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Monday, January 11, 2010
creative process...


John Daido Loori Roshi (June 14, 1931 – October 9, 2009)

Last year we lost john daido loori roshi. I mention him mainly because of his book, The Zen of Creativity. This book had a profound impact on my creative life at a time when I needed a new direction. Although I am not a Buddhist, this book opened up a broader creative space for me to live in. I owe him so much and can give him nothing.

"Each artist expresses through art his unique way of experiencing life. This is the essence of creation. Through our art we bring into existence something that did not previously exist. We enlarge the universe." JOHN DAIDO LOORI

"If I was asked to get rid of the Zen aesthetic and just keep one quality necessary to create art, I would say it's trust. When you learn to trust yourself implicitly, you no longer need to prove something through your art. You simply allow it to come out, to be as it is. This is when creating art becomes effortless. It happens just as you grow your hair. It grows." JOHN DAIDO LOORI

"The time for editing is later. The time for uninhibited flow of expression is now." JOHN DAIDO LOORI

"Where the original expression was purely creative, editing is at once creative and critical. By cutting away the extra, we get closer to the essence of what we intended to convey." JOHN DAIDO LOORI

In the depths of stillness all words melt away,
clouds disperse and it vividly appears before you.
JOHN DAIDO LOORI

peace,
marc

Posted By Hammock Music at 3:17 PM
1 Comments:
Anonymous Tim said...

Thanks for sharing. I will have to see if I can find a copy at the library. I have lately been pondering stillness and prayer as each relates to the creative process (writing, in my case) and this book looks like it may be helpful. The funny thing is that I was tempted to go find all the typical books on writing that are filled with writing exercises and rules, as if I somehow had to or could grasp all the pertinent information beforehand. Not that those disciplines are bad, but my experience as a self-taught musician told me that knowing too much can sometimes ruin attempts to create. What I need is more of an ethos from which to work - this book looks like it is all about ethos.
11:05 AM

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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
"Mono No Aware" Video Nominated for Two Awards at Plus Camerimage


Hi again.

Our video for "Mono No Aware", directed by David Altobelli, has been nominated for Best Music Video and Best Cinematography in a Music Video at the prestigious international film festival Plus Camerimage in Poland, nominated alongside some amazing artists like Coldplay, Damien Jurado, The Prodigy, Feist (and one of our heroes, Depeche Mode!).

http://www.pluscamerimage.pl/index.php?lang=en&pg=3359

Thank you for listening.

Peace,

mb

Posted By Hammock Music at 7:42 AM
4 Comments:
Anonymous Anonymous said...

very cool! (Brent Diaz)
7:59 AM

Blogger Sindrijo said...

That's great guys! I actually discovered you when searching for "Mono No Aware". I was pleasantly surprised when I heard your music, it's beautiful.

I was searching because I wanted to find something photos, music, videos or whatever that portrayed it well because I was wondering if they had the same vibe as my photo which I chose to entitle with "Mono No Aware".

Here is the photo of you'd like to take a look: http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3279830621
6:44 PM

Anonymous TJ Getz said...

love your music. The video was like watching a kindred spirit soar. I'm very much inspired and work on our photography with your music. Please keep it up!
9:05 AM

Blogger Matthieu said...

I'm absolutely not suprised by this nomination. This clip is amazing, i can't stop to watch it since weeks. It makes me dream a lot!
1:17 AM

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Saturday, April 18, 2009
For Technorati.


Technorati Profile

Just trying to claim our blog at Technorati, which doesn't seem to be working. So I guess we'll keep trying...apologies for the empty post here.

Peace.

mb

Posted By Hammock Music at 9:49 AM
5 Comments:
Anonymous Wes M. said...

Spammer.

Just kidding Marc. Could you and Steve do a remake and call it "Away with the Swine Flu"? That would be awesome.
3:58 PM

Blogger Justin said...

This post has been removed by the author.
10:15 AM

Anonymous Tim said...

