Softest - Music for Rain: Volume One (Inner Islands - 028)

Music for reflection - and some kush never hurts. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

 After being near the abyss, a return to bliss is needed to keep this joint rolling. My head was feeling weary and I needed to recover. Thus, I decided to plunge my hand into the Inner Islands jar which sits on the top shelf. They always deliver me to a serene place where my soul becomes enlightened. The first of two Summer releases on Inner Islands, Softest is the new project of Braden J. McKenna. On Music for Rain: Volume One introspective, soothing music provides one with the space and aural light to meditate on the beauty of the moment. Guitar, synth, and field recordings create slowly morphing soundscapes.

As the first track commences, morning dew glistens softly in the faint, embryonic light. Soft nascent vibrations act like the first cup of coffee, slowly shaking off the slumber in the sun's vastness. The mood is light and airy throughout. Waves of soft colors coalesce begetting undulating tranquility. When you breathe with these sounds, the environment shimmers; the bark of the tree uneven, stale and damp; a sheet of heavenly light flashes hot across the saturated grass coating it in brilliance; and the seemingly immutable sweet scent of the Earth that permeates the nostrils like the first few conscious breaths of the day - sweetly flowing and music for anytime of the day. Ascendant energy rings faithfully in "Surface Dance." Shifting radiance and delicate sounds are interspersed with nature. Peaceful loops combine with gentle streams of rain and crystalline radiance in "Trying"; gentle sounds wallow and ripple in the final track. 

One may purchase Music for Rain: Volume One directly from Inner Islands.

peace and love, friends :)

Half High - Calling Nina (Eiderdown 2014)

The menace is loose - disquiet abounds. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Light up before you enter this portal. Once within this ghastly, yet beautiful sonic atmosphere, it's difficult for the flowers to combust. I've experienced many states from the catalog of Eiderdown. However, nothing quite matches the visceral dread and spooked synths of Half High. Based in Sydney, Australia, they are among the founding members of Naked on The Vague. Calling Nina was recorded in a space that was once used by scientists to conduct research on the psychokinetic powers of Nina Kulagina. Following her death, it was determined that a poltergeist had taken possession of the area. Subsequent attempts to channel the presence resulted in twelve deaths. Just like Eiderdown suggests, Calling Nina may be an attempt to make contact with her spirit and collaborate with the inherent vibe of the space. When you press play, be prepared; these excerpts taken from live tracks swoop down from desolate, opaque portals suffusing the environment with dense spine-tingling apprehension. 

 Foreboding reverberations and mellow synth are concurrently crystalline and eerie. Cavernous vibrations abound. Something lurks in the copious recesses that dot the shrouded labyrinth. Sputtering and churning, sonic bile is spewed from the icy speakers - one cannot escape the palpable unease. Downcast synths hover and metallic, paranormal vibrations leave a lustrous streak. Electronics pensively ruminate in disturbed air that trembles portentously. Ravaged, disembodied voices skitter on the precipice. On the flipside ethereal drone and buoyant energy devolve into baleful emanations. Ominous pulses are slowly depleted of
vigor, yet, in a torpor, the terror and fright still loom large. Beams of radiant electronics are refracted effervescently. The flipside becomes progressively more sinister and taciturnly unrelenting. Halfway through it reaches what appears to be stasis. Yet, the chill from the speakers suggests otherwise. Deleterious and ashen, wayward oscillations and voices suddenly abate to the influence of mournful synth.  

I'm spooked and can't stop listening!! These folks from Sydney are first-rate sound sculptures. Five minutes into side A, the blinds on my window literally rolled up unprompted - that hasn't occurred in many years. Eiderdown tapes light up my head like few others. Just like Gonzalez & Steenkiste and Ecstatic Cosmic Union before them, Half High grabs the listener's attention by filling the room with their aura. Instead of golden, meditative drones or cosmic exploration, this time around a sinister, ghastly presence hovers. Max Clotfelter's artwork, a staple of these beautiful tapes, does a nice job of matching the vibe. Released in a limited edition of 100 cassettes, Calling Nina may be purchased directly from Eiderdown.   

peace and love, friends :)

