Quietism (2024)

drum pad, bass, and electric guitar – layered solo improvisations for virtual trio.

Early 2024, summertime in NZ – start of the fiffdimension 2nd quarter-century.

Dave Blackelectric guitar, bass, percussion
Tracks 1-3 and 12 recorded early January 2024

The rest recorded 6th February 2024

in Featherston, Aotearoa / New Zealand

The first new recordings made since the 25-year-spanning 2CD compilation

See also

Negentropic Diatribes (w/ James Robinson, 2022)

2023 roundup

December 2023 marked the 25th anniversary of fiffdimension!

– we celebrated with the double CD compilation:

Electric (yang) / Acoustic (yin)

– 2CD compilation 1998​-​2023

“Double disc collection of more than two decades’ worth of live and studio-recorded tunes by Dave Edwards, who you may have heard recently as part of The Troubled Times with Antony Milton. It’s quite a diverse listen!

You get some concise and catchy pop songs, some full-on rockers, banjo excursions, improv freak-out, poetry, acoustic blues, folk songs, scrambled noise… there’s something here for everybody. A good intro to Dave’s dauntingly deep discography.”

Howard Stelzer, Noisy Bandcamp.

A collection of short tracks by Dave Edwards and collaborators.

Celebrating 25 years of fiffdimension!

2CD double album. 35 tracks spanning 25 years. Comes in gatefold card case with full colour photography by Jechtography and James Gilberd. Includes download of the digital album.

Produced by Antony Milton; and features Paul Winstanley, Chris O’Connor, Simon O’Rorke, Chris Palmer, Sam Prebble, Mike Kingston, Francesca Mountfort, Damian Stewart, Emit Snake-Beings, Nat da Hatt, Steve Duffels, and Oscar (the dog). The 2CD compilation focuses on Dave Edwards’ guitar and banjo compositions in New Zealand and Australia, their acoustic/electric duality, and boils down a quarter-century of restless creativity to two concise discs.

2023 was also notable for the return of live music to the Wairarapa. 

Dave also collaborated with

The Troubled Times

Antony Milton – electric guitar Dave Edwards – bass David Heath – drums

Another (****ing) SundayElevate

Limited Edition classy glassy mastered CD Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
 
Only 100 copies of this. Pro manufactured glass mastered CD packaged in 4 panel card wallet.

A contrasting companion piece, with all but the last track recorded the same day; a thoroughly kinetic affair bursting with energy and ecstatic passion.
Live in FeatherstonSon Sun Sum

Our debut live gig, at Common Ground gallery in Featherston

For the third year in a row, we recorded on the first day of daylight savings – this time with a bigger bass amp.

& in January they released on cassette or download :

Hill Road in Winter

“a loud and noisy nocturnal romp through the hills and onto the gravel back roads of one of Aotearoa/New Zealand’s least visited regions. All recorded ‘New Zealand style’ in [my] garage.”

Antony Milton

Assembling disconsonant

(Dave Edwards solo acoustic guitar, banjo, spoken word, May 2023)

“I liked the lyrics… the the way meaning gets assembled through shattered snap shots of a picture we may never see”

Dr Emit Snake-Beings

& a work in progress (more to come in 2024):

Poems & Lyrics by John Collie (1856)

An adaptation of the book, by 19th century Scottish poet John Collie (of Boyndie) – recorded by his descendants in New Zealand: Dave Edwards, nephews Hans and Rhys Landon-Lane, and guest appearances by The Troubled Times and Dr Emit Snake-Beings.

“T’were a noble sight to see the mighty men of old, who bled that their countries might be free from the tyrants’ fatal hold – yet I’d deem it a nobler sight by far to behold the sons of the harp & lyre!

“[…] If aught can claim a spirit’s admiration, Sure it must be this beautiful creation

John Collie (1834-1893)

2CD compilation 1998​-​2023

Celebrating 25 years of fiffdimension!

