12/12/23 - E7 Trilogy on Bandcamp

A digital compilation entitled E7 Trilogy has been added to the FSOL Bandcamp. An option for future buyers to pick up all three volumes in one fell swoop, no doubt? Pretty much, although there's a bizarre change to the Rituals section, with an index change at the end of 'Time Cone' - that track's closing environment is given its own track, and named 'Solar Signal', thus pushing every track back by one, and resulting in 'Only in Memories' being given the new title 'ext tx'. This is unusual, and possibly an error. Still, costing £5 less than buying all three digital albums separately, it's a good price, if a little confusing.

04/12/23 - Pulse Five out in January

The fifth volume in the Pulse series arrives on 26th January 2024, only 32 years after the fourth. This is an eight track double LP, coming out on De:Tuned, who released the last few Humanoid records.

01. The Future Sound of London - Honesty
02. The Future Sound of London - Dialectics
03. Yage - Sun Risen
04. Mental Cube - Big Lie
05. Smart Systems - The Nu Generation
06. Indo Tribe - Obstinta
07. The Future Sound of London - Reasonable Aquiries
08. Yage - Man Shall Be Conditioned

Stylistically, the record is mostly along the '92/'93 end of things, similarities with releases like Fuzzy Logic, Accelerator and Tales of Ephidrina, although the Smart Systems track does hark back to the group's full-on rave days. Strictly Kev has provided gorgeous artwork, itself inspired by Buggy G Riphead's original Jumpin' & Pumpin' covers, with new mini-logos for each of the artists involved.

The opening and closing tracks can be heard on De:Tuned's Bandcamp, where the album can be pre-ordered now. For those in the UK, Bleep have the album in stock, and as part of their Advent season, they are also selling 50 hand screen-printed posters of the cover, each with a postcard of one of the new artist logos. There's also a Bleep-exclusive orange vinyl, as well as the clear and black editions.

As the previous De:Tuned Humanoid records all came out later through FSOLdigital as expanded CD and digital versions, this can't be ruled out here, although there's no news on this either way as of yet.

24/10/23 - Environment 7.003 now available on Bandcamp

Downloads of the full album are now available!

20/10/23 - So This is Love out now

The 12" reissue of So This is Love is now available from Bandcamp. The download version comes with two previously unreleased mixes of the track, 'Santa Monica Mix' and 'Pacific Beach Mix'.

19/10/23 - So This is Love reissue, 7.003 updates

So it appears the next 12" from the band's early years to get a reissue will be Mental Cube's 'So This is Love', which is due for release on 27th October, according to Horizons Music.

In other news, the same store has provided us with an oddly worded press statement on Environment 7.003, plus track times and confirmation that the LP will contain 12 tracks, and the CD/download 15 (although track 15, 'One Solar Radius', is seemingly unlisted on the CD).

"Going deeper and darker than the previous two albums, the flavour here harping back with memories of the groups 90s sounding pre “Dead Cities” album. On this release they have swamp laden electronics dripping from cavernous breakbeats weaving in and out of otherworldly chords and strings firmly back in the driving seat."
1 Future Testaments (4:13)
2 Resting Point (2:16)
3 A Desolate Stretch of Night Road (5:50)
4 Where All Is Ending (4:37)
5 Overwrite (4:11)
6 I'm Eating Here (4:01)
7 Echos of Inherent Sense (1:21)
8 A Space in the Subsequent Familiar (4:23)
9 Drift Incline (4:52)
10 Trichome (4:19)
11 Absence of Solution (4:23)
12 Kwaahu (5:02)
CD Bonus Tracks
13 Ruler (4:14)
14 Awkward Shape (4:04)
15. One Solar Radius (4:24)
LP time: 49:28, CD/download time 62:10.

13/10/23 - Environment 7.003 out 1st November

The first time a new FSOL release hasn't been first discovered through an external online seller, Environment 7.003 is the final part of the Environment Seven trilogy. Yes, that means the first two parts have their own titles, while this reverts to the more traditional titling. Always confounding and confusing, FSOL. The art looks like a direct homage to ISDN, from the plain white cover with FSOL text, to the layout of the tracklist and the 3D grid shape. There's no news on exactly what the vinyl tracklist is, although the CD art seems to omit the final track, 'One Solar Radius', from the printed tracklist. This is, of course, the one offered as a preview on Bandcamp (it's a lovely uplifting piece). It's likely the LP will be around 12 tracks, as per the previous two albums, although it's certainly possible that the album is a shorter one like some of the earlier volumes. And here's the Bandcamp link.