Banana Pill - Weave (CW18)

the right medicine for your head. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

When the two sonic shaman in Banana Pill exhale, their beautiful art paints the atmosphere in peaceful, warm hues and tones. Weave, a recent release by Finland's Banana Pill on Cosmic Winnetou, endows the listener with brilliant undulating energy via guitar, violin, synth and other instruments. One cannot help but be moved by the mellifluous, benevolent mood that pervades each track. Yet, this is not an inert release. Banana Pill's adroit ability in composition sees them manifest soulful moments from pulsating waves of heat; majestic violin; dusty strings and kind melodies, encompassing drones. Subtle changes abound, with certain elements moving to the fore after prolonged periods of dreamy drift. Visceral, cozy drones vibrate through the soul. Weave compares well to some of my favorites on Hapna and Apestaartje - one of the best this year.

One of the most memorable facets of this tape is the flow, and Banana Pill pours it on heavy right from the time the play button clicks. In "Wave", blurred strings contort prior to being engulfed by an aural dream - tender and pulsating. Pastoral and idyllic, splintered sunlight circumscribes the listener while soothing violin strokes the soul. Robust waves reach for the zenith, vibrating and brilliant in nature. As they crash toward the trough, the light flickers out. Track two, "Shapes", commences with peaceful, bright strings and gentle violin, which eventually becomes more assertive. Where the first track contained warm, intense colors, this one dances gingerly behind a hazy veil - lovely! Pleasant strings ripple through the head as crystalline synth concurrently echoes in the side A closer, "Spiral." The flipside is just as captivating. Inchoate energy becomes concentrated, bathing the listener in soulful vibrations. Affecting violin softly vacillates among august drone - another lovely moment! Ethereal and ubiquitous, "light" truly realizes the track name - vast, luminous, and vibrant music that precipitates blooming awareness. Squirming electronics are deluged by quivering radiance in the final track. Placid strings ruminate calmly only to be overcome by cascading tranquility.      

Top shelf lofty love for this tape, and that goes for the other two cassettes in the sixth batch. Cosmic Winnetou tapes are produced with lots of love. In this instance, 75 home-dubbed tapes feature the artwork from one of my favorite artists, Sylvia Monnier. Sold out at the source, which is unfortunately true of the entire batch, get your Cosmic Winnetou fix at Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)

Crown of Eternity - Vibrate the Cosmos (Crown of Eternity, 2014)

Trichome power! Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

The ethereal soundscapes and blissful chants that comprise Vibrate the Cosmos plant the flowers in your mind and then stick around for the crystal covered harvest. Crown of Eternity is the husband and wife duo of Mike Tamburo and Gallina Tamburo. However, this is more than a musical project. Mike and Gallina teach Kundalini yoga in Pittsburgh and operate a yoga and vibration healing center, Crown of Eternity. If I could select one word to describe Vibrate the Cosmos, then it would be "immersion." For well over an hour, Mike and Gallina stimulate your awareness through renditions of sacred Kundalini yoga mantras and heady soundscapes that combine psychedelic, ambient, shoegaze and looping music. The detailed liner notes provide background on each mantra. For over a few years, I have been listening to Mike's music. At the cross-section of his many projects, Mike's soul shines brilliantly to endow the listener with serenity and warmth. With Gallina joining Mike, they create one of the most beautiful releases with which he has been associated. The lush instrumentation supports the vocals appropriately; it creates a tranquil environment in which their voices soar majestically. Traversing a magnificent rainbow arc from beginning to end, layered chants and vocals illuminate barren areas. Omnipresent in my favorite track, "Ecstatic Har", Mike and Gallina's energy flows unabated. Mellifluous, melodious and imparting heavy vibrations from the beginning, the entrancing chant and instrumentation is a manifestation of the lucid awareness referenced in the album title.  

