Temporary Residence
William Basinski – Passing the Cup of Sorrows
Pre-order — Releases 23rd October 2026.
Ships on, or as close as possible to, the release date.
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In the realm of past-life regression hypnotherapy, there is a concept known as “Life Between Lives,” wherein a sacred exchange of energy occurs between two souls in the spirit world, helping a spirit fully understand and forgive a being who hurt them in a past life.
This exchange – called “passing the cup of sorrows” – became the unexpected inspiration for William Basinski’s first new album in six years.
While sinking deeper into the daily abyss of our collective negativity bias, William Basinski stumbled upon a video describing the spiritual hypnotherapy exercise known as “passing the cup of sorrows.” Fixed on the glow of a screen that projected mounting anxiety and cynicism at a seemingly interminable pace, Basinski found the testimonials of this fascinating therapeutic practice to be profoundly moving. He sat at his piano, translating the transformation of those traumatic memories of past lives into cathartic tears of the present day.
Channeling the quiet curiosity and asymmetrical patterns of pioneering 20th Century composer Morton Feldman, Passing the Cup of Sorrows is a single 40-minute piece that employs a solitary piano and subtle electronics to truly haunting effect. It recalls fragments of traumatic memories and projects them as fractals in a slow-moving soft focus that’s as eerie as it is enlightened.
For fans of: Morton Feldman · Harold Budd · Stars of the Lid · The Caretaker · Tim Hecker
Tracklist
Details
Release Date: 23rd October 2026
Barcode: 0656605445748
Catalogue No: TRR457LP-C1 / TRR457LP
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