My latest album and personal favorite to date, A Confusion Sequence, came out today on 7d Media. Featuring Marco Minnemann on drums, the six song CD contains a twelve page booklet of artwork created by Hank Mueller. Buy it now at https://7dmedia.com/jason-blake-a-confusion-sequence
A Confusion Sequence
I am excited to announce my new album, “A Confusion Sequence,” featuring Marco Minnemann on drums. Mixed at Gravel Road Recording and mastered by Andy VanDette, it will be released November 15th on 7d Media. The amazing artwork including a twelve page booklet was created by Hajo Müller. Preorder the album now at https://7dmedia.com/a-confusion-sequence
The Story Behind ETHEREAL DIALOGUE
Chapter One:
After recording DREAMING IN NUMBERS for Wayfarer Records, an idea was put forth to do some live shows with one of the artists on the label. I liked the idea, but wondered how I would be able to pull off something like this. While all sounds on that album came from the Warr guitar, it was heavily processed and run through multiple pedals. Plus, the recording was a culmination of drones that have been condensed and built over time. In other words, the boring (subjective, I know, when it comes to ambient music) parts were omitted. So, if I were to play music like that live, would it come off as long winded and humdrum? Ultimately, my answer was, “Yes!” Therefore, I sought out a different approach to this style of music.
Chapter Two:
My next thought was to tackle some of the material from my TERNARY INSTINCT trilogy (FICTIONAL MIRRORS and THE COMPROMISE RATIONALE). While this music contains some drone textures, they have more of a song quality to them. In order to make the songs sound close to like they are on the record, they require a lot of looping. Playing a twelve string instrument with a bass and guitar on one neck, I just felt like people would be thinking, “Why does he need all those strings to play that?” There are moments in this music where I play the instrument extensively, but others where I’m just using one part of the neck and for a live setting, I thought that this may look boring. Also, on a personal level, the lack of true solos in the music is pretty far removed from what I have been playing with my other music. Coincidentally, this has changed my approach for the third part of the series which is slowly moving towards completion.
Chapter Three:
If I’m going to play “ambient” music live, I needed a different approach. I wanted to combine some of these ideas while making each experience different. I started with simple drones using only one sound that could easily be looped in a matter of seconds if necessary. Next, I wrote odd time signature heads, so to speak, for each of the songs. This would give them a song quality, but with a lot of space to improvise which I felt was key. This would give each performance its own unique character and allow it to sound closer to what I typically sound like when I play out solo. This all seemed good in theory so it became time to record.
Chapter Four:
I began recording this music in Spring of 2023. I had just released by album SUBSEQUENT RUINS so much of my time was spent promoting, doing interviews, and playing some shows. When I could get into Gravel Road Recording, I would and each session yielded great results. In no time, we had recorded the seven songs before beginning the mixing stage. At this point, I reached out to Michal Karz to create what became the cool artwork for this release. Soon after, the album was given to Dave Luxton to master. With the album done and artwork complete, it sat.
Chapter Five:
For the better part of a year, the album remained in limbo. The original live performance opportunity never materialized and so there was no urgency to release the music. This coupled with the fact that the label was beginning to transform itself somewhat made it feel like waiting was the smart choice. The next obstacle was finding a time in my prolific release schedule that made sense and didn’t compete with another one of my albums. This year, an EP (CANDLES BURN) was scheduled for April along with the follow up to SUBSEQUENT RUINS later in the year, both on the 7d Media label. We found a short window this year that seemed to work in June and ETHEREAL DIALOGUE was finally released.
“Pluvial Thoughts” Video
Check out my video for the song “Pluvial Thoughts” from the upcoming Ethereal Dialogue album (out June 21st). Animation was done by frequent collaborator, Alex Smith (Oblivion Dawn).
https://youtu.be/3ekoY-Mk75c
Ethereal Dialogue Preorders
My latest album for Wayfarer Records will be released on June 21, 2024. This music mixes what I have doing at my live shows with elements of prog rock, improvisation, and ambient music. For more information visit the discography page.
