Windshift by Michael Atherton

Michael Atherton is a writer, composer and educator from Sydney, Australia. Originally born in Liverpool, England, to Welsh-Irish and German parents, his family later migrated to Australia in 1965. Moving to the suburbs in La Perouse, he grew up in a mixed, multicultural community, where he fostered friendships with existing indigenous members and Iberian migrants. His formative migrant experience and his curiosity about vernacular, as well as notated music, led him to study music formally where he was attracted to ethnomusicology. From a self-taught guitarist to an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Michael’s recorded output spans many different genres and styles – he was a member of the Renaissance Players, an early music group; Sirocco, a pioneering cross-cultural folk group; and Southern Crossings, an innovative ethno-classical ensemble.

By 1990, he had moved beyond his earlier musical endeavours, and away from Australia, with ‘Windshift’ seeing him draw on resources from the Asia-Pacific and Europe. With an impressive arsenal of instruments, such as the didjeridu, hurdy gurdy, kulintang, saron and jaw harp, to name but a few, Michael adds intense colour to the recordings using samplers, synths and modulating effects. Recently remastered by fellow Australian-based musician and engineer, Mikey Young, and visually re-imagined by Glasgow-based artist, Jamie Johnson, ‘Windshift’ is now presented once again by Infinite Expanse with a first-time reissue on vinyl.

Tracklist

1.	Moonrise	4:50

2.	Chasm	4:04

3.	The Kite	2:24

4.	Logtalk	2:37

5.	Sunshower	4:38

6.	Spirithouse	3:21

7.	Windmill	2:19

8.	After The Rain	6:03

9.	Soaring	2:46

10.	Passage	2:01

11.	Waterfall	3:55

12.	Zephyr	5:24

13.	Whispers	3:40

14.	Initiation	5:47

Credits

released November 30, 2023

Australian instruments played on this recording: Didjeridu – Tribal elder from Onpelli, Northern Territory. Guitar – Kevin Johnson. Hurdy gurdy – Charles Moller. Pyrex Flute – Mark Eliott. Panflute – Michael Atherton.

Studios: Digital City Studios. Engineer: Michael Gissing. ABC Studios 221. Engineer: Craig Preston (tracks 3, 11).

Equipment: 7 Sony U-matic recorders, 7 Sony PCM 501, ADx Turbolock Sychronisers, New England Digital Recorder (tracks 3, 11), Sony PCM 3402 DASH, Lexicon 224, Yamaha DSP-1, T.C.Electronics digital delay (track 13), Amek Desk, SSL Desk (tracks 3, 11), 2 Schoeps Collette Series microphones (O.R.T.F. Stereo), 1 Neumann U87 and 2 AKG 451 microphones (tracks 3,11).

Thank you to musicians: Rigel Best, acoustic bass (track 8); Mark Elliot, soprano saxophone (tracks 8, 10)

Licensed via Michael Atherton
Remastered by Mikey Young
Design & layout by Jamie Johnson

Infinite Expanse, 2023

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