2CD compilation 1998​-​2023

Celebrating 25 years of fiffdimension!

Electric (yang) / Acoustic (yin)

A collection of short tracks by Dave Edwards and collaborators.

Double disc collection of more than two decades’ worth of live and studio-recorded tunes by Dave Edwards, who you may have heard recently as part of The Troubled Times with Antony Milton. It’s quite a diverse listen!

You get some concise and catchy pop songs, some full-on rockers, banjo excursions, improv freak-out, poetry, acoustic blues, folk songs, scrambled noise… there’s something here for everybody. A good intro to Dave’s dauntingly deep discography.”

Howard Stelzer, Noisy Bandcamp.

Produced by Antony Milton; and features Paul Winstanley, Chris O’Connor, Simon O’Rorke,Chris Palmer, Sam Prebble, Mike Kingston, Francesca Mountfort, Damian Stewart, Emit Snake-Beings, Nat da Hatt, Steve Duffels, and Oscar (the dog).

2CD double album. 35 tracks spanning 25 years. Comes in gatefold card case with full colour photography by Jechtography and James Gilberd. Includes download of the digital album.

Review 

Electric (Yang)/Acoustic (Yin) boasts some wildly different tracks; short instrumentals (the guitar and percussion of King Street Boogie, the piano and birdsong of Tui and Grey Sky, the guitar, rain, and bucket- possibly oboe too- of Classical Rain Bucket), song-length instrumentals (the gorgeous and floaty Kalbarri Coastline, the spaced-out psychedelia of Shuffling The TarotOctober Rings sweet little guitar melody being countered by its evil twin sowing dissent and discord), spoken word over free-forming instruments (After The Filmshoot describing either a spiritual experience or very good drugs… or both, @Bomb The Space sounding like a guitar being attacked, Ornery Return Cravings spoken over sheer instrumental chaos), and occasionally, songs too (the stripped-back post-punk glory of Tony Was Here, the slithery, smoky, speakeasy feel of Cafes In ConversationInverno creeping in like a fever-dream of The Cramps, and the beautiful, emotionally-charged Paetumokai (Pua pua i te Koanga)). Dave Edwards is a thoughtful and talented writer, composer, and performer. This double album ably demonstrates that, from the soft, delightful guitar ramblings on Stromatolites, to Wealth And Riches that sounds for all the world like a battle to the death between a drumkit and a horde of toy robots.

“He doesn’t seem to so much want to push boundaries, as to act like he’s never heard of boundaries in the first place. At times soft and beautiful, at others dark and jarring, it makes for fascinating listening.” – Peter Malthus, muzic.nz

Continue reading “2CD compilation 1998​-​2023”

The Troubled Times: Elevate

A contrasting companion piece to theAnother Sunday‘ CD

  • all but the last track were recorded during the same session, on 28/05/23)
  • Elevate is a thoroughly kinetic affair bursting with energy and ecstatic passion.

Avant jazz meets squealing rambunctious noise. A frenetic blast down to the end of the driveway and back. The set finishes with a tribute to Albert Ayler.

What more could you want? (well there’s The Troubled Times’ live debut coming up on 15 July….)

Videos

credits

Antony Milton – electric guitar Dave Edwards – bass David Heath – drums

releases July 15, 2023

Continue reading “The Troubled Times: Elevate”

in a wildflower state (Western Australia, 2013)

In late 2012, after leaving Japan, I moved to Australia for the second time – this time to Western Australia for a couple of years…

in a wildflower state is a lost album – recorded in Perth WA and surrounding regions, between 2012-2014 – unreleased at the time.

The music here is rustic, reflecting the vast ancient arid landscape, overlaid with touches of Nyoongar and bogan sounds. It  includes appearances by Nat da Hatt, Cylvi M, and Renato Salvador.

