Kyle Landstra - The Illusion of Becoming (Field Studies 15)

Hubba Bubba!!  Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Upon hearing that Kyle Landstra would release a tape on Field Studies, I was filled with joy. For me, its an apt coupling of artist and label. The tapes on field studies comprise some of the best experimental music being released: Floating Gardens, Lunar Miasma, Bil Vermette, Panabrite, Alan Gesso, Brett Naucke. With 19 high quality releases in the discography, Field Studies does not disappoint with its latest batch. Kyle released one of my favorite tapes of the year, Sage, on Cosmic Winnetou. In The Illusion of Becoming, the listener is treated to over thirty minutes of improvised and meditative hymns. Kyle follows Sage with a fine exhibition of ambient and new age synthesizer music. Prodigious and reflective synthesizer drones are prominent, and especially on the flipside, The Illusion of Becoming modulates mysteriously.  The sounds in the track to which I refer, ' Stream Entrant', are played on repeat in the house.

It really is a special feeling to surf this sonic wave, as the light gently walks one into day. Above the clouds, where the sky is blue and omnipresent, you will hear this paean. Powerful enough to part the clouds, it's a gift from one soul to another. The scenery is majestic. Nascent objects exude particles of tranquility that culminate to form rapturous waves of benevolent light - streams of sound that extend to the end of the breath. Copious sounds merge, and a buoyant moment is realized. Near the end, whirling echos beam us to the flipside. The second track on the flip, 'Stream Entrant' is true head music. Enthralling drones commence the flipside, leading to the aforementioned. Voluminous, pendulum-like tones swell from the speakers in a torpid manner, abutting an acute drone. The passing seconds are almost tangible. As another layer slightly modulates, a pastoral passage of synthesizer joins the mix. Though barely perceptible, one senses a change.  From the periphery, the energy surges clandestinely prior to manifesting as a resonant wall of sound. Later, a solemn drone is occasionally interspersed with droplets of serenity - a lovely juxtaposition.  

Produced in an edition of 60 and pro-dubbed, The Illusion of Becoming is already sold out at Kyle's Bandcamp page. For those interested in obtaining a copy, send Field Studies an e-mail before it is OOP.

peace and love, friends :)     

Portopia '81 - Electronic Communication (GJ-041)

new age nugs for your cosmic trek - trichome power!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

When it comes to labels that inhabit areas of ambient, new age and experimental sound, Ginjoha radiates purely like the morning sunlight.  The amount of quality releases is impressive:  Logansport, Thaniel Ion Lee, Rainbow Body, Buchikamashi, Strom Noir, Mark Bradley, and Hakobune are just a handful from a discography overflowing with extremely talented artists who are currently creating some of the most beautiful experimental music. Portopia '81 is situated on the top shelf of that list!  Initially, I was unaware of this tape until my friend Daniel recommended it.  Thereafter, it has orbited the atmosphere, endowing it with serene cosmic energy.  I purchased both tapes, Cosmic City Serenade and Electronic Communication, because they exist in the right tail of the distribution - rare beauty.  Electronic Communication is a sonic vehicle to exalted regions, an enticing exploration facilitated by spacey, effervescent synth, ambient passages of sound, and high energy beats.  The trip begins as we extend a limb into the unknown, pulsating with an amalgamation of signals, transmissions, and ephemeral currents. 

A fantastic expedition ensues aided by buoyant, bountiful synth and supporting drone in the opener, 'Hello New World'. This section of the track absolutely mesmerizes, before climbing higher upon the merging of visceral, swift beats. Shortly, an uplifting, sonorous passage of sound manifests. The atmosphere is infused with ethereal drift as passages swell, resonating softly among passing signals and fading objects. In the following track, tranquility hops along ellipses of a lucid continuum.  Reverberating sonic energy, of a light shade, hits the body like a ray of sunshine.

