Friday, April 12, 2013
Aural Histories Of The Jovian Survey - Book I
From the release notes: "Aural Histories Of The Jovian Survey - Book I, the 4th full-length release by The Elderbranch Campaign is a set of interpretive soundscapes chronicling a future mission to search for life on Europa, and explore Jupiter's other moons. Stylistically and musically it follows in the footsteps of Sonology Of The Ground and Soundscapes Of The Weathered, with synths, found objects and highly processed field recordings creating complex and vivid audio sculptures that act as soundtracks for the mind. ABSOLUTELY BEST EXPERIENCED OVER HEADPHONES."
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sonology Of The Ground
Sonically and stylistically the album is a continuation of the feel and processes established on our last release "Soundscapes Of The Weathered", featuring synths, highly manipulated field recordings and various choirs, monks, calls to prayer, etc... Absolutely best experienced over headphones.
As with "Soundscapes Of The Weathered", we opted to release the album to all major web retailers through Record Union, but are also making it available as a "name your own price" download via our BandCamp site.
Monday, January 21, 2013
A Day For Pride And Surprise
I am very proud of my country's president today. I never thought I would hear any president of the United States invoke Selma, Seneca and Stonewall all in one sentence, and all as places of great and noble struggles for the American fight for what is just and right... My hat is off to you, president Obama! I hope that your second inaugural address was indeed your coming out of sorts as a newly emboldened and enlightened leader who is finally ready to move my country to where it should have been all along.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Six Months, Three Albums, One Birth, One Death - And An Unreadable Map
The peaks have been excellent! Occurrences In Rain just released our seventh album, titled "Remembrance Music", and I couldn't be happier with it.... A definite rival to "Influence Of Outside Systems" for the spot nearest and dearest to my heart. On it we seem to have been able to capture a perfectly cohesive balance between light and dark, creativity and commerciality - soaring and smothering...
I am also very pleased to announce that I have started a new experimental dark ambient industrial project in collaboration with Stephen Surreal ne Rook of ~UNUNE~ called The Elderbranch Campaign. We have released two complete albums so far, and are presently working on the third. Our sound is somewhat darker and more abstract than Occurrences In Rain, but with obvious and definite parallels. The latest album is titled "Soundscapes Of The Weathered", and is a BIG favorite of mine.
Along with all of the wonderful peaks of birthing new projects and releasing new albums has been one HUGE drop, though... I am devastated to announce the death of my wife, and best friend over the past 15 years, Laura Varela-Slater - a.k.a. Tilly Poenill. Although not a total shock, in that she had been very ill for the last few years with liver problems - it was none the less a gigantic blow... Poenill, you are, and will always be, missed.
And the road continues... I have no choice but to drive onward, savoring the climbs and drops - above and below center bland. I can't find a readable map, but I am really starting to wonder - Do we actually NEED them?
Friday, July 13, 2012
Starting Work On Album #7
We have finally started work on album number 7...
Although having a few months break will, I am certain, ultimately turn out to be a good thing - it seemed like an eternity. Especially since most of that time was forced upon us due to computer problems... Luckily - after all of the tribulations, I ended up with a setup that is proving to be "just right". A perfect combination of Ubuntu, UbuntuStudio and KXStudio. You can check out the results of everything via the following rough mix of our first material for the new album:
Friday, March 30, 2012
Beautiful Ambience From Base Station Cologne
I recently found an incredible treasure on SoundCloud - the mysterious and dreamy jusic of Jaja. Hailing from Cologne Germany, Jaja is an amazingly talented and deep artist who creates beautiful spacescapes (most of them performed live) that take me back to the wonderful days of listening to the old Music From The Hearts Of Space radio program every chance I got. Her latest album Oum is released on the Cyan internet label, and can be found at http://www.cyan-music.com/releases/release009.html. You can also preview her latest work below:
Friday, March 16, 2012
Ambient Theremin Music From Istanbul Turkey
I recently found an amazing treasure on Kirill Platonkin's wonderful Agniworld site which I am very anxious to share:
"Hanging From The Purgatory's Pendulum", the latest release from Meczûp (Turkish electro-acoustic composer Cihan Gülbudak) is one of the most hauntingly beautiful albums I have heard in many many years... Based entirely on looped and effected theremin, the music is mournful, yet warm and melodic - pulling the listener ever deeper into an exotic dream world... The description that keeps coming to mind is what the classic Fripp and Eno albums would have sounded like had they been created using theremins instead of guitars and synths. In fact on one of the tracks, "The Ribald Genie", Meczûp uses a distortion effect (on the theremin) to produce an almost e-bow like sound...
