Kroykah - Holy Turns Homely (HF01)

Guide Me Little Tape! Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)  

Moments such as this are a reason to smile. Over the last few years, there have been several instances of excellent music writers/experimental music sites extending their passion into the realm of the tape label. A few of those include my good friends Crawf (Planted Tapes - Tome To The Weather Machine, Decoder, TMT); Carl (Space Slave Editions - The Radiant Now); and Steve (Jehu and Chinaman - Decoder). Each of the aforementioned has blossomed due to their inherent passion for tapes and experimental music. Carl's label, Space Slave, is one of my favorites. Space Slave's last batch, cumulatively, is one of the best of the year.

Now, one of the most informative experimental music sites, Guide Me Little Tape, has created the in-house label, Horror Fiction Tapes. Instantly, one can perceive the love and dedication put into these tapes. This is the advent of something exciting for those who enjoy experimental cassettes. Horror Fiction releases are meticulously hand-crafted and feature innovative inserts in the form of pages from mass market novels - I couldn't help but read the engaging writing of David J. Skal while listening to Kroykah's latest release. However, the most impressive thing about Horror Fiction Tapes are the sonic vibrations on offer. The first two releases on Horror Fiction - tape bundles already sold out - involve sprawling guitar burners and experimental jams marked by disquiet and poignancy.
            
A few tracks in, the listener is consumed by poignant, fateful and foreboding vibrations that manifest in myriad ways. Sometimes downright chilling or morose; at other times the tape assumes the form of a sullen figure whose contour pulsates with the faint glow of hope. Holy Turns Homely, the initial release on Horror Fiction Tapes from Vancouver-based sound artist, Tanner Lobey (Kroykah), has a tremendous amount of sonic depth that moves ephemerally. For me, that's my favorite aspect of Holy Turns Homely: the manner in which the artist explores ideas using a vibrant sonic palette. No track sounds alike. As the tape commences, bleak reverberations fray as they ascend. Shortly, somewhat uplifting and hopeful layers modulate in the listener's head-space. In the next track, copious signals swell and flicker with their dimensions palpable in varying shades of light. Hold on though, because the sonic vacuum awaits in the next track. As we float towards the void, fateful palpitations become increasingly visceral - one of my favorite tracks. Hazy clouds comprised of blinding ambiance slowly expand, occasionally burrowing into opaque regions as side A comes to a close. Signals vacillate wildly as the flip begins. Shortly, melancholy vibrations abut percussive echos. Moving towards the latter part of side B, disquiet consumes the listener as a deluge of chimes and notes create a flurry of brisk currents. Hazy frequencies and noise - similar to a spinning radio dial - lead into the last track. The fourth track on side B is lovely. Haunting ambiance swirls in clouds of trembling apprehension that cloak the navy blue night sky. Ominous and mournful, it's icy figure arrives in the form of woozy, bleak waves.

Both HF01 and HF02 have me excited about the next batch! Holy Turns Homely is released in an edition of 35 hand-stamped copies. Professionally dubbed on chrome tapes, the inserts were duplicated on pages of the 1980's novel, Scavengers, by David J. Skal. One remaining copy is available directly from Horror Fiction.
  

peace and love, friends :)

Romannis Mötte - Kozmische (FEF14)

high as a kite with this cosmic nug!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

The music of Romannis Mötte is fuel for sonic explorers, leading to a gateway of heightened aural perceptions. Transitory expeditions enriched with slowly unfolding, spacious and vibrant soundscapes shimmer for the duration. A long burning light guides the listener through two sides of intricate kosmische zoners. Romannis Mötte is the project of Chad Davis (Hour of 13, U.S. Christmas). Kozmische - issued on Fort Evil Fruit and the only release of Romannis Mötte - is the culmination of recording from 2005-13. As suggested by the title, the project is influenced by kosmische luminaries such as Klaus Schulze, Manuel Göttsching and Tangerine Dream. The first two tracks on side A are contrasted in mood, but exhibit Davis' adept composition skills, along with the use of texture and space; something to which the attentive listener will become accustomed over the 50+ minute trip.

