The album "Madeira" is now available everywhere!

Thanks to my great distributor, we have a new time record regarding to the release of albums. Already two days ago, the "Madeira" album was available in the largest shops, ie iTunes and GooglePlay. It never went so fast.

So, and there it is. It really took long enough. The work on the oldest piece for the album began already in 2011! But who now thinks "Man, he always needs such a long time for everything!", is completely wrong. Six albums have been released since 2011, including the two first albums of Cimelium. I didn't work fulltime on this album since 2011. It still was a lot of work, all in all. And in my opinion it was worth it. It is a beautiful album.

And here we are at a possible problem: The album is beautiful, it is nice and cheerful. If you now think "Yay! Cimelium released a new album! I must have it!" and buy it at your trusted music dealer, you may be in for a unpleasant surprise. Mesopotamia and especially "Ad Hominem" were rather dark and very serious. "Madeira" comes in some places quite close to Willma Poppen, just from the cheerfulness level. If you like your Cimelium music dark and gloomy, maybe first listen to the album on Spotify or another streaming service. I do not like dissatisfied customers. So, is this cheerful sound the new Cimelium signature sound? No, definitely not. The next Cimelium album, the "continuation" of "Ad Hominem" will be gloomy, dark & serious again. Promised.

And since there are always people who just can't get enough, one or the other will ask: "And when will the next Cimelium album come?" Answer: This will take a LOOONG time, because two Cimelium albums have already been released in the first half of 2017 and now it's the turn of the two other music projects, not just out of fairness. So I ask for patience, if it is very quiet on this blog soon for long time. I'll be back as soon as the work on the fourth Cimelium album starts.

Here, however, the usual links, for people who find Google too complicated ;)

"Madeira" on GooglePlay
"Madeira" on iTunes
"Madeira" on Spotify

If you prefer another shop, simply search for "Cimelium Madeira" at your trusted music dealer. There are some pre-release-versions of songs of the album available online, e.g. On Soundcloud. However, these versions are in no way to be compared with the final product. They are unfinished. In order to avoid such confusion, I have stopped publishing any preliminary versions since a time.

Ok, that's it! I'll get back to you as soon as there's something new to report. This will most likely be on the occasion of the long-planned, completion of the Cimelium website, which is likely to also lead to a relocation of this blog

Be well!

"Ad Hominem" is now available EVERYWHERE!

...well, at least I think so. This is the case at least on the most important music sites, that I know. I intentionally waited a few days longer to post this, so also the slowest music sites had the chance to get it into their catalogues. By doing so, I wanted to make sure, that the album is available from as many sources as possible. I am 100% sure that it is available on (click the links to get directly to the album):

iTunes
Google Play
Amazon

You can also stream it on:

Spotify
Deezer

I'm not sure about the following sites / services, as I would have to create a (often charged) account there to check it:

• Napster
• Pandora
• emusic
• Rnd
• Groove
• Omnifone
• Wimp
• Anghami
• Claro-Musica

The album is for sure also available on one or the other site / service, I didn't list here. If your favorite source for music is not mentioned here, please let me know. I'll ask my distributor about it then. My distributor is always looking for more retailers.

Ok, and now have fun. The next album (Madeira) is making great progress, and will be out soon also.

Ad Hominem IS FINISHED!

It is done! It is done! It is FINALLY DONE! The latest and long awaited album "Ad Hominem" is finished and has been uploaded to the distribution service. It will (hopefully soon) be distributed to all major music sites, including streaming services, like Spotify. I want to say thanks to all of you, who were faithful during the hard times, during which I announced a lot and got not much done. Also thanks to those who gave feedback and suggestions and encouraged me to work further when I was close to giving up. Yes, this is a very special album in so many ways. Not just that it is the most personal album I created ever, because it is about depression, but also because it was created during a time which had many personal challenges for me. One can safely say, that this album was created not just out of melodies and rhythms, but also with a lot of very strong feelings. Now it is done and the 13th track's title is really fitting here: "O Dulce Nomen Libertatis", oh sweet name of freedom. I feel very free, now that this work is finally done. Apropos titles: For thos who, for what reason ever, do not read the posts on the Cimelium Facebook page, here's the full and final playlist:

