The Blackheath Tapes, by The Unseen

The Blackheath Tapes

by The Unseen

supported by

Ravenwell This album like most anything Mr. Morlock is involved with is a pure golden artifact of its time captured in surreal sound.

S Claridge I can vouch for Magus’ abduction claims having seen him aboard the saucer on many occasions throughout the mid-to-late 70s. He was offended by my initial (and understandable) assumption that he was a member of the saucer crew... Favorite track: Evidently the Spirits Have Taken Over.

comaunite Klaus, you one crazy mofo! I like you though, I do... This is a prime example of proper use of synth.

Jasmin Wow! A very nice Release of vintage 1970´s recordings, I bought it and listen to it many Times. A good Piece of the 70´s Spirit and Instruments! The strange Story behind these Recordings makes me Smile. Simply Fantastic! Favorite track: Evidently the Spirits Have Taken Over.

justin pardy Atmospheric & original! The story of these recordings make it even better.... Favorite track: Evidently the Spirits Have Taken Over.

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1.	Fire Dance 01:54	buy track
2.	Winter Ghost 03:33	buy track
3.	By the Frozen River 02:38	buy track
4.	Evidently the Spirits Have Taken Over 05:02	buy track
5.	Midnight Disturbance 01:43	buy track
6.	The Organ at St. Bartolph's 02:50	buy track
7.	Blackheath 03:52	buy track
8.	Safe Ashore 03:00	buy track
9.	An Empty Village 03:23	buy track
10.	The Man in the White Suit 03:39	buy track
11.	Visitors 02:52	buy track
12.	Hannah 01:57	buy track
13.	Strange Lights in the Sky 02:52	buy track

about

Best known for their movie soundtracks ("The Goatman" from 1973, and "Mary" from 1977), The Unseen consisted of Klaus Morlock (originally working under the name of Harold Legg) and Simon Magus. In November 1979, the two men decided to get together at Magus's Blackheath Studios, a converted farmhouse in Somerset. The two men, both of whom were recovering from nervous breakdowns, intended to write and record a concept album on the subject of alien abduction, a phenomenon of which Magus claimed to have first-hand experience. Morlock swiftly became disenchanted with the idea, and insisted that the concept be changed to the role of aural hallucination in cultic ritual. Magus refused, and as such, no consensus was reached. But the pair managed to record a great deal of music, the surviving elements of which are presented here.

From what we can ascertain, the following instruments were used: An organ at a nearby church, bass and lead guitars, a VCS3 synthesizer, an analogue sequencer, a Mellotron, a Roland VP33 voice simulator and string machine, an ARP Odyssey synthesizer, an upright piano, and various effects pedals. The tracks were apparently recorded to 4-track tape before being "bounced" to 8-track for further processing.

Apart from conceptual disagreements, the two men came almost to blows over Morlock's fondness for lighting indoor bonfires, without which he claimed to be "bereft of inspiration". As such, the sessions themselves seem to have been fraught with tension. Recording took place between November 8 and December 17, 1979.

Blackheath Studios burned to the ground on December 18th, 1979.

credits

released March 12, 2017

Simon Magus: Bass, guitar, synthesizers.
Klaus Morlock: Organ, synthesizers, piano.

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Klaus Morlock Los Angeles, California

Klaus Morlock began to exist in 1967.

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