  Track 1 on side is among my favorites of 8 excellent tracks. Sonic energy burrows into the clouds, producing blurred radiance. Shortly, the room is blessed with brilliant, churning energy - riding the crest of a beautiful wave. Racy synth, resonant and edgy, is occasionally joined by solemn, sustained layers in the third track. The last track on side A is fascinating. Mysterious and ominous vibrations wallow, and one can hear shrieks in the distance. Each track is a slowly unfolding story. Subtle changes abound throughout. Yet, on this track there is a dynamism present that witnesses a lovely transition. Crystalline layers of sustained serenity gently soar among propulsive rhythms and effervescent tones. Nascent, sinister vibrations surround one as the flipside commences. As it plateaus somewhat, the energy whirs prior to the introduction of elegiac synth and spacey sounds. Lively, opaque synth lights a path through the stars in the second track on side B.  Kozmische ends brightly, as we ascend into the light among peaceful, soothing synth.        

Kozmische glistens like faithful Popeye! Straight from the top shelf to your unsuspecting head, Davis' composition skill is omnipresent throughout. Subtle changes introduce new elements into already compelling, slowly unfolding soundscapes. Therefore, I suggest listening attentively.  Kozmische is limited to 100 hand-numbered copies in clear purple cassette shells. Though it is sold out from Fort Evil Fruit and unavailable through No Magic Man, Kozmische is available from a discogs seller. This is merely an option for those interested. Also, Kozmische has been recently re-issued on lp, by Phantom Records.

peace and love, friends :)

Monte - Index (Dept04)

ear candy.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

A vestige of some spaced-out escapade reappearing in ambiguous form many years later, Index from Monte on Department Tapes is ear candy for those who enjoy blissful, cosmic and mysterious synth. Having the fidelity of a distant dream, Monte bestows two sides of blurry ambient vibrations and field recordings. I have been playing this tape everyday for the past week or so.  One reason is the mysterious nature, which is almost palpable after each listen. An engaging tape, no single element dominates the sound. Index has an intriguing sonic blend, ranging from deep blue mystical synth zoners/sci-fi passages to tranquil drones.

As side A begins there is a lovely juxtaposition of organic sound and multifaceted passages of warm, cloaked energy. Softly ascending synth and field recordings of water soon give way to a warm climate in which arpeggios fervently ride the contour of a radiant wave. Shortly, we jettison to the cosmos where mesmerizing oscillations orbit the head. Quickly moving arpeggios accelerate, becoming a brilliant stream of energy which quivers vigorously. Placid drone and relaxing loops end side A in style. Blurred loops animate among grainy bird calls as the flipside begins - lovely! The next track is completely unexpected. It has a blown out electronic Tracey Trance vibe. After that excellent departure, we land in nug heaven as soft ambient waves modulate uninhibitedly. Withdrawn rhythms hit the head like a lazy breeze.

Of all the tapes I purchased from the last Tomentosa update, Index is the one that I listen to most. There is not much known about Monte, and this cassette is extremely limited - 30 copies.  I'm very impressed with the sounds on the label and anticipating the next batch.  Mostly likely, the last few copies are available from Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)
    

Rafi Bookstaber - Still Way (Azriel 10)

intimate moments.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Omnipresent, patient meditations that are tethered to the breath permeate the head and heart with ease. Earthly tones echo in the vastness as the sun-stroked body revels in gently flowing streams of loving kindness. For me, the art of Rafi Bookstaber is among the most prominent in contemporary folk/psych music. Still Way, on Azriel, is analogous to watching heavenly light pass through a filament. The hues and textures comparable to Rafi's undulating tranquil stringed vibrations that caress the head. Over both sides sparse passages slowly unfold before refracting in copious directions, circumscribing the body in benevolent energy. A member of Death Chants, the Wolfpack, Mendocino, and Aswara, Rafi's solo recordings on Azriel and Humito are some of the most trichome-covered in the honest bag healing kit. When one has to temporarily retreat from the moment, these vibrations provide a convalescent setting. Still Way will spin on repeat in the decks of those who enjoy Sandy Bull, Willie Lane and other like-minded travelers.