The beginning of "Ra Ma Da Sa" is the sonic equivalent of dawn and sunrise. Embryonic vibrations resonate delicately in the beginning. Shortly, radiant beams of guitar echo and the duo's vocals gradually grow in vitality. Psychedelic particles sparkle among the stars in the following track, "Ang Sang Wahe Guru." Sonorous, heartfelt vocals combine with dreamy guitar. Later in the track, synthesizer disperses infinite healing vibrations among all denizens. The spacey intro to the next track has the vibe of the more recent Expo '70 releases. The mantra recited by Mike and Gallina rises and falls in the manner of the breath. Gallina's piano adds to the track nicely. Subsequent to "Ecstatic Har", tremulous notes mix with a languorous recital of words from Guru Arjan, the 5th Sikh Guru. 

According to the liner notes, Crown of Eternity's music is written and arranged with A tuned to 432 hz aligning with Universal vibrations. I often find myself rejoicing and singing to the energy that flows from the breathing speakers. One can purchase a copy directly from Crown of Eternity.

peace and love, friends :)

Gora Sou - Living XXL (NL009)

high times! Gora Sou shines the light into my day. Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Living XXL is an apt title for Gora Sou's third release on Noumenal Loom. Boundless possibilities seem to exist in the head and heart of Marc Übel (Gora Sou). His skill in composition engenders tracks that are uplifting, contemplative, and elegiac. A combination of new age and experimental music, the tracks that comprise Living XXL have great depth. Any randomly selected moment on this tape could be deconstructed to reveal copious ideas and sounds. 

Upon pressing play, delicate notes echo on the periphery of consciousness - extremely light and resonant. An entrancing effect occurs as they move more proximate with each iteration. Upon reaching the crest, the wave breaks. The listener is inundated by ponderous tones and ambient manifestations that fissure. An exquisite collage leads to the third track, which possesses different energy from anything on the tape. An ominous loop circulates furtively while ethereal sounds jut up and hover. "Three Palms Avalon" is my favorite track on the tape. Übel really shines in such moments. The clouds part to reveal inspiring and hopeful vibrations. The latter part of the tape - tracks 5-8 - is incredible. In the following track, Übel pours it on heavy. The gorgeous beginning, comprised of rain drops and heartfelt sound, progresses to include periodically rising crystalline tones. "Bay of Seven Moons" is heavenly. Bright and blurry ambience pulsates and transmogrifies wondrously, which reminds one of the beauty contained in Venice-era Fennesz - resplendent, morphing clouds of sound. The last few minutes of this track precipitate elation. 

 With each release, Gora Sou becomes more entrenched on the crystal-covered top shelf. Übel's music is a regular part of my life. This is a mindful listener's kind of tape, if you know what I mean. Also, I tend to look at Birch Cooper's artwork when listening to Living XXL. The design, hues and texture do a nice job of encapsulating the feel of the music. Produced in a limited run of 100 home dubbed tapes, only a few copies remain. One may purchase Living XXL directly from Noumenal Loom.

peace and love, friends :)

Ōgon Batto - 007 (HAK007)

Vivid vibrations that guide you through the dubious darkness. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

The overwhelming sense of disquiet burns brightly from the bowl immediately. Bleary, opaque synth and ominous low ends have a portentous effect. Hazy noise careens until, unexpectedly, a sequence of piano notes finishes the track. Ōgon Batto, in the seventh release for Hare Akedod, exhibits a prowess for composition throughout this tape; the tracks seem structured for optimal impact on the listener. Many of the tracks could be regarded as ambient/dark ambient, yet there are infinitesimal manifestations of Krautrock and American Primitivism in some of the tracks; more so, the eerie cinematic feel produces evocative moments - a reason that this tape loops at the house. Ōgon Batto is the moniker of Bent Von Bent, co-curator of Hare Akedod. Along with David Edren - Hare Akedod/DSR Lines - they create limited edition electro-acoustic cassettes. I highly recommend the back catalog, especially Raju Arara. In the second track, the guitar is more pronounced compared to other tracks. Cascading piano notes produce waves of eerie chill. Meanwhile, reverb-soaked chords spread through the atmosphere with ease - a lovely juxtaposition. Menacing vibrations continue to circulate in the following track, "Jacht Op Allen." Contemplative piano ruminates in the stale air next to majestic zither. Ritualistic percussion increases the tension, which gives the track another dimension; poignant waves fade in while mutant synth manifests on the periphery. The flipside contains beautiful instances of minimalism. Enigmatic tones move furtively in the beginning of the first track on side B. The track slowly comes into being. Shortly, waves of synth pulsate, accelerate and descend all around the listener. Throbbing drums jut up through the sheen of gauzy electronics toward the end. The second track, which features field recordings, is lovely and more minimal than the others. The penultimate track is fantastic. Exhibiting celestial arpeggios and sustained tones that have an organ-like quality, it's the coalescence of something one might hear from Miasmah and Lunar Miasma.

