The Obscurants

This time tomorrow I will be sailing over to Ireland to start work on the new Alternative 4 album 'The Obscurants', then heading straight out on tour at the end of the month. The recording sessions take place at Transmission Rooms studio in County Longford where we recorded the drums for The Brink (which will be re-released by Prophecy Productions on November 23rd). The studio now have the actual Neumann U47 and U87 microphones previously owned by John Lennon, which he used on the Imagine album. We'll keep you updated over on http://alt4.blogspot.com and the Alternative 4 forum, and I'll do an extensive write-up here once the tour is over.

Tracklisting is as follows:-

The Obscurants

Theme For The Obscurantist
Chilling Effects
Returning The Screw
Paracosm
Lifeline
Dina
The Tragedy Shield
Mr Black
Closure




Winter tour dates
November 30th - The Pint - Dublin, Republic Of Ireland
December 1st - Lakei - Helmond, The Netherlands
December 2nd - Baroeg - Rotterdam, The Netherlands (early show)
December 3rd - Romein - Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
December 5th - Bar Loose - Helsinki, Finland
December 6th - TheARTer Galerie - Berlin, Germany (semi-acoustic set)*
December 7th - Pod Minogą - Poznan, Poland *
December 8th - Od zmerzchu do świtu - Wroclaw, Poland *
December 9th - Antycafe - Krakow, Poland *


special guests:-

Lost Paradise (Dublin)
Fourteen Twentysix (Helmond & Rotterdam)
*Johnny Cronin & The Aftermath (Berlin & Poland)
(EchO) - (Poland)

In-depth interview

Heres an in-depth interview that I did a while back with Pro-Rock Bulgaria, which explains a lot of subjects that I'm constantly quizzed about.


Congratulations on your new album with Alternative 4. Of course, the first question is - why did you pick that name?

DP: Basically I had to find a name for this new band, and Alternative 4 just stood out. At first I was thinking 'oh god I know what this is going to attract' but I also realised that, as well as being a great band name, I could use this opportunity to clear up over a decade of rumours and being asked the same thing time and time again. The more I think of it the more I appreciate the title, its mysterious without being clichéd plus it suits the music, and you have to remember that not everyone on the planet is obsessed with Anathema.


Follow the rest of the interview here:-

http://autumnsphere.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/interview-with-duncan-patterson.html

ALTERNATIVE 4 - The Brink (2CD+DVD Digipak)

Ready to pre-order from Prophecy Productions.

http://shop.prophecy.de/product_info.php?language=en&info=p1326_ALTERNATIVE-4---The-Brink--2CD-DVD-Digipak-.html

Release date: 23.11.2012


Alternative 4 is Duncan Patterson's (ex-Anathema, ex-Antimatter, Íon) latest brainchild. With the band name derived from the eponymous Anathema album from 1998, the musical and atmospheric direction of this band is given: a solid rock foundation enriched with painful piano and string arrangements, sometimes on the verge of ambient music, sometimes offering the big influence of the rather dark and abysmal side of Pink Floyd. All this can already be witnessed on last year's debut album "The Brink" which now receives its re-release including additional bonus material to mark the beginning of Alternative 4’s and Prophecy’s future collaboration.



The limited digipak edition of “The Brink” does not only contain the full album but also a bonus CD including three remixes and seven live songs (recorded in Istanbul, Turkey) plus a bonus DVD featuring the professional video clips of the songs “False Light” and “Underlooked” as well as a live clip of “Still Waters”.




Tracklist:
CD1 - "The Brink"
1. The Brink
2. False Light
3. Alternate
4. Underlooked
5. Still Waters
6. The Dumbing Down
I The Travesty Waltz
II Steakknife's Theme
III Silent Approved
7. Automata
8. Autonoma
9. The Brink (Reprise)

CD21. False Light (Alternate Mix)
2. Underlooked (Underhorse Mix)
3. The Brink (Heartspider Mix)
Live In Istanbul, Turkey
4. The Brink
5. False Light
6. Alternative 4
7. Eternity (part II)
8. Still Waters
9. Reality Clash
10. The Brink (Reprise)

DVD
1. False Light
2. Underlooked
3. Still Waters (live)

