Ten Meditations by The Hermit Monks

For digital downloads please visit the artists page: https://thehermitmonks.bandcamp.com/album/ten-meditations

Tracklist:

1.Yew-bound Stone
2.The Chapter House
3.Valley of Secrecy
4.The Divine Silent
5.Forgotten Altar
6.Solitudes
7.Tenebris
8.Starlit Dew
9.For Those Who Dwelt
10.Windows to the North


Earlier this year, on the recommendation of local guitarist Des Davies (of the space rock/kraut rock band Moon Goose) I went to find the secretive and overlooked Craswall Priory, a 13th Century ruin in a valley in South West Herefordshire...

"Away in the wilds, nestling in this lovely valley, far from the madding crowd, and surrounded by its park—the everlasting hills—a confused mass of ruins is all that remains of the Priory of Craswall. It was founded by Roger de Lacy in the year 1220, of a family who gave largely to the monastic establishments in this and adjoining counties. The church was dedicated to St. Mary, and three priests and ten monks were settled here. The Priory was subordinate to the Abbey of Grandmont in Normandy, and for more than two hundred years the establishment flourished".
-
Craswall Priory by C.J.Lilwall

...I was struck by a feeling of solitude and stillness about the Priory; feelings that I would normally associate with woodlands, valleys and mountains (and have written music about as Sunken Grove) - this was different and I could not identify why.
The Yew trees growing into the lichen covered walls, the solid coolness of the altar and piscina that had seen many hundreds of winters all conveyed a devotional timelessness. I also was aware of the living elements of the place; sheep grazing peacefully, a thrush smashing a snail on a stone, and the alpine strawberries thriving on the wall of the Cloister. I felt welcome here and lucky to be exploring this historic, natural and sacred threshold.

With several more visits in the ensuing months, I collected various field recordings of bird song and the stream running by the Priory. I set myself the challenge of using one keyboard for the entirety of the release, and to coax 8-bit, crunchy textures from a tape of choral music.. Christmas Hymns I believe?
Ten Meditations varies from more dungeon synth style tracks to minimal, drone and dark ambient moments. That being said, I hope you like it for what it is.

Equipment: Roland SP-404, Casio SK-1, field recordings, bells, chimes and other objects.

Ten Meditations is a one-off release by The Hermit Monks (Ellis Green of Sunken Grove, Winter Seer and Oaklimb).
released October 28, 2023

Dungeon Synth, Folk, Experimental and Black Metal Releases carefully crafted in isolated locations, with a strong devotion to Nature.

Close friends and artists have joined forces under the Verdant Wisdom banner to produce hand dubbed cassette tapes.