Music has always played an important part of my Twin Peaks obsession as the original soundtrack album was my gateway to the show in 1993. Years later, thanks to the efforts of Dean Hurley, a longtime David Lynch collaborator who operated and managed Lynch’s Asymmetrical Studio from 2005-2018, we were blessed with the release of the Twin Peaks Archive – a collection of unreleased and rare tracks from the original series and film. I have great admiration for Dean’s work. He has a passion for creating ethereal sound worlds that have become the soundtrack to my life. This love letter salutes his newest album from Sacred Bones Records, “Anthology Resource Vol. 2 – Philosophy of Beyond.” Not surprisingly, it has a connection to Twin Peaks Season 3 on Showtime.
Dean appeared briefly in Twin Peaks Part 5 as the drummer for the Roadhouse band Trouble. Yet it was his work behind the scenes that gave Season 3 such a unique sound.
DEAN HURLEY’S ANTHOLOGY RESOURCE
On August 6, 2017 (about a month before Season 3 ended), Sacred Bones Records released Anthology Resource Vol. 1, a collection of ambient sounds from the Showtime series. More on that release in a moment.
Dean’s brother Kyle Hurley designed the logo and library title card for what would soon become a series of releases.
According to the official album description, the Anthology Resource is “an ongoing compendium curated both from and for film and television in the library / production music tradition. Each release organizes themed atmospheric audio material fully licensable, non-exclusive and designed specifically for enhancement and accentuation of cinematic audio-visual productions.”
As mentioned, the first volume included numerous ambient tracks from Season 3. It’s currently available on Dean’s Bandcamp page as a digital download for $5.00! Unfortunately, this album isn’t available on vinyl. In an Instagram post on June 4, Dean explained why:
“Many have inquired about the digital-only release of Vol. I being issued on vinyl. Unfortunately, we’re not able to put it out physically. It’s a big bummer, but there is a specific release restriction that has to be honored with that one. Apologies, believe me, I’d love to have a physical copy of it as well!”
Anthology Resource Vol. 2 – Philosophy of Beyond was released by Sacred Bones Records on July 12, 2019.
MESSAGES FROM BEYOND
Dean first started teasing this new album on his Instagram account Hubleyworldwide on April 3, 2017 when reposted a video from his brother @kylehurley.
April 3, 2017 – Reposting this from my brother @kylehurley – my man made this tight animation illustrating modern life’s signature move: ‘time-governed futility.’ Why not waste some time watching this forever?
I edited this video that contains various video clips from Dean’s account between April 2017 and June 2019. See the notes in the YouTube video for details about the clips. Dean also teased the release with a series of images beginning January 2019 and continuing through the beginning of June.
The post from May 31 was the first time Dean used the hashtag – #PhilosophyOfBeyond.
ANTHOLOGY RESOURCE VOL. II – PHILOSOPHY OF BEYOND
Dean officially announced the album on his Instagram account on June 4, 2019:
“The second installment of the Anthology Resource series is out July 12th on vinyl/CD/digital via @sacredbones – Anthology Resource Vol II: Philosophy of Beyond? soundtracks the immortal voyage of the soul into depths beyond the known and back again. Explore the full documentary introduction to the album’s concept and sonics by checking out the youtube link in bio. Massive thanks to my brother @kylehurley for designing all the artwork, the animations in the doc, and a host of physical variants for this new release. So stoked how tight it looks. A big, big thank you to all my pals at Sacred Bones Records for doing such an awesome job with bringing this to life. #philosophyofbeyond”
Sacred Bones Records also published this video on their YouTube channel on June 4:
Their description: “What lies beyond physical reality? Beyond the body and its confinement to the five senses? Explore an introduction to the concepts and testimonies that provide a glimpse into the mysterious and immortal voyage of the soul. Animations and titles by Kyle Hurley and featuring archival interviews with Gary Zukav, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Monroe, Terence McKenna, Charles Muses, and Carl Jung, among others. Soundtracked entirely from Dean Hurley’s album “Philosophy of Beyond,” released July 12th via Sacred Bones Records.”
The video reminds me of the 1970s television show In Search Of with Leonard Nimoy. I recall watching it as a child and now own the complete DVD set (which I’m currently watching while writing this article). The music, the visuals, the interviews … everything about the Philosophy of Beyond video is wonderful!
If you look carefully at the video, you’ll notice a cameo by Deputy Andy Brennan’s Rolex watch from Twin Peaks Part 7 on Showtime.
