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.

Echopet this year

This track was put together by Jez Stevens and myself back in 2013. The idea was to work together as Echopet. Alas we did not really do anything about it. Then a few nights ago we got together to discuss getting Echopet up and running, and have decided to work on some music this Spring and Summer. And maybe even play live later in the year. In the mean time I have an album to finish and release by October, so best I crack on.

Robert Macfarline The eeriness of the English Countryside

A fantastic article from The Guardian by Robert Macfarline entitled The eeriness of the English Countryside. Writers and artists have long been fascinated by the idea of an English eerie – ‘the skull beneath the skin of the countryside’. But for a new generation this has nothing to do with hokey supernaturalism – it’s a cultural and political response to contemporary crises and fears. The starting point for this excellent piece is the M R James Ghost story A View from a Hill and Ben Wheatley's A Field in England. Definitely worth a read.

New Album Tracks Part 2 (Work in Progress)

Even more ideas, work in progress and swift mixes for the next album. The tracks are
I Wish I Wish, Once More with the Whirligig, Broken Folk, Thinking Doing & Moving, Waiting for Mr Fieldpole, My Morning Ritual, Race you to the Top. Now all I have to do is set about releasing it later in the year.

Something for the Autumn (maybe)

If all goes to plan (and it usually does not) and providing its mixed mastered and all the artwork etc is finished. This might be an Autumn release.

Test Transmission Archive Reel 20

Test Transmission Archive Reel 20 by Keith Seatman on Mixcloud

At last Archive Reel 20!!!!! never thought I would in fact get to 20 of these. Who knows might make it to 30. This time round we have music from Seventh Wave, Luther Ingram, Soulless Party, Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti, Advisory Circle, Carya Amara, Concretism, Jane Weaver, 10cc and quite a lot more. Anyway a tad busy for the next few months on the new album so I hope to get another Archive Reel to you all in the summer. In the meantime hope you enjoy all this. Until next time.........TATA

THE ACTIVE LISTENER: Nine Questions with Keith Seatman

THE ACTIVE LISTENER: Nine Questions with Keith Seatman: Nine Questions is a new regular feature on the Active Listener, where we ask our favourite artists nine simple questions and get all sorts of answers

Waiting for Les Revenants

Have just recently re-watched the last episode of Les Revenants (The Returned) and I must say how very much I enjoyed the whole series. A while ago I did try to explain the series and why I liked it so much to a friend of mine. So here more or less is my shambolic after a few vodkas explanation of Les Revenants to my friend. "its Zombies, but not really Zombies!! the dead come back to life but they are not daft silly shambling decomposing things. They are just as confused as to why they are all coming back to life. It sort of reminds me of Twin Peaks in places, lots of very long slow conversations that are captivating and intriguing with lots of long pauses and intense facial expressions. Its all set in a French Alpine Village or Town and again like the Twin Peaks intro much is made of the landscapes, lots of vast forests mountains empty roads. Its very dark and bleak. The soundtrack is perfect, its by Mogwai, I will lend it to you (friend still looks interested in what I am saying, and has not walked of or yawned) the whole series is on Netflix, have a look. Its based on the 2004 French film They Came Back which was also called The Returned" Thats more or less what I said to my friend, it was also getting very late by then. I am very much looking forward to season 2 later in 2015.

The Boy from Space BBC Study Series

My Good friend Mr Palmer recently picked up these two BBC study series LPs and very thoughtfully gave one of them (The Boy from Space) to me. The music and spacey sounds for the album were produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshops John Baker & Dick Mills. Sadly there is not really a lot of music or spacey sounds on this album, but it is still a very enjoyable listen. The Boy from Space was written by Catweazle creator Richard Carpenter.

Late Junction Jan 13th

Only just found out that on Tuesday 13th Jan a tune of mine, Into the Well from the album Around the Folly and Down Hill, was played by Nick Luscombe on The Late Junction (Radio 3) to say I was a tad pleased would be an understatement. The program is only available to listen to on iPlayer for a limited time. Thank you Nick.

THE ACTIVE LISTENER: Keith Seatman "Around the Folly & Down Hill"

THE ACTIVE LISTENER: Keith Seatman "Around the Folly & Down Hill": Reviewed by Nathan Ford I've been mulling this one over for quite some time. While it was apparent almost immediately that this was...

This all looks and sounds very interesting.

"Folklore is a vibrant element of 'Britishness' and a living cultural heritage; these beliefs, customs and expressions link the past to the present and help us understand our specific communities and cultures, as well as our shared humanity. Far from being static or an ageing genre, it remains relevant by adapting to new circumstances, with the 'Folk' (people), and the 'lore' (stories) continually informing and influencing each other. At the moment there is no dedicated institution within the UK that specifically explores and celebrates our folkloric culture and heritage in its full richness, including all of our annual customs and traditions. I feel this is a sad state of affairs and points towards a yawning gap within the cultural landscape of Britain. It is my aim that within a few years, this situation will be examined and resolved and there will exist a properly funded new national establishment which will not only impart knowledge and stimulate inquiry, but will also provide aesthetic experiences and kindle individual ambition by strengthening community ties and making visitors aware of the richness of our shared folk-culture in all its manifold forms. At the present time we are in the process of deciding the best way for us to operate and we do not have a building which the public can visit. We are however involved in a series of exhibitions within the UK where visitors can come to gain an appreciation of what will eventually be on offer once we are established. 

Simon Costin (Director, Museum of British Folklore)

Edgar Froese 1944 - 2015

Very sad to hear that Tangerine Dream founder Edgar Froese has passed away.

If it was not for the music of Edgar Froese and Tangerine Dream (at the hight of punk I had copies of Stratosfear and Ricochet, tucked away safely in the not punk box of records) I would never have heard of or listened to Kraftwerk, Can, Neu! Cluster etc.

Froese's Aqua is a fav of mine, NGC 891 is a massive track, if you have 14 mins spare do have a listen. I was very lucky to have seen Tangerine Dream on the UK Cyclone and Force Majeure tours (my friend and I did look slightly out of place though)  but I can not really remember to much about it apart from very large Synths and lasers. So with all that said I will now go and listen to NGC 891 once more. I really think you should as well.

New tunes on Soundcloud (Excerpts)

Here are some tracks that will hopefully end up on the next album, due out sometime later in 2015. When I say later in 2015 I really do mean later. All are rough mixes and work in progress etc. The voices on the track Full Circle are Douglas E Powell and his son Joshua.

More of Doug on the album later.

The tracks are

Theres something outside

Full Circle

Sun in her hand

Made by Sun and Ice

Along the Corridor 1st on the Left Room 2882

Race you to the top

Scarfolk Film Censors Page 187 - 188

I expect that a lot of you are aware of the wonderful world of Scarfolk and all that it entails. If for any reason you are not, then do not fret. With full permission from the head of Scarfolk Council himself, here are 2 extracts from the wonderful Discovering Scarfolk book. The book is very clever well written and bloody funny. If you do not have a copy, best you get one very soon, you could also grab a fridge magnet and a cup to go with it.

Soulless Party & Carya Amara new releases

Two cracking releases out now and available from Bandcamp.