CD-R80: Songs For Robert MacFarlane's "The Old Ways"

Acclaimed book about pathways, discussed here: The Nature Reader

MacFarlane name checks Olof Arnalds, Brahms, the Busch Quartet, Eliza Carthy, Ivor Cutler, The Duke Spirit, Brian Eno, Johnny Flynn, PJ Harvey, The Kevin Flanagan Quartet, Laura Marling, Pixies, Schubert, Elliott Smith, The Smiths and Ralph Vaughan Williams. But what would be on your compilation?

Richard Skelton (who MacFarlane also name checks but for his books rather than his music).

(Had intended to post this on ILM, if it is straight-forward to move?)

And probably some Navigator.

Lots of Julian Cope would fit, thematically, but not sure if I could bring myself to include any.

The whole Sons of TC Lethbridge album was made for this, but especially Fixed Universal Scale? and Cape Wrath To Cape Farewell - the former, quite literally about stumbling into The Old Ways.

http://thequietus.com/articles/10407-interview-adrian-utley-portishead-sonic-journey

^^^ possibly of interest

wcc if yr around this sounds up right yr bridleway

Didn't get far with this at all ... which is ironic.

Did you know about this?

http://www.caughtbytheriver.net/shop/image/cache/data/SHOPthesearoadweb-500x500.jpg

http://www.caughtbytheriver.net/shop/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=325

Yes, I've posted a link on another thread - probably the Nature Reader one - but thanks.

It's a curious thing, isn't it? Took me a while to get used to his voice.

Have only heard the one track, so far, but Land Observations' Roman Roads fits thematically.

Attempting to compile a CD-R to go with this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tracks-Walking-Ancient-Landscapes-Britain/dp/0500516200/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1388346556&sr=8-5&keywords=tracks

Hmmmm.

Making playlists to go along with certain walks I did often was something I fell out of the habit of when my iPhone started its dying process.

If I timed it right and walked at a regular pace, I could get Julianna Barwick's The Magic Place to come on, right as I hiked down into the big open oak glade at the bottom of Biggin Wood. I always associate that album with that place. But I think otherwise, serendipity is actually better - and best of all, I've learned, is learning to listen to the sounds of a place, rather than imposing your music upon them.

It's a vaguely themed soundtrack to go with a present (the book). It's a gift for someone who would never, ever listen to music while walking but would appreciate a compilation nevertheless.

Ah, understood. So songs themed around walking and rambling? Or songs themed around the places and walks discussed in the book (which I haven't read.) Given the archetypical walks of Britain are usually Lake District or West Penwith you're going to end up with a disc full of British Sea Power and Patrick Wolf if you're not careful.

There are chapters on Orkney, Assynt, Rannoch Moor, Islay and the West Coast, Hadrian's Wall, The Three Peaks, Cornwall and South West Coastal Path, Stonehenge, Avebury and Silbury, the Ridgeway and the South Down's Way.

I'm not wholly sure what I'm looking for. Not particularly anything specifically name-checking any of those places unless it was particularly moving or beautiful. I wouldn't include "These Boots Are Made For Walking" or whatever you get by typing "Walking" into iTunes. I'd happily include some Richard Skelton. There's some Julian Cope that I'd include but lots more by him that I wouldn't. Something from BSP's "Man of Aran" could make it; lots of BSP would be left off.

Orkney: Symphony of The Magnetic North you definitely need on there (but I'm going to have to go in the other room to tell you the best song.) I didn't want to listen to anything else for about a month after I left the isles. It's not even particularly name-checky beyond the names of the tracks, just more capturing the spirit of the place.

I'm going to repeat Sons of TC Lethbridge, and suggest maybe Cape Wrath To Cape Farewell.

I dunno; I suspect I'm useless at this, because I'll suggest songs about a place, but songs I associate with walking are so personal I could tell you that various Echo & The Bunnymen reminds me of specific peaks but no one else would hear it that way.

The Magnetic North is a good call. Ta.

Making a compilation for an Exmoor holiday but feeling strangely uninspired. Doesn't have to be hugely thematic, more atmospheric. I know this is only going to work if I own the tracks but I'm having one of those nights where I look at three bookcases of CDs and think "Hmm".

Right then ... compiling a "Songs for the Sea" for a north Norfolk coast holiday ...

I really like chris watson in general and this is great https://open.spotify.com/album/620pVgxwhYMf4I4n7Ou1r9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bxtUGxjXTA

Both good calls. Holkham Drones often appears on my CDs for Norfolk ...

A couple of things come to mind: anything by Flying Saucer Attack (especially 'Oceans' natch); Philip Jeck's An Ark for the Listener; and, because it's damp and autumnal, Hex by Bark Psychosis - particularly 'Eyes and Smiles'.

Best maritime music:

Janet Baker / Elgar - Where Corals Lie

Actually the whole Sea Pictures cycle is wonderful and well worth hearing if you font know it already

Font = don't

Anyone heard the CD of Robert Macfarlane/Jackie Morris' "The Lost Words"? Seemingly has "sounds" by Chris Watson.

No?

Physical copies have sold out but here's an album inspired by "Landmarks" - has an essay by MacFarlane, too.

https://facture.bandcamp.com/album/place-language

Profits go to War Child.