I could go on and on, but this is music that needs to be heard, not described. It can be downloaded for free from the official release site at: http://www.bfwrecordings.com/releases/Meczup-HangingFromThePurgatorysPendulum.php
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Climbing Ladders Into Falling Objects
Currently it is only available through our BandCamp site at: http://occurrencesinrain.bandcamp.com/ but it should come online at Amazon, iTunes, 7Digital, Spotify, etc. over the next few weeks.
You can listen to the last track on album here:
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Suppressed Panic Upon Approaching The Kuiper Belt
We have officially made available another track for preview from what will be our 6th album. It is titled Suppressed Panic Upon Approaching The Kuiper Belt, and can be heard below:
Would love to know what you think...
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Zelest's Asylum
I recently stumbled upon an amazing dark ambient internet radio station named Zelest's Asylum. Out of Sweden, this small station has an incredible playlist featuring acts both well known and obscure. Desiderii Marginis, Atrium Carceri, Brighter Death Now, Yen Pox, even Occurrences In Rain! Best of all - no artificially pretty or happy new age pablum...
You can check into the Asylum here: http://zelest.is-a-geek.com/
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
On To Number Six!
We have now started recording tracks for the 6th Occurrences In Rain album. The first one completed is titled "Climbing Ladders Into Falling Objects" and can be previewed below:
Thursday, November 24, 2011
New Occurrences In Rain Album Shadows In The Field Of Flowers Now Available
Our latest album "Shadows In The Field Of Flowers" is now available. It contains some of our most ambitious work to date, including the 30 minute full-length version of "Campo De Fiori (The Death Of Giordano Bruno)" and the 17 minute full-length version of "The Assaultig Memory Repelled". Overall the sound is darker than on our last album - "Influence Of Outside Systems", at times veering into ambient-industrial, but is in no way a radical departure.
Currently the album can only be purchased as a high quality download (in several different formats) directly from our BandCamp site at: http://occurrencesinrain.bandcamp.com/album/shadows-in-the-field-of-flowers. In the very near future it will also be available from all major on-line retailers and streaming services.
One of the included tracks can be previewed below:
Limited Edition Postcard/Mini-CD Release Shadow Systems Of Tranquility Now Available
The Limited Edition Postcard/Mini-CD release we did for Somehow Recordings/Twisted TreeLine titled "Shadow Systems Of Tranquility" is now available for purchase! It is being sold directly through the record label only and can be ordered from their on-line store at: http://www.twistedtreeline.co.uk/page3.html.
The 22 minute long disc contains two tracks: "The Freezing Of The Sea Created A Perfect Solitude" from their album "Influence Of Outside Systems" and "The Assaulting Memory Repelled" from their latest album "Shadows In The Field Of Flowers".
You can listen to a brief 2 minute sampler collage created from it below:
Shadow Systems Of Tranquility Preview Sampler - Released On Somehow Recordings/Twisted TreeLine by Occurrences In Rain
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Influence Of Outside Systems
Saturday, July 16, 2011
For Weeks, Four Pieces
A Minute Of Remembrance After Seeing The White Sky
A Melancholic Nostalgia At The Passing Of The Funeral Train
Dreams Of The Womb Provided A False Contentment
and
The Sunrise Revealed That Nothing Had Changed
This leaves us about one piece (maybe two) shy of completing our fourth full-length release, tentatively titled Influence Of Outside Systems... Now , where are the record labels?
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Congratulations New Yorkers!

