masayoshi fujita & jan jelinek - bird, lake, objects

on the turntable:

masayoshi fujita & jan jelinek
bird, lake, objects
faitiche 03cd

Buy / Order:
faitiche
boomkat

image: japanese forms


Another superb release from Faitiche and what I consider as the best from the label so far. Lovingly packaged in a limited edition hardcover-book style digipak (as all their CDs) this album features recordings from electronic maestro, and Faitiche label boss, Jan Jelinek and Japanese percussionist and vibraphonist Masayoshi Fujita. The result is quite simply wonderful. Possibly Jelinek's finest moment or at least one of his best in his, so far, excellent career in electronic music. one2zero

jan jelinek faitiche

frank bretschneider - exp

frank bretschneider
exp
r-n 108
raster-noton
audio cd + data cd
triple fold-out digipak

I've been waiting patiently for this to arrive ever since it was first announced way back in January and let's say: it was well worth the wait. Another great disc. I was fortunate enough to see Bretschneider play EXP live last November and this is the perfect companion piece to his performance. As usual the Raster-Noton packaging is lavish and beautifully crafted.one2zero

image © japanese forms

"Frank Bretschneider is widely known as a pioneer of the 'clicks & cuts' style, using microscopic audio snippets to create his sparse and abstract rhythm patterns. His albums under his own name and under his Komet alias have graced labels such as Mille Plateaux, 12k, as well as influential imprint Raster-Noton, which he co-founded in 1999 together with Alva Noto and Olaf 'Byetone' Bender.

As a studied graphic designer, Bretschneider's has always been interested in the interactions of sound and visuals. 'EXP' explores this concept with an 18 minute video, which uses particle algorithms to generate oscilloscope-like renderings of the album's tracks. Abstract and mesmerizing, the visuals perfectly match the scientific approach of the album, for which Bretschneider has used sounds of 'mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light and other radiation' as sources for his microscopic samples." © zero"

Buy this album @ raster-noton / Download @ zero"

frank bretschneider / myspace / raster-noton

unkle - where did the night fall (box)

unkle
where did the night fall
surrender all
surr017cdx
limited edition box
double album in fold-out sleeve
full album + instrumental version
32-page board book featuring artworks by warren du preez & nick thornton jones
36-page booklet

image © japanese forms

Took some time out to update this blog (a little) with the latest offering from James Lavelle's ongoing UNKLE project. I haven't had time to listen to this yet but if it's anything like what Lavelle has previously released under the UNKLE moniker it'll be very good indeed. I'll update this post when I've given it a good few spins but even if it is'nt as good soundwise as Lavelle's other albums it's worth buying for the artwork and packaging alone. one2zero

UNKLE / UNKLE Blog / Warren du Preez - Nick Thornton Jones

autechre - (oversteps)

image © japanese forms

autechre
(oversteps)
warp210
warp records 2010

I haven't had much time to work on this blog over the past few weeks but i hope to catch up and put up a couple of posts this week. Anyhow, here's a shot of the latest Autechre album, Oversteps. Maybe not their best effort but it does have its moments with a return to a more "traditional" form if you compare this release with the Quaristice album from 2007. Beautiful Designers Republic digipak fold-out packaging. one2zero

the advisory circle - mind how you go

on my turntable

the advisory circle
mind how you go
(revised edition)
gbx013 - lp & download


image: ©ghost box


Classic hauntological Advisory Circle reissue; includes bonus tracks and re-workings. What we get here are the seven tracks from the original 3" CD as well as five other tracks of exclusive compositions and remixes from Belbury Poly and Seeland. I'm afraid I only have the download version of this LP which comes in a proper full colour sleeve. I would, of course, prefered the LP version but it's not that the vinyl is that expensive, it's the postal costs that you have to pay. A must have for any Ghost Box enthusiast. one2zero

Just a word to say that, finally, I couldn't resist buying the highy desirable vinyl version. See a photo of it here.

