Tonight I've begun to assemble the track list/running order for 'My Private Cosmos.' I think it's going to present something of a challenge to those listeners who gravitate more towards the 'straight rock' end of my musical spectrum.
Whilst there are plenty of electric guitar parts featured, the structures and surrounding framework of the songs are not exactly orthodox. There's something dark and mysterious about several of the tracks.
How to describe things? Some might think of the tracks as resembling 'ambient, psychedelic avant-garde pop songs.' And that's not a bad description, despite its convoluted connotations, but it's only part of the story. Sonically, there's a deep, cavernous quality to several of the tracks, a 'lost in the void' feeling that requires a simpatico response from the listener.
There are grandiose moments too, set against stripped back, minimalist verses. Electronic distress gets mixed up with smooth, tuneful guitar tones to create a feeling of gleaming chrome blighted by rust and decay.
The album pulls together several threads of my musical interests and weaves them into an obscure, perhaps 'baroque' tapestry. It's sometimes familiar sometimes bizarre. Certainly not an album to be grasped and appreciated in a superficial listen, but, I hope, one that will blossom fully from extended plays. It's a slightly weird work, a little different from my usual, but also perfectly reflecting and extending some aspects that you may have become familiar with over the last few years.
Oh, and at the moment, it's going to be a double album, maybe even a triple masterwork. More info will be posted here as the shape of the album progresses. ๐
How are things coming along with this mammoth project Bill?
I think it's fantastic you chose to opt for the 'full-fat' six disc earbook, it should be absolutely gorgeous...an 'event' really, something very special....a huge amount of hard work, dedication and love, required.
Not to add another level to the skyscraper, but this thought has passed through my mind a few times recently, while trying to imagine the finished and released product. I can't help but think how nice it would be to have an A3 (ish) sized poster of the front cover artwork, included as part of the package. For such a landmark release, it would be great for fans to (possibly frame up) and hang such a poster in a suitable place of honour at home...I know, more work involved, time, hassle etc, not to mention cost , but you will have the hi-res artwork files, so a poster wouldn't need a massive tweak.
Anyway, just a thought...a nice one at that๐
Hope things are going well.
..'Darkness, you are my priestess'
Funny reading this thread for the first time just now, watching the cd count go up and up and up. 6 disc's worth is a nice number. Viva la Noise Candy v.2021 . I remember so long ago snooping around the internet about 20 years ago, or so, finding, and then waiting for NC. Now, mostly on the outside looking in again, this feels similar.
these are indeed dark times, but the light still shines, truth is the best pursuance of these times, when lies are abound from those who are supposed to be governing? love on you bill, and god bless you and your many friends and fans, we will prevail in these pervading moments.
Looking forward to your recent creations !!!
waiting lovingly for the official release notice. emphasis on lovingly.
Just a brief update on this album: The 'earbook' design is coming along nicely and looking beautiful, a dark and rich visual experience. It will also incorporate a few snippets of lyrics woven into the design. The album is quite dark in some ways, reflecting the dark times I was experiencing during the many months during which it was being worked on, quite a few minor key songs and slow, melancholy tempos.
It's an honest, if sometimes shadowy, reflection of my moods under lockdown, along with the loss of my wonderful mother and dear friend Harold Budd. It may prove to be a difficult listen for some fans who might be expecting something more upbeat and 'rocky'. Nevertheless, it has its lighter moments, here and there. It will take a while to sink in, 94 track constitutes a a heck of a lot of listening time, so take it in small doses until you get to grips with the whole package. I hope it will chime with some of you.
Bill well i didn't know until now. Initially when i saw Bostock, this came to mind automatically, uncertain if it went through your thoughts, i know there is no relation
but initially couldn't stop thinking of Thick As A Brick with Gerald Bostock & Mr. & Mrs. Bostock on the front cover.
I'm up for it Bill. No reason not to be. Consider it preordered already!
Yes, yes, yes! x 2
I will definitely purchase this great work by the wondrous harmonies of Bill Nelson, yeah!!!!!!!! too right.
Beautiful and informative post! As @jostmo stated, the price sounds very fair for all the work that has and will go into this project. Very interesting to have read about the work as it has been moving toward realization. Personally, I'd love to see all six discs rather than 5 and a download.
The Cubase mixes so far released do sound good on my fairly decent home hi-fi, certainly to my ears a step up from the Mackie, very impressed.
i think you should round it up to 100 tracks !!!! LOL ยฃ70-ยฃ80 seems fair enough for something so epic.
Last Tuesday, (17th August,) I took all the tracks for 'My Private Cosmos' over to Fairview Studio, just outside of Hull, to transfer them to Fairview's computer in readiness for mastering by John Spence. I had the opportunity to hear a few of the tracks played back through Fairview's high-end monitor speakers and was relieved to hear that they sounded very good indeed. This was the first time I'd been able to check the sound of my Cubase mixes outside the confines of my own studio, (the previous two albums, due to lockdown restrictions, were sent to Fairview via the internet rather than me being able to take them to the studio in person.)
I've also added a further three tracks to the set, though their inclusion will depend on there being enough space on the discs to take them. John will gradually assemble each disc and will then be able to judge if there is room to add the three extra tracks. If there is room the total track count will be 94 songs.
I'm still awaiting costings for a possible 'ear book' package and am thinking of all six discs being included, rather than five and a stand alone download.
I'm also attempting to put some images together for the package but this is slow work. An ambitious project like this is far more time consuming than a standard single disc product, both from the viewpoint of packaging design plus the hundreds of hours of creative musical work that went into writing recording and producing the finished 94 tracks. It's been a hell of a ride and still has some distance to cover before it can be made available to fans. But at least it's on its way.
Pricing is still uncertain but if all six discs and the ear-book are to be manufactured, plus a modest profit for all the work and time I've put into it, I can't imagine the price being less than ยฃ70, perhaps a little more, but we'll take a look at that as costs of production come in. So, that's the state of play at the moment, I'll update you as things progress.
Thank you!
Whilst this massive box set album seemed settled a few days ago, I'm already contemplating a few changes to the track list with at least a couple of newer numbers eligible for including. This means though, for reasons of space, that one or two of the previously mentioned tracks may have to bow out to make room for the new ones. It's going to be a tough decision as I'm due to take all the tracks over to Fairview for mastering this coming Tuesday, so a final decision has to be made very soon. Also a new track just finished tonight but awaiting mixing tomorrow is a good contender for the album...Sometimes it would be easier to run out of ideas and inspiration, but thankfully, I've never had that happen to me so far. It feels like a never ending fountain of music...
Bill, when can we pre-order? My wallet is open! Hoping to get a few for my friends as Holiday gifts.
Had a crazy dream where Bill announced a six CD set of all new music! ๐
A six CD ear book sounds fantastic and, if itโs not pre-orders only, thereโs a good chance I could convince myself to splurge on it, but the price tag is daunting. Breaking it down to three separate two-disc volumes might be more cost-effective, and the price would be less intimidating if it could be spread over a couple of orders. The down side is that the artwork would suffer and it would feel like less of an event. A six-disc box is a STATEMENT.
Will purchase in any format, Bill!