About field recordings 1

8pmcityscapes features many field recordings. Sometimes they can be heard quite clearly, sometimes they are more hidden in the mix. Either way, field-recordings are an important part of my work so I decided to give it some attention here in a few posts. In this first installment: how it all started.

It started back in the olden days, in the pre-digital era, with the Tascam Porta One. This is actually a four-track recording and pretty bulky so it is far removed from the small digital recorders of today. But hey, it recorded well. All you had to do is stick a large number of large batteries in it and plug your favorite mikes at the rear panel. If I remember correctly, it was possible to record two tracks simultaneously so you could do stereo recordings. In the end I used this one mostly for recording demos instead of field recordings because it was too big to be of much fun outdoors. Also, people started asking questions when they saw me using this outside. Nothing ruins a good recording more than people going “what is it that you are doing there?”. Here is a picture of the beast. Well-preserved but I doubt I will use it again any time in the future.

Review by Vital Weekly

Vital Weekly reviewed 8pmcityscapes and they were very positive. Here is their review. Thanks guys!

“Hystersis is the name of a solo project established by Rotterdam-based sound artist who has a background in the black metal and the industrial scene. On this debut as Hystersis, the artist makes a slight change in expression with a more abstract electronic work taking its starting point in field recordings of city life. Despite the focus on concrete samples of recordings from cities such as Hamburg, London, Bangkok and Rotterdam, there are much melody and emotions hidden in the five tracks of the album, with a total runtime of 24 minutes. First of all the sound of guitar is an important source besides the field recordings. Stylish the guitar-passages range from postrock-gentle spheres to more fast and furious riffs of black metal-style as on third intersection titled “Streetpreacher”. Main piece of the album is the 10-minutes running piece “Beacon 996″, that sounds similar to postrock-legends in Mogwai due to the development from fragile strumming to more noise-rock-based textures towards the end. Only a limited edition of 50 copies, so listeners of postrock should hurry and get a copy. Highly recommended! (NM)”

Hystersis @ last.fm

Hystersis is now available through last.fm. Check it out by clicking the button:

8pmcityscapes released!

I’m extremely proud to announce that Betontoon released the 8pmcityscapes EP today. 8pmcityscapes explores the urban after sunset through a blend of industrial metal, noisedrones, soundscapes and many field-recordings made in many cities. The EP is really focused on music and sound, the only vocals being several random dialogues or monologues recorded without an initial explicit relation to the EP. I played all instruments myself.

Betontoon has turned it into a beautiful release. The first 50 numbered copies are released as a limited edition 8cm disc in a mini dvd case. Running time: 24 minutes. It features two booklets, including a background essay on 8pmcityscapes and other information. The cd is for sale at the Betontoon website http://www.betontoon.com/shop.html. The retailprice is 8 euros, including shipping.

 

The full EP can be listened at www.hystersis.com (streaming) or downloaded for free as a .rar file at the same website.  Once the limited edition has sold out, the EP will be released as a more standard edition without the extras.

8pmcityscapes preview

Here is a quick preview of the limited edition of the upcoming 8pmcityscapes EP.

 

Here is also a small behind-the-scenes look of nocturnal production strategies…

 

8pmcityscapes production

Hystersis new website & preview

Head over to www.hystersis.com for the new website and tons of background information in 8pmcityscapes. Also available a full preview of the album.

8pmcityscapes to be released

Hystersis’ first EP called 8pmcityscapes is to be released on Betontoon any time soon. First release will be on 8-cm cd in a mini-dvd box, signed and limited to 50 copies. It will also be available as a free download from Hystersis.com.