Ashtray Navigations
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Ashtray Navigations is an English psychedelic noise project centered upon Phil Todd, active since 1991. The group operated out of Todd's home in Stoke-on-Trent, England, from which he also ran the record label Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers. The project has seen many releases through labels such as Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers, Siltbreeze, Jewelled Antler, American Tapes, Menlo Park, E.F. Tapes and Freedom From. The sound varies and defies description, but often incorporates extended droning and atonal extrapolations. Critic James Blackshaw described the Ashtray Navigations sound as "sub-aquatic synth bubble, busted-up cassette-tape hiss and distorted electric guitar hover that sounds like a mythical god banished from the realm of light and trying desperately to clamber his/her way out of a dark bottomless void where time itself stands still."[1] The Wire's David Keenan has described Phil Todd/Ashtray Navigations as "a trashcan antidote to LaMonte Young." [2] Reviewing Todd's 36th album, The Love that Whirrs, critic Larry Dolman wrote "It's a pretty mammoth piece of work – almost 80 minutes of music spread out over six heavy tracks. They tend to start as intense sun-blinding drone-fields, but if you hold on tight for a minute or two and adjust yourself to these new conditions, you'll start to notice a wealth of detail, provided by a real band of ringers. Todd has got Alex Neilson (Directing Hand, the Jandek Blues Band) on shimmering, fracturing percussion and Ben Reynolds on raga-style guitar and banjo. (Also, one Melanie Delaney appears on one epic track, playing reeds & tapes.) Trash drone, free skiffle, new electric raga, sun blindness music, call it what you will, this is a powerful statement."[3]
Albums include Four More Raga Moods and The Love that Whirs in 2006, To Your F***ing Feather'd Wings in 2005, Dirt Mummies & Bloody Amps, You Cannot Tell Cigars...., and Use Copenhagen 69 Guitars + Park Drive Circular Effects Pedals Exclusively in 1998.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Blackshaw, James (2005). Review of Ashtray Navigations' "To Your F***ing Feather'd Wings". FoxyDigitalis.com. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ Keenan, David. Ashtray Navigations. The Wire. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ Dolman, Larry (2006). Review of Ashtray Navigations' "The Love that Whirrs". Blastitude. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
