Folk Horror Revival: Field Studies Book and Music

My copy of Folk Horror Revival arrived recently and I can honestly say it is a wonderful book and a very fine read. So much is covered within the pages of the book that I really can not begin to list everything. Superbly put together it is the Brainchild of Andy Paciorek with contributions from some of the Songs from the Black Meadow travelers, Grey Malkin (of The Hare and the Moon) and Jim Peters (Melmoth the Wanderer/Septimus Keen) Available from here. Lots more info on the book at the Black Meadow Blog.

 Also worth checking out is this superb mix from Melmouth The Wanderer

Mr Palmer's Cards a Christmas Ritual

Every year for the past 9 years my friend Mr Palmer makes us a Christmas card. These cards take pride of place on this door. Every year the cards come out and are placed in the same spot on the door. We all have our favorites, and every year we inform each other which ones are our favs. We then sit around debating why certain cards are our favorites and the reason why this is. We will carry on doing this Christmas ritual until we run out of cards or the door gives up on us. This is the same Mr Palmer who wrote the wonderful notes The Walk for my present album A Rest Before the Walk.

Festive Greetings & Happy New Year you wonderful people out there

Whatever you all do. Have a very Merry Festive Break and a Happy New Year to you all.

A Few More Copies in the Ghostbox Guests Shop and Wire Magazine Review

Some more CD copies of A Rest Before the Walk are now available again in the Ghostbox Records Guests Shop. There are also a couple left on Bandcamp.

 

Also a review in the the January edition of Wire magazine

Its a Bumper Digital Discography Discount

Get all 4 Keith Seatman releases available on Bandcamp for £14. Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of A Rest Before the Walk, Around the Folly and Down Hill, Boxes Windows & Secret Hidey - Holes, and Consistently Mediocre and Daydreams  Digital Albums can still be purchased individually and CD copies still available from Bandcamp and The Ghostbox Records Guests Shop. 

Keith Seatman's science fiction landscapes explode with meekness that is undiscriminating as it is enthusiastic. Seatman is a talented sound designer, and it shines on his instrumentals. The icy disco sparkle and spare beats of I Wish I Wish I Wish over a sample of a breathless young girl lean toward something Chris & Cosey might have come up with. Once More with the Whirligig combines a folk-rhyme tongue twister chant with the kind of daddy-o cool, finger snapping hepcat pastiche of Angelo Badalamenti's Twin Peaks soundtrack.
Wire Magazine 383 (Jan 2016)

 Who lives in that crumbling old house down the lane where no one ever leaves or enters, but whose lights you
see in winter if you walk down that way? Maybe it’s the unhinged posh sounding lady whose voice is sampled
on ‘Once More With The Whirligig’- “Never no more will we dance will we sing / In a whirligig ring to the old
woman’s tune on a bucket with a spoon / In the moonlight on Mondays”. It’s a startling, unsettling track that evokes occasionally felt uneasiness triggered by particular places or sounds, giving voice to some murky corner of our subconscious. There are plenty of standouts among the 14 tracks, but none more head-turning than the snappily titled ‘Along The Corridor 1st On The Left Room 2882’, which bottles the thrill and fear of the chase with adrenalised menace. We hear fast-paced footsteps in the dark, an old telephone endlessly ringing in some distant room and an increasing sense that our pursuer is closing in. Brilliant.
CARL GRIFFIN Electronic Sound Magazine (Dec 2015)

Keith Seatman is someone whose music I first heard in the context of my old experimental music zine, ‘WonderfulWooden Reasons’ and who’s album left me craving more. His latest, ‘A Rest Before the Walk’, is an utterly glorious selection of filmic folk and ghostly electronica that is utterly mesmerising from first to last.
Wyrd Britain (Nov 2015) 

‘A Rest Before the Walk’ is an essential listen, its tracks not only standouts on their own merits but also expertly interwoven into a coherent, effective overarching mood as a whole. Seatman has produced perhaps his best album to date and, given his earlier work is also indispensable and a must have, this is significant. Some might call this music hauntology, others electronica; what it is is a damn fine album that you need to hear.  

