Essential UK experimental composer Richard Skelton returns to Phantom Limb for new album selenodesy, interweaving his newfound love of electronics and synthesis with mastery of gritty organic texture.
Skelton’s music has always been rooted in landscape, in the loam and grit of the earth: from his 2009 Pennine Moors-inspired modern classic Landings to his more recent Moraine Sequence of geological excavations, his work has been bound inexorably with the stark and untended wilderness of northern landscapes. With this new album, however, Skelton shifts his gaze skyward — in part the result of a move in 2017 to the countryside near the Kielder Observatory, and to a so-called ‘dark sky’ region of the UK. In this remote landscape, light pollution is minimal, allowing the austere majesty of the night sky to be seen with greater clarity.
The resulting album, selenodesy, reveals a new, reverberant spaciousness to Skelton’s use of electronics. It marries the twin worlds of his previous Phantom Limb release - 2020’s These Charms May Be Sung Over A Wound, and its abandoned-factory threnody - with the landscape-revering arcana of his earlier work, which saw him bury instruments in the soil to return months later to recover and record with them, newly imbued with the land they occupied. selenodesy was prefigured by a period of insomnia and the relief found
in stargazing, during which Skelton tried to transcribe his hypnagogic visions: “much of this music came to me in the early hours, in that nowhere state between dreaming and waking. I’d look out the window and the night sky would be swirling with stars. Mars or Venus would be hovering in the corner of the room. I’d lie there and watch the Aurora Borealis dance across the ceiling.”
In selenodesy, we find the lingering, distorted sine waves of album opener “Albedo” that thrum and fizz with an icy, foreboding moonlight, rays of subtle movement that illuminate and darken alternately. Next follows lead single “The Plot of Lunar Phases”, whose passive shrieks echo about a cold, yawning space, reaching an ecstatic crescendo of hissing sonics and swirling celestial drone. Its dynamic range acts like the light of a lunar passage, from utmost darkness to radiant luminosity. Elsewhere, the pulsing, precessional bass of “Faint Ray Systems” gradually opens to reveal mournful, elegiac synthesis that reaches high into the night sky with an unearthly beauty. It is as if, during those long months of lockdown in the Scottish countryside, Skelton tapped into a series of sidereal electromagnetic transmissions, and transposed them into musical form.
quête:series
Since relocating to Brazil some years back, Needs Music co-founder Lars Bartkuhn has returned to his long-held love of musical improvisation. Although it’s a product of his jazz roots and classical training, the German producer has constantly found new ways to apply it to his work in the sphere of electronic music.
‘Dystopia’, his first solo album for almost nine years, was born out of two interlinked ideas: a desire to create improvised music without the aid of computer sequencers or an electronic drum set, and a deeply held love of storytelling through sound. Bartkuhn set to work improvising with modular synthesizers, acoustic instruments and hand percussion, later adding light-touch overdubs to a handful of pieces. When he listened back to the recordings, an aural narrative emerged, and you’ll hear it if you listen to the album from start to finish, as is intended.
As you’d expect from a musician and composer of Bartkuhn’s undoubted ability, ‘Dystopia’ is a stunning album – an undulating, expansive ambient journey packed with emotional resonance. While Bartkuhn naturally sees it as a logical progression of his previous ambient-leaning work with Kabuki as The First Minute of a New Day (and particularly their self-titled 2020 album Séance Centre), ‘Dystopia’ also features subtle nods to many of his long-held musical loves, including John Hassell’s ‘fourth world’ recordings, the impossible-to-pigeonhole 1970s catalogue of deep jazz imprint ECM, and the far-sighted American minimalism of Terry Riley and Steve Reich.
The album’s emotional depth is evident early on, with the slow-burn title track – all bubbling electronics, billowing chords, clarinet-style notes and gently strummed guitars offering the most melancholic and bittersweet of openings. The becalmed ‘A Drop Of Water In The Ocean’ follows, with discordant aural textures and hand percussion mimicking the rolling ocean, before ‘Largo (Calm Before The Storm)’ hints at unsettling times ahead.