Preorders are now available at https://jasonblake.bandcamp.com. You may listen to one track and look out next week for a new video.
Candles Burn Out Today
Candles Burn featuring Raphael Weinroth-Browne on cello has been released today on 7d Media. The album was mixed by Amery Schmeisser at Gravel Road Recording, mastered by Andy VanDette at Evolve Mastering, and includes artwork by Robert Booth. Purchase details may be found below:
Invisible Oranges Early Stream
Invisible Oranges has an exclusive early stream of my Candles Burn album featuring Raphael Weinroth-Browne. Visit "Candles Burn" as Jason Blake Taps Cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne for Mesmerizing New Instrumental EP (Early Stream) (invisibleoranges.com) now to listen.
Seemingly Quixotic EP Out Today
My new EP inspired by my travels to Spain is out today. The title track comes from the Radiant Dusk album and adds three new songs with percussion. Track three includes my wife on castanets. It may be streamed everywhere.
PowerMetal.de Review
“Anyone who likes instrumental music should definitely listen to Slightly Different Paths.” Read the full Powermetal.de review (in German):
https://powermetal.de/review/review-Blake__Jason/Slightly_Different_Paths,41189,40989.html
Radiant Dusk 2 CD-Set Out Today
The physical copy of Radiant Dusk comes out today along with the digital release of Slightly Different Paths. This is my first solo Warr Guitar album since the 2022 release of Imaginary Cages. I believe that this album has some of my best playing to date. The second disc is a reworking of some of the songs to include drums. Purchase here in the store or at https://jasonblake.bandcamp.com
The Chill Dude on a Couch Interview
Radiant Dusk is the focus in this new interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c4Axzz1RyY
Slightly Different Paths
The companion album to Radiant Dusk is now available for preorder. Slightly Different Paths contains five reworked songs with drums along with a new song only found on this EP. Visit https://jasonblake.bandcamp.com/album/slightly-different-paths for more information or read the press release at https://www.earsplitcompound.com/jason-blake-radiant-dusk-instrumental-solo-album-from-chicago-warr-guitarist-out-today-song-from-slightly-different-paths-companion-album-featuring-drummer-amery-schmeisser-2xcd-preorders-posted/
Radiant Dusk Out Now!
My new solo Warr guitar album, Radiant Dusk, is out today on all streaming services or to purchase!
Buy the album: https://jasonblake.bandcamp.com/
CirdecSongs Interview
Check out my recent interview with @cirdecsongs. I had fun time talking about @aziolacry, the Warr Guitar, and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nwLfO6Mk9g&t=8s&pp=2AEIkAIB
Record Release Show
This Friday at Uncommon Ground in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, I will be performing as part of my record release party for the “Radiant Dusk” album. The show will include many of the songs from the new album along with a few from my previous work. Tickets may be purchased at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/jason-blake-with-frank-lucas-and-sonus-umb-tickets-138556
Metal Injection Premieres “Without a Murmur”
Metal Injection has just announced the streaming of “Without a Murmur” from my upcoming album. Read the article and watch the video below:
https://metalinjection.net/video/jason-blake-streams-beautiful-solo-piece-without-a-murmur
Prog Naut Interview
My recent live appearance on ProgNaut Presents may be viewed below:
EMM Report Exclusive Profile
I recently had the pleasure of partaking in this very extensive and fun interview with Dominic from EMM Report. Read it below:
Backward Sky Falling Releases EP
Backward Sky Falling featuring Joe Kopecky on guitar, Craig Walkner on drums, and myself on Warr guitar released a debut EP today. Entitled, A Period of Consequences, the album includes four instrumental songs totaling 26 minutes of music. It may be streamed everywhere, purchased at my Bandcamp site or bought here at the store.
11 Weeks on Gagliarchives Chart
Subsequent Ruins is holding strong on the Gagliarchives Radio Top Progressive Albums of the week chart. Thanks to everyone that has given the music a listen and special thanks to those who have purchased it.