"An expanded album length version of the 2006 Advisory Circle EP Mind How You Go, inspired by the world of TV Public Information Films. Featuring two new tracks by The Advisory circle and re-imaginings of two of the original tracks by Seeland and Belbury Poly. Remember, electricity cannot be seen or heard. Harmful, invisible forces surround us everywhere we go. Fortunately The Advisory Circle is on hand to help us make the right decisions. Mind How You Go is an alchemical distillation of the sound of Public Information Films. Spooky, catchy and witty." © Ghost Box

Web:
Ghost Box Boomkat

machinefabriek - nerf

on my turntable

machinefabriek
nerf
3" cdr release



image: ©japanese forms





Minimalist guitar and low end drone from Dutch sound designer, Rutger Zuyzervelt (Machinefabriek). The 3-track 'Nerf' is released as one of Rutger's many 3"CDRs. Features compositions on acoustic and electric guitars edited via a laptop. In my opinion, not as interesting as some of his other stuff but still quite good. Very Oren Ambarchi in style and sound. one2zero

Web:
machinefabriek

technorati claim post

8XB3K2KV55XB

minamo - durée

on my turntable

minamo
durée
12k1058

image: ©japanese forms

Another superb disc of electroacoustic soundscaping from the very wonderful Japanese quartet, Minamo. Relaxing ambient minimalism at it's best. Another gem in the 12k catalogue. Wonderful design and photography by 12k mainman, Taylor Deupree. one2zero

"Durée, their last studio work since 2007’s collaboration with Tape, and their follow-up to Shining on 12k (12k1031, now out of print), takes influence from the French philosopher Henri-Louis Bergson’s concept of “pure durée,” an idea that one’s consciousness is a constant flow and not something that can be divided, reversed, or measured. Minamo used these ideas in creating their music, despite the contradiction of the time-stamped CD format, to try to subvert the ideas of compartmentalized “time” and “space.” With a strong sense of non-linearity and flow taken from Bergson’s ideas, Minamo have created a colorful, skittering wash of music, noise, and texture that embraces a sense of out-there-ness." © 12k

Web: minamo 12k website taylor deupree


Buy or Download:
12k
Boomkat

william basinski - vivian & ondine

on the turntable:

william basinski
vivian & ondine
2062.0902

Buy / Order:
2062
boomkat

image:© japanese forms






william basinski

Tape loops recorded live at Musex International, Los Angeles, California, September 2008. Commissioned by Lauren Bon and The Metabolic Studio for Strawberry Flag at the United States Veterans Administration Hospital, Los Angeles, California. If you like Basinski,and his avant-garde ambient soundscapes, as I do, you'll love this. Sounds a lot like Basinski's masterpiece, The Disintegration Loops; but that's not such a bad thing. one2zero.
___________________________________________________________________

"A brand new album from one of the most revered and acclaimed ambient composers of our time, Vivian & Ondine takes the form of a single, three-quarter hour piece, once again constructed from William Basinski's signature style of tape loop manipulation. While the narrative ebb and flow is largely pinned to a single tape fragment, Basinski merged a further "dozen or so" that sunk into the mix in just the right way, adding to the aura of fluctuation and continuous evolution that's so essential to this man's work." ©boomkat

leyland kirby - sadly, the future is no longer what it was

on my turntable

leyland kirby
sadly, the future is no longer what it was
haftw001

Buy: boomkat
Download : boomkat


image: ©japanese forms

Triple-CD modern classical, ambient masterpiece from the artist formally known as The Caretaker and V/VM. Reminds me a bit of some of William Basinski's hauntingly beautiful recordings; with that eerie background of tape-loops recorded from old vinyl. Spread over three albums it consists of almost four hours of of ambient, hauntologic, modern classical wonders. Utterly fabulous. one2zero

... there's echoes of Eno, Koner, Deathprod, Debussy, Badalamenti and Lynch executed with a dark yet emotional determination encapsulating the spirit of a Berlin or Manchester nightscape... © boomkat

Web:
history always favours the winners myspace

harmonia & eno '76 - tracks and traces

on my turntable

harmonia & eno '76
tracks and traces
cdgron102

image: ©japanese forms

One of those reissues you just can't miss out on is this remastered edition of these legendary 1976 recordings. Eno; who was on his way to Montreux to work on Low with Bowie, met up with Harmonia at their studio in the rural hamlet of Forst in Germany’s Weserbergland where they laid down the tracks on this album. Not intended to be released commercially the album was initially released in 1997 and featured clips from the the original recordings; this version includes the full remastered-by-Roedelius sessions.