• 01 - Ad Hominem (To the person)
• 02 - De Profundis (Out of the depths)
• 03 - De Omnibus Dubitandum (Everything must be doubted)
• 04 - Noli Me Tangere (Don't touch me)
• 05 - Nihil Verum (Nothing is real)
• 06 - Alea Iacta Est (The die is cast)
• 07 - Mortui Vivos Docent (The dead teach the living)
• 08 - Tempus Fugit (Time flies)
• 09 - Preaterita Mutare Non Possumus (To change the past isn't possible)
• 10 - Ne Obliviscaris (Do not forget)
• 11 - Quere Et Invenies (Seek and ye shall find)
• 12 - Sic Parvis Magna (Greatness from small beginnings)
• 13 - O Dulce Nomen Libertatis (Oh, sweet name of freedom)

I know that some now will ask "And what about the album 'Madeira'? It was announced to be released in December 2015!". Yes, that's true and it was 99% finished when my little personal armageddon hit me. I'll now grant my a week of rest and then finish this album also. You'll agree, that it is worth the wait.

Last Pre-Release and: "Madeira" is C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E!

Yes, this is great news: All 13 tracks for the "Madeira" album have been completed as pre-release versions! At the end of this post, you find the pre-release version of "Pico Ruivo Tunnel", the last track destined for the album. And it is a quite unusual one. Not unusual for Cimelium, but rather unusual for this, quite happy, album. Malina already said, that it may be more suitalbe for the "Ad Hominem" album, and I somewhat agree. But to me it refelects the feelings and impressions I had on that day, when we hiked through the Pico Ruivo tunnel to the Caldeirao do Inferno (CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO!). "Madeira" will be a really colorful album indeed. It spans from very cheerful and happy tracks via melancholic sounds to the quite dark "Pico Ruivo Tunnel".

So what's now? Now the 13 tracks have to be polished and thus turned into the final album versions. Will this take as long as it did for the last Willma Poppen album? For sure not, but it will take it's time still. Also I want create some nice cover art, as always. I could use a collage of some nice of the many photos Malina took during our trips to Madeira, and I seriously think about doing exactly that. On the other hand I would find this to be "too easy". Anyway, I'll have to make a decision soon.

And what about the darker album "Ad Hominem"? I just wanted to write, that work at this project is on halt as until "Madeira" is finished, but no: Every now and then I need a musical journey to "the dark regions of my soul" and so the work at this album will slowly go on. Somehow I got the impression, that by far more people are actually waiting for "Ad Hominem" to be released than for "Madeira", but first things first.

Ok, and now enough words. Here's the last track for "Madeira". Note: This time I spent very little time on mixing and EQing everything properly for the pre-release version, because I wanted to showcase that thing very quick and move on to the album completion.

Finaly a new song for the "Madeira" album: "Porto da Cruz"!

Oh well... this is the second Blog on which I have to write, that nothing happened since about a year. Makes me feel just a bit bad, because actually I haven't been idle. As always somebody had to wait in favor of the friends of other projects. Simple as that!

But now the long wait has an end. The album on the Willma Poppen album is done, I have set my priorities different and generally have a new strategy. And so I finished a new song for the long due "Madeira" album yesterday as a pre-release version. So we need just one pre-release version until we can finally start polishing the album versions.

The current song is about the picturesque little village Porto da Cruz at the north coast of Madeira. And the last song is also already heavily in the works. it will be themed after my hike in 2014 through the Pico Ruivo tunnel. It will be for sure the most dark track on the album and Malina already said, that it would fit better on the upcoming "Ad Hominem" album.

The polishing of the pre-release versions aka turning them into album versions will also not take as much time as it did for the Willma Poppen album, because by now, as I said, I have a new strategy and the songs for the "Madeira" album do by far not need as much work. So, with no exaggeration, I can say, that it is more than just possible, that "Madeira" will still be out in 2015.

What about the "dark sister album Ad Hominem"? Well, even though I have many great tracks in the works, it is currently on halt. One of the conceptual failures I did recently was to not concentrate on one thing at the time e.g. not setting priorities. I'll not repeat that failure! So for now it is "Madeira" and my little video projects. That's enough to keep me busy for a while. I know that some of the friends of the first Cimelium album "Mesopotamia" (which is by the way by far the best seller of all alionmind albums) are a bit worried about the Cimelium sound getting too happy, cheerful and generally away from the old dark experimental sound.This cannot happen, friends. It is just, that I wanted to do an album about Madeira and a dark and gloomy sound would not fit it... well aside of the Pico Ruivo tunnel.

Ok, enough words! Let's work! Here's the pre-release version of "Porto da Cruz"...and never forget: Pre-release is NOT the final product!

Better late than never: New song "Nihil Verum"!

Due to unexpected technical complications and other reasons, this blog is more than just a little bit late. My friends on Facebook and Twitter know more already: Once again a song has been created for the "Ad Hominem" album. In fact, we have now completed almost half of the tracks for this album in form of pre-release versions. I joke sometimes, that eventually "Ad Hominem" will be released before the  "Madeira" album. Who would have thought this? Not me :).

