'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings Formicarium Edition The Spectral Seance Box'

Thanks to Ron Schepper of Texture for including 'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings' in his end of year charts for 2007.

'...it's effing weird, man. And if that’s your thing…'

Formication are proud to present:

'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings Formicarium Edition: The Spectral Séance Box'

Only 23 boxes will be produced, all handmade, all hand-painted, all individually named and numbered, all entirely unique.

The audio has been mastered by Denis Blackham of Skye Mastering.

Each wooden box contains a CDr copy of 'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings' in a black clamshell, a mini CDr bonus disc entitled 'The Spectral Séance', a photographic print detailing the environment the recordings were conceived in, signatures of authenticity and a scroll describing the processes involved in Formication. The entire contents have been lovingly hand produced by Alec & Kingsley.

Pre-ordered boxes will be posted shortly; you will receive notification by email when yours is on its way.

The cost is £23 per box. This includes shipping to the UK. If you live elsewhere in the world, please email us for a shipping quote.

Tracklisting:

1. 'The Invocation' 02:44
2. 'Ancient Stones Unlock' 04:08
3. 'The Mountain Lullaby' 10:22
4. "I Have Thoughts That Are Fed By The Sun" 04:56
5. 'As Breath Rushes By' 01:47
6. 'Into Water and Out Of Mind' 05:10
7. 'Gate Opened Spirits' 08:38
8. 'Night in the Sanctuary of Yew' 10:40
9. 'Sound Reflected by Magnetic Scree' 07:22
10. 'Rite of Closing' 07:12
11. 'Screaming from the Lake' 08:08

R e v i e w s

This review from Kerry Leimar of ei-mag:

'That no specific style—though a highly specific aesthetic—emerges from these three releases is the case for compulsion. To the spirit then, if not the letter, of Throbbing Gristle, possibly at times being covered by OMD. Everywhere, the emanations of an inarticulate suffering and anger are acknowledged and understood to be learned and relearned, played and replayed as Formication traverses dark electronica and collage techniques, finding their best expression in strained moments of cross-breeding, as the soundstages collide and gurgle among fractured musical remnants and the elusive clatter of outside world captures. With an ear to the unsettled and disturbing, often ineffectually soothed-over by the simplest major chords, focus and attention shift slowly in and out of comprehension. The Untitled Wasdale Recordings (a limited edition release packed in a formidable wooden objet d'art) provide the most interest of the three and proves the least categorizable and least risible of the trio. Possessing that rarer-by-the-moment feel of discovery and accident, there is an innocence about the whole thing that maps out the garage/basement/afterwork home experimentation of the thousands whose music never got beyond the cassette revolution or out of the CDR backwaters, musics which derive from an accidental discovery of feedback, the still interesting flutter of tape, of turning it all backwards. In fact, the juxtaposition of sounds and sources that manage to agree in unagreeable ways or letting the inherent infidelity of the equipment malform the impulses, decays and afterbirths, and in such a way as to make artist and audience alike witness to the self-organizing abilities held deep within the warm and blood-vessel rich, silkly-haired folds of 21st century musical context.'

The Whitehaven News were delighted to hear of the attention lavished upon their beautiful district by Formication, publishing the following article in November 2006:

'An Experimental electrical band have recorded an LP in Wasdale. Formication, an internationally recognised act, are shortly to release the music that they recorded on a two week trip to Wasdale this summer.

The duo consists of Alec Bowman & Kingsley Ravenscroft, from Nottingham, and they have been coming to Cumbria for years. Alec said "When we formed the band it seemed like the natural thing to do. We wanted to create a piece of music that really got to the heart of what the area is all about. I think we have achieved that, we have summed up the essence of the place. Our music is experimental and electronic, but with an acoustic feel. We play all kinds of instruments and then put it all together, which is what we are in the process of doing now, and then the CD will be made available. Formication have signed to an international record label after finding huge popularity on the internet. Their 'Live from Wastwater' CD will be available via their website shortly.'

The following review is by our good friend Alan Walker (Landschaft):

"Formication's tagline is "the dark art of electronica" and that sums it up nicely. The music is meticulously assembled soundscape, transitioning beats and blocks of dark noise - think the big scraping metal sound the alien machines in War of the Worlds make. Jump into the Formication experience by downloading their "The Untitled Wasdale Recordings". "Wasdale" is beat driven sample synthesis (see review below). The obvious comparison is with the more structured end of the Throbbing Gristle sonic spectrum, but time-shifted to the post-millenium, and with a sprinkling of Ministry like metal goth. Formication have stepped up to the next level with the commercial release of "Icons for a New Religion" on Lumberton Trading Company. Formication have a high graphic standard, supporting events and releases with immaculately designed and presented printwork.