A limited cassette for which little information is available, Still Way may be purchased from Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)

Tipow - Dust From Ancient Holographs (Worn Habit no. 11)

purps and Tipow =  haze for daze and transitory trips.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Dust From Ancient Holographs is the type of tape where the artwork and sonic matter align perfectly. Even before entering the zone of Tipow, the beautiful and mystical artwork engrossed me for a while - probably the best that I have encountered this year. Then, upon entering the portal, all one can sense is the next step. Shrouded in opaque, ambient transmissions from various sources, Dust From Ancient Holographs, on Worn Habit slowly expands throughout one's head. Comprised of degraded tape manipulations and lofi guitar excursions, this is the debut tape from the duo of Josh Tippery - Royallen, Reefer Tree, Perspectives and more - and label proprietor, Michael Pouw.  Given that I believe this tape to be highly experiential, a parsimonious review follows.

Dusty tones ripple in a snowstorm of oscillations and hiss, as side A begins.  Ambient sound from a bygone era shifts in the aural light. Ethereal, yet caught in a gauzy web. Tape moves turn eerie until being subsumed by a sea of hiss. Near the end of A, lightly echoing tones ripple to the boundary awareness - my favorite part on side A. There really is nothing quite like the beginning of the flipside. As side B move into motion, a tape sample of an overt, religious freak with an authoritative voice speaks passionately: "because you act on what you believe, you receive." As the subject's myopic voice degrades into blurred waves, one is placed under the spell of something that can be described as elegiac, ruminative, and mysterious. Grainy and torpid, these otherworldly emanations swell like clouds of indica haze.

Buy this tape, and one will receive the comprehensive Worn Habit experience. First, the foldout style inserts are among my favorite from any label. Each Worn Habit tape that I have purchased contains lovely artwork, which is just as much a part of the experience as the music. Produced in small editions with lots of love, this tape is already sold out at the source. Dust From Ancient Holographs may be purchased from Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)

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 :)     

Nathan McLaughlin - Karen Studies (ST13)

These beautiful deconstructions are devoted to Humboldt Relief.  Peace and love to my friends over there :)

Even before pressing play, I had a hunch that Karen Studies would be a tape to remember.  The emotional honesty expressed on the j-card encompasses one in a spectrum of energy that radiates from Nathan McLaughlin's banjo.  This latest release from Nathan, on Scissor Tail Editions, is a tape that concerns the folk musician, Karen Dalton.  More specifically, these are deconstructions of  'Katie Cruel', an old American folk song most prominently recorded by Karen Dalton.  Her version is renown for good reason. Within the last seven to ten years, White Magic released a record on Drag City that contained the track - another beautiful rendition. Karen Studies consists of two side-long tracks, each of which consists of three parts.

       Being such a moving, affecting track, Nathan's reworkings of 'Katie Cruel' proficiently exhibit the banjo's range.  Side A, Promises, commences with sustained, vibrant passages that inculcate the living space with a sense of anguish.  In the next section, lucid, poignant strings hover uneasily - plucks producing sorrow so visceral.  The first two parts of side A are ones to remember.  On the flipside, incipient drone slowly exudes energy.  Shortly, notes waffle with apprehension in the presence of creaking drones.      

Through these resonant reworkings, Nathan bestows a level of emotional intensity on the listener that is omnipresent.  It's the type of sonic energy that hangs uneasily, waffling in the still air, almost paralyzing - the listener hanging onto each manifestation of sound. For anybody that appreciates banjo, Karen Dalton, Stephen R. Smith, and more generally, sound and experimentation, then I recommend to move quickly before this one is OOP.  Produced in a limited edition of 100, Karen Studies may be purchased directly from Scissor Tail.

peace and love, friends :)