News
01.08.08
Bathed in sunlight is finally out! Personally, I think I'm a little thankful that there has been this distance in time between the album's creation and its release. Making it was a draining yet necessary endeavor, and the past few years gave me space to decide what I really wanted to do with it. There's also something curious to me about the fact that although this is a "new" album, for me it's a nostalgic journey through places, people, sounds, and ideas that reside in a particular point in the past. It couldn't have come from another time, although that's true of anything I suppose. But of course I'm sure you will find something in it that is unique to your experience. And I have to mention my intense gratitude to Adam at Crucialbliss for his assistance in putting together the release. Here's what he has to say about it at the Crucialbliss site:
"Bathed In Sunlight is the breath-takingly beautiful new full length from the longrunning Denver drone ensemble Encomiast, featuring five lengthy tracks of instrumental bliss from Ross Hagen and company that bring together slowly drifting drones speckled with shifting layers of angelic female vocal harmonies, lilting Loveless-esque melodies, ominous ambience floating over simple hand drum rhythms, dramatic dark pop with strummed acoustic guitars and Ross' deep crooning vocals...and more of the ghostly flute playing that has always set Encomiast apart from the rest of the drone/ambient underground. Fans of Encomiast's previous releases are going to be surprised when they hear songs like "Laughter In The Storm" , whose droning psychedelic folk is unlike anything that Ross has done before, a thoroughly entracing combination of droning electronics and brooding acoustic strum. And then there's the stunning finale "Evergreen", opening with gently acoustic guitar swimming in delay before a gorgeous female voice enters under a slight veil of distortion, like she's singing from the other end of a long distance phone call, the distortion then lifting revealing her voice in perfect clarity. A simple but perfect effect. The melody in this song is likewise simple but perfect, a melancholy hook that is gradually joined by drums and electronic drones as the song evolves, turning into a amazing piece of dreamy ambient post-rock pop. Fans of Encomiast's previous droneworks and the kind of evocative ambient rock that Temporary Residence is known for will LOVE Bathed In Sunlight, which travels the luminescent ley lines between ambient dronescapes, folk music, and post-rock.
The packaging for this release is pretty damn great, if I do say so myself, with mysterious images and artwork provided by Ross presented in a labor-intensive hand-sewn heavy paper sleeve designed by us at Crucial Blast (in the same style as the Havens disc), and released in a limited edition of 200 copies."
The packaging for this release is pretty damn great, if I do say so myself, with mysterious images and artwork provided by Ross presented in a labor-intensive hand-sewn heavy paper sleeve designed by us at Crucial Blast (in the same style as the Havens disc), and released in a limited edition of 200 copies."
08.21.07
Hello folks, The title says it all, we're reissuing the self-titled encomiast album from 1999 at the end of the month! Personally I often find myself a little leery of "self-titled" albums. There's too much riding on it, as an eponymous album seems to attempt to be an authoritative statement, the ultimate album from Band X. All too often, it doesn't live up to its intentions. In my own case, this album is "self-titled" for the simple reason that I didn't know I was going to make any more of them. In 1999, it was the ultimate encomiast album, and I don't want to take that away from it! 7 years and a bunch of releases later, I'm surprised at how strong it still sounds given that it contains the first ambient tracks I ever recorded. So in a few short weeks, the reissue of the 1999 debut album will be released on Lens Records, the label that gave encomiast it's first proper release in 2001 with winter's end. It's been shined up, remastered and remixed where necessary, and generally made more presentable, and packaged in a special clear sleeve with a vellum insert. To be sure, it is a far cry from the photocopied inserts and poor quality MP3.com CDRs of the original release! This material has been out of circulation for years, and Rob from Lens and I are proud to bring it to you in this new package! The advance reviews are coming in strong, so check out the tracks and pre-order here:
 
"This disc arrived with no accompanying press release or descriptive information...so we'll just say it as we play it. This music was recorded way back in 1999 by Ross Hagen and Nick Paul and apparently edited/updated in 2006 for this CD release. Encomiast features over an hour's worth of material...all of which is atmospheric, spooky, and slightly surreal. The best way of describing this might be to say that this could very well be the soundtrack to a very bizarre horror film. The sounds are soft and almost soothing...but the dissonant, peculiar material is ultimately rather unsettling. This disc features six perplexing tracks: "Aesthesia," "Suborbit," "Azazel," "Zero," "Concupere," and "Amnios." The closer we listen...the more interesting this becomes. And the louder we play it...the higher our mental elevation. Fascinating noise experiments from two fellows who aren't interested in playing by the rules..." (Rating: 5+) - www.LMNOP.com
"I remember Encomiast back when they sent me their album off of MP3.com. The Colorado natives were fucking great then and they're even more fucking great now. Dark ambient pieces that weave in and out from silence to abject disharmony. Eerie soundscapes surround you, beckoning you to come a little closer, only to ensnare you with their soft yet dark grasps. Some of these songs were included in that album, recorded back in '99, but now edited and reworked in 2006 for this re-release on Lens Records. Who knew that Boulder, Colorado would be the .."it.." spot for dark ambient?" - www.smother.net
"The hardest albums in the world to review are ambient albums, even though I love them so. How much can really be said about aural exploration that most people would consider "background noise" at a bare minimum? There are really only two sides of the fence when it comes to atmospheric /ambient albums, either you like them or you don't get them at all. There's no grey area, no way to say "eh, it's not bad". It's white or black, dead or alive, yes or no.
