Temple 77 by mark cook steven leak

artist: mark cook and steven leak


about this album:

Mark: The music on Temple 77 does not adhere to any specific approach or genre. At times it’s an exploration of pure sound much like a film score. The multilayered music sometimes moves at different speeds. We took a very free approach in creating these pieces. The music blends field recordings with improvised melodic content. Some tracks are like the band Can’s Ethnological Foggery Series with us experimenting with ethnic sounds. There are references to Crimson’s 80s pointillism, Harold Budd’s minimalism, Floyd’s psychedelia, European free improvisation of AMM, and dark ambience of Tangerine Dream’s Zeit.

Steven: The roots of this music go back to a series of notes I received from a friend who (as part of her grieving process after losing her life-partner), decided to walk a portion of the Shikoku pilgrimage. The pilgrimage is on the southern Japanese island of Shikoku and includes 88 temples.
Temple 77 has the name “Dōryū-ji”. It dates back to the year 712.

I created a set of three soundscapes in which I wanted to suggest something of the experience of walking from temple to temple and also, a suggestion of the environment, sonically and texturally.

I sent the three soundscapes to Mark for him to listen to and if he chose, to work and play with. Of course, he was in and added what he felt was needed and then he shipped them back to me. He also sent some stems of music that I treated and added in.

Over time, Mark (being Mark) found more music that belonged in these pieces (and he was right!).

For me, this music represents a real place of growth for Mark and my music as it incorporates, found sounds, field recordings, samples, all kinds of musical instruments and has (as Mark pointed out) a more cinematic sound and feel to it than any of our previous music.

It is also our favourite and we feel, best music outside of The Forever Moment.

We love this music and hope that you enjoy the journey!

Steven and Mark


album credits:

01 at crossed paths:

Steven Leak: Arturia microfreak synth., Red Panda Tensor and Particle pedals, TC Infinite pedal, Zoom multiplex pedal, rainstick, koshi wind chimes, bear bell, tuned bottles, freezing rain on overturned buckets, treatments.

Mark Cook: Warrscape, strings, choirscape, bells, guitar, soft piano, big kick drum, materialize synth.

02 temple 77

Steven Leak: Arturia microfreak and minifreak synths, Red Panda Tensor and Particle pedals, TC Infinite pedal, Zoom multiplex pedal, Aberdeen Avenue crows, small plastic bucket, wooden spoons, bearbell, tuned metal water bottle, treatments.

Mark Cook: Warr guitar, guqin, deconstructed classical guitar, percussion, fretless space bass, trumpet, Wurlitzer, arpeggiator synth, gamelan bells

03 orphan sparrow . sunday song

Steven Leak: Arturia microfreak and minifreak synths, Red Panda Tensor and Particle pedals, TC Infinite pedal, Zoom multiplex pedal, river pebbles, tuned metal water bottle, my neighbour's metal garbage can, recorder (wind instrument), aluminum foil scraped on metal pots,

Mark Cook: Warr guitar, ney, choirscape, thumb piano, strings, percussion


Recorded in Peterborough, Ontario and Arlington, Texas
Produced by Mark Cook (Arlington, Texas) and Steven Leak (Peterborough, Ontario)

mark cook herdofinstinct.bandcamp.com
steven leak stevenleak1.bandcamp.com

"This electrifying unit translucently morphs the days of prog-rock yore with an ultramodern scope." All About Jazz

Herd of Instinct is a progressive rock band based in Texas. The band has released six albums on Djam Karet's Firepool Records.

herdofinstinct.wixsite.com