The flip commences in stellar fashion. 'Cosmic Drive' begins with nascent, warm pulsations.  Before long, an evolving synth shifts into recurrent waves of light.  Random signals are emitted from a mass that moves laterally.  Soon, an effervescent loop moves to the fore. Among the many elements - and ones to be introduced - this track is never inert.  Shortly, ebullient beats emerge. It's named 'Cosmic Drive' for a reason - outstanding!.  Portopia '81 exemplifies an acuity for crafting a lucid and dynamic sonic environment.  Omnipresent in the first three tracks, this quality once again appears in the title track. From the mellow comedown of track 1, 'Electronic Communication' swirls ominously, layers of ambient sound gently fill the atmosphere before tapering.

From the faithful top shelf - and like any crystal-covered nug - extremely rare, Electronic Communication is something I would highly recommend. One may purchase Electronic Communication directly from Ginjoha.  Also, don't forget about Cosmic City Serenade! 

peace and love, friends :)

track from first tape, Cosmic City Serenade

Afterlife - Sensory Overdose (Sicsic059)

if the sweet leaf could grow in space, then Afterlife would be the appropriate music to ensure the plant's vitality.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

In more than one way, Sensory Overdose, on Sicsic, is a celebration of experimental music.  Even before talking about the copious merits of this tape, the artwork of Stunned head honcho, Phil French, is somewhat of a portent.  Some of the first Afterlife tapes - the split with Ossining is wonderful - were splits released on Stunned.  In past reviews, I have described the salience of Stunned Records - it made a mark on experimental music like few others.  Therefore, just viewing Phil's beautiful artwork gives one an indication of the heavy vibes on offer.  Additionally, Afterlife is comprised of two skilled artists.  Along with performing in Afterlife, Franklin Teagle operates Tranquility Tapes, and it's sibling, Anathema Sound.  Ryan McGill has several other music projects, most notably the awesome Cliffsides - his contribution to the Space Slave 4-way split is a highlight of the batch.  With the pertinent details disclosed, let the trip commence!  And, it sure is a heady one.  The title is apt.  Over two sides of tape, Ryan and Franklin lay down a wonderful variety of astral sounds.  However, this is more than a collection of spacey sounds.  One of the most attractive facets of the tape is the structure of both side-long tracks.  A careful listen will illuminate the subtle shifts in tone and mood. In some sections, the tranquility of new age music fuses with the cosmos.  At other times, a vortex of spacey electronics inundate the listener.  Side B starts with some of the most interesting sounds heard the entire year.  And, the latter part of side B presents a maelstrom of metallic-coated sound that leaves the listener dazed under a glowing pile of cosmic detritus.    

   Upon pressing play and leaving this physical body, patterns of synth loop ethereally.  Before long, the serenity is augmented, as a nascent sustained tone shifts subtly.  The form changing with time.  As the tone shifts, the loop begins to ripple, and electronic signals - displaying a wonderful breadth of textures - start to morph.  More than halfway through, an appreciable change occurs.  Soon, the listener ascends to the next stratum, delivered by resonant sound that grows in vigor until it disintegrates in a deluge of astral sounds.
The flip is just as enticing.  As I mentioned in the preceding paragraph, Afterlife begins side B in style.  An intoxicating mix of sonic percolations and spacey effects move through the head like my favorite bud.  This part has an aquatic sound, yet it circulates among constellations and cosmic bodies.  Heretofore, the mood has a tranquil quality, which is underlined by airy pulsations of synth.  A transition occurs, in which the synth throbs.  Next, the listener is among sound that bubbles, frays and disintegrates.  At the intersection, the track morphs into an aggressive mix of trembling signals, static emanations, noise and metallic sound that grinds and oscillates.  Once the synth disappears, the listener is enveloped by a whirlpool of vibrations.  After the deluge, cosmic stillness, in the form of a quivering tone, extends beyond perception.

Homedubbed on chrome tape in an edition of 85 cassettes and sold out at the source, Sensory Overdose is fantastic in every aspect.  With dwindling supplies, the platform for lift-off is situated at the headquarters of Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)