esoteric than Fancy Planets , Joy Through Amplification , and Songs of the Blossom Tree Optimists . Easy listening all! Or, to get a great overview of my 21st Century recordings, try downloading the digital three volume compilation set, The Dreamers Companion from Bandcamp. It acts as a really nice taster or 'grazing' menu. A bit of everything on there." Collections Menu Future Past

Chance Encounters In The Garden Of Lights Bill Nelson 2-CD album set - November 1987 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download DISC ONE: The Angel At The Western Window 01) West Deep 02) The Spirit Cannot Fail 03) Pilots Of Kite 04) Seventh Circle 05) Phantom Gardens 06) The Angel Of Hearth And Home 07) Villefranche Interior 08) Night Tides 09) First Memory 10) Azure Extension 11) Radiant Spires 12) The Evening Peal 13) Threnodia 14) A Short Drink From A Certain Fountain 15) Body Of Light 16) At The Center 17) Self-Initiation 18) The Word That Became Flesh 19) The Hermetic Garden 20) Revolving Globes 21) The Four Square Citadel 22) Little Daughters Of Light 23) Orient Of Memphis 24) The Angel At The Western Window CD only songs added to Disc One: 25) The Piano Room 26) Rain Dance 27) Aching Heart 28) Arising 29) Welcome To Realm Seven 30) Without A Blue Horizon 31) Female Nebula 32) Demon Raising 33) Burning The Grove Of Satyrs 34) The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of 35) Realm Of Archons 36) The Rossetti Effect 37) Infinite Station 38) Piano Angelica DISC TWO: The Book Of Inward Conversation 01) My Dark Daemon 02) The Dove Consumed (The Serpent Slumbers) 03) Calling Heaven, Calling Heaven, Over 04) Path Of Return 05) Theurgia 06) Staircase To No Place 07) Evocation Of A Radiant Childhood 08) The Kingdom Of Consequence 09) The Divine Raptures Of Sisterhood 10) Bright Star (Moonlight Over Ocean Blue) 11) A Bird Of The Air Shall Carry Thy Voice 12) Clothed In Light Amongst The Stars 13) Gnosis 14) Bringers Of Lights To The Feast 15) Hastening The Chariot Of My Heart's Desire 16) Transcendant 17) Consolamentum Ecclesia Gnostica (Music for the Interior Church) ep 18) Set Me As A Seal Upon Thine Heart 19) Mysterium 20) Katharos 21) Day Of Eternity 22) Evening Adoration 23) Ecclesia Gnostica 24) Young Angels By An Ancient River 25) Finis Gloria Mundi ALBUM NOTES: Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights is a double instrumental album issued by Cocteau Records. It was Nelson's third consecutive non-vocal album released in less than 12 months. The album was issued on vinyl and cassette, the first vinyl edition coming with a 7" ep entitled Ecclesia Gnostica . As with Map of Dreams , it took a few months after the release of the album before a CD version appeared, which added the 7" ep to disc 2 and 14 exclusive tracks to disc 1. This was still early days for the CD format though, and the 2CD set retailed at approximately three times the cost of the double vinyl. The Ecclesia Gnostica ep was never officially available separately, but second hand copies that have been liberated from the double LP can occasionally be found on the collectors market. PAST RELEASES: In 1989, Chance Encounters appeared in the US on Enigma in 3 formats: 2LP, 2CD and cassette. In July 2017, Esoteric/Cherry Red Records reissued a remastered version of the double CD edition of Chance Encounters . The set is presented in a foldout double digipack, with a full reproduction of all the original album artwork. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: From the liner notes: "The music presented on these 2 albums marks the consolidation of several years of musical & philosophical practice. Almost every piece was conceived during moments of intense stillness or 'magical vacuity'. For this I acknowledge the influence of the late Austin Osman Spare, whose technique for creating 'automatic drawing' has found a sympathetic resonance in my own work. Of all the music I have made, this is, perhaps, the most personal & yet the least demonstrative. Attempting nothing & existing purely for itself, it is, nevertheless, a practical music, ideally suited to the occultist in search of ritual atmosphere or serene meditation. With such a purpose in mind I offer this work to my fellow initiates as a testament to the Gnosis & a confirmation of The World Within." FAN THOUGHTS: A Kinder Light: "I simply always wondered...how can someone even go about creating music like this? I was so blown away by this album when I first heard it that I thought that Bill might have been a messenger from another dimension. This might seem even stranger...but I use to hear snippets of music like this in dreams when I was younger, which made it even more intriguing." JMH: "From the first track, "West Deep", I am captured...I must admit, Chance Encounters CD is one of my nightly meditations. It is hard to describe the frame of mind one enters, at the second track, on hearing the refrain: "The Spirit Cannot Fail You". Another of the artist's perfect works...to me this CD is Timeless." wadcorp: "I defy anyone to listen to Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights and not experience a calming effect. I put it on in my studio when I'm getting too tense for my own good…" Holer: "I' m heavily into Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights album at the moment. It feels like a continuation of the Trial By Intimacy albums but even spookier and more evocative...Great stuff!" Phil: "Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights remains my favourite BN album, much as I like the newer albums and the BBD stuff, it's this one that I play the most. It also contains what I consider to be Bill's most hypnotic and beautiful track, namely "The Angel at the Western Window"." alec: "I like the Surrealism of "Evocation of a Radiant Childhood", from Chance Encounters in the Garden of Lights . Its ending is very unexpected drive through the clouds-all-blue..." Panoramicon: "For myself, I chose disc 2 from Chance Encounters , The Book of Inward Conversation, to help me connect (in many ways) with the loss of my dad. The ten final tracks simultaneously lift me and break my heart, esp. "Consolamentum"." Parsongs: "The Trial By Intimacy box set really sealed the deal, with Chance Encounters being a zenith; an ambient collection I always refer to as an influence. I loved the charming simplicity of the Cocteau years, the way Bill would start with a blank slate and build up songs one sound and idea at a time." stormboy: "I think Bill came into his own when creating synth pieces from Sounding the Ritual Echo onwards through to Optimism , say. I particularly enjoy the beautiful construction of the pieces, which were expertly interwoven mainly monosynth lines. His sense of stereo production on these albums is fantastic, especially given (or perhaps because of) the technical limitations of his studio at the time... Although I still think Bill is a brilliant synth-er to this day, I DO miss the analogue manipulations that he so expertly displayed in the Cocteau years! I envy his mighty Triton, but some of the soundscapes he created with his analogue set-up are amazing." Johnny Jazz: "Bill's output is so varied, there's usually a piece of music that you can put on to compliment any mood, a sort of life soundtrack. Personally, Bill has a knack of recording stuff that evokes all manner of emotional responses in this listener. Chance Encounters , The Love That Whirls are prime examples of the many that hit the spot. I'm really hard pressed to think of any other musicians/composers who can do this in quite the same way as Bill. It's a VERY rare talent." "I'd hope that Bill reissues, if he can, the double cd version of Chance Encounters . Fortunately, I have a copy, and to my mind it's possibly the best collection of Bill's ambient music I've heard." John Fisher: "Wow! I just received my copy of the reissue here stateside, and I am impressed. Great digipack layout using all the original artwork, and nice attention to detail. Overall it has better presentation than the original. Well done Esoteric/Cherry Red!" Albums Menu Future Past