07/09/23 - Pulse EP reissue

1991's The Pulse EP, featuring the first ever tracks by FSOL and Indo Tribe, has been reissued and is available to pre-order from Bandcamp now. Release date is 21st September.

28/07/23 - Mind Maps, Psychedelic World, and more

Tonight's Touched Music show launched Mind Maps 4, as well as the surprise new CD Trip Maps (Psychedelic Worlds), a Mind Maps-style mix CD with tracks done in a psych-rock-breaks style, featuring remixes of Pleasurefields, Family Dog, Lokah, English Electric Partnership and SickOnes, as well as tracks from new alises Psychedelic World, Slo Leek, Hooper Rigs and, of course, Yage. Copies can now be purchased from Touched Bandcamp. Copies are also available on the FSOL Bandcamp, as well as the Mind Maps 1 repress, a Mind Maps 4 t-shirt and a handful of copies of Mind Maps 3!

23/07/23 - Mind Maps 4 & 1 reissue

This coming Friday 28th July, will see the release of the fourth volume in the Mind Maps series. As ever, it will be previewed on the night with a broadcast on the Touched Music Mixlr page, with the release straight after. It'll almost certainly be CD-only. The broadcast starts at 7:30 in the UK, but be sure to turn up early for some weird noises and chat. In more exciting news, according to the Bandcamp announcement email, Mind Maps 1 will be reissued alongside the release. More details will no doubt be revealed in the chatroom on Mixlr, but if you can't make it, keep your eye on the Touched Music Bandcamp from around 8:20.

15/07/23 - PNG reissue, Alina Kalancea remix

First up, 'Papua New Guinea' is getting another reissue. Because of course it is. This time, the 1992 12" is being re-pressed in full, with the same art and tracklist, albeit as a hand-numbered limited edition of 2,000 copies. Some of these remixes have been out of print since the '90s, and others have only been available on CD since then, so it's nice to have these available on vinyl once again.

In more contemporary news, the Yage remix of Alina Kalancea's 'Alchemy', first heard on Mind Maps 2 a couple of years back, came out as part of a cassette release on Important Records a few weeks ago. Finally just catching up on this. The digital edition features two side-long tracks, so it's effectively paired with the original version of 'Alchemy'. That can be grabbed here

06/07/23 - Sweet Acid Sound expanded edition available now

Once again, a De:Tuned vinyl Humanoid release has been expanded as a CD and download edition through FSOLDigital. This time, Sweet Acid Sound has been extended to 12 tracks, including a new mix of 'Orfan Atmosphere' from Built by Humanoid, and is available from Bandcamp.

08/06/23 - From the Archives Vol. 5 back in print

The CD edition of From the Archives Vol. 5 is back in print on CD after being unavailable for many years. Interestingly, the front cover has been changed, with the band name in allcaps, reflecting the other early volumes. And, in typical FSOL style, the album name has also been changed to allcaps, unlike the other early volumes.

Anyway, you can grab it from Bandcamp here.

31/05/23 - Sweet Acid Sound out now!

Two days ago, Sweet Acid Sound by Humanoid was released by Detuned, available from the label's Bandcamp page. EU and digital customers are advised to head there for copies. Physical versions will be with worldwide distributors in the coming weeks.

05/05/23 - Tales, comp track, Sundial Aeon remix

A couple of releases today: firstly, the Tales of Ephidrina reissue is now available from FSOL's Bandcamp. This is just physical stock the band have, with no digital release, given that Universal own the rights to the music. As it's been added as an 'album' on Bandcamp, the site tells you the download is included, but this is just the way BC's system works for this type of entry.

Secondly, a 99 track compilation spanning just about every psybient and related artist you can think of has been released. Slightly standing out among the lush pads and dubby rhythms of the comp is a new mix of FSOL's 2020 Calendar Album track 'The New Normal', 'New Normals (HT X Mix)'. This charity compilation can be purchased as a download, or a staggering 9CD boxset (at an exceptionally reasonable price), with all proceeds going to the titular charity Save the Children. Grab it here.
Last but not least, the previously mentioned Yage remix of 'Undiscovered Terrain' by Sundial Aeon came out on the Regenesis album last month. CD and download are available from .

And a couple of dates for your calendar, Humanoid's next 12" is still due out on 29th May on De:Tuned; Mind Maps 4 is currently expected for release on 30th June.

24/04/23 - Life in Moments on Bandcamp

This year's Record Store Day expanded version of Life in Moments is now available from Bandcamp. The digital and CD versions contain all 15 tracks. It appears that around 90 copies of the LP version were made available, and sold out very quickly. Tales of Ephidrina LPs and CDs will be available from the band next week.

