Cellarscape releases new live EP

Los Angeles-based artist Paul Terry, better known by his moniker Cellarscape and more recently as Aptøsrs, has long been entertaining listeners with his immersive soundscapes and expansive sonic vision. Over the course of seven Cellarscape albums, he’s delivered a celebrated catalogue of works from his critically acclaimed Exo Echo album to crafting theme songs for major projects like the Image Comics documentary So Much Damage: How Image Comics Changed the World while his 2015 album, The Act of Letting Go, earned him a nomination for Best Eclectic Album at the Independent Music Awards.

Beyond his solo work as Cellarscape, Paul Terry is also an accomplished composer, having scored more than 30 original soundtracks for film and television. His diverse body of work includes the award-winning documentary Dave Stevens: Drawn to Perfection, the suspenseful thriller Hidden Valley Place and the Felicity Jones-starring drama Emily. From intimate dramas to intense thrillers, Terry’s compositions have impressed with audiences and critics alike, showcasing his deep understanding of cinematic storytelling through music.

Earlier this year, he took his instrumental work in a new direction with the unveiling of his project Aptøsrs, which debuted with the atmospheric single “Rust Mountain” and was followed by his album Elders. Mixed by Adam Noble, who has worked with the likes of Biffy Clyro and mastered by Robin Schmidt of Wolf Alice fame, Elders explored vast and ambient soundscapes, venturing deeper into the experimental side of Paul’s creativity.

As Cellarscape, Paul has returned to his musical roots with his latest release, Live at Siren FM: The 2011 Acoustic Session. A master recording once thought to be lost, this rediscovered EP features an intimate, two-microphone acoustic session that Paul stumbled upon while going through old files on an old laptop. The timing of the discovery couldn’t be more fitting, as 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of his indie label, SkyBabyRecords, through which he releases all his music projects and soundtracks. Mixed and mastered by Tony Lewis, an MPSE award winner, the session captures Cellarscape in an intimate and stripped-back form, reminding us of the acoustic roots that first endeared Terry to his fans.

The four-track release starts of with a rendition of “Minor Fractures” where lively acoustic guitar chords set up a bright indie sound capped by Paul’s expressive vocals. Blending buoyant melodies and compelling picture painting lyrics, it’s a charming slice of catchy songwriting brought to live by superb performance, captured in a warm setting.

“Static” slows things down with soft percussive knocks and solo vocal leads that gently glide before the backing of guitar strums join to craft a heartwarming sound of tender acoustic rock. With “Blanket,” his aching vocal performance and downtempo acoustic guitar work provides an emotive listening experience that’s moving and mesmeric in equal measure.

Closing the EP, the jangly tones of guitar on “You Got the Girl” are met with Paul’s storytelling lyrics as his alluring voice casts stunning melodic flutter above to deliver a superb finale to the release. It’s a stellar showcase of his knack for reimagining his compositions in new ways and its poetic resurgence provides an enticing window into the earlier days of this visionary artist’s incredible musical adventure which continues to provide worthwhile musical moments.

Listen to Live at Siren FM: The 2011 Acoustic Session below