Any updates on the new album besides what is available on Twitter?

On an entirely different note, are either of you familiar with the work of Shusaku Endo? It seems to me that you must be. I just finished (and am already re-reading) his devastating yet strangely and deeply comforting novel Silence. Hammock's music somehow resonates with themes from that book.
12:08 PM

Blogger Hammock Music said...

Tim

I adore that book. As a result of your post I'm pulling "SILENCE" out and reading it again.

thanks!

peace to you...

-mb
1:15 AM

Anonymous Tim said...

Marc,
are you aware that Endo's widow was shocked to find out that the famous "Trample!" line was translated in a way that came across in the imperative - as if it were a command? She said the verb tense is in the permissive and should read more like, "You may trample. I permit you to trample." This is important to note because, as an imperative, it almost seems as if Rodrigues has no choice, but in the permissive voice his freedom to trample or not trample is still preserved.

What other books by Endo have you read? Silence was my first. Did you know that Martin Scorcese is making a film version set for release in either 2010 or 2011?

Peace,
Tim
8:37 AM

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Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Pitchfork is Premiering Our New Video Today.


Pitchfork is premiering our new video on their site today! (Scroll down a bit to the "Music Videos" section). The video is for the album's fourth track, "Mono No Aware", and it was directed by David Altobelli.

Thank you for listening.

Peace,

Marc and Andrew

Posted By Hammock Music at 6:14 AM
6 Comments:
Anonymous Eric Diaz said...

Marc, the video is amazing!
Its like an early birthday present.
Great job!
11:45 AM

Anonymous Cliff said...

Mmmm Hmmm, I like it. A lot. Beautiful. Thank you.
6:22 PM

Blogger Brenton Diaz said...

Absolutely beautiful!!!
7:51 AM

Blogger vedanta buddha said...

It's strange how people become memories and the details of your perception of them become blurred. You walk through the memories and they start to talk. What they say is something that is a mixture of yourself and the other. Your video has that essence... Thank You
1:47 PM

Blogger orbit over luna said...

Beautiful imagery.
1:38 PM

Anonymous steven wylie said...

Just getting caught up here. I loved the video.
1:16 AM

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Tuesday, January 06, 2009
2008 List.


OK, I'll Do It!!!! Our manager has been pushing me to do this for a while now, so here it is...some music and other subjects that mattered to me in 2008. This is completely personal and not entirely time accurate.

Albums:

Fordlandia by Johann Johannsson
Variations of Static, Olafur Arnalds
Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill, Grouper
Matthew Ryan vs. the Silver State, Matthew Ryan
Float, Peter Broderick
Black Sea, Fennesz
Bersarin Quartett, Bersarin Quartet
May, Taylor Deupree & Kenneth Kirschner
Caesura, Helios
Marking Time, Richard Skelton
Treny, Jacaszek
April, Sun Kil Moon
Songs for the Brokenhearted, Windy & Carl
Saturdays=Youth, M83
Ocean Fire, Christopher Willits & Ryuichi Sakamoto
Dauw, Machinefabriek
In Ghost Colours, Cut Copy
9.22.2007[2-3pm], Concert Silence
Med sus i eyrum vid silum endalaust, Sigur Ros
Colorloss Road, Belong

Also:

How Shadows Chase the Balance, Boduf Songs
Fantasma Parastasie, Aidan Baker & Tim Hecker
River Arms, Balmorhea
Black Sleep, Jasper TX
Kiri No Oto, Lawrence English

Personal poetic theme (poem) of 2008:
Evening Song by Georg Trakl

Favorite movies of 2008:
The Wrestler
Doubt
Burn After Reading
Appaloosa
Milk

Also:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon

Peace,

Marc

Posted By Hammock Music at 12:32 PM
6 Comments:
Anonymous Wes M. said...

