Mushin by EMPTY HOUSE

Mushin was recorded over a three day period in March 2021. The idea was originally based on the music set out by The Taj Mahal Travellers freeform soundscapes, Midori Takada’s marimba and harmonium excursions and Usuma Yakoto’s minimalistic rhythms. The Zen Buddhist approach of No-Mind or Mushin was adopted in the freewheelin’ way the album was created which was in a consciously unconscious manner with no actual idea or blueprint beforehand. Pick up whatever instrument is around and play and see what happens.
The instruments that were around at the time of recording were – Organ, Guitar, Bouzouki, Shakuhachi Flute, Dizi Flute, Temple block, Tibetan bells, biscuit tin, a buddha radio, one of those drums that hippy buskers plonk about on outside Scope, congas and a Gakken Synth. Some field recordings were created by capturing a leaking faucet in a garden centre and the eerie sound of some bamboo chimes recorded in Fred's garden the day after the first lockdown started (no traffic on the roads, up in the air or out in the street).

'Mushin' means no-mind or empty mind that you attain through meditation or if you’re a martial artist through your patterns (Poomsae, Kata etc). However recording an album on achieving Mushin, would be the sound of silence. So, the idea was to create drifting pieces of music like when tiny thoughts or images drift in and out of your head whilst trying to achieve Mushin – The distractions so to speak.

reviews for Mushin

For me this album follows on well from the previous one… not because of the obvious Japanese connection, but because this one builds on the feelings of ‘Hanazono’ and takes you deeper in. It is the work of Fred Laird (Earthling Society and Taras Bulba) and is designed to replicate the little thoughts and images that drift in an out of your head while in contemplation or meditation. What you get are eddys of sound that invite you to hold onto before depositing you somewhere different…

Like meditation itself, it is an album that requires practice and, to paraphrase the Buddha, you will never go into it the same way twice, such is its diffuseness and structural looseness. As such it sits somewhere between what many Buddhists would see as mental constructs that fashion our everyday perceptions and ‘Mushin’, the emptiness that we need to realise before attaining the no-thing-ness of Satori (the Zen ‘equivalent’ of Nirvana). Whether or not you wish to practice, however, this is a wonderful record just to be with and drift off to.

Fragmented Flaneur

Fred Laird performed all the music and created the artwork for the album. The songs are based on minimalist rhythms and expansive atmospheres build with shimmering reverbs, long echoes, sustained tones and field recordings such as water running, bamboo rustling and chimes in the wind. The music brings to mind bands like from Can, Tangerine Dream, Popul Vuh, Six Organs of Admittance, Prana Crafter, God Speed You Black Emperor.

The meditative sounds builds in density as the songs progress. The mood moves from meditative repose to sections of held tension. This play between these two moods gives the album variety with smooth transitions between sections. The music reflects the nature of meditation with calm breath and the running thoughts that rise from the moment creating movement with-in the posture of stillness.

The concept and creative approach to the album was free form and unplanned. Fred Laird was in a studio filled with instruments for 3 days and followed his instinct recording layers with which ever instrument grabbed his attention. The whole production is improvisational with the intension of allowing the muse of the subconscious to freely express itself.

Fred Laird is an experienced musician in the realm of improvisation. He plays in the bands Earthling Society, Taras Bulba, Artifacts & Uranium, Moon of Ostara and more. All his projects have an intensity and unique vision that pushes the creative envelope to explore new sounds soft and heavy, but not his album he is on the lighter side.


Overall, Mushin is a great album for relaxing and creative inspiration. It feels like the perfect music for drawing or writing as its free flowing sound drones in the background allowing the awareness to drift. The music sounds great on this latest vinyl edition from Echodelick Records all the songs remastered for vinyl brings a clear and dynamic sound where the nuances in tone and expression are easily heard. This album is rich with details embedded in the sustained atmospheric soundscape.

The Psychrock

Seems like it’s all Fred Laird all the time around here but that’s just the way the releases are arriving. Mushin is a release from Fred’s project Empty House. Subtle drones, various instrumentation, mechanical effects, and an abundance of field recordings, or “Found Music” as I like to call it. There’s a bit of a lo-fi aesthetic here as ghostly sounds whir in and out of focus. Various percussive effects and watery sounds are layered throughout the three pieces. I’ve had this cassette for a while but deck issues have kept me away so I grabbed the vinyl release upon its recent reissue. Although meditative and somewhat relaxing most of the time there is also a sort of opposing force of unsettled ominous tension creating a unique atmosphere. I would classify this as a bit more experimental in nature than I would a drone recording. Definitely worth a listen for your experimental side.

The Ominous Drone

empty house is the solo work of Blackpool based musician Fred Laird. Formed in March 2021, empty house is an ambient project that fuses electronics and found sounds with Asian instruments. The concept of the music is to create a dreamlike or meditative atmosphere for meditation, yoga, martial arts or just sat on the sofa staring at the drifting clouds from your living room window.

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