Bass Communion

Bass Communion
Origin England
Genres Ambient
Experimental
Drone
Years active 1994–present
Labels Headphone Dust
Burning Shed
Tone Float
Associated acts Porcupine Tree
Website Steven Wilson Headquarters
Members Steven Wilson

Bass Communion is a side project of Steven Wilson, best known for his lead role in the rock band Porcupine Tree. Records released under the name "Bass Communion" are in an ambient or electronic vein - lengthy drone-heavy compositions. They come about as experiments in texture made from processing the sound of real instruments and field recordings.[1]

Bass Communion's albums have often featured collaborations from other musicians, including Robert Fripp of King Crimson, saxophonist Theo Travis, Bryn Jones (also known as Muslimgauze), and Vidna Obmana.

History

Bass Communion has origins in Steven Wilson's earliest work as a musician. Taking influence from German experimental electronic music artist such as Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, Conrad Schnitzler, Wilson, along with childhood friend Simon Vockings, formed the group Altamont in 1983. Wilson and Vockings experimented with primitive analog synthesizers, recording the performances live, without the use of multitracking. These recordings were compiled on the tape Prayer for the Soul in September 1983 and released on the Acid Tapes label, then run by future Imaginary Records boss, Alan Duffy.[1][2]

By the 1990s, Wilson began to notice an increasing amount of music inspired by the same experimental artists who inspired Altamont. Hearing artists such as Paul Schutze and Biosphere, Wilson felt that it was an ideal time to revisit experimental electronic music.[2] The first self-titled Bass Communion album, often referred to as Bass Communion I, was released in April 1998.

Discography

Albums

Compilations

EPs and Singles

Collaborations

Remix Albums

Split

Various artists

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Häberle, Uwe (March 2009). "The Complete SW Discography" (PDF). pp. 243, 328. Retrieved 4 Aug 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kieffer, Geoff (October 2004). "Chasing Ghosts in the Dark: A interview with Steven Wilson regarding Bass Communion". Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 4 Aug 2010.

External links