Videos

Tracklist

1.Didgeridoo overture / overkill 01:47
2.Dry wind (Fremantle doctor) 01:26
3.Nat da Hatt + fiffdimension – The Road to Bogandoor (Australian election 2013 mix) 03:46
4.Sandalwood & Quandong 04:38
5.Ukulele & magpies 01:23
6.Kalgoorlie super pit 04:25
7.Brazilian BBQ (ft Renato Salvador) (bonus) 04:33
8.Rabbit proof fence (bonus) 03:19
9.Nat da Hatt + fiffdimension – The Horror (sports mix) (bonus) 03:35
10.Scabbers’ beach 02:45
11.Cylvi M – Ode to Ed Kuepper 01:06
12.Mundaring Weir 01:49
13.Stomping in Freo (bonus) 02:17
14.Kalbarri coastline 04:55
15.Stromatolites 01:49
16.Inverno ’13 (Indian Ocean sunsets)

Life in Western Australia, 2012-2014

Known as ‘the Wildflower State’, Western Australia covers an enormous area – the size of India, but with a population of under three million. Metaphorically, to be a ‘wildflower’ can also mean a wandering spirit or traveller (such as a kiwi expat on an OE).

Continue reading “in a wildflower state (Western Australia, 2013)”

águas brilhantes: 2018​-​2022

“We go from bossa nova rhythms to folk to RIO to indie to, what is interesting listening if nothing else, a dog howling along to a banjo (Oscar’s Blues) […] and songs taken from Poems & Lyrics (in the Scotch dialect) (1856)where Dave paid tribute to his ancestor John Collie who wrote a book of poems more than 150 years ago.

“It is unusual to find someone playing so confidently in such diverse areas, and anyone into independent music will certainly find something on here to enjoy – Kev Rowland, muzic.nz

Listen

About

águas brilhantes (or ‘glistening waters’ in English) is the Portuguese translation of Wairarapa, the Māori name of the region where I’ve lived the last few years.

My ancestors arrived here in the 19th century – one was a Scottish poet, another a stowaway from the Azores islands.

This compilation includes pieces inspired by the region and my ancestors, and new and old collaborators – including a torch-passing to younger members of my family.

Credits1

by Dave Edwards – guitars, bass, banjo, harmonica, vocal, lyrics

with

released December 22, 2022

Tracklist

1.Nat da Hatt + James Robinson + Dave Black – June’s Lounge, part 2 02:08
2.The Electricka Zoo – Inverno (live at Escape Velocity, 2018) 03:47
3.Campbell Kneale + fiffdimension – Both Chords 02:07
4.Celeste Rochery – My Native Land (John Collie, 1856) 01:56
5.The Blast of a Wintry Day (John Collie, 1856 – live at Wairarapa TV, 2019) (bonus) 03:44
6.Clever Hansel – Sonnet on Summer (John Collie, 1856) 03:19
7.snakebeings + fiffdimension – Walu (Fiji) 03:02
8.snakebeings + fiffdimension – Io (Fiji) 01:31
9.Larry Irava – Isa Lei Lia (Fiji) 04:38
10.Ilhas Atlânticas (Manuel José Bernard, das Flores, 1862) 03:12
11.Here’s a Health to my Cronies (John Collie, 1856) 02:46
12.Auld Satan when ye first gae through (John Collie, 1856) 02:02
13.Logistical Torrents (lockdown 2020) 03:07
14.Guitar Ringtone 02:07
15.The Troubled Times – Blinking in Daylight (return of the sun, 2021) 03:05
16.Clever Hansel – The Land of my Youth (John Collie, 1856) 03:57
17.The Troubled Times – Wairarapa Bossa Nova 03:18
18.James Robinson + fiffdimension – Old Brain (metadada of Oceania remembering) 03:21
19.The Troubled Times – The Dying Monarch (John Collie, 1856) 03:05
20.Ilhas novos (do sul) 01:20
21.Classical Rain Bucket 01:41
22.James Robinson + The Troubled Times – The Edge (a Negentropic Diatribe) 03:25
23.Tony Was Here (live at the Miracle Room, 2022) 03:25
24.Oscar – Oscar’s Blues 01:28
25.By my faith sirs, this canna lang dee (John Collie, 1856) 04:04
26.さくらさくら / Paetumokai (Pua pua i te Kōanga) 02:10
27.O Henry Ending (live at the Miracle Room, 2022) 08:00

Features previously unreleased recordings, and tracks from

Further listening: the albums

Continue reading “águas brilhantes: 2018​-​2022”

The Winter: Shortest Days 2003-2015

A compilation by Wellington NZ free improv trio The Winter

Simon Sweetman – drums, percussion

Mike Kingston – guitars, cello (2-5), clarinet (7,11,14), charango (7,10)

Dave Edwards – guitars, vocal (3), harmonica (4,7,9), banjo (7), ukulele (7,9,11), saxophone (10,14), piano (10), bass (12,13), electronics (6,8,13)

Wellington, New Zealand,
free improv music trio, formed on winter solstice day June 2003.