"...33 years after these recordings were created, we finally have an all-around satisfying version of a long believed lost treasure of the krautrock era.
(© grönland records)

grönland records hans-joachim roedelius dieter moebius michael rother brian eno

wiki

broadcast and the focus group - investigate witch cults of the radio age

on my turntable

broadcast and
the focus group
investigate witch cults
of the radio age
warpcd189


image: ©japanese forms

I'm not too keen on the "best of..." lists that nearly every magazine prints at the end of each year -what one likes or dislikes is all very subjective so I never really bother about choosing a personal top ten, or twenty, or whatever. However, in my opinion, I'll go along with The Wire* in stating that this is one of the best albums released in 2009. Released a couple of months ago, I didn't pick up my copy until recently as the the local (shitty, chain) stores didn't have any copies in stock when I happened to drop in on any my rare visits to them. Thankfully Amazon, and the internet in general, exists. Anyhow, this 50-minute, 23-track album is really something special; probably the best ever by Broadcast. Of course, the selection of extra-special, added sound ingredients, by Ghost Box and The Focus Group mainman Julian House, enhance this recording immensely with Trish Keenan's voice making it an essential buy. one2zero

* "It really is quite fabulous… (Broadcast) crowned themselves dark monarchs of hauntology’s expanding kingdom" ALBUM OF THE YEAR – The Wire

Web:
warp/broadcast the focus group ghost box broadcast myspace

mika vainio - time examined

on my turntable

mika vainio
time examined
92 page catalogue & 2cd
r-n 109


image: ©japanese forms

The year ends with Mika Vainio's
beautifully designed and lavishly-packaged catalogue and 2cd arriving from Raster-Noton. The 92 page book includes numerous, colour & monochrome photographs as well as texts by Daniel Klemm, Daniela Cascella and Carl Michael von Hausswolff. As usual this in an absolute must-have item for anyone who likes Vainio's music as well as for any avid Raster-Noton collector. one2zero

"In the past thirteen years Mika Vainio has exhibited in some of the major art spaces in Europe, and he has collaborated with both a number of important artists and curators. Since his musical work has been in the focus of attention, his installations have never gained the broader recognition they deserve — without good reason. In the present book, an overview will give a clear outline of this segment of his oeuvre. Also his realized soundtracks for other artists, in the genres of video, film and dance are included. Each work is presented with a significant selection of images (installation views, visuals or sketches) and an explanatory text to deliver its basic idea. In the two essays Carl Michael von Hausswolff and Daniela Cascella – longtime companions and collaborators — delicately introduce Vainio’s conceptions to further enlight the reader’s understanding. On the enclosed CDs one can find a selection of tracks created for the respective installations and soundtracks." (© raster-noton )

Web:
mika vainio raster-noton pan sonic

ursula bogner - pluto hat einen mond

on the turntable:

ursula bogner
pluto hat einen mond
maas media vol.32

Buy / Order:
faitiche
maas media

image: japanese forms


A follow-up, limited edition, seven inch ep, to the Recordings 1969 - 1988 album. Entitled 'Pluto hat einen Mond' (Pluto has a moon) the ep includes four exclusive and previously unreleased tracks. Released to tie in with an exhibtion about Bogner's work, sketches, notations at the Laura Mars Gallery, Berlin, in mid-December 2009 it's available either through Maas Media or direct from Faitiche You'll have to be quick if you want one as only 300 copies have been pressed. Exhibition closes on January 16th.

