The Caretaker aka Leyland Kirby aka V/vm aka The Stranger

And doesn't Boomkat do a lot of their own exclusive, limited pressings of some artists, so they won't turn up elsewhere at all

CD version of Everywhere At The End Of Time Stages 1-3 currently on sale at Norman Records (though they're only listing one copy as available at the time of writing).

boomkat also. "in stock" doesn't say how many.

i received my fancy transparent blue super limited rare collectible edition of Stage 3 in the mail a few days ago, but just now had a chance to listen to it. as i mentioned above, i also have Stage 1 (normcore version), but not Stage 2. so maybe it's easier for me to hone in on the shifting approaches between each stage because i have more of a contrast.

i am a fan of looping music that avoids the big blocky dance 4/4 style of repetition, and the caretaker's music really hits the spot for me. a good loop, audio or otherwise, creates an otherworldly sense of time, something in between the stasis of a photograph and the normal experience of linear time. the music in Stage 1 turns so many circles that it's almost nauseating to listen to, and i mean that in a good way (others, i expect, would not mean it in a good way. other creatures, too - my dog gets PISSED whenever i put it on). it's nauseating because it sounds like blurred vision, like getting the spins after way too many drinks, almost, which makes sense with this project because of the connections between alcohol abuse and memory loss, both acute and long term, and early onset of alzheimer's and dementia.

after first listen, Stage 3 is already sounding more like a closed eye re-imagination of Stage 1. at times recognizable old snippets pop up, and others seem familiar but smeared. there's a really beautifully sad, quiet portion of the second side that lasts for quite a bit longer than many of the other themes. i know i'm relying too much on a literal interpretation of the project, but it really sounds like getting caught up in a memory and just kind of wandering off, turning it around and around. if you think of the circling themes of stage 1 as hurricaning paintswirls, this quiet section would almost be like a thin line of the paintswirl dripping off to the side and down off the canvas. where Stage 1 was nauseating, i found myself genuinely unsettled by 3.

I almost don't dare listen, this type of music messes with my head

New one up, dedicated to Mark K-Punk Fisher. But I only just now say the mail, and they're all gone damnit.

man I tried listening to this stuff and it just sounds like someone sampling huge chunks of old thrift store records. do not get it at all.

wtf is the matter with you, stop it ;)

(i agree)

Well yes, he is doing that?

xp IDGI != "fraud"

<3 ;)

I have liked other stuff of his! this just baffles me.

Oh you're speaking specifically about this new one? I'll have to check it out and see.

thread to dis hyped 2017 releases that you don't get/don't like/wanna complain about

love u all

Not this LP, but what isn't wonderful about turning this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPTgiarKc5Y

into this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l236v7FfNBs

I have this outtakes/Fisher tribute one coming

Got it (the CD) at the Barbican show, haven't played it yet. I suspect it might be the same as the music from the show, in fact (it's about the same length).

PS Le Bateau Ivre, I tried to send you webmail about this.

Ahh, could you try again? My ilxmail (old address) was full, but it's good to receive again now!

Sent again!

Got it! :)

did you all get the email about the free download?

THE CARETAKER - 'TAKE CARE. IT'S A DESERT OUT THERE...'
(FREE DOWNLOAD)

Today as The Caretaker I arrive in your inbox bearing a digital gift.
Please find below some download links to a free Caretaker release.
This long form piece was created in collaboration with my Friend Ivan Seal.
Created in memory of and for the late great Mark Fisher with proceeds raised
from all CD sales being donated in full to MIND. It is music for reflection.

Copies of the CD were given away to the audience for free at The Caretaker
Barbican performance in London last December with last remaining copies being
sold today via Boomkat.

There will be no future repress.

100% of the sales money donated to MIND.

Feel free to download the audio for free via
the WeTransfer links below.

MP3: http://ymlp41.com/wewalaebqmualaywataubmsh/click.php
WAV: http://ymlp41.com/weqaoaebqmuaxaywakaubmsh/click.php
FLAC: http://ymlp41.com/weyavaebqmuavaywalaubmsh/click.php

(i got this last week and haven't checked the links...)

