stephan mathieu : flags (tape)

stephan mathieu
flags
(limited edition of 200)
tapeworm
ttw#37


tapeworm
stephan mathieu

image ©japanese forms

As with the tape featured in my previous post I've been trying to get hold of some of the tapes issued by Tapeworm... Once more I got lucky and managed to acquire the cassette-only label's latest release from digital artist and renowned electroacoustic musician, Stephan Mathieu. I've followed Mathieu and have acquired several of his releases ever since I first heard the stunning "Heroin" collaboration with Ekkehard Ehlers about ten years ago. A lot of his releases; including The Sad Mac (Headz) Radioland (die schachtel) and the recent A Static Place (12k) are among my favourites but this tape has come as a disappointment. Flags sounds like an exercise in futility and releasing it, to me, seems pointless. But then, I'm not Mathieu; who describes Flags as "... a homage to the beauty of data. The pieces are created from photos of my studio equipment which were transformed to audio via header changes." Beauty of data maybe but one of the tracks actually sounds like a 35 ton truck blasting it's horn as it whizzes along the autobahn and forcing terrified drivers out of its path... For the moment, I'll class this either in the "so good it's unlistenable" category or the "so unlistenable its good" one... I'm undecided; but it's doubtful that I'll play it as often as the recordings mentioned above.
Comes in the generic Tapeworm white background inlay card with artwork  illustration by Caro Mikalef. one2zero

"The audio [on this datasette] was processed in August 2008 with Soundhack and GraphicConvertor." Stephan Mathieu, July 2011

motion sickness of time travel : dreamcatcher (tape)

 
motion sickness of time travel
dreamcatcher
tape  (limited edition of 200)
hobo cult records
hcr051


motion sickness of time travel
hobo cult records
bandcamp

image ©japanese forms

Well I finally managed to get my hands on one of those ultra-limited tapes from Motion Sickness of Time Travel (a.k.a. Rachel Evans). It must have been my luck day. Anyhow, as usual, Rachel has come up with more breathtaking sounds; this time available on the Hobo Cult label. Beautifully packaged, and including a MSoTT badge, this has to be one of her best ever recordings and already quite a bit of a collector's item, I imagine. Blue ink cover art printed onto beige, heavy-stock paper and a blue, cassette shell printed with white ink make this a highly desirable object indeed. Very highly recommended. one2zero

fennesz : seven stars

fennesz
seven stars
tone 44v
touch
10" vinyl ep

image:©japanese forms

 
 Latest offering from the ever-impeccable Christian  Fennesz. This new solo vinyl EP is his first release on Touch since the "Black Sea" album in 2008.
Playing acoustic and electric guitars, bass, synths, and computers Fennesz comes up with some pleasant, somewhat placid, distorted and phased sounds that remind me very much of the stuff he was doing on the "Endless Summer" album way back in 2001. Like most of his production, "Seven Stars" focuses on digitally manipulated sounds, layers of effects. Very dark and dreamy. Highly recommended. Beautiful artwork as usual from Jon Wozencroft. one2zero
 
fennesz / touch / editions mego



A CD version of this release will be available sometime in September.


.............

amon tobin / tessa farmer : isam - control over nature

amon tobin & tessa farmer
isam
zencd168x
ninja tune
cd+artbook

image:©japanese forms

 
 This is the very first time that I've acquired an Amon Tobin recording -he's one of those electronic musicians that I've sort of passed by up until now so, as I rather like this, I might check out more of his stuff. Another reason why I'm not really aware of his releases is that I've never been too keen on any of Ninja Tune's productions either. Anyhow, although I quite like this (has a kind of Autechre seeping through samplers with lots of distorted crashing sounds feel to it) it's doubtful that I'll ever order anything directly from the label again. The reasons why: First of all, Ninja Tune took my order but failed to inform me that they didn't have any stock of this item. So i had to wait 4 weeks to get my copy... and which arrived damaged because it had been very badly packed! They rapidly replaced it but all in all it took six weeks for me to get this disc. So, I'll go through other channels if I ever buy any Ninja Tune titles again. On the other hand, the object is very nice indeed and I like the music. Hardback artbook features lots of photographs of Tessa Farmer's amazing, miniature, insect sculptures. Recommended. one2zero

amon tobin / tessa farmer / ninja tune

funki porcini : the devil drives

alva noto & ryuichi sakamoto : summvs

alva noto & ryuichi sakamoto
summvs
r-n 132
raster-noton
triple fold-out cardsleeve


