Cody Yantis - Resonant Memory (PT004)

Planted's seeds sprouted the super bud of tapes. Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Planted Tapes returns in style with a lovely cassette by Cody Yantis. Admittedly, one of the most salient attributes across some of my favorite releases is the manner in which an artist explores the relationship between the texture of a tone and space. Resonant Memory is exemplary among recent releases of this type; the fragility of a resonant murky string juxtaposed to variegated sustained tones that dance among chirping birds; bolts of sonic lightening erupting from the guitar in the manner of Steven R. Smith; withered piano chords decompose, their energy redolent. Additionally, the banjo is notable on this release. Yantis' approach to recording Resonant Memory utilizes piano, banjo, electric guitar, and percussion among other instruments with the Akai GX - 4000D reel-to-reel tape machine. Upon pressing play, the sound bellows as one merges to the vibrations with alacrity. Yantis' heartfelt banjo melodies and crafting of the atmosphere evoke memories of listening to Tape and the Hapna label. One of my favorite sections occurs near the end of side A as withered tones fracture in the air next to a field recording of children playing - quite lovely.
                  
While you're perusing the goods on offer at Planted, check out the informative and exclusive Q&A with Cody Yantis. Planted Tapes has a permanent spot on my top shelf - trichome heaven. Resonant Memory comes in an edition of 100 tapes. Assembled meticulously by the Planted crew, the photographs are credited to Cody Yantis. One may purchase a copy directly from Planted Tapes. 

peace and love, friends :)

Tuluum Shimmering - Sky Tree (II025)

ubiquitous vibrations. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Dreamy, loop-driven passages of energy permeate the listener for this two hour meditation. The brilliant vibrations have the tendency to consume, heightening awareness. At times, one tends to get lost in the swirling buoyancy radiating from the speakers. Sky Tree, a recent tape from Tuluum Shimmering on Inner Islands, is an apt title; above the clouds, where the perceptions are more lucid, Tuluum's flowing benevolence begets sagacity. Until I first heard Tuluum Shimmering, I had not previously experienced anything similar. According to an interview, a variety of instruments -  kalimba, percussion, violin, flutes, sampling keyboard - are run from a mixer through a multi-effects pedal into a 30 second looper, and then out to an amp. Across the discography, their is a tendency to lose oneself in a malestrom of luminous vibrations, a celebration of life. Ever since arriving at the house, Sky Tree has been billowing faithfully much like my sacred indica - highly recommended.

The beginning of the tape is intense, imbued with tension. Ominous - almost cinematic - tones protrude and surge clandestinely. Shortly, languid flute pervades the mix swirling upward. Almost unexpectedly, the friction and clang of percussion becomes audible. Synth vacillates from solemn to uplifting reaching a beautiful point in the recording. Suddenly, resonant piano notes and sacred drone begin to cascade from the speakers. Omnipresent and visceral, wave upon wave surges forth; intricate patterns morph subtly. The flipside resides deep in the haze, a languorous stream of energy that moves more slowly than its peer. Delicate tones from the flute drift lazily in the presence of enchanting drone.

These top shelf vibrations on Inner Islands are exalted. Another wonderful attribute of this release regards the visual aspect - artwork by Tuluum Shimmering; layout by Sean Conrad. Pro-dubbed and produced on red tapes in o-card sleeves, Sky Tree may be purchased directly from Inner Islands. Also, Sky Tree was released with another stellar tape by Peasants. Both can be procured inexpensively 

peace and love, friends :)

Hellvete - Ode (DD15)

Meditating at Temple Hellvete. Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

We're going deep, literally! Glen Steenkiste's latest release as Hellvete on Deep Distance - recorded prior to Sint-Denijs- contains two side-long omnipotent drones. Ode continues on the path of Glen's recent work, which is documented on labels such as Blackest Rainbow, Tor Press and Crooked Tapes. These recordings, including Ode, bring the present into focus via sustained tones. When the speakers are cranked and the needle drops, incipient notes begin to cluster, forming layers of sustained, resonant energy. The first part of side A constitutes a lovely experience - embryonic light that gradually becomes concentrated. From that juncture, the drone becomes even more cozy. Serene undulations caress the listener on side A. An ethereal, oscillating drone and sustained notes exude brilliant energy. Interwoven strands of flickering tranquility construct the radiant carpet that transports one to the zenith. Sonic nuggets will be unearthed by the active listener; Glen's drones are constantly in motion, revealing subtleties when least expected. Spiritual drone fills the atmosphere on the flipside. Buoyant waves that possess an acute texture surge, emitting awesome vibrations prior to receding.   

Just like my last review of the Lake Mary tape, Ode is pleasing to the eyes and ears - beautiful artwork and insert. Released in an edition of 300 on ultra clear vinyl, I purchased my copy from Eclipse, who have a nice back catalog of Deep Distance lps available. The video below is from Sint-Denijs - enjoy!!   

peace and love, friends :)

Wave Temples - Floating Garden/Hidden Temple (PYR19)

Blissful vibrations in abundance. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Floating Garden/Hidden Temple, by Wave Temples on Rainbow Pyramid, is an enthralling listening experience. For over 30 minutes, the listener is transported to a sonic paradise in which they wallow through serene passages comprised of effervescent and soothing sound - faithful vibrations. Patient hymns carried by peaceful waves ripple through one's soul. Wave Temples keen use of texture makes this tape a joyous experience - this tape often loops in the house. Hazy reveries are immersed by a deluge. Introspective waves meander softly in the twilight. Mysterious vibrations mesmerize the listener. Sometimes the swirling drones are situated in remote waters, becoming enervated as they float beyond perception. Pastoral vibrations coat awareness with a gauzy, wet film. Slumberous, restive drones loop lazily toward the abyss. The end of side A is fantastic, even a little psychedelic. Sonorous undulations engulf the room. Soon, the tremendous force abates as an incipient menacing drone becomes salient. Upon commencing the flip, majestic, yet unsettling synth exudes a dreamy vibe imbued with uncertainty around the contour. Later on the flip, buoyant synth loops calmly. Crystal-covered waves swell and recede while a serene melody merges. The second to last section on the b-side is one of my favorite sections of the tape. Opaque vibrations and clandestine drone gradually evolve to a state of effervescence. 