The Active Listener (Oct 2015) 

Around the Folly, Its sci-fi meets pagan - pastoral soundscapes fits the vibe of Giles Eyre’s spooky folly. Seatman’s odd melodies sit with industrial repetition to convey the scares of the synth laden themes and incidental scene setting pieces of early 70s through early 80s kids TV wondrously whilst at the same time creating an imagined history of this medieval building. Jim Jupp from the mighty Ghost Box contribute extra production (which is always a seal of approval) Jon Mills (Shindig Magazine issue 39 2014)

Boxes consists of 12 tracks of bubbly synths, chiming robotics and twangy guitars, recalling cheapo 50s sci-fi flicks, 60s spy movies and dusty old underwater nature docs, as filtered through an English seaside town perspective. An interesting entry into the odd genre of wibbly, weird electronica that's been nicknamed "Hauntology" Thomas Paterson (Shindig Magazine, June 2013) 

"Seatman is a kindred spirit, and this is his most evocative and personal sounding work to date."
Jim Jupp, (Ghost Box, 2013)

Detectorists

I will miss Mackenzie Crook's wonderful BBC 4 series Detectorists. For those of you that have not ever watched it, the series takes place in and around the small town of Danbury. Andy (Mackenzie Crook) and Lance (Toby Jones) are members of the DMDC (Danebury Metel Detectors Club) along with Sophie, Terry, Hugh, Russell, Louise and Varde. Over the course of the two series we witness life love betrayal greed disappointment and rejection at a wonderfully slow but never dull pace. Andy's long suffering partner Becky (Rachael Stirling) is a Teacher in a local school and is desperate to get out of Danebury and see life/the world before its all to late. All through the series Andy and Lance
are always searching/detecting for that elusive gold, that they never seem to find, and yet
always happiest when in a field detecting. A few interesting finds along the way, The Jim
fixed it for me medal, which gets rejected and put back in the ground. An enamel badge with
a strange inscription on the back which on closer inspection says Status Quo. The series is over now and I am feeling a tad ambivalent about it ending, and whether it needs a 3rd series or not. My logic here is that I just like the series the way it is, and if it ever went to a 3rd series that turned out to be not as good as the first two, then disappointment would def be the order of the day. Having said all that, I will look forward to the Christmas special on 23rd December. I must mention the lovely song The Detectorists sung by Johnny Flynn at the beginning of every episode which just sets us up for half hour of dare I say it perfect viewing. I shall be watching and enjoying Detectorists for years to come (DVD Box Set)

Electronic sound Magazine December 2015

A Review by Carl Griffin of A Rest Before the Walk from Decembers edition
of Electronic Sound CD and Digital from Bandcamp, CD from The Ghostbox Records Guests Shop

 

Wire Office Ambience

 

Very pleased to be included in The Wire Office Ambience this month.

The Wire Magazine 382

More CDs very soon (Thurs 12th). Reviews & Interview

More Cds arriving soon (Thurs Nov 12th) but if you can't wait why not go digital for your rest.
https://keithseatman.bandcamp.com/album/a-rest-before-the-walk 
https://ghostbox.greedbag.com/dept/~ghost-box-guests/
Keith Seatman is someone whose music I first heard in the context of my old experimental music zine, ‘WonderfulWooden Reasons’ and who’s album left me craving more. His latest, ‘A Rest Before the Walk’, is an utterly glorious selection of filmic folk and ghostly electronica that is utterly mesmerising from first to last.
Wyrd Britain (Nov 2015)
‘A Rest Before the Walk’ is an essential listen, its tracks not only standouts on their own merits but also expertly interwoven into a coherent, effective overarching mood as a whole. Seatman has produced perhaps his best album to date and, given his earlier work is also indispensable and a must have, this is significant. Some might call this music hauntology, others electronica; what it is is a damn fine album that you need to hear.
The Active Listener (Oct 2015) 
Admirers of the Ghost Box imprint will do well to take note that production credits, on an advisory capacity, come from Jim Jupp whilst on the sets three lightest moments – ‘broken folk’, ‘my morning ritual’ and ‘a rest before the walk’ Douglas E. Powell features applying vocal duties to such exquisite effect that on second named track something disorientating approaching Edward Ka-Spell donning youthful Peter Gabriel skins emerges while the latter mentioned woozily wanders into the fracturing shadow lands of Komeda albeit as though spirit guided by some hitherto dark twin of the Superimposers. 
The Sunday Experience (Oct 2015)
A Rest Before The Walk is a much bleaker album than Around The Folly And Downhill with a less pastoral feel and a starker, colder ’80s mood befitting the Sheffield bands or apocalyptic sci-fi and
slasher movies scores of the same time. It’s far from easy listening, but, like many of the Ghost Box releases, it washes over you like a fever dream and captivates the senses.
Jon ‘Mojo’ Mills (Shindig Issue 51 Oct 2015)
 Wyrd Daze Issue 4
Interview (some thoughts and ramblings from me)

