The World of Dust
“Its power lies in the intimacy… without drowning in desolate melancholy” – hifi.nl
The World of Dust is a shadowy universe of forlorn beauty, a lo-fi bedroom pop experiment shrouded in elemental imagery and laden with ennui. Influenced by artists such as Mount Eerie and Sparklehorse, The World of Dust is intimate and wistful, mining a similarly rich emotive seam to Norwegian slowcore legends The White Birch.
Discography
13 Holy Nights
June 2024
The 13 Holy Nights take place from 23th December to 6th January. According to anthroposophical teachings, a stronger connection with the spiritual world is possible during this magical time. By following ancient rituals you can reconnect with the natural world and tune in with where you stand in life. One way to look back on the past year and forward to the next is through dreams. During the winter solstice of 2022, The World of Dust’s Stefan Breuer documented his dreams and turned them into these songs.
13 Holy Nights was recorded on a Tascam 388, a ¼-inch tape machine Stefan also used when he started recording at the age of 10. No guitars were used, just percussion, bass, vocals and keyboards. Most of the sounds come from the Ensoniq ASR-10 sampler synthesizer. Weird new sounds for weird dreams, influenced by artists like Robert Wyatt, Portishead, Robert Pollard and The Microphones.
Gaman
September 2022
Gaman is the 7th album by Dutch experimental folk artist The World of Dust. The title is Japanese for ‘enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity’ – Stefan Breuer covers weighty topics through a personal lens within an acoustic, slowcore setting. The album’s eleven songs address the struggles of a young father and artist in the midst of a climate, economic ánd health crisis. Breuer explores these ideas through a mixture of wit and melancholy. Guitars, wind instruments, harmonium and percussion provide an intimate musical ecosystem in which Breuer’s baritone thrives.
True Sound
September 2021
In some ways a concept album, True Sound charts a very personal exploration of the life and death of Stefan Breuer’s grandparents. The unique overarching narrative that plays out with each song, and the warmth of the delivery, unites the album into a moving and consistent whole. As with The World of Dust’s acclaimed previous album, Samsara, the instrumental elements on True Sound were created by Todd Tobias, who sent them to Breuer to write and sing the lyrics. Tobias’s wonderfully melodic compositions call to mind his work with Robert Pollard, creating a haunting marriage when combined with Breuer’s pure vocal tones, reminiscent of The White Birch’s Ola Flottum.
The mesmerising, drumless opening track ‘Sailing’ introduces Breuer’s grandfather, Jan (whose personal effects are on display in the Museum of Vlaardingen), over insistent, metallic guitar and burbling modulation. First single ‘Goodbye’ has a charming, wistful sway and gorgeous vocal harmonies, which belie its sobering story of Jan’s battle with cancer. Jan’s first wife, who passed away during childbirth, is commemorated on ‘Petronella’s Death’, with its elegant, descending guitar figures. And Breuer’s grandmother is touchingly memorialised on the elegant tempo shift and eerie arpeggios of ‘Nel’s Passing’. Ultimately, True Sound is testament to the liberation that comes from letting go.
Blue Herons
June 2020
Karl Blau (USA) and Stefan Breuer from The World of Dust (NL) cross paths when they perform together in an old mill in The Netherlands, September 2017. Being a longtime admirer of Blau’s work (both solo and with The Microphones, Laura Veirs and LAKE), Breuer was touched by the unfiltered niceness and sincerity of the person behind this music. They stayed in contact and decided to make this split 7″ together.
Karl Blau recorded his side of the vinyl ‘Slightly Salted’ in Germantown, Philadelphia, where he currently resides with his family. The song was originally written by Bryan Elliott and recorded by his band Pounding Serfs in 1989. Since then, it more or less became the theme song to Anacortes, Washington (also the home of Mount Eerie and Beat Happening). The lovely, seaside village of Anacortes was Blau’s home for 25 years, until his recent move to Philadelphia. Spiritually he may still be found in Anacortes of Skagit Valley, northwest Washington State.
