The sonic landscape delves into the artist’s personal experiences with sleep paralysis, now accompanied by two crucial remixes.
Richie Culver: “With Alive in the living room I wanted to present a sonic landscape that unfolds into three parts that make up aspects of sleep paralysis,
Something I have lived with all of my adult life.
Instead of fighting against it.
Going with it and seeing where it may lead.
Instead of fighting to wake up.
Fall deeper into it.
I could never speak or shout for help in moments of paralysis during sleep so I decided to put no vocals onto this body of work.
Letting the 27 minutes of improvised DIY music dictate the space that would be the Bleak terrain of dead dreams.
After making the music I decided to write a short poem to describe what Sleep paralysis is to me.
Pulling off my fingernails, being ridiculed and scabs the won’t heal are a common thread into where my subconscious takes me in my moments of dead sleep.
Facing my obscure fears head-on and waking up to a nothingness that is the sofa in my Mothers living room.
Questioning what just happened ?
Who am I ?
What am I ?”
A 27-min sound mass on CD and handwritten hymnbook by Richie Culver. The sonic landscape delves into the artist’s personal experiences with sleep paralysis, a condition he has lived with throughout his adult life. The improvised sound piece sets a “Bleak terrain of dead dreams,”—vocals intentionally omitted to echo Culver’s speechlessness during paralysis. The poem, which would have been spoken word, is instead meant to be read by the reader/listener themselves, and describes his subconscious experiences evoking discomfort and vulnerability. The book features the original handwritten poem by Richie Culver, presented in both English and Arabic.
artist Richie Culver
title Alive in the Living Room – على قيد الحياة في غرفة القعدة
remixers Pessimist, bod ([包家巷]
label Drowned By Locals
date 22nd September 2023
format digital | limited edition Hardcover Hymnbook & CD
Producer: Richie Culver
Master: Rashad Becker
Video: Allen Golder-Carpenter
Tracklist:
1. Richie Culver – Alive in the Living Room
Remixes:
1. Alive in the Living Room (Pessimist Remix)
2. Alive in the Living Room (bod ([包家巷] Remix)
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