Goatherder - Live at The Parish Hall, Burgh-by-sands, July 1st 2023

 

 

 

01 Priest's Mill Pond

02 Pica Mast

03 Prusten

04 Slow Education

My last live gig, recorded this summer.

Goatherder - Live at Free Radicals, Carlisle 28-01-22

Self released 2023

01 Goatherder - The Hayton Tapes

02 Goatherder - Pica Mast

03 Goatherder - Slow Education

04 Goatherder / Nightjrrs / The Heartwood Institute - Improvisation #1

05 Goatherder / Nightjrrs / The Heartwood Institute - Improvisation #2

This is my set from the Free Radicals gig last year. Also on the bill were Nightjrrs and The Heartwood Institute and we played two improvisations together at the end.

These two tracks were mastered by Jonathan Sharp.

The Nightowl Sings / Goatherder - What We See In Storms ​/ ​Future Goatherder

 

Treehouse Orchestra Recordings 2023

01 The Nightowl Sings - Footsteps Are Not Forever

02 The Nightowl Sings - Deep Country

03 The Nightowl Sings - Wynd

04 The Nightowl Sings - Ottor Furrows

05 The Nightowl Sings - It's Only Love, It's Only Everything

06 The Nightowl Sings - Wayward

07 Goatherder - 12 Apostles Stone Circle, Dumfries

08 Goatherder - Intensification 90

09 Goatherder - Forest Head

10 Goatherder - Sam's Chimes

11 Goatherder - Slow Education

The Nightowl Sings - 'What We See In Storms':

Marc Gillen - Acoustic and electric guitars, drum machine, bass, field recordings and samples, keyboards and vocals.

with

Stephen Benson - Guitar and mandolin on 'Wayward'.

Emily Ford - vocals on 'Wayward'.

Catherine Reding - violin and keyboards on 'Ottor Furrows'.

Voice of Tom Edmondson used in 'Footsteps are Not Forever'.

All songs written by Marc Gillen.

Recorded in our homes 2022-23.

Mixed and arranged by Alastair Popple at the Kitchen Sync.

Artwork by Emily Ford.

------------------------------

Goatherder - 'Future Goatherder':

Performance, mix and production by Stephen Benson.

'Apostles Stone Circle, Dumfries & Galloway' vocal by Camille Matton, recorded at Hayton Castle. Soundtrack to the film of the same name.

'Intensification 90' drums by Mike Taylor. Completed with found sound January 2023.

'Forest Head' Cmybalin and percussion recorded in Kielder Wood sound installation.

'Sam's Chimes' contains a sample from a live improvisation of Clyde Stubblefield. Piano improvised at The Sage, Gateshead. Field recordings from Carlisle cathedral. Assembled in Hebden Bridge.

'Slow Education' recorded live at Free Radicals, 'An Evening Of Experimental Music', 28th of January, 2022.

Mastered by Jonathan Sharp.

Artwork by Stephen Benson.

Mastered for vinyl by Jonathan Sharp. 

TOR092.

Free download and streaming and extremely limited lathe cut 12" transparent vinyl available from Bandcamp.

 

Goatherder - The Hayton Tapes 2

 

Treehouse Orchestra Recordings TOR090.

01 Is there No One in Your World but You I

02 Is there No One in Your World but You II

Recorded, constructed and produced by Stephen Benson.

Live improvisations performed by Stephen Benson, Felicity Cromack,

Emily Ford, Stephanie Gardner, Camille Matton, Asha Nicholson,

Samantha Staniforth, Nick Taylor, Amy Tweddle and Stevie Westgarth.

Recorded at Hayton Castle, November 14th, 2021.

Collage mixed and assembled, Summer - Autumn 2022.

Mastered by Jonathan Sharp.

Artwork by Emily Ford.

Another one of my own releases now; live improvised jams recorded late night in a castle, then chopped up for a collage. These  recordings weave around a version of Charles Manson's 'Is there No One in Your World but You?', also recorded that evening.

Limited edition cassette and free download and streaming from our Bandcamp.

Goatherder - Music For Promenades

 

TOR088. Released July 2022.

01 Sea Barn

02 Dubmill Point

03 Piano #1

04 Lapse

05 Music for Promenades

06 The Hayton Tapes (Vocal Drone)

07 Chichester House

08 W. Rag

09 New Years Day

10 Postmodern Grief Possibilities

Another release from the Cumbrian label of artists and friends. This time, it's my own music.

All music performed, recorded, edited and produced by Stephen Benson, October 2020 to October 2021.

Guitar, voice and effects on 'Music for Promenades' and piano on

'Postmodern Grief Possibilities' by Emily Ford.

Drums on 'Postmodern Grief Possibilities' by Steve Orchiton.

Voices on 'The Hayton Tapes' by Felicity Cromack, Emily Ford,

Stephanie Gardner, Gareth Hodgson, Ricardo Marzo, Camille Matton,

Asha Nicholson, Nick Taylor and Samantha Staniforth.

