God Is An Astronaut | Tempus Horizon
God Is An Astronaut’s “Tempus Horizon” from Far From Refuge - how Irish post-rock trio crafted their most patient instrumental journey at Quill Lane Studios between 2006-2007.
Story Behind “Tempus Horizon”
The Patient Return to Quill Lane Studios
“Tempus Horizon” emerged during a crucial creative period for God Is An Astronaut. Between September 2006 and March 2007, twin brothers Torsten and Niels Kinsella returned to Quill Lane Studios with drummer Lloyd Hanney to record their third album Far From Refuge. The band was at a crossroads—their previous album All Is Violent, All Is Bright had achieved underground success through file-sharing and word-of-mouth, building an unexpected following that had nothing to do with traditional promotion.
For Far From Refuge, the trio deliberately shifted their approach. Where their earlier work hit listeners with immediate visceral impact, these new sessions embraced restraint. “Tempus Horizon” became the seventh track on an album that revealed its pleasures gradually rather than instantly. The band self-produced the entire album, with Torsten Kinsella handling mixing duties alongside the band’s collective production vision.
From Underground Buzz to Deliberate Evolution
God Is An Astronaut had formed in 2002 in County Wicklow, taking their name from a quote in the film Nightbreed. By 2006, they’d established their own label, Revive Records, maintaining complete creative control. “Tempus Horizon” actually appeared as an internet-only single in October 2006 before its official album release in April 2007—an early indication of how the band used digital distribution to reach their growing international audience.
The recording process for Far From Refuge reflected the band’s maturing sound. Lloyd Hanney, who had joined near the end of their debut album, brought jazz drumming sensibilities learned from legendary drummer Johnny Wadham. The Kinsella brothers’ approach combined their electronic rock background with post-rock expansiveness, creating what Torsten later described as sonic photographs capturing specific moments in time.
“Tempus Horizon” Recording and Production Details
Self-Production at Quill Lane Studios
“Tempus Horizon” was recorded entirely at Quill Lane Studios, the same facility where God Is An Astronaut had crafted their earlier releases. The band self-produced the track, with all three core members—Torsten Kinsella, Niels Kinsella, and Lloyd Hanney—credited as writers and performers. Torsten handled the mixing, maintaining the band’s commitment to complete creative autonomy.
The production approach emphasized layered atmospherics over immediate impact. Unlike tracks on their previous album that hit with instant intensity, “Tempus Horizon” builds gradually across its five-minute runtime. The instrumentation features Torsten’s guitars, keyboards, and piano work interweaving with Niels’s bass lines and Lloyd’s precise drumming and synthesizer contributions.
Krautrock Influences and Space Rock Textures
The track exemplifies God Is An Astronaut’s fusion of electronic music, krautrock, and space rock—drawing comparisons to Tangerine Dream’s cosmic explorations. The production creates what critics described as ethereal guitar work supported by well-paced rhythmic foundations. Rather than building to explosive crescendos typical of post-rock, “Tempus Horizon” maintains a more meditative quality throughout.
The album was later digitally remastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering in London for a 2011 re-release, though the original 2007 production captures the band’s intentional move toward more patient, atmospheric territory. Additional musicians Chris Hanney contributed guitars and Pat O’Donnell added strings and guitars to other album tracks, though “Tempus Horizon” features only the core trio.
