Imagine if you were on an ambient journey into space and all you had on the ship was a xylophone and a digital delay ...

 

The Reluctant Cosmonaut is a ambient experiment by Jim Casson of Dark Orchard. Utilizing mallet percussion (Gamelon Strips and xylophone) and synths he has created an interesting, melodic ambient space.

 

"Luna" is the fourth release for The Reluctant Cosmonaut. More misadventures from the guy, lost in space with some percussion instruments, a synth and a digital delay.

1. Aleksandr
2. Oleg
3. Belka Strelka
4. Grigori
5. Vladislav
6. Pyotr
7. Yevgeny

Available for digital download at Bandcamp for $7.00.

released 2023 

Jim Casson: Xylophone, Gamelan Strips, Wave Drum, Hand Pan, Gongs, Bells, Synthesizer, Fender Bass, & Field Recordings

All songs SOCAN written by Jim Casson

All songs MAPL

Produced by Jim Casson

 

"3CP" is the third release for The Reluctant Cosmonaut. More ambient fun from your favourite spaceman, marooned in orbit with some interesting percussion instruments and a laptop.

1. Victor
2. Svetlana (featuring Dunn, Dunn & Dunn)
3. Nikolai
4. Anatoly (featuring Wayne DeAdder)
5. Sergei
6. Fyodor
7. Igor

Available for digital download at Bandcamp for $7.00.

released 2022 

Jim Casson: handpan, synths, cherry tanks, theremin, talking drum, voice, mallet piano harp, samples 

special guests -

Svetlana - Darlene Dunn - piano and synths, Mark Dunn - fretless bass, Aaron Dunn - dudek

Anatoly - Wayne DeAdder - guitar

All songs SOCAN written by Jim Casson

except Svetlana (Casson, Dunn, Dunn, Dunn) and Anatoly (Casson, DeAdder, Burr)

All songs MAPL

Produced by Jim Casson

Quotes...

"The Reluctant Cosmonaut returns with "3CP" and most certainly does not disappoint. With cascading percussion flowing over ambient moments, the album is a magical journey that stands out from the standard ambient fare... this album is magical... I wish it were on my label." - Jason Lamereaux, Somewherecold Records

 

"Ninety Three Days" is the sophomore release for The Reluctant Cosmonaut. The further adventures of a guy trapped in space with a few assorted mallet percussion instruments, a synth and a digital effects unit. 

  1. Leonid
  2. Konstantin
  3. Mikhail
  4. Vladimir - feat. Andrew McPherson Peppermoth
  5. Vyacheslav
  6. Dmitri

Available for digital download at Bandcamp for $5.00.

released 2020 

Jim Casson: xylophone, Gamelon Strips, treated drum set, gongs, synths 

special guest - Andrew McPherson (Peppermoth) - guitar, synth

 

 

 

 

The Reluctant Cosmonaut (2018)

The songs are all named after Russian Cosmonauts including “Yuri” (Gagarin – first human in space), “Valentina” (Tereshkova – first woman in space), “Laika” (Stray dog from Moscow that was the occupant of Sputnik 2) and “Pavel” (Not only the first name of several cosmonauts but also of Chekov, the navigator from Star Trek!).

  1. Valentina
  2. Yuri
  3. Laika
  4. Pavel
  5. Boris
  6. Aleksei

Available for digital download at Bandcamp for $5.00.

Jim Casson – Gamelan Strips by Morfbeats, xylophone, keyboards

All songs SOCAN written by Jim Casson
All songs MAPL

Produced by Jim Casson