Music Reviews

Mountain Ocean Sun – “Peace Conference” – [Home Normal]

whngr   2/23/2021   A Library, CD

Drone with minimalist accoutrement.

Understated, meditative vehicle with allusion to aural healing. Ambience for introspection. Sublimity slithers through this single sixty-four minute piece executed thoughtfully by an international quaternity. A measure of Buddhist teachings appear to inform this project with their first performance taking place at a five-hundred year old temple in Osaka. Perhaps an excellent accompaniment for ritual nature worship, drain your dour perspective in drone.

Jean Cook – Violin, Viola, Shruti box – Collabs with Jon Langford, William Parker, and Assif Tsahar
Hitoko Sakai – Harmonium, Shruti box –  MSBR, Japanese Noise scene writer
Daniel Littleton – Harmonium, Bells, Kubing – IDA, Tara Jane Oneil collaborator
Warren Defever – Bells, Percussion, Gong – UFO FACTORY, His Name is Alive (4AD)

Collocutor – "Instead." – [On The Corner Records]

aarbor   2/17/2021   12-inch, A Library

From 2014, five fine tracks from Tamar Osborn and her colleagues in Collocutor. There’s a magical blend of influences here. As Osborn says: “I’ve always been interested in music from other places, of what happens when humans from different cultures interact, seeing which ideas stick and how it comes together to create something new and redefining. And, hopefully, that comes through in the music,” The music sounds both old and new, and it has roots in different parts of the world. New London Jazz at its finest. AArbor

Loscil – “Coast/ Range/ Arc//” – [Kranky]

cinder   2/15/2021   A Library, CD

Ambient electronic project of Vancouver Canadian, Scott Morgan. He chose the name Loscil from the ‘looping oscillator’ function in Csound (some computer language programming thing). This is a release from 2011, looks like originally on Glacial Movements, but re-released on Kranky. Gorgeous, lush tones, drift and wave like soft fluffy clouds after a winter storm. Rays of light bursting through. Mellow, relaxing, and dreamy. Planetarium vibes. 

Gravite – “Gravite” – [Empty Cellar Records]

cinder   2/15/2021   12-inch, A Library

A duo of Matthew Riley and Aaron Diko. For their debut release, they’ve used a collection of classic and reissued analog equipment: Juno 60, Prodigy, Mono/Poly, Minimoog, SH-01A, MS20, Minilogue, Volcakeys, & a TR-08. It’s a fantastical journey through the cosmos, with an edge on the rainbow crystallized comets and colorful oil hues of the horizons. Happy and optimistic. Definitely has a Kraftwerk vibe. Synth-tastic!

Paisiel – “Paisiel” – [Rocket Recordings]

SlartiBartfast   2/15/2021   12-inch, A Library

Dreamy, spaced out, psychedelic saxophone and FX float over driving, trance inducing, rhythmic percussions on this 2019 freshman release from Paisiel. Hailing from Porto, Portugal, the duo of Julius Gabriel (saxophone & fx) and Joao Pais Filipe (percussion) create an atmosphere filled with tabla inspired Afro-Caribbean beats and mind melting melodies of saxophone and fx that is other worldly. The duo met in 2014 while Joao was working in a record store and Julius was a customer. In 2017 they decided to start collaborating and this self titled, release is just the beginning of that partnership. Get your refreshments ready, sit back, and enjoy the stimulating dreaminess pressed onto this luscious translucent blue vinyl.

Dora, Delphine & Cooper, Sophie “Divine Ekstasys” – [Feeding Tube Records]

SlartiBartfast   2/15/2021   12-inch, A Library

Forest Sirens call from a hauntingly, dreamy musical atmosphere of piano, organ, trombone, guitar, and fx. This 2018 Feeding Tube Records release from France’s Delphine Dora and Yorkshire’s Sophie Cooper is sure to satisfy the soundtrack cravings of your near nocturnal state of mind. Brilliantly composed as a two part suite of music, side A takes you from the beginning of a journey filled with ominous underpinnings to a side B that is redemptive and speaks to rebirth. Relax, rest your weary head and let Delphine and Sophie invite you in to their musical dreamscape.

Sashash Ulz – "Pingvinia" – [No Part of It]

humana   2/14/2021   A Library, CD

I read that this music is Russian experimental folk. The first track starts and ends with what may be field sounds, and they bookend a repetitive theme that is not unpleasant. The second track is a soothing and folkloric-feeling palate cleanser, while the third track is an uplifting hazy-vocal surf-reminiscent outing. Tracks 4 and 5 are definitely folksy, and Track 6 is upbeat strumming. Tracks 7-9 are the noise tracks, while 10 is a field sounds collage. Track 11 gets back to a more melodic sound (sort of like the soundtrack to a spy movie), while 13 and 14 bring back the pleasant haze, and the final long track is a long reverie appropriate to its name, Cannabis.