image:©japanese forms

I'm still way behind in my posts with regards to recent purchases
so I'll try and get in at least two posts this week. First up is the latest collaboration from Alva Noto and Ryuichi Sakomoto. Summvs is the fifth recording that the pair have made together over the past 9 years or so and it's another sublime piece. A fusion of Sakamoto's piano-based compositions and Carsten Nicolai's digital rhythms and computer/software manipulations leaning towards a lot more harmony and melody than we're used to from Alva Noto. Immerse yourself in the, atmospheric, relaxing, ambient electronic and acoustic tones that run through the whole album. Features two versions; sans the vocals, of “By This River” from Brian Eno's 1977 album Before and After Science. Highly recommended. one2zero

raster-noton / alva noto / ryuichi sakamoto / carsten nicolai

battles : live @ the city hall, paris

Battles | Futura | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

pedro magina - nineteen hundred and eighty-five

pedro magina
nineteen hundred and eighty-five
not not fun (nnf219-cs)
tape
limited edition c40


image:©japanese forms


Seems like I'm really out of the loop as far as a lot of new releases and labels go -and don't even talk to me about "mainstream" releases. I've mostly lost interest in a lot of "new" music and even trying to catch up on it, or listen to it. A lot of the bands that the music press (internet included) have been touting or championing for the past few years have passed me by but I imagine that, as far as I'm concerned, it's no great loss to me. Things that I do listen to nowadays tends to be confined to releases on labels such as raster-noton; Warp; 12k; Ghost Box as well as the odd album I read about in The Wire and feel that it would be a good buy; like the recent releases by Motion Sickness of Time Travel. Nonetheless, I still do discover some music that I've tended to overlook -this time the Not Not Fun label which was featured in The Wire last month. I was aware, and had heard some stuff by Pocahaunted but the the rest of the label's roster was unknown to me so, after reading the long article in The Wire I decided to seek out some of the music via the web. Fortunately I came across the wonderful Pontone blog which offers some amazing label mixtapes for download and the one featured this month just happened to be a Not Not Fun one. Among the featured tracks, which caught my attention, were tracks by Sand Circles and by Portuguese musician Pedro Magina and I immediately set out to buy a copy. Needless to say, this (cassette only) limited edition album was sold out so, for the moment,* I have to make do with a download copy. Never heard Magina before but I liked this right off -sort of sounds like an 70s version of Tangerine Dream+Harmonia meets Vangelis... in a way. Recommended. one2zero.

* I've ordered a copy from a German distributor which I hope to get soon.
My copy arrived yesterday (June 3rd).

Buy this tape as a download @ Boomkat

conrad schnitzler & wolfgang seidel : consequenz 010b

conrad schnitzler &
wolfgang seidel
consequenz
mt008
mirror tapes
limited edition of 250


image:©japanese forms

This tape falls into a category I would call "so good that it's unlistenable" (or the contrary, maybe). Even though it was recorded only last year it sounds to me like some musique concrète from the GRM or from the very early days at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop; only tuneless. This doesn't mean to say it's not good -it might be because I have a headache right now- but I don't think I'll be listening to it that often. Far less interesting, in my opinion, than the recent 10.10.84 tape; also released on the cassette only label Mirror Tapes. For hardcore Schnitzler fans only. one2zero.

Review by David Keenan (Volcanic Tongue)
...Consequenz 010B documents a meeting between Conrad Schnitzler – still the greatest exponent of austere Industrial synth and electronics – and long-term collaborator Wolfgang Seidel. Recorded in an abandoned subterranean bunker beneath the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, the atmosphere is suitably macabre and claustrophobic, with Schnitzler generating some of his most psychedelic creations, ranging from wobbly purple architectures of electronics through ominous blocks of silence torn apart by invasions of odd keyboard melodies and sudden bursts of noise. The feel is highly ritualistic, almost like a séance, and there’s a weight to the music that is lacking in some of Schnitzler’s later work, a seriousness and a weight of execution that makes this one of his best contemporary recordings.
© Mirror Tapes