Mastered by Jonathan Sharp.

Cover art by Stephen Benson.

"Recorded during a pretty awful period...a collage of sounds and ideas that document that time. An avant-garde meditation on loss and grief." - Stephen.

Available for free streaming/download or as extremely limited vinyl pressing from Bandcamp.

Goatherder - The Hayton Tapes

 

TOR082. Released December 2021.

01 Goatherder & Asha Nicholson - Solo Wanderings #1

02 Goatherder - The Hayton Tapes Part 1

03 Goatherder & Asha Nicholson - Turn

04 Goatherder - The Hayton Tapes Part 2

05 Goatherder & Asha Nicholson - Solo Wanderings #2

Some more of my own music now...

'Solo Wandering' and 'Turn' performed by:

Stephen Benson - Effects & Piano.

Asha Nicholson - Piano, Voice & Effects.

Recorded live August 1st 2021. Mixed November 2021.

'The Hayton Tapes' live improvisation performed by:

Stephen Benson, Felicity Cromack, Emily Ford, Stephanie Gardner,

Gareth Hodgson, Ricardo Marzo, Camille Matton, Asha Nicholson,

Nick Taylor & Samantha Staniforth.

Recorded July 31st 2021. Mixed October 2021.

Cover illustration by Emily Ford, Photography by Stephen Benson.

Inbetween the lockdowns of 2020, I became a frequent visitor to Hayton Castle. The castle is a 14th or 15th century tower house; this was extended in the 16th and 17th centuries. It's occupants were artists, professionals and hippy types. 

The following year, an idea was formed about an evening of music performance, to be recorded, in one of the many rooms of the castle.

On the evening of July 31st 2021, several hours of jams and improvisations were recorded. Some were structured; to create a collage, contributors were given instruments (radio with effects, electric guitar with effects and trumpet and saxophone) and asked to make what sounds they could. These would be played alongside each other, but parts performed in isolation.

The majority of the evening was a series of live improvisations. I played electric guitar and effects with the rest of the performers used various drums, percussion and horns.

These recordings have been cut up and mixed together as 'The Hayton Tapes'.

The next morning was set aside for the second purpose of this weekend; to record myself and musical pal Asha Nicholson. In the same room, improvised piano and vocals were processed and effected live, with editing and mixing taking place in November.

Front cover llustration of Slag Bank by Emily Ford, from unused book cover.

Download, streaming and cassette version available from Bandcamp.

Nightjrrs / Heartwood / Goatherder - De​-​Cadere

 

Treehouse Orchestra Recordings TOR081. 2021.

01 De-Cadere Part One

02 De-Cadere Part Two

03 De-Cadere Part Three

04 De-Cadere Part Four

More music with my own involvement. Recorded and released this month.

Nightjrrs:

John Chambers - Guitars and vocals.

Andy Hopkins - Guitars and vocals.

Nicci Reed - Keyboards and vocals.

Heartwood:

Jonathan Sharp - Buchla Music Easel Command, Soma Labs Lyra 8 and Eowave Quadrantid Swarm.

Goatherder:

Stephen Benson - Guitars and drones.

Recorded live at Cakes and Ale, Carlisle, October 4th 2021.

Mastered by Jonathan Sharp.

Cover art by Stephen Benson.

The Proseed art group in Carlisle ran an Autumn exhibition entitled 'De-Cadere'. The exhibition opened at the Intro gallery and the after party was held at Cakes and Ale cafe. The cafe displayed selected art works and live music.

Heartwood is the slight pseudonym of The Heartwood Institute when improvising more experimental modular sets.

Nightjrrs performed music from their new album 'Interregnum'.

Heartwood joined Nightjrrs, along with Goatherder for a 45 minute improvisation to end the evening and the recording of that improvisation is presented here.

Goatherder - Voices / Other Voices

 

TOR079. 2021.

01 Live Intro

02 Heavy Bangs #1 - The Chapel in the Woods

03 Grune Point (Soundtrack)

04 Heavy Bangs #2

05 Aira Force 3:33 (Soundtrack)

06 Pica Mast (Live)

07 Bells #1

08 Heavy Bangs #3 - Voices

09 Keyboard 6 (Soundtrack)

10 Open/Winter (Live)

11 SCOTCH 180 (Soundtrack)

12 Piece 238

13 Other Voices (Live)

14 Bells #2

15 Calm (Soundtrack)

One of my own again now; it's a collection of soundtracks, live performances and improvisations.

Tracks 1, 6, 10 & 13 recorded live at Warwick Bazaar Life Drawing, December 13th 2019.

Tracks 2, 4, 8 & 13 performed by Stephen Benson and Jill Wallace. Recorded at Kirriemuir Way, 2016.

Tracks 3, 5, 9 & 11 recorded at Gilnockie Holly Moor House, 2020.

