Modern Silent Cinema

Portrait by SG/Photo by Ryan Marino

"Tingling and tapping, Modern Silent Cinema elicits strange sounds, changing from simple rhythms to contemplative feelings, from melancholic, ostinato plonking to tinny clangs, unafraid of dissonance, Ross Bolleter sounds, ghostly glitches, or whirring interference. But with two handed catchy melodies, these homemade DIY sounds consciously play with the charm of the imperfect, the all too human."–Bad Alchemy

"Cullen Gallagher is a tremendous and unique scoring talent. He works like a master prose writer that surpasses narrative for that deeper cut."—Mitch LeMay, KFJC 89.7FM

"Between avant-garde and neo-classical...always searching for sounds and motifs that can be found outside the beaten tracks, sometimes pushing the piano off a cliff as it were, and capture its final notes before it gives out completely. He can be gentle as well, serving up incidental music a la Zbigniew Preisner or Erik Satie."—Hans Werksman, Here Comes the Flood

"The perfect lo-fi rainy day disc."–Arcane Candy

"Beautiful sounds, both raw and polished... There is a feeling this is a lost Fahey or Basho recording."–Lost in a Sea of Sound

"Reverberates, resonates and shakes to a range of psychedelic, post-rock, krautrock, scuzz and fuzz influences across a myriad of soundtrack-like instrumentals."–Monolith Cocktail

"From quiet, forlorn electric guitar and bass duets to solo heavy electric guitar riffs. From bluesy workouts to distorted yet melodic songs that strongly recall the likes of Roy Montgomery."–Arcane Candy

Modern Silent Cinema makes lo-fi electro-acoustic experimental instrumental guitar and piano music, composed and performed by Cullen Gallagher.

Modern Silent Cinema is published by CBG Music Works (ASCAP) and released by Bad Channels Records.

Contact: modernsilentcinema@gmail.com

Substack mailing list: Flitcraft Follies

Linktree for all my projects: https://linktr.ee/cullenbgallagher

Latest Updates:

6/7/25 - Added Hammitt review: "A diverse and intimate listening experience [and] a testament to Gallagher’s ability to create evocative soundscapes"—Arcane Candy
5/19/25 - Anemic Music has been getting some airplay on KFJC! May 19, 2025 - "Goya-a-Go-Go" on Sam Yorko (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA); May 17, 2025 - "Anemic Cinema" on Wathe (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA); May 16, 2025 - "Anemic Cinema" on Grawer (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA); May 15, 2025 - "The Last Supper" on Floe State (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
5/9/25 - "Passage XXIII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on The Friday Afternoon Club with Michael Roark (WXNA 101.5 FM, Nashville, TN)
5/8/25 - "Phantasmagoria" (from Aphonia) on Free Form Freakout (KMSU 89.7 FM, Mankato, MN)
5/5/25 - "Passage XXVI" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on What You Need with Jeff Curtis (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH)
5/2/25 - Guitarworks: First Folio up for pre-order, and first track ("Fade In") now streaming on Bandcamp
4/30/25 - Updated April radio plays, including "Nosferatu Boogie" (from Aphonia) on Fanfare For The Speeding Bullet! with Jason Finkelman (WEFT 90.1FM, Champaign, IL) ;"Alvin's Gone" (from Forbidden Frames) on Popular Culture Process Filter with Chuck Nicklow (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH; "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Mitch LeMay (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA); "The Age of Cinema" (from Hammitt) on Devils Advocate (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA); and "Passage XXV" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Popular Culture Process Filter with Chuck Nicklow (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH). Added links to scores for Manhatta, Skyscrapers Symphony, and Serpentine Dance/Passage XXIV
4/6/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" (from Hammitt) on Dionysian Azucar with DJ Dilettante (KDVS 90.3FM, Davis, CA)
4/5/25 - "Sunsetwindowreverie" (from Hammitt) on Teachers AIDS (KFLC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
4/4/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Mitch LeMay (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/28/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Sam Yorko (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/28/25 - "The Age of Cinema" (from Hammitt) on Mitch LeMay (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/27/25 - "Passage XXXII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on The Aetherium (KRBX Radio Boise, Boise, ID)
3/24/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Cousin Mary (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/24/25 - "Sitting on a Bus, Thinking About a Burrito Blues" (from The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema) on What You Need with Jeff Curtis (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH)
3/23/25 - "Passage XXII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Eardrum Buzz Radio (Eardrum Buzz Radio, Burbank, CA)
3/23/25 - "The Age of Cinema" (from Hammitt) on Lucky Jae (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/23/25 - Lots of radio play added, including Two Hours in Tongues with Mr. Mike on East Village Radio (New York, NY), KFJC 89.7FM (Los Altos Hills, CA), Lone Frequencies (Mad Wasp Radio, UK/Online), KRBX Radio Boise (Boise, ID), and Eardrum Buzz Radio (Burbank, CA).
3/13/25 - "Passage XXX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Signal to Noise with Barry Lee (KKFI 90.1 FM, Kansas City, MO)
3/13/25 - "Passage XXVII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Signal to Noise with Barry Lee (KKFI 90.1 FM, Kansas City, MO)
3/13/25 - "Passage XXVIII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on The Aetherium (KRBX Radio Boise, Boise, ID)
3/13/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" (from Hammitt) on Jimmy Skelter (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/7/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Mitch LeMay (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/7/25 - "Passage XXX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Elysian Fields with Dominic Castelli (KXCI 91.3 FM, Tucson, AZ)
3/6/25 - "Passage XXVII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on The Aetherium (KRBX Radio Boise, Boise, ID)
3/6/25 - "Eventide" (from Hammitt) on Jimmy Skelter (KFLC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/5/25 - "The Continental Op" (from Hammitt) on Brain Damage (KFLC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/5/25 - "Sunsetwindowreverie" (from Hammitt) on Colonel Kurtz (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
3/1/25 - "Passage XXII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Blauerosen + Jointweird (Tak Tent Radio)
2/28/25 - "The Raven" (from Hammitt) on Grawer (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/27/25 - "Passage XXIV" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Phantom Circuit #437: Vision Off (Beachy Head Radio, East Sussex, UK)