Buy this tape @ Mirror Tapes

fourcolor : as pleat

fourcolor
as pleat
12k1065

fourcolor

image: ©japanese forms


As usual, I haven't been updating this blog as much as I should -I've received quite a few discs/tapes since my last update so I'll try to catch up with the backlog over the next week or so. Latest release on the one2zero deck is the third album from Keiichi Sugimoto's solo project: Fourcolor. Faithful followers of Taylor Deupree's 12k label will be well aware of Sugimoto's previous two and very fine albums: Air Curtain (2004) and Letter of Sounds (2006). As with quite a few recent 12K releases, the guitar has a central role with Sugimoto manipulating the chords to muster up drones, buzz and all sorts of sounds that he shapes into rhythms and a groove that form a sort of alva noto-like ambience. A couple of the tracks are enhanced by vocals courtesy of Sanae Yamasaki (aka Moskitoo). Recommended. one2zero

nacional electrónica - 100%

NACIONAL ELECTRÓNICA / 100 %

I just discovered this band while watching a documentary on new Cuban artists and musicians on TV this week. This is a track that dates from 2006; and one which has been clearly influenced by Kraftwerk. You can check out more of their recent recordings at the link above. one2zero

ghost box study series 05 and 06

ghost box
study series singles 05 & 06
hintermass gbx705
jonny trunk gbx706



image:©japanese forms

A third batch of the very fine Ghost Box Study Series singles arrived in the post yesterday. Yet another fine pair I must say. 05 features Hintermass; a collaboration between Jon Brooks (The Advisory Circle) and Tim Felton of Seeland. Excellent hauntological pop with (gulp!) proper vocals. Reminds me of early Broadcast and Stereolab. 06 has a wonderful sixties sounding electronic feel to it courtesy of Jonny Trunk. "Le Train Fantome" stands as one of the best sounds ever to emerge from Ghost Box. Very highly recommended. one2zero

phantasmagorical wonders : krautrock mix

Phantasmagorical Wonders... by Dunwich Radio on Mixcloud

battles - ice cream

battles
ice cream
warp (download single)




A taster release from Battles' forthcoming long-player, Gloss Drop. Energetic riffs and punchy kicks with a guest vocal from Kompakt / Comeme records' Matias Aguayo.




It seems like it's been some time since Battles released anything -in fact, not since their superb Mirrored album way back in 2007- so it's great to hear this track from the forthcoming Gloss Drop album; scheduled for release early June 2011. More pop-like than what you'd expect from the band Ice Cream is quite funky and, like the artwork, very colourful. Recommended. Unfortunately, this is a download only; hope they'll be issuing some vinyl ahead of the album release. one2zero

motion sickness of time travel - a disembodied voice in the darkness

motion sickness of time travel
a disembodied voice in the darkness
cassette (c34)
teosinte

Back after being offline for a long time due to my computer crashing. Haven't been able to do any posting at one2zero but I'll catch up soon. In the meantime check out a track from the latest release by Motion Sickness of Time Travel. Another electronic-drone masterpiece by the sound of it. Might well even be better than the wonderful Seeping Through the Veil of Unconciousness released a few months back. Anyhow, once again, I was unable to get a tape copy of this recording; hopefully it'll appear, like it's predecessor, on another format sometime in the near future. Hauntingly ethereal with lots of voice effects; much like most of MSOTT' s recordings, this is another gem from the very prolific Rachel Evans -who also releases some stuff under the guise of Quiet Evenings alongside her husband Grant Evans. Highly recommended. one2zero

Available on a red, green, or grey c34 tape and housed in an orange, blue, or pink home-sewn bag with hand-written insert. Artwork by Grant Evans. Limited edition of 47.

motion sickness of time travel
digitalis ltd.
bandcamp

marcus fischer - monocoastal

marcus fischer
monocoastal
12k1063

marcus fischer

image: ©japanese forms


If expired polaroid film had a sound then Marcus Fischer's sublime Monocoastal is what it might sound like. The reason I mention 'expired polaroid film' is that, besides from making beautiful sounds, Fischer is also a photographer who has a very fine portfolio of photographs; some of which, like the cover of Monocoastal, have been taken using it. According to the press release; tape hiss, sounds originating from field recordings, as well as found instruments, are used to make sounds recorded by both analog and digital recording and thus creating; as the following reviews put it: "softly undulating gestures... like a landmass meeting the recessing sea" (Resident Advisor) or "swathes of glistening ambience keep you firmly in a dreamlike state where you're unlikely to want to return from for a while" (The Digital Fix). Couldn't have put it better myself. If, soundwise, you enjoyed Taylor Deupree's recent Shoals album you'll enjoy this one too. Highly recommended. one2zero

machinefabriek - apollo

machinefabriek
apollo
3" cd-r
(limited edition of 100)