Floating Garden/Hidden Temple is a lovely tape that fills my home with beauty as it billows hazily from the speakers, penetrating the indica clouds with ease. This tape was part of the Rainbow Pyramid winter batch that disappeared quickly. Produced in an edition of 48 and featuring a cover photo by John Orsborn, copies are still available via Meditations.

peace and love, friends :)

Black Thread - Effulgent Angel Piss (Turmeric Magnitudes)

Drifting somewhere in the hazy rainbow among fraying threads.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Effulgent Angel Piss is the elixir of aural athletes.  A few weeks ago, I wrote about a tape replete with uplifting lo-fi nugs, Fragrant Hoof Carvings, from Black Thread on Turmeric Magnitudes.  Since then I've been able to comb the discography, which exhibits the different dimensions of this awesome project.  On this tape we're descending a few levels, which finds us ensconced in aural fog and knee deep in withering ambient loops of Effulgent Angel Piss.  

Once 'Effulgent Angel Piss' is discharged from the speakers, misty ambient loops dilate.  Shortly, there is an intriguing contrast between the luminous, lo-fi static-encrusted loop and the solemn reverberations that appear sporadically.  Minutes later, tones bleed into the other, while the sonic fidelity plummets a few levels. Undulations of hiss and static shroud the track. Yet, even as one perceives being farther away from the music, the opposite occurs;  the opaque beauty of the hazy energy radiates widely and seeps into the soul - lovely!  On the flip, a voluminous, airy tape loop ruminates in the clouds, buttressed by vibrant shapes and colors.  With the loop decaying, the listener floats in the slipstream - the austere light is blinding!  Soon, the noise becomes more intense, nearly cloaking the sounds.  As the noise subsides, we depart the clouds to enter a new atmosphere full of feedback that circumscribes streams of serenity.

 From the top shelf with love.  Black Thread creates a singular sonic environment which juxtaposes ambient tape loops and noise.  This project touches on the densely layered, haunting ambiance of Stephan Mathieu, while channeling the weathered, ambient minimalism of William Basinski.  I highly recommend the entire discography - expect to see more Black Thread nugs on this blog in the future.  One may purchase Effulgent Angel Piss directly from Turmeric Magnitudes.  Also, Black Thread tapes may be purchased from Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)
             

Imperfect Masters - This Humanly Mess: Music of El Cerrito for Clarinet and Boot, Vol. #23 (fon35)

voluminous, woozy sounds that breath life into the night.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

  Even prior to experiencing this tape, the story on the back of the j-card proved intriguing; I pondered the words for a long time, continuously re-reading them.  Under the radiant energy of the crescent moon, a beautiful amalgamation of tones from two adept improvisers begins to slowly drift into the listener's head-space.  Throughout This Humanly Mess: Music of El Cerrito for Clarinet and Boot, Vol. #23, on Full of Nothing, a bucolic vibe is emitted.  Imperfect Masters is the duo of Robert Horton and Dan Plonsey.  Robert Horton is known for creating musical instruments, one of which, the boot, features on this release.  The boot is a four string slide instrument. His partner on this release, Dan Plonsey, is a renown composer and saxophonist - though he utilizes the clarinet on this release.

Upon pressing play, these skilled improvisers seem the perfect match: the woozy strings of Horton intersect perfectly with the soporific, slowly expanding sound emitted from the clarinet.  In the next track, droning strings vacillate uninhibitedly in the background. Plonsey's clarinet ascends ever so gently at the beginning before matching Horton's energy with fluctuating tones.  There is a lovely intersection of jazz and blues in the third track.  The resonant strings of the acoustic boot coalesce nicely with the hovering clarinet. On the fourth track of side A, drone and boot combine with the soft emanations of the clarinet.  Droning and resonant strings create the perfect backdrop for the diffuse - and at times coiling - clarinet, which envelops the head like indica haze - one of my favorite tracks on the tape.  Frenzied strings abound at the beginning of the second track on the flip.  Shortly, Plonsey's clarinet howls - yet, not too aggressively - while scraped strings exist in the back of the mix.  In the last track, energy slowly exudes from the clarinet - quiet stillness engulfs the listener as strings wobble gently.  Before long, the boot oscillates, becoming more prominent.             

Lately, I've been listening to this on the porch under the starry sky and luminous moonlight - nice conditions for these vibes.  This Humanly Mess: Music of El Cerrito for Clarinet and Boot, Vol. #23 is highly recommended. Produced on red, transparent tapes with lovely artwork provided by Ivan Afanasyev, this tape is sold out at the source.  However, Tomentosa always has the goods.  One may purchase This Humanly Mess: Music of El Cerrito for Clarinet and Boot, Vol. #23,   from Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)