Laurie Lipton - Love Bite

Jim Scott's short film about artist Laurie Lipton is being premiered at SXSW this year and I'm proud that a black channels track is used in a very moving moment towards the end of the film. 

No one on the planet has drawn more than Laurie Lipton. LOVE BITE chronicles her life and prolific body of black & white work spanning over fifty years. Largely ignored by the mainstream art world, her haunting creations are made up of hundreds of thousands of tiny strokes of the humble pencil. Laurie and her work seek answers to some of the most uncomfortable themes in our culture - fear, politics, sexuality, murder, mayhem, greed, and indifference - answers that will likely never be black or white. What compels a bright and outspoken woman to live a life of isolation drawing is as disquieting as the images themselves.

Find out more and keep up to date here.

Two Knocks For Yes - Live

As well as the limited cassette release of Two Knocks For Yes on Castles in Space, I'll also be performing the piece live (as black channels) in a pre-Halloween event (also called Two Knocks For Yes) in Brighton on the 23rd October at Saint Andrews Church, Waterloo Street. Get tickets here.

Shrouded in secrecy, Two Knocks For Yes will incorporate talks, music, theatre and photography.

"In every story of things that go bump in the night, there are two possibilities. One, that it's a hoax. Two, that there is something going on beyond the grasp of the human mind".

And so begins black channels' radiophonic exploration in to the poltergeist phenomenon that forms part of this evenings immersive entertainment, alongside a talk on the folklore of death and water by James Burt, ghost stories and archive video footage, all hosted by paranormal enthusiast, Curtis James.

Real life reports of paranormal activity, otherworldly vibrations and oscillations, chilling accounts of nocturnal visitations and strange activity in the most mundane of suburban surroundings will echo around the 19th Century stone walls of Saint Andrews Church, Brighton. There are tales of hauntings in the venue itself (no longer used for worship), and it is certainly true that the burial vaults beneath the pews have yet to be removed.

 

Two Knocks for Yes cassette release

Radiophonic investigation in to the poltergeist phenomenon gets a limited cassette release on Castles in Space, just in time for Halloween. The Buchla 200e Electric Music Box is used to haunting effect providing otherworldly tones, presences and vibrations. The B side features instrumental incidentals for ghost stories. Available mid October. Pre-order here.

I'll also be performing Two Knocks For Yes at Saint Andrews Church, Brighton (UK) on the 23rd of October. More info here.

Sleeve designed by Nick Taylor.

black channels Solid Steel Radio Mix

A mix of music for travel aboard Spaceship Earth. Available at Solid Steel Radio Friday 14th August. Also features a brand new black channels track.

black channels Mojo rising

black channels Oracles at No. 11 in this month's Mojo Playlist.

Explore the Family Vault: The Musical Catacombs of black channels

Light your torch and tread carefully. Click on the image to begin your adventure. Thanks again Q.

Thanks Q

Depth of Field (from my black channels project)got Q Magazine track of the day yesterday.

black channels 10" on Death Waltz Originals

I'm pleased to be able to announce that my project with Becky Randall is getting its first physical release on Death Waltz Originals (Death Waltz is the soundtrack re-issue label which has previously released records by John Carpenter, Ennio Morricone and Clint Mansell). The 10" vinyl will feature 3 tracks and will be available in a limited edition and standard edition on the 17th of July 2015.

Here is the sleeve artwork by Luke Insect.

black channels at The Lexington

We recently supported Gemma Ray at The Lexington, London. Ethereal vocals, synths, tape loops, drums and haunting visuals. More shows coming soon, plus news of a physical release.

Here are some photographs taken by Matt Thorpe

Constellation of Gemini mix

If all this sun is getting too much for you, take a listen to this musical cloud.

Third Rail Festival

I'm excited to be playing (with black channels) at the new Third Rail Festival in July this year. Setup by the original team behind the Green Man festival, Third Rail will take place on July 5th from noon until 10pm at Thames Prom in Reading.

Find out more and get tickets here.

Oracles video

Really excited to be able to share the video for black channel's Oracles. Its a DIY affair made by myself and Becky with help from Kyle Bean, Curtis James, Emily Macaulay, Ian Helliwell and Rollo. The Quietus premiered it this morning and we are now busy putting our live show together in preparation for some events in the not too distant future. We have an album almost ready and are looking for the right label to work with.

black channels

The Ancient Ones

Found on an old super 8 film with the label - The Ancient Ones - Recorded on the long stairs, Tarkerland 1972.

A Cellar Haunting

black channels paranormal investigation

Thanks Q

Oracles by black channels is Q Magazine's track of the day.

black channels

I'm really excited to start sharing bits of this new project I've been working on for quite some time now. We (me and singer Becky) have an albums worth of music and are currently busy preparing a live show. There is a video coming soon but for now here is 'Oracles' by black channels.

www.blackchannels.co.uk

a still from the forthcoming Oracles video