05/04/23 - Life in Moments expanded CD reissue

Life in Moments will be reissued on CD on 5th May. This version includes four bonus tracks: 'Sonata Andantino' as on the LP, as well as 'Fresseline', 'Held in Warmth' and 'Plant Life'.

1. Taken Leave of All Senses
2. Viewed from Across the Room
3. I Turn to Face the Sun
4. Bring
5. Sonata Andantino
6. Sea + LCD
7. Grindatone
8. A Somnambulant Drift
9. Talisman
10. Abandoned Housing Blocks of Prypiat
11. Triospheres
12. Fresseline
13. Held in Warmth
14. Plant Life
15. Falling Upwards Aria

03/03/23 - Humanoid EP out soon on De:Tuned

A new four track 12" of acid cuts by Humanoid will be released on De:Tuned on 29th May. The EP features the title track, 'Sweet Acid Sound', two new compositions 'Roached' and 'Si-Rak', and a piece called '808 Nation' which appears to be written by 808 State, with the possibility that it's the 'Flow Coma' cover we heard a few years ago. The EP can be pre-ordered from Bandcamp now, with wider availability due nearer to the release date. The title track can be streamed from the page.

16/02/23 - Record Store Day 2023 releases: Tales of Ephidrina and Life in Moments

A reissue of Tales of Ephidrina has long been expected, and it's finally coming out for this year's Record Store Day. The LP edition will be in print for the first time since the album's release 30 years ago, which is exciting in itself; even more notable is the fact that this is the first expanded reissue in the band's catalogue. While we've been spoiled with a wealth of unreleased material in the From the Archives series, this is nevertheless very much overdue, with the group being one of an increasingly small number of major label acts not to be given the deluxe reissue treatment. The LP edition comes with a bonus 12" featuring four tracks, and the release is pleasingly accompanied by a CD reissue featuring the same tracks on the end. Both editions have been remastered by Matt Colton. The four bonus pieces are 'Mountain Path' - giving a recording date to this Environment Six track that has long been rumoured to be a 'Mountain Goat' alternate take - 'Static Field', as previously heard on one of the Touched Music nights, as well as an extended mix of 'Sky-Scraper' and an alt take of 'Swab'. All in all this is a wonderful release, and with it being the band's first album for Virgin, it does pose the question whether the rest of the Universal catalogue will see similar treatment, or maybe even a boxset release.

The FSOLDigital release this year is different to past years, but equally exciting in its own right: with the RSD blurb revealing that the initial CD release was limited to a staggeringly low 250 copies, hence ridiculous prices of £100+ on Discogs, it's great to know that Life in Moments will finally be getting a reissue. It's also an opportunity for vinyl fans to get this previously CD-only release. The LP edition features a single bonus track, 'Sonata Andantino' - aka the Schubert Violin Sonata first heard on a Touched Music night and initially planned for the Environment 7 trilogy - at the end of side A. To the best of my knowledge, a further expanded CD edition will follow in the vein of previous Record Store Day releases. The album cover is the same image as the Most Important Moments in a Life book, as opposed to the Dollis Hill station shot from the original CD.

Record Store Day is on 22nd April. Life in Moments is limited to 1,000 copies; no limitation is given for Tales.

04/02/23 - Calendar and remix

Not very long after the last post, the 2023 Calendar Album duly appeared. Available from Bandcamp, the album opens with an FSOL track called 'Input Gate'. In other news, a new album from Sundial Aeon, Regenesis, will apparently feature a Yage remix. More news on that when we get it.

30/01/23 - Various updates

Hello all, apologies for the very long delay in getting news out. Unfortunately I've been quite ill recently and staying on top of the site hasn't been a priority; I was originally hoping to start covering last year's releases on my Fractional Difference blog this month but that, again, has had to take a back seat for the foreseeable future.

In FSOL news, there have been a couple of things to mention. Firstly, Humanoid track 'Atari Scodar' appeared on the third Found Sound compilation from Touched, along with - again - FSOL's 'Dox 2'. The CD is very much out of print now, but the set can be purchased as a download here. 'Atari Scodar' appears around the 42 minute mark of Mind Maps 3. Speaking of Mind Maps, the online launch event for the compilation announced that a fourth volume of the FSOLDigital mix CD series will be out this year. As far as I know, it's intended for release in the spring.

Other releases for 2023 include the conclusion of the Environment 7 trilogy, a new Record Store Day release, and hopefully the next '90s reissue from Universal, plus, of course, plenty of stuff previously unannounced. There's no sign of a Calendar Album yet, but that could still come along in the next 24 hours.