I'm having a few computer / internet problems at the moment, intermittent to say the least. It seems to allow an average of five minutes online before dying so I'm trying to work out whether it's my computer, router or phoneline. Will be back to normal soon.
Whilst this is going on I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and also quickly post this Peasant Magik update. It also includes details of the box set posting as well at the bottom.
$15-20 each or all three for $38-45 depending on where you are.
The following tapes will be available from Tuesday: David Lackner - The Repeaters Plante Willful - Speaking in Tongues Stabab - Mesmerizing Leaves To Flee Golden Cup - Il Cielo (+ deluxe edition of 12)
These two LPs should be available by the end of the month: Helm - To An End One Master - The Quiet Eye of Eternity
Box set: All artist, distro, and pretty much all of the domestic orders have shipped. Rest of the world will ship this weekend. Sorry for the slow shipping, but Philly has been under a layer of ice for the last two weeks, with most public transportation just up and running in the last few days.
All is a little quiet at the moment. I've been having some late nights again now the Winter Olympics have started and it appears labels have been doing the same.
Were the Canadians were hoping for a repeat of the Beijing opening ceremony? Bryan Adams miming to the opening song; Chinese competitors in the stands given lunchbox sized drums. The graphics were extremely well done, especially the whales, but what were the totem-phalluses all about? From the distant camera shot it looked wrong.
Not been very excited by any of the sport so far. Watching the Korean take out the other Korean in the speed skating final will become a classic moment in the same way the American boarder-cross woman falling on the last jump in 2006 did, but other than that... not exciting so far. But as a result I have been distracted and away from the computer quite a bit (which is lovely). There aren't many updates this week so I've shoved in a bit of music news to pad the post out. Next update will be more exciting.
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Apparently there's a full page piece on Natural Snow Buildings in this months Uncut magazine. If anyone has a copy, please feel free to scan in the page and send it across.
Abbey Road is to be sold by EMI. Will Paul McCartney use his millions to buy it? There's no rumour of that happening but you never know. No doubt it will be sold to housing developers, split into lots of million pound flats and sold to rich Beatles fans.
Woodsist: Moon Duo - Escape Art Museums - Rough Frame Woods - I Was Gone
Leyland Kirby has put out a 6LP package of his 'Sadly, The Future Is No Longer What It Was' album(s).
This would slightly annoy me if I were a big Merzbow fan (that has bought most of the Important Records Bird series already). Important Records are apparently releasing another edition of the Bird Series box set (in a bird seed bag) in March, this time thought to be costing around $150 and containing all 13 CDs from the series plus a bonus CDR.
905 Tapes has opened up a lovely blog shop for releases & distro.
Thurston Moore - needs no introduction - has set up a blog, 'Flowers & Cream', that can be found here.
Ah ha. I think this is proof that the Vatican looked up the definition of 'down on the boys' when they were really intending to understand 'down with the boys'. They have issued (through 'L'Osservatore Romano - The Holy See's newspaper) their list of 'the top 10 pop and rock albums of all time':
1. The Beatles - Revolver 2. David Crosby - If I could only remember my name 3. Pink Floyd - The dark side of the moon 4. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours 5. Donald Fagen - The nightfly 6. Michael Jackson - Thriller 7. Paul Simon - Graceland 8. U2 - Achtung Baby 9. Oasis - (What's the story) Morning glory 10. Carlos Santana - Supernatural
Actually not that bad.
Google takes down music blogs - like this is new news?! Personally I think Google are getting a bit too big for their boots at the moment but that is based on unrelated news to this. I'm surprised it isn't more frequent.