‘Water and Warm Air’, the only track on the album whose starting point was not Bartkuhn’s cherished modular set-up, bleeps and bubbles across the sound space, adding a starry and otherworldly slant to proceedings, while ‘Disembodied Journey (Parts 1, 2 and 3)’ is a sublime, slowly unfurling journey in three movements – all Tangerine Dream style synthesizer motifs, Pat Metheny-esque guitars and jazz-fusion instrumentation.
So the album continues, with the poignant warmth and looped motifs of ‘Still Existing’ and the sparse, dubbed-out minimalism of ‘Do You Know How To Get Out?’ – a kind of 21st century jazz-fusionist’s take on sparse electronic hypnotism – giving wat to closing cut ‘Into The Waves’, a gentle combination of undulating electronic arpeggios and echoing instrumentation that offers a hopeful and undeniably picturesque conclusion.
Fittingly, the album cover features a painting by the late Dutch artist Franz Deckwitz (1934-94), whose images of alien landscapes were used by Phillips on a series of music concrete compilations. The image featured on the cover of ‘Dystopia’, depicting a deep blue ocean and shoreline, was painted by Deckwitz in Amsterdam in the late 1970s and inspired by a trip to the island of Ponza, Italy.
Matt Anniss
Vol. 1[12,40 €]
Loftsoul Recordings' new life continues in this renewed "Re-works" series. This time we have the well known label owner Masahiko Uchikawa aka "Loftsoul" who releases this 7" for the occasion of his 40-year career.
Downtempo rhythms and Japan vibes come together with a really energy-giving and slamming B side. All supported by the team with Keyco, H. Ikeuchi (Guitar) and Mbanja Ritchy aka B-Bandj.
Tropical Disco Records open their 2023 vinyl account in triumphant form with Volume 27 of their well loved 12” series. Yet again they have successfully delivered a four track paean to the boundless dance-floor power of jazz infused disco. It’s a sound which the label has very much made their own over the last half decade.
Opening proceedings is Scruscru, an artist whose immense rise to prominence has very much followed the same time-line as Tropical Disco. He is in glowing form here with vinyl opener ‘Phunk U Do’, a slinky hip-shaking 70’s funk-fuelled disco bomb. Expect this one to set dancefloors on fire across the summer with it’s swirling keys, James Brown-esque vocals and ferocious bassline.
Next up are Lance and Disco Strummer who keep the feel-good vibes topped up to full with ‘Hey Amigo’. An ever so cheerful Latin bomb, it packs in happy-go-lucky vocal loops with brass stabs aplenty alongside a shoulder shaking bassline which will keep those floors grooving from dusk till dawn. If you want to unleash uncontrollable joy in your DJ sets, look no further.
Over on the Flip Tropical Disco’s own Sartorial delivers a smokey sexy-as-hell vocal gem in the shape of ‘Fly’. Merging 70’s jazz licks with a powerhouse live bass, sublime sax solos a divine vocal and some serious scatt, this is a track that just exudes cool.
Closing out the EP in style is one of Mexico’s finest disco proponents, Monsieur Van Pratt. On ‘Journey’ he deploys a huge brass section and percussive breakdown to serious hip shakin’ effect. With guitar licks and synth stabs galore he has given this one both a ridiculously tight groove and bags of warmth. It’s a winning combination.
Tropical disco have yet again unleashed another exquisite 12” showcasing their unique sound. You can expect to see this one hitting the heights of the vinyl charts in quick smart fashion.
Support across Mi Soul & House FM.
Correcciones Calypso returns from a generous hiatus with the fourth edition of its acclaimed edit series, replete with four re-edits that veer from the subtle to the downright brazen. Thomass Jackson and INigo Vontier invite the French duo Youkounkoun to open proceedings with an insane early 80s edit full of big drums and exotic touches that's been blowing dancefloors all around the world for the past years - and definitely resides in the brazen category, despite a lot of work having gone into it. Olta Karawame make their debut on the series with a powerful, compact edit full of ballsy keyboard riffing and a military-sized kick drum that is guaranteed to have heads banging . To complete the release label bosses Thomass and INigo deliver edits of their own with their characteristic sound, giving this EP maximum a value for money factor and entertainment from start to finish.