 

Stone Tape Radio 4

I did enjoy Peter Stricklands re-imagined version of the Stone Tape Listen here.  Always loved the original ("ITS IN THE  COMPUTER") and was quite pleased with this radio adaption. The superb atmospheric Music and Sound Design was supplied by James Cargill (Broadcast) and Andrew Liles (Current 93 Nurse with Wound). John Doran from The Quietus reviews this new version in a dark cold crypt of a London Church.

Album Update 2

There are only 2 CD copies of A Rest Before the Walk available from Bandcamp. 
CD versions of the album can still be purchased from the Ghost Box Records Guests Shop.

If you would like a Digital copy of the album (or any of the others), then these can still be purchased from Bandcamp for £5.00.

Test Transmission Archive Reel 23 (2hr Post Punk)

Test Transmission Archive Reel 23 by Keith Seatman on Mixcloud

A few months back I re-read Simon Reynolds excellent book about the Post Punk years Rip it up and start again. All inspired, I decided that I was long over due in putting together a massive 2 hr Post Punk Mix. This mix is in no particular order. Some of you might point out that a few of the bands here are not really Post Punk....true maybe, in fact some of the bands here are def pre-punk, but there impact and presence was probably felt more musically in the post punk years. To wet your whistle we have music from Throbbing Gristle, Pere Ubu, Josef K, Metal Urbain, Young Marble Giants, Wall of Voodoo, Monochrome Set, PIL, Pop Group, Magazine, James Chance, The Raincoats, Wire and much much more. Anyway thats it for me mix wise this year. Time for a break. Its all been very busy what with the new album out this month and all other things, so until the next one thank you all for listening this year see you in 2016.

THE ACTIVE LISTENER: Keith Seatman - A Rest Before the Walk

THE ACTIVE LISTENER: Keith Seatman - A Rest Before the Walk: Reviewed by Grey Malkin ( The Hare & The Moon ) Hampshire’s Keith Seatman is a name that will be familiar to many from his previous...

New Album Update

The CD version  of A Rest Before the Walk has now SOLD OUT on Bandcamp. A Digital Version of the album can still be purchased from Bandcamp. If the mood takes you go digital. CDs are still available from The Ghost Box Guests Shop for the time being.
Thank you to everyone who have bought a copy of A Rest Before the Walk.

Available today from Ghost box Records Guests Shop

The new Keith Seatman album is finally here, and CD copies are available to purchase from The Ghost Box Records Guests Shop 
CD and Digital will also be available from Bandcamp on Monday 19th October.
There is for the time being only a limited number of CD copies from Ghost Box Guests shop so you might have to be swift.
The Album has so far been played a few times on 6 Music and has been reviewed by The Sunday Experience and interview in Wyrd Daze issue 4. There is also a very nice review in Shindig issue 51 which is due out very soon.
It’s far from easy listening, but it washes over you like a fever dream and captivates the senses. Jon Mojo Mills Shindig Oct 2015 Issue 51.
Those of you fancying some creeping dread psychosis purred disturbia in readiness to celebrate the season of death / rebirth will probably have to dig deep to find anything as out there, strange and eerie as Keith Seatman’s sinisterly shadow smothered ‘a rest before the walk’.  The Sunday Experience (Oct 2015)

BY OUR SELVES | Official UK Trailer - in cinemas 2nd October

Very much looking forward to seeing this. Sight and Sound Reveiw.

