ofl-blog

Élan O'Neal releases “Subterranean Cartography” for free download!

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:15:33 +0100

Élan O'Neal releases “Subterranean Cartography” for free download!

Élan O'Neal, the musician behind the one man ambient project, Old Forgotten Lands has recorded and released a full-length concept album entitled "Subterranean Cartography" under a different project name. The album has been made available for free streaming and download on Hypnotic Dirge Records, as well as released as a limited edition physical edition through Swaptkult Productions.

Regarding the motivation and inspiration for writing this album, Élan had this to say:

"Subterranean Cartography was created almost immediately upon an

instant whim of inspiration, drawn from complementary forces of

oceanic research and fascination. Add this to the fact that I went out

and bought a new synthesizer, and the rest is history.

Thoroughly recorded through sleepless nights all within one week, this

album ended up being one of the most personal and ambitious projects I

have yet to embark on, as the culmination of my fascination married

well into my will to try out new textures and elements I had yet to

embed into my music.

Conceptually, I was amazed by my experiences in my research and wished

to create a soundtrack for the vivid pictures which now struck my

psyche: miniscule ocean life following seasonal, almost telepathic

electromagnetic paths mapped out by forces which extend to the stars.

From the deeps to the skies, our universe is intricately connected,

and its mysteries are many... much of which lies in the underwater

crevices of our own earth.

This album is dedicated to the research, preservation, and wonders of

our surrounding seas."

LINKS
FREE STREAMING
FREE ALBUM DOWNLOAD
BUY CD

'Sense' by Elan O'Neal

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:16:40 +0100

This text piece was originally written for the latest HDR Compilation album 'Desolation. Dissonance. Delirium.' which was released digitally on December 8th, 2011 and is available to download for free HERE

Sense - By: Elan O'Neal

An eagle calls, and I awaken to a chill.

The winter nears, it seems, as the coarse, unwashed hairs on my arms indicate by their standing on end.

My vision has become clear as my senses have declared my domestication senseless.

I arise from my bed upon the threshing floor the coyotes had abandoned the year before. The first sinews of sunlight are filtered through the breaks of the treeline.

A jagged horizon is now less visible in the fog which brings the cold.

I wipe the unwanted dew off of the carcass I had slain the night before.

Desperation has given way to bloodlust.

As I consume my frozen leftovers, I recall a vivid memory of a house.

My modern existence. My ease. My world on a platter. My dissatisfaction.

I remember the ease of survival, and taking my existence for granted.

I remember hating my very existence.

Through my growing hair, my thickening skin, my calloused soles, and my shrinking stomach, I feel what it is like to exist. To know each day that I had lived another night. I am naked and utterly alone, The only music in my head is the sound of the flies finishing what I do not, and the juxtaposition of owls and crickets in the deep night.

Tonight I will make a fire, in the thin winds and dampening dew. It will be a difficult task, but it must happen. I cannot, and will not, fail.

Every sound in the dark thicket could be the last thing I ever hear. I must sleep knowing this. I must not strive for life as the weak do, but take it as I live it. I am equally as vulnerable as any creature I have killed myself.

I am terrified, yet I am hardened. My past does not matter. The future does not matter. All that matters is that I am living.

All this is a manifestation of dreams...

Old Forgotten Lands - Primal [Album press release]

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:16:09 +0100

HDR - 021 : Old Forgotten Lands - Primal
Release Date: March 10th, 2012

"Thousands of years after the creation of the earth, humanity is hopelessly lost. In a sea of synthetic fabrications and ways of life that are impenetrable, one cannot even hope to find fulfillment without stressors to hinder it.

However, the earth still cycles as it always has, and the rains and snow have destroyed as much as it has created. In true chaos, nature has an order. In this order, one can come to a haunting conclusion: that nature's simplicity is just as prominent as its confusion, and yet its ways have surpassed ours a thousandfold for aeons.

In order for us to find what is fulfilling beyond ourselves, we need to look beyond what our selves have crafted. We need to look not after ourselves, but before ourselves. We must not look toward the advanced for fulfillment, as it has lead us only to dread. We must long for a time that is primal in nature.