Superjock Records presents Volume 13 in the ever evolving “NOLA Breaks” series! This time around, Los Angeles producer Dan Ubick partners up with Detroit native and longtime J Dilla and Madlib collaborator, Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw). Simpson spins a cautionary tale of how limited opportunity and having to hustle to make ends meet can have dire consequences on our communities. With a lush string arrangement and a funky backbone, Connie Price & The Keystones provide the perfect soundtrack to the subject at hand. “Everybody Pays” also features the sympathetic and haunting voice of Bay Area soul chanteuse Destani Wolf (The Pharcyde, Matisyahu, Night Owls) and emotional cello stylings of Breakestra and Funky Sole grand puba “Music Man” Miles Tackett. To top it off, Professor Shorthair lays down the perfect cuts to bring the message home. On the flip-side, Professor Shorthair provides an epic remix of “Everybody Pays” with a harder edge while maintaining the emotional feel of the original. - Volume 13 in the “NOLA Breaks” series is a must for Funk and Hip-Hop fans alike. Produced, recorded and mixed by Dan Ubick for DanUbe Productions at Lions Den Studios, Topanga, CA
LA-based event series and DIY music collective New Palm began back in 2017 and in the six years since has turned plenty of heads. It is now a core part of that local underground scene and so here it makes the natural next step of starting its own label. The imprint kicks off with a fresh EP by resident and label co-boss Charles Edward. He shows off his love for dubbed-out rollers with music that captures the essence of the New Palm parties - heady pads, smooth grooves and classy moods. Here's looking forward to many more.
hand-numbered 12" limited to 300 copies
It’s back to the heart of disco with the next release — our sixtieth! — in Most Excellent Unlimited’s long-running series of collaborations with master editor Danny Krivit, this installment on long-play 12-inch vinyl.
Our A-side features the work of Euro-disco maestro Alec Constandinos, whose symphonic suites and long form arrangements for stars like Cerrone and Don Ray made him an essential ingredient on many a glittering dancefloor in the late ’70s. Love & Kisses was one of his earliest disco projects, and one of his most popular. Their song (the “band” was a studio fabrication of Constandinos) “I Found Love” stretches across the entire side of an LP in its original form, but for discerning disc jockeys who leaned towards the funkier side of the spectrum, the percussion and bass breakdown is where it’s at. And if you are a long-time follower of Mr. K, it will come as no surprise that it is here that he focuses his metaphoric razor on the iconic breakdown, and we are left with a tough, driving track that will suit throwback sets as well as slot nicely into modern uptempo programming. As an added bonus, stick around to the very end when Krivit lets the song’s memorable acapella sample (“And I suppose you thought it was all over??”) finish it out.
It simply does not get much bigger than Donna Summer in the world of disco. Her song “Heaven Knows,” a duet with Brooklyn Dreams singer “Bean” Esposito, is one of the many gems in her catalog, and one that still evokes powerful reactions in heads, both old and new. Produced by the dream team of Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, the power and groove are propulsive and indisputable. Krivit begins with an extended "Mac Arthur Park" horn crescendo that teases the emotion before introducing a newly stripped down singalong verses and chorus of “Heaven Knows”. As the song progresses, a fabulous building effect until the end, a six-minute run through the clouds, enveloped in the ecstasy of that same horn crescendo. A sudden finale, fading into the ether, takes us out and leaves the listener (and DJ) with an open path of which musical road to take next, a master’s touch from an editor who excels at his craft.
DJ Seduction's debut release marks the start of an Impact Records Remastered Series. Both "Hardcore Heaven" and the flip side "You & Me" were essential dancefloor pleasers upon release, the total sales hitting 89000 after reissue on ffrr (London Records).
