#94: The Cleansing Flame
Stories of Summerisle Burn + a special, new 2-hour ambient mix is now available for your listening pleasure
Currently listening to: Ama by Phondupe
Hello, friend.
Can you imagine a world without money, a world in which people are both radically self-reliant and constantly cooperative?
This was the sort of world I stepped into when I entered the communal grounds that hosted this year’s Summerisle Burn.
After hours driving through the rural fields and farms of central Pennsylvania, my wife and I arrived at a rocky dirt road that led us up to the gate of the property. We were greeted by teeth-filled grins and hugs from strangers who asked for consent first. We received our wristbands and some bags of ice to fill our coolers—we had 3 of them, carrying provisions to sustain ourselves and our campmates for the long weekend.
We continued on into the campground, quickly stumbling upon our camp—Camp Lamp, as it would be known. The space was already mostly decorated by our group of 8 friends, most of whom were in the middle of rigging a giant lampshade to a few central trees.
This would be the warm heart of our camp’s art installation, which included several other independent spaces consisting of smaller lamps we thrifted and then meticulously paired with custom seating, rugs, side tables, and other decor. Each lamp’s space represented some sort of vibe, era, or aesthetic.
It was satisfying to our souls to see our fellow burners enter Camp Lamp and choose a spot to sit for a while, resting and taking in their surroundings. Our camp was all the way at one end of the grounds, downhill from everything else, which made it feel a bit like a sanctuary, detached from the upbeat sounds of techno music that we could hear faintly thumping in the distance.
Consistent with our theme, we all dressed up at one point as various forms of light-attracted insects (primarily, moths). It was delightful to also see real moths wind up at our camp, affixing themselves to our lamps. It truly felt like the space we had created was a magnet of warm light.
We spent our first day wandering the grounds, meeting kindhearted folks and enjoying the sunshine (the weather was perfect all weekend). Everyone we met offered us something, from smiles and jokes to hot food to cold drinks—all without any expectation of something in return. It was a true community of people taking care of each other without questions or judgment, only wanting the best experience for everyone else. We saw people being their best selves—dressing how they wanted, sharing their art, learning from and relying on each other.
As the first day of our time at the burn was coming to an end, I descended the rocky hill back to our camp to set up a special event that my friend Eli had suggested to me: an ambient DJ set I would call my Late Night Ambient Lounge.
I placed my stereo speakers on either side of our “living room” area in camp which was the main space where we would hang out—it was decorated with a collage of colorful rugs and our many camp chairs beneath a white and yellow canopy. Next to the table where I set up my laptop, I placed a tall whiteboard on which I would write the names of the tracks and artists who were currently playing.
Starting around 1 AM and lasting for just over 2 hours, our living room space was filled with the sounds of ambient music by mostly independent and lesser known artists (many of whom you are probably familiar with if you’ve been following this newsletter for a while). You can listen to the full mix using the link below.
The following day, we enjoyed more sunshine and wandering. Our positive experiences only compounded. As the sun fell toward the horizon, we all made our way toward the open field where an effigy would be burned. We sat just beside the large band of musicians who drummed and played other instruments rhythmically throughout the ceremony. Fire spinners (including my friend Eli) danced around the burning pillar of wood. People yawped and shouted and cheered. Everyone circled closer to the fire, with many dancing around it. It was a jubilant affair. Following the burn, we all danced and partied the night away.
On Sunday, our last full day, there was a calmer sense across the grounds as many people began to pack up in preparation for their exit. Still, many who were staying until Monday wandered and communed. There was a mutual understanding that some rest and recuperation was in order after most folks had fully embraced their last 2 or 3 days there.
We capped off Sunday with another burn of what was called “the temple.” This was a more somber ceremony in which silence fell over the grounds, save for the crackling fire and the sounds of the natural world around us. We all sat and reflected.
As the fire began to die down, we became a tighter circle, staring into the flames. I wondered what everyone else was thinking in those moments of deep introspection. I thought of many things.
The word “vanity” kept spiraling around my mind for some reason, and I considered how it made me feel to be perceived by others in different contexts. Have I been putting too much stock into the opinions of others? Do I need too much validation? Am I more interested in the work of creating what is meaningful to me or what I think others want?