Fitting for the album, "Nihil Verum" is once again a rather quiet and serious piece. Originally it was planned to be a so called "floater", ie without any kind of rhythm instruments. However, the use of percussion instruments, starting at around 50% of the playing time, was simply appropriate. Friends of beautiful and creepy experiments with different filter types (in particular comb filters) will again love this piece.

Finally, a short organizational note: Since the work on Willma Poppen album "Willma im Wunderland" is gettig into the "hot phase" (production of the release versions), it may become a bit quiet soon around both Cimelium album projects. Don't worry, we'll soon go on! And now have fun with "Nihil Verum"!
 

New song "Queimadas" and plans for the "Madeira" album!

Typical Queimadas!

The song was introduced two days ago on Facebook and Soundcloud already. This is one more example for why it is a good idea for real Cimelium fans to either "like" on Facebook or follow on Soundcloud. The slight delay of the update of website and blog results once more of a time conflict with another of my projects. More You don't necessarily have to know about it ;).

Queimadas
The new song is, as maybe expected, intended for the album "Madeira", and describes this time a picturesque village in the mountains south of Santana. This time I decided for an orchestral style approach and as it looks like the first listeners loved it. At least I had NEVER so many listeners in just 2 days without blog promo and publication of it on the homepage. Thank you! You encourage me. Here's the song again for those who missed it:

The album "Madeira" - almost done!
So we are now only two songs away from the completion of all traditional 13 songs for the album. And if you're thinking that this will take forever, I can not promise anything but:

1. The locations, described by the two missing songs, have already been selected. One is the Pico Ruivo Tunnel and the other is Porto da Cruz.
2. The two pieces were already completed in form of more or less detailled arrangements of approximately 5 minutes each. So rather a work of minutes instead of hours.

"Madeira" and then what? "Ad Hominem"?
One or the other asked already about what will happen after the completion of the "Madeira" album. So first don't forget about the dark sister album "Ad Hominem" in process, which is only completed almost 50%. But this means that I still have to work for a long time on it. What about the "sun children" amongst the Cimelium fans? Will they, until the album is finished, only get "dark music". Not at all!

Monumental work "Madeira Triptych"!
One or the other already carefully sugested, that something like Madeira can not be dealt with in just one album with 13 tracks. And not just a few noticed the absence of the capital Funchal in the planning for the current album. This is due to the fact that Funchal is a world in itself on the island. Jokingly I said to Malina the other night, that I could make a whole album about Funchal alone: So many places that are completely different even at the respective day- or night time in their feeling. And Malina's answer was THE answer: Then make one! Yes, an album only about Funchal. Sounds crazy? It is perhaps, but necessary. And even crazier like this here's the, now evolved, planning: Madeira will become an album triptych! This means that there will be THREE Madeira albums. Think about it as some kind of an altar: In the middle of it an album just about the queen of the villages of Madeira Funchal. And this album is flanked by two albums that deal with various, to me, important places on the island. Great idea, is it? But a great deal of work! Let's go for it!

"Sic Parvis Magna" a new track for the "Ad Hominem" album!

Finally also those Cimelium listeners get something new to listen who were a bit annoyed by the rather "happy" sound of the songs for the "Madeira" album. It's slowly but steadily getting forward with the "Ad Hominem" album. However, likely it will still take some time until the album release date. Now the fifth track was completed as a pre-release version. So I'm pretty sure that the album release will not still happen this year. Currently, the "Madeira" album and the new album by Willma Poppen have priority.

Anyone who reads this blog regularly, will likely know about the beginnings of "Sic Parvis Magna". It was really rather planned as a minimalist and not too rhythmic piece. However, you know all too well that I often change my plans. And so this track became at least a bit more complex and rhythmic. I have yet honestly tried to stick to the simplistic approach and I think I accomplished it ;). Nevertheless, there was a bit of discussion in my circle of friends and acquaintances, whether this title would be rather suitable for the Willma Poppen project. One or the other actually had the opinion that it would be a bit too rhythmical for Cimelium. Others, on the other hand, thought, that it would be "too dark" for Willma Poppen. I think "Sic Parvis Magna" belongs clearly to the dark side of Cimelium. What do you think?

I have this time tried a few new tricks regarding to the rendering and some other minor technical details. Should the present work therefore sound kind of weird, strange or otherwise odd: I'm currently learning a few new things and am experimenting. But that's what a pre-release version is good for, or? ;) In the finished product of cause everything will sound much better. So, enough said. Here is "Sic Parvis Magna". I hope you like it!

