Tag: James Murray

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The concept of “The Ropes”

The ropes is a metaphor of human relationship.
All of us are tied to somebody else with invisible ropes, a sort of unconscious connection that move us together in a unique flow like planets and satellites. We can choose every day in which way using this rope: holding, binding, breaking. And like in a game we can pull or stay in balance, helping or hurting. It sounds simple because it’s all about our decisions but as we are unperfect creatures this generates twines and twines of mistakes.
On this album I recorded the regret I have for all the times I have chosen the wrong path.

consequences of words
a rope can hold
bind or break
twined together
like seeds of compassion
stillness is your garden

Thanks for listening….

https://slowcraft.bandcamp.com/album/the-ropes

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Francis M. Gri – The Ropes

Dear all,

it’s a huge pleasure to present you my new official album The Ropes released by the amazing and friend label Slowcraft Records and available from today December 4th in digital format.

Link here: https://slowcraft.bandcamp.com/album/the-ropes

Francis M. Gri returns to Slowcraft with an accomplished and compassionate examination of the bonds that join us and the ways they can fray and break. Each invisible tether extends a choice to pull or loosen, to help or hurt; this tender electroacoustic collection offers insight into a delicate interpersonal dance and the regret found in the knots and divisions caused by our missteps. 

Embodying the finest qualities of modern ambient and minimal composition The Ropes offers a gesture of generosity matched only by its vulnerability and stands as an emotionally charged high point in an already impressive oeuvre. 

Slowcraft digital series Lifelines is curated by label founder James Murray, presenting vital and consoling works from world class genre-defying artists, each carefully mastered by Ian Hawgood and individually paired with bespoke artwork by printmaker June Murray. 

Lifelines. Hold tight.

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KrysaliSound – ØjeRum / James Murray / Nāda Mushin. — Drifting, Almost Falling.

With the year and decade coming to an end, I rush with a flurry of blog posts. Shorter than most I normally do, there will hopefully be 22! done before the year is over , nicely tying up everything and clearing the decks before next years releases (which has already got close to double digits). […]

KrysaliSound – ØjeRum / James Murray / Nāda Mushin. — Drifting, Almost Falling.
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“Embrace Storms” and “Mono No Aware” in The Sunday Experience

Embrace Storms

Loosely connected with my treatment, or should I correct that, lack of since I’m currently on strike and refusing it, I’ve managed to get myself on to a eight week mindfulness course, you know the kind of thing, connecting to the now, the moment, not reflecting or mind wandering, but more stepping back to be aware and observe your surroundings. Swiftly though, in case we lose the other reader into thinking they’ve mistakenly arrived at some ‘science now’ blog as opposed to a hapless music missive. I mention all this because ‘in your head’ by James Murray, taken from a co-opted release put out between Slowcraft and KrysaliSound entitled ’embrace storms’, has all the assisting attributes of a mindfulness meditative. At just shy of 21 minutes in length, ‘in your head’ is afforded the chance and space to connect and caress the synapses, its dream like harvesting delicately toned and almost invisible in detail, ghosts with a divine demurring occasioned by the destressing feel good calming tender of hazily radiant pulsars which, as the healing repair manual (mindfulness)trains and teaches, root you in a moment of connectivity with the eternal consciousness, the effect of which is both healing and strangely inwardly cleansing

https://marklosingtoday.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/james-murray-5/

Mono No Aware

Staying a second or so longer with the Italian imprint Krysalisound, us being enquiring folk, decided to take ourselves on a brief wander to their bandcamp site to see what else they had in their locker. Literally just released, we eyed Nāda Mushin’s ‘Mono No Aware’ from off which the track ‘to flow like water’ had us suitably smitten and indeed spiralling in its bitter sweet grace fall. Like a dying star slowly imploding in slow formation, there’s a one last hurrah sentiment scoring here as the cascades of sun bleached shimmering’s swirl with head bowed majesty summoning forth one last concerted effort to part amid a glorious rapture of radiant jubilance, utterly heart breaking.

https://marklosingtoday.wordpress.com/2019/12/09/nada-mushin/

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“Embrace Storms” in Fluid Radio

Embrace Storms is a new solo work from James Murray. Consisting of two long-form sound collages, listeners will find Murrays’s music, like much of the planet, to be in a state of conflict, the middle of a prolonged storm. Opener ‘In Your Head’ contrasts and compliments the closing piece ‘In Your Heart’, as one cannot live without the other.

Embrace Storms is the first multi-format split release between London’s Slowcraft Records and Milan’s KrysaliSound, two independent labels from two different nations with one goal in mind: a dedication to pursuing original, minimal, and unclassifiable music through a gorgeous set of limited editions.

At first, Murray’s music resists the storm, refusing to accept its reality, only to later trust the process. Acceptance produces calm, but it’s hard to remain calm when normality snaps and everything is swept away.

When the mind refuses to confront, tones are left to chaotically spin, almost losing their balance with the rapid oscillations and rising dynamics. Apart from these elements, the music remains relatively calm. Even when something undesirable hits the fan, it seems that Murray can close his eyes, calm the section, and continue on. There’s no panic or a reflexive decision.

Embrace Storms doesn’t turn to look the other way. It embraces the fight, knowing that it’ll come out all the stronger, a development of character that can only be gained by going through the twister, and sometimesslogging through the sludge of surging floodwater. This storm has been growing for years, delivering a steady, soul-bruising rainfall instead of an instant downpour.

Of the two, ‘In Your Heart’ is the feeler and not the thinker. Introverted notes cycle back in on themselves until they are pulled into the heart of the music, carried into a tornado-like funnel that spins in the centre of the track. They are kept there, to be stored up and used as motivation and encouragement when things seem difficult. Gold is refined in the fire. It’s time to face the music and dance.

Link here: http://www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2019/11/james-murray-embrace-storms/

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JAMES MURRAY Embrace Storms | Slowcraft+KrysaliSound release (PRE-ORDER NOW)

“Embrace Storms” is the first multi-format split release between Slowcraft and KrysaliSound, two collaborative independent labels based in London and Milan dedicated to presenting beautiful limited editions of minimal, understated and unclassifiable musical works. 

SLOWCRAFT PRESENTS: Twin Sleeve CD Format

Slowcraft offers Embrace Storms in a limited edition hand-numbered, reverse-board printed, heavyweight CD package designed by James Murray with artwork by Francis M. Gri. 
PRE-ORDER CD

KRYSALISOUND PRESENTS:  12″ Vinyl

Limited Edition 12″ Vinyl printed on a “Cardboard” with black vinyl 
PRE-ORDER VINYL
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PRE-ORDER VINYL | KS34 – James Murray “Embrace Storms”

JAMES MURRAY “Embrace Storms” is now available for pre-order!

PRE-ORDER VINYL HERE
James Murray’s new solo work takes the form of two carefully constructed long-form sound collages; twin formations gradually unfolding in continuous, ever-evolving streams of delicately controlled chaos. In Your Head seeks to absorb turbulence opened-eyed while the anticyclonic In Your Heart trusts itself to the winds of change. 
Calm music for chaotic times. 

RELEASE DATE: November 9, 2019
(item ships out on or around November 11, 2019)

ALBUM PREVIEW

Written and Produced by James Murray at Slowcraft Studio 
Mastered by Francis M. Gri in 2019 
Artwork by Francis M. Gri

Embrace Storms is the first multi-format split release between Slowcraft and KrysaliSound, two collaborative independent labels based in London and Milan dedicated to presenting beautiful limited editions of minimal, understated and unclassifiable musical works.