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2LP
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NEXUS 002LP
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Double LP version. Meaning "soul friend" in Gaelic, Anamchara is a new compilation of buried treasure from Nina Walsh's colossal Woodleigh Research Facility archive. W.R.F. was formed in 2015 by Nina and late studio partner Andrew Weatherall to help wrangle the vast output recorded together beyond his solo releases. Spotlighting nine tracks from the Apparently Solo series of EPs recorded between 2016- 2019 and released on Bandcamp in 2023, this lustrous time capsule marks the culmination of Walsh and Weatherall's creative relationship born after they clicked at London's earliest acid house clubs, becoming partners then managers of their Sabres Of Paradise/Sabrettes labels before taking different paths by the late '90s. An accomplished musician, Nina had learned the art of studio technology by the time they reunited and started working together in 2012. Created at her Facility 4 Studio situated in the dangerous, gang-ridden no man's land between Streatham and Mitcham, Anamchara captures the super-prolific creative stretch starting in 2015 that produced Weatherall's Convenanza and Qualia solo sets, W.R.F.'s The Phoenix Suburb (And Other Stories) plus a whole lot more. According to Nina, Andrew envisioned the spectacular "Borderland" as natural successor to "Smokebelch," his most revered track. When it came to his remix, Nina enlisted renowned viola virtuoso Sarah Sarhandi and composed new harmonies with Pachelbel's Canon in D Minor in mind. The set also catches the breakthrough period when, through Nina's careful coaxing, Andrew started using the computer system she'd set up to better express his musical visions by arranging the elements, grooves and melodies she sent him. Still considered the UK's greatest DJ-producer, Andrew's arrangements were inspired by his club-igniting sets. Anamchara straddles the gamut of musical styles explored by W.R.F. at this time, from slower paced psychedelic "drug chug" outings "We Two." Many tracks fly elements from the enormous sonic library Nina inherited from late partner Erick Legrand that she called The Akashic Library of Sound. Marking Andrew's 2016 admission into the vault, "Rattly Old Puffin" boasts Erick's psychedelic guitar and tumbling drum loop Weatherall would run with, including on "Borderland." Bringing down the curtain, "Alma's" exquisitely poignant melody that unfolds over thirteen time-stopping minutes was composed by Nina while navigating Erick's birth and departure date anniversaries to accompany Andrew's reading from Gordon Burn's 1991 same-named novel at 2018's Durham Literary Festival. Burn's novel imagines early 60s popstrel Alma Cogan, who succumbed to cancer in 1966 surviving to reflect on fame. A beautiful grand finale for this astonishing selection of pure gold from the vaults.
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CD
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NEXUS 002CD
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Meaning "soul friend" in Gaelic, Anamchara is a new compilation of buried treasure from Nina Walsh's colossal Woodleigh Research Facility archive. W.R.F. was formed in 2015 by Nina and late studio partner Andrew Weatherall to help wrangle the vast output recorded together beyond his solo releases. Spotlighting nine tracks from the Apparently Solo series of EPs recorded between 2016- 2019 and released on Bandcamp in 2023, this lustrous time capsule marks the culmination of Walsh and Weatherall's creative relationship born after they clicked at London's earliest acid house clubs, becoming partners then managers of their Sabres Of Paradise/Sabrettes labels before taking different paths by the late '90s. An accomplished musician, Nina had learned the art of studio technology by the time they reunited and started working together in 2012. Created at her Facility 4 Studio situated in the dangerous, gang-ridden no man's land between Streatham and Mitcham, Anamchara captures the super-prolific creative stretch starting in 2015 that produced Weatherall's Convenanza and Qualia solo sets, W.R.F.'s The Phoenix Suburb (And Other Stories) plus a whole lot more. According to Nina, Andrew envisioned the spectacular "Borderland" as natural successor to "Smokebelch," his most revered track. When it came to his remix, Nina enlisted renowned viola virtuoso Sarah Sarhandi and composed new harmonies with Pachelbel's Canon in D Minor in mind. The set also catches the breakthrough period when, through Nina's careful coaxing, Andrew started using the computer system she'd set up to better express his musical visions by arranging the elements, grooves and melodies she sent him. Still considered the UK's greatest DJ-producer, Andrew's arrangements were inspired by his club-igniting sets. Anamchara straddles the gamut of musical styles explored by W.R.F. at this time, from slower paced psychedelic "drug chug" outings "We Two." Many tracks fly elements from the enormous sonic library Nina inherited from late partner Erick Legrand that she called The Akashic Library of Sound. Marking Andrew's 2016 admission into the vault, "Rattly Old Puffin" boasts Erick's psychedelic guitar and tumbling drum loop Weatherall would run with, including on "Borderland." Bringing down the curtain, "Alma's" exquisitely poignant melody that unfolds over thirteen time-stopping minutes was composed by Nina while navigating Erick's birth and departure date anniversaries to accompany Andrew's reading from Gordon Burn's 1991 same-named novel at 2018's Durham Literary Festival. Burn's novel imagines early 60s popstrel Alma Cogan, who succumbed to cancer in 1966 surviving to reflect on fame. A beautiful grand finale for this astonishing selection of pure gold from the vaults.
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12"
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BYR 048EP
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Byrd Out Limited presents the release of previously unheard music from The Woodleigh Research Facility. The four-track EP Vous Du Music pulses with a chugging, acid-tinged electronica recorded between 2016 and 2017. The EP opens with the title track "Vous Du," a nod to the Gallic black magick musical creations of Erick Legrand, whose track Woodleigh Research Facility reworked here (indeed, Erick is given a credit). "Vous Du" is packed full of blips, beeps and propulsive energy, as well as spoken word interlaced with the unmistakable sound of the 303. Clocking in at eight minutes, "Between Two Waves" is arguably the standout track, with a swirling, hypnotic groove that captures the listener. With its insistent beat and interweaving melodies, the track conjures to mind the tide coming in and sweeping you away to a different place. The third track, "Tempesta" aptly moves to a more-stormy place, with industrial noises and haunting sonic layers. But looking to Caliban, the sounds and sweet airs give delight, and hurt not. "Tempesta" is almost reminiscent of a Hardfloor sound, moving along at pace. Closing out the EP is a remix of "Vous Du" by producer Timothy J. Fairplay, who sharpens the original into a dancefloor weapon of the highest caliber with more acid, more synths, more kick drum. This is harder, dense, acid-flecked techno. Fairplay is a firm fixture of the electronic music scene releasing on Dungeon Module, Pinkman Records and more, as well as formerly being in The Asphodells, and being co-founder of club night and label Crimes of the Future alongside Scott Fraser.
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