When Skies Are Grey — Obsessions, compulsions & fixations

When Skies Are Grey is a manifestation of various aspects of obsessions, compulsions and fixations. It is a documentation of objects, rituals and artefacts performed, transmutated and created by Thomas Martin Ekelund, a.k.a. Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words, Teeth et al. It is an altar and a tomb. A place of ghosts, old and new.

WSAG #32: LP

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Dreadcade«

Limited edition of 195 copies on black vinyl. Cover silkscreened on heavy black cardboard. Pre-ordered copies came with a bonus 7 inch record and a 20 page booklet including lyrics, texts, photos and collages. Copies of the regular edition — without 7 inch and booklet — can be ordered from www.deadwords.org

November, 2010.

WSAG #31: Cassette

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»No Words«

Limited edition of 23 C30 cassettes given away for free to anyone who pre-ordered WSAG #30. Recorded Summer 2010 at Keiller's Park.

November, 2010.

WSAG #30: Tee

»But That Was On The Outside«

Light grey discharge print on 160gsm, 100% pre-washed soft cotton jersey. First edition of 9 copies given away to friends and allies. Second, identical, edition of 100. Sold Out.

May, 2010.

WSAG #29: Video

Teeth — »This Is Not A Room«

A room/A box/A cell/A solipsism. A small preview of the full piece.

Shown at Fylkingen, Stockholm, Sweden, March 20th, 2010.

WSAG #28: Ritual

Teeth — »The Greatest War Is In My Head«

An attempt to give physical form to an imaginary battle. The ritual failed to achieve its goal and will be reattempted at a later date in an as-of-yet undecided location

Performed at Norberg Festival, Norberg, Sweden, August 1st, 2009.

WSAG #27: Cassette

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»No Words«

Grey C20 in a clear/black case sealed with a sticker.

First edition limited to 23 unnumbered copies, released in conjuction with the 2009 Norberg Festival. Sold Out. Second edition limited to 46 copies. Sold Out.

Released at Norberg Festival, Sweden, July 31st 2009.

WSAG #26: Altar

»I Can't Hear The Birds Singing«

Mixed media collage in cracked frame, Bullfinch replica, prayer beads, dagger, prayer candles, a small beaker of blood and salt.

Installation at Galleri Krets, Malmö, Sweden, July 18th, 2009.

WSAG #25: Button Set

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Lost In Reflections«

Contains one 1.25" button featuring the »Lost In Reflections« artwork printed on transparent paper and one 1" button featuring A Square Within A Square.

WSAG #24: Ritual

Teeth — »Black Hole Heart«

Ritual involving sound, voice, blood, a heart, incense, candles, letters on pieces of paper and fire. The phrase »Black Hole Heart« was spelled out with the pieces of paper, then burnt one by one and submerged into a chalice of blood. A short litany was repeated as slowly as possible. The ritual was accompanied by a handout consisting of a small, twelve page booklet.

Performed at Henriksberg, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 26th, 2008

WSAG #23: Ritual

»Redemption Or Attempts Thereof«

Ritual involving objects, photographs, pieces of paper and fire. Destroying seals and artefacts in in an attempt to erase the past.

Performed at Keiller's Park, Gothenburg, Sweden, March 23rd, 2008

WSAG #22: Cassette

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Facelessness Erases Every Trace of Humanity«

White, Grey or Black C38.

The A side contains an extended version of »Facelessness Erases Every Trace of Humanity« from the »Gothenburg 08« compilation, paired with a brand new, lengthy drone piece entitled »You Mean Nothing Means Nothing At All« on the B side.

Released at Norberg Festival, Norberg, Sweden, July 25th 2008.

WSAG #21: LP & 7" set

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Lost In Reflections«

Limited edition of 500 copies pressed on black vinyl, 180 and 70 gram respectivly. Heavy cardstock cover with black print inside and black innerbags.

Released November 23rd 2008.

Get it from Fang Bomb or Aquarius. CD edition available on Killer Pimp

WSAG #20: Interview

»No Title«

Interview conducted by Peter Henning for Namenlos #7.

WSAG #18: Ritual

»Redemption Or Attempts Thereof«

23 minute ritual involving sound, voice, 23 white candles, six sticks of incense, mask & 18 quecards. The first 15 cuecards contained one of five phrases and where drawn at random, chanted and burned. The follwing three cards contained three short litanies which were chanted repeatedly. The ritual was accompanied by a handout consisting of a leaflet in a black envelope.

Performed at Musikcafféen, Aarhus, Denmark, February 2nd 2008.