If I were in power of the world I'd be sure to change life to fit a ten day week. There would be a seven day working week and a three day weekend, or maybe split the three days up as a two and a one (for a midweek break). Keep the twelve month rotation but instead have three weeks per month and end the year with a five (or six) day holiday. It would give everyone an extra four days of weekend a year and then the nice five day bonus. Best of all, it would make this blog look a lot more productive.*
Sveriges Kommuner & Landsting - Spelar
This was the first I knew of the band. I couldn't help but bid on it - don't worry, I was way off the winning bid. Record limited to six copies. Cool album artwork - if you, for some reason, had all six copies the back covers would result in one big piece of artwork. And then this description:
"The SKL project. Sveriges Kommuner & Landsting (SKL) is the name for a musical experiment that took place in a small studio in Malmö, Sweden. Seven women and men - some classically trained musicians and some really novice - used and tried out many instruments, sounds and drugs during a two day recording session. To name a few things they used: Electric and acoustic guitars, a MOOG and a Hammond organ, violins, a broken mandolin found in a trash can, a clarinet, many different drums, beers, some pot and LSD. No rehearsals had taken place prior to these sessions, which is evident in many ways. The music is not always in key and the primitive recording equipment makes it quite crude occasionally, but the sheer playfulness and improvisational grit of these people is really hard to ignore. The music is either traditional Swedish folk tunes or self penned, although a large part of it is improvised. The music was never intended for an official release, but these people have now accepted a small run of six copies of the music to be released on vinyl by the Kommun 2 label. Swedish painter Peter Wallgren has contributed with expressionist artwork for this release, pasting them by hand on old recycled album sleeves. The vinyls were cut one by one by someone who wants to remain unknown..."
Thankfully last year they allowed an extra 30 copies (this time just CDR) to be released - some are still available (€6), see below. There is another album due out next month (March 25th) entitled 'Orosvisor' (Songs of Disquiet) on Kommun2.
1. Kristallen Den Fina 2. Afghanistan 3. Halvpolska Från Forshaga 4. Uti Vår Hage 5. Det Glimmar Bland Molnen 6. Björndans Från Skåne
Download / Buy Track 3 may have problems unzipping. The song is downloadable HERE
* Having now looked into this, it appears I've almost completely (unwittingly) ripped off the French Revolutionary Calendar. I wouldn't go as far as decimal time, although if I were four once again it would have saved a lot of confusion with the 24 hour clock. Oh, the Egyptians also had a ten day calendar. I'll try and be more original with ideas in the future.
--------------------- Updates:
Install Sound: Simon Whetham & Mise_En_Scene - Eineanderweltstrasse Horaflora's - The Gland Canyon
Not Not Fun: Heather Leigh - Jailhouse Rock (quite far down the page) Psychic Reality / LA Vampires - Split
Shizuka (of Shizuka) and Noma Yukimichi (of Les Rallizes Denudes) have both passed from this world in the last month - Shizuka on 2nd Feb, Yukimichi on 15th Jan.
Norman Records got in the new Qbico records on Monday - be sure to check the shops before spending huge on ebay. The Arthur Doyle Trio / Orkustra split picture disc looks an absolute monster (I mean that in a good way, of course).
Fuck It Tapes made a return this week with a new Peaking Lights cassette. Sold out already but I should think a few will appear at distros - more likely US based, can't ever remember many coming to UK shops.
Mon Insomnie have released a debut digital single, available for free download from here or to stream here. You may be able to buy a copy of CD (limited to 66) from Monster Heart Records.
Apollolaan Recordings released 'Metal Oblation' by Astral Social Club a couple of days ago. Limited to 24 art edition copies it sold out within hours - Volcanic Tongue often picks up their releases so may be worth an email? - but keep your eyes out for a normal, cheaper edition soon. Update: Copies of the special edition will be available from Norman Records very soon.
Deception Island: Outer Space - Lightyear Demonstrations Tiger Hatchery - Lemon Crystal Sunshine Telecult Powers - Orgone Freakout: a Happening with the Telecult Powers Bee Mask - In the Balm Yard: the Nth Dream of the Thermo-Hygrometer
Whoever decided that RSS should contain the word 'simple' is an arse. I now consider myself just two or three steps above an OAP in terms of computer skills. Last week I decided to set up an rss feed to download 'A History of the World in 100 Objects' with uTorrent and somehow managed to have 30 different tv programmes downloading within twenty minutes of leaving the computer alone. Eventually got it sorted with lots of stars, vertical lines and deleted files. One day I'll attempt to rss a blog to save remembering links, but for now I do not want to download everything on the net that contains the letter 'a'.
My cassette player has started to chew tapes this week. Just fixed my record player and now the tape player goes. Great. Does anyone know if cassette players are based on belts as well or if it will be more complicated to fix?