An archive compilation,

Continue reading “The Winter: Shortest Days 2003-2015”

Spastic Rhythms ’22 (2022)

Featherston, NZ – early 2022 – spontaneous compositions, two wet weekends in a row.

Listen

A sequel to Spastic Rhythms vol 1 (2021)

  • second in a series of ‘quickfire’ DIY solo albums, created in a couple of days each.
  • This one features interspecies guest collaboration with Oscar the huntaway.

credits

Oscar and Dave

Dave Black – guitars, bass, banjo (2), clarinet (6), sanshin (10), loop pedal, e-drum

Oscar – vocal (3,9)

released February 13, 2022

Tracklist

1.Drums on Waitangi Day 00:54
2.Estado Novo 01:20
3.Oscar – Oscar’s Blues 01:28
4.fiffdimension / snakebeings – Arising (into Fragments) 03:51
5.Black Mountain (Црна Гора) 00:59
6.Shuffling the Tarot 03:39
7.Classical rain bucket 01:41
8.Rebooting 02:52
9.Oscar – At home pants ft. cannon bone 02:12
10.Removing a bandaid 00:51
11.Shuri Jo (琉球諸島) 01:03
12.Waiting for Dovi 05:24

Further listening

águas brilhantes: 2018-2022

A compilation of tracks from the Wairarapa in these years.

“It is unusual to find someone playing so confidently in such diverse areas, and anyone into independent music will certainly find something on here to enjoy – Kev Rowland, muzic.nz

w/ Antony Milton: Return of the Sun

Antony Milton is a sound artist based in Masterton, New Zealand.

He has been active in the underground and experimental music scenes since the early 1990s.

Continue reading “w/ Antony Milton: Return of the Sun”

The 2021 debut album by The Troubled Times!

This was our first recording session, as an electric guitar improv duo – in collaboration with antonymilton.bandcamp.com

Recorded in Masterton, New Zealand, 26 September 2021 – on the first day of daylight savings, in the southern hemisphere Spring,

Antony Milton is a sound artist based in Masterton, New Zealand.

He has been active in the underground and experimental music scenes since the early 1990s.

Continue reading “w/ Antony Milton: Return of the Sun”

Glimpses of Utopia (2020)

Palette-cleansing electric solo improvisations.

Listen

About

Recorded solo in Featherston, New Zealand, 2019-20.

Not specifically a ‘lockdown album’, but nonetheless recorded solo at home during the pandemic.

It marked the emergence of a new ‘late period‘ solo style.

I’m not a trained jazz musician, but nor do I fit neatly into the ‘NZ noise‘ genre.

Tracklist

1.Abbadebdab 03:00
2.October ring 03:37
3.11 through the viewer 7 (acoustic) 01:24
4.Torrential logistics 04:05
5.Usquebaugh 03:53
6.Walking through an aye (in Paparoa national park) 03:53
7.Solstice Shards 19 05:07
8.Teenager 01:39

Further listening

Continue reading “Glimpses of Utopia (2020)”

Articulation Incommunicate (2004)

  • Dictaphone cassette recordings, Wellington NZ, 2004.
  • Spoken word and improvised guitar; a journey down a road not taken for New Zealand music.

Listen

Articulation Incommunicate‘ includes an abrasive electric guitar, dictaphone and electric razor performance at the Bomb the Space Festival 2004. This is my earliest extant gig footage, and one of my very few music videos to have over a thousand views. Go figure!

Credits

Dave Edwards – acoustic guitar, harmonica, dictaphone, electronics, electric guitar (11-12), violin (13), vocal & lyrics

with

About

Perhaps the most lo-fi fiffdimension album of all. These tracks were primitively recorded on a cassette dictaphone; based on words scribbled in notebooks; unmelodic; unheard by anyone else at all (until their release in 2020); and seemed like unfinished demos at the time…

… but in hindsight may represent the culmination of my early period (a lo-fi postpunk fusion of songs, spoken word and free improv – www.fiffdimension.com/1997-2005).

