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Thread: Bass Communion

  1. #1
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    Bass Communion

    Steven Wilson's side projects such as Blackfield and No-Man get a few mentions around here, but I don't see much about his sound experiments with Bass Communion.

    Not the easiest of music to listen to, but if you're interested in music as sound, rather than as conventional melody, rhythm and structure, then Bass Communion might be worth trying out. I guess the closest familiar comparison might be Tangerine Dream's Zeit album, which is a particular favourite of Wilson's.

    If that gets you curious, then perhaps my bluffer's introduction to Bass Communion might encourage you to try some Wilson's most abstract work:

    https://momentstransition.wordpress....luffers-guide/

    Enjoy the trip....

  2. #2
    Big fan of Bass Communion actually. This and No-Man are my favorite of his projects.
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  3. #3
    I've never pulled the trigger on Bass Communion. I wouldn't know which BC release to explore.
    Last edited by Crawford Glissadevil; 07-05-2018 at 08:00 AM.

  4. #4
    I started with Bass Communion II, which was fairly accessible and a bit less abstract than some of his later works. I believe both Theo Travis and Fripp guest on this one.

    Edit: here's one of the tunes. Part of this was actually used again later for the No-Man "Together We're Stranger" album.

    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  5. #5
    Member rcarlberg's Avatar
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    This one is REALLY WARM!
    !

  6. #6
    Thanks Battema and Rcarlberg. I like the Chinese string instrument plucking against the textual background of the Drugged 3 while the scratchy analog of Shopping brings back a mood I haven't felt for years.

  7. #7
    Boo! walt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by battema View Post
    I started with Bass Communion II, which was fairly accessible and a bit less abstract than some of his later works. I believe both Theo Travis and Fripp guest on this one.

    Edit: here's one of the tunes. Part of this was actually used again later for the No-Man "Together We're Stranger" album.

    I dig.New to me.Thanks for the post.
    "please do not understand me too quickly"-andre gide

  8. #8
    Ewe betcha!
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  9. #9
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    I like a lot of BC stuff, I prefer the melodic rather than the noise tracks and each album can be a mixture. Drugged is awesome also the Litany vinyl album and look out for Atmospherics which is all melodic. Its never officially been released on cd but you can find it online.

  10. #10
    I love the different versions of Drugged. The piece also works very well as the basis for the song Together We're Stranger. I never get tired of it.

  11. #11
    I bought the limited edition Bass Communion box set a while ago, which now may be out of print. Still haven't digested everything but some cool stuff when in the right mood.

  12. #12
    The box set is very nice and fills in most of the gaps between the other studio albums (it includes Litany in particular), although I seem to recall it also replicates one of the studio albums (Pacific Codex).
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  13. #13
    Member Garyhead's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DocProgger View Post
    I bought the limited edition Bass Communion box set a while ago, which now may be out of print. Still haven't digested everything but some cool stuff when in the right mood.
    Me too. It was a great experience! I've got stereo subwoofers! And since they were the Cerwin Vega "Earthquake" drivers installed in theaters.....You Really Feel the music!
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  14. #14
    Member ombasan's Avatar
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    I like most of BC except the noisy stuff. For example, Molotov and Haze with 2 wonderful athmospherical tracks but also 2 weird noisy tracks (which I tend to skip).
    I have to be in the right mood for it and I like it as a background music when reading.

  15. #15
    I'm a big fan of BC...I think I have most of it? My favs are the second album, which is probably the best starting point. Ghosts on Magnetic Tape which is one of the most eerily atmospheric albums I've heard. Then I really like Loss...not least my scented vinyl edition, which after all these years STILL whiffs of what can only be described as Grandma's perfume

    Loads of other great albums including the new one which took me a while to figure out what speed to play the vinyl!! As others have said, I still also have to get better acquainted with the box set.

    Matt.

  16. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by DocProgger View Post
    I bought the limited edition Bass Communion box set a while ago, which now may be out of print. Still haven't digested everything but some cool stuff when in the right mood.
    I got that box too, and it's got some interesting stuff in it. I still haven't digested it all either, but I'm glad to have it.

  17. #17
    For those that especially dig the BC stuff...might be worth looking for either of the two Continuum albums from the early 2000's. Basically a collab between Bass Communion and Vidna Obmana. The first album (2005) is more atmospheric, the second is a bit heavier, with SW adding some guitar textures. Still very much beatless ambience.

    https://www.discogs.com/artist/294502-Continuum-2
    If you're actually reading this then chances are you already have my last album but if NOT and you're curious:
    https://battema.bandcamp.com/

    Also, Ephemeral Sun: it's a thing and we like making things that might be your thing: https://ephemeralsun.bandcamp.com

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by battema View Post
    For those that especially dig the BC stuff...might be worth looking for either of the two Continuum albums from the early 2000's. Basically a collab between Bass Communion and Vidna Obmana. The first album (2005) is more atmospheric, the second is a bit heavier, with SW adding some guitar textures. Still very much beatless ambience.

    https://www.discogs.com/artist/294502-Continuum-2
    I've got the second one and love it!!! It's actually quite heavy...and very guitar-centric. Little Stephanie Wilcox whips herself up into quite the lather on this release.

    best
    Michael
    Last edited by neuroticdog; 07-07-2018 at 07:27 PM.
    If it ain't acousmatique-It's crap

  19. #19
    Quote Originally Posted by Valen View Post
    Steven Wilson
    Yeah.
    "Improvisation is not an excuse for musical laziness" - Fred Frith
    "[...] things that we never dreamed of doing in Crimson or in any band that I've been in," - Tony Levin speaking of SGM

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