Produced in a limited edition of 80 tapes on transparent tapes with white print, the beautiful artwork was also produced by Bent Von Bent. Ōgon Batto's meticulous work has produced one of my favorite releases of 2014. Hare Akedod tapes don't hang around for long. Before they are OOP, secure a copy directly from Hare Akedod. Tomentosa should receive copies in the near future.

peace and love, friends :)

Inner Travels - First Light (TST010)

lightness of being - peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

From moments of lucid awareness under brilliant light that flickers to celestial voyages in an azure sky, First Light has proved to be my favorite Twin Springs release. On this cassette, Inner Travels utilizes space and texture adroitly to beget instances of joy, focus and contemplation. Brilliant sparks of life kindle in cupped, trembling hands. It makes one want to hold that energy with eyes shut and to be thankful that you realized something beautiful, even for a brief moment. First Light, much like the most alluring things in life, has a transitory quality.

 Delicate, gauzy rays of sunlight traverse the soul from the time one presses play. Incipient light billows gently. At a distance, the vibrations are misty. Yet, as they approach, the radiance envelops the listener. The glare is ephemeral - a beautiful apparition. Majestic pulsations and voluminous waves saturate the receptors. Reverberations of sonic ellipses encompass the heart in kindness. Luminosity twinkles at the periphery; gradually, it swells among the verdant earth. Sequences of synth swirl benevolently, much like the tenderness heard from one of my musical heroes, Joe Zawinul. The various placid textures that are present in the tracks culminate in crystalline waves. Inner seeking tones burrow deep to reveal the eternal flame. The flipside -the Sky side - is suffused with reverie. Inside the slipstream, cavernous tones combine with evanescent manifestations. Bleary synth bubbles until evaporating. There's a lovely, removed feeling in some of the tracks on the Sky side. Observations from afar approach slowly, glimmer in the inner eye and then ascend into the clouds. Suffering vanishes as variegated energy glitters and expands throughout the soul.    

First Light is the mellifluous bird that beckons at my window in the morning; it infuses my home with tranquility. If you want to touch someones life with music, then I would give them this tape. Created primarily with a PSS-380, First Light is limited to 50 copies. With only a few remaining, secure your copy directly from Twin Springs, one of my favorite tape labels.        

peace and love, friends :)

Imperial Topaz - Full of Grace (TQ56)

Shining more brightly than ever! peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Full of Grace is the 'nova' release for New York-based synth duo, Imperial Topaz. Featuring Caroline Teagle and Zachary Zierden, Imperial Topaz' adept use of electronics coupled with varied rhythms - and Teagle's moving, nuanced voice- result in evocative, poignant tracks. With two previous releases - one of which is a split with Motion Sickness of Time Travel - Full of Grace ascends from the strides made on the MSOTT split and emits shimmering golden, yellow rays of energy. Teagle's affecting voice and breathy vocals, which featured prominently on the split, suffuse the atmosphere. Bleary synth and crystalline vibrations are provided more room to develop on the vinyl release. Icey, melancholic melodies comprised of variegated textures and enervated beats establish a dreamy, somewhat torpid, tempo for the majority of both sides. Yet, Teagle's beautiful vocals melt the icicles, imbuing the tracks with a degree of warmth.