Recording review 28 May 2007, "The Untitled Wasdale Recordings": The album was relased as an edition of 23 in box set presentation - the box, a wooden hand crafted case with hand painted insect artwork and various artwork inserts. It is now available as a free MP3 download from the Audio page of www.theformicarium.com. The artwork and typography (something of a Landschaft obsession) takes as a reference, Victorian book title pages - multiple fonts, creative use of italics and typographic ornament. I have a book pubd 1831 "A New Treatise on the Use of Globes" in my typography references library, that exemplifies this pre-modern design formula. A very nice touch. To the music: The piece - and it is a single unified work rather than a collection, is split into 11 named sections, each transitioning into the next. Quite a challenge to review in any meaningful way, the work starts and concludes with what could be the inner workings of a broken clock. In between, the work moves forward into lolloping great beats, skittery micro rhythms, chime like minimal melodies, feedback-as-instrument, lots of buffer override (that skippy sound you get with a bust CD), finale-ing with a chopped up acoustic guitar melody that, just as you think Formication have secumbed to formal representation, dives off a cliff into a buffer-override cut-up and a locust swarm of scary electronica. An original, satisfying and well structured journey that challenges, but is never self indulgent."

The following review of 'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings' is by Ken Hollings and appears in the 'Outer Limits' section, on page 66 of the March issue of The Wire:

'Although undoubtedly derived from the correct technical term for attempting sexual congress with an ant, you have to admit that sonic occultists Alec Bowman & Kingsley Ravenscroft have chosen a superb name for themselves. Their latest project, available as a download or part of a limited edition box set, documents three days of secret recordings made in a remote location in the Lake District. Best appreciated as one long alchemical rite rather than individual performances, their work commences with the opening up of a piano's internal mechanics and concludes in an endless reverberation caught in the act of constantly renewing itself - a wellspring of ritual sound.'

Bauke of gothtronic.com reviews 'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings' here:

'Before me is a CD-r in a black clamshell. The British duo Formication have sent it to the Gothtronic headquarters and it ended on my desk. And I'm definitly nod sad about that fact.

Kingsley Ravenscroft and Alec Bowman went to the countryside and recorded three days long all kind of jams, sounds and atmospheres. And the result is a long soundscape / ambient piece with depicts the tension between the loneliness of being in and the beauty of the Lake district.

Possibly because of the way it was recorded, otherwise perchance through the story which was sent with the CD-r, it reminds me to some of the collaborative work of Matthew Florianz ('Molenstraat', 'Electronic Forest' and 'Improvisaties op D') but without getting into comparisons, this music is in my honest opinion what the legendary Eyespark meant by 'cinematic isolationism' or 'cinematic ambience'.

In some time (please check the Formication website or MySpace for updates) the mp3's will be released as free download. And because they're free, I advice you to check them out and give the initiative the recognition they worked for (and deserve).

If you can't wait, and you want more then just the music from this CD-r, there is another option which is called: 'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings Formicarium Edition: The Spectral Séance Box'. You can order (for 23 pound) one of 23 boxes, handmade, hand-painted, individually named and numbered, so entirely unique.

"Each wooden box contains a CDr copy of 'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings' in a black clamshell, a mini CDr bonus disc entitled 'The Spectral Séance', a photographic print detailing the environment the recordings were conceived in, signatures of authenticity and a scroll describing the processes involved in Formication" (taken from the website).

The picture shows that it is definitely a gorgeous work of art. So if you are an explorer, go explore the Lake District with Alec and Kingsley. If you are less of an explorer, but you like your music dark, swampy and experimental, definitely go check the mp3-release when it's available.'

