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 :)

Shingles - God First Planted A Garden (2:03)

tasty flowers from the 2:00 AM garden. peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

The vibes on God First Planted A Garden - released on reborn 2:00 AM Tapes - are engrossing. Jesse De Rosa's synth inspired project, Shingles, uses various instruments - and even a typewriter - to create a tense, chilling, and ambient atmosphere. His skill in composition leaves the listener on edge. Dark waves encroach and the deluge feels imminent. At times, it reflects the portentous ambience of early Type Records releases; a little Max Richter, too.

As the tape begins to roll, mutant sounds swirl and sparks of electricity illuminate the barren sky. Metallic key strokes join a synth that pulsates with intent. Hushed sequences of synth percolate on the periphery. Deliberate tones fray in the second track on side A. Shortly, soaring incandescent waves interweave as the listener careens in currents that vacillate uneasily. Rapid fire bass lines throb, sending highly charged currents through the head; all the while, the analog warmth of the MS-10 rises from opacity to greet the listener with icy streaks of blue synth that spiral in a foreboding manner. Austere noise crests as sinister vibrations heave and then abate. As the flip starts up, we rise with the sun. Some of the most gorgeous work occurs at the beginning of side B, which is somewhat of a departure from the previous side. De Rosa goes for gold with a combination of majestic synth and warm noise that churns with vitality - lovely! Charred riffs burn brightly and assorted noise smoke the listener out in the following track. Shortly following in the next track, ethereal synth provides warmth and a welter of sound orbits. "The Garden" pummels one with vibes that float on the precipice. "Further North's" pensive synth traverses volatile currents - quite beautiful. De Rosa tweaks your head once more with variegated notes that unravel.  

De Rosa always packs the dank tightly and takes your head on a sonic trip without peer. Unequivocally, God First Planted A Garden is one of the best tapes I have heard this year - that goes for the artwork, too. Additionally, 2:00 AM's stellar batch includes tapes from Autistic Argonauts and Vales. Sold out at the source, you owe it to your head to procure one of the last remaining copies at the top shelf 905 shop.

peace and love, friends :)

Xanthocephalus - sp. (TQ45)

  Morning Wood and sp. make good friends.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Xanthocephalus, the intensely resonant experimental project of Russ Alderson, hovers with the menacing ferocity of a sonic zeppelin at moments, disquiet creeping from the periphery and threatening to consume the listener.  In other instances, sparse soundscapes reverberate through the head.  Enthralling and hypnotic for one hour, Russ utilizes treated bass guitar to create considered compositions that adeptly combine drone, noise, field recordings and improvisation.  A careful listen will reveal a profound interest in textures and layers of sound, each with specific properties.  There are myriad instances on sp., released on Tranquility Tapes, of Russ's keen ability to integrate sparse sound; dense drones; and discordant noise and feedback that razes the listener's head.  Overall, we're talking about a tape with an incredible amount of sonic depth that is difficult to capture in words - something that must be experienced.

'The Pelican Continues' exhibits wonderful qualities of this artist.  The tape commences with sparse field recordings of bird calls and a variety of sounds that slowly permeate the listener.  This track features an intriguing progression.  After occasional bursts of feedback and scraped strings, around 10 minutes into the track, low end rumble abuts frenetic, vacillating chords.  The latter possesses the quality of sounding somewhat removed.   Energy pulses and captivates the listener as the track transitions into a atmosphere of static-laced noise that whirls in the presence of a barely perceptible drone.  The second track on side A furtively approaches the listener, shards of feedback begetting layers of dense noise that constantly reverberates among field recordings.  The intensity of the track shifts to ear-rattling feedback and enveloping noise.  Sustained, voluminous tones briefly appear, and, as the noise abates, an amalgamation of reverberations and oscillations move to the fore along with swirling currents.  Gorgeous drone, deep and resonant, radiates through the listener's body as the flipside comes into being.  It shifts, moving closer, then departs to the sonic abyss, only to return with mutant energy.  An inchoate, pulsating beam of energy juxtaposes the drone.  Blasts of static covered noise writhe uneasily in the muck.  Scraped strings grate and bird calls echo next to opaque tones that billow and eventually dissipate.  Toward the end of the track,  apprehension grips the listener as a static mass of noise eviscerates all in its path.  'Air Boat', the final track, beautifully juxtaposes a deluge of scraped strings to oscillating drone. The noise shifts and frays when a loop of metallic coated sound heaves into consciousness.  When the torrent abates, there is a lovely release of tension.

Pro-dubbed and featuring the artwork of Caroline Teagle, secure one of the last copies of sp. at Tomentosa.

peace and love, friends :)

XANTHOCEPHALUS - Airboat from Moduli TV on Vimeo.