Alternative 4 - False Light video now online

Official promo video for ALTERNATIVE 4 - 'False Light' (from the album The Brink)

Credits:
Actor: Vasco Queiroz | Director: Luís Rolo | Assistant Director: António Freixo | Second Unit: Hugo Moreira | Production Manager: Rui Gil

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nECrfT2fIdg&feature=youtu.be

Pre-order "The Brink" :HERE

The Brink reissue

On November 23rd, Alternative 4's 2011 debut "The Brink" is going to be reissued via Prophecy Productions. This marks the first release of the band for the label before next year, they will hand in their second album "The Obscurants".
The premium edition comes in digipak format along with both a bonus CD and DVD, the former containing a concert performance recorded in Istanbul as well as three previously unreleased remixes of album tracks, the latter two music videos for "Underlooked" and "False Light" plus a live video of "Still Waters".
The budget edition as usual comes in a jewel cases with a reduced booklet.

Alternative 4 European tour 2012:

30.11.'12 IRE - Dublin / The Pint
01.12.'12 NL - Helmond / Lakei
02.12.'12 NL - Rotterdam / Baroeg

03.12.'12 NL - Leeuwarden / venue TBA
05.12.'12 FIN - Helsinki / Bar Loose
06.12.'12 DE - Berlin / TheARTer Galerie (semi-acoustic concert)
07.12.'12 PL - Poznan / Pod Minoga
08.12.'12 PL - Wroclaw / Od zmerzchu do switu
09.12.'12 PL - Krakow / Antycafe

Singer/guitarist wanted

Singer/guitarist wanted to add to the Alternative 4 line-up: UK/Ireland based.
Influences from Pink Floyd, Scott Walker, Nick Cave, to Fugazi
email info@duncanpatterson.com

The Brink vinyl competition

For a chance to win a copy of Alternative 4 - The Brink double vinyl edition, send an email to the address below :-

What is your favourite song off The Brink? And why?

competition@duncanpatterson.com
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In other news, we are booked into Transmission Rooms Studio in Ireland for the second Alternative 4 album 'The Obscurants' at the beginning of November. Tracklisting is as follows:-

Theme For The Obscurantist
Chilling Effects
Returning The Screw
Paracosm
Lifeline
Dina
The Tragedy Shield
Mr Black
Closure


"Disclosure of the truth is part of ensuring that justice will be done, but it does not replace justice."

Tour poster 2012

Alternative 4 - European tour 2012

We are touring again this winter in Europe. I know its early to announce dates, but its handy for booking budget flights in advance and that. More dates and venues to be confirmed in the coming weeks. This is the story so far:-

November 30th - The Pint - Dublin, Republic Of Ireland
December 1st - Lakei - Helmond, The Netherlands
December 2nd - Baroeg - Rotterdam, The Netherlands

December 5th - Bar Loose - Helsinki, Finland
December 6th - Berlin, Germany TBA
December 7th - Pod Minogą - Poznan, Poland
December 8th - Od zmerzchu do switu - Wroclaw, Poland
December 9th - Antycafe - Krakow, Poland

Hope to see you there, and if not, please help us out by sharing the dates and passing on info. Thanks in advance!

For all you Facebook addicts here is the Event link https://www.facebook.com/events/441589545874087/

Best wishes!

ALTERNATIVE 4 - The Brink | Deluxe Box Visual Presentation

ALTERNATIVE 4 - The Brink

Deluxe Box
Strictly Limited Edition
2LP + digibook CD + poster + stained-glass
OUT JUNE 2012


Released by Audio Cave.  http://audiocave.pl

Distributed by 8Merch.com

Alternative 4 forum

Visit the new Alternative 4 forum here. Music discussion and a bit of banter. No 'like' buttons or any of that :)
All welcome.

http://alternative4.proboards.com

The Obscurants

Preproduction for the 2nd Alternative 4 album 'The Obscurants' is underway in northern Mexico. Musically it is not as 'extreme' as it's predecessor, as in the drearyness and monotony, but at the same time it's far from conventional rock music. Big dynamics and some epics themes run throughout the album, and again we are using classic instrumentation with more of a nod to the mighty 1970's than before. The general theme deals the intentional covering up of truth, wisdom, and enlightenment. I'll keep it like that for the time being, otherwise this will turn into an essay. Everything is well planned and prepared well in advance, leaving no room for procrastination or any kind of laziness or rock n roll 'missing in action' episodes. Even the artwork is finished already. I'm quite excited about this one, which is rare for me really.

