Tag Archives: James McKeown

Switched On – Hawksmoor: Am I Conscious Now? (Before I Die)

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Reviewed by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

James McKeown continues to move on apace with his Hawksmoor project – now numbering 13 releases in under a decade. His speed of thought is ironic, since the music he makes is not typically fast in any way, rooted in immersive ambience.

Though, as McKeown says, “While rooted in ambience, the work frequently shifts into more unsettling territory. Song structures and striking melodies appear more often than expected; ideas are sparked by psychogeography, environmental influences and hauntological drift.”

For Am I Conscious Now?, McKeown spent time shaping his music with the help of psychedelic compound 5-MeO-DMT, keen to explore how the substance might affect his music. The compound is supposed to clear the mind rather than overload it. Again, in McKeown’s words, “It overrides the body and forces surrender. It completely changed my life, outlook and perspective.”

What’s the music like?

Am I Conscious Now? responds to the experience with calm reflection. At first the worry is that the mind is cleared not just of thought but of emotion too, yet as the music settles down the ear responds well to McKeown’s subtle harmonic workings.

Initially the music is blocks of distorted but thoroughly ambient sound, but the mood softens with Golden Dolphins, a proper New Age-infused beauty. Vivid colours assert themselves through Flooding A Maze (In Slow Motion), with an extra zing added to the timbre of Infinite Tapestry.

Luke Insect’s textured artwork for the album serves as a template for the music inside, with McKeown navigating peaceful waters (Ti Kallisti, Into The White Sun) and fluctuating vistas (Astromeria) in the lead-up to the end.

Does it all work?

It does, largely – and certainly slows the mind while listening.

Is it recommended?

It is. James McKeown is remarkably consistent in his writing but also manages to avoid visiting the same place twice. A conscious yet comforting ambience is the result here.

For fans of… Flying Saucer Attack, Matthewdavid, Bvdub, My Bloody Valentine

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Published post no.2,851 – Wednesday 8 April 2026

Switched On – Hawksmoor – An Aesthetic – Experiments In Tape (Lunar Module)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

To quote the Bandcamp guide for this release, “James McKeown is a Bristol-based musician known for his innovative approach to music production and sound design. With a passion for combining modular synths with layers of live bass, guitars and experimental techniques, McKeown has carved out a niche in the electronic music scene, captivating audiences with his unique sonic explorations.”

An Aesthetic is a series of ten pieces taking the concept of hauntology further than before, and “into a liminal space of sonic saturation”. This is done through layering the wow, flutter and warble of tape artefacts, creating a unique sonic landscape.

This, then, is music for blank tape – but in a thoroughly intriguing compositional process, released on Lunar Module, the new Castles in Space CD imprint.

What’s the music like?

As the above implies, otherworldly and haunting. This is music to accompany a film where all is not quite as it seems, and where images suddenly rear up in front of the camera. That at least is what is threatened by Aesthetic II, whose bright tones are compromised by a claustrophobic atmosphere.

Aesthetic III is both oppressive and weirdly comforting, a wall of sound that feels like a massive duvet round the ears by the end, while Aesthetic VII is more ominous still. Aesthetic V crackles but settles into one of the most ambient tracks of the ten. Aesthetic VIII is the longest of all, the D-120 of the selection (for TDK fans!), and a wobbly but winsome track, with a rather beautiful chord progression that recurs at regular intervals. Aesthetic IX has the broadest melody, almost a spiritual in its plaintive quality, while the concluding Aesthetic X is a satisfying exploration of the bass range.

Does it all work?

It does – the ten pieces form a kind of suite that can be easily experienced in one sitting, and the lack of digital correction is appealing.

Is it recommended?

It is. An Aesthetic is a fascinating set of collages and inventive sound pieces that fit well together, creating an atmospheric whole. Not for all moods, that is for sure, but a consistently rewarding listen.

For fans of… Flying Saucer Attack, Pram, Bvdub, My Bloody Valentine

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,583 – Wednesday 2 July 2025