Encomiast's self titled effort was originally recorded in 1999 by Nick Paul and Ross Hagen, then uncovered and edited in 2006 to be released by Lens Records in the fall of 2007. The album will play a lot of your senses, mixing in sounds that trigger different parts of your mind, if you're listening close enough. It's certain that this is more than just background noise, it's a different side of the coin, and this is the musical companion to exploration. With every dive and turn it takes, you discover new layers and textures, different ways they've played with a particular ambient sound. It's odd just how the use of a wind sound in the background or a stirring noise can change the musical landscape of a song, or how a sound that some would consider to be useless can define an entire album. I have to say, in my experience with ambient/atmospheric albums, I've got to rank this one up there. My apologies for how blaringly short this review is, but there's only so much you can say about an ambient release, but this is one of the good ones. Definitely worth a listen if this is your jam." - www.riseandrevolt.com
"Hmm, tough gig, writing a review of ambient sounds. Still it's NN's job, so stiff upper lip, cup of tea and away we go.
'Encomiast' is an album some of mainman Ross Hagen's older material reworked and released. Each of the six tracks create audio landscapes with atmospheric drones and electronic sounds; not "songs" in any classical understanding of the word, more like themes.
'Azazel' has a cinematic feel to it, like the soundtrack to a really dark and sinister film, with eerie rough edges and the slow repetition of half-remembered nightmares. NN had images of being deep underground, in some dark, greasy tomb surrounded by slow implied threat. The composition of subtlety takes you to places in your own head that the pop cultural train doesn't stop at.
And the more you listen and the deeper you're submerged within the details of the desolation, the more personal the experience becomes. It's as much an exploration as anything. 'Zero' is almost up-tempo by the standards of the rest of the album. A pulsing softened beat, sweeping atmospherics and harsh electronic sounds, perhaps the hint of some mad laughing horse; the sounds are distorting off the walls down here.
'Concupere' reminds us of the Terminator soundtrack by Brad Feidel. The same menace vibrates around in the dark throbbing atmospherics, the deadened crashing percussion and the harsh metallic impacts. But it's nebulous -  there's no triumphant melody to carry you through, you're alone down here with the unnamed and unnameable.
If you like songs, you know, with things like choruses and melodies, then maybe you'll find this catatonically depressing and just not see the point of it all -Â Encomiast, music, life, pretty much all of it. But if you're into a bit of introspective relaxation and taking a guided journey into some of the darker corners of that broken-beyond-fixing thinking machine of yours, then give this a go." - www.new-noise.net
07.10.07
transit bed is now available from Gears of Sand. This is the press blurb:
"Transit Bed begins in a haunted theatre in an old mining town, moves briefly to a small apartment in Boulder, lounges with a group of familiar strangers in a garage on the outskirts of town, ponders the nature of human "progress," and finally ends up at a dive bar in downtown Denver, among friends both new and old. An epically improbable journey, to be sure, but it is one that we all must undertake at some point. The result is a disheveled yet densely woven collection, relying heavily on treated live performances and including contributions from a motley assortment of characters playing a similarly divergent range of instruments. Guitars, mandolins, hand percussion, songs from the American Civil War, Balinese instruments, flutes, a prepared piano stringboard, and a diabolical instrument known as the Necroharp all make significant appearances. The kitchen sink is conspicuously absent from this album, but we don't feel it suffers as a result since many sinks remain silent in the background, making their contribution in a more subtle and important manner by providing water for hydration and cleaning purposes. Enjoy!"