Ignatz & Harris Newman - Bring You Buzzard Meat
I wasn't expecting to ever find a copy of this as it was a 2009 tour only EP but Mimaroglu listed some copies with their last update (link below - may still have some). YES! This is a very good collaboration. There are parts of Newman's primitivism and parts of Ignatz's weird folk. Then the rest is somewhere in between. Big vibe of MV & EE in the overall atmosphere.
'II' by Ignatz and 'Dark was the Night' by Harris Newman are both well worth checking out if you're unfamiliar with either.
1. Political Song For Carla Bruni to Sing 2. I Will Bring You Buzzard Meat 3. Rise While You Fall 4. Under the Reef of Cloud 5. Stray Dog
Stunned Records: Sudden Oak — Banquet Years Sean McCann — Open Resolve Yek Koo — I Saw Myself Andreas Brandal — Secrets of the Snow Wether — Here’s the Bet Granitkorridor — III
Blackest Rainbow (pre-orders): Cursillistas / Love Cult - Split Archers By The Sea - Eagle Kiss Sylvester Anfang II - Commune Cassetten
Ian Watson - music featured here and here - has started a new art blog (here). He's interested in creating some art for music releases so if you're looking for, or know someone looking for artwork, he is welcoming requests.
Word has it that in just under two weeks there will be more new Qbico releases: The Orkustra (Bobby Beausoleil) / Arthur Doyle Trio - Split (pic disc) V/A - QBICO U-Nite VI & VII, Detroit & Buffalo, USA (3LP) Direct Current featuring Atiba N. Kwabena and Dave Nuss (99 copies) James Gurley / Muruga - It's Big Huge (99 copies)
Had alternate distractions these past couple of weeks but have a few things lined up for February so things should get back on track to more frequent posting soon.
This is one I've had for three or four years now, bought off ebay for about £5 from someone distributing a large amount of Sunburned Hand of the Man-related CDs. On rateyourmusic this is titled 'Cerne Abbas Giant Giant D.N.A. Sample'. I would suggest from the packaging (no inserts or writing on it other than band name, label catalogue number and edition number) it was a self-titled or untitled release but more on that in a moment.
The Wicked It
From the Sunburned discography page on myspace this CD is catalogued as #30, it simply states that this album was a 'solo & sunburned remix project' by Chad Cooper. However, the only information on the sleeve is clearly 'Manhand #34' and numbered out of 300. The next destination for information has to be finding a site for Chad Cooper, and this leads you to The Wicked It myspace page where this information is available:
These tracks [The Wicked It] are a compilation of my recordings from 1992-2005. Some of them were available in very limited quantity cd-r's through John Moloney’s Sunburned Hand of the Man label, "Manhand." The first, M.H. # 7, "Agoraphobic Christcycle," contains early Sunburned tracks on it as well as our first band practice. The second, M.H.# 18, “Manhunt in ‘D’,” is solo music with vocals later over-dubbed by J. Moloney. The 3rd M.H. #34 "The Wicked It: Cerne Abbas Giant, Giant D.N.A. Samples,” is completely solo but using a sampler with clips from Sunburned recordings on some of the album. The remainder of my work since 1992 is now being released here on MP3 format. (here)
So this is part 3 of that series - and that has confirmed the long title and catalogue number, at least from Chad. Oh shit. Just put this into iTunes and it has come up with the track names as well. Result!
I've not got too many Sunburned releases to be able to say, across the board, that this is unlike anything else they've been related to but it is certainly unusual in my knowledge of the group.
On the Peasant Magik box set, to all those wondering: Sal (owner, organiser and general ruler of PM) has been out of commission for the past few weeks recovering from an injury but is now back in service and apparently posting orders out. Sounds as though there are dozens of trips to the post office needed to get everything out. They should start arriving soon but possibly still a few weeks off for us international folk.
The Golden Lab single series, part 2 will be from Ex-Cocaine and should be out in March. £30 for one single so far... Bit of a shame because the line-up is excellent: Beach Fuzz, PWHMOBS, C Spencer Yeh, Heather Leigh Murray (in addition to MV & EE and Ex-Cocaine).