Tracks 7, 12 & 14 recorded 2017-2018 at various locations.

Track 15 recorded at Warwick Bazaar, 2017.

'Other Voices (Live)' contains elements of 'The Drone of the Forest', performed by

Federico Falletti, Jessica Lowes, Lucy Matthews, David Thompson and Jill Wallace.

Goatherder - Isolation on the Solway Coast

TOR075. 2020.

01 Isolation on the Solway Coast

02 What Could've Been, Huh

03 Solway Television

All music performed and produced by Stephen Benson.

with

Emily Ford - Voice on 'Isolation on the Solway Coast'.

Francesca Bertoletti - Piano on 'What Could've Been Huh?'

Steve Orchiton - Drums on 'Solway Television'.

Recorded and produced March-June 2020.

When lockdown began on March 24th 2020, I decided that every evening I would walk the short distance from my home to a hill overlooking the Solway Coast and photograph the sunset. I wanted to document the passing of time in this strange period and also have something that gave me a routine. It was also a moment to myself in which I could just be quiet and watch the sea. I done this for 70 days, ending on June the 1st.

The track 'Isolation on the Solway Coast' is a direct consequence of that routine; the music moves as the Solway, calm and quiet. It slowly shifts from acoustic to electronic instruments to mark the change in life and feeling during this period. It was recorded, mixed and completed on the 10th of April.

I met Francesca Bertoletti in 2017. We worked together on a couple of photoshoots. Francesca is always a pleasure to work with; creative and always full of ideas. 

During our last session together, she played me a piano piece she was working on. There was no plan for it, so she generously gave it to me to do with what I liked. I spent a long time reconstructing and effecting the piece of music, it was useful for keeping my mind off other things. The entire track is made from the 30 seconds of audio Francesca recorded. 

Solway Television began as a concept after I read an article about regional programming. Border TV has been the programming provider for Cumbria and South West Scotland since this region first had its opportunity to have local television. There was another bidder for the contract; Solway Television. When Border TV was successful in its bid, Solway Television came to nothing. I wondered what a television broadcaster from my home of the west coast would be like; what programs, graphics and music it would produce. 

The basis of the track was someone remembering these programs, news articles, music, theme tunes, but obviously it never existed, so this is an abstract collage. The Covid 19 pandemic and other huge changes in my personal life also altered my memories of my own time; lockdown brought a huge existential crisis and nothing to do but think about it. 

As the original concept goes, an individual is looking back at this fictional television station, I am also looking back by including snippets of recordings I have made over the years. Field recordings, improvisations, jams and experiments have been chopped up and included. Also included are several short pieces of music made on a synthesizer that belongs to Marc. I had been displaced quickly and I didn't have my full and usual arrangement of instruments and recording equipment to hand. I did have this synth however. It is not in full working order, but the crackle and distortion from these sounds is all part of it. Finally, there are also manipulated and altered samples from sections of 'Programs for Schools'; television  made to be shown in school from around the time I was a young child in the early 1980's.

I edited and sequenced it in a way that couldn't make sense, also layering audio from disparate sources that don't belong together. I think this was a way of dealing with dementia in my immediate family and how memories must feel for them.

The photographs were the front cover image were generously donated by Melanie Plumley. Melanie worked as a sound engineer for Border Television in the 1970's and the pictures are of the sound desk she worked with.

Made at home.

Various Artists - Three Films by Goatherder

TOR071. Released March 2020.

01. The Heartwood Institute - Castlerigg
02. Amy Tweddle - RAF Silloth Abandoned
03. Goatherder - Kingmoor

Last year, I was preparing for a photography exhibition. As I collected together the pictures, I began to wonder about film, and how static film shots differ from still life photographs.

In October, I chose and shot at three different locations. They were the Castlerigg stone circle near Keswick, the abandoned RAF base in Silloth and Kingmoor nature reserve in Carlisle. All locations are in Cumbria.

I had began discussing film and soundtracks with two friends; Jonathan Sharp (The Heartwood Institute) and Amy Tweddle (wearequasaars), and they provide two of the pieces here.The third I made myself.

Three short films about the absence of people.

Links below for both film and soundtrack.

GOATHERDER - SOOTHER OF GRIEF

TOR55. 2017

01. Soother of Grief I
02. Short Term Memory Loss Replaced by Nostalgia that Never Existed
03. Soother of Grief II


Between late 2014 and early 2017, I archived any recordings I made; field recordings, demos,
experiments and so on. I put them to one side, unsure of what to do with them.

Occasionally I would review an experiment or refer to a demo. It occurred to me that most of these
recordings would go nowhere, so I decided to give them a home.

In February and March of this year I 'performed' collages of these tracks, the live mix being the
performance.

The end result is like an aural mind diary; ideas and sounds all together. It makes some kind of
sense to me.

As always, there is a free download over at Bandcamp.