Light Tapes 001 and 002

Lately, i've been lighting up to Light Tapes. Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Times are good for tapes. The early part of the year has already seen some great releases from Orange Milk, Scissor Tail, Planted Tapes, Students of Decay, Feathered Coyote, Inner Islands and Patient Sounds among others. And, i'm consciously thankful everyday just knowing that Cabin Floor Esoterica has returned. Now we can add Light Tapes to the list. A collaborative effort between Tomentosa Records and Housecraft Records, the first two offerings from Light Tapes, much like top shelf nugs, permeate the head with ease. Clime, the illustrious duo of Jimmy Billingham (Tidal; Venn Rain; Journey of Mind) and Tuluum Shimmering, releases their last recording in this initial batch. Bring your awareness to these two side-long paeans and experience each breath becoming more lucid. The other tape, a split between I am Just a Pupil and Heat Sureens, is a real blazer!

What is there left to say about Clime's next level soundscapes that align so nicely with the breath? Along with this release, 12th Rain of the Oscillating Universe, the vibrations on their Space Slave tape inspire the sparks of life. Their music seems to move without a trace, yet one is always ascending - such is the subtle variation which begets their hallucinatory vibe. Entrancing loops bask in the radiant glow, yet continually bloom. A tapestry of sonorous swirling noise and swollen ambience loops a fine web around ones consciousness, seeping in slowly. Around 20 minutes in, bird calls coincide with certain elements dropping into the back of the mix; ethereal and flowery pulsating light moves to the foreground. Soulful rhythms manifest along with a gauzy drone. Various percussion features prominently toward end - taking the track to next level. The flipside is much lighter compared to side a; sweetly flowing, soothing vibrations drift unencumbered. There seems to be more space on side b, at least in the beginning, which is lovely. Whether it is side a's rapturous celebration of sound or the flip's gentle tranquility, the synergy between these two sound healers is conspicuous over the entirety.

 

Grainy guitar undulations loop and mysterious energy billows immediately on the Heat Sureens side. Replete with crystal-covered guitar loops and a diverse voice, Heat Sureens - also a member of Mannateas - has released a tape previously on Housecraft. This side visits some beautiful places, especially in the beginning of track 2. Ascendant, introspective loops drift serenely in the presence of the inner burning flame. Music that exhibits various moods, such as the periodic shrieks, thick buzz and quivering ambient noise present in the third track. In the last track, blurred notes form a delicate web while other sonic elements hover. This side of music is played on repeat.    

I am Just a Pupil follows up an excellent contribution to the Worn Habit noise comp with some of project's best material. Right from the start the collage of noise and ambient sources asserts itself, seemingly merging with ease given the disparate elements: strident crackle, foreboding drone, quivering noise, gentle sound. The recording has the quality of sounding removed and proximate concomitantly. The effect is to endow the music with the quality of a hazy dream. Nearly half way through, the more harsh elements abate leaving behind a beautiful ethereal/new age vibe. This part of the track is something to which I look forward with each listen. Even as the track progresses, this light and airy feeling remains. The mood shifts near the end prior to the tape unexpectedly ending.

Both cassettes, produced in limited quantities, quickly disappeared from Tomentosa's site a few weeks ago. However, another limited batch - along with the Venn Rain recording on Housecraft - will arrive at Tomentosa within days. 

peace and love, friends :) 

Mendocino - Ray's Chapel(Old Man Tapes #1); Dig a Hole (Old Man Tapes #4)

wake and bake, sans the shake.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

