Mothership (2021) | The Central Planes (2021) | Tides – An ISSTA Anthology (2021) | Parochial Dissonance (2020) | a sound/simulacra (2020) | Builders of the Fauxpocalypse (2020) | Isosceles (2016) | Isikles (2015) | Unauthorized Modifications (2011) | Precambrian Resonance (2009) | One Day to Save All Life (2008) | Truth is Stranger (2007) | Super Structure Baby (2004) | Mad Props to the Universe (1999) | Hank Mobley’s Sound of Love (1995)
Title: Mothership
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Æther Sound
Release Date: November 26, 2021
Mothership is a series of studies based on a hypothetical; leaving a doomed planet for the isolation of space with little prospect for survival. Composed during the COVID-19 lockdown the work was a way to imagine the terrors of futuristic yet far too possible scenarios such as a global environment too toxic to support life and beyond the point of recovery, or less likely but equally horrific, hostile alien occupation.
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Æther Sound
Release Date: November 26, 2021
Mothership is a series of studies based on a hypothetical; leaving a doomed planet for the isolation of space with little prospect for survival. Composed during the COVID-19 lockdown the work was a way to imagine the terrors of futuristic yet far too possible scenarios such as a global environment too toxic to support life and beyond the point of recovery, or less likely but equally horrific, hostile alien occupation.
Title: The Central Planes
Artist: Bloodline
Label: Cody McKinney
Release Date: November 8, 2021
The debut from Bloodline (Cody McKinney, Peter Hennig, and John C.S. Keston) was recorded in December, 2016 – a foreboding moment just before the world was plunged into the chaos of neo-nationalist politics. Five years later after sporadic listening, discussing, editing, mixing, and mastering, the music is just as relevant as it was then. Based on a series of graphic scores titled, Grocery List, by McKinney it’s a raw, visceral, free, and exhilarating journey into the unknown.
Artist: Bloodline
Label: Cody McKinney
Release Date: November 8, 2021
The debut from Bloodline (Cody McKinney, Peter Hennig, and John C.S. Keston) was recorded in December, 2016 – a foreboding moment just before the world was plunged into the chaos of neo-nationalist politics. Five years later after sporadic listening, discussing, editing, mixing, and mastering, the music is just as relevant as it was then. Based on a series of graphic scores titled, Grocery List, by McKinney it’s a raw, visceral, free, and exhilarating journey into the unknown.
Title: Tides – An ISSTA Anthology
Artist: Bloodline
Label: Stolen Mirror
Release Date: July 23, 2021
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of ISSTA, Tides is an anthology of 24 diverse and innovative artists. This collection represents a rich history of activity in electronic and acousmatic music, soundscape composition, live performances, and sound installations. Much of the music is available here for the first time. This monumental three-and-a-half hour compilation is provided free for your listening pleasure. Liner notes include descriptions of the work and artist contacts.
Artist: Bloodline
Label: Stolen Mirror
Release Date: July 23, 2021
Celebrating the tenth anniversary of ISSTA, Tides is an anthology of 24 diverse and innovative artists. This collection represents a rich history of activity in electronic and acousmatic music, soundscape composition, live performances, and sound installations. Much of the music is available here for the first time. This monumental three-and-a-half hour compilation is provided free for your listening pleasure. Liner notes include descriptions of the work and artist contacts.
Title: Parochial Dissonance
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Æther Sound
Release Date: December 4, 2020
Parochial Dissonance describes the tragedy, loss, and suffering experienced when we narrow the scope of our worldviews. The album is a series of improvised solo pieces captured from two live performances before, and three streaming performances
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Æther Sound
Release Date: December 4, 2020
Parochial Dissonance describes the tragedy, loss, and suffering experienced when we narrow the scope of our worldviews. The album is a series of improvised solo pieces captured from two live performances before, and three streaming performances
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Title: Builders of the Fauxpocalypse
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: December 4, 2020
This series of “dogmatic” electronic pieces, uses only hardware synthesizers and drum machines. Imposed by a set of rules to encourage creativity and prevent over producing Keston restricted himself to live takes with no overdubs, no computer sequencing (instrument sequencers were allowed), simple arrangements, and minimal post-production.