machinefabriek

image: ©japanese forms


Rutger Zuydervelt (a.k.a. Machinefabriek) begins the year as busy as ever with a reissue of Vloed and a brand new 3-inch cd-r entitled Apollo. This new cd-r is apparently an alternate edit of the soundtrack for Makino Takashi's experimental film 'In Your Star' -Takashi I don't know much about except that he has collaborated on several projects with Jim O'Rourke- as for Apollo, it's, according to Rutger himself; "22 minutes of abstract soundscaping, combining field recordings, NASA Apollo flight-recordings and electronic weirdness." You can check it out for yourselelves at Soundcloud where you can listen two excerpts from it. Really quite good all in all. As per usual from Rutger the artwork and packaging are quite exceptional. 'Apollo' is a beautifully packaged, limited edition of 100 numbered copies and comes in an oversized heavy paper sleeve. one2zero

motion sickness of time travel - seeping through the veil of unconscious

motion sickness of time travel
seeping through the veil of unconscious
cassette (c60 tape limited edition of 80)
digitalis ltd. - ltd#154


motion sickness of time travel
digitalis ltd.
bandcamp

Well I'm certainly starting of the New Year with more cassette fun and with the discovery of a whole new bunch of musicians that, I must had admit, was not aware of until I had a look at this week's Boomkat newsletter. Intrigued by the name: "Motion Sickness of Time Travel," I decided to have a quick search around the web to see (hear) what it was all about. Frankly I'm glad I checked MSoTT out because it's led me to some incredible sounds. MSoTT is the solo moniker of LaGrange, Georgia's Rachel Evans (also a member of Quiet Evenings and Aerial Jungle), partner of Grant Evans (Nova Scotian Arms - see previous post). Her music, which can be described as delicate, drone, electronic pop, is really quite sublime. Does it fall into the "hauntology" category? I'm not quite sure but the music does have that "haunted," je ne sais quoi feel to it. The whole considerably enhanced by Evans' ethereal vocals. As MSoTT, Rachel has already released a considerable amount of recordings; almost all of which have been very limited tapes on various small cassette-only labels, so I'll be checking her other releases and will undoubtedly be posting more on her output at a later date. In the meantime I'd advise anyone who's already heard MSoTT, and everyone else who hasn't, to try and get their hands on either a tape or vinyl copy of this album (both formats are sold out). If you can't, try to make-do with download copy. Very highly recommended. one2zero

nova scotian arms - sun flange (listen)

nova scotian arms
sun flange cassette (limited edition of 75) digitalis ltd. - ltd#163


nova scotian arms
digitalis ltd.
bandcamp

farewell trish keenan

Warp

bj nilsen & stilluppsteypa - space finale (tape)

bj nilsen & stilluppsteypa
space finale
demego 011
editions mego
c90 cassette tape
limited to 200 copies


image:©franz graf

Well I'm starting the New Year with something I completely missed out last year and that is the amazing BJ Nilsen & Stilluppsteypa - Space Finale album. Originally released as a (very) limited edition cassette tape it's since been made available as a 2LP on Mego. Unfortunately, both editions have long sold out and people like myself, who've just discovered this gem, will have to do with a download copy. This is so good that it would have (if I'd done one) made my list of the best albums of 2010... The perfect companion piece to accompany the dreadful weather, as well as the whisky-fuelled stupor of the night before, that we've woken up to this morning... Though, I must make this quite clear, Nilsen and Stilluppsteypa's drone-along is anything but dreadful; the recording being quite sublime and much more interesting than anything else drone-wise that I've encountered in a while. Not to mention that this tape, all things considered, is almost worth having for the beautiful Franz Graf artwork alone. As Boomkat says "An absolute treasure." Very highly recommended. one2zero

A track from BJNilsen & Stillupsteypa's 'Space Finale' features on the soundtrack to Gaspar Noë's 'Enter The Void.' This film received a 5 star review in The Guardian.

............................................................................

"Fantastic collaboration between two masters of immersive drone music and location recordings. [...] Originally released on cassette earlier on this year. Divided into four lengthy pieces, the album has the feel of a classic piece of analogue experimentation, populated by obliterated field recordings, vintage synth timbres, archaic, blipping tones and above all, acre after acre of sustaining, continuous sound. [...] It's listed that the principal 'instrument' used in the making of this record was a Revox 2-channel tape machine, and the fact that the release was originally consigned to cassette means that the warm, magnetic character of the music is seen through right to the end. [...] Very few modern, digital drone records manage to achieve such an unshakable air of foggy enigma, and at its intangible best 'Space Finale' evokes a fantasy meeting between Delia Derbyshire and The Hafler Trio. Strictly limited copies - an absolute treasure." ©boomkat

Buy this recording @ Editions Mego / @ boomkat

Download @ boomkat