The ominously titled intro, "Death Drift", is surprisingly idyllic - one of the most peaceful tracks on the album. Shimmering synth floats gently as droplets of electricity twinkle. A stream of buoyant energy occasionally overcomes everything, only to subsequently subside. Drum machines pulsate and throb next to Teagle's light and airy voice in the following track, "Juarez". Mysterious, contemplative synth exudes dark waves. "Moonlit Mind" sprinkles the kosmische crystals over crisp rhythms. Teagle's breathy vocals are joined by electric buzz and textures that one might associate with an organ. I love the energy of the final track on side A, "White Car". Infectious, driving rhythms abut Teagle's mellifluous voice. As it careens in one instance, her voice gently rises and falls in the next. Deliberate tones seem to echo for infinity and lightly touch the listener's consciousness. The title track starts off the flipside. Tranquil passages of synth float easily, while deep beats and stuttering drum machines provide the backdrop to Teagle's ethereal voice. Their use of texture is salient in the subsequent track, "Follow". Pace is integral to conveying the vibe in the next track, "The Soul Still Burns". Effervescent synth races through a labyrinth and is followed closely by bouncy tones. The synth and electronics dart furtively and bubble with excitement. Everything leads to the beautiful closer, "Wet Sand". Pensive, voluminous tones burst; their particles dissipating as they descend from the sky. Bleary synth ruminates while Teagle's voice hovers and sprays like a fine mist.        

Tranquility's first vinyl release is excellent. If you enjoyed the two tracks on the split with MSOTT, then I highly recommend securing a copy. Pressed on sturdy black vinyl, Caroline Teagle's artwork aligns nicely with the mood and feel of the album. Full of Grace may be purchased directly from Tranquility Tapes.

peace and love, friends :)

Randall McClellan - The Healing Music of Rana (SA034)

the tape player is for special music. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

When I was hurting, a friend kindly bestowed on me these beautiful sounds. I would like to share that gift you. The gift arrived through the window in the form of radiant sunlight; channeled through the pulsating speakers, sacred drones with raga attributes and melodies hover until quietly acquiescing to another manifestation. Regarding the sound, it is powerful. When played at a high volume, the lovely energy reverberates throughout the body - healing waves. Randall McClellan is a founding member of the electronic music studio at The Eastman School of Music (1967). Over a period from 1966-1985, The Healing Music of Rana slowly came into being; the music is a result of McClellan's interest in North Indian vocal music, classical electronic music technique, and the study of esoteric mystical traditions. These improvisations were created with Moog Prodigy and Micromoog synthesizer - positioned to allow for simultaneous playing - among other instruments. For maximum pleasure, the tape aptly recommends modifying the bass, treble and loudness settings to your preference. McClellan's voice is simply majestic on these tapes. More so, when combined with drone and Moog the serene undulations bring the moment into focus.

This beautiful music exists on the highest of shelves. Previously issued individually, Randall McClellan has teamed with with Sun Ark to reissue all four of the cassettes in a limited edition box set. I take The Healing Music of Rana with me throughout the day. McClellan's drones infuse one with vitality and tranquility. Unequivocally, this is highly recommended. Released in an edition of 200, I purchased my copy from Fusetron.

peace and love, friends :)

   

Sugarm - Pure Racket (HAUSMO 15)

sweet as Sugarm. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

The speakers exude ominous hiss - a harbinger for sure. Within seconds, bursts of preternatural energy, static encrusted loops and discordant noise arrive. Arcs of luminous vibrations begin to undulate in the presence of aggressive percussive machinations. The introduction on side A, "Anti-Life Equation", primes the listener for an incredible listening experience. Sugarm's latest release on Hausu Mountain, Pure Racket, is more than an amalgam of various genres and styles; part noise, rock, ambient, kosmische, and psychedelia, trepidation will ooze from the speakers in one moment only to be replace by an influx of warm tones in the next. With Pure Racket in the cassette player, the bowl is literally runneth over. Just like Miles', McLaughlin, and the gang once said about their music: "call it anything." Sonic surprises are ubiquitous - maybe a route not anticipated or an element which one did not expect; the idyllic american primitive acoustic guitar that resonates among field recordings in "No Place, No Thing" is an example. Beyond the aforementioned, Pure Racket's two sides are discernibly different. 

