{"title":"Polypores","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePolypores is an electronic music producer hailing from Preston, UK. With a passion for modular synthesizers, *he* creates captivating soundscapes that draw inspiration from ambient, new age, and experimental electronics. Known for *his* unique approach to music production, Polypores has carved out a distinct sonic identity that sets *him* apart in the industry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith influences ranging from Field Lines Cartographer to Pulselovers and Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan, Polypores has found *his* place among esteemed artists in the genre. Collaborations with notable performers such as Craven Faults and Lo Five have further solidified *his* reputation as an influential force in the electronic music scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether it's the dreamy melodies of Belbury Poly or the atmospheric compositions of Dohnavùr, fans of Polypores can expect a mesmerizing journey through otherworldly soundscapes. From Paul Cousins to Richard Norris and Ian Boddy, Polypores' work resonates with listeners who appreciate immersive and thought-provoking musical experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"praedormitium","title":"Praedormitium","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePraedormitium\u003c\/i\u003e was inspired by the warm glow and fuzzy logic of hypnagogic states - the realms of consciousness between sleep and waking. These threshold states are characterised by particular images, sounds, and cognitive effects. Both Philip K Dick and Salvador Dali drew upon them for inspiration.  \u003ci\u003ePraedormitium\u003c\/i\u003e is the third part of a loose trilogy of albums that Polypores (Stephen James Buckley) has recorded for Castles in Space. Following in the garlanded pathways of \u003ci\u003eFlora\u003c\/i\u003e (2019) and the universally acclaimed \u003ci\u003eAzure\u003c\/i\u003e (2020), the expectations for \u003ci\u003ePraedormitium\u003c\/i\u003e are running extremely high. Stephen continues the odyssey he started on Flora and refined on Azure to deliver an album not only full of his usual depth and invention, but built to exist within that enclave of melody and optimism that typifies the Castles in Space catalogue. The album spins a dizzying 12 track suite of inspirational modular synthesizer pieces built from Stephen’s instinctive and seemingly limitless free flowing creativity. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e He writes, “In my third album for Castles In Space, I felt that I should pursue the themes of the previous two by exploring an imaginal place - and decided that the place between wakefulness and sleep was an ideal location. If the previous two albums were Earth and Water, then this album is Ether. The album was recorded around Christmas 2020. The twinkling lights and frosted ground lent an unexpected air of yearning and melancholy to the music, an emotive thread running through it which, despite being unintended, must have been lurking in my subconscious somewhere and brought out through induction of these states through various means. Like the previous albums, it is very much a journey. Only this time you wake up at the end…”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Castles in Space","offers":[{"title":"Blue LP","offer_id":50402218475851,"sku":"2007645","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/unnamed-1_b06a7869_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726535900"},{"product_id":"hyperincandescent","title":"Hyperincandescent","description":"\u003cp\u003ePolypores (aka Stephen James Buckley) paints music with a Eurorack modular, drawing influences from ambient, new age, and experimental electronica. His music soars, bubbles, crackles, and soothes, in ever-shifting, immersive cosmic landscapes. His musical output is both varied and prolific with sold-out vinyl releases on such well respected labels as Behind The Sky, Castles In Space and Polytechnic Youth. Notable live festival performances have included the Castles In Space Levitation event, Manchester's Subliminal Impulse and the prestigious Future Yard in Liverpool. Whilst Polypores did have a track on the fifth volume of the Tone Science series, \u003ci\u003eHyperincandescent\u003c\/i\u003e is his solo debut on the DiN label. Releasing on both CD and Vinyl the music is split between two album length tracks that meander between different sections exploring a micro world of texture and form. At times calm and blissful the mood can suddenly be transformed into something more chaotic with strange, organic twisted shapes emerging from the undergrowth. His ability to play with tempo as a mouldable musical expression is at times breathtaking and highlights quite what a fearless sonic explorer he is. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DiN","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50424665309515,"sku":"1146130","price":22.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50424666358091,"sku":"1146129","price":5.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/be4b0ca5-5617-4d75-9cfa-04befc4cf6a0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726781225"},{"product_id":"multizonal-mindscramble","title":"Multizonal Mindscramble","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStephen James Buckley\u003c\/strong\u003e aka \u003cstrong\u003ePolypores\u003c\/strong\u003e returns for his second full album on the DiN imprint following on from his 2022 debut \u003cem\u003eHyperincandescent\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThough we’ve come to know a wide range of sounds from \u003cstrong\u003ePolypores\u003c\/strong\u003e, it’s here on \u003cem\u003eMultizonal Mindscramble\u003c\/em\u003e that we get plunged into the outer reaches of the inner psyche. Flickering insectoid transmissions are laid atop slowly shifting walls of drifting oscillators, barely discernible chirps and static-encrusted filter sweeps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere are moments of undeniable melodic bliss amongst the warm, weightless transmissions though, with soaring arpeggios and covert counter-melodies emerging from the fog and coalescing into perfect harmony before fading once again into the ether.