Special thanks to Gundula at Mass Media for including two exhibition postcards with my copy. one2zero

jan jelinek faitiche

___________________________________________________________________
Jan Jelinek on Ursula Bogner:
In the late 1960s, Ursula Bogner started to record her own music on reel-to-reel tapes. With some of these titles, we only found individual tracks of pieces recorded on a four-track-recorder – in these cases, I had to recombine the separate tracks to recreate the original piece. Unfortunately, I could not involve Ursula Bogner in the mixing process as she passed away in 1994. Invoking the original’s authenticity might seem insensitive, yet there was no other way to release them in their entirety. Ultimately, only three of the tracks featured on this CD/LP are such ‘reworkings’. [...] a further compilation is already in the works. ( ©jan jelinek - (more)

frame.sync / raster-noton

on my turntable

raster-noton
offf lisbon '09
frame.sync

Not Available

image: ©japanese forms

A very rare and exclusive compilation CD released to coincide with Frame.Sync ; a one-time installation project at Offf '09 (an International festival for post-digital creation and culture)which took place in Lisbon, Portugal in May this year. Beautifully designed and packaged; the CD features most of the label's artists. Given away free to anyone who bought a ticket for the festival. one2zero

This copy; courtesy of GMA.

"In cooperation with Derivative's TouchDesigner, Raster-Noton and Offf'09 present:
FRAME.SYNC, a multi-visual space + exclusive cd compilation featuring tracks
by all participating artists: COH, alva noto, atom™, byetone, Frank Bretschneider,
Kangding Ray, nibo, pixel, Pomassl, senking, signal, SND and special guests
Fennesz and Vladislav Delay. Free with ticket for offf festival in Lisbon." (© raster-noton )

Web:
frame.sync raster-noton

krautrock - cosmic rock and it's legacy

on my shelves

krautrock
cosmic rock and it's legacy
black dog publishing (2009)



image: ©japanese forms

A must-have companion piece to Julian Cope's legendary Krautrocksampler. Black Dog Publishing continue their excellent series of music books; this time documenting the amazing music scene that emerged in Germany in the late 1960s. Highly recommended. one2zero

"Krautrock charts the history of this influential music genre, from its roots in free jazz, psychedelia and the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen, to the groundbreaking experiments of Faust, Kraftwerk and Can." ( © Black Dog Publishing)


Buy : black dog publishing / amazon

radian - chimeric

on my turntable

radian
chimeric
thrill 224

Available on CD /LP / Download

image: ©japanese forms

It's been quite a while since Austrian avant-rock band, Radian released a new album; all three members have been working on other projects (Nemeth / Trapist / Kapital Band 1 etc. etc. ) over the past few years and, in fact, it's the first new material by the band since the splendid Juxtoposition album way back in 2004. In my opinion, this recording consists of pretty much the same fare as the two previous Thrill Jockey albums but sounds a bit more rawer and darker in form and content; "steady, multiple rhythms, layered on top of each other disappear into chaos" as the band puts it. May well be their best disc ever. Beautifully packaged in a fold-out card sleeve with photographs by Pascal Petignat and design by Nik Thoenen. Excellent. Highly recommended. one2zero

CD version is presented in a 4 panel mini-LP style jacket. LP version is limited to 1,000 copies for the world and includes a free download coupon.

Web:
thrill jockey radian myspace

Buy / Download:
thrill jockey

taylor deupree & savvas ysatis - hourglass

on my turntable

taylor deupree &
savvas ysatis
hourglass 12k2015

Available on 12" EP / Download

image: ©taylor deupree

A lush, dreamy, ambient soundscape. Absoulutely beautiful. Available on 12" vinyl or as a download. In my mind, one of the best releases so far this year. Very highly recommended. one2zero

Hourglass [...] two instrumental pieces and two vocal songs created with a multitude of acoustic instruments, analog synthesizers and very little computer aided programming. The idea of treating the computer as a tape deck instead of a programming device was vital to their process as they surrounded themselves in the studio with as many noise-making objects as possible, shunning nothing if it could be used in interesting ways. (© 12k )

