The recent release on Fluid Audio of Hummingbird’s “Our Fearful Symmetry” not only resulted in the lightning sell out of its limited copy run, but also produced a flurry of speculation on the web over the identity of the artist responsible for it. For those unlucky enough to have missed out on the initial run (and also for those looking for clues as to who the artist may in fact be), news that the album has been remixed and is soon to be released on Fluid Audio’s new sub-label will be both a blessing and curse.
A blessing, as those who didn’t get to own their own copy will now have the opportunity to hear for themselves what all the fuss was about.
A curse, as the subtle re-workings offer up further hints but no clear answers as to who it could have been.
You could speculate endlessly.
What is not speculative is the quality on offer in the elleven tracks, an emphasis on timbre, tone, implied melody and hints at glitch drones. The live instrumentation is still present in places, but in most cases the “mood” of the piece has been drawn out alone, and presented in a complimentary but distinctly different light. Hints of additional instrumentation creep in at points and slip away again – almost impossible to tell if they were even there to begin with, or if they were present on the original. It feels like a rare privilege to hear, a life’s work lost and then found at a dusty antique store decades later.
It has been remarked that our culture USED to be a reflective one. If someone needed to make an important decision, they would take time over it. Someone from a previous generation would climb a mountain and take in the surroundings whilst mulling it over. Pause. Consider. Most now are made in hushed whispers over linoleum floors in emergency wards, or impulsive decisions in banks or real estate agencies. Tracks like “Sketch of the Mythology (Interval at the Station Mix)” seem to capture the melancholy fact that the luxury of reflection is no longer available to us, like overhearing an intimate and private conversation in a crowded world. The collection has a timeless quality to it, despite occasional electronic tones and high quality modern production.
What others have said about the original “Our Fearful Symmetry” -
“The listener is never overwhelmed, and instead, is given space to breathe and absorb, before returning to soak in the ever-expanding sea of sounds.” – Michael Vitrano
“Our Fearful Symmetry is a deeply nostalgic disc, filled with echoes, static and decay, laden with seemingly-ancient instrumentation and far-away sounds. Myriad crackles, melodic snippets and field recordings are hidden in the mix like dust between the cracks of an old floorboard. Snippets of conversation, music boxes, tape loops and light drones pop up their heads like little prairie dogs. The cumulative effect of listening to such a release is that of encountering something elusive, an unidentified sound in the night or a whispering, receding memory. 8/10” – Richard Allen – thesilentballet.com
“The material is by turns portentous, brooding, pensive, soothing, turbulent, and unsettling, not to mention atmospheric in the extreme, with all sounds, whether they’re piano, electronics, speaking voices, static, white noise, nature-based field recordings, or strings, steeped in reverb and rendered faded by the imagined passage of time.” – textura.org
“Hummingbird treads carefully on the line of fact and fiction, creating a solace of sound by both live instrumentation and automated means. “Our Fearful Symmetry” reveals beautiful and thought-provoking music, dizzying and imaginative in detail which will impart a self-conscious resonance into any listener. Listeners drawn to the mysterious nature of the project will soon find themselves rewarded with a cohesive journey through 11 tracks that reward repeated visits, with rich reverbed soundscapes that are both familiar and distant.” – Headphone Commute
“Hummingbird’s marriage of restrained classicism and contemporary electronic atmospheric manipulation means that “Our Fearful Symmetry” is very much a record of the moment – the ambient/electro-acoustic scene abounds with artists mining the same vein of inspiration – however, while many acts aspire to the creation of reminiscence-evoking beauty it is an uncommon achievement. The artist behind Hummingbird accomplishes a startling ubiquity of grace throughout this album and though it is a debut outing for the project, the strength of the material and its connotative power betray the unmistakable hand of a master at work.” – John McCaffrey
“Far from representing another predictable foray into the realms of Modern Classical, “Our Fearful Symmetry”, after all, combines the minimal melodicism and chambermusical settings of the genre with deep structures, dense textures and dreamy tonalities, intriguingly hinting at Drones, Ambient and Micronoise. It is a combination which clearly extends beyond tentative previous engagements of the genre with beats and Electronica and yet feels entirely natural and organic.” – tokafi.com
“A sun drenched day in a slightly underpopulated city suddenly becomes akin to being the last man on Earth. The skittish found sounds that fall into place behind the musical arrangements are the aural equivalent of something playing across the edge of your field of vision. Intriguing stuff indeed.” Adrian Carter – London News
Fluid Audio
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Posted : Mar 20, 2011 20:56
Never quite got round to that January release date
However the release is now ready to go and will be coming out on 23/03/11 through our new sub-label Facture.
