#a lily

[burlveneer-music]

A Lily - Sleep Through The Storm - sounds like electronic minimalism, but is apparently not electronic (Bytes)

Sleep Through the Storm is the fifth album from James Vella recording as A Lily and his first for London/Dorset imprint Bytes. Vella writes that “The Storm” refers to the dark period in human history that we are currently experiencing and the accompanying personal anxieties; “Sleep Through” is surviving it, a moment of personal protection while the turbulences rage around us. It is neither ambient nor electronic music, instead Vella is exploring a form of analogue synthesis that balances light and dark. The eight tracks were mostly built live, looping and layering a single performance, pushing repetition and patterns - exploratory, cellular variations on a theme, lyrical songs that say something without lyrics. For the most part, Sleep Through The Storm is an expression of sadness and lament, but - inspired by bands like The Cure and Cocteau Twins - it is proof that there can be harmony and consonance in misery.  

Music written, performed and produced by James Vella Photography by Mark Vella Mastered by Sam Berdah at the Wall Studio Artwork by Graeme Swinton at Actually

[placidhousee]

Artwork by Graeme Swinton at Actually

https://alily.bandcamp.com/album/sleep-through-the-storm

[that-faerie-in-the-corner]

c.s. lewis is slowly becoming one of my personal ops. he didnt do anything specific i dont think its really fair to him its just that fundies love that guy and therefore im over exposed to him

[ancestorsalive]

A Lily - Tħallinix [official audio]

Taken from A Lily - "Saru l-Qamar" (album, 5th April 2024, Phantom Limb). James Vella returns as his musical alias A Lily and announces his upcoming new album Saru l-Qamar his own label Phantom Limb – setting archival Maltese home recordings to new music for a fascinating album of nostalgic quasi-ambience and cross-generational dialogue.

From the 1960’s until the modern era, it was common for families in Malta to receive reel tapes from relatives abroad. Maltese emigrés resettled in the UK, Australia, North America, etc, would record their news onto cassette - often in the form of għana, traditional Maltese song - and mail the tapes back home. 

Amazingly, through the superlative archival work of Malta’s non-profit heritage foundation Magna Żmien, many of these tapes still exist. A Lily (Phantom Limb label head honcho and musician James Vella, who is Maltese) was allowed access to Magna Żmien’s collection and in late 2022 he began creating new musical works responding to these personal recordings. 

These works make up the oneiric bliss of the new album Saru l-Qamar [Eng: They Became The Moon], his first release on his own label.

[ancestorsalive]

A Lily - Ħajti Kollha, Qalbi [official video]

James Vella returns as his musical alias A Lily and announces his upcoming new album Saru l-Qamar his own label Phantom Limb – setting archival Maltese home recordings to new music for a fascinating album of nostalgic quasi-ambience and cross-generational dialogue.

From the 1960’s until the modern era, it was common for families in Malta to receive reel tapes from relatives abroad. Maltese emigrés resettled in the UK, Australia, North America, etc, would record their news onto cassette - often in the form of għana, traditional Maltese song - and mail the tapes back home. Amazingly, through the superlative archival work of Malta’s non-profit heritage foundation Magna Żmien, many of these tapes still exist. A Lily (Phantom Limb label head honcho and musician James Vella, who is Maltese) was allowed access to Magna Żmien’s collection and in late 2022 he began creating new musical works responding to these personal recordings. These works make up the oneiric bliss of the new album Saru l-Qamar [Eng: They Became The Moon], his first release on his own label.

The video for 'Ħajti Kollha, Qalbi' [Eng: My Whole Life, My Darling] was edited by Nick Bonell, using 8mm footage shot by Vella’s paternal grandfather Marco Alberto, of his own then-young family growing up in the sun-baked splendour of Malta’s limestone and carob trees.

[innervoiceart]

Listen/purchase: Saru l-Qamar by A Lily

[the-inevitable-minor-fires]