Wyrd Daze 4

There is an interview with me in issue 4 of Wyrd Daze. If you would like to read my ramblings and hear a track from the new album go to here and get yourself a copy.

New Album A Rest Before the Walk/The Ghost Box Guests Shop

I am very pleased to say that a limited number of CD copies of my new album A Rest Before the Walk (ksa.005) will be available to purchase from The Ghost Box Records Guests Shop in mid October. The CD and Digital download will also be available on Bandcamp at about the same time. Release date to be announced very soon.

Test Transmission Archive Reel 22

Test Transmission Archive Reel 22 by Keith Seatman on Mixcloud

Here we are again with another one of my Test Transmissions. This time round we have music from Godley & Creme, Simon Heartfield, Scott Walker, Pye Corner Audio & Belbury Poly, Jane Weaver, Shangri-La's, Dereck & Ray, Mouse on Mars, Gryphon, The Ephemeral Man, Ennio Morricone, Wavscape, Barry Grey and loads more. Working on something different for Archive Reel 23 which might appear just before Christmas if I have time. So for now sit yourself down with a cuppa and have a wade through this lot.

A Rest Before the Walk has Arrived Safe and Sound

Last week  I took delivery of my new album, A Rest Before the Walk.
Now furiously putting some in envelopes
and getting ready for October release date. 

The track listing is
We all had our Dreams, Strange Tales & Lost Paper Trails,
There’s Something Outside, Once More with the Whirligig,
Broken Folk*, Made by Sun and Ice,
Race you to the Top, Thinking Doing and Moving,
My Morning Ritual*, I Wish I Wish I Wish,
Waiting for Mr Fieldpole, Sun in Her Hand,
Along the Corridor 1st on the Left Room 2882,
A Rest Before the Walk*
All tracks written by Keith Seatman
except* Seatman & Powell
Music*
Keith Seatman.
Vocals/Lyrics*
Douglas E Powell.
Produced by Keith Seatman.
Additional production Jim Jupp.
Mastering by Jack Packer.
Additional voices Caitlin, Joshua.
Layout and design by Keith Seatman.
A Rest Before the Walk will be available as
CD and Digital download from Bandcamp
CD also available from The Ghost Box Shop
Catalogue number: ksa 005
Release date Oct, 2015.

 

Extracts from A Rest Before the Walk can be heard here

Douglas E Powell Good Men Get Lost at Sea

Have just been sent the lovely (and it is lovely) and quite wonderful new album by Douglas E Powell & The Rising Spirit Good Men get Lost at Sea. I have played a few early versions of some of the tracks on my Test Transmission mixes over the last year or so (Nash's Tower, Penny Lies) and have had the pleasure of Doug letting me hear a few of these tracks develop and change as the album has progressed. My own personal fav with its very gentle Folk/Psych backwards guitar ending is Penny Lies. Copies of Good Men get Lost at Sea can be purchased from here. 

Extracts from ‘Walk’ 2015 by Greg Palmer

A Rest Before the Walk (Inside of Digipac)

The Walk – Urban, rural and everything in between. -  Contemplation, rhythm, weather, smell, soundtrack (natural / man-made), and the internal monologue. We walk for many reasons, simply as a means of getting from A to B (Shanks’s Pony).  Walking for pleasure, walk as pilgrimage, ritual or with the formality of a procession; as escape, as political act or protest. We walk to notice, to search and we walk to think.

We walk in company or alone. We might walk with a spring in our step or it could be a reluctant trudge, a gruelling hike or gentle saunter. Our natural movement can be choreographed into a military march or the exaggerated action of a race walker.

We walk at different rates, often suggested by location, terrain, need and ability. We move about our homes at a particular ‘indoor’ pace, but there are interior spaces such as hospital corridors and station concourses that invite an outdoor rhythm and speed.

To an extent all our walks are coloured by a degree of prior knowledge and awareness. Some locations and the routes we take are however so heavily loaded with particular memories or associations that our experience is profoundly affected by them.