RELEASE OF PHILOSOPHY OF BEYOND
Sacred Bones describes this release on their website:
Philosophy of Beyond, the second volume in the Anthology Resource series, continues Dean Hurley’s experimental soundscape work into more ethereal and celestial territory. 12 tracks weave together a rich sonic tapestry built in part from comb-filtering experiments, tape loops, and sampled field excursions into unique acoustical environments. A bulk of the LP is assembled from Hurley’s sonic contributions to the recent feature film Perfect (2018, dir. Eddie Alcazar) as well as material made in residency for Art Gallery of New South Wales’ event Masters of Modern Sound, all of which are threaded together into a singular, cohesive dissertation on the afterlife. Outlining a landscape beyond physical reality, the record serves as a soundtrack to the mysterious and immortal voyage of the soul into depths beyond the known and back again. What lies beyond physical reality? Beyond intellect and the system of the five senses? What do accounts of near death experiences, alien encounters, psychedelic drugs, astral projection, even strokes all have to do with this and why do each seem to share a core architecture of description?
A long time David Lynch collaborator, Hurley operated and managed Lynch’s Asymmetrical Studio from 2005-2018 where he worked closely with Lynch on the sound and music for his feature films, commercial work and albums; most recently providing material for the third season of Twin Peaks (Showtime). Hurley inaugurated the Anthology Resource series with a compilation of his licensed material from the show in 2017. Due to a release restriction, Anthology Resource Vol. I remains a digital-only release and cannot receive physical distribution.
According to Pitchfork.com, “Hurley’s new record includes work he created for the 2018 Eddie Alcazar film Perfect, film scored by Flying Lotus. It also features material created in residency for Art Gallery of New South Wales’ ‘Masters of Modern Sound‘ event.
As soon as the album was announced, I placed an order via Dean Hurley’s page on Bandcamp.
The Bandcamp page offered two vinyl options – black and a limited edition 250 color variant only available through Bandcamp (and their storefront).
A CD version was also available.
The Sacred Bones website offered another limited edition color variant in gold. One final color variant is available via the Sacred Bones Record Society Membership No. 5. This release has an edition of 150 hand-numbered copies, comes with alternate screen printed, wrap around sleeve, wax sealed LP pressed on Society-exclusive blue smoke vinyl and with Society-exclusive mixed tape, and available by mail-order only.
Here’s a closer look at the albums I ordered.
The front and back cover of the album. I love the entire design of this album with some graphics from Dean’s brother Kyle. Excellent use of the cream color for the back which makes it feel like the album has been in my collection for years.
I mean … just look at these graphics! It’s like they time traveled from the 1950s and 1960s.
The black album had this sticker placed on the plastic cover.
The Bandcamp limited edition exclusive album has the same front and back cover as the black vinyl
The only difference is the sticker on the plastic cover which states the album is a Bandcamp-exclusive gold-and-blue starburst vinyl, limited to 250.
Here’s a short video of the blue-and-gold album on my turntable playing Dean’s track titled “Pastness.”
The albums also included a digital download card which is presented below (sans code). You can sample both Anthology Resource albums by visiting Dean’s Bandcamp page – Vol. 1 and Vol .2
Sacred Bones released a limited edition gold-colored version of the album. It arrived in a gorgeous sleeve.
I received number 70/250. I’m assuming the artwork for the front and back sleeve was created by Dean’s brother Kyle.
I just love this logo! Reminds me so much of a logo from 1950s or 60s educational films.
A closer look at the sleeve artwork.
The sticker on the plastic cover which states the album is a limited edition gold-colored vinyl.
ANTHOLOGY RESOURCE ENAMEL PIN
On Nov. 12, 2019, Band Camp sent an email stating, “Dean Hurley just added Anthology Resource Enamel Pin to Bandcamp.” When clicking on the link, it redirected to the Dean’s Band Camp page where you can purchase an enamel pin based on the Anthology Resource logo created by Dean’s brother Kyle. A digital copy of the album was included with the purchase.
The 1-inch pin arrived a few days later.
The pin was made by PinSource and includes a production number and country of origin on the back stamp.
PHILOSOPHY OF BEYOND TELEVISION AND LIVE PERFORMANCE
Leading up to the release of the album in July 2019, Dean and Sacred Bones Records offered some unique content on their Instagram channels.