2/27/25 - "Eventide" (from Hammitt) on Jimmy Skelter (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/27/25 - "Passage XXV" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on The Aetherium (KRBX Radio Boise, Boise, ID)
2/27/25 - "Passage XXXII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Popular Culture Process Filter with Chuck Nicklow (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH)
2/25/25 - "Passage XXV" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Liminal Noise (CAMP Radio, Riga, Latvia)
2/24/25 - Passages XXII–XXXII is officially released! Listen on Bandcamp, Roqbox, or YouTube!
2/23/25 - "The Age of Cinema" (from Hammitt) on Flip Sides (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/23/25 - "Passage XXIX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Melody Unasked For (WFHB 91.3FM, Bloomington, IN)
2/22/25 - "The Raven" (from Hammitt) on Krysti Pystolz (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/21/25 - "The Age of Cinema" (from Hammitt) on Mitch LeMay (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/20/25 - "Passage XXX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Eardrum Buzz Radio (www.eardrumbuzz.net, Burbank, CA)
2/20/25 - "Passage XXIV" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on The Aetherium (KRBX Radio Boise, Boise, ID)
2/19/25 - "Passage XXXII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Eardrum Buzz Radio (www.eardrumbuzz.net, Burbank, CA)
2/18/25 - "Passage XXIX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Eardrum Buzz Radio (www.eardrumbuzz.net, Burbank, CA)
2/17/25 - "Passage XXX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on What You Need with Jeff Curtis (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH)
2/16/25 - "Passage XXIV" and "Passage XXXI" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on We Are Electro (Eardrum Buzz, Burbank, CA)
2/16/25 - Passages XXII–XXXII reviewed at Here Comes the Flood: "Between avant-garde and neo-classical...always searching for sounds and motifs that can be found outside the beaten tracks, sometimes pushing the piano off a cliff as it were, and capture its final notes before it gives out completely. He can be gentle as well, serving up incidental music a la Zbigniew Preisner or Erik Satie ("Passage XXIX"). As a guitarist Gallagher's love for post-rock and jazz can be found in the rougher vignettes ("Passage XXIII")."—Hans Werksman
2/15/25 - "The Age of Cinema" (from Hammitt) on Krysti Pystolz (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/14/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Mitch LeMay (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/11/25 - Charlie Miles, Liquid Library: Spooling Towards Freedom (CAMP Radio), played "Passage XXIV" and had this to say about Passages XXII–XXXII: "A nice collection of lovely piano pieces."
2/11/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" (from Hammitt) on Pax Humana (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/6/25 - "Passage XXX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Phantom Circuit #435: Hip Mutant Croci (Beachy Head Radio, East Sussex, UK)
2/6/25 -"Passage XXIV" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Popular Culture Process Filter with Chuck Nicklow (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH)
2/5/25 - "The Plot Thickens" (from Hammitt) on Isotope (KFJC 89.7FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
2/4/25 - Lots of airplay on KFJC (Los Altos Hills, CA). 2/4/25 - "The Age of Cinema" on Cousin Mary; 2/4/25 - "The Age of Cinema" on Sam Yorko; 1/31/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" on Good Karma; 1/31/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" on Mitch LeMay.
2/3/25 - "Passage XXII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on What You Need with Jeff Curtis (WRUW 91.1FM, Cleveland, OH)
1/30/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" (from Hammitt) on Bryan Chandler (KFJC 89.7 FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
1/30/25 - "Passage XXIX" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on Orbiting a Different Star with Andrew Backhouse (Harrogate Community Radio, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England)
1/30/25 - "Passage XXVIII" (from Passages XXII–XXXII) on The Infinite Kaleidoscope with Kristin Cofer (BFF.FM, San Francisco, CA)
1/24/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Uncomfortable Communications with John Schoen (WAYO 104.3FM, Rochester, NY)
1/24/25 - "The Raven" (from Hammitt) on Elysian Fields with Dominic Castelli (KXCI 91.3, Tucson, AZ )
1/23/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" (from Hammitt) on Helmynth (KFJC 89.7 FM, Los Altos Hills, CA)
1/21/25 - Hammitt reviewed by Helmynth (KFJC 89.7 FM, Los Altos Hills, CA): "I like the sound of this. It’s very lo-fi and mostly made up of guitars, and it feels contemplative and melancholy."
1/19/25 - "Phantasmagoria" and "Aphonia" (from Aphonia) on Sunday Morning Jazz with Mr. Dr. Dave (WMSE 91.7FM, Milwaukee, WI)
1/17/25 - Missed this the other week! January 8, 2025 - "The Marrying Kind" (from Aphonia) on Laične mojstrovine (Secular Masterpieces) Mikstejp #33 on Radio Student 89.3 FM (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
