Clearsignals: Stars Lost Your Name
It’s been nearly a month since Portland-based, multi-disciplinary artist John C. Worsley released Stars Lost Your Name, and it’s still my daily work accompaniment. The twelve-track album begins as a beautiful, dreamy blend of minimal electronic grooves and sedate guitar riffs, then slowly escalates, fluctuating between waves of intricate, restless layers, and muted ambiance. At times measured and brooding, at times brimming with anticipation, this is easily one of my favorite albums of 2010 so far. Bonus? Every song is named after a star, the album thus forming a constellation.
I’m a sucker for a concept album, and Stars Lost Your Name happens to be one of those. The official story goes like this:
On the 24th of February, 2010, a moving truck was picked up in Portland. Over the course of the following 6 days, 12 states, and 3096 miles, while helping a friend move from Portland, Oregon to Cambridge, Massachusetts, these 12 songs were initially composed; in motels, in living rooms, and in the passenger seat.
After returning to Portland by air, 6 more days were spent recording and arranging before the album was deemed finished at 66:48 in length on the 12th of March, and released the following 24th; a roadmap, memoir, and secret constellation.
You can download Stars Lost Your Name in its entirety, for free, here. Thank you, John. However, if you like what you hear, the album is also on iTunes. Love it with money!
April 20th, 2010 at 10:29 am
Much appreciated.
April 20th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
This sounds great, downloading. Thanks for the tip!
April 20th, 2010 at 12:38 pm
Gotta say I’m enjoying this ambient experience. In fact, I don’t think I’ve enjoyed ambient this much since Sasha’s airdrawndagger back in ’02.
Good find, Zo.
April 20th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
This is lovely! I’ll snag it when I get home. Thanks for passing this along, guys.
April 20th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
this is an amazing album, perfect for reading, contemplating, cuddling…
thank you for the share!
April 20th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Wow, this definitely scratches an itch. Thanks!
April 21st, 2010 at 10:46 am
The next month of my life is filled with writing, writing, writing. I am so excited to find this great album to be my soundtrack! Thanks, John, and to Coilhouse for sharing the link!
April 22nd, 2010 at 1:15 am
wow this album is SO good! í´m streaming it now and that first track has a wonderful feel to it….
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:10 am
Hooray – I’m glad people are diggin’ it. Caroline, it’s so perfect for work, isn’t it?
April 23rd, 2010 at 1:35 pm
You and the mister have turned me onto several electronic bits that I’ve been very pleased with. More, I says, MOAR.
May 5th, 2010 at 8:50 am
I’m going through all the Coilhouse music posts today until IT happens. This one, yes!
December 14th, 2010 at 3:03 am
[…] Coilhouse » Blog Archive » Clearsignals: Stars Lost Your Name11 Responses to “Clearsignals: Stars Lost Your Name”. Soop Says: April 20th, 2010 at 10:29 am. Much appreciated. Jamie Says: April 20th, 2010 at 12:24 pm … […]