Lichen by Wil Bolton

Wil Bolton is a British artist currently based in London who has been making music ever since he first picked up a guitar in his school years, before going onto a more electronic-based approach as a recording artist under the name of Cheju. This led to a more Ambient-based approach in recent years as Wil began to record under his own name and he has since released works on labels such as Hibernate, Fluid Audio, Home Normal, Time Released Sound, Dauw and Eilean to name but a few.

Wil incorporates many elements into his sound design, using a variety of musical instruments that include electric and acoustic guitars, analogue synthesisers, chimes and bells; he usually records live improvisations through chains of guitar pedals and loopers, which are then later processed further on a laptop. Field recordings are another key ingredient and these often form the basis of the tracks adding a sense of space and atmosphere. Wil's sound is influenced by artists as diverse as Fennesz, Taylor Deupree and Janek Schaefer but he's also just as inspired by visual artists such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Nam June Paik as well as architecture, nature and history.

Lichen is a warm and crackly short record that sees Wil depart from his usual use of field recordings and these are replaced with sampled classical and exotica vinyl which plays out as a fuzzy, romantic listen.
The vinyl loops were processed with granular and spectral laptop effects with additional effects-laden sounds of electric piano and Fender Bass VI. The overall sound sees Wil search for a slight departure in his approach to sound - with the work retaining Ambient feel but adopting the use of overdrive and distortion throughout adding a little light grit to the tracks. This was added with pedals, amp buzz, digital noise and vinyl crackle and threatens to disintegrate the acoustic and electronic tones on which they ride. These almost become a part of the wall of melody itself, as lichen would set into and become part of the branches of a tree.

All in all the three tracks of Lichen are relatively free from a clear and concise concept but Wil cites forests and tea as being loose influences; this is particularly poignant as you'll be able to sit and drink a cup of your favourite loose leaf whilst listening to this EP in full, delving deeper into the forest that is Lichen.

Tracklist

1.	Parchment	5:30

2.	Lichen	5:02

3.	Genmaicha	4:28

Credits

released July 10, 2016

Written, produced and mastered by Wil Bolton
Artwork by Wil Bolton

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