Presley, Vincent – “Music To Die To” – [Secret Records]

cinder   2/11/2021   12-inch, A Library

Slow pulse droneage from Vincent Presley (Those Poor Bastards, Zebras). Quarantine apparently had him going mad, and he ended up expanding on his vintage synthesizer collection, creating this lovely hazed out release. The A side brings low ambient drones, giving you the feeling of waking up on an unknown alien desert, the sun so bright it blurs your vision. Side B’s first track has a more lighter essence to it, still low but also hopeful. The final track takes you straight into Blade Runner, with that sci-fi score vibe. Love it. Only 100 copies made on vinyl!

Wolf Eyes / Blank Hellscape [coll] – [12XU]

cinder   2/10/2021   12-inch, A Library

Two sidelongs each from Wolf Eyes and Blank Hellscape. Sludgy, dark, ominous, dirgy, muddy and ghostly. The Wolves sound like a sad horn trying to make its way through an industrial damp warehouse, stuck in a mucky mess. Pulsing sets in about halfway through, before the horn is devoured under the lava and words arise from the molten. But alas, the horn returns. Blank Hellscape brings has more of a sizzling rhythmic cacophony of sound. Effected vox lay inbetween layers and twisted wires, also pulsing with disastrous intentions.

Graves, Robert – "Reads From His Poetry and From The White Goddess" – [Caedmon]

aarbor   2/10/2021   12-inch, A Library

Robert Graves (1895-1985) was a British poet, historical novelist, critic and classicist. He wrote more than 140 works, a few of which are presented here. The White Goddess, his study of poetic inspiration has apparently never been out of print. To listen to him with his very posh British way of speaking you would think he was wealthy or an aristocrat – certainly that he went to the “right” schools. He was actually from a middle class family – but did go to the “right” schools. Play this and get the education that you didn’t get at school. AArbor

Borghi, Andrea – “VHS” – [Misanthropic Agenda]

cinder   2/5/2021   12-inch, A Library

Andrea Borghi (Italiano!) graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Carrara and studied electronic music, piano and composition at the Giacomo Puccini Music Conservatory in La Spezia. His work focuses on creating sound from inanimate things such as sculptural objects, installations, obsolete media and electronics. This album consists of audio recordings that were produced through an open VHS Recorder using manipulated videotapes. Most of the sounds you hear were taken from background parts, edited from old tapes of obscure and underground cinema. It’s scratchy, creepy, noisy, static-y, weird, strange and very analog in sound. Looking at the album art, I can image watching this & other ideas he’s created, performed live would be so intriguing – a totally unique auditory sensation. Mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi, limited to 100 copies on LP!   

Sissy Spacek & Smegma – “Ballast” – [Gilgongo Records]

cinder   2/3/2021   12-inch, A Library

A live recording of sorts from home and Los Angeles radio station Dublab. This round, Smegma consists of Ace Farren Ford, Dennis Duck, Ju Suk Reet Meate, John Wiese and Rock N Roll Jackie, among a few others. Sissy Spacek is coming from both John Wiese (og member) & Charlia Mumma, a member since 2008. Two side longs of twisted sound collage. Effected guitars, pedals, wires, strings, crashing cymbals, random vox pop up like a groundhog in Spring. Rolling, crunching industrial noises. Spazzzzstic & skittering. Sounds akin to a Teleki-NotoMotors Noisehaus improv sesh!

Pantha Du Prince – "This Bliss" – [Dial Records]

aarbor   2/3/2021   A Library, CD

Pantha Du Prince is Hendrik Weber, a Dj and producer from Germany. This Bliss is his second release from 2007. There are no vocals and unlike his first release Diamond Daze, there are no guitars. The sound palette is entirely electronic: there are soft Detroit synths, swelling strings, and washes of chimes not distant from the post-rave ambient music made by the likes of The Orb. Throughout, from the photos in the booklet to the track titles and the sounds themselves is the contrast between nature and machine, the natural and the manmade. AArbor

Harakami, Rei – "Opa*q" – [Sublime Records]

aarbor   2/3/2021   A Library, CD

Rei Harakami only lived about 40 years but his 4 solo releases showcase his talent well. This is his second release from 1999 in contrast to the gentle techno of Unrest his first album, here there are no vestiges of techno. It’s diverse tones and rhythmic patterns alongside sound processing along with 2 fine remixes. A great talent who departed too young. Arbor

