VeryRecords – Further.

A moment of reflection following today’s release of the magnitude weighs heavy by alka. You can pick up a CD copy at mortalitytables.bandcamp.com

I first got to know Bryan Michael (alka) in 2017 while working for Erasure‘s Vince Clarke as the writer of press releases for his VeryRecords label. He asked me to work on the PR text for Bryan’s first album for the label, The Colour Of Terrible Crystal.

We had a call, and hit it off straight away. Not long after, we had lunch while I was in Philadelphia. He gave me a glow-in-the-dark alka t-shirt and CD copies of previous alka albums. I worked on the PR for the second VeryRecords album, Regarding The Auguries in 2020. By then, the world had gone to the dogs and it was helpful, mentally, to have a project to focus in on. I am indebted to Bryan and Vince for having that album to distract myself from what was going on that year.

When Mortality Tables became visible in 2022, alka remixed the very first Product, ‘Two Meditations (For Freya)’, by Please Close Your Eyes.

We pressed up 7-inch copies of an amazing version of Pink Floyd‘s ‘On The Run’ (backed with a remix by Vince), which we de-released after Pink Floyd blocked us from making it available (no, I can’t give you a copy).

He remixed ‘Cyclic Demonstrating’ in 2023. He provided invaluable support and sounds for The Engineer. We released pod, his collaboration with visual poet Andrew Brenza and ‘drama[mine]’, his collaboration with poet Nero’s Tongue, for which he also made a short film, Different Different Trains, which can be found at the Mortality Tables YouTube channel. All of these releases (apart from ‘On The Run’) can be found at our Bandcamp page.

I am in constant awe of Bryan’s creative sensibilities and his endless ideas. Even though we have built up a solid friendship and productive series of collaborations, when he asked if I would be interested in releasing the magnitude weighs heavy, I was blown away. To be trusted with the release of this project is something I’m so grateful for. Vince also gave his blessing for Mortality Tables to conclude the trilogy of albums that his label started.

Thank you Bryan for placing your trust in us.

A Mortality Tables Product
MTP56

Words: Mat Smith

Brook is an electronic duo of Beth Brooks and Howard Rider. Two years in the making, the intimate songs on their debut album Built You For Thought bring together Beth’s schooling in blues and soul performance with Howard’s carefully-restrained synth arrangements.

With highly personal, carefully-shrouded lyrics that feel like we are reading Beth’s most private concerns, and Howard’s skill in crafting subtly dramatic accompaniments, Brook’s music is delicately poised between the futuristic and the human.

Built You For Thought is out now on Vince Clarke’s VeryRecords. Read David Best from Fujiya & Miyagi’s review of the album here.

What is your earliest memory?

Beth Brooks: Hiding under the bath from my two elder sisters at about four. I had made a den under there. I had to hide from them a lot as a youngster.

Howard Rider: Glancing down the street at four years old when moving in to a new family home, and seeing someone of a similar age who would then become one of my closest friends for life. I can still see him now!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

BB: Don’t always listen to advice!

HR: Live now.

Where are you most productive or inspired?

BB: When I’m alone.

HR: When there’s a strong element to work with, or something that excites me, whether that’s a thought, an emotion or a sample. The most important thing, though, is a strong vocal.

Built You For Thought by Brook is released by VeryRecords on September 20 2019.

Interview: Mat Smith

Further.

Tag: VeryRecords

alka – the magnitude weighs heavy : a reflection

3 Questions: Brook