Sourced from Digital Original Masters we have carefully restored and remastered this classic release while retaining all the character of the original. Remastering is by Bob Macc @ Subvert Central Mastering. You can be assured the tracks sound fantastic but do not suffer from the Loudness Wars while still holding their own when mixed with modern productions.
- A1: B.t. Express - Express
- A2: Silver Convention - Fly, Robin, Fly
- A3: Instant Funk - I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl)
- A4: The Soul Searchers - Ashley's Roachclip
- A5: All The People Feat. Robert Moore - Cramp Your Style
- B1: Taana Gardner - Heartbeat
- B2: Clarence Reid - Living Together Is Keeping Us Apart
- B3: The South Side Movement - I've Been Watching You
- B4: Detroit Emeralds - Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)
- B5: Johnny Guitar Watson - Superman Lover
Sampled Funk : all the pearls of the Groove, sampled by the greatest hip-hop and R&B DJs and producers. From the first block parties of the 1970s to the digital revolution, the organic rhythms of the funk, disco, and soul music craftsmen have provided the DNA for countless rap classics. The new volume of the Give Me The Funk series explores the groove treasures sampled by hip-hop and R&B"s greatest DJs, producers, and other " creative diggers ". Cramp your style, here come the hotsteppers! From Johnny Guitar Watson to Instant Funk to B.T. Express and Clarence Reid, Sampled Funk goes back to the source of must-have tracks from Eric B & Rakim, Kanye West, Beastie Boys, De La Soul, Cypress Hill, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and many more.
- A1: Boat
- A2: Salt Water
- A3: Eyes Closed
- A4: Life Goes On
- A5: Dusty
- A6: End Of Youth
- A7: Colourblind
- B1: Curtains
- B2: Borderline
- B3: Spark
- B4: Vega
- B5: Sycamore
- B6: No Strings
- B7: The Hills Of Aberfeldy
White Vinyl[36,93 €]
Ed Sheeran is set to release his new album ‘-‘ (Subtract) - the last in his decade-spanning mathematical album era - on 5 May 2023 through Asylum/Atlantic on vinyl, cassette and CD. An album that revisits Ed’s singer/songwriter roots, and one that was written against a backdrop of personal grief and hope, ‘-’ (Subtract) presents one of the biggest stars on the planet at his most vulnerable and honest.
In Ed’s own words - “I had been working on Subtract for a decade, trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album, writing and recording hundreds of songs with a clear vision of what I thought it should be. Then at the start of 2022, a series of events changed my life, my mental health, and ultimately the way I viewed music and art.
Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. And in just over a week, I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.
Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety.
I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.
As an artist I didn’t feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didn’t accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life. This album is purely that. It’s opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time I’m not trying to craft an album people will like, I’m merely putting something out that’s honest and true to where I am in my adult life.
This is last February’s diary entry and my way of making sense of it. This is Subtract.”
Since he first learnt ‘Layla’ by Eric Clapton on guitar at the age of 12-years-old, Sheeran’s love of the singer/songwriter began. Growing up with the likes of Damian Rice, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan playing on repeat in his parents’ house – artists that his dad, John, introduced him to – ‘-‘was always on Ed’s horizon. Yet as the songs and writing process took on a whole new meaning and direction after a series of hard-hitting events impacted Ed’s world in 2022, one thing that remained untouched was his strong desire to make a record anchored in his love of singer/songwriter compositions. And now, as he gears-up for the release of his most soul-baring work to date, ‘-‘ serves as a timely reminder for why Sheeran remains one of the most gifted lyricists of his generation; an artist who breaks down his own experiences for fans to seek comfort and belonging.
‘-‘ is the result of Sheeran pushing the boundaries of his songcraft, as he delivers the most profound songwriting of his career. Teaming-up with Aaron Dessner (The National) on writing and production after the pair joined forces following an introduction from mutual friend Taylor Swift, Ed and Aaron began crafting the album in February last year. Writing over 30 songs during their month-long studio stint, the album’s fourteen tracks are seamlessly tied together by exquisite production from paired back, folk-leaning textures to bolder, full-band/orchestral arrangements.
