THISTLE SIFTER
An ambient instrumental post-rock project by English musician Pete Barnes (Utrecht, NL). Second album Circles was released in January 2024 and is the follow-up to 2022’s debut A Spectral Moon, based on a serious cycling accident that literally catapulted Barnes into disarray in November 2020. Written during an extended recovery period and far from family and friends in England, Circles is inspired by personal struggles with health, acceptance and letting go of the past. Post concussion syndrome symptoms forced Barnes to live a secluded life out of necessity, and during this time music became the ideal therapy. The result is a powerful ambient instrumental record inspired by Brexit, Covid and the difficult, ongoing path to Barnes’ recovery. The feeling of literally going around in circles is a recurring theme on the album; injuries arising from this accident forced him to put his life on hold and reassess, resulting in a somewhat dysfunctional existence, as well as a growing sense of dislocation from many aspects of his life which had previously been taken for granted. A primal pull to be in the UK furthered this sense of dislocation and isolation. Barnes was restricted by his physical inability to travel, a situation which was made even more untenable by a worldwide pandemic as well as Brexit. Thistle Sifter has played audiovisual concerts across the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, including AFAS Live in Amsterdam (with Sigur Rós), Le Guess Who? Festival (Utrecht) & Roadburn Festival (Tilburg). The live line-up features Pete Barnes (guitar & synths), Tom Broshuis (guitar), Rob Wickham (bass & synths), Koen Klarenbeek (drums).
https://thistlesifter.com

WE MISSED THE SKY
wemissedthesky is an innovative postrock project that combines emotive instrumental music with mesmerizing visual art. Based in Stuttgart, the project was formed by a group of talented musicians and visual artists who share a passion for pushing creative boundaries. With a sound that ranges from delicate and melancholic to explosive and intense, wemissedthesky creates a captivating sonic landscape that takes listeners on a journey through a range of emotions. Their debut album is to be released soon.
https://wemissedthesky.com