Tchantinler: Voice of the Seven Thunders - Voice of the Seven Thunders (CD edition)
Catholic Tapes (email): Sean McCann - Continent Head Boggle - Alto Coloratura In Synthesize Dino & Nic - Plays Theme From Dino & Nic Flower Man - Another Ozone Hex
Woodsist: Eat Skull - Jerusalem Mall The Fresh & Onlys - Second One to Know
Digitalis (vinyl): Higuma - Den of Spirits Roll the Dice - Roll the Dice See distros for these records, Boomkat, Forced Exposure, Mimaroglu, Eclipse, etc.
Beniffer Editions: Brian Ruryk - Cycle of Fords Thee Gnostics - Archival Cubic Susuration / Jakob Olausson - Split Andrew Zukerman - Don't Dress the Petal Near the Void Matthew "Doc" Dunn - Peace Be Your Rider Wasted Nymph - Urlapse Max Eisenballz (DJ Dog Dick) - From Place to Place
Psykick Dancehall: V/A (Jazzfinger, Hobo Sonn, Serfs, Single Helix, Hunter Gracchus, Bad Orb, Wounded Knee, Patrick Farmer) - Psykick Dancehall 2
Two days, in my opinion, is close enough in the grand scale of things to not worry about being early or late on birthdays or anniversaries. I'm not saying I'll show up two days late for a funeral or birthday party, but if it is more better for everyone involved to use a nearby weekend or to use a day when everyone can be available, then why not do that? It may seem unsentimental to some but we do now live in the age of convenience, no? After all, you may have received an email about this update sent to your mobile phone providing you with a quick link and seen below the 'on your doorstep' access to a record you may not have had the opportunity to hear until now. Anyway, my point being: according to blog records, two days on from this point last year the first post was written. It didn't say much other than I was planning to be a stingy bastard - really, there was no purpose behind starting the blog and carrying on was the result of an unintended addiction - and maybe I have been, but uploading is dull. Dull. Dull. Dull. How, or indeed why, people upload five, six, ten albums a day is beyond me. But that's what makes the world go round, right?
I really hated that theme music as a kid. Dana Plato was a little messed up, wasn't she?
What I wanted to say in that block of writing was that this blog has now (almost) been around a year and looking back at the first post containing the amazing GJA album I decided to rip their latest - fortunately already sold out - to celebrate the quasi-first birthday.
Neokarma Jooklo Trio - Evo Magico
This was hidden amongst a slew of other Jooklo releases at the end of last year. Four arrived on Qbico, one on Holidays and this was the last to arrive on their own Troglosound - officially on Christmas day. Oh, and of course a couple of months earlier there was Virginia's freakout with Chris Corsano on 8mm. This was one of Troglo's one-sided limited jobs. Only 112 copies and all sold out by the start of the new year. However, there are a few still floating about, Flipped Out Recordshave had a few copies (try emailing Eclipse for copies), as do a few slightly more expensive distros on Discogs.
"Finally the long awaited latest work by the trio, now on their fifth album. Recorded on february 2009, this one-sided lp features a totally acoustic set of esoteric music played by Virginia Genta on soprano saxophone, wood flutes, bells, David Vanzan on bow-harp, kuena, bells, and Maurizio Abate on hurdy-gurdy. Try to feel the sounds that only angels, satyrs and other charming creatures could evoke. Middle-Age's improvisations brought around the world from restless pilgrims who escape the impressions of matter. Timeless mysterious music where the dimensions become infinite and parallels into labyrinths of hypnotic hurdy-gurdy drones, soprano's raising scales and astounding magic vibes coming from a self-made harp played with a bow."
Interesting record this one. The first track took me four or five listens to appreciate, definitely wasn't an instant stunner for me but a good track over time. The second piece is short and leads into an excellent final piece. The result is another enjoyable Jooklo release but in a couple of months time you'll likely be harking for some 'Meditative' or 'Solar Vision'. Then again, you may not. Make up your own mind.
A big step up in the packaging - screen printed cover, nice insert.
1. Musicanti Nel Labirinto Segreto 2. Rideva Il Villano Sotto Il Ponte Elevatoio 3. La Conchiglia Profetica Del Pellegrino In Pelliccia
As usual the tracks haven't been split and the record ripped at 320kbps.
