Instrumental Health by a man called son

Sometimes it's hard to find the pause button for life. But that's what the upcoming A Man Called Son release is trying to help you find. 🎧 💆🌊

Introducing: 'Instrumental Health'! This Bandcamp exclusive will be comprised of 12 instrumental tracks, recorded sporadically over the last 15 years and given a final spit and polish over the last few months. It will be released on Thursday Apr 17 2025. This release is not to be confused with the forthcoming A Man Called Son album 'AutoTraumatic.'

This sonically intriguing, richly experimental collection has been preceded by a lush, nostalgically-tinged single 'Ms. Spent Youth', OUT NOW. The single is available on a few other select streaming services as well as Bandcamp.

But for now, we encourage you to find a quiet place, sit back, connect those earbuds or headphones, and drift away. Because sometimes, hitting the pause button in life is good for your...instrumental health.

Please consider supporting this Independent Release by making a small donation today. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

Follow A Man Called Son:
@amancalledson
www.facebook.com/amancalledson

Artwork/Photography:
@auroradesign
https://www.naomirahim.com/

Notes on the Individual Tracks by the Composer;

1. Sold Coast:
"Originally titled 'Ascendance', the basic track was recorded some time ago and was, for a brief time, an opening instrumental for solo AMCS sets with me generally layering the guitar parts live. It was salvaged from my old PC and given a final spit and polish."

2.Entropy + Ennui
I'm not going to lie: this one is definitely influenced by a certain bald gentleman with a surname that rhymes with Beano. I like the chords; the sounds were created on an Alesis ION analogue modelling synthesizer and a few other gizmos.

3.Ms. Spent Youth
A distinct "80s flavour" permeates this one. Originally it was titled 'Sabbatical' and even had lyrics to go with the demo. One day I may release the vocal version, but for now...

4.Tin Can Bay
Likely the most exotically-influenced piece on the album. There's some weird polyrhythms going on, and some curious gong like sounds. Incidentally, Tin Can Bay is a coastal town some 220km north of Brisbane, that is a tourist hotspot for dolphin feeding. For me, the town name conjured up something more geographically far flung, hence why I chose it as the title.

5.Bern
Originally titled 'Calm As A Lake', this is a slow, dreamy piece. Title was inspired by the capital city of Switzerland. Have I ever been to Bern? I've been to Switzerland but perhaps not Bern; I think I imagined it. Hence the dreamlike quality.

6.Pulled From the Wreckage
This is one of the more intense and atmospheric numbers from the album. It was originally titled 'Snapshot' and also contained some dark lyrics, but both words and vocals were shelved (but the lyrics weren't a complete waste, as one of the lines gave the track its title). This turned out better than envisaged and is one of my personal favourites from the collection.

7.Linkous
Ostensibly this is a tribute to the late, great Mark Linkous, best known under his Sparklehorse moniker, whose off kilter songs and production I have always deeply admired. Dictaphones, sped up vocals, radio signals and eerie organs permeate this one.

8.R.I.P The Old Me
Originally titled 'Reminisce', this is another track that had vocals and fairly decent lyrics but for whatever reason just wasn't sitting right. Over time it gradually evolved into the loping, vaguely spaghetti western composition we have here.

9.Trambience
One of the gentler numbers for the collection, this is a spare piece that is meant to convey that pleasingly familiar feeling of momentum while travelling.

10.Orange Grove
This evolved from a basic keyboard and vocals demo (and of course, the vocals/lyrics were subsequently ditched), with piano, drums, bass and spindly guitars filling out the sound. Undoubtedly a moody number, and probably subconsciously influenced by 90s slowcore bands/classic 4AD.

11.None Stranger
A sonic cousin to 'Linkous', this also features an array of radio voices, organ, and strange synth effects. I like the somewhat unpredictable chords. Incidentally, one of those radio broadcasts captured gives the track its apt title, if one listens close enough.

12.Water's Edge
Another track which had lyrics and vocals that weren't really going anywhere, this later was bolstered by the addition of piano and synth strings. Fundamentally, a rather simple number in terms of its chords and structure, but I like how it turned out. It's one of those tracks that could only really go at the end of an album...or the end credits of some melancholy black and white new age French film.

Tracklist

1.	Sold Coast	3:41

2.	Entropy + Ennui	1:29

3.	Ms. Spent Youth	2:45

4.	Tin Can Bay	2:24

5.	Bern	1:20

6.	Pulled From the Wreckage	3:01

7.	Linkous	2:16

8.	R.I.P The Old Me	3:30

9.	Trambience	2:48

10.	Orange Grove	2:37

11.	None Stranger	1:55

12.	Water's Edge	3:04

Credits

released April 16, 2025

Simon Pearlman - All instruments/production & mixing
(C) 2025 A Man Called Son/Landslide Melody

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