Monday, June 13, 2011
As The Flares Increased, Data Became Sentient
Monday, June 6, 2011
His Deterioration Was A Gradual Process
Friday, June 3, 2011
Marcus M, Subtractions, Dog Meat And Mentorship
Rewind to 1979/1980. I was 16 years old and playing bass in a punk band named Short Order Cooks. Music, technology, indeed the world were in the middle of an incredible transition. The future was already deemed incredible, everything was new and nothing seemed out of reach... Awaken to reality. I was 16 years old and ... I knew I wanted more than anything I had ever experienced, but was ignorant of what it really was, or how to actually get it.
At that time there was a band in my hometown named The Subtractions. Godfathers of what would one day become a sprawling and diverse punk rock community. For some reason they took us under their wing and helped us out - setting up gigs, letting us sit in on some of their rehearsals, making us feel like we were a part of the "real" adult music world... This culminated in them setting us as the opening act for themselves and the Dead Kennedys. This was shortly after Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables was released. When the Dead Kennedys were THE punk rock band - gods. 16 years old and I was opening up for what I considered one of the most important bands of the age... And I had The Subtractions to thank for it. Looking back - I now see just how amazing they all were to do everything they did...
Although all of the guys in The Subtractions were really nice, I especially bonded with their singer, Marcus... We stayed in touch after we had both moved on from punk rock, and over time he turned me on to a lot of bands that to this day are still among some of my favorites.
When the post-punk era hit, Marcus sang and played keyboards in an amazing band named Dog Meat... Seeing them gig struck a real chord with me. I had been toying with new sounds and styles, but up until then had yet to realize just how powerful it could all be live. I was set on a course of musical experimentation and discovery that has been a part of everything I have created ever since...
More albums were exchanged and more great bands were discovered, but over time we lost touch... Now, some 30 years later - I get an anonymous post! Unfortunately, no contact information... I am hoping for another... Hoping...

Friday, May 20, 2011
I Am Not Afraid Of Ai Wei Wei - Are you?
![]() | If you are afraid of this man I want to know the real reason why... |
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Thank You Kirill Platonkin!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Seven Months Of Seven Months Of Loops
Occurrences In Rain has now released three complete albums, two seasons have passed, the middle east is shifting to new gears, Obama has found his balls, the vaping is getting better every day, Ubuntu is now up to the letter N, Robert Messner is now Bruno Janiszewski, and I .....................
Most of these things are pretty self-explanatory, so i will not go into detail except to say that references to loops and gears have to do with the philosophical Gear Principal, which I will address in a future post, and that Bruno and I have been on a recording frenzy resulting in there now being three official Occurrences In Rain releases: "Occurrences In Rain", "Memories Suspended - Falling" and "Wafting Magic". Each one available for purchase on our Bandcamp page. We also have two pieces that were recently released on compilations. "Walking The Stillness After Carnage" appears on "Droning Earth Volume 42", and "Collectively Accessing The Neolithic Engram (edit)" appears on "The Mechanics Of Silence", a benefit put out by Essentia Mundi, with all proceeds going to Japan Red Cross.
Seven months is just too long to go without communicating just because I have not felt like writing! I (sort of) promise that it will not happen again.... I will do my best to post at least something every day or two (or ..........).
Now back to whatever.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Fighting Against Assaulting Memory

Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Gift Of Numbness (Is The Curse Of Numbness)
We released more Occurrences In Rain material today - a new track titled The Gift Of Numbness (Is The Curse Of Numbness), and a remixed version of The Plot Remembered (hats off to Robert for doing a remarkable clean-up job). The latest piece is by far the darkest, most warped one yet. It was a fairly involved, difficult one to put together, but I had a ball doing it. I am starting to really appreciate the awesome potential locked away inside my lowly micro-cassette recorder. This is the second piece where I have used it, and the first where it provided a manor part of the material - namely the vocal loop of the title...
The exchange of parts and ideas between Robert and I, indeed the creative process in general, is beginning to feel really natural. I am more excited about this project than just about any other one I have ever been involved in. Things just keep getting better every day, and I am looking forward to us releasing more magic much much much sooner than later!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Plot Remembered
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Occurrences In Rain

I am pleased to announce a new dark ambient collaboration with Polish musician Robert Messner tentatively named Occurrences In Rain. We are working strictly via the Internet, and have never formally met, so it should be a fascinating ride! Right now, the plan is to post selected pieces on Last.fm and SoundCloud as we complete them, with a full album to follow shortly. Definitely more to come...