Good picks, Marc. Thanks for taking the time to write them out. I saw a lot of those albums in the Silent Ballet's Top 50 of 2008 - they have a nice list there indeed. I especially liked your Bersarin Quartet and Balmorhea picks (listening to it right now, actually).

I'd like to add:
Auburn Lull
Daturah
Sumner McKane
This is Your Captain Speaking
Emmanuele Errante
At the Soundawn
Some band named Hammock
6:05 PM

Blogger Brenton Diaz said...

Wow that Georg Trakl poem IS beautiful and haunting. I think I just found a new poet to read. THANKS AGAIN, MARC! :)
7:58 AM

Blogger Jer (Common Child) said...

Always a welcome thread! Here's mine:

MUSIC:
April by Sun Kil Moon
(With A Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly) by Sigur Ros
Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow by Hammock

MOVIES:
Milk
Doubt
Wall-E
Iron Man
Frost/Nixon
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (12/08)

Really want to see:
Gran Torino
The Wrestler
Revolutionary Road
9:56 AM

Anonymous Dara said...

I was just wondering if you guys were planning on pressing any of your music on vinyl? I would snatch those up so quick.
8:22 AM

Blogger Marc said...

Great list! I have a few of those albums; can't wait to check out the others.

Slightly unrelated, but I wanted to express this:

I was just listening to "Gold Star Mothers" and thought to myself for the umpteenth time that your music is probably the most prominent reason I'm glad to be alive.
8:38 PM

Blogger manny hernandez said...

Guys, I just picked up Fordlandia by Johann Johannsson... It's INCREDIBLE! Thank you so much for sharing such beautiful music.
9:47 PM

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Monday, September 29, 2008
we love sigur ros...


ok, so we got this from tim. (see below) we're happy to be a very small part of the sigur ros show...

peace,
marc

"I saw Sigur Ros in Denver on Saturday night at Red Rocks. The show was amazing, of course. What I wasn't expecting to hear that caught my attention was the music being played on the loudspeakers during the time between the opening band and Sigur Ros. Who was it? Our beloved Hammock! They had "84,000 Hymns" on repeat." Tim

Posted By Hammock Music at 5:19 PM
3 Comments:
OpenID shoegazebean said...

you guys are my heroes! not because of the sigur ros thing, but because your music is genuinely moving. bravo! please come to the southeast sometime!
2:18 PM

Blogger The Earth Is Not A Cold, Dead Place said...

What an incredibly happy slice of serendipity! I am among the biggest of all Sigur Ros fans, and so I am thrilled to hear of this synergy between 2 of my all-time favorite purveyors of musical epiphanies. Hopefully lots of SR fans will ask the band about the soothing sounds of Hammock, and by next year so much 6-degrees-of-separation synergy will have transpired that an exclusively shoegaze/ambient/post-rock concert tour will be organized featuring Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, Stars of the Lid, Eluvium, Carta, Mogwai, a reunited Godspeed You Black Emperor!, and of course our beloved Hammock. It could happen...

On a few Sigur Ros-related notes, what does anyone think of their newest album? I felt it was excellent and included some breathtaking stuff (#1, #6, and #9 are my favorites), but it didn't ascend to the levels of Takk. Takk, for me, was just a pristine, cohesive work that fit together seamlessly, whereas With A Buzz In Our Heads We Play Endlessly seemed a bit disjointed to me. But make no mistake, the individual tracks were wonderful and the album was still a 9/10. I guess Takk is just way up there in the stratosphere, virtually untouchable for the rest of eternity!

Also, has anyone seen the notorious NPR interview with Sigur Ros? I had heard about it and just recently saw the footage. YIKES. Very uncomfortable to watch... I would love to know the story behind why they gave the interviewer such a cold shoulder. I mean, his questions were a little shoddy, but MAN. Anyone have any background info?

Anyone have any ambient/shoegaze/post-rock that they'd like to recommend, along the lines of the bands I mentioned earlier?

peace out,
Jeremy
4:49 PM

Anonymous Nicholas Nature said...