Nelsonian Navigator - Issue Four- Published September 1996 Back to Top

Astroloops Bill Nelson mini-album - January 2015 Albums Menu Future Past Purchase this download TRACKS: 01) Purple Loop 02) Sky Loop 03) Slippery Loop 04) Sun Loop 05) Blue Loop No 1 06) Jazzy Loop 07) Honey Loop 08) Blue Loop No 2 09) Space Country Loop 10) Fantasmo Loop 11) Wonky Loop 12) Lazy Loop ALBUM NOTES: Astroloops is a CDR release issued on the newly established Astrotone imprint in a very limited edition (just 24 copies) to purchasers of the Astroluxe Custom Ltd. guitar produced by Eastwood Guitars. This release is a mini-album due to its relatively short playing time. News of the project was first announced on the Dreamsville forum in July 2014, with orders being taken for the guitar from 2nd September (initially only 12 were to be manufactured but this was doubled to 24 within 2 days due to the level of demand). By the 26th of September it was confirmed that all 24 copies of the guitar had been purchased although buyers had to wait until mid-late January 2015 before the goods had been delivered, with the US customers getting their hands on the music before those in the UK for a change! Fans that either couldn't afford the guitar, or couldn't play the guitar, or simply missed out in getting their order in on time, will hopefully get the chance to hear this very limited item one day. When asked of the possibility of this, Nelson indicated that it might require Eastwood Guitars to give permission for this to happen and warned fans that they may have to wait for 1 - 2 years before reissuing it as a download. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: Available for purchase as a digital download here in the Dreamsville Store . BILL'S THOUGHTS: "It's an interesting set of recordings, quite spontaneous and relaxed...not concerned with being perfect, but beautifully raw and charmingly naked. It's all done using only the 'Astroluxe' prototype guitar which has the ability to sound like a soaring rock beast, a smooth n' sweet jazz archtop, or an alien twang machine, and all at the flick of a pickup selector switch plus my Fractal Audio Axe-FX unit!" _____ "Just guitar improvisations over guitar loops, with no other instruments. Recording very quietly to minimize the ear problem." _____ "Astroloops is an album of instrumental improvisations based on looped guitar patterns. It is limited to an edition of 24 copies only and is given exclusively to those who have bought one of the 24 Eastwood 'Astroluxe Custom Ltd' Bill Nelson signature model electric guitars. "My own prototype 'Astroluxe' guitar has been used to record the album and all the guitar parts you will hear are performed exclusively on that instrument. There are no keyboards, bass or percussion overdubs on these recordings, (with the exception of a couple of tracks where extremely minimal use of keyboard has been added). "All the guitar sounds were processed via a Fractal Audio Axe-FX digital device and a first generation Line 6 Pod 2 modeller, recording direct to a Mackie HDR 24/96 digital multitrack machine. "The music was created spontaneously and offers a glimpse of the raw first-take, stream of consciousness approach that often provides the foundation for my more commercially available work. In this instance, however, I've resisted the temptation to attempt perfection or modify/flatter the recording and instead allowed its inherent flaws to become a component of the music itself. I hope you will enjoy this private peep behind the magic curtain!" Albums Menu Future Past

