A review of PAST the album by Paul G. Stewart
Band camp: https://paulgstewart.bandcamp.com/album/past
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/paulgstewart
If you don’t make it to the end, I want to say I really like this album. If you are a fan of Boards of Canada, ambient music, or even Air, you will find something in it. It’s an amazingly rich, layered piece of work. Don’t be fooled by the six-song track list; there is a lot of music here. The songs start off in one place and twist and turn until they reach their final destination. I bought my copy off Bandcamp. I don’t really stream stuff; I try to buy music, ideally direct from the artist (I’m lucky I can afford that, I know). Paul has it up for £1, which is a bargain; that wouldn’t even get you a coffee in Greggs. Bung him a bit more if you can.
I’ve been aware of Paul Stewart’s work for a few years. Paul is a musician and producer, living around the Paisley area. He’s been posting tantalizing clips and demos for years. I’ve loved his ambient work; it comes with an intriguing sense of place and atmosphere. So I was excited to see that he was releasing an album titled PAST. I went onto Paul’s Bandcamp and signed up for the pre-release, noting that it had been a while since his last output.
Fast forward to a couple of nights ago. Sam and I were travelling back from Barrowlands having witnessed the joyful assault on the senses that was the Self Esteem gig. The turnoff to the M8 was blocked, and we ended up travelling the back streets of Glasgow on our way to Renfrewshire. Remembering it was PAST’s release day, I suggested that we listen on the way home.
I thought a good place to start would be terms of reference… that is tricky. Yes, there was some ambient music and some sound effects, but it is a complex mix of influences: a smattering of the Beta Band, even some Yes/Vangelis, some traditional folk, Boards of Canada, the odd bit of Steely Dan, a bit of 1970s prog rockers Tangerine Dream, early Beck. At one point, I swear there was a bit of reggae in there. Did I mention folk?
There is also an eclectic mix of instruments: keyboards, synths, what sounds like a junk shop acoustic guitar, and mandolin… to name a few. Paul pulled this all together into something that sounds very current yet timeless. Acoustic instruments start off as one thing and slowly get pulled apart and disintegrate as a song progresses. Where you end up isn’t always apparent from where you start. In less skilled hands, this could have been a real mess, but Paul weaves all of these elements beautifully into a wonderful collection of unique songs.
The big welcome addition is Paul’s singing. The musical arrangements are big and complex, and Paul sings/talks gently—nice to hear the Scottish accent used. The music could swamp the voice, but they work well with each other.
Reviewing during a car journey didn’t completely work out. In between the car heating, wheels-on-the-road noise, and chat about the Self Esteem gig, I missed a lot. In headphones, PAST is a really different beast; it’s multi-layered. Washes of sound build up layer by layer. They subtly change and shift over the course of the song, and rather than fading, they strip away, disintegrating as they fall away from the tune. I walk a lot… all part of managing my diabetes (slowly) burning off sugar. PAST is an ideal walking companion.
- “Down with the sun”: I confess I struggled with it initially; it’s possibly the least accessible of the tunes on the album, and it took me a few goes to get into. It is multi-layered with a great bass riff in the middle. I like it, but I would argue that it’s a tough one to start off with.
- “Running in circles”: It starts as a very different thing, a gentle guitar riff. “…I want to live as some kind of ghost.” There are hints of stories and relationships throughout PAST; the weather and seasons are often mentioned. The song has a really interesting fade-out… it doesn’t really fade; it more disintegrates like a fading memory, or an old VHS that has been played to destruction.
- “Forest Waterfall”: This is more familiar territory from what I know of Paul’s work. Instrumental, ambient, it builds and falls. There are some water sound effects… really evocative, great atmosphere.
- “91”: This is a mini-symphony. It builds to monumental bass solos, breaks down to tiny whispers, and bird song.
- “Pillow”: It starts off with a subtle collection of ominous tones and a dark beat with an overlay of icy keyboard, which moves to a lovely, lighter, more positive tone. Again, it hints at a relationship. The end is a mix of broken beats and scratching. It is a surprise when it finishes. This was my favourite track.
All in all, PAST is a hugely ambitious piece of work. It’s full of ideas, lovely tunes, and great arrangements. It sounds like a labour of love, and the fact that he has put it up on Bandcamp for a quid is a total bargain… less than a vegan sausage roll. I hope it does well, whatever “doing well” in the music business means these days. Go listen.
