enlighten by bindlestiff

released in 2002, this six-track first and only bindlestiff compilation CD, contained one track from each of the band's six CDs. there were no liner notes on this particular release, but the back cover of the original CD states:

the definitive compilation
1992 - 1997

...and I couldn't really sum it up much better than that!! we carefully chose one track from each album that best "summed up" the spirit of that record, but that would also create a wonderfully diverse set of six songs that would be the ideal introduction to the music of bindlestiff - which this compilation absolutely is.

here is the original track listing for the record, including the names of the albums from which each track was taken. the tracks are presented in strict chronological order.


"ariel adrift" - taken from "early"

"all for knot" - taken from "live"

"without difference" - taken from "quiet"

"the wall of ninths" - taken from "LOUD"

"no other ocean" - taken from "distant"

"dark water search" - taken from "late"


2013 notes:

in 2002, bryan and I were discussing the bindlestiff catalogue, and from that discussion, came the idea to create a "posthumous compilation" of the band's best work, so that folk who might be reluctant to buy an entire bindlestiff album, might be able to "sample" those albums via "enlighten", containing as it does, one song from each album.

this compilation not only works well as an introduction to the music of bindlestiff, but strangely, has a wonderful ambient glow all it's own - the six songs, from five different years, have a single, ambient coherency about them that is almost inexplicable - they just "work" together. a gracious and graceful exit for a truly remarkable group, bindlestiff.

this was our ending - our swan song.

dave stafford, pureambient HQ, november 2013