Cinema Menu Christmas Greetings Enjoy these Christmas video gifts from Bill 'A Christmas Garland' - Christmas Video Card, 2024 'Bill's Christmas Guitar Shop' - Christmas Video Card, 2023 'Future Gothic Twang' - Christmas Video Card, 2022 An Electrical Christmas - 2021 72 Christmases On Planet Earth - 2020 The City Dreams Of Christmas - 2019 The Crystal Lights Of Christmastown - 2018 Variation On The Theme Of A White Christmas - 2017 Winterchyme Christmas - 2016 Christmas Guitars - 2015 A Guitar For Christmas - 2014 Yule Chime Dream - 2013 Silent Night - 2012 The Christmas Book - 2011 The Silver Bells Of Christmas Valley - 2008 Ghosts Of Christmas Past - 2007 Cinema Menu

Electrotype retrospective collection - 14 February 2001 Bill Nelson Collections Menu Future Past TRACKS: 01) Global Village - Dear Mr. Fantasy 02) Global Village - Long Grey Mare 03) Global Village - You Don't Love Me 04) Global Village - 598 Rundown 05) Global Village - Babe 06) Global Village - Stanley Blues Tail 07) Global Village - Keep Your Feathers Fine 1 08) Global Village - Country Season 09) Global Village - Keep Your Feathers Fine 2 10) Global Village - Young Eyes 11) Global Village - Batch #70172 12) Global Village - Summer Woman 13) Be Bop Deluxe - Riders Of My Love 14) Be Bop Deluxe - Jet Silver & The Dolls Of Venus 15) Be Bop Deluxe - Be-Bop-Bac 16) Be Bop Deluxe - If Stars Should Fall 17) Be Bop Deluxe - After The Stars 18) Be Bop Deluxe - So Insane And So In Love 19) Be Bop Deluxe - Night Creatures 20) Chris Coombs - Yesterday 21.1) Chris Coombs - Cold Tired And Hungry 21.2) (Unlisted Track) NOTES: Electrotype is an archive release taken from acetates and 2 track recordings made at Holyground Studios in Wakefield between 1968 and 1972 compiled by Mike Levon, who sadly passed away on 5 September 2011. For anyone who had read Nelson's personal reminiscences of his earliest somewhat amateur recordings and wondered what these various outfits sounded like, then this CD provides most of the answers. Coming with an informative and superbly illustrated booklet, that perfectly reflects the times when this music was made, Electrotype (together with Nelson's 1971 debut album Northern Dream ) tells the story of Nelson's formative years in wonderful detail. The inclusion of seven Be Bop Deluxe demos from 1972 (ignore the 1971 date claimed for some of these, as this is an error) should be enough to attract any Nelson fan but the entire collection is a fascinating glimpse of the Holyground years that fleshes out his formative years with tracks from Global Village and Be Bop Deluxe. The inclusion of 2 tracks by Chris Coombs on which Nelson guests is of interest to only those who have to own everything Nelson recorded. PAST RELEASES: None of this material was previously available. CURRENT AVAILABILITY: This collection can be purchased directly from Holyground ( http://www.holyground.co.uk/electrotype/ ). Collections Menu Future Past