The evolution of simplicity

So simple it starts (screenshot of the basic project)

This morning I thought, after all the other projects were making progress during the past few weeks, it would be a good idea to create a new song for the dark sister of the "Madeira" album. The album in production "Ad Hominem" lags somewhat behind. So I searched through my giant folder with incomplete works for a good base and found one quite fast. 3 synthesizers (1 pad, a bass arpeggio and a lead arpeggio) and a simple breakbeat rhythm with hihat, kick drum and snare. On each of the synthesizers is a little reverb, delay and a lowpass filter. The latter will probably play a bigger role in this.

So far, so good. If one plays it all in the loop and plays around with the filters it is amazing fun and a little reminiscent of the works of the Berlin School of electronic music, especially Klaus Schulze and Pete Namlook. You really want to do nothing else but let the whole thing just run for 30 minutes, and simply just turn knobs, just as the old heroes of the analog synthesizers did it back in the days.

I am often accused of complicating things unnecessarily. Friends often say that I should leave a piece as it is and not add anything new. Often it is then precisely such a simple loop with a little "filter magic". And my answer usually is " Hey, this is just one stupid synth, with a little oscillation and filter fiddeling. I can not present that to the public as a finished work!". But especially Malina is often thinks I could do it.

Today I start a little experiment on which I want my friends on the web to participate. Everyone can and should give tips, suggestions or just make comments to make this project a success.

This time I will just try that: Do as little as possible, as much as necessary. I'll try to create with what (described above) is in this project already an entertaining, relaxed, 5 minutes musical piece, which fits on the album project "Ad Hominem". And I want especially my Facebook friends from the FL Studio groups to participate in this. So here we go. There is much ... STOP : ;) little to do. Here's a first, very simple snippet of the project:

"Poiso", a new track for the "Madeira" album, is here!

Who wonders why it again took two months until a new song is presented, is recommended to read this article from the AlionLive blog. That might explain a lot and in addition I am working even on these very AlionLive videos and the new album of the "Willma Poppen" project. Also, as the attentive Facebook friends probably already have noticed, that  this song has already been out for a good week. The delay of this blog entry is due to the fact that I wanted to finish the first episode of "Frühling auf Madeira" video series as quickly as possible . This was somewhat complicated by some technical and personal "difficulties".

Here he is now, however, the 10th (of traditionally 13) title for the album "Madeira". This time I completely used an orchestral approach and rhythm instruments were not used this time. Nevertheless, the whole thing is not what I call a "floater", ie a flowing, rather spherical piece. Rhythm is created in sufficient form by the instruments. In this respect, this song is rather unusual for this album and is in the tradition of the alionsonny album "Alion - The Original Soundtrack" from 2010. Because of this, I especially recommend this album to all who like this song.

And what about the 'dark sister album" of the "Madeira" album, "Ad Hominem"? There are some pieces for this album in the works, but "Madeira" has currently a priority for me, since we are nearing the  completion and the work on the album really took long enough. In this respect, patience! Also for the lovers of the dark side of Cimelium there will be soon something new.

And here is now, without further ado, "Poiso" . Have fun !

New track for the "Madeira" Album: "Santo da Serra"!

I would like to start this posting with an apology for the confusion it caused that I have this time broken with the usual routine, which I usually follow regarding to the posting of pre-release versions of songs. This time I only posted a short announcement on Facebook and now four whole days have passed since I've done that. So one or the other asked me if my blog or Web site would not work, because there was the lack of the usual, more or less detailed, announcement. And I thought that no one really reads this stuff ;). No, I didn't forget it and both, blog and website, work perfectly. The reason for the break with the routine is a small experiment. Currently I am putting my promotion strategies to the test and am investigating on some strange things regarding the statistics of well known internet services. No, I will not explain to you in detail how I do this, because that may affect the results. To make it short: The experiment was successful and served its purpose. I thank the companies Google and Facebook for their involuntary participation ;).

But now finally to the new song. First of all: I never was as unsure about the quality of a piece of music as in this case. This is not just because of the fact that I recently went through a "dark phase" again, but also because that song is somewhat "unconventional". It has gone through amazingly many phases of transformation and I am far from saying that I am satisfied with it now. But for what do I have an audience and devised this thing with the pre-release versions? Correct: It is, because that way the decision if a song is good as I have conceived it initially and what is to improve it, remains not on my shoulders alone. Don't forget: Although I create the music, it is yours, because you listen to it. So this time I ask especially for a lot of feedback from you, and not just from the "usual suspects", but preferably by people who otherwise rather keep quiet. Come on: I do not harm anyone for factual criticism.