Its been awhile, but I have to say that MTWSFUT is the best Hammock record ever. It has something very deep in it that I can't explain. I freakin love it.
12:47 PM

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Story Site Is Up, With Music Clips...


www.maybetheywillsingforustomorrow.com

this site gives you the story behind our new record... taking music written for a live situation and turning it into an actual record, etc. etc...

Hope you enjoy it.

Thank you for listening.

Peace,

Hammock

Posted By Hammock Music at 7:05 PM
16 Comments:
Anonymous Nicholas Nature said...

I'm digging the new tracks guys. Can't wait to get it.
10:39 AM

Anonymous Wes M. said...

Talk about ambient brilliance.

"We will say goodbye to everyone" and "This kind of life keeps breaking your heart" are two of the best ambient pieces I've ever heard. Amazing.

No fillers anywhere on the disc...which isn't a surprise since I've never heard a Hammock filler. Kudos to Marc and Andrew for yet another masterpiece.
1:07 PM

Anonymous Josh Friesen said...

I've bought Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow off of Amazon.com, sorry guys :( ...now I know better. If it's any consolation I also bought if from iTunes (I couldn't wait for it to be shipped!!). I have several copies... I keep one at home, one at work, one in the car... I can't get enough!! Thank you for your beautiful work, it enriches my day and night.
6:52 PM

Blogger Manolache Ionut said...

Hello Marc, I'm stunned by the new material you guys created. Epic... It just makes me dream on forever... I hope I could come one day to a future live performance, it would be so out of this world to watch you guys play. God bless you and take care.
4:17 PM

Blogger Jer (Common Child) said...

Marc, Andrew, & all of my fellow Hammock/Byrdwatchers,

I love the new album! I admit that it took a little time to grow on me since it initially seemed to lack the melodic backbone of K and RYV...TTSAE. But every time I hear it I become more fond of its pristine and often staggering beauty. And have you guys checked out the 7.4 (I think) review at Pitchfork? This is the 2nd time now that PF, the illustrious and notoriously brutal dissector of all sorts of obscure albums, has given a pretty-much-rave review of a Hammock album. I love it! What a great piece of publicity. I hope that with PF's help, as well as Jonsi's collaboration, this album makes you guys a nice chunk of change, Marc and Andrew, and gives you the leverage to make plenty more albums in the future...

One more thing... I just discovered a wonderful little band that you may all already know about (I know Marc does) called Stars of the Lid... bought their album "And Their Refinement of the Decline" at the Electric Fetus as I passed thru Duluth, MN, and WOW! Only listened to 1 disc so far (I like to pleasure-delay), but what a knockout.

Oh, and I'm heading to Bonnaroo to see (among many, many other) Sigur Ros, who will be playing their new stuff! New album releases 6/23 and features many gleefully naked adults running through pastoral settings... order online thru their site for only $12 including shipping!

Oh, and one more thing (so much to get caught up on!), I finally after many years of anticipation saw a live performance by the eminent songwriter of our time... of course I mean Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters and Sun Kil Moon, who's touring SKM's new album, "April." Saw him in Minneapolis and man oh man was he as good as ever. Just such a brilliant songwriter and one of my favorite voices as well. Even played my favorite Kozelek song of all time, "Sun Kil Moon"! If any of you haven't yet acquainted yourselves with the Koz, you have an incredible amount to look forward to... 15 years' worth of emotionally dense songs that will just absolutely floor you.

And My Morning Jacket releases their new album tomorrow! Holy cow what a monumental month this is turning out to be in my musical journey!! : )

later on everyone,
Jeremy Wingert, aka "Jer"
outofthefierceparade79@yahoo.com
3:55 PM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

the new album is awesome. glad i found out about y'all. come down to charleston, sc sometime.
1:14 PM

Blogger orbit over luna said...

