This recording is the first in a Northern Valentine occasional series of recordings, called "The Stylus" - which focuses on musical interpretations of poems, stories, novels, and other written works.

It is also a long overdue tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. In 2009, Northern Valentine began using various methods to convert text from Poe's works into musical notes. Every sound presented here originates from a line of text in one of Poe's works - with the exception of some bird calls from a few cooperative ravens in the woods. Each piece was created entirely by one person, making this recording both an individual and a group project.

Amy begins with Poe's last completed poem, "Annabel Lee", which explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman. Matt recounts "The Balloon Hoax", a newspaper article that presented the true story of Monck Mason's trip across the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon - which was later revealed to be false. Ben visits "The City in the Sea", a poem that tells the tale of a city ruled by a personification of Death. Jeffrey delves into "Alone", a poem about isolation and a sense of disconnect from humanity. Robert closes out this volume by getting lost in the depths of "The Raven", Poe's often revisited narrative poem about a distraught lover who is visited by a mysterious talking bird.

Grab your headphones so you don't miss the little nuances within each piece. All of the sounds are intentional and serve a purpose - as you take a journey that wouldn't be possible without one of the greatest writers to ever explore the darkness.

Released - January 19, 2025

Robert Brown: electronics / programming / samples Amy Brown: electronics / programming Matt Primak: synth / programming Jeffrey Bumiller: guitar / sounds Ben Fleury-Steiner - guitar / voice

Recorded by Robert and Amy Brown @ Baresound One (Philadelphia) + Matt Primak @ The Refuge (Philadelphia) + Ben Fleury-Steiner @ The Gears (Wilmington) + Jeffrey Bumiller @ Denise's Room (Philadelphia)

Mastered by Robert Brown @ Baresound One (Philadelphia)

Album artwork by Robert Brown

2025 Baresongs Music (BR-28)