As this self-analysis began to subside, it was replaced by warm, comforting feelings. I was grateful for my friends, grateful for this unexpected community, grateful for the reminder that humans can do good for the sake of good. I was in awe of the art I had witnessed—the sculptures, paintings, theater, costumes, food, music.
In the light and heat of the burning temple, I felt it. The knowing. The belonging. The raging of souls against the dark.
The Living Music List
Hello again, friend. I hope you enjoyed today’s reflection—and I hope you enjoy the latest Melted Mix! Let’s bring some more radical inclusion and community into the world outside the burn.
Some music will help, right? Here are a few things in my ears this weekend.
Happy listening.
Flowers Not Bombs by Various Artists (compilation / neoclassical, experimental electronic) [Beacon Sound]
Mostly ambient and all beautiful compilation benefitting Palestinian-led mutual aid groups on the ground in Gaza.
SANS VISAGE by Félicia Atkinson (album / electroacoustic, film score) [VIERNULVIER Records]
Atkinson re-scores LES YEUX SANS VISAGE (EYES WITHOUT A FACE), the cult classic horror film from 1960 directed by Georges Franju.
Season Cycle: Summer by Ed Herbers (album / drone, field recordings) [Passed Recordings]
The third season in Herbers’ Season Cycle series is here to brighten your early summer day.
Field Notes by Noodle Therapy (album / electronic, field recordings) [A Strangely Isolated Place]
From the Bandcamp description: “Fragments of found sound drift through evolving compositions, where analog circuitry, digital instruments, and Eurorack systems are used less as tools of precision and more as instruments of discovery.”
Melting Days by Lusine (album / downtempo) [Ghostly International]
From the Bandcamp description: “Loraine James once told Wire that Language Barrier was her ‘favorite ambient album of all time.’ Now Ghostly labelmates via James’ Whatever The Weather project, the two artists invite a similarly loose, old-school UK use of the “ambient” tag, something more akin to early Aphex Twin, Seefeel, and Lusine fave, Locust, where instead of a beatless canvas, the music remains active and fluid, far more in the foreground.”
Your Day Will Come (LP2) by Chanel Beads (album / indie pop) [Jagjaguwar]
Hard to describe the collage of things happening in the production on this album, but it feels a bit like a more washed out Dijon record with some youthful indie twang to it? Idk, just give it a listen lol.
BLISS by Temples (album / psych rock) [V2 Records]
Another round of bombastic and groovy neopsych from one of the genre’s best.
Contínua by Orbital Ensemble (album / Brazilian psych-fusion) [We Are Busy Bodies]
One of those true in-between sounds fusing Brazilian neotropical psychedelia with funk and jazz.
Music List Reminders: Bandcamp links provided first when available—if an album is not on Bandcamp, then YouTube or other preview links are provided. List format: Title by Artist (release type / approximate genre or subgenres) [Label].
That’s all for this week’s issue. Thank you for reading. Until next time.
Your friend,
Melted Form
Read the previous issue of The Living Music List:
Join Our Discord Community
Hum, Buzz, & Hiss has a free Discord server where music fans and artists hang out together, share music, chat about our work, and learn from each other. Plus, you’ll get some behind-the-scenes stuff and even more music recommendations from me. I’d love for you to join us! Click the button below and I’ll see you there.
Ways to Support My Work
Upgrade to a paid subscription for some extra goodies. Full price is $5/month or $50/year, but I also offer no-questions-asked, pay-what-you-can discounts on annual subscriptions. Learn more about the perks of paid subscriptions here.
As an alternative to subscriptions, you can buy me a coffee for an easy, one-time tip.
Referrals also mean a lot! If you enjoy this newsletter, please consider sharing it with a friend, a family member, a coworker, or your social media followers. The more it grows, the more ears can hear the music shared here.
Get In Touch
Are you an artist, a label owner, a fellow writer, or just a music fan? Want to share news of your upcoming release, an ad, or a potential idea for a future Hum, Buzz, & Hiss issue? Email me at: meltedform@gmail.com.
As always, I would love to hear and recommend your music, especially if it’s new and ambient/electronic/experimental. However, please note that I am not able to respond to every inquiry I receive.
i am so happy i got to see your camp! it sounds like it was a great time! i think i’ll have to try and make it to the next one
Wow, Summerisle sounds like it was a lovely time. The Lamp Camp looks like it was quite cozy!