The new song is, as the title already says, destined for the "Madeira" album and this time it is about the picturesque mountain village of Santo Antonio da Serra, which is just called Santo da Serra commonly for the sake of brevity. Initially, the whole was what I call a "floater", something similar to "Parque do Lido 6:30 am". Two commentators already suggested that it would have been better if it stayed that way ;). But I have decided that it should be somewhat rhythmically this time. I still think that the it is quite relaxing and calm, except for the part with the marching drums. MARCHING DRUMS ??? Yes, exactly: There is a part with just such and one of the already mentioned commentators found this extremely inappropriate. But he was pleased with the once again used
accordion synthesizer, which in turn will inspire others to escalating criticism. I could use my favorite quote from Wilhelm Busch here again... Finally, I would like to say that there will be no return to the pure "floater", despite of desired change- and improvement proposals ...and the marching drums will also stay! Otherwise, everything is possible. And now I will end this (for me) unexpectedly long blog entry. Have fun with " Santo da Serra "!

The long wait is over: Here is "Câmara de Lobos"!

You all know for sure why it took "some" time again with the new sound food... or? I just say: The other projects. Now, finally, we have a new song for the "Madeira" album. This time it is about the picturesque fishing village "Câmara de Lobos". Fishing village? So Sonny will for sure get out the ol' accordion synthesizer and will fiddle a fine melody on it for us? RRRRIGHT! My long time listeners know that I have a certain fondness for organs and accordions, which already gets on the nerves of some folks. Again, as with the other tracks destined for the "Madeira" album, this one is a rather happy, cheerful, but also quite relaxed song. I hear the long time Cimelium listeners already groan in agony. Some time ago somebody classified the Cimelium album "Mesopotamia" even as "Gothic". So it did not surprise me that there are not a few who, as mentioned in previous entries... let's say "are not very thrilled" about the tracks for the "Madeira" album so far, because they are so "happy". But I never thought about Cimelium as a Gothic project or something alike. IT IS YOUR FAULT, IF YOU GOT THE PROJECT WRONG, DAMMIT! ;). Ooops, I actually went a bit loud here. Ok, but I can promise you "friends of the dark sounds", that it will soon get a lot "unhappier" again. We still have the sister album "Ad Hominem" in progress. And everyone who might think, that I have done nothing at that project is absolutely wrong. Actually I had too many depressive phases meanwhile, and in such phases the tracks for "Ad Hominem" are created usually. ATTENTION: Don't think, that you now have to plunge me artificially into a depression, so you get this album. I would notice that, and then I would release a Cimelium Polka album as a revenge ;). I also want to give you a glimpse into the somewhat distant future of the Cimelium project, so the "friends of the darker sound" will have something to really look forward to: Once we are finished with the two albums in progress, an album project is planned, which will be so dark, that tons of light bulbs will blow up, the dead will rise and dance on their graves. Exaggeration? Well, just wait and see ;).

Wow, and I am writing and writing... instead just announcing the new song. Well, you should get to know me in person. Then you would classify my blogging behaviour as rather "uncommunicative" ;). But now that was really enough words. Let the music speak for itself and let's hope that the wait until the next Cimelium track will not be too long. I do my best. I always do. And now: MUSIC! Here is "Câmara de Lobos":

New song for the "Madeira" album: Santana, and more ...

Yes, things are going quite turbulent recently at the alionmind headquarters, and so it is not surprising that this post ends up just today on the Blog. I just took a look at the blog, and had to realize that since the 15th of July there has been no update. Well, that's really not good because I usually try to keep you updated. Anyway, let's make up for this! So: What has happened since the 15th of July 2013 regarding the Cimelium project?

De Omnibus Debutandum
Until October 17th, everything here at alionmind was rather focussed on the other projects, but at that exact date another track for the lovers of the more deep and dark Cimelium sound was published. Thus, this song, titled "De Omnibus Debutandum" (everything must be questioned) is of course a prime candidate for the dark sister album of "Madeira", namely "Ad Hominem". I hope now the doubters, who began to rebel slightly after the release of first few songs for the "Madeira" album, have calmed down a bit. No: Cimelium will not become another happy & funny music project from alionmind, but rather represents the more serious and more "thoughtful" part. So my "Cimelium Goths" (as I call them by now ;)) can relax.


