An introduction to Golden Death Music

My introduction to the music of  Michael Ramey aka Golden Death Music came more than a decade ago when I purchased his self released album Ephemera Blues.  Intrigued, I downloaded and listened to all of his subsequent releases but it wasn't until he put out the song Hopeless Games in 2016 that I became hooked on delving deeper into his back catalogue.  Hopeless Games quickly became one of my favourite songs and there was a time when I would listen to it every day.  To me, it sounded like a lost indie classic, something up there with The Killing Moon, Birthday, There is a Light That Never Goes Out, or Close To Me.

So I decided to compile my own personal 'Best Of Golden Death Music' collection as an introduction to his music.  There are poppy songs like Hopeless Games and the equally brilliant Painted Sands (from his forthcoming Strange Mess album), upbeat numbers (Song For Lucien), and beautiful roaming pieces of music like Did That Affect Your Mind? (which samples serial killer Aileen Wuornos to add a disturbing edge), the grungy Hollywood which would not sound out of place on a Screaming Trees album, and extended psychedelic jams like - well, take your pick.

All of Golden Death Music's albums can be downloaded from Bandcamp - name your price.  With so much to discover, it shouldn't be difficult for anyone to find their own favorites.

For the songs below, where I couldn't find a Youtube video, I've linked to the track on Bandcamp.

1. Hopeless Games

2. How Can We Find Meaning?

3. Painted Sands

4. Hollywood

5. Did That Affect Your Mind?

6. Inner Facelift

7. Song For Lucien

8. Defender of the Future



9. Deadly Weather

10. False Bypass

11. Voice of Everything

12. High as the Night

13. The Falling Key

Butterfly

Back in November last year I was lucky enough to have my short story 'Butterfly' accepted for publication in the debut issue of the New Gothic Review.  It's been a real pleasure seeing the passion and enthusiasm with which the team behind this have launched their magazine into the world.  And now Volume 1 is here!  Aswell as my tale, there are also stories by Rebecca Parfitt,  A.A. de Levine, Joseph DeMarco, John Leahy, and R.M Sandoval.

There is also some excellent artwork accompanying each story.  Mine has an illustration by Olivia Tinnin.

Butterfly can be read for free online here.  Or subscribe to receive this and future issues of the New Gothic Review.