Hello All:

It’s been a tumultuous time here, with lots of different projects being juggled and lots of unexpected developments trying to prevent me from finishing them. I keep inching them forward regardless, and hope to have more news to report on that before long.

A couple things that have been finished:

The new irr. album ‘A Transfigured System‘ has been posted to Bandcamp. The album was actually started in 2015 based on some unused material originally generated for ‘I Made This For Someone Else’, and then occasionally tinkered with between other projects before almost (but not quite) being completed in mid-2017. After that, I got distracted by others things and forgot it was there. I stumbled across it again earlier this month, was happy with the shape it was taking, and decided to finish it up and make it public without any further delay. I’ll sort out a physical-format release later, but there’s already a long queue of physical-format releases and I didn’t want drop this one back in limbo at the end of that slowly-moving list.

Also, the Monthly Digital Single for August was posted to Bandcamp at the end of (wait for it…) August, and is available here. The single for September is just about ready to go and will be posted on schedule at the end of (you guessed it) September.

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I’ve recently learned that my housing situation — the main ingredient that has allowed me to pursue my music full-time for the past several years — might be coming to an end very soon. If this happens, it throws a big, sinister question mark over how (but hopefully not if) I can continue pursing my creative work. Sinking back into the time-devouring day job quagmire seems inevitable, but first I’m going to attempt to find part-time work and see if I can keep a music career and a day job going at the same time. There is the added question of who will be willing to hire an approaching-50 experimental musician without a car, a mobile phone or a college degree, and who’s official resume is underwhelming at best. I might need to brush up on my dish-washing skills. On the other hand, the whole situation might turn out for the best: some degree of stable income might allow me to be more productive, and free me to concentrate better on specific projects rather than having to scramble every month to pay the bills and then start over again at zero the following month.

I’ll take a moment here once again to say a big thank you to all of you who have been so supportive over the years! You have allowed me to spend the last 12 years pursuing what I love to do, and that is a rare & beautiful thing that a lot of people never get to experience.

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I’m working to put together a few sale items to raise some funds to prepare for whatever situation might await at the end of the year. The first of these has become possible thanks to the generosity of Mr. Bill Bailey at Equation Records, who kindly send me his three archive copies of the limited single-sided LP + single-sided 7″ irr. release ‘The Other Side Is Blank’, which has been out of print since 2013. To try to make the copies more appealing, I’ve added 2 things:

First, a CDR with all the original audio for the LP & 7” before it was edited to fit on vinyl (a couple of the LP tracks had to be slightly trimmed down), housed in a handmade gatefold sleeve. The sleeve includes an 8-page booklet, and between the gatefold and the booklet reproduces all of the artwork used for the LP sleeve & inserts from the vinyl release. The booklet also includes a surplus collage that was not used. Each copy will be signed, numbered & personalised to the recipient. These handmade gatefold sleeves were designed especially for this, and are something I plan to develop further for future projects to avoid any more drab jewel-case packaging.

Second, one of the collage inserts from each of the LPs has been hand-tinted, using scintillatingly handsome hand tints derived from genuine tinted hands (but applied by foot). Examples are below. The coloured inserts will also be signed and numbered. The full set of original, non-tinted inserts is still included in the package (in the event you are unmoved by my tinting skills).

I’m asking $120 per copy for the ss-LP + ss-7″ + gatefold sleeve CDR + hand-coloured insert set. It’s a hefty amount, to be sure, but I think the full package is worth it — and, also, the whole point is to raise a useful sum of money before the apocalypse arrives. I have 3 copies from Mr. Bailey to sell: #22 of 100, #66 of 100 and a xxx numbered promotional copy. On the off-chance there are 4 interested buyers, I have an extra copy from my own archive that I can sell  (#4 of 100). Only 3 of the hand-coloured inserts have been made, so there will be a delay before shipping if someone buys the fourth copy (I didn’t want to take to time to colour another insert when I’m not yet sure anyone will be interested in any of these sets). The package weighs 32 ounces, so in the U.S. Media Mail shipping is $4 and Priority Mail is $13. For overseas destinations, First Class International shipping is the predictably horrendous $23.50 (with Priority International an absurd $46).

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The other item I’m offering for sale is the original charcoal drawing used for the 2005 ‘Perekluchenie’ album cover. The drawing was made in 2003, and marked a significant development in my drawing style at the time. The piece has been very nicely framed (as pictured above) using high-end, archival materials: acid-free double matting with a textured mat on the top and a fully acid-free, archival backing. I’ll keep the glass in place, and will add multiple layers of padding and protection to insure as much as possible that is stays intact during shipping. If you’d like to buy it but would prefer the glass be removed, just let me know. The back is sealed with black paper which is signed, titled & dated, and this will have to be sliced open if I remove the glass.

I’m asking $800 for this piece… the total is inflated a bit by the expensive framing materials used. I know it’s a long shot that anyone will be able to afford to hand over such a sum for something like this, but I thought I’d give it a try. I’ve held back this piece for a long time due to the personal significance it has for me, and if I let it go I want it to be worthwhile. The package looks like it will weigh around 70 ounces; for U.S. destinations, this is too heavy for First Class and original artwork doesn’t classify for Media Mail, so I’ll have to send it either Retail Ground ($23) or Priority (which ranges up to $47 depending on location; I’ll figure the exact amount from your zip code). Unfortunately, due to size & weight I also have to use Priority International for overseas shipping, and that will be a dreadful $57.

 

Questions about any of these things are welcome, and can be directed at irrappext@gmail.com.

 

thanks for your time, and best wishes to all

-msw