Northern Valentine

Northern Valentine is a Philadelphia based ambient/drone collective anchored by husband & wife, Robert & Amy Brown. Coaxing sounds from electric & acoustic sources, they weave meditative drones & soundscapes with “barely there” post-rock instrumentation to create a tapestry that Phil McMullen (Terrascope Online) refers to as “minimalist ambiance at its best. Heartfelt, soulful & affecting, like gazing into a scrapbook of memories”. The music they create is largely improvisational & is often performed along with films or visuals that the collective has created.

northernvalentine.com

www.facebook.com/northernvalentine

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1. Aphex Twin - #3 ("Rhubarb")

This is an immediate trip to the most serene parts of my mind.

It challenged what I thought music could be and opened me to discovering so many new sounds.

2. Windy & Carl - Sunrise

I spent many nights and days falling asleep, waking up and drifting along to this album, and this song in particular.

Windy's hypnotic bass line slips in perfectly behind layers of Carl's guitar, and you just float for 8 minutes and 33 seconds.

3. Landing - Solstice

With this song, Landing captured a perfect moment in time...and I get lost in the bass line.

The song is a layered balance of order and energy that swells and then disappears, leaving me wanting it to hear more.

4. MONO - Sabbath

I have always admired how much emotion MONO carry in their music. My wife, Amy, walked down the aisle to this song at our wedding. It always reminds me of why I love being with her and making music together.

5. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Moya

I once watched several strangers begin to openly cry and hug each other, as a number of them were hearing Godspeed You! Black Emperor live for the first time. 17 years later, the movements of this song still give me goosebumps and it makes me want to never stop playing music.

6. Magnog - More Weather

Magnog were not around long enough. I often find parts of this song playing in my head and it sparks me to sit down and just create music in the moment. This song sounds so intentional that it crushes me every time I hear it, and recall that it was improvised.

7. Surface of Eceon - The Open Sea

When you have members of Yume Bitsu and Landing making music in the same space, you get this amazing gem. With the gradual build-up of this song, it always makes me feel like performing live.

Circle Bros

Circle Bros is the project of Wim Lecluyse, the man behind Morc records. The past few years Circle Bros shifted from a pure ambient-esque project to a more song-oriented unit, though most songs are built up around an improvised core. Circle Bros started late 1997 as a bedroom project. He has released a handful of full length tapes and eps on morc and a few other labels, as well as a split 12" with zent one, a collaboration with karina esp and a bunch of compilation appearances.

http://circlebros.bandcamp.com/

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Windy & Carl - I Walked Alone 
An inspiration for years and years. And 20 years far into their career, they're on top of their game. Their recent output has been my favorite of theirs. For most musicians that's not the case, so I cherish the ones that keep improving.

Shirley Collins - Ramble Away 

After listening to this song non stop for a day, I decided to make my own version. I updated the lyrics to a setting in my hometown, but couldn't turn the song into something decent, and abandoned the idea. Probably the only time I ever was more satisfied with the lyrics than the sound of a song I recorded.
Clay Rendering - Temple Walking 

Probably a bit too gothy and industrial for my taste, but when I fist heard the ep that this track came from, I felt like starting a similar band/project right away. Fortunately, I didn't. it would have been nowhere as good as clay rendering.
Ela Stiles - Kuhmb Mela 

A person that I'm hoping to hear a lot more from in the years to come: Ela Stiles. Her debut album is purely acapella, but live she plays guitarsongs that end up in an ambient thunderstorm, which reminded me of Roy Montgomery at his very best.

Iceage - How Many 

Four young danish guys that totally got what made The Birthday Party so great, and turned it into their own thing. I enjoyed their first records, but the new one is excellent. I love it when a band unexpectedly makes such a big step forward. First time that I'm totally blown away by people over ten years younger then I am. (now that i think of it: ela stiles might be as well)

Cheater Slicks - Hold On To Your Soul 
I love pop music, but only very few people do it right. This song by Cheater Slicks (just like windy & carl 20 years far into their career and at their peak) is one of the songs that I like to sing in the car, in the shower, or when I'm putting my son in bed. Maybe it's acquired taste, but love the singing and how by the end the song is a trainwreck.

True Widow - A.k.a. 
Doom, pop, drones and shoegaze in one mix that actually works: how could I not like True Widow? Great liveband as well.