ROTHKO AND STEVE PARRY
CAT NO. TRACEHWYLCD001
After being friends for over 20 years, with the occasional contributions to each other’s recordings HOWL is the first full collaboration between Mark Beazley (Rothko) and Steve Parry (Hwyl Nofio - Neu Electrikk).
Emanating from the sounds of a church organ, with many short pieces recorded by Parry in an ancient secluded church then embellished by Beazley, with his resonant based tones, electric guitar and electronics HOWL captures the senses of ambience, harmony, discordance and noise. Recordings of the church’s space, its hollow emptiness interspersed with the music.
The two long, resulting pieces create an almost ritualistic event of something taking place that is mysterious, uplifting and in parts…..unsettling.
The CD will be available from the Rothko Bandcamp page
and will be available on all the main streaming platforms.
For any further information please contact Mark Beazley
mlbeazley@mac.com
ROTHKO
Mark Beazley has been releasing music under the name Rothko since 1999, on labels such as Lo Recordings, Bella Union, Too Pure, and since 2003 his own Trace Recordings label.
Creating music using mainly the bass guitar, Rothko’s sound is known for its darkly cinematic atmosphere and chiming counterpoint melodies.
He has collaborated with many artists; including Susumu Yokota, Jon Tye, Graham Dowdall [aka Gagarin] (now very sadly deceased) , JohnnyBrown and James Stephen Finn of Band of Holy Joy, Steve Parry [Hwyl Nofio and Neu Electrikk] along with many others.
STEVE PARRY
Steve Parry is a Welsh guitarist and composer, founder of the experimental band Hwyl Nofio. He co-founded the post punk band Neu Electrikk. He has recorded with Colin Potter of Nurse With Wound and also Matt Johnson of The The.
Parry is a product of the South Wales Valleys, his formative years were spent living in the shadow of the Black Mountains in the town of Pontypool, amidst the scars of the heavily industrialised landscape.
His compositions frequently refer to the catharsis of childhood where he would sit beside his mother as she played the church organ on Sundays,as well as the larger surrounding environment.The constant drone and mechanism of the church organ fascinated him and the hymnal facets are to be found in his work.
Hwyl Nofio was formed by Parry in 1997. It is an evolving assembly based around its originator. Parry refers to the approach of his music as a marriage of dilemmas being resolved in another space. The music explores and exploits a collision between harmony and disharmony. It gives the impression of being both dark and welcoming at the same time.
The band over the years have released seven albums. Parry is the only constant member along with invited guest musicians; including the experimental harpist Rhodri Davies, Mark Beazley of the instrumental ambient bass group Rothko, Danish fractal guitarist Frederick Soegaard, Hungarian guitarist Sandor Szabo and percussionist Balazs Major amongst other musicians. Collectively the musicians blur the boundaries of musical genres making the music difficult to categorise.
Parry has a longstanding friendship with Mark Beazley and their creative output has consisted of contributing to one another’s albums.
HOWL will be their first collaborative project together.
The CD will be available from the Rothko Bandcamp page
and will be available on all the main streaming platforms.
For any further information please contact Mark Beazley
mlbeazley@mac.com
