See you in January. Bye for now.

The Advisory Circle present - 'Cold Wintersong' by Cafekaput on Mixcloud

It's time to put the chairs on the tables and declare the Café closed for Yule. It's been a creative year and quite a lot of good work has been done, so I'm thankful. If you bought any of the Café Kaput releases, or Advisory Circle stuff, said anything good about them, wrote anything good about them, or recommended them to someone in some way... thanks very much.

So much good music has been made by so many artists this year - it's been a vintage one for sure. And labels - Ghost Box, TriAngle, Pye Corner Audio Transcription Services, Gecophonic, First Fold, Clay Pipe, the list goes on.

I wouldn't want to leave you all without a Winter mixtape, would I? Certainly not, as my friend The Head Technician would probably start his menacing, now-almost-legendary *slow clapping* routine. So... whilst Rev. Jim was outside, directing the vicarage gardeners on how to fleece trees for the cold season, I came up with a special formula to help you keep warm, keep well this winter. I hope you enjoy it.



See you all in 2012. Blessed Yule.

- Jb.

Clutch It Like A Gonk!

... "That's the trouble, it's *always* a party". A new album from the Moon Wiring Club is always an occasion, always a party. This time, the standard CD album comes with a beautiful little 3" CD of miniature (beatless) versions of the album tracks. As if that wasn't enough, Ian Hodgson has taken it upon himself to produce a veritable smörgåsbord of badges, as seen in the photo here. I think the idea is that you get a randomly-selected badge sent with your package... but when I opened the door to the postman, I was presented with a coal sack, full of the buggers. :-/

Pay a visit to Clinkskell and order your Gonk today.

- Jb.

Modular Minitronics

As much as I enjoy taking my time on a project and working with all the options open to us now with computer technology, there's also a lot to be said for spontaneity. Working on things quickly, just seeing what happens and... basically... just making a noise for the sake of it. So, I've been recording a collection of miniatures called 'Modular Minitronics'; a set of spontaneous, all-electronic four-track recordings.

I won't get too technical here, but because it's all done in a very old-school way, there are no computers or advanced editing or any of that stuff. There was a lot of bouncing down of tracks and basically 'playing over the top of other stuff' in a very primitive way. Limited, yes, rough, yes, primitive... refreshing, definitely.

Have a listen. If you know of anyone who might want to issue these on vinyl, let me know. ;)) Or I might expand the set and do a release on Cafe Kaput if the interest is there.

Hope you enjoy.

- Jb.

Modular Minitronics by cafekaput

Look what I sneaked from the satchel...

One of the great things about helping run the Belbury vicarage is that I get to pinch little bits of merchandise out of the Curious Brown Leather Satchel ™ when Rev. Jim isn't looking. Sometimes I'm caught red-handed (and subsequently reprimanded). This time, I got lucky (Rev. Jim had nipped out for some cat food, so he was quite some time).

These badges are beautiful little things and I can reveal they will be coming soon to the << Ghost Box shop >> as a set *. The perfect item for the Ghost Box fan who has everything.

And no, I'm not putting them back - these are definitely mine.

* Academic scarf not included.

- Jb.

Study Series 07 release day!

Exciting! It's officially release day for the Pye Corner Audio / Advisory Circle single. The vinyl is thick and positively chewy. I've still got the teeth marks on my copy to prove it. Hope you all enjoy. Venture forth to the << Ghost Box shop >> whilst stocks last!

- Jb.

New Advisory Circle Mixtape.

The Advisory Circle present 'Autumn Cycles' by Cafekaput on Mixcloud

To celebrate the imminent release of the Pye Corner Audio / Advisory Circle single 'Autumnal Activities', here's a bumper harvest for your soundtrack. With added autumn love! Hope you all enjoy.

- Jb.

Advisory Circle shirts now available from Ghost Box.

Exciting times. Ghost Box have produced some beautiful Advisory Circle t-shirts in this season's most curious colours. Never before seen or sold. Get them at the << shop >>, while stocks last.

Jb.