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: December 4, 2020
This series of “dogmatic” electronic pieces, uses only hardware synthesizers and drum machines. Imposed by a set of rules to encourage creativity and prevent over producing Keston restricted himself to live takes with no overdubs, no computer sequencing (instrument sequencers were allowed), simple arrangements, and minimal post-production.
Title: a sound/simulacra
Artist: Various
Label: Sound / Simulacra
Release Date: November 20, 2020
This live recording from the Sound / Simulacra series includes special guests Aby Wolf on voice and electronics, Kaleena Miller on tap, and Nathan Hanson on saxophones. Series creators Cody McKinney and
John C.S. Keston are on bass and keys respectively.
Artist: Various
Label: Sound / Simulacra
Release Date: November 20, 2020
This live recording from the Sound / Simulacra series includes special guests Aby Wolf on voice and electronics, Kaleena Miller on tap, and Nathan Hanson on saxophones. Series creators Cody McKinney and
John C.S. Keston are on bass and keys respectively.
Title: Isosceles
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: October 22, 2016
Vintage and contemporary electronic instruments and processors were used to create a unique yet familiar sound. Thick analog arpeggios, punchy bass lines, earthy beats, and ballistic leads are heard throughout the anthology along with contemplative moments reminiscent of the promise of space exploration and discovery. It is a journey through light years of exploratory sound design, future thought, and galactic musical manifestations.
Artist: John C.S. Keston
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: October 22, 2016
Vintage and contemporary electronic instruments and processors were used to create a unique yet familiar sound. Thick analog arpeggios, punchy bass lines, earthy beats, and ballistic leads are heard throughout the anthology along with contemplative moments reminiscent of the promise of space exploration and discovery. It is a journey through light years of exploratory sound design, future thought, and galactic musical manifestations.
Title: Isikles
Artist: John C.S. Keston and Lister Rossell
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: May 31, 2015
This album combines composition with sound design techniques to present soundscapes inspired by the physical evidence of the Anthropocene, our current geological era marked by human activities that significantly impact the planet’s ecosystems.
The sound sources include field recordings from frigid environments mixed with sonic interpretations uncovered through sound synthesis and processing during the brittle Minnesota winter.
Artist: John C.S. Keston and Lister Rossell
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: May 31, 2015
This album combines composition with sound design techniques to present soundscapes inspired by the physical evidence of the Anthropocene, our current geological era marked by human activities that significantly impact the planet’s ecosystems.
The sound sources include field recordings from frigid environments mixed with sonic interpretations uncovered through sound synthesis and processing during the brittle Minnesota winter.
Title: Unauthorized Modifications
Artist: Ostracon
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: June 21, 2011
John C.S. Keston uses custom sequencing software to convert video signals into a stream of generative melodic structures while looping and arranging the phrases into spontaneous compositions. Graham O’Brien accompanies these angular, electronic structures, with dynamic drumming that flirts with the underworld. O’Brien’s percussive statements firmly place the compositions into a non-linear landscape, grounded in a familiar yet impossible to categorize igneous crust.
Artist: Ostracon
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: June 21, 2011
John C.S. Keston uses custom sequencing software to convert video signals into a stream of generative melodic structures while looping and arranging the phrases into spontaneous compositions. Graham O’Brien accompanies these angular, electronic structures, with dynamic drumming that flirts with the underworld. O’Brien’s percussive statements firmly place the compositions into a non-linear landscape, grounded in a familiar yet impossible to categorize igneous crust.
Title: Precambrian Resonance
Artist: Ostraka
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: July 28, 2009
John C.S. Keston’s (AKA Ostraka) debut solo work emerged after eleven months of capturing random recordings and sound design experiments exhibited on audiocoobook.org. This led Keston in a new musical direction, harnessing the chaotic behaviors of natural sound recordings and digital processing into musical forms.