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Analogs Be Damned - Vapor Is King!
Had I known how quick, how easy, and just how damned enjoyable it would be, I would have done this long long LONG ago.
I ended up going with a starter kit from Blu, but I am already planning to start filling my own cartridges, and will surely be experimenting with various e-juice concoctions... For anyone interested, when I come up with the perfect setup, I will make a separate post with all of the details. For anyone scratching their head, wondering just what the hell I am talking about, I suggest a trip to http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ to check out the New Members Forum.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Gear-Jump Thwarted
Racing Paralyzed Sighted For Naught Serrated apprehension Across electrical skin Image locked The disc is shattered Vapored references To shattered hands Linked to ancient dreams Attempts at sensation Thwarted Loop | ![]() |
Sunday, June 6, 2010
A Revelatory Pondering Of Sorts
Taking the drug and society combination a bit further, I have been wondering - What is the speed of the masses?.. Finally dawned on me - Professional sports is the speed of the masses!
Now what would the hallucinogen be?...
Monday, May 24, 2010
Found Wisdom Too
Found Treasure
Found Wisdom
Saturday, October 17, 2009
The Death Of Any Bear Is A Global Tragedy
![]() |
A couple of days ago there was a tragedy in a town near where I live that is, unfortunately, becoming all too common of an occurrence. A black bear wandered into town, climbed up a tree, and decided to hang out for a while. If that is where the story ended - had people been rational, caring and selfless (like we as American posers like to claim that we are), everything would have been wonderful. The bear would have been able to relax for a while, the town-folk would have been able to witness one of the most beautiful and amazing creatures to ever exist, and most importantly, a precedent would have been set by which people and nature co-exist in a state of mutual respect - where the first reaction is not to immediately kill anything we are afraid of... But that is not how the story ended... As is all too common in such cases, the Department Of Fish And Game were called out to deal with the unwelcome intruder. The Department Of Fish And Game - the ones who are supposedly tasked with managing and protecting fish and game. The ones who should be setting the higher example to the rest of the populace. The ones who should know that black bears are generally benevolent creatures who do not have a long history of unprovoked attacks on humans... First they tranquilized the bear, apparently without giving much thought about what to do next, as that the bear soon fell 40 feet to the ground - most likely fatally. Next, in a scene right out of the old west, they proceeded to shoot the NOW DEAD bear several times. WHAT THE FUCK! What were these rednecks thinking! How in the hell are people like these allowed to keep their jobs! Most importantly, what the hell are we as a society thinking!... We build houses further and further out into wild-lands, ostensibly to be able to experience nature, and then we freak out when actually confronted with it... Bears were in the area long before the people and the houses. They, unfortunately, do not have the option of just moving, or running over to a grocery store or restaurant in a different area to get their dinner. If we continue to choose to live with nature, we had better damn well start living WITH nature! |
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Safety In Blandness
I was just watching television, and suddenly a commercial came on advertising a band named Safety Suit. Now I had never heard of these guys, and I must admit - my life probably would not have been any less complete had I gone on without having ever heard of them... At any rate, during the commercial, one of the members of the band said that people like to feel safe, and that hopefully that is what their music does for them.
MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE?
Is this what has become of our younger generations? They want to feel SAFE? Is the lure of non-thought and non-activity really that alluring? I mean I know that we are all being told that we are supposed to be good little consumers, and just shut up and buy up. But do we have to just roll over and say Fuck Me so readily. Thank god people didn't feel the same way in the 60's! If ever there was I time for question since then, it is now. If ever there was a time for rebellion (since then), IT IS NOW. Our country, indeed our world, is being eaten from within, and the price for comfort is death. Comfort just can't be that appealing. Or can it?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
An Appeal To Barack Obama
I have spent the entire day torturing myself over the state of my country. How it has been hijacked by a bunch of small minded, racist, uneducated, trailer-park-trash, religious zealots. By people who don't know what is in our constitution, yet know all of the latest celebrity gossip. By the likes of Mark Williams, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, etc... In other words, by people who are holding back the evolution of my species. What to do, what to do, what to do... The problems are too numerous, and too large for any one common citizen to tackle on his or her own, so I call on Barack Obama to spend the rest of his presidency fighting every day to institute the following:
- All schools must immediately begin teaching critical thinking to all students at all grade levels.
