O.R.k. - New Album

With all the chaos, confusion and downright bad stuff that's happened the in last few years, O.R.k. may well have slipped under your radar. In common with the majority of musicians, we've had tours, recordings, releases and activities cancelled and curtailed. But, moving on, we're on track for album four release later this year... In the meantime, here's where the story started, "Pyre" - on the strength of this video, a whole bunch of people put their faith in us and crowdfunded our first album "Inflamed Rides" , something for which I'll be forever grateful, despite the somewhat taxing process crowdfunding turned out to be. I am also pleased to say "Inflamed Rides" has been freshly remixed and remastered and will also be out later this year....but for now, if you feel like you want to burn one down...:

Oy Yak Viydu - Guadi Remix

Very happy to present this exclusive remix by dubmaster GAUDI of the track “Oy Yak Viydu” (…meaning 'I Will Go Out' in Ukrainian), out now in aid of the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal. 100% of all the profits from this remix, and all other releases on the https://aeappeal.bandcamp.com/ page will be going towards desperately needed humanitarian aid resulting from the ongoing crisis and tragic situation in Ukraine. ‘Oy Yak Vidyu' was originally released on the eponymous “EDK” album from Ukrainian vocalist Inna Kovtun, yours truly (UK) and Jon Durant (USA), a full length album featuring reimagined reworkings from a selection of traditional Ukrainian folk songs. Gaudi skilfully demonstrated his affinity and appreciation for Ukrainian music, having previously remixed legendary Ukrainian folk quartet Dakhabrakha, so we are delighted to have his unique touch to bring out a completely different angle to 'Oy Yak Viydu'. A positive and uplifting take on the original to bring some light in these dark times. Thank you Gaudi and thank you everyone who kindly buys this song. ❤️🇺🇦 Please share, download, and donate if you can.

Bandcamp Appeal Update

It's still Bandcamp Friday, so still time for donations to have maximum effect, but just to say that the https://aeappeal.bandcamp.com/ page will be here for the long haul, as Jon Durant and I have a few more tracks we previously recorded with Inna Kovtun, and we'll be posting some up in the future, so we'll be continuing to raise funds for the Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal for as long as we can. If you can't donate, then please download, and help Ukrainian (...or at least, our take on it!) music reach new ears. Make no mistake, Putin's war is also a war on Ukrainian culture, alongside the terrible devastation being done to civilian lives and infrastructure, cultural institutions, museums (see Maria Prymachenko), memorials (see Babi Yar), historical buildings and universities have all become targets, things to be erased and destroyed. Music is perhaps the most portable and durable cultural artifact, but I am sure Putin would like to erase Ukrainian music too. The Astarta/Edwin and EDK tracks are, for the most part, based around traditional folk forms and melodies, which have been passed through generations, long may they continue to be passed on..... Heartfelt thanks to all those who have donated so far! Approaching £500...!

British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal

I’ve decided to remove the two collaborative albums of Ukrainian “Collision Music” - Astarta/Edwin (the original album and the remix album “Outages”) from my Bandcamp page.

In an attempt to help the relief efforts these releases (and others forthcoming.…) will be available on a new Bandcamp page set up specifically to raise funds for the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal here:

AEAppeal.bandcamp.com

As well as raising funds, I think it important that Ukrainian music, perhaps lesser known outside the country, is able to reach as many people as possible, to present an example of something positive from Ukraine, and to let the wider world know that Ukrainians posses a distinct and rich culture of their own, so therefore everything will be available on a “pay as you like” basis, and will remain so, but I would like to encourage everyone who can, to please make a donation to aid the humanitarian efforts.

The war in Ukraine is destroying the lives of many people, and the musicians I’ve made these recordings with have had their lives upended along with many of their compatriots, please share, tweet, download, donate…..

Small reminder, this Friday is “Bandcamp Friday”, where Bandcamp waive their usual cut from sales, so the maximum amount of donation can be passed on.

Ukraine Appeal

When I first started working with Ukrainian musicians and singers, back in about 2012, I used to get a lot of people asking me "....what's up with those Russians you are playing with".

I could forgive the ignorance though, for a lot of people like myself who grew up in the Cold War era, the East side of most European maps was just a mass of red labelled "U.S.S.R", and most of us never expected to go there, much less to interact with any of the inhabitants or bother to learn the differences between the many Soviet Republics.

In more recent times even the most ignorant amongst us has learnt the difference between Russian and Ukrainian, and sadly not because of any great cultural understanding, but because of the most tragic and serious recent events.

