4th Alternative

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Biography:

‘beautiful, enigmatic yet affectionate.’

4th Alternative is Rob "Bombardier" Davies. A classically trained pianist who like many musicians searched for expression outside the accepted norms. This led to experiments in music making using radio noise, synthesisers, and whatever instruments came to hand. Such experiments led to opuses such as Sunburst and Submerged composed when in his mid-20's. Involved in various musical activities and collaborations since then, he has now returned to improvised reflective music with 'edge'.

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Releases:

New Dawn (emp013)

Download: Hi-Fi - Lo-Fi :: Stream: Hi-Fi - Lo-Fi :: Download: Cover Art - Disc Art

Tracklisting:

New Dawn @ The Internet Archive

New Dawn @ Last.fm

An excellent 41 minutes of ambient soundscapes and sonic experimentation

::FALLING:: an earth monkey productions compilation (emp025) -

Our 25th Earth Monkey release comes in the shape of a compilation album on the theme of falling. Going from gentle ambience to some great experimental noises, we here at Earth Monkey are very proud to bring you this marvellous product and all for free!!

4th Alternative contributed the track Mote : Hi-Fi - Lo-Fi

::FALLING:: also features tracks from David Whitaker, Adrian Carter, The Cardboard Lung, 1000 Aeroplanes Crashing In The Night, Susan Matthews, The Weedhaven Laughing Academy, Dawn Salvia, Clutter, Des Slow And The Stop Pills, Species 8472, Andy Kirk and Cousin Silas

:: FALLING :: @ The Internet Archive

::FALLING:: @ Last.fm

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50:50 An Earth Monkey Productions Compilation (emp050)

Earth Monkey’s 50th release (with a few specials along the way) comes in the form of 50:50 a compilation featuring some of your favourite EMP artists and a couple of new faces that will have releases coming up. Classic Monkey fair - If you liked ::FALLING:: our last comp you’ll love 50:50

4th Alternative contributed the track Fossil Hi-Fi - Lo-Fi

50:50 @ The Internet Archive

50:50 @ Last.fm

50:50 also features tracks from Clutter, Dansette Curtsey, Cousin Silas, Pandacetamol, Adrian Carter, Des Slow And The Stop Pills, Radio Scotvoid, Fonik, ry-om, Good Noise Bad Noise, Susan Matthews, Andrew Deakin, The Cardboard Lung & Halal Kebab Hut

Reviews:

‘Earth Monkey Productions is a net label based in Barrow Island in Cumbria. They release free music with a focus on experimental, electronic, sound art and spoken word, and currently have 13 releases for download.

I downloaded the latest, emp013: 4th Alternative - New Dawn to try and get an impression of the kinds of things Earth Monkey releases, and I was impressed. New Dawn is a four track collection of ambient pieces, spanning 41 minutes. Each track has a lot of space, with rich timbres, subtle diversions and infinite patience.

On the surface, New Dawn sounds like classic 90s Ambience, but remains simple and elegant throughout. There’s no zany samples, just sweet spacious Ambience to immerse yourself in at your discretion. Sunburst is interesting because it features a more live or improvised sounding guitar, and very subdued and heavily processed vocal samples. These can be quite surprising sometimes, but fit in with the rest of the track’s aesthetic.

Dark Angel is denser than the other tracks, with more dynamic melodic development and some classic FM sounds. It’s difficult to describe the last track, Submerged. On one hand it’s reminiscent of the current crop of contemporary artists who process field recordings, but on the other there are sounds and melodies that remind me of more typical ambient music. It has the same gentle touch that the other tracks on the EP have.

If you like the sound of this, have a look at the Earth Monkey Productions site and see what else you can download. They’re also into last.fm, so see what you can find digging around on their last.fm page’. - Review of New Dawn in Milieu

‘Milieu has done it again, sourcing this piece of ambient electronic goodness :: new dawn by 4th alternative is 41 mins of sheer blissful ambience. Reminds me of Tangerine Dream.’ - Review for New Dawn at Headphonaughts Nanolog

‘It is a lovely piece of 10min ambience. It lives and breathes... with a central theme that sounds like distant church bells. There is a sense of presence and comfort... which makes it powerful listening while in bed... escaping the world for a wee while... on an English bankholiday that no one else has’. - Headphonenaught mini review of Mote -

‘I found your music quite beautiful and evocative. Keep up the good work.’ - Neil Yates

‘I could listen to "New Dawn" all day... ‘ - Bisland & McLaren

‘Thank you for the very kind words. Your music's better though. It's beautiful, enigmatic yet affectionate.’ - Emvelope Nine

‘New dawn is simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing!’ - Solar Wind

Contact:

4th Alternative @ Myspace