Notes About “Tempus Horizon” by God Is An Astronaut
Release Date: October 2006 (single), April 1, 2007 (album)
Duration: 5:06-5:10 (various releases)
Genre: Post-Rock / Instrumental Rock / Space Rock
Album: Far From Refuge (3rd studio album, track 7 of 9)
Producer: God Is An Astronaut
Label: Revive Records
Recording: Quill Lane Studios, September 2006-March 2007
Personnel: Instrumental (no vocals)
God Is An Astronaut “Tempus Horizon” Era Band Details
Album Details
Album: Far From Refuge
Release Date: April 1, 2007
Label: Revive Records (band’s own label)
Producer: God Is An Astronaut
Recording Location: Quill Lane Studios, County Wicklow, Ireland
Recording Period: September 2006 - March 2007
Album Concept: Sonic photograph of the band’s evolution toward more patient, atmospheric territory
Critical Reception: Ranked #9 on Somewhere Cold’s 2007 Awards Hall of Fame
Remaster: Digitally remastered by Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering in 2011
Band Members/Personnel
Torsten Kinsella - Guitars, Piano, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Niels Kinsella - Bass, Guitars
Lloyd Hanney - Drums, Synthesizers
Additional Album Musicians:
Chris Hanney - Guitars (other tracks)
Pat O’Donnell - Strings, Guitars (other tracks)
Mixed By: Torsten Kinsella
Mastered By (2011): Tim Young at Metropolis Mastering, London
Artwork: Niels Kinsella
Production Notes
Band’s third studio album following The End of the Beginning (2002) and All Is Violent, All Is Bright (2005)
Self-produced and released on band’s own Revive Records label
Marked stylistic shift toward more gradual, patient compositions
“Tempus Horizon” released as internet-only single in October 2006, six months before album
Album features blend of electronic music, krautrock, and space rock influences
Vinyl release in 2008 limited to 500 numbered copies in gatefold cover
Band describes albums as sonic “photographs or snapshots” of specific moments in time
Twin brothers Torsten and Niels Kinsella formed band in 2002 in County Wicklow, Ireland
Interesting Facts About “Tempus Horizon”
The Digital-First Release Strategy
“Tempus Horizon” represents an early example of God Is An Astronaut’s embrace of digital distribution. Released as an internet-only single in October 2006—a full six months before Far From Refuge appeared—the track helped build anticipation among the band’s growing international fanbase. This approach made sense for a band whose underground success came largely through file-sharing and online communities rather than traditional radio or press coverage. The band’s previous album had achieved nearly a million plays on Last.fm despite minimal official promotion, proving that dedicated listeners found their music through peer recommendations and webzines rather than major label machinery.
The strategy reflected the band’s DIY ethos. Operating through their own Revive Records label, Torsten and Niels Kinsella maintained complete creative control while using emerging digital platforms to reach listeners directly. When Far From Refuge finally arrived in April 2007, fans who’d discovered “Tempus Horizon” online months earlier understood they were getting a more subdued, contemplative album than the immediate intensity of All Is Violent, All Is Bright.
The Deliberate Shift Away from Instant Impact
Critics immediately noticed how “Tempus Horizon” and its parent album represented a conscious evolution. Where All Is Violent, All Is Bright hit listeners with what one reviewer called the aural equivalent of crystal meth—immediate, devastating, visceral—Far From Refuge required patience. The shift puzzled some fans expecting another instant classic, but it demonstrated artistic maturity.
The band distinguished themselves from typical post-rock formulas by focusing on tuneful musicianship and faster, busier compositions rather than spacey soundscapes and predictable crescendos. “Tempus Horizon” exemplifies this approach—it builds and releases tension without relying on explosive climaxes. The track remains a live staple nearly two decades later, appearing on the band’s 2021 Live @ Opium Dublin release, proving its enduring appeal despite initial mixed reactions to the album’s more measured approach.
Common Questions
Q: What instruments are in “Tempus Horizon”? A: “Tempus Horizon” features Torsten Kinsella on guitars, piano, and keyboards, Niels Kinsella on bass and guitars, and Lloyd Hanney on drums and synthesizers. It’s entirely instrumental with no vocals, typical of God Is An Astronaut’s approach.
Q: When was “Tempus Horizon” released? A: The track first appeared as an internet-only single in October 2006, then was included as the seventh track on the album Far From Refuge when it released on April 1, 2007 through Revive Records.
Q: What does “Tempus Horizon” mean? A: “Tempus” is Latin for “time,” suggesting the title refers to a time horizon or temporal boundary. God Is An Astronaut rarely explains their instrumental track meanings, preferring listeners interpret the music personally.
Q: Where was “Tempus Horizon” recorded? A: The track was recorded at Quill Lane Studios in County Wicklow, Ireland, where God Is An Astronaut recorded their first three albums. Recording took place between September 2006 and March 2007.
Q: What genre is “Tempus Horizon”? A: “Tempus Horizon” falls into post-rock and instrumental rock, with strong space rock and krautrock influences. The band’s style draws comparisons to Tangerine Dream’s cosmic electronic explorations while maintaining a distinct Irish post-rock identity.