The new web site for the label is up and running and has packaging images plus a free bonus track (Blood On The Dancefloor) for download.
We have poured our heart and soul into the presentation of this release:
Strictly Limited Edition: 100 Copies
New letter press design on vintage soft white card stock
A3 limited edition print on rare 1950's thick card stock
1930's Polaroid secured in original glass case wrapped and bound (These are the last in existence)!
Hand sewn photographic booklets
Wrapped in vintage soft paper and stamped
Hand numbered
Download code included for .wav files, PDF photo booklet, bonus track and film
Label: Facture
Artist: Hummingbird
Mastering: Ian Hawgood
Film: David Bart
Photography: Aëla Labbé
As normal those on the mailing list will be able to pre-order in the next 24 hours.
DjSchofield
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Posted : Mar 20, 2011 23:02
It certainly does sound like you've both poured your hearts and souls into this one. I can imagine you there sitting at the kitchen table long into the night; folding and sewing after the kid(s) have gone to bed...
Fluid Audio
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Posted : Mar 21, 2011 02:27
Quote:
On 2011-03-20 23:02, DjSchofield wrote:
It certainly does sound like you've both poured your hearts and souls into this one. I can imagine you there sitting at the kitchen table long into the night; folding and sewing after the kid(s) have gone to bed...
Absolutely! You know me to well Mr Schofield
TechMonkey
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Posted : Mar 22, 2011 01:24
Really kind of heartbroken about the pricing on this. With shipping it comes to just shy of $50USD. This is the first Fluid Audio release I won't be picking up. Looks like it's moving quick though, so congrats on the new release.
McKennaDMT
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Posted : Mar 22, 2011 02:19
Same here.
DjSchofield
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Posted : Mar 22, 2011 07:44
Don't forget that there will be a digital edition available soon. So all is not lost my friends.
Btw, I didn't buy it either this time around. For the same reason as Tech Monkey. And because Management wouldn't have approved spending that much on a single album. And yes, Management is my wife.
Fluid Audio
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Posted : Mar 22, 2011 14:27
Yeah sorry this one was a bit more expensive guys...
The limited edition A3 prints that come with it cost a fortune due to the old card stock that they are printed on.
The digital version will be out tomorrow and I will leave a link for it on here.
@ Schofield: Same here mate. Jess is the Boss
Magadansky
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Posted : Mar 22, 2011 15:01
Damn... What about a student who works part-time..
I guess I will wait for the digital release too! Sounds extremely good!
Alienc
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Posted : Mar 22, 2011 15:08
glad theres a dig release too, i think the original OFS album is pretty awesome
Fluid Audio
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Posted : Mar 23, 2011 15:00
Hi guys
Here is a link to download the digital version of the album:
It comes in a variety of audio formats and also includes a film made exclusively for the release by David Bart, PDF photo booklet, screen saver images and a bonus track that is not on the limited edition cd.
For those that bought the limited edition CD version you will get a code in your package that gives you the above digital version of the album for free.
The digital version of Field Rotation's 'Acoustic Tales' also goes live today in digital format and includes a film made exclusively for the release by Ian Hazeldine (Antonymes), PDF photo booklet, poetry by Estela Lamat and screen saver images.
Looks like it's moving quick though, so congrats on the new release.
