In 2015 after an unexpected surge of attention, I found myself standing in the dusty toaster oven of northern Italy, waiting for a ride. I had made it PAST THE BREAKERS and would spend the next three weeks riding trains, singing songs, and sweating through my clothes.
Now, Adult Punk has collected stories, poems, photos, ephemera, et cetera from that first magical trip to Italy and published a beautiful volume called PAST THE BREAKERS.
This here is the audiobook version! As read by me, Ben, the author, featuring new music. Download includes a .pdf copy of the print version!!
Going to figure out a way to sell books here shortly. In the meantime, if you'd like a physical copy, send me an email ~
LISTENING GUIDE:
Because the book collects a lot of different types of writing, I've recorded the audiobook in a variety of ways:
-The long blog entry is read normally, in the center channel
-Journal entires are read with echo + delay and pan slightly
-Poems are played back on cassette tape, panned to the right
-Photo captions are played back on cassette tape, panned to the left
-The instrumental mix, obviously, is the music without me reading, re-mixed for gentle listening!
I basically read the book cover-to-cover with slight editing
"I nearly succeeded in completely destroying my white sneakers over the course of that tour. they wear their destruction proudly, and every time I put them on I feel the echoes of being sweat-soaked and deliriously happy once again.
You arrive at a stone well after walking aimlessly, alone through unfamiliar wilderness
You can hear the trees rustling their leaves very gently
You peer over the edge and see nothing, no bottom, no end.
But you feel that there is something down there. Maybe someone.
Maybe the thing you’ve been looking for.
You think of something to say. Do you sing?
Do your words come back to you?"
credits
released March 16, 2017
Published by Jordan Knecht
Music by Ben Seretan (electric guitar -> sampling keyboard -> delay pedals -> guitar amp -> cassette tape & garageband synth bass)
Words + stuff by Ben Seretan
"Album cover" photo by Jordan Knecht
A heartbreaking album that shows tremendous courage and inspires listeners to tell those who are fucking with us to fuck off forever - - amazing sound worlds, direct and powerful songs Ben Seretan
supported by 5 fans who also own “Past the Breakers”
My god, what an absolutely incredible Suite. I'll admit, I've struggled to get into Pharoah Sanders due to diving headfirst into some of his most challenging catalogue and that never worked. This is the perfect place to restart. Floating Points is new for me and I can honestly say I've never heard synthesizer music this lush and organic before. the LSO is just perfect. This is one of those albums that any serious music fan needs in their life. The perfect swan song for the great Pharaoh! 5/5 ClassyMusicSnob
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