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 :)

Sleeper - From Beyond (SNT007)

Sending these lovely vibes to my good friends at Humboldt Relief.  Peace and Love to you :)

Weathered drones seep into one slowly, aided by brilliant sonic light.  From one soul to another, these heavily processed field recordings, found sounds and samples are something in which to lose oneself.  Sleeper is the project of Cooper Cult co-founder C.J. Parahi.  From Beyond, on Room40 imprint, A Guide to Saints, engulfs the listener in radiant haze and somnolent drones of various shade.  

The A side is outstanding.  Elegant, melodic loops turn lethargic, caught in a vise deep in the haze - lovely!  Shortly, an ethereal passage of sound - gentle and consuming - imbues the environment with tranquility.  August energy permeates the constellation of clouds, radiating from the speakers to the listener.  With each iteration, this side slowly mutates, exuding resonant uplifting and majestic vibrations into the listener's pathway.  Meanwhile, the flipside is something quite different.  C.J's skill is omnipresent again, though this time as passages of spectral energy inculcate the area with a sense of disquiet.  The juxtaposition of the more ethereal former side to the solemn character of the flip is pleasing to the ears.

From Beyond may be purchased either directly from the artist or label.  

peace and love, friends :)

       

DSR lines - Venndiagram (SK009)

cosmic synth relief radiating from the Death Star.  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

Venndiagram is a sonic spectacle that will dazzle the head - a tape full of zoners!  This is the type of music that can make toiling through the day worth it; because at night these sonic explorations glisten from elevated regions.  Just like the title, Venndiagram contains shimmering sonic objects that intersect, modulate, and dissociate - constantly forming new relationships.  In terms of tone, texture, and bringing ideas into the light there are few releases which rival the latest tape from DSR lines on Smeltkop.  DSR lines is the long-running project from Hare Akedod head, David Edren.

Right from the start, blissful layers of synth modulate and then billow; multifaceted sounds appear.  At the apex, they coalesce as a unit comprised of components, always shifting in the cosmic air - excellent track! Near the end, it drops a few levels, drifting lazily into the void.  Aural ellipses dance excitedly on the periphery of heaven, echoing with effervescent energy in the second track.  In the distance, formations of rich, vibrant color flare animatedly.  Side A finishes with a section of peaceful drift.  Tranquil azure waves undulate in the vibrant resonant light.  The flip provides the same entrancing trip.  The first track on side B captivates one immediately.  It contains mysterious, yet lucid streams of sonic energy.  Layers of synth vacillate and are coupled with mesmerizing rhythms.  The ritual-like vibes of the next track manifest as a tranquil drone radiates under a constellation of vibrant synth.        

Kudos to Smeltkop for releasing such a wonderful tape!  This is one of my favorite nugs in the bag - top shelf vibes!  Venndiagram is a tape to which I continually return.  The skill with which these tracks were composed make each listen a wonderful experience.  Which leads me to recommend giving this tape your undivided attention.  It works the other way, too; however, there is much beauty to be harvested from listening actively.  Venndiagram is extremely limited - 60 copies.  Red tapes with white print come in a clear case and are accompanied by a two color screen printed 3 panel J-card, designed by Mathieu Serruys.  The few remaining copies are available directly from Smeltkop.    

peace and love, friends :)

Michael Saunders - (Dust - Dye) Bluepoles001

tape explorations!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

On Dust - Dye, Michael Saunders guides the listener through a tape comprised of sonic anachronisms, minimal space drift, harsh noise, mystical vibrations, and tranquil sensations.  The first release on Blue Poles Recordings incorporates cut-up and spliced sounds that include, yet are not limited to, heavy noise, musique concrete and ambient sound.  Both sides are comprised of one track, each of which encapsulates a few sections  Each vignette is like an ellipse, the listener hops along through space in the shifting aural light.  Side A is more harsh compared to flipside.  Yet, I almost prefer side A for its ability to cover so much area in a brief period of time. 

 Grainy noise consumes the listener almost immediately upon pressing play.  Shortly, a shifting loop of cosmic, crystalline tones sits deep in the hiss.  From there, mechanical noise gives way to minimal drone and circulating sonic wind - lovely!  Strange vibrations abound as we drift through zones shrouded in wicked reverberations and ritual loops.  Before long, everything is devoured by annihilating noise, which descends a few levels prior to blasting off into space.  As one approaches the end - my favorite section - there is an awesome Wicker Man vibe running strong. - haunting loops.  The flip immediately launches one into another dimension.  As B commences, one is seized by glitch heavy hiss and solemn loops that are occasionally joined by a captivating, mournful voice.  Next, light drone flickers in the blustery sonic wind.  Shortly tranquil, torpid loops are interspersed with glitches and other noise -  a kind vibe exists in this section.  Subsequently, warm resonant sound slowly shifts, begetting new patterns.  Near the end, swirling resonance combines with subdued tones that billow.

