Michael Cashmore - Before The Light Has Gone (Symphony No. 4) Michael Cashmore

Michael Cashmore’s Fourth Symphony out on vinyl, CD and digitally in October via Svart Records Michael Cashmore became known for his career as a guitarist and composer for the experimental folk band Current 93 until 2006, when he went on solo career. He has been a very prolific composer and has released over a dozen albums, featuring artists from Marc Almond to Anohni. Svart Records began working with Cashmore a couple of years ago and have reissued the albums Snow Abides Completely (2024) and Nature and Organisation's Beauty Reaps The Blood Of Solitude (2025). Now, it's time for his third Svart release, a beautiful symphony and a more challenging production from the artist, Before the Light Has Gone (Symphony No. 4). The composer himself describes his album as follows: “From the opening moment of my Fourth Symphony, I wanted to command the listener's full attention by creating the sense that an event has just occurred. They pause, visualise what has happened, and become curious about what comes next. This piece is a milestone in my orchestral work. I wanted to feature less commonly used instruments and make them some of the most important voices in the composition — the glockenspiel, for example. I also wanted to use instruments in ways that are not traditionally associated with them, such as employing the piano as a percussive instrument rather than a purely melodic one. As someone who is non-religious but deeply interested in instinctive and intuitive mysticism, music — and sacred audio frequencies — are sacred to me. I am not classically trained, which I consider a positive, as I am largely unaware of the rules and conventions of composition. This leaves me completely open in my approach to creating music. I am attempting to compose works that are not defined by convention; works that exist within their own conscious realm and that compel the listener to experience unique and non-conformist ideas. Yet these works are not intended to be intellectual exercises. Instead, they are meant to be understood through our collective memories as something that is both universal and deeply personal. I feel Incredibly fortunate for my work to be supported by such an incredible record label as Svart Records Finland who are prepared to release my work irregardless if it makes them a profit or not, to them I am so humbled and eternally grateful. My work is about unity and transforming the individual to transform society collectively. Pools of water can become oceans when we believe it... Thank you for your kind attention. Michael Cashmore”