Tracklisting is as follows:-

Theme For The Obscurantist
Chilling Effects
Returning The Screw
Paracosm
Dina
The Tragedy Shield
Mr Black
Disclosure

In other news, we are preparing extra material for the reissue of The Brink, which will be released by our new label Prophecy Productions. This will include live tracks from our European tour in December, remixes and alternate mixes of the album tracks, plus promo videos and live clips. Watch this space for a release date and ordering details.

Best wishes!

Duncan

Sponsored ramble in aid of The Sophie Lancaster Foundation

Mick Moss, myself, and a few others are going on a sponsored ramble in Wales next weekend to raise money for the Sophie Lancaster Foundation. Sophie and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were kicked, stamped on and left unconscious – for nothing more than looking different. Sophie later died from her injuries.

Following the horrific murder of Sophie Lancaster, her family wanted to ensure a lasting legacy to their beautiful, bright creative daughter and so The Sophie Lancaster Foundation was established and it became a registered charity in 2009

The aims and objectives of the Charity are as follows:

• To create a lasting legacy to Sophie.
• To provide educational group-works that will challenge the prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures.
• To campaign to have the UK Hate Crime legislation extended to include people from “alternative subcultures” or “Lifestyle and Dress”

As always, we have set up an online donation page where it's very simple to sponsor and support the cause. https://www.justgiving.com/deevalley2012

Thanks in advance!

Duncan Patterson

Alternative 4 sign to Prophecy Productions

I'm pleased to announce that a long term deal has been signed between Alternative 4 and Prophecy Productions. Teaming up again, ten years since they put the first Antimatter albums into the cosmos. It's good to be back onboard a label who have always had respect for my work, regardless of how obscure or 'uncommercial' it often turns out. In todays musical climate it is difficult to find a decent label who are genuinely focused more on the artistic/innovative side than anything else. For me that is essential as I've no plans to start playing and writing fashionable music as a career move, not unless I do it accidentally that is.

I'm currently working on the second Alternative 4 album 'The Obscurants' which is a concept based around those who deliberately withhold truth, knowledge, and enlightenment from others. It's a slight continuation of the theme from The Brink, which also dealt with the abuse of power. The line up remains the same as The Brink, with Mark Kelson and Mauro Frison in the fold. We plan to record The Obscurants later this year - 2012.


Finally, big thanks to Avantgarde Music for getting the Alternative 4 project off the ground last year. Onwards and upwards!


Duncan Patterson


www.prophecy.cd
www.alternative4.co.uk

The Brink vinyl & digibook

The digibook, and vinyl editions of ALTERNATIVE 4 - The Brink are finally available here:- http://www.audiocave.8merch.com/

Handsome packaging I reckon.

All the best!

Duncan 

Alternative 4 t-shirts

We now have some Alternative 4 shirts in stock. Available in black or grey and featuring the cover art from The Brink. Please email sales@duncanpatterson.com for details if you're interested.

Alternative 4 - 'Underlooked' video

We have a new video from a track from The Brink album - "Underlooked". Directed by Nicolas Giraldon & Mehdi Messouci.

Alternative 4 - Underlooked video - http://vimeo.com/34569122

Underlooked

Chronically underlooked, yet all of it you took
The missing pages from someone elses book
Papered over the cracks in front of their backs
None of you were told to look

Lost you there in the blink of an eye
You took a dive on my blindside, playing for time
Where could I hide in my downtime?

Black lies sigh, aligned across the ocean wide
Im sat five thousand miles away
The fat cat vies to actify her evil eye
Alikened to vile, confined to the backslide

Narrate my case to the flock behind these ragged gates
Parasites lost, stimulated to adulate
Do we imitate as to accumulate?
Or lie in wait till the scapegoat escapes?