Ed Sheeran burst onto the UK music scene in 2011 with his debut album ‘+’. Rapidly establishing himself as a history-making artist, he followed with ‘x’, ‘÷’, ‘No.6 Collaborations Project’ and ‘=’ - a catalogue that has seen Sheeran become one of the world’s biggest musical success stories of the 21st century.
Ed Sheeran is set to release his new album ‘-‘ (Subtract) - the last in his decade-spanning mathematical album era - on 5 May 2023 through Asylum/Atlantic on vinyl, cassette and CD. An album that revisits Ed’s singer/songwriter roots, and one that was written against a backdrop of personal grief and hope, ‘-’ (Subtract) presents one of the biggest stars on the planet at his most vulnerable and honest.
In Ed’s own words - “I had been working on Subtract for a decade, trying to sculpt the perfect acoustic album, writing and recording hundreds of songs with a clear vision of what I thought it should be. Then at the start of 2022, a series of events changed my life, my mental health, and ultimately the way I viewed music and art.
Writing songs is my therapy. It helps me make sense of my feelings. I wrote without thought of what the songs would be, I just wrote whatever tumbled out. And in just over a week, I replaced a decade’s worth of work with my deepest darkest thoughts.
Within the space of a month, my pregnant wife got told she had a tumour, with no route to treatment until after the birth. My best friend Jamal, a brother to me, died suddenly and I found myself standing in court defending my integrity and career as a songwriter. I was spiralling through fear, depression and anxiety.
I felt like I was drowning, head below the surface, looking up but not being able to break through for air.
As an artist I didn’t feel like I could credibly put a body of work into the world that didn’t accurately represent where I am and how I need to express myself at this point in my life. This album is purely that. It’s opening the trapdoor into my soul. For the first time I’m not trying to craft an album people will like, I’m merely putting something out that’s honest and true to where I am in my adult life.
This is last February’s diary entry and my way of making sense of it. This is Subtract.”
Since he first learnt ‘Layla’ by Eric Clapton on guitar at the age of 12-years-old, Sheeran’s love of the singer/songwriter began. Growing up with the likes of Damian Rice, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan playing on repeat in his parents’ house – artists that his dad, John, introduced him to – ‘-‘was always on Ed’s horizon. Yet as the songs and writing process took on a whole new meaning and direction after a series of hard-hitting events impacted Ed’s world in 2022, one thing that remained untouched was his strong desire to make a record anchored in his love of singer/songwriter compositions. And now, as he gears-up for the release of his most soul-baring work to date, ‘-‘ serves as a timely reminder for why Sheeran remains one of the most gifted lyricists of his generation; an artist who breaks down his own experiences for fans to seek comfort and belonging.
‘-‘ is the result of Sheeran pushing the boundaries of his songcraft, as he delivers the most profound songwriting of his career. Teaming-up with Aaron Dessner (The National) on writing and production after the pair joined forces following an introduction from mutual friend Taylor Swift, Ed and Aaron began crafting the album in February last year. Writing over 30 songs during their month-long studio stint, the album’s fourteen tracks are seamlessly tied together by exquisite production from paired back, folk-leaning textures to bolder, full-band/orchestral arrangements.
Ed Sheeran burst onto the UK music scene in 2011 with his debut album ‘+’. Rapidly establishing himself as a history-making artist, he followed with ‘x’, ‘÷’, ‘No.6 Collaborations Project’ and ‘=’ - a catalogue that has seen Sheeran become one of the world’s biggest musical success stories of the 21st century.
To celebrate Wes Montgomery’s centennial on March 6, Verve and UMe are releasing an Acoustic Sounds edition of Smokin’ At The Half Note –essential listening for anyone who wants to hear why Wes’ live shows were considered the pinnacle of his brilliant and incredibly influential guitar playing. He never played with more drive and confidence than he does here, supported every step of the way by a genuinely smokin' Wynton Kelly.
Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
"but as the centuries passed, the constellations drifted slowly eastwards"
Mike Harding, Mark Van Hoen and invited guests - …a hauntingly strange and mysterious immersion into a crackling entropy of phantom radio transmissions, squalls of static, choruses of insects, and creepily digitized voices.
drøne have released 3 albums on pomperipossa records and "the long song" is therefore volume 4 in the series... (drøne also self-released "mappa mundi" on their own label on compact disc in 2017.)
choir voices - galya bisengalieva, bana haffar, ipek gorgun, alex hoàng,
bethan kellough, anna von hausswolff & jana winderen
AsOne² introduces the addition of Catherine Siofra Prendergast to the As One line-up after a series of successful live shows together with Kirk Degiorgio. The live duo entered the studio to focus on adding a melodic sensibility to the harmonic structure of the existing AsOne sound. The resulting album once again finds it perfect home with the Belgian record label De:tuned.
Following on the heels of the teaser EP featuring the duo's acclaimed 'Descent Module' - AsOne² is a blend of vintage, warm analog gooeyness and pristine post-modern production techniques. Prendergast's melodic additions veers the AsOne sound towards a more accessible arena without compromising on the core AsOne sonic signature. Yearning chords, sparkling lead lines, bubbling funk basslines and ethereal ambient washes merge to form a coherent whole in this new advance in the development of AsOne - now in its 30th year.
Kevin Foakes (Openmind, DJ Food, Ninja Tune) created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis and pressed on 180 gr vinyl. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!
AsOne² introduces the addition of Catherine Siofra Prendergast to the As One line-up after a series of successful live shows together with Kirk Degiorgio. The live duo entered the studio to focus on adding a melodic sensibility to the harmonic structure of the existing AsOne sound. The resulting album once again finds it perfect home with the Belgian record label De:tuned.
Following on the heels of the teaser EP featuring the duo's acclaimed 'Descent Module' - AsOne² is a blend of vintage, warm analog gooeyness and pristine post-modern production techniques. Prendergast's melodic additions veers the AsOne sound towards a more accessible arena without compromising on the core AsOne sonic signature. Yearning chords, sparkling lead lines, bubbling funk basslines and ethereal ambient washes merge to form a coherent whole in this new advance in the development of AsOne - now in its 30th year.
Kevin Foakes (Openmind, DJ Food, Ninja Tune) created all the graphic work. Mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis and pressed on 180 gr vinyl. A separate digital release will also be available at the usual digital shops. Stay tuned!
- A1: Third World - 1865 (96° In The Shade)
- A2: Peter Tosh - Johnny B. Goode
- A3: Althea & Donna - Uptown Ranking
- A4: Toots & The Maytals - 54-46 Was My Number
- A5: Inner Circle - Mary Mary
- A6: Wailing Souls - Feel The Spirit
- B1: Ini Kamoze - World-A-Music
- B2: John Holt - Police In Helicopter
- B3: Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come
- B4: Steel Pulse - Babylon Makes The Rules
- B5: Culture - The International Herb
- B6: Dennis Brown - Love Has Found Its Way
- C1: Eek-A-Mouse - Wa Do Dem
- C2: Black Uhuru - Sinsemilla
- C3: Aswad - Can’t Stand The Pressure
- C4: The Mighty Diamonds - Right Time
- C5: Pato Banton - Go Pato
- C6: Linton Kwesi Johnson - Inglan Is A Bitch
- D1: Gregory Isaacs - Night Nurse
- D2: The Abyssinians - Meditation
- D3: Max Romeo & The Upsetters - Chase The Devil
- D4: Buju Banton - Hills And Valleys
- D5: The Paragons - The Tide Is High
- D6: Yellowman - Zungguzungguguzungguzeng
Reggae Collected is compiled from the broad world of Jamaican artists, groups and its diaspora. This brand new compilation contains early reggae by Jimmy Cliff, classics from Third World, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, lovers-rock from Dennis Brown, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Gregory Isaacs, Yellowman and the #1 hit from Althea & Donna “Uptown Top Ranking” which was championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel.