Artist: Ostraka
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: July 28, 2009
John C.S. Keston’s (AKA Ostraka) debut solo work emerged after eleven months of capturing random recordings and sound design experiments exhibited on audiocoobook.org. This led Keston in a new musical direction, harnessing the chaotic behaviors of natural sound recordings and digital processing into musical forms.
Title: One Day to Save All Life
Artist: Keston and Westdal
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: March 25, 2008
This is the third album produced by Keston and Westdal. “Every now and then, an act releases an album changing the way we listen to music. In my world, this album is one of them.” – CalmScape.com. SlacklineRadio.com calls it, “…the kind of stuff that will have a high value for travelers on future long voyages to Mars.”
Artist: Keston and Westdal
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: March 25, 2008
This is the third album produced by Keston and Westdal. “Every now and then, an act releases an album changing the way we listen to music. In my world, this album is one of them.” – CalmScape.com. SlacklineRadio.com calls it, “…the kind of stuff that will have a high value for travelers on future long voyages to Mars.”
Title: Truth is Stranger
Artist: Keston and Westdal
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: March 13, 2007
Keston and Westdal’s second full-length title on Unearthed Music features collaborations with Steven Ekoka, Estaire Godinez, Desdamona. The release has thirteen tracks including the recently produced bonus track, El Amanecer.
Artist: Keston and Westdal
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: March 13, 2007
Keston and Westdal’s second full-length title on Unearthed Music features collaborations with Steven Ekoka, Estaire Godinez, Desdamona. The release has thirteen tracks including the recently produced bonus track, El Amanecer.
Title: Super Structure Baby
Artist: Keston and Westdal
Label: Unearthed Music
Release Date: June 29, 2004
Originally released on Coup de Grace, New York, NY, this reissue includes the bonus track (Kinon’s Path f. Rajiah Johnson). “…these guys lay down highly polished sounds over intelligent morphing drums. [Super Structure] Baby is a thoroughly impressive outing, full of class and sophistication…” – Patrick Drexler, URB Magazine
Title: Mad Props to the Universe [oop]
Artist: Casino Royale
Label: Groove Garden Records
Release Date: 1999
“Minneapolis based Casino Royale came up with an enjoyable and varied set of original funky grooves for their Mad Props To The Universe album. Every cut features John C.S. Keston skilfully utilizing all sorts of vintage keyboards to great effect, including plenty of electric piano. In the following clips he uses a Wurlitzer for the solo on Intro To Elmar(1), while the Rhodes is chosen to create the atmospheric opening to Sustainiac(2).” – Cool Keys
Artist: Casino Royale
Label: Groove Garden Records
Release Date: 1999
“Minneapolis based Casino Royale came up with an enjoyable and varied set of original funky grooves for their Mad Props To The Universe album. Every cut features John C.S. Keston skilfully utilizing all sorts of vintage keyboards to great effect, including plenty of electric piano. In the following clips he uses a Wurlitzer for the solo on Intro To Elmar(1), while the Rhodes is chosen to create the atmospheric opening to Sustainiac(2).” – Cool Keys
Title: Hank Mobley’s Sound of Love [oop]
Artist: Casino Royale
Label: Anal Log Records
Release Date: 1996
Erik Fratzke (Bass), Erik Bolen (Drums), John C.S. Keston (Rhodes), Henry Weinbeck (Trumpet), Camron Wittig (Cover Photo), Steve Kaul (Engineer), Steve Kaul and John C.S. Keston (Mixing), Featuring Slug from Atmosphere on Pea King.
Artist: Casino Royale
Label: Anal Log Records
Release Date: 1996
Erik Fratzke (Bass), Erik Bolen (Drums), John C.S. Keston (Rhodes), Henry Weinbeck (Trumpet), Camron Wittig (Cover Photo), Steve Kaul (Engineer), Steve Kaul and John C.S. Keston (Mixing), Featuring Slug from Atmosphere on Pea King.