While performing some research for this review, I did a Google search for Old Man Tapes, and, just as well, it could have been a search for Al-Qaeda's Inspire magazine, haha.  The search yielded a sordid amalgamation of elderly porn links. Oh well, just another notch on the Honest Bag NSA belt.  There's a dearth of information on Mendocino, and, the micro-label on which these tapes appear, Old Man Tapes - operating out of Asheville, NC.  Yet, put those thoughts on hold and let this notion sink into your head:   this is the sound of friendship blossoming toward exalted realms- because that's where these kief-coated blazers travel. According to the information on Tomentosa's site, these jam sessions document weekly recordings by a group of friends.  If you have experienced the raw, communal feel of basement/house jam sessions - either as a participant or observer - then maybe you can identify with the sacred aura emitted by the times.  Ray's Chapel and Dig a Hole radiate stoned vibrations for the heads crowd.  The path these guys travel is sure to tickle the trichomes on your nug.  They touch on some beautiful sounds over these two tapes that will interest admirers of krautrock, early Sunburned, German Oak, and Sylvester Anfang ii.  Regardless of the references, these cats blaze their own path.  There's so much occurring over these two tapes. The mix of heavy lo-fi psych tempered by ceremonial vibrations on offer here is hard to exceed. The voluminous, drugged feel of these sessions is perfect listening at anytime of the day.

Given that Ray's Chapel is nearly unavailable, the following refers to Dig a Hole.  Immediately, Mendocino gets the listener lifted with serene vibrations the seem to echo interminably - Golden Roadies unite!  Percussion and reverberating strings gently hover.  In the next track, a lo-fi nug billows and then is fleshed out as they hit the groove with chugging guitars.  They touch the zenith with an unabated sonic assault.  Next crunchy chords approach the red, coursing with mutant energy; mayhem follows. On the flip, the aura of mindfulness shines brightly as a wind instrument, vocal incantations and tribal rhythms prepare the listener for the ensuing psych mayhem.  A successive flow of beats leads to heavy psych/space rock as writhing guitars, synth and percussion provide a veil to muffled vocals.  Dig a Hole finishes with a section of dreamy guitars, which leads to a final track.

Coming across this tape is analogous to picking up a bag of frosty nugs - they tend to disappear quickly. Get your dank goodness at Tomentosa.  Also, a copy of Ray's Chapel is available on Discogs.

peace and love, friends :)      

Von Himmel - Space Communion (Humito 002)

Strap in and load it up - you're gonna need it for this kosmiche journey into the aether.  There is not much known about Von Himmel, nor Humito.  Lately, this lp and Never Use The Same Door Twice, by Corum have dominated the turntable.  Initially, Space Communion was released by Sloow Tapes.  Going out of print quickly, it reappeared in 2011 as the second release on Humito. The artwork for Space Communion, especially on the Sloow tape, is a homage to Schwingungen, from Ash Ra Temple.  One should be careful though, as to not deduce that this is a copy of German experimental music from yesteryear.  Yes, there are nods to the likes of Popul Vuh, Ash Ra Temple and Tangerine Dream.  The review by Mimaroglu, of the Sloow tape, says it aptly, " it captures the dark psychedelia that is so prevalent on those classic LPs without falling victim to being a straight rip-off or throw-back."  

Moon Moss... blast off!  The echo of cosmic synth sounds announce that exploration has commenced.  Astronomer begins with some a conga jam, which is soon joined by the flute and synth.  The flute is alluring, floating on the drum beats.  Sun Spots is a guitar/bass/synth tune, with heavy bass vibes that overshadows the guitar and synth - a different track than the other five.  Mantra closes out the side A with a nice collage of synth, field recordings and tambourine, which is barely audible. Strawberry Hill starts off the flip side with a menacing drone accompanied by bellows of a singing bowl, bells, voices, percussion, guitar and other effects - one of my favorite tracks and a journey of sound. Country Bog is the last track, which floats on tape hiss, until the sitar appears.  Unexpectedly, synth and effects envelop the sitar complete with electronic twitches, bubbles, and pulses.  The track ends with percussion and voices.  

Though this is currently unavailable at the usual distros, word has it that Tomentosa might receive additional copies.  Also, Time-Lag and Eclipse had copies earlier in the year.  Space Communion has imbued my days - allow these psych masters to take you on a trip.