Four years ago, Stefan Breuer and his family moved out of Hoograven, Utrecht to a nearby village called Bilthoven. Hoograven is a grey neighbourhood with a lot of flats, sandwiched between two busy highways. Apart from the uninspiring surroundings, the vibe was unfriendly and hostile. Eventually, Breuer and his wife decided not to raise their kids in Hoograven. In Bilthoven they found peace, serenity, and woods. The first half of ‘The Life of Gods’ is about Hoograven, the second half is about Bilthoven.
Samsara
March 2019
Samsara is effectively a full-length collaboration between The World of Dust’s Stefan Breuer and Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils). Previously contributing keyboard arrangements for 2015’s World of Dust album Womb Realm, Tobias created all the instrumental backdrops for Samsara’s evocative songs. A shadowy universe of forlorn beauty, this lo-fi bedroom pop experiment is shrouded in elemental imagery and laden with ennui. Intimate and wistful, Samsara mines a similarly rich emotive seam to Norwegian slowcore legends The White Birch.
The process for Samsara saw Tobias send Breuer 26 instrumental ideas, from which Breuer chose those which resonated with him most. Over the course of nearly two years, Breuer wrote and refined an especially personal suite of lyrics, reflecting his struggles with his mental health and his experience of becoming a father. The result is World of Dust’s most fully realised and vivid album to date.
Biography
The World of Dust is Dutch artist, musician and manager of Tiny Room Records, Stefan Breuer, based in Bilthoven, near Utrecht in The Netherlands. Breuer released his debut album, Bhava, in 2013, followed by X in 2014. On 2015’s Womb Realm, Breuer first collaborated with Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils), with Tobias contributing keyboard arrangements. Then, in 2017, Breuer released the experimental compilation Golden Moon. Samsara (2019) is Breuer’s second collaboration with Tobias, and his first release on Hidden Shoal. For this new release Tobias sent Breuer 26 instrumental ideas, from which Breuer picked those which resonated with him most. Over the course of nearly two years, Breuer wrote and refined an especially personal suite of lyrics, reflecting his struggles with his mental health and his experience of becoming a father.
News
The World of Dust “13 Holy Nights” Out Now!
Hidden Shoal is excited to announce the release of 13 Holy Nights, the wonderful new album from The World of Dust, the musical project of Stefan Breuer. The album is available now on vinyl, CD and digital via Bandcamp and to stream on Spotify along with the other usual suspects. The album is released through Lousy Moon Records , Tiny Room Records and Almost Halloween Time Records. The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc).The 13 Holy Nights take place from 23th December to 6th January. According to anthroposophical teachings, a stronger connection with the spiritual world is possible during this magical time. By following ancient rituals you can reconnect with the natural world and tune in with where you stand in life. One way to look back on the past year and forward to the next is through dreams. During the winter solstice of 2022, The World of Dust’s Stefan Breuer documented his dreams and turned them into these songs.
13 Holy Nights was recorded on a Tascam 388, a ¼-inch tape machine Stefan also used when he started recording at the age of 10. No guitars were used, just percussion, bass, vocals and keyboards. Most of the sounds come from the Ensoniq ASR-10 sampler synthesizer. Weird new sounds for weird dreams, influenced by artists like Robert Wyatt, Portishead, Robert Pollard and The Microphones.
Continue reading →“Gaman”, The New Album from The World of Dust
Hidden Shoal is excited to announce the release of Gaman, the new album from The World of Dust, the musical project of Stefan Breuer. The album is available now on CD and digital via Bandcamp and to stream on Spotify along with the other usual suspects. The album see release through Lousy Moon Records & Tiny Room Records. The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc).Gaman is the 7th album by Dutch experimental folk artist The World of Dust. The title is Japanese for ‘enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity’ – Stefan Breuer covers weighty topics through a personal lens within an acoustic, slowcore setting. The album’s eleven songs address the struggles of a young father and artist in the midst of a climate, economic ánd health crisis. Breuer explores these ideas through a mixture of wit and melancholy. Guitars, wind instruments, harmonium and percussion provide an intimate musical ecosystem in which Breuer’s baritone thrives.