Thanks to Frans de Waard of Vital Weekly for this review:

'Although there will be a limited edition of 23 CDRs in wooden boxes, I file this under the MP3 section, as it will be available in that format for those less fortunate. The recordings for this new release were made over the course of three days last year and sees them moving away from the previous release (with influences such a Throbbing Gristle, Conrad Schnitzler to a territory which is less easy to define. There is a strong use of guitars here, but also of samplers and synthesizers and some tracks are drenched with an unhealthy amount of delay. It seems to me that what is on the release is actually what has been recorded, and there has been no such thing as editing. Just a straight copy of recordings to the master. That is a pity. Some of the shorter pieces are alright, but there are a couple of long ones, that I think bear any structure or idea and are merely strumming away in an 'improvised' (a word to be used with care here) manner, which basically leads to nothing. Download with caution.'

Thanks to Tony Dickie of CompulsionOnline for this:

Formication - The Untitled Wasdale Recordings
Formication, the shadowy electronic duo, have been responsible for some prime slices of dark electronica released on their own label. On The Untitled Wasdale Recordings they provide a lengthy meditation inspired and recorded in Cumbria's Lake District. It's an area notable for its scenic beauty and coutnless lakes in England, with numerous sites of standing stones. A fine locale to inspire Formication's sojourn into ritual music. Taken from three days of improvisation at a secret location, it contains many elements familiar to Formication releases, the heavily manipulated rhythms, deep, dark swathes of sound enriched by undercurrents of vague melodies. The Untitled Wasdale Recordings, however, takes their dark electronica into a more melancholic mode, throwing open their sound to reflect the areas mountainous peaks and deep lakes. At points harsh rumblings remind of the jets that fly scarily low over Lake Windermere, and the trains that power through the countryside shattering the stillness and tranquility. Considerable use is made of acoustic guitars, adding a loose improvisary feel to their musical outpourings. On the whole though The Untitled Wasdale Recordings is far lighter in tone and less structured than what we've come to expect from Formication. It's a sidestep into a mystical environment in an attempt to connect with the past and to locate its spiritual core.

The Untitled Wasdale Recordings is available in a special edition of 23 copies in a handmade wooden box with various enclosures, while others can download this for free from their website. This should be regarded as a minor release, though, as they've much better releases available. Still on The Untitled Wasdale Recordings Formication continue to stretch their sound into new territories, and at any rate they keep you guessing. For more information go to www.theformicarium.com.

Thanks to Textura for this fine review:

"The Untitled Wasdale Recordings is the arresting product of improvised sessions recorded over three days by Nottingham duo Alec Bowman and Kingsley Ravenscroft (self-professed ‘miraculous electrical ensemble' Formication) in the heart of the Lake District in North Western England. Though sectioned into twelve tracks, the 70-minute work feels like a single, meandering nocturnal ritual that's simultaneously ancient and new, primitive and modern. The groaning cry of a wooden flute invokes long-dead spirits in “Ancient Stones Unlock” while dense masses of percussive clatter and animal chatter dominate “The Mountain Lullaby.” Radiant chords punctuate the dense forestation, imbuing the knotty foliage with a warm tint of as looping waves of sound mimic flocks of cawing birds. At certain stages of the trip, Formication plunges deep into the Wasdale wilderness: locomotive clatter intensifies into an indistinguishable blur during “Into Water and Out Of Mind” and backwards acoustic guitar slivers slither through murky swamplands in “Night in the Sanctuary of Yew.” An arm wrestling match of sorts appears to be enacted between stuttering acoustic and electronic sounds in “Sound Reflected by Magnetic Scree” while alien life-forms engage in glossolalic communion in “Screaming from the Lake.”

While the sonic alchemists' music is clearly experimental and electronic, it's at least partially generated from an acoustic pool that includes acoustic guitar, piano, djembe, and drums, a fact that helps explain the music's inviting character despite its idiosyncratic nature. A spirit of loneliness and melancholy humanizes the material too, as when ghostly chords alternate above the alien, even industrial terrain of “I Have Thoughts That Are Fed By The Sun” and “As Breath Rushes By.” Naturally, Formication's predilection for altered states may remind some listeners of Coil but, even if it does, the association hardly diminishes The Untitled Wasdale Recordings' psychotropic character."

Also, huge thanks go out to Mr Ron Schepper of Textura for hosting a track from 'The Untitled Wasdale Recordings' at this site, saying:

"Dense masses of percussive clatter and animal chatter dominate “The Mountain Lullaby,” merely one-twelth of Formication's 70-minute work. The latest epic from Nottingham duo Alec Bowman and Kingsley Ravenscroft feels like a meandering nocturnal ritual that's simultaneously ancient and new, primitive and modern."

Click here to visit.

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