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Derelict Career LP

by Foci's Left

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about

The album is called "Derelict Career". Concept: the ambient music protagonist (me) sees that ambient-exclusive musicians are fit for a "derelict career", as besides Brian Eno, the style has no sustainable capital powering it; it must stay a hobby. Ambient is Eno''s invention and to have success, musicians must look outside their niche to move through different styles. Ambient has been going since the 1950s - it is often mixed with new age as a genre, music for Tai Chi, and healing/therapy medicine. So the point to make is to, jokingly so, try and avoid a "derelict career", in order to progress and have an audience - the most important faculty for me; money isn't important, people are.

The album artwork is an exclusive commission from William Rye, a young artist who curated the Unconscious Volume exhibition in Kent, UK in 2012, in memory of my uncle John Buckingham who died age 45 from Motor Neuron Disease. The image has a special clarity for our family, my father being a painter, as I once was, with the brush being melted into the book representative of my career choice to be a writer, whether of tracks, songs, lyrics or poetry. So far I have been successful at this, with my dream jobs becoming more reality than ever before. With each sale, a percentage is donated to William, and the remainder helps to cover any CD packaging / gear upgrading as I venture further into music production. Thank you immeasurably for your time and support.

Reviews:

"Ambient music can be a cul-de-sac, even if, at its best, a beautifully, or chillingly designed cul-de-sac. But Mick Buckingham, the man behind Foci's Left recognises its limitations and 'Derelict Career' is apparently a concept album about how artists who only exist within the boundaries of the genre are destined to fail. So, does he fall on his own metaphorical sword with this his third album in a year?

Such prolific output can often be a sign of stretching too few ides too far but initially at least 'Derelict Career' is engaging enough. The title of opening track, 'Pathological Darkness', might conjure images of terrible teenage death-metal bands but unfurls with nasty intent, reminiscent of Coil's unreleased soundtrack for Hellraiser.

'Anything Becomes Possible With Time' initially sounds like the intro to an old Gary Numan song before becoming a shifting seascape with elements of future factory industrialism about it, while album highlight 'Eternal Sands', clocking in at an epic 15 minutes, is pure horror flick build-up menace, an eerie, somnambulating wraith that teases and never quite resolves its inner tension.

Such tension is broken by the random lightweight pianism of 'Liez', proof that Mick should stick to the lower notes on the keyboard, its lack of cohesion ammunition for those who see such ambient soundscaping as an excuse to merely hit whatever note you fancy in any order and call it art.

The increasing intrusion of shuffling electronic beats by now detracts from the sense of doom created by the opening tracks and the likes of 'Wandering In A Bright Spot' struggle to recapture that mood and lack presence. 'The Light You Shine Prevents Me From Being Uptight' recalls French electro pioneer Jean Michel Jarre in part, and there are brief shadows of Vangelis' lush soundtrack music on 'Seeing The Sights', but the introduction of vocals on the drum 'n' bass-y closer 'A Rose In The Desert Wind' does him few favours and that early portent is what sticks longest in the memory".

~ Victoria Waterfield, Nightshift 230 - September 2014.

[The first three tracks on this LP were sent in as my only second demo for Nightshift (www.nightshift.oxfordmusic.net). They have an amusing, interesting World Cup spin this month (June 2014) and I only lost to the winner ( indicablues.bandcamp.com ) Indica Blues. Here's what Nightshift said:]

"Microtonal fluctuations lend an often eerie sense of foreboding, like the sinister grey undulations of the sea in Ring. Sort of a cross between Mountain and Vangelis, Mick Buckingham, who is Foci's Left, allows each piece to flow and run its course..."

"After that first round many would have seen this pairing as a good final, but them's the luck of the draw and it's two very different forms of uncompromising noise that go head to head in the first semi. Foci's Left look menacing in their all-black strip, with just a faint gold trim around the collar. The subtle approach - all short neat passes - looks like its making little impact toward the opposition goal but it's deceptively sharp and even what might seem like misplaced balls feel like they're meant to be. Indica Blues, though, have no truck with such intricacy, playing solos so epic and heroic they make The Battle Of The Helms Deep look like a spot of handbags in the centre circle during an Accrington vs Hartlepool match. It's the serpent against the behemoth. A titanic conflict that threatens to blot out the sun ends with the behemoth triumphant.

Score: Foci's Left 2, Indica Blues 3."

:) :mrgreen:

"Just started listening to this and liking it. I've always been a fan of the squelchy, feedbacky, tritoneish, synthamabobs (sorry don't know the technical terms for them) so this is right on my spectrum.

Rating = :twothumbsup:" ~ MetaLX, www.subvertcentral.com member, Hawaiian www.itstooloud.com internet radio DJ and reggae and dub fanatic.

[Reviews 16 & 17 of Foci's Left - "Derelict Career" LP by Peter Olsson and MAtt Noisemonkey Jackson!]

"The type of music you get in this album is something I call ”Take your mind on a journey” music since it makes you feel so much when listening to. The start of the album has some dark and depressive tracks which fits me well or anyone else who wants to hear dark music, for those who can't take that you have several great positive tracks which reminds me of the keyboard music you could hear in the 16bit games (like David Wise's music in Donkey Kong Country) in the past, always brings one to a great mood and is perfect to listen to when relaxing or doing something. A great bonus after hearing the aforementioned tracks is at the end you have two tracks where the artist sings, which is a nice change from the other tracks which is 100% music sound. So with other words this album has everything you wish for, but remember this is mostly digital and keyboard based music and not metal or such. The two tracks I enjoyed most were the first track which is very dark: "Pathological Darkness" and the positive and relaxing song: "Talking With Birds Lament". Really recommend to get this album if you want to hear some emotional music and great music." ~ Peter Olsson, Swedish metal lover.