We must find meaning in the unpredictable. We must learn to savor every bated breath we possess, to be grateful for scarce food, to feel intimidation in the midst of great storms, to hunt before we are hunted ourselves, and to know that our enemies just might kill us. When we take all of our advancements, protection, and strongholds away from ourselves, the bitterness of life all of the sudden will become sweeter.

The 'Primal' album is an experimental, yet bound group of works based off of this concept, and was crafted using a plethora of real, organic instruments and featured collaborations with prolific, kindred spirits that were mostly recorded outdoors, as they should be. The results were haunting... "

-Elan O'Neal

New Song uploaded, New Concepts

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:14:32 +0100

I have uploaded a new Old Forgotten Lands song onto the myspace player:

Old Forgotten Land - Hour of the Wolf

Please have a listen to this new track from Old Forgotten Lands, as it shows the new direction of the project, from synth-based ambient music, to a more organic sound using a variety of different ethnic instruments, vocals and acoutic guitars.

Feat. Special Guest - Bjorn Tunsberg

Elan O'Neal - (of OFL) is working on a new full-length album with the working title 'Primal' which will be released in early 2011 through Hypnotic Dirge Records.

Here are some new photos documenting the project:

Visit Old Forgotten Lands HERE

Here is a album update from OFL member - Elan O'Neal

So, upon a visit to my homelands, I had an intense session with some folks you may have heard from, at a place I have always felt a strong nostalgic connection to.

One of them being mister 'forwardslash' from Njiqahhda, one being Ascaris of NTRLWRM/..Nagasaki Grotesque/..Suncarcass, and one being Jon from Footpaths/..Bergtagen. My wife even got in on it.

I must say, friends, that this, along with my collaborations with Bjørn of Requiem Nocturne, is shaping up to be one extremely exciting collection of songs. This album will represent many memories, sessions, thoughts, and visuals.

Keep a lookout for it; I have perhaps one more track to do before I send everything out to Hypnotic Dirge Records for release.

Plans are already in the works for a future release, and it seems I am going to be collaborating with Draumar for a split. Until then, though, this will be my priority.

Sincerely,

-E.

New Album Update 06/28/2010

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:14:25 +0100

So, upon a visit to my homelands, I had an intense session with some folks you may have heard from, at a place I have always felt a strong nostalgic connection to.

One of them being mister 'forwardslash' from Njiqahhda, one being Ascaris of NTRLWRM/Nagasaki Grotesque/Suncarcass, and one being Jon from Footpaths/Bergtagen. My wife even got in on it.

Keep a lookout for it; I have perhaps one more track to do before I send everything out to Hypnotic Dirge Records for release.

Plans are already in the works for a future release, and it seems I am going to be collaborating with Draumar for a split. Until then, though, this will be my priority.

Sincerely,

-E.

Old Forgotten Lands joins Hypnotic Dirge Records

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 06:13:34 +0100

Statement from Elan O'Neal (March 8th, 2010)

"Old Forgotten Lands is proud to announce its recent signing with Hypnotic Dirge Records.

The project has much to owe to its previous label affiliate EEE Recordings, as it had grown and cultivated the project for its beginning years, but due to unforeseen circumstances, EEE Recordings and Old Forgotten Lands have been forced to part ways. I must note that it is a mutual agreement, and that E. and I are on good terms, and that I still wish to promote that label as much as possible.

However, upon closing a chapter in this project's history, a new page must be opened. Upon deciding which label to choose to continue the manifestation of this project, Hypnotic Dirge was a natural first choice. With the collaborative split album release of last year that I did with this label, not only was I extremely satisfied with the end result, but I felt as if the label was responsible and professional.

The new material you will hear from Old Forgotten Lands will draw very little parallels to that of the first album, and will have more in common with folk and world music than the synthetic sound of the past. With the introduction of new instruments and concepts, it will retain its theme and atmosphere, but will also have a new body.

The future of this project looks promising..."