A Temple by The Sea is the first release by YSTLUM GWYN, a collaboration between Bethan Lloyd (Ystlum) and Ben Whitehill (Devvin Gwyn). The album was arranged from material recorded over a couple of days in November, in a vicarage in Llandudno, N. Wales; and the presence of the neighbouring church, sitting empty save for it's ghosts, looms heavy over the recordings. The house that was their setting served as surrogate temple for a domestic ritual - a communion of sound in consecration of the old building to secular yet devotional tones and echos - and preceded an album of spectral presence. Bethan's pensive melodies and layered vocalisations sing from distant hills, born on the squall of Ben's electro-acoustic investigations. The colours in a tapestry of tempestuous noise. Invocations summoning other strange voices.. Within the walls or above the ceiling, out to sea.
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We'll miss her now she's gone

A few photos from Fagmente, Wiesbaden. Many thanks to Holger Adam For organising a great little event. I feel honoured to be one amongst the many fine musicians who have contributed to Phantom Limbo events in the past. Also very pleased to have been a part of this exhibition and supported the wonderful work of Albina Gräfe and Christian Schoppiks.

Albina Gräfe legt in ihren Fotografien keinen Fokus auf bestimmte Subjects, vielmehr fängt Sie ein, was oft nur rauschhaft, im Vorbeischauen, wahrgenommen wird. So bilden Empfindungen und Stimmungen den zeitlosen Rahmen der eingefangenen Momente. Dabei tritt alles Belebte, mit Schlieren der Bewegung und Schleiern der sich ausdehnenden Zeit, in den Vordergrund und das zwischen den Dingen Liegende wird zum Hauptakteur.

Um Christian Schoppiks Malerei zu beschreiben, kommt man nicht umhin, auf deren Ähnlichkeiten zum deutschen Expressionismus und der osteuropäischen Naiven Malerei zu verweisen. Mit vielfältigen, satten Farben und groben Konturen wird hier Triviales zu Magischem. Ob in Natur oder WG-Küche, alle Dinge scheinen symbolisch und mythologisch geladen.