Sugarm does not provide the listener a minute to acquiesce, as we jettison the strident feedback and vacillating noise of the the first track, arriving in a misty environs of the "Second Pig". Hazy, ritualistic vibrations, characteristic of early Popol Vuh, are jolted by writhing static textures - gorgeous juxtaposition. Urgency palpably hovers. It comes on dreamy, and then turns psychedelic. Decomposed tones fray as they meet the air. Finally, tension is released in the form of warped reverberations. "Casual Town" is my kind of place - no doubt a dispensary on the corner! Soporific drums mix with distorted waves of synth. Things turn even more surreal as the tempo increases. A welter of noise and static-laced samples are circumscribed by a beat that teeters uncontrollably- awesome track! "Police State (of Mind)" coats it with kief and caught me off guard with a combination of spacey and psychedelic noise. Lost in the City's - the penultimate track on side A - use of poignant synth and static noise that echos and frays at the periphery has a visceral, haunting effect. If you were on edge for side A, then the flipside should take care of your head -warm drone, field recordings, gorgeous melodies and more are present. Indica permeates the sinews that comprise these jams. Blurry tones twinkle amid noise of field recordings at the start of "Strange Rules". Shortly, the sky is illuminated with dreamy, yet effervescent, fireworks. As it descends a few levels, warm drone combines adeptly with synth that surges. Meandering warmth endows the atmosphere with serenity, and faint vocals swirl delicately among field recordings in "Hog Farm." Hypnotic synth billows in an opaque environment as indecipherable vocals ripple in the next to last track, " I Met Berserk." Sugarm brings it home in style with benevolent synth and lively low ends.

One only locates Pure Racket upon inquiring about the top shelf strains on offer. Sugarm's latest on Hausu Mountain is highly recommended. Often I spin this tape for hours at a time. Pro-dubbed and produced in a limited edition of 100 chrome cassettes with gray shells that feature purple imprints, Pure Racket may be purchased directly from Hausu Mountain. 

peace and love, friends :)

German Army - Tassili Plateau (FH043)

my wake 'n bake (no shake) jams - peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

For a while, Holland Village was untouchable, situated at the apex of my German Army (GeAr) column of tapes - until I heard the new one on Field Hymns. Crystal-covered Tassili Plateau, on Field Hymns, has a dank, otherworldly quality that hovers and permeates like the finest indica. A surreal mountainous area in the middle of the Sahara, Tassili n'Ajjer is renown for the rock art - 15,000 drawings and etchings currently identified to date - that suffuses the landscape. It is a magnificent record of human evolution and the movement of animals among other things; the images correspond nicely to the GeAr jams on offer. Evacuate your head space prior to liftoff because this LA duo lights up your head with an array of  intriguing textures on synthesizer and guitar; ebullient, evocative passages; ritualistic burners; adept tempo/mood variation that endows each jam with a singular character; and hash oil-coated drum machines.

GeAr is impressive from the time one presses play. "Border Marsh" features voluminous, sustained synth which modulates to yield a dreamy effect; however ominous, intractable vibrations descend shortly. The juxtaposition is beautiful - the unyielding, writhing metallic sound that abuts eastern imbued tones. Warmth pervades the atmosphere in "Mumbai" as pleasant, reverb-soaked melodies dance on the air. "Antiseptic" presents something different than the first two tracks; decayed drum machines caked in dust combine with ghastly synth and some of the cleanest vocals that I've heard in a GeAr recording. Walls of thick noise meander, while the synth twinkles in "Crooning Ignorance". The last track on side A, "Indian Beast" is one of my favorites. Slow moving, hazy beats churn as crystalline tones exude geometric designs. Embryonic droplets of beauty mature into sonorous streams. Pack it tight for the flip because once you press play a continuum of beats plummets which precipitates the release of fervent, dense tones into the atmosphere. Another outstanding track is "Bondage". There is a ritualistic nature to this track which imbues it with an intriguing, dubious character. Sustained synthesizer - voluminous and bleary - bends around the labyrinthine structures that partly comprise the lunar landscape in "The Sexual Cycle of Human Norms." The last track is about as heady as they come. "Goa" is the sound of the Beach Boys hotboxing in some futuristic ballroom.      
 
Tassili Plateau is one of a few recently released recordings from German Army. Released in an edition of 75 cassettes, Tassili Plateau is highly recommended and may be purchased directly from Field Hymns.

peace and love, friends :)