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe slow intricate weaving of sounds and timbres has become a \u003cstrong\u003ePolypores\u003c\/strong\u003e trademark, and once again the fluidity and ease with which Buckley moves between sound-worlds is evident on this new album. The organic textures morph and grow, from a syncopated glitching oscillator through to slow swells of synth and spacey, cavernous reverb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLike a languid walk through the forest, while you gradually melt through the earth and into the soil. A perfectly balanced textural odyssey, and a stunning example of the depth and breadth of the \u003cstrong\u003ePolypores\u003c\/strong\u003e sound \u003cem\u003eMultizonal Mindscramble\u003c\/em\u003e is released both as a 180g Vinyl edition and a Digipak CD with stunning artwork from Wendy Carroll that matches the music perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"DiN","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50484323451211,"sku":"2029825","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50484323320139,"sku":"2029824","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/image004_8dbc0fb5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727588406"},{"product_id":"there-are-other-worlds","title":"There Are Other Worlds","description":"\u003cp\u003eThough Polypores’ work has always pecked at the heels of otherworldliness, it’s never been as flawlessly integrated or deeply hypnotic as on Stephen James Buckley’s latest opus, \u003ci\u003eThere Are Other Worlds\u003c\/i\u003e. There’s always been an uncanny organic uncertainty to Polypores’ work, whether that manifests as lysergic wafts of stunning melody in a rhythmically intense passage, or a flash of sped-up percussion that comes out of nowhere and his latest is awash with perfect examples of this impeccable world-building. Unfalteringly beautiful and further evidence (as if any were needed) that Buckley is a wizard of unmeasurable skill.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Castles in Space","offers":[{"title":"Red LP","offer_id":50525554475339,"sku":"2224742","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/There_Are_Other_Worlds_be8e9543_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728034659"},{"product_id":"cosmically-a-shambles-bt","title":"Cosmically A Shambles","description":"\u003cp\u003eStephen James Buckley, aka Polypores, releases his brand new studio album. \u003cem\u003eCosmically A Shambles\u003c\/em\u003e sees a slight shift in direction from his signature sound, with stronger elements of rhythm and melody than his more abstract back catalogue though still remaining unmistakably Polypores. Highly textural, intricately woven modular synth tapestries, through to whirling psychedelic freak-outs with hypnotic polyrhythms and fuzzed-up drum machines.Still creating in the same method, using modular synths and ‘playing’, rather than the use of samples or studio or synthesiser pre sets, this album features more beats and textures, seeing a shift towards almost psyc or krautrock. Preceded by his first ever 7” lathe cut single ‘Whorl’, the album is released by Cracked Ankles Records from Stephen’s homewtown of Preston.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cracked Ankles","offers":[{"title":"LP - Yellow","offer_id":51741041197387,"sku":"R9444-4736","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":51741041230155,"sku":"R9444-4841","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/PolyporescoverFRONT.jpg?v=1745938276"},{"product_id":"hungry-vortex","title":"Hungry Vortex","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinal LP of a productive year for Feral Child is an absolute cracker. The latest of a long line of superb full lengths from Stephen James Buckley's incendiary Polypores project. This one is arguably his most adventurous outing to date, the undeniably psychedelic \u003cem\u003eHungry Vortex\u003c\/em\u003e. Four extended pieces exploring polyrhythmic fixations and cosmic jazz-prog freak-outs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePercussion-heavy opener ‘The Body Is The Spaceship’ is a fine example of the sort of seamless organic growth we tend to see in Polypores’ music, with slewed synth blips and rolling polyrhythms gradually twisting into unrecognisable strands of melody and unconventional groove before your very ears.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe prog-heavy ‘Wizards!’ sees Buckley’s trademarked playful use of time-signature changes, providing such a wealth of emotional and stylistic variance and immeasurable enjoyment without changing key once (honestly, who needs keys). It’s brilliantly evocative too and could indeed perfectly soundtrack a mushroom-trip wizard march.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs we flip the record over, the flutey flourishes and minimalist clicks of the title track draw the listener into a trancelike state, repeated movements spiralling like myriad creatures crawling over a candy-coloured horizon, echoing forth into an inviting sonic oblivion. It’s ostensibly electronic, yet somehow more natural organism than machine, with little concern for the grid, or indeed, the rules.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinally, we end on something a little more subdued - the reassuring classicism of the beautiful ‘Void High’, with washes of warm noise and wobbly delay lines whirring and twinkling away, closing the record with an experience that is undeniably emotional, spiritual and as always, uniquely Polypores.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a wonderful record with which to close the year out, it comes in a magnificent, spot varnished Jake Blanchard sleeve. A superb record released as a one time only vinyl pressing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Feral Child","offers":[{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":55855362638155,"sku":"R2445-9143","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/3cade614-bcd3-3e45-89d1-bfb65e46a647.jpg?v=1762516087"},{"product_id":"wrigglers","title":"Wrigglers","description":"\u003cp\u003eCrackedanklesRecords are proud to present Polypores “Wrigglers” - the latest emergence from Stephen James Buckley’s strange and overgrown brainforest, an artist who has seen recent albums crack the national top 40 charts.From the opening bars of lead single ‘Memespawn’, it is clear that this incendiary release is going to defy all precedent Polypores releases. Kicking off with a heady mix of woozy, slewed melody lines and a relentless Motorik beat, it soon breaks down into a gritty instrumental redux and a frenetic syncopated woodwind jazzathon before bursting out again into spine-tingling melody that resembles some deformed cousin of synth-pop. It’s beautifully melodic, whilst still maintaining Buckley’s trademark sense of the chaotic and the downright wonky. Endlessly listenable electronic music that breathes and moves like a physical organism, and always refuses to stand still. A restless misfit of an artist who inhabits the fringes of whatever scenes he inhabits, Buckley maintains a certain crackling unease throughout the whole thing, but it results in jubilant outbursts and freewheeling joy, tethered only by the mechanical constraints of the machines it’s wrought from, like some broken robots have cobbled together an orchestra and they’re writing a soundtrack for a film they haven’t seen.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cracked Ankles","offers":[{"title":"LP - Royal Blue","offer_id":56873779822923,"sku":"R0290-8079","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":56873779855691,"sku":"R0290-2152","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Screenshot2026-03-24at10.04.32.png?v=1774346681"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_7ebb3e58_thumbnail_4096_86554277-b5f8-4ccf-abda-10137d4d5417.jpg?v=1726535884","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/de\/collections\/polypores.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}