The above is good reason not to write a blog after four hours sleep and a day wandering around Ikea (two of them!).
I'm finding out about the Peasant Magik box set for anyone interested. That will be included in the next update. Haven't heard about anyone receiving a copy yet so I would guess they haven't been posted yet. Also asking after the Golden Lab single series that only delivered part 1 (MV & EE) last year so will try and update on that too.
Not Not Fun: Gnod - Science & Industry Sun Araw - Sun Ark Topping Bottoms - Tower of spines Deep Magic - Solar Meditations Blank Realm - Heartless Ark
Dull Knife: Lamps - Niels Bohr Balaclavas - Roman Holiday
Root Strata: Danny Paul Grody - Fountain (sorry, these other two now appear to be sold out. Aquarius may still have some) Golden Retriever - Golden Retriever Scott Wells - Day Songs
Sloow Tapes: These Wonderful Evils - Vermilion Sands The Doozer - Error Engerumong
Reverb Worship: Magdalena Solis - Lady Of The Wild Things
Nothing Out There: Phil Legard (Xenis Emputae Travelling Band) - Psychogeographia Ruralis
Low Point: Kyle Bobby Dunn - A Young Person's Guide To
Roll Over Rover has made some of their out of print tapes free to download. On the store page (linked), the right hand side has some of the titles in red, they're the ones you should be able to grab.
Type Records: Indignant Senility - Plays Wagner - Part One (available from Boomkat)
905 Tapes: Boyz - Boyz Head Boggle & Hollow Bonez - split Big China & Little Trouble - White Tiger V/A - Brains on Backwash II: Exile on Brain Street Form a Log & Totem Mold Growth
Monorail Trespassing: Vestigial Limb - Now, Voyager Copper Glove - Dead Space / No Power Wether - Human Parka Larval Hairs - Aedes Flashback Emuul - ...On the Origins of Motion
Well. A belated welcome to 2010 to all of you, or, let's be honest, just you, the web wanderer. I'm not entirely sure what 2010 will hold for this blog. The aim is for more of the same. Going to try and keep it chugging along at a nice easy pace.
Anyway, here's to 2010. Hope it treats you well.
Rahdunes - Drink & Drive or Smoke & Fly
Released sometime in February 2009 in an edition of 40 cassettes on Bum Tapes, following previous releases on Blackest Rainbow, Qbico and the split with Expo '70 on Kill Shaman.
Totally blown away with this new release by the mighty Rahdunes, Two full sides of thick smoke driven grooves and swirling, zoned out synths that grow, collapse and fold in on each other, only to be washed clean by waves of some of the most earth shattering drums I’ve heard on tape for a long time!
Stick with this tape for the b-side - in my opinion the more enjoyable side.
Goaty Tapes: Truth Syrum – Why We Look at our Neighbors Trudgers – Bedrooms on Fire HNY – Dead in a Year
Earjerk: Gitchi-Anahmi-Bezheu - Wonder Enfer Boreal / Drunjus - Climate.Change / Ranking.Charioteer E.C. Brown and I'Diamond - Gothick Reforme Varlet Tarsod - Varlet Tarsod Annapurna Illusion - Heat of the Fire, Heat of the Sun Lens - Chant Up Babylon Second Family Band - The Eternal Lag Pt.3 Second Family Band - Street Weaver Neon Shit - Neon Shit Circulation of Light - Circulation of Light Dreamcolour - Solar Gaze Pan to Scratch - Pagan Blood
Milieu Music: Coppice Halifax - Ocean Lion Coppice Halifax - Ocean Lion (EP) Brian Grainger - Asleep in the Desert Brian Grainger & David Tagg - Pillbox N-S (from Second Sun)
Pizza Night: Metacomet - Depression Ceremony Field of Hats - Shem to the Stars Radio People - II Dead Peasant Insurance - Cleveland Scum Skulls
Night People: Dead Luke - Cosmic Meltdown Faceplant - Faceplant Baronic Wall - The Golden Sword / In Granite Parlor Tracey Trance - Fountain Pink Priest - Gulls Diving Into the Ocean The Pheromoans - The Pheromoans DuneBuggy - Suck Me Through a Flavor Straw Wild Safari - Cave Sequins
Digitalis has samples from upcoming Higuma and Roll the Dices LPs.