Hi Marc and Andrew,
I don't have the new album yet, but soon! I just have a question about one of the song titles on the new album.
I have been learning Japanese for about 1. 5 years now, so I'm still a beginner, but the song 'Mono No Aware' looks to me to be Japanese in structure. Is this true?
If so, a translation of it would be something like "The Sorrow of Things".
I listened to the track on your MySpace site and it would certainly fit the mood.
Beautiful music guys!
9:09 AM

Anonymous Tim said...

I have a question and it is kind of a personal favor. Can you tell me anything about the composition (philosophically, emotionally, spiritually, in totality) of "City In The Dust On My Window"? It is my favorite track on the album; it moves me like no other. I only listen to it on my home stereo, yet I hear it everywhere I go (in the air or atmosphere or something like that) and I don't think it is just the memory of it playing in my head; I really do hear it at times during the day. I hope that doesn't sound too strange....
Thanks for doing what you do.
My email is scumtim@mac.com
11:40 AM

Blogger Hammock Music said...

orbit over luna,

yes, my understanding is that mono no aware means "the sadness of things." thanks for the kind words.

marc
9:08 AM

Blogger Hammock Music said...

jeremy,

sorry it's taken a while to comment. if you want to see the a clip of us opening for stars of the lid in DC go to hammockmusic.com and click on media and then go to movies. I'm glad you discovered them. They're brilliant.
9:10 AM

Blogger Hammock Music said...

Tim,

City in the Dust on My Window has a personal meaning as well as a general definition. The general definition is that things are constantly changing. Change involves decay as well as rebirth. The dust on my window contains particles of the city. The city (us and everything) are in a constant state of flux. Appearing and then disappearing. That's a very quick description. As for my personal definition--only a few close people to me know about this one. Hope this gives you an idea of what we were thinking when we came up with the title.

thanks,
marc
9:18 AM

OpenID davidsantistevan said...

Absolutely loving this album, guys. It brings such a sense of peace. I hope to make music as beautiful as this.
3:30 PM

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm flying tonight... i'm voice, i'm vapour, i'm nothing... i disappear...
11:26 PM

Anonymous Wes M. said...

So, we heard about "News Pt. 1" back in November. What is "News Pt. 2"? The second album release this year?

I tried to be patient, but I just had to ask. :)

btw, the new Mogwai is lovely.
5:08 PM

Anonymous Tim said...

I saw Sigur Ros in Denver on Saturday night at Red Rocks. The show was amazing, of course. What I wasn't expecting to hear that caught my attention was the music being played on the loudspeakers during the time between the opening band and Sigur Ros. Who was it? Our beloved Hammock! They had "84,000 Hymns" on repeat.
8:49 AM

Blogger Christopher said...

"City in the Dust of My Window" was a song I first heard traveling on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior in Ontario. It was nothing short of a religious experience and matches the rugged and pristine environment like a match made in heaven. Hammock creates music that naturally fits the most splendid landscapes of our world, yet it is down to earth and connects deeply with the human spirit. Hammock's music is a special gift and I'm very fortunate to have been introduced to it.
1:14 PM

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Hammock Music NEWS FEED<< (copy link)

albums for sale

 


maybe

1. Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow

Purchase Now<<

or iTunes

raising

1. Raising Your Voice...
Trying to Stop an Echo

Purchase Now<<

or iTunes

sleep over series
2. The Sleep Over Series Volume 1

The Sleepover Series Vol. 1 is a record of beatless, ambient,  atmospheric soundscapes.  It's called Sleepover because it is  extremely dreamy and contemplative, consisting mostly of ambient  guitar with a few keyboards thrown in.  Hammock has one track on the  record, but the rest was written, recorded and performed by Marc Byrd.

