Kevin Greenspon / Former Selves - Betrayed by the Angels / Apropos of Golden Dreams (Bridgetown #100)

faithful vibrations abound!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Kindred spirits.  Sonic soul-mates.  On their second split release, Kevin Greenspon and Former Selves exhibit their illustrious talent in creating two sides of affecting, vibrant music.  Betrayed by the Angels / Apropos of Golden Dreams is a landmark release, number 100 in the Bridgetown catalog.  As a celebratory release, I cannot think of anything more apt than the manifestation of Kevin's resplendent and noisy paeans, comprised of guitar and synthesizer; and the penchant of Former Selves to harness the essence of the moment.

Kevin exhibits an acute sense of space and texture, populating the A side with radiant and resonant soundscapes.  His sonic forays are spacious and shimmer vividly.  Various shades of noise appear throughout, adding a lovely dimension.  As the needle drops, airy, twinkling notes appear and soon merge with layers of soothing sound.  From the speakers, layers of tranquil sound swirl; the changes are poignant.  In this section, the troughs are just as luminous as the peaks.  In the second track, nascent tones chime, periodically joined by bursts of guitar noise.  Shortly, sustained notes glisten in the early light of day.  Later, crackling and rumbling noise appears.  One thing I love about Kevin's music is the manner in which the elements of noise and ambient sound coexist.  Rather than acting as a veil, the heavy crackle and rumble are situated contiguously to the flowing sonorous streams.  The sequence of tracks 3, 4, and 5 is my favorite section of Kevin's side.  Thick layers resonate faithfully, filling the room with heavenly sound.  Vacillating passages and ethereal tones give way to a succession of chimes and soothing drone.  An excellent side of music!

A burgeoning drone with a benevolent character and solemn notes commence the Former Selves' side.  The aforementioned notes are captivating.  Later in the track, sustained notes drift pleasantly.  Poignant and tranquil, it's the manifestation of sonic light - an instance in which the lucidness of the music radiates outward to the awaiting listener.  Cascading notes and shifting ambient layers soon follow.  This music is honest to the human condition.  These peaceful, soothing tides can overcome the most prodigious bastion.  Well, we're only one-third through at this juncture, and the ascent continues.  In the second track, meandering waves of gentle sound abound.  Shortly, lightly echoing tones coalesce with a blissful sound.  Loops flutter in the easy aural breeze.  Before one is aware, the final track douses the atmosphere in peaceful energy.  Sustained tones resonate within the heart, delivered by minimal drone.  Soon, the elements of the track - cascading notes, bird calls, and a field recording of water - come together.  Personally, I love the part where the bird call appends to the crest of a glistening note.  Beyond the clouds, where the blue sky is vast, this angelic hymn to life enriches all who seek it.      
         
There is an abundance of love in my dwelling for this 12".  Produced in an edition of 550 - featuring the gorgeous artwork of Samuel Partal - Betrayed by the Angels / Apropos of Golden Dreams is packaged in an extra thick heavyweight jacket.  The 12" may be purchased directly from Bridgetown.  Also, please support Kevin Greenspon and Big Waves of Pretty as they trek around the US.  Not only is the show a wonderful experience, but the merch tables have some heavy duty goodies!
  

peace and love, friends :)

Former Selves - Golden Dreams from former selves on Vimeo.

Parallives - Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit (ExoTape014)

Sweet sativa!  Soothing and hypnotic top shelf vibes from Lace Bows and Former Selves.  Friends, along with this wonderful tape, the most important thing that I can express is to keep Humboldt Relief in your heart and thoughts during these tough times.  Peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief - you are always in my heart and thoughts :)           

A collaboration as strong as Lace Bows and Former Selves does not emerge often.  Moreover, it is even less likely that the sonic results of a collaboration illuminate the best attributes of each artist in a manner that creates something singular.  Yet, this tape accomplishes the feat of bringing together two creative and talented musicians.  Lace Bows is a wonderful manipulator of sound, creating evocative sound collages which exist under a layer of haze.  The lovely paeans on Bows of Summer, engulfed in dense sonic bliss, resonate warmly.  It's one of the best tapes around, and a review is forthcoming.  There are few artists that operate in the realm in which Former Selves resides.  Calico Sunset is one of the most beautiful tapes released this year.  Therefore, the synergy sounds fantastic - hazy loops, soothing drones, solemn notes and moments of elation.  Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit, from Parallives on Exo Tapes, is hopefully the first of many tapes from this talented duo!