The album Reggae Collected is part of the Collected compilation series, which is a collaboration between Universal Music and Music On Vinyl. The compilations bring together the biggest and best names of its genre, combined with forgotten hits and less discovered gems, giving the listener an experience of both nostalgia, and uncovering new musical grounds at the same time.
The 2LP Reggae Collected is available as a limited edition of 2000 individually numbered copies on yellow (LP1) and light green (LP2) coloured vinyl and includes an insert.
From the viscerally punishing and nerve wrecking, to the wistfully sublime, Kevin Drumm ‘s work often yield a ferocious intensity through the timbres of minute details. Now, throughout this series of archival works dating from 2000 to 2022, his mastery is once again on full display.
On »Battering Rams«, sinister forces interlope with sanguine glimmers of respite and contemplation, while recurring drones ceaselessly crescendo to near paralysing effect, only for the albums final moments to offer a lofty reprise of boundless oscillation, dispelling all the pent up tension into a sanguine state of bliss. Once again underpinning Drums’ genius of turning apparently trivial hums into elongated microtonal worlds that stay etched deeply in your conscious, often long after the works final resonances have already subsided.
BAG X COLLAPSING DRUMS is a collaboration between experimental producer Collapsing Drums (Charlie Behrens) and spoken word/electronic duo BAG (Jody DeSchutter and Dan Allison). Modular synth, spoken word, field recording, experimental play and abstract guitar are a few of the practices visited by the project.
Momentary Lapses was born of an improvisational outburst sewn into a back and forth process, the three diverse perspectives nurturing creation and dissection along the way. This album maps multiple landscapes and conditions as drawn by the trio in an exploratory document, providing a journey through textures and atmospheres, beats and spaces, construction and reassembly. During the 18 months of the album’s creation, a series of bereavements disrupted and informed BXCD’s journey.
DeSchutter’s dada-esque verse moves purposely forward, fragmented through synaesthetic habitats. Her words, woven into the electronic compositions of Behrens and Allison, touch on themes of re-interpretation, incongruity, and longing. Momentary Lapses celebrates all that is unknown, pluralistic, and paradoxical as proposed antidotes to a binary mode of knowing. Sonically bridging the gaps between postpunk, IDM and experimental, BAG X COLLAPSING DRUMS promises a fresh take on the possibilities of sonic abstraction.
Cassette tapes. Remember those? Those things with the dual spools and loads of wide brown plastic recording string that’d occasionally unravel and hang out of the shell, requiring a pencil and firm wrist to spin back into place? Yeah, well, once upon a time, old-school sound systems contained cassette decks for the express purpose of recording shows, and these “cassette” things were a standard part of every tour. Motörhead were certainly no exception, recording show after show. They contain gold, pure aural gold, and had for many years sat in storage. There were loads of them gathered, with the likes of Lyon, Liverpool, Hamburg and Chippenham (!!) scrawled in biro on the tiny labels alongside a date…and thus we are delighted to announce that this unique collection of live gems will now be heard by the world, via carefully digitized transfers, in this series titled The Löst Tapes. Volume four has been hand-picked by the increasingly deaf, but well-meaning Motörhead team, and sees the then quartet play a monstrous live set from the ‘No Remorse’ album tour, recorded at Sporthalle, Heilbronn, Germany on 29th December 1984. Side A Iron Fist Stay Clean Heart of Stone The Hammer Metropolis Side B Shoot You in the Back Jailbait Killed By Death Ace of Spades Side C Steal Your Face Nothing Up My Sleeve Road Crew Introduction (We Are) The Road Crew Bite the Bullet The Chase Is Better Than the Catch Side D No Class Motörhead Bomber Overkill




















