‘Necros’ is an attempt to utilise the listener’s inherent ability to create their own unique narrative for a longer-form work. Much of my previous work has been focused on the telling of stories: either an attempt to sonify a narrative or, at least, the use of music to create a narrative. I have explicitly used audio readings, such as on ‘I Have No Mouth (pts.1-6)’ from Cogito Ergo Sum (Ressonus Records), Cults pt. 1 - Heaven’s Gate, or ‘Consciousness Returns’ from Toybox (both here on Bandcamp). I have also attempted to tell a story solely using the music itself, without any vocal or overt narrative inclusions, such as on House of Suns and The House of the Maker (also here on Bandcamp).

Obviously, the second approach is somewhat more abstract. For the tale to be fully told and understood, this approach relies on the listener in two ways:

a) Some knowledge of the source material on which the work is based is required; and

b) A degree of commitment to the concept on the listener’s part is necessary; an understanding of what is sought to be achieved and a willingness to envision the events and fill in subsequent gaps, so to speak.

The listener must use their imagination, essentially. With ‘Necros’, the emphasis is placed on the listener - more specifically, a) is surplus to requirements and b) forms the basis of this approach.

I have attempted to create a musical space which greatly lends itself to the construction of a narrative around it (of course, the album functions without this context too). The titles of each individual piece are essentially plot points in a story that doesn’t exist outside of the listener’s mind.

During the compositional process, and as each piece began to take form, they began to feel like part of a larger story. I gave them suitably evocative names, based on the colours, texture and feel of the pieces. Before long, I noticed that these names could essentially form the basis of a story - albeit an unwritten one. These plot points became the markers from which a potential album could come; all that was required was some imagination to fill in the gaps between the fictional events. I
thought it would be interesting to create a standalone album, with which I merely point the way towards a narrative, and let the listener create it and enjoy it as they see fit.

I have my own idea of the events of ‘Necros’, and I hope that anyone who listens with an open mind, a hankering for the epic, sense-of-wonder found in the best speculative fiction, and a pair of headphones (recommended) will paint their own picture of what happens.