Santana
Even much longer than the lovers of dark sounds, the friends of the "Madeira" album had to wait for something new. Since the 20th of May (Man, has it been for so long?) nothing has been done here. But now, exactly 3 days ago, after overcoming my latest depression attack, this changed and the 7th track for the album was completed. This time, the song is about the, as I call it, "pearl of the rough and tough north coast of Madeira", Santana. As with the other tracks for the album I have done my best to summarize my impressions of this place into sound. In the case of Santana, this was anything but easy. The north coast of Madeira was an absolutely overwhelming experience for me. Madeira is in itself one, but the north coast is even more rich in unique and absolutely fascinating aspects that it is difficult to choose a tangible amount to use as an inspiration for a piece of music. I still think that I have been able to put my personal impressions of Santana and the surrounding area in a suitable sound concept. Not everyone may experience Santana as I did, but we are all individuals. And if you rather hear Funchal or your breakfast out of this song... well... so be it.



Yes, and that's it. Closing this post, I would like to again ask the listeners of Cimelium for a bit of patience and understanding. As, at least most of you, know Cimelium is not my only music project. And if you think again, that alionmind records is dead, because you do not get new Cimelium sound material, I am working hard on the other projects. And if you, like now, get new stuff from  Cimelium, the fans of alionsonny and Willma Poppen have to wait . All in good time. So: Most probably you will have to wait quite a time again for new Cimelium music, because now it's the turn of the other projects. And if you do not like the wait, well, then expand your horizons and listen to the music of the other projects ;).

ALEA IACTA EST - The die has been cast! New song!

Yes, the Facebook friends already know it, and so do the followers on Twitter: The song "Alea Iacta Est" was published allready two days ago on Soundcloud as a pre-release version. So, why didn't I immediately write a blog post about it? Well, I allready announced the song briefly the day before yesterday morning, so I did not consider it to be very important to write the official release announcement, especially since there always are a few stragglers who miss the song at the first announcement on Facebook and Twitter . And they will be for sure happy about a reminder ;).

In addition, I was just still busy, working at the new song, released yesterday for Willma Poppen, and did not want break the creative flow for some rather boring blogging ;). Generally you should not be surprised too much about the fact, that I currently do not follow the usual promo procedure. This is part of a small experiment by which I try to improve my promotion strategy. For this purpose it is necessary to analyze the promo channels which promise the greatest success. You can read more about that later on, on the badly maintained alionmind records blog.

Those were quite many words allready, even though I wanted to make it very briefly here today ;) And there was still no word about the new song... The new song is actually already somewhat old. Work on this began in 2009 as a crude sketch for the predecessor project of Cimelium, the alionsonny project "Alion Meditations". Last year, just before my departure to Madeira, I began to shape that sketch into pretty much the present status. Since November last year, the song has actually already been on my hardddisk and I always thought I would have to add something special to it.

So it was there allready for months. This is not unusual: Many songs in "almost complete" status are on the hard drive and about some sure many of you would say that they are ready for release. And so did a friend every time we listened through the "Almost done" directory. The day before yesterday then, I asked myself very seriously, what EXACTLY I would have to do at that song and the result was: "Well, maybe I should smooth out the mix a bit, but otherwise it's really perfect." Well, that it was actually: I smoothed a few edges and it was finished.

The song shows clearly from which time its beginnings originate. It could easily fit seamlessly on the "Mesopotamia" album. And since the new (described in my previous post) album idea "Ad Hominem" is also a small peace offering to the part of my audience, which is shocked  by the first songs of the 'Madeira' album, the new song fits perfectly on "Ad Hominem". What? You don't know about the resentment that the first songs for the 'Madeira' album caused? Well, somehow I felt a bit like in the early days of the project alionsonny, back in the days in which I annoyed my small growing fan base, by constantly trying new styles of music. Not just a small part of the early Cimelium fans is not quite pleased with the direction the Cimelium sound took with the start at the "Madeira" album. Some say it is too happy, others say it is too rythmic and others just say it is too structured. One disgruntled fan even said "Cimelium goes Willma Poppen" right after the release of "Cais do Sardinha". This is not intended at all. I had already announced shortly after the release of "Mesopotamia", that the next album would sound different. And I had already preplanned the basics. However, since the album is a theme album about "Madeira", droning arabic-inspired mystic sounds would simply be inappropriate for the topic.