Web:
12k taylor deupree saavas ysatis

Download:
Boomkat

peter broderick & machinefabriek - blank grey canvas sky

on my turntable

peter broderick &
machinefabriek
blank grey canvas sky
FB012DD

Available on LP / CD / Download



image: ©fang bomb


Machinefabriek (Rutger Zuyzervelt) (Machinefabriek) teams up with another prolific artist, this time Berlin-based Peter Broderick, and allows us to benefit from this rather splendid collaboration. Includes dreamy vocals by Susanna Lundgren on one track. Perfect for those blank dark winter evenings. Highly recommended. one2zero

"Zuydervelt's heavily processed drone-weaving is countered by luscious acoustic instrumentation [...] and these two prolific artists make a good job of integrating their respective approaches. [...] a very natural collaboration: while Machinefabriek often converges on the classical and cinematic, Broderick's instrumental music is rendered with a discerning producer's ear. [...] Gorgeous. " (© Boomkat )

Web:
machinefabriek fang bomb peter broderick

Download:
Boomkat

the vaselines - edinburgh

The Vaselines at the Picture House, Edinburgh 09 Oct. 2009

image © flickr widow

Another image from my occasional series featuring concert photographs, graphic artwork and anything to do with the world of music. This one is of another of those reformed bands from yesteryear, The Vaselines. Photo taken by Flickr Widow, when the band opened for Seattle grungemeisters Mudhoney, at the Picture House in Edinburgh last month. I would have loved to have seen the show as they're one of the few bands from a certain period in time that I never got the chance to see play. Excellent indie-pop band, I recommend their entire discography. As an introduction to their music, it would be worthwhile getting your hands on the recent reissue compilation, Enter The Vaselines on SubPop. one2zero

my space the vaselines wiki

ursula bogner - recordings 1969-1988

on the turntable:

ursula bogner
recordings 1969-1988
faitiche 01cd

Buy / Order:
faitiche
boomkat

image: japanese forms


Another album that I completely missed out on upon it's initial release in 2008. Here, Jan Jelinek enjoys a little joke under the guise of one Ursula Bogner. A bit of hoax but a rather enjoyable one and lets hope that a second promised volume will see the light of day soon. As Boomkat so rightly puts it: "it wouldn't be unreasonable to think of Bogner as a hausfrau version of Daphne Oram, or a Deutsch Delia Derbyshire" - so if you like anything that those two pioneers in the radiophonic/electronic music field ever made you'll surely love this. Wonderful.

Packaging is, as with the gesellschaft zur emanzipation des samples release, is first class: fold-out card sleeve with heavy-duty 8 page illustrated paper booklet affixed inside; filling us in on Ursula's "career" and track recording details. Text in English. Recommended. one2zero.

An exhibtion about Bogners work, sketches, notations will open at the Laura Mars Gallery, Berlin, in mid-December 2009.
In february, 2010, faitiche03, a collaboration between Masayoshi Fujita + Jan Jelinek will be released. In addition, Faitiche are issuing a 7" version of circulations (featuring 4 tracks from the cd version + 1 exclusive track) in the coming weeks.

jan jelinek faitiche
___________________________________________________________________
Jan Jelinek on the release:
In the late 1960s, Ursula Bogner started to record her own music on reel-to-reel tapes. With some of these titles, we only found individual tracks of pieces recorded on a four-track-recorder – in these cases, I had to recombine the separate tracks to recreate the original piece. Unfortunately, I could not involve Ursula Bogner in the mixing process as she passed away in 1994. Invoking the original’s authenticity might seem insensitive, yet there was no other way to release them in their entirety. Ultimately, only three of the tracks featured on this CD/LP are such ‘reworkings’. [...] a further compilation is already in the works. ©jan jelinek - (more)

on my turntable

machinefabriek
loops for voerman
VOERMAN
3" cdr release

image: ©japanese forms

Yet another limited edition 3" CDR (100 copies) from the industrious Rutger Zuyzervelt (Machinefabriek). This recording is a soundtrack to Dutch artist Rob Voerman's sculptures. Also available as a download. A 2nd edition has now been released on CD featuring slightly different artwork. one2zero

