Image courtesy of Activision

Since 2001, Vancouver’s Scott Morgan has released four outstanding full lengths of ambient music under the alias of Loscil. His latest release is Strathcona Variations, a digital EP for Ghostly International. In early 2010, Kranky will release a new LP from Loscil titled Endless Falls. Morgan also works as a sound director in the video game industry. He was a vital member of the sound team for Prototype, a game that was released this summer by Activision and sold more copies than any other game in North America during the month of June. Morgan was so nice to sit down and answer some questions regarding the new EP, the upcoming full length, his work with Destroyer’s Dan Bejar and more.

Hugh Miller: Tell me more about the background of the three tracks that compose Strathcona Variations.

Scott Morgan: At work, I have a view from my office of the neighborhood of Strathcona (in Vancouver). It is pretty much the view on the cover of the EP (though I took that photo from the roof of our building). It’s a pretty inspiring view of the buildings and the mountains in the background, but its also led me to think about Strathcona now and then. In essence, the EP is a series of “snapshots” of Strathcona; very photo-inspired in a way.  The main track, “Strathcona,” is a general “musical impression” of this place – a kind of soundtrack to it. The Union of “Union Dusk” is a street name as is the Princess in “Midnight on Princess.”

Both of these “variations” are about seeing the same place from a different perspective which is exactly what the music is about. “Union Dusk” and “Midnight on Princess” are both variations of the main themes in Strathcona. One with a slightly “lighter” impression and the other with a considerably darker one – which is exactly how I see Strathcona – a place with light and dark sides.

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Photo by Kelly Davidson

Rock Band, the video game sensation that first gained cool points by adding Dinosaur Jr.’s “Feel The Pain” and The Replacements’ “Alex Chilton” to its catalog of downloadable content, is at it again. Next week, those who play Rock Band on either the XBOX 360 or Playstation 3, will be able to download three songs by Mission Of Burma, the legendary Boston post-punk outfit. The songs include “Mica” (from Vs.), “That’s How I Escaped My Certain Fate (from Vs.), and “That’s When I Reached For My Revolver” (from Signals, Calls, And Marches). No “Academy Fight Song?” Denied. Matador re-issued Burma’s early work in March of this year. Their most recent release was 2006’s The Obliterati. For the record, I love video games, but I’m just not coordinated enough to be a successful Rock Band player.