The album Idea "Ad Hominem" now gives me the opportunity to provide the "old fans" again with the usual dark sounds, while I continue the work at the happy relaxing concept album 'Madeira'. So everyone gets what he wants ;)

The song "Alea Eacta Est" is again a so-called "free floater" in best "Mesopotamia" Tradition and thus joins also wonderful in the line of the other two already completed songs for the "Ad Hominem" album, as you can easily hear in playlist linked at the very bottom of this posting. And now here is, after many words, finally the song:

And here is the playlist of the album "Ad Hominem" so far with all three songs:

...and Track number 6 for the album "Madeira" is done!

Who did expect this to happen? 2 songs in 2 days. That's the way it is meant to work. Well, but a musician is no machine. At least usually ;). And what do we have here? It is, as announced, again a song for those, who like it rather calm and contemplatively, instead of happy and rhytmic songs. As every Cimelium song, and especially those for the "Madeira" album, there is a story behind this song, and the story describes a particular place in Madeira. In this case it is the "Parque do Lido", the park and the promenade near the open-air bath in Funchal. The story is as follows: As there is no such thing as daylight saving time in Madeira, I got up one hour too early on the first day of my stay in Madeira. So I was more than one hour too early for breakfast. So I decided to take a walk to the Lido instead of going to bed again or wasting the time somehow else, to enjoy the morning atmosphere. Funchal comes to life in the morning in just a few minutes. While at 7:30 am Funchal is very much alive, at 6:30 everything is quiet. I did not meet a single car, not to talk about people, this morning at 6:30 am. Only the homeless cats at the park were there with me to greet the red-golden sun, which was rising above the ocean and flooded the park with warm light. The atmosphere was so peacefull and somewhat eerie, that I will never forget that morning. And I captured exactly that atmosphere in this song.

I am allready working at the next songs for the album "Madeira" and some of them are allready pretty much complete. The fans of my other projects may be angry about it, but I am currently completely focussed on this album, because I really want to finnish it soon. So, again, enough words, here's the song:

The fifth song for the "Madeira" album "Cais do Sardinha" is here!

Yeah, that took some time. Running gag, eh? No excuses, no "because of this" phrases. Now it is finally here. Some allready complained, that it it to rhytm-focussed and some even said, that it would rather fit on a Willma Poppen album. I don't think so. I allready told you, when the work at the "Madeira" album started, that this album will contain by far less "free floaters" than "Mesopotamia" and that it also will sound by far "happier". Well the topic Madeira is not a topic for dark, droning, arabian style sounds, right? So live with it: Each future album by Cimelium will have a own style. The only common thing will be the ethno elements, and that the music is somewhat calm, which doesn't mean, that it will all be rather non-rhytmic.

So, this is the fifth track for the album and so we have still a way to go until the traditionally 13 songs for the album will be finnished. This track is about a place at the far eastern tip of Madeira. It is a special place with it's own magic. It is a hidden place, surrounded by a stunning landscape with a very happy feeling and you will find all that in the new track, titled "Cais do Sardinha".

By the way: I decided for a new policy regarding to the pre-releases of Cimelium songs aswell as for all songs of other projects: A pre-release is a release like this one. It is, when I upload a new song for your listening pleasure prior to the release of the album, the song will be part of. All those pre-releases are NO final products. This means, they will most probably sound more or less different on the album and will change according to listener feedback and things I find odd listening to them myself. So this is a major drawback for the specialists who rip MP3s off the streams, because they will be easily identifyable as thieves, because of the unfinished versions they posess. Keep that in mind when showcasing ripped versions at a party or so ;)

So, with no further words, here's the song:


I also made a playlist for the songs released so far for the Madeira album, so you can hear them all in a row. each new track will be added to it when it is released.

Pico Ruivo for the "Madeira" album is ready!

I cannot really say, that it goes on with full speed regarding the work at the second Cimelium album, but slowly and steadily we go on. An you, who cannot wait for the album to be ready, please think about the fact, that I have loads of work to do at - not just a few - other projects also, and they also consume their ammount of time.

But now, just right for the start of the editing of the fourth part of "AlionLive Return 2 Madeira", it is once again done and a new, the fourth, track for "Madeira" is here. This time we hike waaaaayyy up to the highest peak of the island, the Pico Ruivo. I have, as some of you allready confirmed, managed it to catch the atmosphere of a hike, I did with a girlfriend in 2011 from Curral das Freiras to the Pico Ruivo. I tried to put all of my feelings and impessions I got on that hike into this song and hope it worked.