"Despite only delivering a handful of new works this year, each new release has brought with it something new to the table, with this remarkable 15 minute disc containing the most intensely affecting Machinefabriek recording since last year's career-defining 'Dauw'. [...] Very highly recommended. " (© Boomkat )

Web: machinefabriek rob voerman

Download: Boomkatu

moritz von oswald trio - vertical ascent

on the turntable:

moritz von oswald trio
vertical ascent
HJRCD45

Buy / Order:
Honest Jon's or Boomkat

2LP / CD / mp3 download

image: japanese forms


Recommended. I'll go along with what Honest Jon's and Boomkat have to say below about this wonderful release. Beautiful packaging as well. one2zero

"... a dream crossing of classic Berlin techno, On-The-Corner Miles Davis, Larry Heard and Can, as at home with calypso as it is Stravinsky." © Honest Jon's


" Moritz Von Oswald is a name that needs little introduction to anyone who has followed Techno, Dub or any kind of electronic music over the last 15 years. [...] His most recent project has attempted to consolidate the studio processes which have defined the majority of his output with a live or improvisational element as part of his "trio" including the capable skills of sound designers Vladislav Delay aka Sasu Ripatti and Max Loderbauer of Sun electric and more recently NSI fame. The trio have performed some dozen live shows over the last two years, featuring Ripatti at the drummers stool, Loderbauer contributing synths and live electronics, and Moritz in control of live mixing effects and organ. 'Vertical Ascent' is essentially the best parts of these live improv sessions, edited, tweaked and mixed to perfection by mixmaster Moritz [...] " (more) ©Boomkat

kraftwerk - remastered

on the turntable:

kraftwerk
trans-europa express / the man-machine / computerworld
(remastered editions)
mute cdstumm305
mute cdstumm306
mute cdstumm307

LP/ CD / mp3 download
Buy / Order:
mute records

image: japanese forms

Like the Can remasters series issued by Mute a couple of years ago these Kraftwerk (remastered) reissues are highly recommended. The sound quality is excellent -so much more satisfying than the CD editions that have been around for quite a long time- and Mute and KlingKlang have done a fine job.

One bad point; although each individual release (8 album boxset available soon) comes in a card slipcase, and includes new artwork and photographs, one thing that really disappoints me is the fact that they're packed in those run-of-the-mill, awful jewel-cases. I suppose, like many admirers of the band, that most of us would have preferred that the individual albums be released in the 'mini-vinyl' card wallet packaging that has been reserved for the boxset only. one2zero

"In 2009 Kraftwerk have upgraded their Kling Klang masters with the latest studio technology and these eight magnificent recordings still sound like nothing else in the history of music. Kraftwerk are unique, pristine, profound and beautiful. Decades may pass, but their streamlined synthetic symphonies stand outside time, as fresh as tomorrow, transcendent and sublime." © mute

tortoise - beacons of ancestorship remixes

on the turntable:

tortoise
eye / mark ernestus
beacons of ancestorship remixes
thrill 1234

12" / mp3 download

Buy / Order:
Thrill Jockey
Boomkat

image: thrill jockey


Unfortunately, due to general lack of time to check out what's being released on lots of labels, I missed out on getting this limited edition (1500) release on vinyl. As with a few other releases this year, i'll have to make do with an mp3 download. In fact, this is the very first time I haven't been able to obtain a copy of a new Tortoise recording on a format other than mp3. Well, I might get lucky and find a copy later. Anyhow, as with the legendary remixes the band did a few years back with the likes of Jim O'Rourke, Unkle, Stereolab, Autechre, Derrick Carter, etc. these two remixes, by Eye of Boredoms fame and Basic Channel's dubmaster Mark Ernestus, are pretty awesome and an absolute must. I was a bit disappointed with the Beacons... album but these remixes have urged me to go back and give it a few more listens. Remixes 12" is highly recommended. one2zero


