LITISTH by Nate Cøllins

AFR008

'LITISTH' (Liberation in the Intermediate State Through Hearing) is best considered as a companion piece to my previous album, '...::.::::' (https://natecollins.bandcamp.com/album/-). While that previous release is informed entirely by a deeply painful and surreal loss (so profoundly impacting that I could not process it via words at the time, hence the title), the present album acts as a tribute to my brother, who we lost on the 28th of February, 2022.

The first piece, 'LITISTH' was performed as a single take on the Lyra 8 Organismic Synthesiser on the back end of the original sessions which led to the final track list for '...::.::::'. While those six pieces act as a set of toxic projections in the form of a kind of psychological exorcism, the improvised composition 'LITISTH' emanated from a brief state of pure love, awe, and clarity. Inspired as it is by the text most commonly referred to in the West as 'The Tibetan Book of the Dead', this piece is intended to provide solace, clarity, and direction to those who have passed. I hope that it can be of similar help to those who remain, as its composition (channelling?) also allowed me a brief reprieve from the dark inkblots of confused thoughts and emotions which peaked during the creation of '...::.::::' and still remain within me as I write this paragraph.

The 'Addendums' are three pieces which once again explore my inner processing, this time utilising a wider range of elements than the single analogue device responsible for both the entirety of '...::.::::' and the title track of this album, 'LITISTH'. They express a deeper sense of the empty space left by my brother's passing, but do so as more considered compositions, reflecting the time I have spent so far processing this grief. While at times still expressing a deep sense of loss and sadness, they are equally intended to act as tribute and testament to the great thanks I have for the time that Sean and I were fortunate enough to have shared together in this incarnation.

I would like to acknowledge two albums in particular which have proven to be invaluable to me during this difficult time. The first is the concept album 'Epiphanies' from Hallow Ground, a release which reimagines the very idea of the "record label compilation" by acting as a coherent and expertly realised piece on its own, rather than as a mere showcase of their current roster of artists. The second --and more personally profound-- is Lawrence English's recent album 'Observation of Breath', which has proven to be an especially powerful anchoring point for me. Both 'Epiphanies' and 'Observation of Breath' have proven to be so effective in altering me physically, mentally, and spiritually --by effortlessly aligning me with the essence of NOWnes-- that I can only put their effectiveness down to the work of either hard science or true magick. But hey, why not both?

I miss my you unbearably my little brother --and always will-- but I am trying to find solace in the fact that you had shifted into such a superhumanly positive direction in the years before being taken from us too soon. Through your own sheer Will and self-directed drive towards self-actualisation, your story --your arc-- has a happy ending. I will see you again, of that I am certain.

DRONE // DARK AMBIENT // DS // AVANT GARDE // NOISE // PROG

A place for my solo material and other various projects (DOPEDUNGEON, The Golden Bough, Etanis, EN25178 etc.)

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