This first release from Blue Poles is followed by a split between Michael Saunders and John Sandìa, one of my sonic gurus otherwise known as Pierrot Lunaire.  Dust - Dye may be purchased directly from Blue Poles.

peace and love, friends :)

    

Headboggle - Hillboggle (sicsic056)

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

Hillboggle commences the first part of a multifaceted trip.  A trip to where?  Once it was unfathomable, until I heard this sound.  These sonic regions are accessible to the unencumbered head, lucid in the kind light.  Maybe it's me, but I'm uprooted and transported to a bright star by a majestic conduit of electronics, piano, and field recordings among other instruments.  One of the many attractive facets of this tape is the quality of the compositions.  Utilizing copious instruments, Headboggle doesn't dally.  Rather, these are dynamic tracks whose varied energy is harnessed by an adept artist. And, wouldn't you know it?  this gem is released on Sicsic.  It has been a prolific year for one of my favorite labels.

It's obvious from liftoff that a heavenly force is leading us to otherworldly, metamorphosing regions. Descending keys quickly animate.  They move surreptitiously from channel to channel.  Doom-laden keys ripple among a vortex of electronics and tangential signals and shapes.  Headboggle uses space deftly.    Keys ring frigidly into the stillness of night, flanked by mutant forms and surging mysterious energy.  Encumbered by powerful noise, which eventually abates, the track enters a new phase.  I love that the piano occasionally moves to the fore.  In these instances, the electronics assume a magical quality, drifting in the time lag.  Cascading notes increase the pulse.  The electronics begin to surge with vigor. Shortly, clairvoyant keys are swallowed by aural energy that squirms, buzzes, and fissures. Later, piano and field recordings endow the A side with a lighthearted quality - quite lovely!  The end of A is a harbinger to the bliss of the flipside.  'Hill Boggle', the b-side track - and a collaboration - represents some of the best music that I have encountered this year.  The banjo and electronics possess awesome synergy.  As the track progresses, I very much enjoy the transition to dark, descending electronics and plucked hushed strings.  Minimal drone creates space for elegant piano and banjo.              

Over the next few weeks, I'm going to the jump for star to star in the Headboggle universe.  Next up is Buchla a la Mode.  Much like the trichome and honey coated medicine pictured above, Headboggle is supremely talented and meticulous - a singular artist.  Produced with love - home-dubbed -  and featuring the artwork of Johannes Schebler, Hillboggle is sold out at the source and pretty much unavailable elsewhere. Most likely, your best chance is to grab one from SOL Sound or purchase the digital version.

peace and love, friends :)

Various Artists - Duets II (TQ51)

experimental duo exchanges - two nugs of luv!  peace and love to my friends at Humboldt Relief :)

In these homely environs, we live for duos.  Whether they are of the sun-baked variety - MV & EE - or something in the experimental realm - Quiet Evenings - the releases provide an opportunity to experience facets of an artist not readily apparent from other projects.  Duets II, the subsequent release to the highly acclaimed Duets tape from last year, brings the good vibe from some of the most innovative duos in contemporary experimental music. With their focus on collaboration, Tranquility Tapes has once again bestowed a tape of heavy hitters.  Just a passing glance at the list of artists on the j-card should make one excited:  Dozens, Urkas, Nite Lite, and Coyote Image Revisted to new a few.  Therefore, not only is this tape comprised of duos - it presents a radiating spectrum within experimental music. Tabs Out posted an excellent article on the Duets II, which features the roster of artists and some words from Tranquility proprietor, Franklin Teagle - recommended reading.  Below are a few of my favorite tracks from the tape.   

The exciting ascent commences with Dozens, the guitar and synth combo of Francesco De Gallo and Ryan Connolly.  We blast off into a warm environment full of spacey, serene tones and trance-inducing rhythms.  One of my favorites on Duets II is from Cream Juice, the duo of Keith Rankin and Seth Graham.  Cream Juice emits a deluge of shapes and sounds which move at supersonic velocity.  The frenzied synths - not frenetic - are warm and vibrant.  After descending from such a great height, there's nothing quite like the minimal deep space vibes from Roped Off, the team of Mike Haley and Dave Doyen.  Once you reach their stratum, they blow glass in space from which a sonic hallucinogen tricks forth and penetrates each pore.  Ominous and consuming, this track contains some heavy visceral vibes.  Another family fave closes off side A.  Perspectives, the duo of Kyle Conklin and Josh Tippery - the latter recently released an excellent tape on Worn Habit with Mike Pouw - create music that seizes the listener via a combination of ambient waves and prescient, haunting drones.  Urkas, the duo of Russ Alderson and Mike Griffin, take the tape to another level with a mind-blowing track.  Surges of reverberating waves and resonant walls of sound are key elements in the beginning.  Once the components merge, all one can do is sit in the slipstream with the bird calls - awesome track!  The ultimate in electronic duo exchanges for me is the duo of Grant and Rachel Evans.  Regardless of the project, their experiments with texture and tone are unrivaled.  The track which they contribute manifests with the gentleness and calmness of the morning sun.  Gauzy loops billow lightly - a luminous eternal light shining steadfastly in the sonic breeze.                       

   

Featuring designs by Caroline Teagle and produced in an edition of 150 cassettes, Duets II may be purchased directly from Tranquility Tapes.

peace and love, friends :)

Tranquility Tapes presents DUETS II from Moduli TV on Vimeo.