new Ashtray Navigations/Pelktopia split LP here!

First off, belated happy new year to you all. Sorry we haven’t had any updates for a while. There’s not been too much news to report of late, but things are hotting up at the start of 2013 with tons of new stuff upcoming, so keep watching.

We have one new release here already, a split LP with Tokyo’s superb Pelktopia, released by YŌGOH RECORD, their first vinyl release. I’m not sure how many copies of this there are, or how many will make it out of Japan, but we’ve got a box of ‘em. If you want one, please be quick as we suspect it’ll sell out soon.

Listen to a clip here:  http://soundcloud.com/y-goh-record/ygh-2

£10 from us, plus postage (£3 UK, £6 Europe, £8 rest of world- send paypal to ashtraynavigations@hotmail.com), though if you are closer to Japan than we are it’ll be better to go here – http://www.yogoh.com/2012/11/yogoh-record-home.html

Review of Ashtray in Cardiff and upcoming gigs

Hi, thought it was time I put another post on here.  More of the action has been happening over on facebook and this has been neglected of late.

Just came across this rather nice writeup of our Cardiff gig from October which had passed us by.  It’s pretty dead on the nail, so rare to find a journalist who ‘gets it’. So, thanks to Iain Peebles, may yer pen never run dry! http://www.buzzmag.co.uk/uncategorized/swn-festival-live-review/
We’ve got a few gigs coming up in the next few months.  On Saturday 18th August we’re playing with the excellent Core of the Coalman and others at the Fox and Newt in Leeds.  https://www.facebook.com/events/263197483789388/

And on the 23rd September there’s an amazing lineup of Mik Quantius (singer of legendary band Embryo) and Dagora from the Netherlands and Early Hominids (Neil Campbell and Paul Walsh again in Leeds at Wharf Chambers https://www.facebook.com/events/382832178446278/

November is pretty busy with lots of Ashtray action, with gigs on the 3rd at Dewsbury Socialist Club, in Glasgow the weekend of the 9th-11th, and at the Fox and Newt in Leeds on the 14th.  More info on those soon.

Review of “Human Wrecktronics/Too Few Notes” cassette

A nice review by new Greek blog tileskopio of the “Human Wrecktronics/Too Few Notes” cassette on Medusa (who have just released our new recordings ‘Three Spots Two Circles” in a georgeous package, now available from us or the label) .  “Human Wrecktronics…” is now sold out from Medusa and Ashtray HQs, but you may be able to track one down at our distributors.   The Babel Fish translation as always is stunning, but if you want to read it in the original Greek it’s here.

Translated version:

this sweet illness #80: [kasseta]

“The phil todd and all company around from ashtray navigations they continue litteraly [akamata] publishing beloved sounds so much for them what for us. from the last parcel that we exchanged with [fil] I anticipated to hear human wrecktronics. armless title [trello] cover [kassetas] and near 40 thinly magic.

In the first side with the neil campbell they give [amagalma] of [psychedelikoy] sound in the footprints of classic sound of group a carpet of sounds that in his is unfolded thousands sounds and effect progressive lo-fi no so much as long as other works but in the footprints of this beloved sound. and in second with mel delaney and phil legard (xenis emputae travelling band) in more droneology logic a long hum that the things develops more late concerning the first side but functions as the counterpoise the one of other. or at least thus bursted in the brain I the morning of Friday that him I heard for morning awakening.

music in order to you begin your day all joy!”

Lots of other interesting records reviewed on that site so check it out.

“the [diadiktyakos] place fanzine the error end of telescope and other perseverances.”

 

New Ashtray release on Medusa

Just arrived today – new Ashtray Navigations double 3″ CDR on the amazing Medusa label of Canada…THREE SPOTS TWO CIRCLES.  There’s only 50 of these available, in tasty  screenprinted sleeves with an A3 fold-out in white, black and gold, giving it a luxury white chocolate vibe. £10 incl postage in the UK or £11 incl postage to Europe. Elsewhere you’d probably best get it from Medusa Records.  Massive thanks to Ayal Senior as always for making it happen.

Ashtray Navigations- now with added facebook

It finally happened, we are on facebook.  Join us here if you feel that sort of inclination:

http://www.facebook.com/AshtrayNavigations

Also of interest, we are playing at a full on happening in Leeds next Saturday at Patrick Studios.  This is in collaboration with Architects of Harmonic Rooms, The Family Elan and Cherry Kino.  The fun starts at 8.00 pm and goes on til the wee hours.  Hope to see some of you there!

 

British Wildlife Festival- today and tomorrow in Leeds

We’re playing at British Wildlife Festival in about 2 hours.  So if you fancy listening to some ‘psychedelic crap’ come on down.  This is the final ever BWF and continues tomorrow at Oporto where it is free entry(donations welcome).  Today you have to pay though, £8.

Also coming up is a pyschedelic happening night on the 31st March at East Street Arts in Leeds, with Family Elan and live visuals from Cherry Kino and Harmonic Rooms.  More info soon.

Videos Added

There are now videos up in the video section, nothing new just things that have been up on youtube for a while. Thought we’d put em all together.

We’re working our way through putting them all here as fast as possible, so if you filmed us and are wondering ‘why isn’t my video on here?’ don’t worry, we’ll get to it soon. Thanks to everyone who made these videos.

Live in Bristol Thursday 9th February @ The Croft and more

After a long silence, got to tell you all Ashtray will be playing at the Croft in Bristol on Thursday.  Doors at 8pm, it’s £6 entry.  Support from Louises Guidelines.

Next month we’re part of the final British Wildlife Festival which runs from 2nd-4th March.  We seem to be playing on Saturday, dunno if we’re in the Brudenell Social Club or Royal Park Cellars.  Facebook event here if you’re into that sorta thing.

Here’s a completely unrelated photo

Virtual mixtape available now and Cinderella Stamps reissue

Presenting…The Cosmetic Penguin, a 70 minute virtual mixtape of Ashtray favourites, suitable for dancing, christmas parties, gawping at the imaginary lightshow in yo’ head, that sort of thing. Selection by O’Dubhshlaine and Todd, megamix by O’Dubshshlaine. Name all the tracks and win a special prize.

 

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ME4XY6UG

Cinderella Stamps is being reissued as an ‘Zellaby Award Winner’ edition with a special gold cover..available soon…keep watching

Cinderella Stamps wins an Award! plus more…

Hi again,

here’s a catchup on what’s been going on. The other week we were surprised and moved to receive Radio Free Midwich’s Zellaby Awards Album of the Year.  The award was presented in a star studded gala presentation at lunchtime in the Victoria Hotel.   Reviewing the album earlier this year RFM wrote: “…it is almost comical to me how perfectly it ensures that I get my groove on. Pretty much every musical element I dig is there, distilled and combined.  One finger piano?  Check.  Expansively tangerine wob-wob synths?  Check.  Red-hot tropical guitar?  Check … Imagine Phil and Mel soundtracking the adventures of an interstellar Buddha, preaching the eternal truths to bewildered alien races on Chris Foss style space-arks…” Thanks again Mr Midwich!

We’re featured on Was Ist Das’s podcast, as Infinite Limits pick of the year, alongside other good stuff such as Flower Corsano, Fourth World Magazine and Richard Youngs

More Ashtray gigs are lined up in the New Year, in Bristol at the Croft, Edinburgh and Leeds at the sixth and final British Wildlife Festival.  More details soon.