Thomas Truax releases November In Berlin from his Monthly Journal Project

Thomas Truax finishes penultimate track "November In Berlin" from his Monthly Journal project.

The full compiled album will be released in January on Truax's imprint Psychoteddy Records and licensed to London-based BLANG records for the UK.

Some words from Thomas in Berlin:

What a crazed life I've had recently, leading up to this. Like some kind of science fiction film I've felt like my spaceship was being sucked slowly but surely (through a kaleidoscopic 2001-style tunnel of Lava Lamp goo) towards the black hole of a future which involved my departure from my beloved home in the UK, due to my work-visa limit being maxed. Like most of us these days, I live too complicated a life. The best I could do as the craft rattled and shook more violently the closer we got to that deadline, was to do my best to batten down the hatches and make whatever ad-hoc repairs to try and keep the thing together. "She's breaking up captain!" would ring in the back of my head at various points daily. Repairing old Winston (my car), tying up business loose-ends and preparing for the album release, the pledgemusic drive, packing and sorting out places to stay in this 'Mainland', and the Hornicator not lending a hand in any of it (!)

So...we've made it through the black hole, and out the other side is Berlin. It's cold and dark and I may not have my London laboratory or some of my fancier outboard recording gear. But I've got the essentials: my Hornicator, Winston, my Casio PT-20, some liquid aminos. And WFMU, possibly the best radio station ever, streams live on the internet.

As it gets dark so early, and I tend to rise late, I've taken to getting out and exploring before the sun goes down. Getting lost. Letting the little green GDR Ampelmännchen light my way. There's been a few gigs and parties, but usually I find my way back to the rented room in Neükolln (that I currently call home) to work on recordings and business at night. It's good to be piecing some vague sense of routine back into my days, even if part of that routine is getting lost. I started November's installment of the Monthly Journal album before leaving London and have completed it here. It's a mostly instrumental track that documents the bend in this road, and the trepidation and Lava Lamp goo I was talking about.

I'm loving Berlin so far. Today I saw this fully-suited astronaut sitting alone in Görlitzer park. It comforted me. I'm not the only one from somewhere-out-there lost in this alien landscape.

I've had the Mamas n' Pappas 'California Dreaming' haunting my head regularly since I've left England. I guess it's because all the leaves are brown.

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Photo credit: Chris Saunders

"November In Berlin" is currently available via Thomas Truax's ongoing Pledge Music campaign: Thomas Truax on Pledge Music

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