The most expensive Christmas present I bought this year was selfishly for myself. In fairness, no one really wanted anything and I still owe my brother something - which will be combined with a house warming present. Presents aren't all about cost anyway. The best things are thoughtful or handmade, right? The expensive item I bought was the 'Light: on the South Side' compilation on Numero Group. It's a bit mental. The near 2" spine is just as close to 1" so don't let them fool you with that statement, either way, it's a hefty package. The box and the book are really well put together, heavy duty stuff. However, I was disappointed with the pressing of the LPs. Crackles and pops all over the place on mine and sometimes the needle can't find the right groove at the start, as a result the first 20 seconds of this song sometimes sounds like a 128kbps stream. Anyway, this is my New Year song - even though it's sung from a woman's point of view, I just can't help but sing along.
Arelean was around 50 when she sung this track and on harmonica it features the proficient playing of Little Mack Simmons.
One of the last posts said the next post would probably take a while, allowing me some time to think about an end of year list. I haven't given it much thought at all. I'm still waiting to hear five or six releases (eg. Troglosound releases, Peasant Magik box) and a busted turntable has left me unable to spin the latest Zelienople record, ARGH. Still...
Albums
10. Nancy Elizabeth - Wrought Iron 9. Rameses III - I could not love you more 8. Caboladies - Atomic Weekender 7. North Sea - Total Football 6. Cursillistas / White Light - Travel Light 5. Natural Snow Buildings - Daughter of Darkness 4. Haruko - Wild Geese 3. KGB Man / Oneohtrix Point Never - KGB Nights / Blue Drive 2. Black Eagle Child & Goodwillies - Bamboo Airship 1. Twinsistermoon - The Hollow Mountain
EPs
5. Expo 70 - Ostara 4. Olafur Arnalds - Found Songs 3. Golden Jooklo Age - Ritual 2. Beggin' Your Pardon Miss Joan - Avon 1. Richard Moult - Suite for Titouan
Singles
3. Boduf Songs - On the brink of all we hate 2. Clothide / Delphine - Split 1. Andrew Jackson Jihad / Cobra Skulls - Under the Influence
Re-Issues / Compilations
5. Open Strings: 1920's Middle Eastern Recordings - New Responses 4. Sveriges Kommuner & Landsting - s/t 3. MV & EE - Road Trips 2. Abner Jay - The Story of... 1. Dave Bixby - Ode to Quetzalcoatl
Some really good music this year, let's hope for more of the same in the one-der years (thanks Aussies for that one).
I couldn't resist leaving one last record before Christmas. This is one of the most recent Mississippi Records releases. A four track 7" recorded between Michael Hurley and Betsy Nichols. Can't find any more copies of this anywhere - Dusty Groove are all out, as are Honest Jons.
Michael Hurley & Betsy Nichols - River In The Rain (images thanks to Bryan Sinclair's discography site)
Really nice folk duets starting with a minute long a capella of 'Jocko's Lament'.
Michael Hurley's LPs are still available from Honest Jons, Norman Records, Aquarius Records and Volcanic Tongue - no doubt elsewhere. Not 100% on this one, but let me believe that it is the same Betsy Nichols that can occasionally be heard on the excellent WFMU.
With only four tracks to sort out I have taken the effort to split them into separate files, all at the usual 320kbps mp3.
Have a Merry Christmas (or whatever else you may be celebrating)
I'll be back between Christmas and New Year to put something else up, finally get around to the bulk email writing (really sorry about that) and try to conjure up some kind of end of year list. Maybe. Seen so many posts the last few days containing nothing but albums I hadn't even known about so feel there will be some catching up to do in 2010.
This is probably going to be the last album post before Christmas - although I will attempt to get up a couple of songs during the week, maybe a compilation? - and allows time to think about an end of year list.
Not seen many updates since the last post but I've gathered together a couple of things at the bottom.
Still looking for any Kapingbdi releases if anyone can help?
Antony Milton - Summit Is Fragile
In the early Spring of 2007 I managed to escape the city for a week in Arthurs P in the Southern Alps of the South Island of New Zealand. I took with me a banjo, an ebow and some effects pedals, and a loop station pedal and cette walkman with which to record.
