After The Flatlands

"A collection of early 4- & 8-track recordings from 1999 to 2004." Handnumbered edition of 25 copies. Packaged in hand-printed letterpress multi-panel wraparound sleeve with credits insert. Design & print by Red Plate Press Available from the band's Bandcamp site since mid-October 2014. Shipped late October 2014. Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus download in FLAC, 320 kbps MP3, VBR MP3, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, and ALAC. Download also includes extensive liner notes pdf. Track A1 (1999): A short instrumental interlude using a now-defunct Crumar organ. A different version appeared on the Hidden Songs 7” released by Liquefaction Empire in 2000. Recorded at home in Leicester. Track A2 (1999): An alternate take from the VPRO Dutch radio version that appeared on the 2001 mini-album An Empty Box Is My Heart (Alice In Wonder Records). Features Grant Painter on drums and Lily Caprani on violin. Recorded by Paul Warrener at Seamus Wong studio in Leicester. Track A3 (1999): Originally released on the Alice Will Never Surrender compilation album, this was our first contribution to the Alice In Wonder label based inDijon, France. Recorded by Paul Warrener at Seamus Wong studio in Leicester. Track A4 (2000): Featuring a charity-shop Bontempi organ, this is also an alternate take of a song from the 2001 mini-album An Empty Box Is My Heart. Recorded at home in Leicester. Track A5 (2000): An instrumental interlude that saw us experimenting with tape speeds on our Tascam 4-track. Recorded at home in Leicester. Track A6 (2000): A track written around a simple floor tom pattern recorded on a single mic through a guitar amp. Recorded at home in Leicester. Track A7 (2000): An interlude to mark our move from Leicester to Manchester. Recorded in Stayfree rehearsal rooms before leaving the city. Track A8 (2000): One of the first songs written with new pianist Gina Murphy, this was our contribution to the annual VPRO (Dutch radio) Christmas compilation album curated by the De Avonden show. The album also featured Califone, Savoy Grand, Willard Grant Conspiracy and Müm. Recorded at home in Manchester. Track B1 (2001): A collage piece created using a dying Hammond organ in our Manchester rehearsal room and various vocal loops. Track B2 (2002): Recorded in Salford University’s piano practice rooms on a single mic, this is a short fragment that never developed into a full song. Track B3 (2002): One of the first songs written immediately after our 2002 debut album The Host Of Wild Creatures. Recorded in Big Fish studios in Manchester on our new 8-track machine. Track B4 (2003): Another fragment previously lost to our 4-track tape archive. Recorded at home in Manchester. Track B5 (2004): This was our contribution to the Will Oldham tribute album I Am Cold Rock, I Am Dull Grassreleased by Tract Records. The album also featured Calexico, Iron & Wine and Scout Niblett, amongst many others. Recorded at Woodlawn in Manchester. Track B6 (2004): Recorded as a soundtrack to K. Craig’s short film The Note, we improvised the music in one-take while watching the film at home. (Sarah Kemp then added more of her inimitable blind-take violins.) The film starred Marc Rahr and was released as a ‘film for your computer’ on the Hold Fast, Pioneer album. Track B7 (2004): One of only two songs on this compilation to feature long-term temporary drummer Huw McPherson (also of the legendary Lazarus Clamp), this early version of a song from Hold Fast, Pioneerwas mixed by Alex Green and featured on a Slow Noir Records compilation. Recorded in Salford. Track B8 (2004): An extended alternate take of a song from Hold Fast, Pioneer, this was included on an Is this music? magazine free covermount CD and was the first released song to feature then-new members Michael Doward (bass) and James Youngjohns (pedal steel). Recorded at home in Manchester.