Released 18.10.2005, first edition of 50 copies in hand-decorated sleeves in various colours (pink, green, blue, orange and yellow), the rest in hand-decorated white sleeves.

"joining together at the hip in the fire pits of balsam, rameses iii & the north sea embark on an exploration together. there is nothing like an ocean to satiate the bloodlust of these birds of prey. the ambience is like candlewax, dripping into the watery depths of the earth below. these two long tracks beg for the last word of the night, hoping to put you to sleep forever."

NOTE: This record was reissued on Type Records in July 2006 as a remastered CD with extra track.

LINKS:
The North Sea
Rameses III

REVIEWS:
"Aavistuksen verran erilaisempaa materiaalia tarjoilee jo jonkin aikaa sitten hankkimani 267 lattajjaan julkaisema The North Sean ja Rameses III:n yhteistyö Night of The Ankou. The North Sean aikaisemmat jutut eivät ole minuun uponneet ihan niin lujaa, kuin muiden arvosteluista olisi voinut odottaa, ja Rameses III:a en aiemmin ole kuullut. Ennakkoasenne oli siis ei-niin-odottavainen. Yllätys kuitenkin odotti: cdr:n kaksi pitkää raitaa ovat kauniita, rauhallisia ambientesityksiä, jotka soivat kauniisti ja vievät nätteihin paikkoihin. Seesteisten ja harmoonisten dronejen päällä kitarat tanssivat kevyttä pyörähtelyään. Henkilökohtaisena assosiaationa musiikki tuo mieleeni ne pakkasesta sähkönsiniset aamuyön tunnit, joina lehdenjakajan on pysähdyttävä katselemaan horisonttia ja vetämään henkeensä painomusteenkatkuista ilmaa. Tämä levy haisee hikiselle painomusteelle, ja se on maailman paras haju pakkasessa. (Sorry, Hannu, kohta kukaan ei osta levyjäsi, kun lukevat tällaisia kuvauksia.)" Jaakob Karhu

"a postal collaboration from two of the most soothing bands around produces two of the most intoxicatingly soporific drone pieces you're likely to hear this year - gorgeous" Boa Melody Bar

"the best collaborations are ones where the final result sounds different than both bands. as a rule postals are difficult. but this one is amazing. i like both groups separetly and this is totally different. very coherent and does not sound postal at all to me. it creates what gysin calls the third mind. (have to up the number in this case) something more than just the sum of the parts." Robert Horton

"Awesome mail collaboration between The North Sea aka Brad Rose of Digitalis and UK's Rameses III. Vast glacial washes of gentle feedback with a brooding melancholy presence seeping through. Hard to tell what the instrumentation was on this - sounds like bowed guitars - but this is one of the most gorgeous records of this kind. Repeated listens reveal a lush song-structure with a proper narrative, full of a warmth that'll leave you horizontal every time. Highly recommended." Second Layer Records

"Night of the Ankou is an immense collaboration between London based psychedelic-ambient three piece Rameses III and Tulsa's finest free folk rebel Brad Rose aka The North Sea. Rose might be better known as the brains behind Digitalis, a multi-media wyrd folk empire acting as a cdr label, magazine, book publisher and full blown label but it is his own musical compositions that remain at the core of whatever he turns his hand to. Both artists had crossed paths before this releasing on similar labels, with Rameses III even issuing a limited edition cdr for Brad's own Foxglove imprint, so it was only a matter of time before the two decided to join forces. As with so many overseas collaborations these days, the two acts have never actually met in person - instead they worked by re-moulding each others tracks, working their own ideas into the skeletons of that of the other, and the result is mesmerising.

Opening track 'Death of the Ankou' is a hypnotic journey into the instrumental ambience explored by such acts as Popol Vuh or Stars of the Lid, yet adds a sense of cinematic adventure which could be compared to Type's very own Deaf Center. We are transported quite promptly into a spiritual, oriental world of water, bamboo, beauty and restraint which is simultaneously calming and beguiling. The second piece, entitled 'Night Blossoms Written in Sanskrit' is different; the ambience is filled out by echoing guitar, and the mood goes from peaceful and spiritual to truly triumphant. It would even be possible to compare this track to the later work of Slowdive - it has that same blissful, life affirming quality which makes you remember why you loved music in the first place!" Type Records

267 lattajjaa