Electric (yang) / Acoustic (yin)

Double disc collection of more than two decades’ worth of live and studio-recorded tunes by Dave Edwards, who you may have heard recently as part of The Troubled Times with Antony Milton. It’s quite a diverse listen!

You get some concise and catchy pop songs, some full-on rockers, banjo excursions, improv freak-out, poetry, acoustic blues, folk songs, scrambled noise… there’s something here for everybody. A good intro to Dave’s dauntingly deep discography.”

Howard Stelzer, Noisy Bandcamp.

A collection of short tracks by Dave Edwards and collaborators.

Produced by Antony Milton; and features Paul Winstanley, Chris O’Connor, Simon O’Rorke,Chris Palmer, Sam Prebble, Mike Kingston, Francesca Mountfort, Damian Stewart, Emit Snake-Beings, Nat da Hatt, Steve Duffels, and Oscar (the dog).

2CD double album. 35 tracks spanning 25 years. Comes in gatefold card case with full colour photography by Jechtography and James Gilberd. Includes download of the digital album.

Continue reading “2CD compilation 1998​-​2023”

The Troubled Times: Son Sum Sun

released October 13, 2023

For the third year in a row, we had a recording session on the first day of daylight savings – a short session of spaced out noisy psychedelic ‘rock jams’ this time.

A highlight this session was a bigger & louder bass amp.

Dave Edwards – Bass
David Heath – Drums
Antony Milton – Guitar

The third part in a trilogy (NZers are good at these),
Continue reading “The Troubled Times: Son Sum Sun”

The Troubled Times: Another (****ing) Sunday

The first physical CD by The Troubled Times (Antony Milton, Dave Edwards, David Heath),

Released as part of the ‘Another Sunday‘ series of CDs:
anothersunday.bandcamp.com

Fizzy dreamy shambolic ramblings from the Wairarapa‘s dustiest garage.
Instant songs committed to disk for posterity.

credits

Continue reading “The Troubled Times: Another (****ing) Sunday”

Auld Satan when ye first gae through

Live version 24/6/23 – from http://www.fiffdimension.bandcamp.com/albums/poems-lyrics-in-the-scotch-dialect-1856

A ‘darker’ piece from Poems & Lyrics by John Collie (1856)

AULD Satan , when ye first gae through Your regions dark and awful , A sma ‘ bit favour I would crave , Gif ye but think it lawful .

Gie my respects to Souter Will , The first time ye forgather ; And tell him that I’m wae to think Him lost for a ’ thegither .

For ministers and others say He straught to you was taken ; ‘ Cause he the creed o ‘ Scotland’s kirk Had mony a day forsaken .

Gif that be true , as it may be , Though faith I’m misbelieving , You ne’er met wi ‘ a slier coof , Since ye took to deceiving.

But use him well , and gif ye can , Oh gie ‘ im a bit promotion ; O ‘ a ‘ your buts and a ‘ your bens He ‘ shortly hae a notion .

But keep him aye beneath your thumb , And work him smooth and sweetly ; Or o’er your head he’ll tak your trade , And dam your luck completely .

credits

from Poems & Lyrics (in the Scotch dialect) (1856), releases August 10, 2023

The Troubled Times: Elevate

Antony Milton – electric guitar Dave Edwards – bass David Heath – drums

A contrasting companion piece to the forthcoming ‘Another Sunday‘ CD (all but the last track recorded during the same session),  ‘Elevate’ is a thoroughly kinetic affair bursting with energy and ecstatic passion.

Avant jazz meets squealing rambunctious noise. A frenetic blast down to the end of the driveway and back. The set finishes with a tribute to Albert Ayler.

What more could you want? (well there’s The Troubled Times’ live debut coming up on 15 July….)

credits

releases July 15, 2023

Read more: The Troubled Times: Elevate

Tracks 1-4 recorded 28 May 2023
‘Festive Spirit’ recorded 18 December 2022

in Antony’s garage, Masterton, Aotearoa/New Zealand

Photo by Dave, at the Remutaka ranges