Sacred Bones records announced on June 13 that Dean would be playing a rare live show to celebrate the album release on July 12:
Dean Hurley is playing a rare live show in Brooklyn, NY On July 12 to celebrate the release of #PhilosophyofBeyond. Don?t miss it!
On June 21, Dean posted a curated playlist on Spotify called “Death Jams: The Voyage Beyond.”
On Instagram he said, “Weekend playlist alert: just put up ‘Death Jams’ on my Spotify page. Trojan horse that family bbq with veiled popular music about death, cosmic time, and the voyage beyond. Grab that vape pen and dig that ‘you have always been here before.” #philosophyofbeyond”
On June 26, Dean announced he would be taking over the Sacred Bones Instagram account:
“I’ll be taking over the @sacredbones Instagram today for a special broadcast of Philosophy of Beyond TV. Check their gram stories for more information. Guests accommodations for today’s show have been provided by La Quinta Inn and Suites, Valencia Ca. #philosophyofbeyond“
Fortunately, I was able to capture the 11-minute Instagram Story and created the YouTube video above. Like the previous YouTube introduction video, Philosophy of Beyond Television was filled with everything I love!
July 10, 2019 – This Friday I will be presenting Anthology Resource live @publicrecordsnyc in Brooklyn, NY. Big thanks to special guest @clavendr who will also be bringing her special sonics to this rare party. New Yorkers: come celebrate the release of Philosophy of Beyond and get bathed in sound.
On July 14, Dean wrote: “Back home. Many thanks to everyone who made it out to Friday’s release show…and all the moments with friends that went down. Highlight might have been standing in my brother’s old basement apartment on Chrystie Street from 2005 which is now a bottom tier gourmet cookie shop. Shout out to my man Al Boogie who’s 1997 multitrack I scored at a thrift store. Can’t wait to thread this puppy up.”
Also on July 14, Jon Dawson published a podcast which interviewed Dean about his new album and collaboration with David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti. Listen here.
“PASTNESS” IN TWIN PEAKS SEASON 3
I mentioned earlier in this article that Dean’s new album has a connection to Twin Peaks Season 3 on Showtime. On July 15, he posted the following on Instagram with the image above:
One of the best things about working for someone like David Lynch is that he often asks for things that don’t exist. This forces one into a dark room of discovery, sometimes necessitating the invention of what he describes. In 2014 David was asked to be involved with the runway show for the fall/winter KENZO campaign. He wanted to do some bespoke runway music and asked me to find a ‘haunting synth that sounded like a train horn.’ To my knowledge that didn’t really exist, so I hastily made one in Ableton. It was a rush job at the time, but over the years I used it again and again on countless things because it ended up having a uniquely mysterious quality that worked well in many applications. As a matter of fact, many observant fans will have noticed it’s appearance twice in the third season of Twin Peaks. I utilized that same custom instrument patch for the track ‘Pastness’ on my latest album. For the longest time the working title was ‘Wendy Carlos’ because I was trying to channel a ghostly 18th century vibe with a synthesized timbre. Anyways, I always liked this sound, the fact that it was unique and at the same time ubiquitous and anyone with Ableton could also create it.
Dean’s post also included a short video club from the Kenzo campaign in fall/winter 2014. He pulled the clip from this AP News video from YouTube. The track in question starts about 2:38.
Dean stated that he used parts of the track “twice in the third season of Twin Peaks.” The most noticeable place I heard the track is when Special Agent Dale Cooper meets Naido in The Mauve Zone. I’m still trying to locate the second occurrence of “Pastness” in Twin Peaks. It does have shades of Dean’s track “Interior Home by the Sea” which is heard in Part 17.
I pulled Dean’s clips from Instagram and a clip of the Part 3 scene so you can hear all three tracks.
Congratulations to Dean on the release of his new album. If this is a sign of things to come, I can’t wait for Volume 3.
“The most noticeable place I heard the track is when Special Agent Dale Cooper meets Naido in The Mauve Zone. I’m still trying to locate the second occurrence of “Pastness” in Twin Peaks. It does have shades of Dean’s track “Interior Home by the Sea” which is heard in Part 17.”
Not sure where you hear Interior (Home by the Sea) in Part 17… As far as I can tell, IHBTS never appears in S3 (Though it’s not unrelated to Slow 30’s Room; perhaps a solo instrument.)
As for “Pastness”, I think the track you are looking for is the second half of Tube Wind Dream on ARv1. It plays in episode 17 when Naido turns into Diane.