The plains were foggy on the drive up toward the mountains but it was sunny in the high reaches as we arrived at the small cabin we had rented. That evening it snowed and we actually saw very little sun for the rest of our time there. This didn't stop us exploring mossy valleys or clambering up small mountains but did make the time spent by the fire in the evenings all the more appealing.
'Summit is Fragile' is a collection of tone poems, field recordings, song sketches, ecstatic drone pieces and gestural constructions stitched together with short banjo ragas composed over this period. A rendering of the feelings of a place in time that now seems more an impossible dream than a reality. I consider it one of my very best works to date.
This was released in New Zealand last December (2008) on 12" lathes, limited to 40 copies on Antony's own PseudoArcana label. It sold out in a couple of weeks and wasn't available from any distros. I seem to remember he, Antony, mentioned a possible re-release this year but I've not spotted news since. Sadly a lot of PseudoArcana releases have been caught up in a house fire but there is a $5 charity (San Miguel del Bala Community Trust) download on his website of a recording he made on his travels in South America this year.
A1. Otira A2. The Cloud Has Been Lain Low A3. Heath A4. Mountains A5. 10pm A6. Fell With Rain A7. Dreaming Of Ghosts
B1. Black Tea B2. Rain And The Rain B3. Stars Crowd The Gap B4. Turpentine Bush B5. Walk To The Pass B6. A Small House Of Tin B7. Bourbon Seemed Appropriate B8. Summit Is Fragile B9. Walking Down The Hill
Black Talisman is the debut recording from the New York/Jersey duo of Brett Renfer (Brooklyn: guitar, vocals, and pedals) and James Tichenor (Jersey: Korg Gameboy DS). Splitting their time between triumphant post-noise and stretched out bummer-wave, Endless Endless Endless creates music from the sounds of shimmering guitars, squiggly synth lines, filter sweep synth washes, slow-mo 8-bit drums, and infinite layered vocal harmonies all mushed together into a psychedelic, blissed-out smoothie. With no overdubs and minimal editing, Black Talisman captures Endless Endless Endless riffing as songs and ideas build, blur, loop and die. This is music for (and from) pretzel rods and Miller highlife.
Don't be put off by the Nintendo DS thing, 8-bit music is usually utter tripe and I honestly think this is the first bit of music using the tech that I've enjoyed.
* No doubt now I've written that X Factor overtook and got #1 - and you've probably realised that this was written (but not posted) before the unavoidable result. Can't say I've been paying any attention to the charts (last time I did was probably the same era as 'wicky wild wild west' by Will Smith) or supported either song, but I do support the fact that money is being donated, from the RATM campaign, to Youth Music, Shelter and a free show in the UK next year (if it did happen to make #1). Pogues & Kirsty MacColl for #1 every Christmas!
------------------- New releases:
Not entirely sure how new it is, but this past week I've spotted a couple of mentions of the 'Nippon Folk, Japan Blues' compilation on Trilogy Tapes. If you liked the Takahashi Chikuzan / Takahashi Yujiro split a couple of months ago (here) it is apparently along those lines.
Housecraft: Jeffry Astin - Stray Dreams Zodiac Gitche-Anahmi-Bezheu / Jugu - split Talugung - Adelosa Glare Xiphiidae - Sewn Within a Circle
Release The Bats have nothing new, but 2010 is sounding great. Records from: Blessure Grave, Dolphins Into The Future, Altar Of Flies, Ättestupa, Street Drinkers / Skeppet, Viking Jews / Smycken, Blessure Grave / Lust For Youth, Sewer Election, Cross (Michael Turner / Warmer Milks), Satan Power (Lasse Marhaug, John Olson, Edwin Pouncey and Joachim Nordwall) and Tavaresh (Oneohtrix Point Never & Caboladies)
This blog doesn't aim to hinder sales of records - without people willing to risk their own money on making and releasing music we would not have the entertainment in the first place - and so 99% of releases posted are out of print. If a release isn't and/or you would like the download removed then please either leave a comment or email disconcertedsounds [at] gmail (com) with the release in the subject line - comments are generally more efficient.
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