1/16/25 - "The Age of Cinema" (from Hammitt) on Signal to Noise with Barry Lee (KKFI 90.1 FM, Kansas City, MO)
1/12/25 - Missed this radio play from December 18, 2024 "Nosferatu Boogie" (from Aphonia) on Lone Frequencies ep. 227 (Mad Wasp Radio)
1/9/25 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" (from Hammitt) on Space is the Place (Cando 106.3 /107.3 FM, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)
12/31/24 - “The Marrying Sort” (from Aphonia) on Feelings with Michele with One "L" (WFMU, Jersey City, NJ)
12/23/24 - Missed this radio spot from earlier this month. December 5, 2024 - "The Marrying Sort" (from Aphonia) on Popule Knul Meus Quid Feci Tibi? with DJB (KWVA 88.1 FM, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR)
12/21/24 - "The Mystery Writer (Synth Reprise)" (from Hammitt) on Uptown Transmission with Gary James (Mothership.Voyage/Felixstowe Radio 107.5 FM, Suffolk, England)
12/20/24 - December 20, 2024 - "Two Good Murderesses or Four (electric version)" (from Aphonia) on The Friday Afternoon Club with Michael Roark (WXNA 101.5 FM, Nashville, TN)
12/18/24 - Hammitt reviewed at Luminous Dash.
12/17/24 - "Phantasmagoria" (from Aphonia) on Feelings with Michele with One L (WFMU, Jersey City, NJ)
12/17/24 - Missed this from earlier in the month, but on Dec. 2 "Anemic Cinema" (from Anemic Music) was played on on Open Floor Mat (KVMRx 105.7FM, Nevada City, CA)
12/13/24 - "Phantasmagoria" (from Aphonia) on The Friday Afternoon Club with Michael Roark (WXNA 101.5 FM, Nashville, TN)
12/12/24 - "Fig Newton of My Imagination" (from Aphonia) on Unheard Sounds (G-Town Radio WGGT-LP 92.9FM, Germantown, Philadelphia, PA)
12/6/24 - "The Raven" (from Hammitt) on The Transmitter Down episode #384 (CRMK, Newport Pagnell, UK)
12/2/24 - The Cinema Detective is officially released online!
11/29/24 - "The Mystery Writer (Vocal)" (from Hammitt) on The Transmitter Down episode #383 (CRMK, Newport Pagnell, UK)
11/25/24—Pierrette's Escapades (Remixed) will be screenings November 29, 2024 at Millennium Film Workshops (Brooklyn, NY)
11/13/24—Missed it last month (October 8, 2024), but Rob Demperio aka The Head Lump included "Rotorelief" (from The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema) on Lumpytunes! Definitely Difficult Listening (96.5 WSLR, Sarasota, FL)
11/5/24—“The Marrying Sort” (from Aphonia) on Feelings with Michele with One "L" (WFMU, Jersey City, NJ)
11/5/2024—Hammitt available for pre-order on Bandcamp! Release date set for 12/15/24 to coincide with the film's world premiere at Normal's Books & Records in Baltimore, MD. Also streaming in full at Roqbox.
11/4/24—"A Life of Constant Aberration (solo guitar)" (from Aphonia) on Scott Williams's Show (WFMU)
11/2/24—New silent film remix, A Funny Shave (Ah! La Barbe)
11/1/24—Missed this one, but back in June (on the 29th) "Rotorelief" (from The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema) was played on Saturday Night Free-Form with Mike Clifford (KRZA 88.7, Alamosa-Taos, New Mexico). Also missed this from May 27: "Come Back to the Corral, Fuzzy St. John" (from The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema) was on Free Form Freakout (KMSU, University of Minnesota, Mankato, MN)
11/1/24—"Assless Chaps Do Harm" (from The Cabinet of Modern Silent Cinema) on Shibuya Nights with DJ CJ (Raglan Radio, Japan)
10/30/24—Two new silent film remixes, The Merry Skeleton and The Haverstraw Tunnel
10/24/24—"Goya-a-Go-Go" (from Anemic Music) on Orange Crushed with Erika (WZBC 90.3 FM Newton, Boston College Radio, Chestnut Hill, MA)
10/24/24—New silent remix video, Pierrette's Escapades (Le départ d'Arlequin et de Pierrette) (Alice Guy, 1900/2024)
10/24/24—“The Moving Coffin” (from Anemic Music) on Monolith Cocktail's "Chthonian Party Tunes: Halloween Special for 2024" Spotify Playlist
10/22/24—New video posted, A Match Box Mystery (Die geheimnisvolle Streichholzdose) (1910. Guido Seeber)
10/13/24—Aphonia reviewed at Recent Music Heroes (in Estonian!): "A burst of energy fueled by blues, folk and rock 'n' roll, beams the moonlight of Western music to a wider horizon and a wider highway unhindered by obstacles."
10/12/24—"Nosferatu Boogie" (from Aphonia ) on Currents with Brian D. (WFMU, Jersey City, NJ)
10/08/24—"Phantasmagoria" (from Aphonia ) on Ceremonial Laptop (Totally Radio, Brighton, UK)
10/3/24—"The Marrying Sort" from Aphonia on Don Campau's No Pigeonholes EXP (KOWS 92.5 FM, Occidental, CA)
9/23/24—"Fig Newton of My Imagination" from Aphonia on Surface Noise with Joe McGasko (WFMU, Jersey City, NJ)
9/21/24—"Nosferatu Boogie" from Aphonia on The Hotwire Mandate with Mike Lupica (WFMU, Jersey City, NJ)
9/10/24—New video up, a remix of Segundo De Chomón's 1908 film La grenouille (The Frog). The music is a sneak peak of 2024 album #6.
9/8/24—"The Marrying Sort" from Aphonia on Audio Collision with Cadmium Red (WOZO 103.9 FM, Knoxville, TN)
9/5/24—Aphonia featured in A Closer Listen's "Fall Music Preview 2024."
9/1/24—First review of Aphonia: "Very pleasant album where the sounds make synergy, create landscapes of yesteryear."—A3XN
9/1/24—Aphonia is released!

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