Would anyone have the tracks from his 365 project (where he posted a track or two a day for a year)? Most were pretty average, but would love to hear 'pancake day' again. No longer online and the HDD I had my music on at the time is long gone. Soulseek alerts haven't delivered.

oddly, i was looking at the disks that my copy of this was on only yesterday...

http://www.koogy.clara.co.uk/vvmt365_0228_pancakeday.mp3

You wouldn't happen to have the full 365-project in mp3 would you? It's something of a holy grail for me!

i do, but i don't have the space or the bandwidth to upload about a gig of data.

Ah man! Not even via wetransfer? Been searching for it for absolute ages.

the bandwidth for wetransfer is still a gig.

i can do a dvd in the post (he says, wondering if he has any blank dvds)

That would be fantastic! I'll reimburse any costs obv. Can I ilxmail you?

(my ilxmail doesn't work, apparently, if you give me an email addy i'll be in touch)

have just checked and i can send ilx mail to myself, so feel free.

it's not very good, mind.

So he did this a full 7 years before Dominique Leone, lol

I compiled a 28-track best-of for Leone - would be fun to see if either of you fancies doing the same for this

it's not very good, mind.

― koogs, Monday, March 4, 2019 10:54 AM (fifteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'm aware, but that's not really the point :) Will be in touch.

Lj I'd def make a 28-track best of V/vm's 365!

The Caretaker 1999-2019

Very curious to hear how he sees this through to the end.

I tried Part V but it really didn't work for me. Hopefully this last chapter is up to a little more.

Same, V was one of the weaker ones of the series for me too. Stoked for this one though.

I quite 'liked' its utter apathy. Granted, it requires a more conceptually-minded ear, which I'm generally not willing to lend (I prefer reading to hearing about concepts).

It's a fiver for the entire 50 track digital version (lossless even) from bandcamp. Which is too much of a bargain.

and there's a pay-what-you-want bonus download here:

https://thecaretaker.bandcamp.com/album/everywhere-an-empty-bliss

EVERYWHERE, AN EMPTY BLISS

*AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ONLY UNTIL JUNE 16th, 2019.

Work on 'Everywhere, at the end of time' was all consuming
as you can imagine. All work and no play, all work and no play.

In celebration of its completion and only for a limited time*
here is a surprise golden farewell.

Compliments of the house.

Part IV was the one that didn't really work for me -- abrasive for the sake of being abrasive. V was less heavy, but more devastating. VI seems to continue down that path, I'm loving it so far.

https://boomkat.com/products/everywhere-an-empty-bliss

hows this bloke made a living out of playing old 78s through a reverb pedal, proper dont get it

I am enjoying it but did think similar things the other day - is he creating these things from scratch or curating them? And if the latter, where from, because I'd be interested in hearing the originals.

(Archive.org has a bunch of 78s available to listen to. British library site might also have some)

Doesn't he break them all down into tiny bits and reassemble them, though? Like the Avalanches with a very specific pool of records.

Go and listen to some of the records he samples and you'll hear how he isn't "playing them through a reverb pedal" ffs

That sounds plausible, yes. They are mostly devoid of vocals for one thing and I think they've been spooked up a bit. I like them, I bought the first Haunted Ballroom thing back in the day, but I can see why people wouldn't.

meaulnes comment reminds me of all the frustrated cliches loud tourists spout in the abstract expressionism sections in any given museum, among the paintings by Newman, Rothko, Pollock etc.

Obvious comparison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fCdTvwMuss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l236v7FfNBs

fianlly getting around to some of the later cds in the series (well, sides E and F. mp3 player only had space for the first couple) and they seem like they are edited badly - the tracks all finish suddenly, like they are truncated. wonder if it's the (unfamiliar) player?

https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/3543
ctrl+f for Caretaker, since there's sadly no index

the live show was truly a caretaker affair, very weird, troll-like, and a challenge to the stage performance format

I caught all the antics but, when the true-to-album music was accompanied by more serene visuals, caught a short nap in the middle due to jet lag

he's still got it

That sounds like classic Caretaker :) Did he croon his way through 'I write the songs'?