" Mark Ernestus [...] sticks close to the original material of 'Gigantes' but skillfully embellishes the elements he connects with, buffing the amplified brass [...] so that they beam out of the mix while the drums are loosely edited for a more efficient dancefloor effect with a flow between hi-life, rock and broken beat. Ernestus' skill here lies in his knowledge of the dancefloor and the subtle but robust dub-based balancing of elements that comes with his years of experience behind the mixing desk ... " (more) ©Boomkat

thrill jockey tortoise

jim o'rourke - united red army (soundtrack)

on the turntable:

jim o'rourke
united red army
(soundtrack)
CDSOL-1258

Buy / Order:
Ultra-Vybe
Honest Jon's

image: japanese forms


Japanese import of Jim O'Rourke's soundtrack to the Wakamatsu movie based on Japanese student-radical extremism in the early seventies and the true story of the United Red Army faction. Pretty much the usual fare from O'Rourke with lots of guitar-based pieces but also some rock and a zest of free jazz. Excellent and highly recommended for any fan of the great man's music. one2zero

"Soundtrack of underground director Koji Wakamatsu's new docudrama about 1970s Japanese youth resistance, and the Japanese Red Army — directed and performed by Jim O'Rourke." ©Honest Jon's

united red army jim o'rourke

drag city domino records

tomasz bednarczyk - let's make better mistakes tomorrow

on the turntable:

tomasz bednarczyk
let's make better mistakes tomorrow
12k1055

Buy / Order: 12k

Boomkat

image: japanese forms



tomasz bednarczyk myspace
Let’s Make Better Mistakes Tomorrow is the third full-length CD from the young Polish musician Tomasz Bednarcyzk. Following Summer Feelings and Painting Sky Together (Room40), Bednarczyk naturally continues his process of utilizing mainly treated piano and guitar to create fragile, lingering structures that hover around only a few fundamental notes.©12k - (more)

machinefabriek & gareth davis - ghost lanes

on my turntable

machinefabriek &
gareth davis

ghost lanes
3" cdr release

image: ©japanese forms

Available as a limited edition 3" CDR (100 copies). Contrary to their previous collaboration I managed to get my grubby mitts on this one. Unavailable almost as soon as it was issued it'll be difficult to find a copy. All I have to say is that it's another excellent recording from Rutger Zuyzervelt (Machinefabriek) and clarinetist Gareth Davis. The pair are apparently working on a full album together which should see the light of day pretty soon I imagine. Anyhow, as the Boomkat review mentions his name, anyone who likes the sublime Arve Henriksen should love this as well.
Lovingly packaged in a plastic slipcase, Ghost Lanes comes as per usual with one of Rutger's (original?) postcards. one2zero

"The timbral mixture these two concoct is an alchemic blend of elegant guitar drones, crackling, uninterpretable field recordings and cawing reeds. At times Davis' contrabass playing brings to mind the avant-garde, self-distorting trumpet style of Arve Henriksen; at once lyrical and unnatural, but a resoundingly unique voice nonetheless." (© Boomkat )

Web:
machinefabriek gareth davis

Download:
Boomkat

gareth davis & machinefabriek - soundlines

on my turntable

gareth davis &
machinefabriek
soundlines
mp3 release

image: ©machinefabriek

Available as a limited edition 3" CDR (100 copies) or as a MP3 download. Unfortunately I missed out on this release and, much to my regret, will have to make do with the MP3 version. Another delicious little masterpiece from Rutger Zuyzervelt (Machinefabriek) who teams up this time with clarinetist Gareth Davis for this preview of a full, forthcoming album by the pair. one2zero

"...fabulous, mysterious sounds are anything to go by, [the album] will be a very exciting release indeed. In the meantime, here's a recording that even the most Machinefabriek-fatigued listeners should check out." (© Boomkat )

Web:
machinefabriek gareth davis

Download:
Boomkat