(With Jon Durant and Inna Kovtun, in London whilst mixing the EDK album)

It has been a great experience for me on a personal level to go to Ukraine and to find musical bonds with people from totally different backgrounds who I struggled to converse with, and it's been an ongoing and deeply satisfying artistic journey to continue working with the hugely talented and passionate Ukrainian folk singer Inna Kovtun, to explore a small part of the intriguing Slavic folk music canon with it's unique character and beauty. 

The last few days I've been bouncing between shock, anger, deep concern for the Ukrainian people now living in real danger and fear, and a feeling of helplessness about what, if anything, I can do.

For anyone else wondering what to do to support the Ukrainian people, in response to the crisis, there are a number of charitable organisations who have set up appeals, I'd therefore like to post this link to information from the Ukrainian Institute in London:

https://ukrainianinstitute.org.uk/russias-war-against-ukraine-what-can-you-do-to-support-ukraine-ukrainians/

There's also a new Red Cross Appeal:

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

I'd also urge anyone in the UK to write to their MP to push for the firmest sanctions possible against the Russian Government and it's elite citizens. The UK's weak response to date is nothing short of shameful, demonstrating a greater regard for the assets of kleptocrats and their stolen funds than the lives and security of Ukrainian citizens under attack.

It's easier than you might think to write to your MP, please click below:

https://www.writetothem.com/

Best,

Colin

Burnt Belief Sampler- Traces

It’s been gratifying for Jon Durant and I to get such a good reception to our most recent Burnt Belief album “Mutual Isolation”, which was released late last year. We’ve decided to drop a selection of tracks from across our 4 albums as a kind of introduction to Burnt Belief for any one who’d like to dip an ear into the albums but isn’t sure where to start, or anyone who’s maybe picked up “Mutual Isolation” and would like to go back a bit further into the Burnt Belief catalogue. 

 As well as one track from each album, you’ll also find the track “Charlatan”, which was a previously hidden digital only bonus track from 2014’s Etymomolgy. 

 Jon has provided his thoughts about the tracks below: 

 Charlatan: This super cool ethno dub electronica vibe was originally done for the Etymology album but was left off as the album was already too long. Lots of cool e-bow work, ring modulator, and a big melody which was doubled with midi guitar playing a mini moog. I always greatly enjoyed the piece and I’ve been sorry that it wasn’t available except as a bonus track.

 Chimera: This might be my personal favorite of the tracks on Etymology. The groove set up by Colin’s slicing of my clouds is immediately compelling, and when coupled with the Crimso-minimalist guitar bits take it into a whole other zone. But my favorite elements are the rhythmic e-bow bits (played by bouncing the ebow on the strings rather than just holding it in place) and the prepared piano noises in the middle section. The solo, played with e-bow, is also a highlight. 

 Impossible Senses: A fun, ethno-fusion romp with wonderful percussion from Jerry Leake. This one also has mini moog played on midi guitar. A fun accident happened on the solo—my shirtsleeve had been rolled up and came unrolled while I was playing. It draped over the string in just the right place to create an artificial harmonic at the end of a phrase. 

 Emergent: The title track from our third album has always struck me as being one of the best examples of what it is that Burnt Belief is about. Ethnic elements, prog elements, fusion elements, and extraordinary textures and sounds. This was the first piece I wrote when I had ordered my fretless guitar (but hadn’t yet received it). I knew how the instrument would be used well before I got it! The breathy synth is played on midi guitar. 

 Expanse: This was the track that got us started making Mutual Isolation. It was a follow on from the concept behind my solo album ”Soul of a River” where I ran a digital piano through my guitar rig to create a different sort of atmosphere from how I’d normally been working. But I wanted to add more to it, and approached Colin with it. His wonderful phrases on upright immediately grabbed me and I knew we were on our way to something special. On each of the BB albums, there’s a piece that’s primarily based on atmospherics and this one for me represents the best of them all. 

 “Charlatan” “Chimera” and “Emergent” feature Vinny Sabatino on drums and “Impossible Senses” has the masterful Jerry Leake adding rhythmic depth on various ethnic percussions. Available on a pay as you like basis here: https://burntbelief.bandcamp.com/album/traces 

 Best, Colin

Hebdomadal

For anyone who missed out on any, or all, of the tracks I previously put out on weekly basis over the summer/early autumn, you can complete the collection by getting hold of “Hebdomadal” which is the complete set over on my Bandcamp page.