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 #28: Ritual
»The Greatest War Is In My Head«
An attempt to give physical form to an imaginary battle. Ritual failed and will be reattempted at a later date.
Performed at Norberg Festival, Sweden 2008-08-01.
WSAG #27: Cassette
»No Words«
Grey C20. First edition limited to 23 unnumbered copies, released in conjuction with the 2009 Norberg Festival. Sold Out. Second edition coming soon.
Released at Norberg Festival, 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, blood, & salt.
Installation at Galleri Krets, Malmö, Sweden 2008-07-18.
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 feating A Square Within A Square.
WSAG #24: Ritual
»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. View more »
Performed 2008.06.26 at Henriksberg, Gothenburg
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. View more »
Performed 2008.03.23 at Keiller's Park
WSAG #22: Cassette
Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - »Facelessness Erases Every Trace of Humanity«
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, July 25th 2008.
WSAG #21: 7" + LP
Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - »Lost In Reflections«
Limited edition of 500 copies pressed on 70 gram and 180 gram black vinyl. Heavy cardstock cover with black print inside and black innerbags.
Released November 23rd 2008. Fang Bomb or Aquarius. CD edition available on Killer Pimp
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. View more »
Performed 2008.02.02 at Musikcafféen, Aarhus Denmark
WSAG #17: Communiqué
»Dread«
A communiqué consisting of a CDr compiling released and forthcoming material and a 12 page fanzine with collages, biographical texts and mission statements. Sent out to people of interest, promotors and media. View more »
Edition: N/A
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. View more »
Performed 2007.12.08 at Konsthallen, Gothenburg Sweden
WSAG #15: Ritual
»The Words I Scream At My Reflection or Sick, Sick, Sick«
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. View more »
Performed 2007.11.24 at Blå, Oslo Norway
WSAG #14: Cassette
Teeth - »Sick, Sick, Sick«
C50 in handmade, ash grey slipcase with three inserted photos. View more »
Edition: 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.
Edition: 23 copies with three different covers.
WSAG #12: Cassette+Booklet
Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - »Baby, I Love You«
One sided C50 with small booklet of collages and scribbles. View more »
Edition: 1 copy.
WSAG #11: Tee
»All Ghosts!«
Black on grey, vee neck heavy duty tee. Pre-ordered copies with Bizcard CD-R single, buttons and stickers in plastic bag. View more »
Edition: 25 copies, 12 of which with bonus pack.
WSAG #10: Cassette
»No Words«
50 minute cassette in handmade, black cardstock slipcase.
Edition: 15 copies.
WSAG #9: Object
»Please Don't Take Your Sunshine Away«
Xerox, spaypaint, permanent marker and white cealing paint on wood.
Edition: 1 copy.
WSAG #8: Object
»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.
Edition: 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. View more »
Performed 2005.05.27 at Underjorden, Gothenburg Sweden
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.
Edition: 46 copies.
WSAG #4: CDr
Teeth - »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. View more »
Edition: 15 copies.
WSAG #3: Businesscard CDr
Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words - »No Words«
Handmade folding cover made from black cardboard with inserts.
Edition: 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. View more »
Edition: 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.
Edition: 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.
Edition: 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. Audio later rereleased by CON-V. View more »
Edition: 25 copies.