WSAG #17: Communiqué

»Dread«

A communiqué consisting of a CDr compiling released and forthcoming material and a 12 page booklet with collages, biographical texts and mission statements.

WSAG #16: Ritual

»Facelessness Erases Every Trace Of Humanity«

23 minute ritual involving sound, voice, candles, pencil, eraser & permanent marker. The ritual was explained or not explained with a handout consisting of an A3 poster and a leaflet in a black envelope.

Performed at Konsthallen, Gothenburg Sweden, December 12th 2007

WSAG #15: Ritual

»The Words I Scream At My Reflection«

23 minute ritual involving sound, voice, candles & letters. The ritual was explained or not explained with a handout consisting of three photos and a leaflet in a black envelope. Alternative title: »Sick Sick Sick«.

Performed at Blå, Oslo, Norway, November 11th 2007

WSAG #14: Cassette

Teeth — »Sick, Sick, Sick«

Black C50 in handmade slipcase with three inserted photos. Limited edition of 23 unnumbered copies.

WSAG #13: Cassette

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»For Walls«

C20. Two 10 minute drones recorded in confinement at PK365. Stasis. Claustrophobia. Apathy. Emptiness. Limited edition of 23 copies with three different covers.

Released at the Norberg Festival, Norberg, Sweden, July 2007

WSAG #12: Cassette+Booklet

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Baby, I Love You«

One sided C50 with small booklet of collages and scribbles. Limited edtion of 1 copy.

WSAG #11: Tee

»All Ghosts!«

Black on grey, vee neck heavy duty tshirt, featuring the artwork from the »Old Ghosts, New Ghosts, All Ghosts« album cover. Pre-ordered copies with Businesscard CDr, buttons and stickers in plastic bag.

Limited edition of 25 copies, 12 of which came with the bonus pack.

WSAG #10: Cassette

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»No Words«

Black, C50 in handmade, black cardstock slipcase with an all black jcard. Limited edition of 15 unnumbered copies.

WSAG #9: Object

»Please Don't Take Your Sunshine Away«

Xerox, spaypaint, permanent marker and white cealing paint on wood. Edition of one copy.

WSAG #8: Object

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Circles Turned To Lines Turned To Circles«

Handpainted and silkscreened box containing »Old Ghost, New Ghosts, All Ghosts« CD, »Circles Fucking Circles« 3" CDr, »Circles Turned To Lines Turned To Circles« booklet and »Circles Fucking Circles« 3x1" button set. Limited edition of 19 copies.

WSAG #6: Ritual

»Circles Fucking Circles«

19 minute cathartic ritual involving audio, contact mics, aluminum canister, candles, pencils, X-Men magazine and 19 candles.

Performed at Underjorden, Gothenburg Sweden, May 27th 2005

WSAG #5: Booklet

»Circles Fucking Circles«

A small booklet of scribbles and drawings given away to patrons at the Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words performance at Underjorden, Gothenburg on the 27th of May 2006. May be viewed as a statement of intent for the performance of the evening. Limited edition of 46 copies.

WSAG #4: CDr

Teeth &mdash »Destroying«

Sold at the Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words show at Underjorden, Gothenburg on the 27th of May 2006. Handmade die cut cover made of Gruppo Cordenons Plike cardboard, red Curious Translucent Colour and Lessebo Linné in sealed black envelope. The CDr contains four tracks examining the nature of borderline personality disorder. Limited edition of 15 copies.

WSAG #3: Businesscard CDr

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»No Words«

Handmade folding cover made from black cardboard with inserts. Limited edition of 1 copy

WSAG #2: Button set

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Old Ghosts, New Ghosts, All Ghosts«

Two carded 1.25" buttons in zip lock bag. Limited edition of 50 copies.

WSAG #1.2: Cassette & Mixed Media Collage

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Now That Summer's Gone«

Second edition. Sold to subscribers of the Dead Letters newsletter. Spraypaint, photocopier, permanent marker, typewriter, stamps & collage on corrugated cardboard sealed in zip lock bag. Limited edition of 8 copies.

WSAG #1.1: Cassette

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»Now That Summer's Gone«

First edition. Sold at the 2005 Norberg Festival, Sweden. Spray paint stencil & typewriter on white cardstock. Limited edition of 17 copies.

WSAG #0: CDr

Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words

»No Words«

Sold at my performance at the 2005 iDEAL Festival, Gothenburg. Spray paint stencil, photocopier & permanent marker. Limited edition of 25 copies

Communication: info { at } whenskiesaregrey { dot } se