"Metallic loneliness permeates the opener summing up moments of indecision. A brighter sunrise occluded by dissonance drives home the second track's melancholy haunting the back of your kitchen cupboards. A slow motion storm of granular rocks fly freely through the third piece raiding sepia silent films' vaults. "Talking With Birds" offers leaf patterned sunlight and elliptical piano stanzas autumnal. "Liez" breaks out the beats before evoking consonant conclusions, nicely vibing off electronica compilations of 20 years ago. Dreamy chill rolls out across uncertain scapes once again while "Wandering In A Bright Spot" before the rhythmic backing takes a break and high res stabs drip into the mix. "Seeing The Sights" builds a crescendo shining back at you - your own reflection. "Spared Merit's" spoken word jazzy abstraction is looking at you deeply in to the hazy horizon. "A Rose in the Desert Wind" subs you down while at the same time voices echo around your head searching for resolution to bring this album to a satisfying end. Cool stuff!" ~ noisemonkey, Bananas Jungle radio show host and The Cavern, Exeter, UK promoter, having played on bills with artists including 0=0 and Remarc.

"From the very first few notes I knew I would like this. Moody evolving synthy organic dissonance. Right up my alley." ~ Greenleaf, www.subvertcentral.com producer signed to Scientific Wax Digital, Pinecone Moonshine, SC Digital and Lightless Digital.

"Pathological Darkness is such a bold track and the beautiful aggressive soundscapes creates a really cool atmosphere. LOL I was playing so loud last night..." ~ Simon Bean, Omni Music (www.omnimusic.org)

"Just listened to this on a journey across London. Beautiful, evolving, soundscapes, A sonic Journey!"~ DJ Trax (Moving Shadow as Mixrace with Dev Paradox, had 2 tracks on the soundtrack to Shifty, a drama film shown nationwide in the UK and on television 2 years after - www.djtrax.org)

"Hey Mick. I was just flicking through your Bandcamp. 'Anything Becomes Possible With Time' is awesome bro. I can't explain how awesome it is, I'm really feeling it." ~ 247, Futurepast Fanzine ed. (twitter.com/futurepastzine)

"The long track is great, as well as those which concentrate on soundscaping. But (as you'd probably expect :p) I don't like the vocal tracks at all. Anyway, just because I don't like the vocal tracks doesn't mean other people won't". ~ Jonathan Tait, Subvert Central Recordings owner (subvertcentral.blogspot.com) and published letter writer in The Wire 2013 concerning Meredith Monk.

"Overall it seems you're still searching for a sound, but tracks 1-4, 8 and 10 are the way to go in my opinion. Of course you should not really adapt based on one person's opinion ~ better to collect a group of opinions and go from there!" ~ Richard Allen, www.acloserlisten.com editor and central writer.

"Marvelous Stuff Mr. Mick sir :D" ~ Chris Wright, aka Eschaton, Omni Music label owner. (www.omnimusic.org)

"I really like it. :) Just on track 10 now. It has kept my attention all the way through. As a whole album the way it moves from dark bleak industrial / sci-fi soundscape through to a much more contemplative place by the end I really like." ~ James Shiva, Bitrate Music owner (www.bitratemusic.com)

"I listened. And this remind me even more of The Residents. But much much more spooky. Some scary atmospheres in this one. I notice something interesting in your tracks. You don't start slowly and build the tracks - like most of the ambient/drone artists - but instead from the start you insert the listener into your soundscapes. Eternal Sands (The Shapeshifters Reprise) I like the most so far." ~ Kristian (Fyhwds), Noise For Blues For Noise artist.

"Listening to 'Pathological Darkness' right now - really liking it.

Like how the brighter synth emerges [1:08] as the track progresses but still with the darker sounds infiltrating the mix. It does really make you feel like you're inside a gloomy, distracted mind. Given the title, that's mission accomplished." ~ Code, Subtle Audio owner (www.subtleaudiorecordings.com), working with Mary Anne Hobbs & Aphex Twin to promote the imprint's music.

"I like the sound design going on" ~ Nic TVG, Pinecone Moonshine owner (Macc, Icarus, et al - www.pineconemoonshine.com).

"Very interesting music for someone with a passing interest in this genre. Tiny echoes of Oneohtrix Point Never at times, and overall industrial feel to the sound design and a very melancholic feel to every track. What I will say is it's the best piece of music I've heard from you. Not all completely my cuppa but some great great moments in there.

I felt inspired enough after listening to see if I can get some free running ambient going on my Monomachine - not a synth that lends itself to such music.

Good work Mick!." ~ Matt Wilsh (Uncertified Music - uncertifiedmusic.bandcamp.com)

"I want to remix some of these hahaha... I actually have a few of your tracks I think from some releases that came out last year. I have been digging your production for a while, but your ambiance is DOPE! I would love to mess around with it lol... Solid stuff " ~ Mizeyesis, Threshold DNB & www.jungletrain.net radio show host.

credits

released May 12, 2014

Mick Robert Buckingham - all synths, keyboard work, processing, mastering, except "A Rose In The Desert Wind" which is re-modelled by Simon Rametse.

Artwork commissioned exclusively from William Rye, from the "Unconscious Volume" 2012 exhibition, dedicated to my uncle John Buckingham, who died of Motor Neuron Disease in 2002.

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about

Foci's Left Oxford, UK

Specialising in wide ambient music. Releases sidestep the norm, since 2010 on labels inc. Wire magazine advertised Audio Gourmet, SoundFjord and Omni Music.

All buyer prices on this site are with pressing plants In mind. Contact me personally using the form if you wish to buy a release.

I am an unemployed, mentally ill musician with schizo-affective disorder, using music creation as therapy :)
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