- All schools must immediately begin teaching civics, government/constitution and world history classes to all grad levels.
- Religious fundamentalism must be stamped out in all forms, from all faiths.
- Laws must be passed to strengthen the separation of church and state.
- Strict campaign financing reforms must be enacted so that one does not have to be a multimillionaire to be able to get elected to public office.
- To be allowed to vote, one must pass a basic competency test covering current events, general knowledge of our government, constitution, and the issues and candidates on the ballot.
- Tax exempt status must be immediately removed from all churches and religious organizations.
Mr. President, are you up to the task?
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Bed In Sunlight Lie
![]() | You Spattered home with lead and mercury Siren sparkles Thrusting needles of sunlight Recklessly and gracefully radiating To call me to lie You The child who never returned from victory Feigning blindness on the bed Like a pewter figurine in a pool of vagrant's piss Tar and gravel on your breasts Sheets of Velcro on your back Stuck to her frontside Playing to medicated eyes I dreamt of sex on pillowcases Of souls exposed and glistening Crystalized dew drops degrading in sunlight Your facade peeling I vomited partings Outside - the trees frozen Laughing Armless... watching Offering nothing Truth A warm syringe for the accused actor |
Monday, September 7, 2009
Ambivalent
![]() | Stop Trying To confuse Stop trying Me Trying Stop To confuse me Stop trying To Stop Trying Confuse Me |
Friday, September 4, 2009
Secede To Succeed!
I just finished watching some redneck trailer park trash mom literally crying to a reporter from CNN about losing control of her children's lives - all because Barack Obama is going to give a back-to-school address to them next week. She is genuinely worried that they are going to be brainwashed to serve an evil leader... This coupled with films from recent town hall meetings to discuss health care reform, where assorted religious zealots, conservatives and racists were decrying the loss of "their" America have lead me to one important conclusion: California, the state where I live, must secede from the rest of the United States! It is not right that we be placed in a situation where our laws and leaders are subject to the fear, misinformation and bigotry of the bible-belt fundamentalists in the interior of the country. It is not right that our president be held back from pursuing any meaningful growth or reform, all because he or she is always in a position of having to worry about losing the votes of too many people who are ideologically 180 degrees opposite. I should not have to live subject to the desires of people who are so clearly holding back the growth of their own species all because of their petty superstitions.Something has to give...
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Lost And Found
*URGENT*
At some point between being elected President Of The United States Of America and now, Barack Obama has lost his balls. If you know their whereabouts, it is in everyone's best interest that they be returned to him immediately. This is an extremely urgent matter and needs to be given top priority.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Failing Under Healed Wraps
![]() | Progression/instinct Tethered - compelled Of karma Of god Fate Cruel practical jokes Of the few Overflowing in spirit Orgasm Cloudburst Dream rendered incomprehensible By delirious explanations Anchored by disparate shards Guilt Cyclical pleasure Peace In pieces Weathered skin Struggling For renewed acceptance Clawing at cement Weighted by cosmetic health |
Sunday, August 30, 2009
RFID
*RFID* Proposed acronym definition: Really Frightening Intelligence Device
Resist RFID technology in every form. Do not allow it to get a further toe-hold in society. It is not worth using, in even a limited form. Do not be lulled into complacency by promises of all of the amazing things it can do. One can take absolutely gorgeous photos of mushroom clouds, but that doesn't make it either right, or smart to set off nuclear weapons just for the opportunity. The cost vs. benefit ratio is just too lopsided...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The Folly Of Shelter
![]() | Lonely and vomiting In a burned-out forest An infant deprived of mother's breast Hands bleeding from caressing a path Through jagged carcasses Traversing a cesspool Blindfolded Factories scream Aural under-painting To the spitting of shit Liquefied Between my limbs Loop Inertial projections Fallacious right Shelter |







