Ashtray Navigations

Phil Todd has been recording as Ashtray Navigations for over 15 years now. Originally a solo project, it gradually evolved into a group effort, although recently it's been the duo of Phil and Melanie Delaney. Phil also appears under numerous pseudonyms, and in a swarm of groups and collaborations. He has also appeared as an occasional member of Vibracathedral Orchestra and Sunroof! in some of their best work. His major achievement, however, is his ongoing project Ashtray Navigations. Releasing a cascade of cassettes, LPs, CDs and CD-Rs, Todd has refined a singular take on modern sound construction that references the dynamics of rock, the emotional evisceration of blues and the white-light intensity of noise. For more than 15 years he has blazed his own trail with a unique dedication and passion. Passion is in fact, the first word that comes to mind listening to this music where (over)driven effects drenched acid guitar riffs, concrete sounds, delicate acoustic passages and vintage warm electronics, live in absolute symbiosis. Power to the imagination, breaking down the walls between song and improvisation, structure and freedom, melody and noise. Just like looking inside a kaleidoscope, this will be the perfect soundtrack for your daydreams!

Mr. Todd was the head of the gloriously esoteric, now defunct, Betley Welcomes Careful Drivers label and now runs the equally sublime Memoirs Of An Aesthete. Ashtray are staggeringly prolific but i have only included a selection of earlier works. Phil is up on ebay and discogs as randomrevivalzzz, putting out damn fine new releases on a regular basis alongside rereleases and old stock. Go there immediately, metaphorically shake him warmly by the hand, and give him all of your money! He is officially the nicest man in Leeds...he deserves your fullest support!!!


1996 - Ashtray Navigations - The Black Clock (C45) [matching head]
1997 - Ashtray Navigations - Four Raga Moods [betley welcomes careful drivers]
1997 - Ashtray Navigations - Live At The Tehuacán Harvest Festival [betley welcomes careful drivers]
1997 - Ashtray Navigations - Quartz (C45) [muzamuza records]
1997 - Ashtray Navigations - Use Copenhagen 69 Guitars & Park Drive Effects Pedals Exclusively (lp) [siltbreeze]
1997 - Ashtray Navigations & Universal Indians - Split [betley welcomes careful drivers, american tapes]
1998 - Ashtray Navigations - Live At Wolf Central (C30) [freedom from]
1998 - Ashtray Navigations - Those Are Pearls That Were His Eyes [solipsism]
1998 - Ashtray Navigations - Trash Mobile [betley welcomes careful drivers]
1998 - Ashtray Navigations & Gang Wizard - Split (7'') [betley welcomes careful drivers]
1999 - Ashtray Navigations - The Original Wooden Forest (7'') [betley welcomes careful drivers]
2000 - Ashtray Navigations - A Mayflower Garland (lp) [outer orbit]
2000 - Ashtray Navigations - ''End Of The Pier'' Vault (7'') [tonschacht]
2000 - Ashtray Navigations - Plaster Projection Instruction Record (s-sided lp) [menlo park recordings]
2000 - Ashtray Navigations - Tristes Tropiques [betley welcomes careful drivers]
2000 - Ashtray Navigations & Sandoz Lab Technicians & R.O.T. & Toss - Veglia Compilation [veglia]
2001 - Ashtray Navigations - Fast Angels Vol 1 [bake records]
2001 - Ashtray Navigations - When You See The Moon You've Got To Howl [rhizome]
2002 - Ashtray Navigations - Blues And Authentic River Songs [self-released]
2002 - Ashtray Navigations - Last Kiss Amateur Frequencies (7'') [gameboy records]
2004 - Ashtray Navigations - Aurora Grease Sweetrocket (3''cdr) [memoirs of an aesthete]
2004 - Ashtray Navigations - Electric Cointelpro (3'' cdr) [first person]
2004 - Ashtray Navigations - Sinking Seagull (3'' cdr) [foxglove]
2004 - Ashtray Navigations - To Your Fucking Feathered Wings [absurd, gold soundz]
2004 - Ashtray Navigations - Yesterday's Teeth Cast In Gold [pseudoarcana]
2004 - Ashtray Navigations - You Cannot Tell Cigars By The Picture On The Box [celebrate psi phenomenon]