Soft Shoulder “Not The New One” [Gilgongo Records]

SlartiBartfast   2/3/2021   12-inch, A Library

Some great noisy, fuzzy, distorted punk-improve from Tempe, AZ’s own Soft Shoulder. With James Fella at the helm, this 2020 release “Not the New One” out on Gilgonggo Records is a collection of unreleased material recorded between 2015-2019 with various line ups. Sure to appease any and all noisy itches in your ear canal. Ranging from hard driving, rocking punk noise (think The Fall) to noisy improve, “Not the New One” will leave your ear drums ringing as you bathe in the beautiful insanity. 

Moore, Ted – “Bruit” – [Carrier]

mickeyslim   2/2/2021   A Library, CD

awash in confusion

anxiety-ridden space flight

tunnel vision gasping for air

godzilla licking a sandpaper-dipper brillo pad

lascivious tinnitus

skronk ‘n’ roll

improvised harsh noise electronix and jazz improv from Ted Moore & friends…

Anderson, Brad – “Darwinian Playground” – [Self Release]

mickeyslim   2/2/2021   A Library, CD

rugged, murky,

chirpy thunder

squelches.

chaotic oases

amid vast,

ambient,

timescapes,

lost among glacial spaces,

stuck inside the ice,

in between the screaming atoms

trying to escape.

does it begin at the beginning,

or follow all life’s sweet

evolution?

who knows?

who cares?

it’s just a single buzzing

in the swarm,

one grumble in the fog,

a typewriter rotting

away in a storm

Spiral Galaxy – “Spiral Galaxy” – [Lion Productions]

cinder   1/31/2021   12-inch, A Library

Spiral Galaxy is the project of flautist/painter Sara Gossett and guitar/machines manipulator Plastic Crimewave (of Plastic Crimewave Syndicate/Galactic Zoo Dossier magazine/KFJC artist hoodie designer!). Cosmic voyages through the galactic sun drenched desert temples. Special guests include Kawabata Makoto of Acid Mothers Temple giving some chants and spoken word in Japanese, Alisha Sufit of UK 70s eastern-folk band Magic Carpet also with some words… Ryley Walker plays a guitar backwards, Taralie of Spires that in the Sunset Rise on Terry Riley-ish circular sax, sitar-player Hands of Hydra, Moog-maestro Will MacLean of Protovulcan, and Christian Luke Brady of meditative cosmonauts, Fargon. A rhythmic pulsing ritualistic beat on track 2 with some effected French words, puts you into a hazy trance. Side B starts with a super krauty mellow prog excursion with a folky flute and Neu/Cluster/early Kraftwerk looping rhythms. The final track ends with a darker, mysterious feel. Trek across Death Valley and trip on this!

Speech After The Removal of The Larynx – “Speech After The Removal of The Larynx” – [Fantome Phonographiqiue]

SlartiBartfast   1/31/2021   12-inch, A Library

Speech After the Removal of the Larynx is exactly that, recordings of people learning to speak again after having their larynx removed. Originally recorded in 1964 by speech pathologist Harm A. Drost of the University Hospital, Leiden Netherlands, this re-release of a ’64 Smithsonian Folkways LP is full of linguistic and auditory gems. The original inspiration for these recordings was to document and convey the progress of speech pathology techniques for helping patients of laryngectomy learn to speak again. Speech chronicles the advancements made in the early days of speech pathology to address the physical obstacles for laryngectomy patients to talk again. The recordings cover everything from early, physically crude methods of speech to the development of electronic devices to help people find their voice once again. For those of you lucky enough to have the liner notes, take a minute or two and read about each track and how speech pathologists and patients worked together to develop new speech techniques to give voice to the voiceless. A true auditory gem. Mind that side a only has 7 cut tracks on the vinyl and the jacket lists 8. 

O’Sullivan, Daniel – “Electric Maya: Dream Flotsam and Astral Hinterlands”; – [VHF]

cinder   1/29/2021   12-inch, A Library

First in a series of 3 LPs of Library Music from composer and multi-instrumentalist Daniel O’Sullivan (Æthenor, Ulver, This is Not This Heat, etc). It’s not the cheesy, lounge-y type of music you’d think when you hear the term Library Music (although that stuff is super fun!), these are newer sounds… lush, pretty, dreamy and sort of cinematic in feel. Synths, piano, softness. 18 tracks, specifically made in shorter lengths (longest is about 3:30 long). Drifty, optimistic, thoughtful and sublime.