We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Spirit Photographs

by Gillian Stone

/
  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Limited first pressing of Spirit Photographs on black 12" 180g vinyl. Includes matte cardboard jacket with spine that features photography by Joel Gale and design by Gillian Stone and John M. Hall. Labels include images of work by Romanian bone carver Victor Seiche. Comes with white dust sleeve and packaged in clear plastic.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Spirit Photographs via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 3 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $20 CAD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $12 CAD  or more

     

1.
June 04:21
I dropped off the weight for you. I wrapped it in cloth and truth. It was burning a hole in my pocket after pounding the pavement in June. I stopped the clock on you, wilted by heat and sonic perfume. A wall of words that I couldn’t see through in the warmth of the pavement in June. I dropped off the weight and grew away from the wall to the west of you. I smelled like truth and your shampoo in the warmth of the pavement in June.
2.
Amends 04:23
I felt you under my breath… Somewhere, somewhere you are out there breathing. That’s all that I really know. A memory: I stumbled, I’d been drinking. I couldn’t stand to be seen. A memory, a bar in the Old City, too haunted to hope. I felt you under my breath… In my 20’s, filled with piss and pining, filled with limerence and grieving leaving my body at the door. A memory: afraid of all your victories, I stumbled on my words. I was angry, and in you I made an enemy – I didn’t mean to I’m sorry. I felt you under my breath, growling, mewling in my chest. A fountain of youth I whetted then left. Regret is a wily muse, but I’ll name it out loud.
3.
Raven's Song 04:58
Raven’s Song, I’m stilling hanging on. I hold a torch for a devil, I saw his eyes. I hold a torch for a devil and the burning won’t die. Raven’s Song, I’m stilling hanging on. I’ll take the torch to the river in the dead of night. I’ll take the torch to the river, that blinding burning light. Raven’s Song, I’m stilling hanging on. I will drown in the river to snuff its life. Drowning in the river to stay alive. Raven’s Song, I’m stilling hanging on.
4.
Solitude 06:20
My name it means nothing My fortune is less My future is shrouded in dark wilderness Sunshine is far away, clouds linger on Everything I possessed – now they are gone O where can I go to and what can I do? Nothing can please me only thoughts are of you You just laughed when I begged you to stay I've not stopped crying since you went away The world is a lonely place – you're on your own Guess I will go home – sit down and moan. Crying and thinking is all that I do Memories I have remind me of you
5.
The Throne 05:08
The Throne of a siren song becoming me. And I know that it won’t be long. Come find me. He’s peaceful and fast asleep, I’m drowning. And I know that it won't be long. Come find me. Lead me. Lead me to the dock and wrap me round the ankles, throw me in a water that I can’t afford to drink. I think we’ll have a daughter and name her by his father. I’m so afraid of the water that I can’t afford to think. Lead me to the dock and lock me round the ankles, I’m bleeding and I’m honest – what if I can’t breathe? “I think we’ll have another” is something I can’t suffer. I’ve suffered and I’ve suffered and his hand is helping me. The Throne. Cut me from the dock and lift me from the water, my mind is untoward and it sends me out to sea. I love him, oh I love him, I kissed him round the ankles, I nuzzled at his skirts as he pulled me from the sea. He took me to his garden wild with reeds and Chardon. He took me to his Throne and he sat down beside me. The water was below him, it pooled around this Throne and I’m so used to being alone now, what if I can’t breathe? The Throne.

about

Spirit Photographs is a post-rock/drone folk concept album about grief. Each of the five songs represents one of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ stages: denial (“June”), anger (“Amends”), bargaining (“Raven’s Song”), depression (“Solitude”, a Black Sabbath cover from the seminal Master of Reality), and acceptance (“The Throne”). Through this model, I explore processing the personal turmoil of my mental health disability in an era of collective trauma. The title is inspired by spirit photography, a spiritualist practice that was popular after the Spanish Flu. The medium claimed to show spirits and ghosts of dead family members behind the portrait’s subject.

Despite its melancholic subject matter, the album is about strength. It is an exercise in naming ghosts in order to vanquish them. Its purpose is to capture a triumphant portrait of grief with the intended outcome of demonstrating metamorphosis through acceptance of struggle, turning the narrative of suffering upside down.

credits

released November 18, 2022

Gillian Stone – vocals, guitars, bass, synthesizers
Michael Peter Olsen – e-cello, synthesizers
Spencer Cole – drums, electronic percussion and additional synthesizers on “Raven’s Song”

All songs written by Gillian Stone (SOCAN) except “Solitude”, written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward © 1971. Used with permission from Essex Music International Inc.

Produced by Michael Peter Olsen and Gillian Stone in Uncomfortable Silence in Toronto.
Engineered and mixed by Michael Peter Olsen.
Electric guitar on “The Throne” and drums recorded at Union Sound Company, engineered by Chris Stringer and assisted by Darren McGill.
Electronic percussion and additional synthesizers on “Raven’s Song” recorded by Spencer Cole.
Mastered by David Travers-Smith.
Art direction by Gillian Stone.
Photography by Joel Gale and assisted by Danielle Fried.
Album cover designed at the Church of the Unholy Cacophony by John M. Hall and Gillian Stone.

This project was made possible by the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Gillian Stone Toronto, Ontario

Vocally driven post rock drone folk textures that weave through gigantic feelings.

contact / help

Contact Gillian Stone

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Gillian Stone, you may also like: