update: December 2011
+ Lots more writing on this side, not so much music until the new year. Many of my archival writings have been overhauled and given new life at the eclectic Grounded Magnet web magazine (good news for those of you who hate .pdf files!) For the moment, I'm also editing the contributions of some friends and colleagues. Some of these writings will be translated into Swedish for the Tidningen Kulturen magazine as well.
A new essay has been submitted to the 'Dutch Journal of Sonic Studies,' entitled "A Deep And Tenebrous Unity: The synesthetic impulse from the 19th century to the present." Another foray into my pet subject, this takes things from more of a historical perspective than my previous efforts.
Two more books, in addition to the forthcoming Unofficial Release (under consideration now by a fairly major publisher) are under construction: a full-length volume on synesthesia and another provisionally titled "A Report On The Post-Extreme Condition."
I have been considering branching out into film projects for some time now, and the possibility of doing an unorthodox documentary about synesthetes and synesthesia-influenced artwork is something I would love to do. If you're a filmmaker with a similar interest, please feel free to contact me.
Finally- I am going to be participating in a considerable effort to raise awareness about my former publisher, Creation Books, aka James Williamson, aka 'Candice Black,' 'Jack Hunter,' and 'John Bundrick.' I've been in contact with other individuals who allege that he has committed numerous criminal acts- breach of contract (i.e. non-payment of royalties), mail fraud, and wire fraud. His conduct with regards to me and my work is, from what I gather, not an isolated incident. More details will be disclosed when I'm at liberty to do so.
This is also good news for those who have wanted to read the 'Micro Bionic' book, but have not been able to find a copy owing to the negligence of Williamson's organization. I will be re-editing and uploading a digital version of the book on this site, offering it FREE of charge. It will feature many significant improvements upon the original text, including the full index that the publisher refused to include in the initial print run.
update: September 2011
+ I confess, laziness has officially gotten the better of me this past month. Perhaps it's the lingering hangover from a wildly successful residency at SONM in Murcia, and a mini-tour of live music that accompanied it. My first attempt at reversing this laziness trend is, as you can see, the cosmetic overhaul of this website.
Documentation of the latter will follow, when I can locate audio or video of a sufficient enough quality for sharing. My swan song concert in Madrid was recorded at the sound board; and may even be a possibility for another TBWB audio release once I'm sent the results. A few more concerts were notable for their unique atmosphere- an outdoor show sponsored by the 'Puertas de Castilla' cultural center was audible from several blocks away and prompted the usual panicked complaints to the police about some sort of insurrectionary action happening in the city.
Meanwhile, the SONM website (see link above) now features my extensive essay on synesthesia and its relation to experimental music. While there is some 'crossover' between that essay and the one included in the Micro Bionic book, I feel that this is much more detailed and capable of starting a fresh round of informed discussion on this subject.
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update: May 2011
+ The new issue of the Fenris Wolf journal, featuring my essay "The Twilight Of Psychedelic America?" is available, I now have a single autographed copy for sale in the shop- order quickly!
update: March 2011
+ my first official t-shirt design is now available through the shop. This will be the first in a series of shirts curated by me and designed by sound artists (the theme is 'visulizations' of sound, a very general idea that I believe will produce some interesting results.) My first design is limited to only 75 shirts in this color, with special tags and -perhaps most importantly- a portion from each sale now going to the Japanese relief effort, now underway after the horror of the past week.
update: January 2011
+ Apologies for the lengthy period without an update. Much life maintenance has been necessary over the last several months, although it hasn't totally interfered with my creative actions. One proof of this is my upcoming residency (June / July) at The Sound Archive Of Experimental Music And Sound Art in Murcia, Spain. Many thanks to Francisco Lopez for the kind invite to participate in this vital project. Much more on this soon...
+ New TBWB recordings are underway now (no more cassette releases this time, sorry.) Musical themes this time around have been informed by the late, great J.G. Ballard- working title for new music is the Ballardian lament "One Billion Balconies Facing The Sun." The final product will manifest itself as a vinyl record with a supplemental book of text and images.
+ new writings of mine are now available to be read on the excellent arts / culture websites Vague Terrain and Rhizome. An as-of-yet-untitled French anthology (book + CD) will feature an exclusive piece from me entitled "Welcome To 2084: The Age Of Overload Aesthetics", and a companion musical piece "Williams Mix 2084." In both cases, I discuss the increasing use of deliberate confusion and panic in electronic entertainment and as an aesthetic device in electronic music. For more information please contact project co-curator Adrien Silvestre.
update: September 2010
+ cassette mania has overtaken me...two new tape releases are available now, bringing my release total for this year to a (for me) unprecedented three. You may now purchase my "Progressive Lycanthropy" cassette and corresponding info book from this site, or from parent label Mirror Tapes. Another cassette, done in more of a seductive mode than a destructive one, is "Exigencies" on AMK's Banned Production label. Since I don't have copies of this personally, please inquire with Mr. King as to the availability of this tape.
+ A new long essay from me, "The Twilight Of Psychedelic America," is forthcoming as part of Carl Abrahamsson's massive Fenris Wolf writing project. A sepcial hardback edition of 23 copies, each containing an original drawing by artist Fredrik Söderberg, will be made available in advance of the paperback edition.
+ My "Unofficial Release" book on handmade music, although it may no longer be released by that name, is even more complete than before, as I add new guest commentators to the text. New inclusions are Oren Ambarchi, David Tibet, and Dr. Alexei Monroe. More and more, it looks like this will be a very sophisticated and, though not 'complete', intensely informative document about an unfairly undocumented portion of recent music history.
update: June 2010
+ The Belsona Strategic website, publisher, and label have all been abruptly terminated. Consequentially, the slightly re-designed Belsona site has now morphed into tbwb.net, the 'solo' web presence of Thomas Bey William Bailey. The cassette you see above is the final Belsona Strategic audio release; from now on TBWB will issue recordings through interested parties.
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update: April 2010
+ The first ever TBWB release on cassette is now upon us (official release date is April 20, 2010): entitled U.U.U.U., this is the first in a series of threnodies for the era of 'globalitarian' war (as Paul Virilio has described it.) This first edition is, due to financial constraints and a shortage of opaque cassette shells (seriously!), strictly limited to 100 copies. This comes in a unique soft vinyl case with design also by TBWB, and the music itself is among the best in his career- a devastating, dynamic exhibition of concrete technique. Full ordering information is available on this page.
+ a new Thomas Bey William Bailey essay will be included in Zbigniew Karkowski's massive retrospective project, entitled Order Is An Exception. Other essays in the book portion of this multi-media package will come courtesy of Thibault Walter, Curtis Roads, and Guy-Marc Hinant. The book will also be available in a tri-lingual edition (Japanese, Mandarin, and English.)
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