{{Infobox magazine
, image_file = pto.png
, image_size =
, image_caption = ''Ptolemaic Terrascope'' logo
, editor = Phil McMullen (1988–2005) Pat Thomas (2005-07)
, editor_title =
, staff_writer =
, frequency = twice a year
, circulation =
, category =
music
Music is generally defined as the art of arranging sound to create some combination of form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise expressive content. Exact definitions of music vary considerably around the world, though it is an aspect ...
, company = Woronzow Records
, publisher =
Nick Saloman
The Bevis Frond is an English rock band formed in 1986 in Walthamstow, London, England. The band is fronted by Nick Saloman and has recorded many singles and albums on various independent labels.
Information
Saloman was originally in a band kn ...
, firstdate = May 1989
, finaldate = October 2007
, finalnumber = 36
, country = England (1989–2005) USA (2007)
, based = Melksham,
Wiltshire
Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...
Oakland, California
Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...
(2007)
, language =
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
, website = http://www.terrascope.co.uk/
, issn = 1472-9369
''Ptolemaic Terrascope'' is a magazine covering old and new music, usually of a
psychedelic
Psychedelics are a subclass of hallucinogenic drugs whose primary effect is to trigger non-ordinary states of consciousness (known as psychedelic experiences or "trips").Pollan, Michael (2018). ''How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of ...
nature. It has been published irregularly since 1989. Originally published by the Woronzow record label, it covers a wide variety of bands and artists from the 1960s to the present day. Issues typically come with a 7" vinyl record or latterly a CD, and sometimes also special inserts such as
artwork
A work of art, artwork, art piece, piece of art or art object is an artistic creation of aesthetic value. Except for "work of art", which may be used of any work regarded as art in its widest sense, including works from literature ...
,
scrap book
Scrapbooking is a method of preserving, presenting and arranging personal and family history in the form of a book, box or card. Typical memorabilia include photographs, printed media, and artwork. Scrapbook albums are often decorated and frequ ...
editor
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...
Phil McMullen announced that the magazine would be coming under new management and relocating from Britain to
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. Th terrascope.co.uk domain name has been retained by McMullen for the website ''Terrascope Online'', featuring reviews, interviews, articles and artwork by the majority of the former Ptolemaic Terrascope staff.
The ''Terrascope Online'' website also acts as a focus for the semi-annual
Terrastock
Terrastock is a music festival organised periodically by Phil McMullen, formerly editor of the ''Ptolemaic Terrascope'' and since 2005 the publisher of the Terrascope Online website. The event typically features independent bands playing psyche ...
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
festivals
A festival is an event ordinarily celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, mela, or eid. A festival co ...
which, since 1997, Phil McMullen has curated.
According to the magazine, the name ''Ptolemaic Terrascope'' has no real meaning. Their official web page explains, "
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importanc ...
is a
tortoise
Tortoises () are reptiles of the family Testudinidae of the order Testudines (Latin: ''tortoise''). Like other turtles, tortoises have a turtle shell, shell to protect from predation and other threats. The shell in tortoises is generally hard, ...
who lives at Terrascope Towers. ''Terrascope'' is a word Phil made up because (a) it matched the artwork we'd designed for the first issue, and (b) we like the
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet (; born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as Th ...
song 'Tarotplane'."
Additionally to the online magazine, McMullen started a new letterpress-printed music magazine, the ''Terrascopædia'' in 2012.
Personnel
* Phil McMullen, editor (print issues from 1988–2005, since then online as ''Terrascope Online'')
* Pat Thomas, editor (one print issue, 2007)
See also
*
Terrastock
Terrastock is a music festival organised periodically by Phil McMullen, formerly editor of the ''Ptolemaic Terrascope'' and since 2005 the publisher of the Terrascope Online website. The event typically features independent bands playing psyche ...