NEW $10.00
Purchase Now<<

endless sky3. Stranded Under Endless Sky: EP Only $4.99

Purchase Now <<

or iTunes

kenotic4. Kenotic - Debut
Only $9.99

Purchase Now <<

or iTunes

>>TWO ALBUMS FOR One PRICE

2 Albums
Purchase Stranded Under Endless Sky and Kenotic together for only $12.00
Purchase Now<<
>>OTHER SPECIALS

2 Albums
Purchase the limited edition Stranded Under Endless Sky Vinyl for only $4.00
Purchase Now<<
>>New Release

raising
Raising Your Voice...
Trying to Stop an Echo

Purchase Now<<

>>Reviews

Chosen by Echoes listeners as a Top 25 release of 2006, named by Echoes as Top 25 Essential CD of 2006, and Echoes CD of the Month for January, 2007

Pick of the week for Filter Magazine and cited as a Top 10 release for 2006

"Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo" is a massive artistic statement. A Gravity¹s Rainbow of ambient chamber rock, it defies the iTunization of the world. You want to hear the whole thing, slipping it on, cranking up the volume and riding it into an infinite sunset. A dream guitar masterpiece" --John Diliberto, Host, Echoes

Named #2 in Silent Ballet's Top 50 Instrumental Releases of 2006. "Hammock follows up its debut album with another collection of utterly indescribable and magnificent songs...This is music that seeps deeply into the pores and goes straight for the heart...Brilliant only begins to scratch the surface..." --The Silent Ballet

9/10. This longing, melodic, melancholic, and thoughtful texture that seems to tug at one¹s heartstrings from start to finishŠIt¹s the type of music that hits you in the gut immediately, Nothing about this album is less than Grade A+ material. It's an album that forces one to reflect on both the highs and lows in one¹s life.² ­Pop Matters

Throughout the eighteen tracks there is a glorious stillness to be found, even when the drums turn the album into a shoegazing masterpiece, the guitars throwing lazy shapes (and the occasional shadow) across the tunes Opening track 'I Can Almost See You' is as beautiful as anything you have heard this year, an album that is best appreciated when heard in its entirety, although it can be neatly summarised by listening to 'Floating Away In Every Direction', the title speaks volumes and the music perfectly matches the sentiments, but don¹t take my word for it, go and get your own copy and be transported. ­Simon Lewis, Terrascope

Waves of glimmering Cocteau Twins-like guitar traverse over barren landscapes, twinkling like nearby constellations. It is at once distant and extremely joyous, a life affirming, yet somehow Zen-like expression of mood and of depthŠIt's a lot to take in, and each minute is profoundly emotive and heartbreaking. Hammock may require patience, but those who possess it will be rewarded in spades.² ­Jeff Terich, Treble Magazine

Hammock's brand of musical expression is honest, patient, meticulous and acknowledging of the warm-blooded nature of its listeners. It stirs the soul like little other music that's out there in this day in age.² ­Luke Daniel Rush, Sound the Sirens

"The Hammock sound is unique; harsh yet beautiful, and curiously satisfying while still leaving one wanting more. Raising Your Voice is a work of genius by a duo who are pathfinders in guitar based drone ambience. It's essential listening for anyone interested in ambient music." --Dene Bebbington, Melliflua

"Hammock's sad, epic music bathes the listener in multi-tracked electric guitars swimming in a sea of reverb and gentle distortion, sometimes alone, sometimes with piano, cello and/or a steady rock backbeat. It's a somber, fuzzy sound but crucially a melodic one too, with an appeal to both electronic ambient and indie rock listeners." --Ambient Music Guide

"Just when you thought this amazing band could not attain the splendid heights of their previous efforts, they go ahead and release a jaw dropping disc of pure sonic BLISS at the end of 2006! Not since the golden days of Brian Eno has an artist created devastatingly beautiful atmospheres that transport you in a dreamlike state beyond the stars..." --Dark Symphonies "5/5. Gorgeous. Stunning. Sublime! Deserves no distractions or interuptions from barking dogs, people talking and general noise pollution. A candidate for best ethereal rock record of the year." --Kenyon Hopkin, Advance Copy

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