“Its power lies in the intimacy… without drowning in desolate melancholy” – hifi.nl
Continue reading →The World of Dust ‘Ocean’ (feat. Karl Blau)
Hidden Shoal is proud to announce ‘Ocean’ (featuring Karl Blau), the second single from Gaman, the forthcoming album from The World of Dust, the musical project of Stefan Breuer. The single is available to stream on Spotify with an accompanying music video on YouTube. The album will see release on September 16 2022 through Lousy Moon Records & Tiny Room Records. The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc).‘Ocean’ features Karl Blau and Thijs Kuijken (I am Oak) both playing saxophone. Blau and I am Oak have been big influences on Breuer’s work. Blau also shot the footage for the accompanying music video.
Gaman is the 7th album by Dutch experimental folk artist The World of Dust. The title is Japanese for ‘enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity’ – Stefan Breuer covers weighty topics through a personal lens within an acoustic, slowcore setting. The album’s eleven songs address the struggles of a young father and artist in the midst of a climate, economic ánd health crisis. Breuer explores these ideas through a mixture of wit and melancholy. Guitars, wind instruments, harmonium and percussion provide an intimate musical ecosystem in which Breuer’s baritone thrives.
“Its power lies in the intimacy… without drowning in desolate melancholy” – hifi.nl
Continue reading →New Single from The World of Dust – ‘Trasenster’
Hidden Shoal is excited to announce ‘Trasenster’ the first single from Gaman, the forthcoming album from The World of Dust, the musical project of Stefan Breuer. The single is available to stream on Spotify with an accompanying music video on YouTube. The album will see release on in September 2022 through Lousy Moon Records & Tiny Room Records. The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc).Gaman is the 7th album by Dutch experimental folk artist The World of Dust. The title is Japanese for ‘enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity’ – Stefan Breuer covers weighty topics through a personal lens within an acoustic, slowcore setting. The album’s eleven songs address the struggles of a young father and artist in the midst of a climate, economic ánd health crisis. Breuer explores these ideas through a mixture of wit and melancholy. Guitars, wind instruments, harmonium and percussion provide an intimate musical ecosystem in which Breuer’s baritone thrives.
“Its power lies in the intimacy… without drowning in desolate melancholy” – hifi.nl
Continue reading →The World of Dust – New Music Video and Interview
Continue reading →
We’re excited to present the wonderfully playful music video by Mark Jennings for The World of Dust song ‘Sailing’. The track is lifted from The World of Dust’s new album “True Sound”, available on CD and digital through Tiny Room Records and streamable via Spotify, Apple Music and the rest. The video is being premiered along with a fantastic interview with Stefan Breuer at The Daily Indie.The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc).The World of Dust “True Sound” Out Now!
Hidden Shoal is proud to announce the release of True Sound, the new album from The World of Dust, the musical project of Stefan Breuer, featuring Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils). The album is available on CD and digital through Tiny Room Records and can be streamed via Spotify, Apple Music and the rest.The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc).In some ways a concept album, True Sound charts a very personal exploration of the life and death of Stefan Breuer’s grandparents. The unique overarching narrative that plays out with each song, and the warmth of the delivery, unites the album into a moving and consistent whole. As with The World of Dust’s acclaimed previous album, Samsara, the instrumental elements on True Sound were created by Todd Tobias, who sent them to Breuer to write and sing the lyrics. Tobias’s wonderfully melodic compositions call to mind his work with Robert Pollard, creating a haunting marriage when combined with Breuer’s pure vocal tones, reminiscent of The White Birch’s Ola Flottum.