Daniel from Mystery Sea reminded me that mers de sommeil is not sold out; he has about 30 or so left.
05.27.07
Finally did some updating on this site, man it's been awhile. Somehow, the encomiast myspace has become a lot more of a central virtual location for things dark and droned. In the meantime, here's what's changed lately:
I only have copies of espera available for direct purchase currently. mers de sommeil and havens are sold out entirely as far as I know, and winter's end is currently only available via mailorders like Aquarius Records. However, these titles are also available online via iTunes.
As for upcoming releases, we've got transit bed in June from the Gears of Sand label, bathed in sunlight later on in the summer with Crucialbliss, and a reissue of the 1999 encomiast album on Lens coming out in fall '07.
Hoping to play some shows this summer too, but that remains to be determined.
12.19.06
Been awhile folks. With 2006 winding to a close, some new things are happening. The reissue of encomiast is currently scheduled for March/April 2007, with some pretty cool packaging. There are other things coming down the pipe as well, but nothing definite.
check out the myspace for my band Liebezeit, an improvisational electro-drone-rock thing I do with my friends Neville (of Mandible Chatter) and Dave. Good times.
2.23.06
I have copies of Havens available and will be making an album page and Paypal button for them shortly. I also have a few copies of the split with Sagramon left.
In other news, the reissue of the 1999 encomiast album is finally on track. It will be released through our old friends at Lens Records this summer, probably around June/July.
11.19.05
Havens has been released on Crucial Bliss following a short delay due to illness. More info and audio samples are available here
The split with Sagramon is now available through Swamp of Pus. It's an edition of 50 hand-painted discs in a black sleeve...totally sweet. My half of it is three pieces I wrote as film scores. ÂÂÂÂ
10.12.05
Currently in the midst of a gradual website update/redesign. Pardon the dust, watch your head, women and children first, etc.
Havens is scheduled for release on 10/21...sweet.
9.10.05
New show: Wednesday September 14 at the Larimer Lounge in support of Zombi (Relapse) along with Carrion Crawler and The Bobby Deniro Experiment.ÂÂÂÂ
It looks like Crucialblast is going to release Havens as a part of the Crucial Bliss Series. We're quite happy about this! Also it now looks like my part of the split with Sagramon is going to be the recording of the Walnut Room set.
New music continues to arise from the smoldering chaos of life, now tending more towards a sort of neo-folk or post-rock sound as opposed to pure ambience, while the older unreleased collections lie in wait for the right moment. Manifold had good things to say about [laurentide].
8.14.05
Last minute show addition: Tuesday August 23rd at The Walnut Room with halfnormal, Page 27, and Nova-Sak.
8.6.05
I will be performing w/ Neville Harson, Bob Bellerue, Toby Sinkinson, and others in Toby's "Earmarkings" series of improvisations as a part of the Boulder Fringe Festival. These events will be taking place on August 22nd and 25th at the Trilogy Wine Bar in Boulder.
I'm scheduled to release a split CD with Czech artist Sagramon on my friend Todd's label Swamp of Pus sometime this winter. No news on the re-issue of encomiast on H/s, as they seem to have gone into another period of hibernation and radio silence. ÂÂÂÂ
something new for Emily: My Chariot Awaits?
7.14.05
There is a new review of mers de sommeil up at Aversionline.
I also want to offer my most heartfelt condolences to friends and family of Emily Wasserman, who passed away on July 2nd. She was a dear friend and a wonderful person whose sudden and tragic departure leaves an incredible void inside all who knew her. I'm just glad I was able to have her as a part of my life, however briefly.
6.13.05
It looks like [laurentide] is now available via iTunes for those of you who prefer to purchase music digitally.
6.4.05
I've been gradually updating the site with new reviews of [laurentide] and mers de sommeil as well as assorted miscellany, including a new press page for articles and interviews.
encomiast has also created a page at myspace.com, so please feel free to stop by and leave comments, become "friends," etc. There are also exclusive excerpts there from a live show last summer, featuring Neville Harson's prepared piano stringboard, and a track from mers de sommeil.
