The Itself of Itself

The Itself of Itself
Studio album by
Released30 May 2024
Recorded2014 – 2023
GenreAmbient, drone
Length62:31
ProducerSteven Wilson
Bass Communion chronology
Cenotaph
(2011)
The Itself of Itself
(2024)

The Itself of Itself is the tenth studio album released by British musician, songwriter and producer Steven Wilson under the pseudonym Bass Communion. It is the first full-length Bass Communion release in over twelve years.[1] Its release was preceded by the reissuing of the entire Bass Communion catalogue on major music streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.[1] To promote the album's release, Wilson performed a set as Bass Communion at Cafe Oto in London on 18 May, as part of a bill of various Fourth Dimension Records artists.[2]

According to Bass Communion's Bandcamp page, "The Itself Of Itself was selected from 10 years worth of recordings, the ones chosen being those that [Steven Wilson] felt added something a bit different to the catalogue."[3]

The album has been described as "unsettling, disturbing, challenging, and uneasy"[4] in regards to the experimental and often harsh nature of the sounds. It has simultaneously been hailed as Wilson's "most uncompromising and adventurous"[5] musical project due to these qualities.

The album received a physical release exclusively on CD, in a limited edition of 1,000 initial copies, which was increased to 1,500 copies due to demand.[6] The package features a deluxe gatefold card cover, with a 24 page booklet of photographs and an OBI strip, designed by Carl Glover.[7]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Steven Wilson

No.TitleLength
1."Unperson"10:33
2."Apparition 3"6:04
3."Bruise"13:19
4."Blackmail"7:24
5."The Itself of Itself"10:24
6."Study for Tape Hiss and Other Audio Artefacts"11:58
7."Apparition 5"2:45
Total length:62:31

Personnel

[edit]
  • Steven Wilson – performer
  • Carl Glover – graphic design and photography

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Label Format Quantity Catalog
Europe 24 May 2024 Lumberton Trading Company CD 1500 LUMB036CD[8][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Wilson, Steven (8 March 2024). "Bass Communion - The Itself of Itself". Steven Wilson HQ. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Cafe OTO → Alternative TV + Bass Communion (feat. Modelbau) + Splintered + Edward Ka-Spel, Saturday 18 May 2024, 7.30pm". Cafe Oto. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. ^ "The Itself of Itself, by Bass Communion". Bandcamp. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  4. ^ Nathanson, Zachary (29 May 2024). "Bass Communion - The Itself of Itself". Echoes And Dust. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  5. ^ Blache, Philippe (1 June 2024). "Bass Communion :: The Itself of Itself (Fourth Dimension)". Igloo Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Bass Communion – The Itself Of Itself (2024, CD)". Discogs. 4 May 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  7. ^ Ewing, Jerry (18 March 2024). "Steven Wilson to release first new Bass Communion album for 12 years". Louder. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  8. ^ "The Itself of Itself CD". Burning Shed. Retrieved 23 July 2024.