The mesmerising, drumless opening track ‘Sailing’ introduces Breuer’s grandfather, Jan (whose personal effects are on display in the Museum of Vlaardingen), over insistent, metallic guitar and burbling modulation. First single ‘Goodbye’ has a charming, wistful sway and gorgeous vocal harmonies, which belie its sobering story of Jan’s battle with cancer. Jan’s first wife, who passed away during childbirth, is commemorated on ‘Petronella’s Death’, with its elegant, descending guitar figures. And Breuer’s grandmother is touchingly memorialised on the elegant tempo shift and eerie arpeggios of ‘Nel’s Passing’. Ultimately, True Sound is testament to the liberation that comes from letting go.
“Its power lies in the intimacy… without drowning in desolate melancholy” – hifi.nl
Continue reading →New Single from The World of Dust Forthcoming Album
Hidden Shoal is excited to announce the first single from True Sound, the new album from The World of Dust, the musical project of Stefan Breuer, featuring Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils). The single is available to stream on SoundCloud and the album will see release on the 10th of September 2021 through Tiny Room Records and Hidden Shoal. The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing via Hidden Shoal (film, tv, web etc).In some ways a concept album, True Sound charts a very personal exploration of the life and death of Stefan Breuer’s grandparents. The unique overarching narrative that plays out with each song, and the warmth of the delivery, unites the album into a moving and consistent whole. As with The World of Dust’s acclaimed previous album, Samsara, the instrumental elements on True Sound were created by Todd Tobias, who sent them to Breuer to write and sing the lyrics. Tobias’s wonderfully melodic compositions call to mind his work with Robert Pollard, creating a haunting marriage when combined with Breuer’s pure vocal tones, reminiscent of The White Birch’s Ola Flottum.
The mesmerising, drumless opening track ‘Sailing’ introduces Breuer’s grandfather, Jan (whose personal effects are on display in the Museum of Vlaardingen), over insistent, metallic guitar and burbling modulation. First single ‘Goodbye’ has a charming, wistful sway and gorgeous vocal harmonies, which belie its sobering story of Jan’s battle with cancer. Jan’s first wife, who passed away during childbirth, is commemorated on ‘Petronella’s Death’, with its elegant, descending guitar figures. And Breuer’s grandmother is touchingly memorialised on the elegant tempo shift and eerie arpeggios of ‘Nel’s Passing’. Ultimately, True Sound is testament to the liberation that comes from letting go.
“Its power lies in the intimacy… without drowning in desolate melancholy” – hifi.nl
Continue reading →Karl Blau & The World of Dust – “Blue Herons” Split 7″
We’re excited to announce the release of Blue Herons, the new split 7″ from Karl Blau & The World of Dust. These two gorgeous tracks will be released through the wonderful Tiny Room Records with licensing of The World of Dust track ‘The Life of Gods’ through Hidden Shoal. The vinyl is limited to a run of 200. Head to the Tiny Room Records Bandcamp to buy and head to Spotify, iTunes and the rest to stream and download. Check out the video for ‘The Life of Gods’ via YouTube and stream the track on SoundCloud.Karl Blau (USA) and Stefan Breuer from The World of Dust (NL) cross paths when they perform together in an old mill in The Netherlands, September 2017. Being a longtime admirer of Blau’s work (both solo and with The Microphones, Laura Veirs and LAKE), Breuer was touched by the unfiltered niceness and sincerity of the person behind this music. They stayed in contact and decided to make a record together.
Karl Blau recorded his side of the vinyl ‘Slightly Salted’ in Germantown, Philadelphia, where he currently resides with his family. The song was originally written by Bryan Elliott and recorded by his band Pounding Serfs in 1989. Since then, it more or less became the theme song to Anacortes, Washington (also the home of Mount Eerie and Beat Happening). The lovely, seaside village of Anacortes was Blau’s home for 25 years, until his recent move to Philadelphia. Spiritually he may still be found in Anacortes of Skagit Valley, northwest Washington State.