Our 2003 album espera is currently available for download at the iTunes store, and I've got some folks working on getting more encomiast available there and through other online services like Rhapsody, etc.
The Spawn of the Matriarch page has also been extensively updated with lyrics and live photos.
Now that my semester is over, I am also getting the chance to revisit the Mandible Chatter material that has been sitting in my hard drive since last summer.ÂÂÂÂ
H/s is planning a re-release of the 1999 encomiast debut this summer, but I've only a faint notion as to where things are on that right now.
I should also note that we are currently seeking labels for two finished collections: havens, a musing on sacred spaces and experiences, framed by a combination of early 20th Century modernism, non-Western instrumentation, and expansive drones. The second, masked mirrors, is a full-length album based entirely on incidental recordings from the allegedly quite haunted Belvidere Theatre in Central City, Colorado. What was originally an attempt to record EVP phenomena quickly took on a life of its own and produced a singular aural experience, rich in textures and strange tones. email me if interested in samples.
2.25.05
[laurentide] is now available from Beauty and Pain / Absolute Zero Media.
The album is one 50+ minute dark ambient track and features contributions from the Mandible Chatter camp.
Hear a sample: [laurentide]
1.30.05
mers de sommeil is now available from Mystery Sea! This is a full-length CDR release ltd. to 100 copies.
a sample track: "surfacing"
12.16.04
Article on encomiast in the Boulder Weekly!
11.05.04
The release of [laurentide] has been pushed back a few weeks due to Beauty and Pain's recent cross-country move. I will fix the date on the front page once I get definite word from Clint regarding the release date.
I've also added Paypal options to the individual album pages, so you can now get copies of espera and winter's end directly from me with your credit card or Paypal account. This will be coming shortly to the front page as well.
10.19.04
The show at the Old Curtis Bar was fun and intense; it's always nice to break in a new venue. It also looks as though I have thus far neglected to mention that the Shadows Infinitum compilation has been released by Crucialblast, and includes an exclusive encomiast track along with works by Nadja, Marax, Feverdreams, and others.
The release of mers de sommeil on Mystery Sea is now scheduled for late November according to their latest update. The reissue of encomiast will hopefully happen at some point, but the label's months of hibernation and silence (plus recent news that the flagship artist/label partner is releasing elsewhere) are not encouraging.
I've also launched the website for Spawn of the Matriarch, and we should have the 1st demo pressing in hand in a few short weeks.
10.07.04
[laurentide] is officially scheduled for release on October 31st on Beauty and Pain. Also, I'm playing a show Sunday night (10.10.04) at the Old Curtis Bar in Denver along with local noise fiends Page 27 and a California contingent of Half Normal, Adam Overton, and Raven Chacon.
8.27.04
6.26.04
Just a quick note to thank everyone who came out or helped at the Flywheel gig last week. It was great to finally get to hang out with folks I've known for years and I look forward to the next time I can make it out to the East coast again. Also, I heard through the grapevine that I'm on the docket for an electronic/noise fest-type gig at the Larimer Lounge in Denver in early September. More info as things are confirmed.
5.25.04
Encomiast will be playing a show on 6.20.04 at Flywheel in Easthampton, Mass. along with Emulsion, Mindspawn, and a collaborative set from Love Power Experiment and Temperature Within. We're gonna drone the place down. I'm also still looking out for gigs in the area from the 16th-19th so feel free to drop a line.The site has also been redesigned somewhat, with each release on its own page with relevant reviews and downloads, which should be easier to navigate. Since Electronicscene.com is going away for awhile until they figure out a new plan, I'm going to keep the album samples here for now. Once ES is back on track I'm going to continue to maintain a page there but I will reserve it mostly for ephemera like live tracks and such. I also noticed that the Kolorform 2 CD compilation has been released (possibly for some time now, even), so I added it and the Antithesis Records compilation to the catalog.
New material continues to come together even as I am still trying to find a home for the sanctuary collection after a few near misses. Neville (Mandible Chatter) and I are continuing work on a series of pieces based on recordings from a haunted theatre in Central City, CO, and we hope to have the lot complete by the end of June to send to various interested parties. It's an intense project and so far the results have been amazing, if I do say so myself.