Emptying out of yr nautical caveman comfort / programming lines in size laden torridness hill upon plains / dense foreclosure and venomous worry / salute me and line / burrow tunnel and moth / soon I taste the next pavement / I invent to cause home”

Continue reading “Articulation Incommunicate (2004)”

Loose Autumn Moans (2003)

“Wellington, NZ composer Dave Edwards with some able assistance from duo or trio the Winter... Guitars, violin, cello, and percussion all stack up… He’s got a persona that’s all his own.” George Parsons, Dream Magazine #5

Listen

About

All acoustic, no overdubs, and complete with a string section! Recorded and mixed on analogue equipment, and originally released on cassette in 2003 – new 2020 remaster.

Edwards‘ art is always an interactive experience, and the spontaneous nature of his audio output encourages descriptions such as abrasive, discordant, sombre and atmospheric. Such adjectives contribute but never tell the whole tale.” – Real Groove

The album is structured as a progression from summer. The cover image shows a NZ pohutukawa tree in flower. It continues through autumn, a time of harvest, preparation, shortening daylight, and the shedding of old dead layers.

It finishes with an extended live version of ‘O Henry Ending‘, recorded at the Winter’s first gig.

O Henry falling leaves & branches, talk a worried sad refrain

Your eyes half tilt, your brain half mast

To tie the fond anonymous bond beyond yr aching shelter lying walls

That fall to fall, & raise the days, museum haze …”

Credits

Dave Edwards (archtop acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocal, lyrics)

Sam Prebble (violin) / Mike Kingston (cello)

sam & san

Simon Sweetman (percussion)

simon w newspaper

Recorded in Wellington, NZ, 2003

Tracklist

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Dedication: Bond Street Bridge

Loose Autumn Moans is dedicated to Sam Prebble (aka Bond Street Bridge), who died in 2014.

Rest easy Sam, and thank you..

Further listening

The Winter: Shortest Days 2003-2015

Continuing the seasonal theme, Dave Edwards, Mike Kingston, and Simon Sweetman (occasionally joined by Sam Prebble) formed a regular free improvising instrumental trio , the Winter.

The Winter live at Photospace Gallery, July 2003 (photo by James Gilberd)

“A strange sonic brew that includes dissonant rock textures, rough outsider folk-blues mysteries, electric and acoustic improvisations and a considerable part of tasty feedback. Imagine equal parts Derek Bailey, New Zealand’s Pumice and classic ’60s blues/folk and you’re in the right ballpark.”The Broken Face

After the Filmshoot (2002)

The original C60 cassette release of Loose Autumn Moans included solo interludes recorded the previous year, in 2002. These have since been reissued as a separate album.

By shortening to just the 2003 ensemble sessions, Loose Autumn Moans becomes concise. It emphasises the lyrics, and the jazzy acoustic instrumental interplay.

After Maths & Sciences (2005)

A different take of ‘O Henry Ending‘ was recorded in Melbourne, Australia in 2005. I had just bought a banjo (which I still have), Mike Kingston played acoustic guitar this time, and Francesca Mountfort took the cello role, along with Cylvi M on percussion.

While much of the album was in a new style, incorporating electronica and field recordings, ‘O Henry Ending’ and the presence of fellow expat kiwis provided a thematic bridge from the Wellington days.

Acoustic yin / Electric yang – 2CD 1998-2023

To illustrate how a song can be interpreted in multiple ways, the fiffdimension 25th anniversary 2CD features Mouth of the Caveman – and both the 2005 Melbourne version and a new (2022) a live electric arrangement of O Henry Ending

Live 2019 and Live 2022-24

Three of the Loose Autumn Moans tracks were revived in new solo arrangements for these more recent live albums:

Gleefully Unknown: 1997-2005 compilation

Tracks from Loose Autumn Moans also appear on this compilation, that gives an overview of the early years.

Poems & Lyrics by John Collie (1856).

My great-great-grandfather (himself a young man at the time) self-published a book of poems in 19th century Scotland. It includes a piece about Autumn.

Adapting John Collie’s words to music is a current major work-in-progress, that .allows a new ‘mature’ version of my acoustic style, and shows the early works, like Loose Autumn Moans, in a new light!