Four years ago, Stefan Breuer and his family moved out of Hoograven, Utrecht to a nearby village called Bilthoven. Hoograven is a grey neighbourhood with a lot of flats, sandwiched between two busy highways. Apart from the uninspiring surroundings, the vibe was unfriendly and hostile. Eventually, Breuer and his wife decided not to raise their kids in Hoograven. In Bilthoven they found peace, serenity, and woods. The first half of ‘The Life of Gods’ is about Hoograven, the second half is about Bilthoven.
The music of The World of Dust is available for licensing (film, tv, web and more) via Hidden Shoal. Contact us for more details.
Continue reading →
New Single And Japanese Tour for The World of Dust
In celebration of their upcoming tour in Japan, we’re excited to present the new single and music video from The World of Dust. The music video, produced by Stefan Breuer, is a whimsical montage of collages and landscape videos made in Norway & Sweden in the summer of 2019. The track is lifted from Samsara, available now via Tiny Room Records.THE WORLD OF DUST JAPAN TOUR 2019:
05-oct-2019: Give Me Little More, 松本 Matsumoto
06-oct-2019: Space Eauuu, 神戸 Kobe
07-oct-2019: K.D.Japon, 名古屋 Nagoya
09-oct-2019: Hard Rain, 大阪 Osaka
10-oct-2019: Toonice, 高松 Takamatsu
11-oct-2019: Space O92, 広島 Hiroshima
12-oct-2019: Home, 渋谷 Shibuya, TokyoSamsara is effectively a full-length collaboration between The World of Dust’s Stefan Breuer and Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils). Previously contributing keyboard arrangements for 2015’s World of Dust album Womb Realm, Tobias created all the instrumental backdrops for Samsara’s evocative songs. A shadowy universe of forlorn beauty, this lo-fi bedroom pop experiment is shrouded in elemental imagery and laden with ennui. Intimate and wistful, Samsara mines a similarly rich emotive seam to Norwegian slowcore legends The White Birch.
The process for Samsara saw Tobias send Breuer 26 instrumental ideas, from which Breuer chose those which resonated with him most. Over the course of nearly two years, Breuer wrote and refined an especially personal suite of lyrics, reflecting his struggles with his mental health and his experience of becoming a father. The result is World of Dust’s most fully realised and vivid album to date.
All tracks from Samsara as well as the music of Todd Tobias is available for licensing for film, tv, web, games and beyond via Hidden Shoal. Check here for more info.
Continue reading →The World of Dust “Samsara” Out Now (Vinyl, CD, Digital)
The day has finally come! Samsara, the utterly brilliant collaboration between Dutch slowcore dream-pop artist The World of Dust’s Stefan Breuer and Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils) has now officially entered the world. The album is available now in vinyl, CD and digital formats via Tiny Room Records in collaboration with Hidden Shoal. Also don’t forget to check out the wonderful new music video for single, ‘Tarot’.Samsara is effectively a full-length collaboration between The World of Dust’s Stefan Breuer and Todd Tobias (Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard, Circus Devils). Previously contributing keyboard arrangements for 2015’s World of Dust album Womb Realm, Tobias created all the instrumental backdrops for Samsara’s evocative songs. A shadowy universe of forlorn beauty, this lo-fi bedroom pop experiment is shrouded in elemental imagery and laden with ennui. Intimate and wistful, Samsara mines a similarly rich emotive seam to Norwegian slowcore legends The White Birch.
The process for Samsara saw Tobias send Breuer 26 instrumental ideas, from which Breuer chose those which resonated with him most. Over the course of nearly two years, Breuer wrote and refined an especially personal suite of lyrics, reflecting his struggles with his mental health and his experience of becoming a father. The result is World of Dust’s most fully realised and vivid album to date.
All tracks from Samsara as well as the music of Todd Tobias is available for licensing for film, tv, web, games and beyond via Hidden Shoal. Check here for more info.
Continue reading →
Reviews
Artist Photos
Music Videos
Licensing
The World of Dust’s music is available for licensing (master & sync cleared) through Hidden Shoal. Please contact us with some basic details about your project and the track(s) you wish to use and we’ll be sure to get back to you straight away.