Mercurial by Cloudland Blue Quartet
At the start of May 2024, on finalising the mixes for the song-based CBQ LP "Everything Ends" (released June 2024), work commenced to create an ambient version of the LP, with the intention that it be included as a bonus in the download bundle.
The methodology was to take a short edit from each song and treat and adapt them. Together, those ten pieces became a new 50 minute soundscape, with the title of each part taken from the lyrics of the original song used.
After four days' work, the album was completed.
However, such was the nature of what had been created, it was decided that this should, in fact, be the next soundscape release by Cloudland Blue Quartet
So, here it is, "Mercurial".
Although having its origins in the attempted creation of a bonus LP, this project has turned out to be some of CBQ's best ever soundscape work.
Of course it's always slightly depressing knowing that hardly anyone will ever hear it.
Hopefully, you will!
Meanwhile, for the "Everything Ends" project, the proposed ambient mixes were replaced in the download bundle by live recordings of songs from both that LP and the CBQ back catalogue, maintaining that LP as purely "song-based".
As regards the download only bonuses for "Mercurial", these comprise firstly, stand alone pre/post fade versions of the ten parts, to allow them to be enjoyed as separate short works; then, a 67 minute version of the work, comprising the longer initial versions of each track (the "Extended Mixes"); and, thirdly, the stand alone versions of those longer mixes.
David Reilly
Edinburgh
5 July 2024 (Revised 6 July 2024)
Tracklist
| 1. | Everybody Knows, Everything Ends | 4:21 |
| 2. | On the Floor | 4:51 |
| 3. | She Thinks She's Listening | 4:27 |
| 4. | We Were Made to Be | 4:40 |
| 5. | Mercurial | 5:57 |
| 6. | Over the Hills | 5:02 |
| 7. | These Four Walls | 4:46 |
| 8. | Where I Saw the Stars | 4:22 |
| 9. | Take the Crown | 5:54 |
| 10. | The Passage of Time | 5:22 |
Credits
Samples, field recordings, treatments and cover ("Treated Mercurial Figures, 9 May 2024") by David Reilly for Crispycat Recordings
Created at Crispycat Studio, Edinburgh UK, 9, 10, 11, 12 May 2024 (Stand Alone Mixes 4 July 2024)
All samples on which these pieces are based, were taken from the songs included on the Cloudland Blue Quartet song-based LP "Everything Ends" (released June 2024)
For best results, please listen on headphones, in the dark
(p) 2024 Crispycat Recordings © David Reilly 2024
Executive Producer : Anne Reilly
Bonus Material - Download Only (183:46)
Tracks 11-20 Stand Alone Mixes (49:38)
Tracks 21-30 Extended Mixes (67:04)
Tracks 31-40 Extended Stand Alone Mixes (67:04)
License
All rights reserved.
A quartet in name only, initially influenced by Fripp & Eno's "No Pussyfooting" and The Velvet Underground's debut, songwriter & soundscaper David Reilly started musicking in 1977 by creating drones using sellotape on the keys of his dad's Bontempi Organ. The subsequent junk shop purchases of an electric guitar & fuzzbox and the acquisition of an old Beatles songbook, led him into songwriting...