A nascent drone emerges from sonic flashes.  Passages of ethereal sound pervade the head with a sense of immediacy; tape hiss and loops are in the background. Subsequent to a section of opaque transmissions, the track proceeds to some of the most mellifluous stuff of the year.  Pastoral drones and sun imbued tones glisten in the morning light.  The corresponding energy from the beginning manifests once again, bringing awareness into the enveloping light of day.  On the flipside, a loop abuts an inchoate drone, radiant even at a distance.  An edifying drone resonates vividly.  Slowly, a section of emotionally resonant notes protrude lightly among samples and loops.  As the track appears to crest in a sea of samples and loops, there is a subtle shift to sounds of cascading water and copious layers of peaceful sound.  Shortly, the myriad sources of sound coalesce into a hazy sonic being that orbits the head - stunning!

With artwork by Whatever™, Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit is limited to 50 tapes.  Sold out at the source, secure one of the last remaining copies at Tomentosa.
      

peace and love, friends :)

Former Selves - Calico Sunset (sicsic 053)

Former Selves + Pure Kush = the dream team.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

 Dr. Gonzo once presciently averred that the tape recorder is for special music - a head full of LSD sure leads to some profound perceptions!  He is correct, and we are fortunate to span time with some wonderful artists and labels that generally release their music on cassette.  Over the last two years of writing for this site, I have encountered a few releases that make me recall the reason I listen to music.  Usually, those tapes are highly experiential.  Along with being well-composed, they augment life.  They represent sounds that fuse with the soul.  Often the radiating energy moves so proximate; a force that exhibits an enveloping aura.         When i listen to Calico Sunset by Former Selves on Sicsic, the ubiquity possessed by the placid sounds can permeate the roughest exteriors.  Currently, there are some wonderful artists creating lovely ambient and new age sounds.  Among those are the Iasos tape on Rotifer; Original Flowering Earth jams on Goldtimers and Planted; the JD Emmanuel 2xlp on Aguirre and the Motion Sickness of Time Travel tape from the recent batch of Sicsic.  Calico Sunset shimmers just as brightly as the aforementioned, as Former Selves disseminate dank crystals profusely via patient drones and slowly unfolding soundscapes.

Calico Sunset is a continuous ode to life.  The masterful 'Stillness' commences the tape.  Analogous to the sweet floral scent of the nascent summer, layers of tranquility drift through the flowering trees.  The soft, enveloping warmth illuminated by the splintered sunlight.  Pulsing serenity and gentle swells of ambient sound caress the head.  Contemplative notes echo the lightness of the moment.  The end is lovely with meandering tones that move soporifically within the drone.  Soothing tones chime and twinkle, acting as a bridge between the first and second track, 'Inside and Around'.  The second track, at the beginning, is centered on ringing sounds, breaking waves and external transmissions.  As the track matures, the listener is delivered into an oasis of august light composed of contemplative, elongated tones that sit pleasantly in the fore of consciousness.  Soothing tones modulate and flower from the drone, glistening in the atmosphere.  Toward the end, layers of enlightened sound manifest.  The last track on side A, 'Through Time', succeeds in combining beautiful piano and synth.  The piano exudes delicate sounds and intricate patterns.  Peaceful currents of ambient sound gradually move to the fore, while the piano, barely perceptible, moves to the background.  The flip kicks off with a real treat - the exquisite voice of Lynn Fister!  Side B begins with 'Kindred Spirit'.  As gentle and warm as the breath of a loved one, the lovely sounds embroider on to the skin as the constituent sections of the track come into being.  Warm, reverberating tones move in and out.  The are complimented by an uplifting drone and harmonious keys that coalesce nicely with Lynn's angelic voice.  On 'Parallels', burgeoning synth slowly moves into the zone.  Upon reaching the core, it radiates serenity as a meandering drone combines with light and airy tones.  Tones are inflected and float on the contours of the track.  The title track is the last stop, as Lynn's voice hovers and swells over voluminous, gentle passages of synth and piano.

 These are the sounds to cultivate loving kindness and awareness.  Once the listener presses play, they are immediately ensconced in serenity.  Released in a limited edition of 85 tapes, and accompanied by the beautiful designs of Lynn Fister, Calico Sunset will find a cozy spot on my end of year list.  Though it is sold out at the source, secure your copy at Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)