Stride across open moorland, occasional sideways hawthorn; slowing down the pace to explore the skeleton of a long abandoned farm and to see if the Redstarts are back. Stopping only to raise binoculars, catch breath, examine a sagging sheep carcase and to take stock of where I am and how I fit.

Night Walk 2 – Step from the shifting rattle and metallic ’tink’ of the shingle to the dull solid resistance of the concrete promenade. Legs adjust to the new surface and the head to a new quiet.

From the Old Road take the track to Sidebottom Fold Farm at the foot of Wild Bank; through the gate and into the field, under the pylon that fizzes and crackles loudly on rainy days, up to where the heather (thick with flies in late summer) begins. Over the dry stone wall and left along the rutted path to the disused rifle range with its raised banks and collapsing concrete bunkers; a bleak, melancholy place that is gradually being reclaimed by the land. Corroded round casings are still plentiful, embedded in the sandy earth, even though generations of children have collected them by the handful.

E8/N16 - Spiral down the stairwell, eye level and summit of the railway embankment align through window on floor 2, - out onto the estate. Move on past open and boarded shops and once grand Victorian town houses. Join the High Street where a pub chalk board declares ‘Bear Garden at Rear’. Heavy traffic heading northwards. Greengrocer’s outside display overflowing brightly, like waxy treasure under strings of warm electric bulbs, a beacon on winter evenings. Adjacent cold strip lit basement Turkish social club, cheers as Besiktas stick one in. London Pride on right then straight on at the lights, cross and turn into the cemetery (Egg Stores to our back). Dramatic Egyptian inspired entrance. Overgrown arboretum, ivy clad Victorian Gothic. A glittering array of incumbents infuse the ingredients of our ‘Dead Man’s Blackberry and Apple Pie’; drinker’s bench and disused boarded up chapel complete with obligatory satanic graffiti. Exit by the Salvationist Booth family burial plot and head down largely gentrified Church St. Move past the ‘village church’ and into the park where released terrapins clog a vestige of Myddelton’s New River.

Extracts from ‘Walk’ 2015 by Greg Palmer. - Artist and Associate Lecturer on the B.A. (Hons.) Fine Art course at Southampton Solent University & the M.A. Illustration course at Kingston University.

These notes, observations and reflections on walks and walking were written in response to a request made by Keith Seatman for me to produce a text on the subject to accompany the release of his album A Rest  Before the Walk, Oct 2015.

Its all go in The Studio

Hard at work trying to finish the new album. So here are a few images of myself and the team trying our best to tidy up the wobbly & twiddly bits plus also monitor the playback. 

Owl Service. Schedule Extracts, Press Release and Clothes

Test Transmission Archive Reel 21

Test Transmission Archive Reel 21 by Keith Seatman on Mixcloud

The summer is upon us, so its about time for another one of these. Bit slow at getting these done at the mo due to many other things going on (trying to finish of new album for Oct, and about to start on yet another side project) There was so much I wanted to put on this mix but just ran out of time. But enough of all that. This time we have music from Prufrock, Douglas E Powell, ESG, Micheal Fassbender, Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood, Nolan Porter, Lighthouse, Malcolm Clarke and even something from my murky old past.
So until we all meet again. Have a nice summer, I might even have another mix ready for when the evenings get dark. I have been asked a few times if any of the Test Transmission Archive Reel Mixes are available to download. I am sorry to say that the answer to that is no. I decided for a number of reasons a long time back that the mixes would only be available on Mixcloud.

Cassettes Cassettes Cassettes Cassettes

The problem with Bank Holidays is that I really do not like them. To much traffic and all a tad to busy for me. So I/we have a tendency to stay in. The good thing about this is that I end up rummaging in the loft for hours on end, and sometimes find a few things that I forgot I had, like these four wonderful cassettes. All are in fantastic condition and do sound very good. So a rather good day so far.

Haunted Air

This rather wonderful book turned up at the Seatman house not so long ago. It would have been very rude not to let it in. It has now taken up residence on the shelf.