Soundwise this track is maybe something the longterm Cimelium listeners have to get used to, to really enjoy it. This is no, as I call it, free-floater, a calm wobbeling and evolving... something. This track has some real moments of surprise and this is intended. Hiking in the area around Pico Ruivo (and actually allmost everywhere in Madeira) is an adventure, which of cause has some surprises in store. It doesn't have (as it happened to me) a landslide suddenly blocking the hiking path. The impression, if you turn around a corner after hiking for hours along a rockface in thick fog, and suddenly there's that panorama above the clouds and valley unfolding before you... This is something I tried to put into that track, and also the moment, when you look at your feet and see you are standing on just a 30 centimetres wide crumbeling rim and see the little stones roll down into the valley... You understand...

And so I have to warn and also say sorry. Just as an example I mention a Facebook friend, who said at a special point in the track (you WILL know which one it is), that his "joint fell off his hand". Well, you shouldn't do this and... drugs are bad, mkay? ;) Yes, this can happen. Another reaction was "WHAT THE F*CK? OH, THAT'S INTERESTING! LOVE IT, MAN!". So: Aswell as you wouldn't do a hike to Pico Ruivo after consuming a sixpack of Zarco or Coral, you shouldn't listen to this track intoxicated or otherwise mentally-not-in-great-shape... unless you are one of the real diehards :D

Ok, enough of the words: Here's the mighty, dangerous and lovely Pico Ruivo. Watch your step!

"Ribeiro Frio" - A new track for the album "Madeira"!

Now things really take off. After all the album should be available for you as soon as possible and I don't want it to take as long as the release of the album "Mesopotamia". And I need the tracks to be finnished for using them in "AlionLive Return 2 Madeira". Yeah, so everything is again connected to everything and work once more creates more work.
The new track is about the liitle town Ribeiro Frio in the forested heart of Madeira and the surrounding majestic mountain area. I'm sure, that if you were there and at least think a bit like I do, you will hear the unique atmosphere of that place out of this little song.
Have Fun!

New track for the album "Madeira" - "Nossa Senhora do Monte"!

After some trouble during the past days, I am proud and happy to present to you the second track for the themed album "Madeira". The style will maybe be a bit unusual for the long term Cimelium fans.. and also for all the others. One thing upfront: If you cannot stand church organs at all, you better skip this ;). And yes: The album "Madeira" will be a lot more "conservative" and melody-oriented than "Mesopotamia". There are reasons for this ;)

Oh, many of you do not know anything at all about a new Cimelium album? Well, I must have forgotten to tell you about this somehow. Ok, so let's correct this now. Yes, of cause there will be a new album by Cimelium... or did you think, I will now just stop? ;) Ok, and that album will be about my beloved island in the sun, Madeira. Traditionally, there will be again 13 tracks on the album, each about a special location on the island, trying to capture the atmosphere. STOP! I allready hear my attentive fans saying "13 tracks? That's not enough to capture all the beautyfull places in Madeira!". Right, and because of that you can hear the faint sound of an album "Madeira Volume 2" at a far away horizon. But that's really a thing of the far away future.

Let's stay at the current album project "Madeira": One track I created allready last year, titled "Rabacal". Missed it? No problem, JUST CLICK HERE. As said: 13 tracks, each describing a special location in Madeira, more melody focussed than "Mesopotamia". Release date? Well, you ask questions... I don't want to promise too much. You know about my little problem with fixed dates... do you? But I can safely say, that something really bad must happen, if the album is not released this year.

Ok, much words, just as you know me... This current track "Nossa Senhora do Monte" is a bout the world famous church in Monte/Funchal and the surroundings. It was a place with a great feeling of majesty, peace and calmness for me. You just can feel great there, like allmost everywhere in Madeira. During a depression attack, which was taking me out of the game for the whole last week, I was nearly unable to do any creative work. Still I worked at this particular track from time to time. So you maybe hear to depression out of this track, but also hope and immortal bravery. I advise each and everyone going to Madeira to visit this marvellous place, and maybe you take a MP3 player with you and listen to this song while you are there. I am sure, you will 100% understand the song then. And now, enough said, here's "Nossa Senhora do Monte":

Next-to-last track for the "Mesopotamia" album is ready for you!

With giant steps I head towards the release of the "Mesopotamia" album. Only one more track and we are ready to go. The track "Enlil", which I uploaded yesterday allready and just somehow forgot to promote at the blogs, is again somewhat different than the other tracks. It is, what i call a "free floater", which means, that there's no prominent and particular melody line or alike, but just a floating carpet of sound. It mainly consists only of a pad-synth which I sampled and then mangled thru a sequence of effects units which are constantly automated to achieve an evolving soundscape. Still I added some string-instrument arpeggio and some majestic brass-thingies to enhance the listening experience. Well, again i hope you enjoy what you hear and I'll do my best to finnish that remaining song for the album this weekend so the album can be released next week.