Music from Netherlands

“Once some music dropped through my letter-box; let’s summon their sounds into our world now, and deliver their names as Roses or Stations. The picture they imagined was both clear and cryptic: the certainties of the 17th century holding tight the ugly beauty that we now see scattered around us. I loved these CDs by Jozef van Wissem, A Rose by any other Name and Stations of the Cross. And then I received a new album, A Priori, and I immediately played it and heard its stark and repetitive intens…

*Exquisite black and silver silk screen printed cover. Limited edition** Oh man, this match-up must be a dream come true for at least a handful of freaks, somewhere, us included! The tenth release on Jozef Van Wissem's Incunabulum imprint sees the label curator jamming with LAFMS legends, Smegma at the Pink House in Portland, 2010, infusing his 13-course swan neck baroque lute into their uncontainable free improvisations in eight parts. They appear to be entirely respectful of each others space,…

Stephen Vitiello is a sound and media artist. CD releases include “Bright and Dusty Things” (New Albion Records), “Listening to Donald Judd” (Sub Rosa) and “The Gorilla Variations”, with Molly Berg (12k). Vitiello’s sound installations have been presented internationally, including exhibitions at the Cartier Foundation, Paris, the Whitney Museum of American Art in NY and the High Line, also in NYC. Originally from NY, Stephen is now based in Richmond, VA.Rutger Zuydervelt records as Machinefabri…

Rutger and Stephen sort of accidentally met through e-mail. A simple note regarding an ordering question for a CD led to an enthusiastic e-mail conversation and climaxed in a musical collaboration. This all happened in a very short period, both musicians being very inspired by the concept of “exchange,” as a means to cross space and time -- Rutger living in the Netherlands and Stephen in Virginia. Most of the time, when (electronic) musicians work together it’s a matter of swapping digital files…

"Vinyl version of the 25th classic release from Dutch pioneers, The Ex. Absolutely essential."

October 1st 2009 marked the 25th anniversary of seminal Dutch experimental group Kapotte Muziek (Broken Music). This awesome box of 10 cassette collection featuring over 11 hours of Kapotte Muziek's recorded history. Professionally duplicated on high quality chrome tape, housed in custom branded wooden boxes with letterpress insert on handmade imported paper, & signed and assembled art slides numbered by Frans De Waard. Edition of 100 numbered copies.

The adventure of 35 of our favourite, very different  musicians in a bus on tour in France. It was the first time Getatchew Mekuria was in Europe, there is Zu from Italy, Silent Block from France, Hisako Horikawa, a danser from Japan, John Butcher (GB), The Jimmy trio (Ethiopia) with Han Bennink, Zea, Anne-James Chaton (F), The Evens (Ian Mackays new band) a living Ex jukebox, and much more. A film about far too long drives, amazing combinations and incredible musical adventures. Filmed by Emma …

On his third outing, Jozef Van Wissem, with his ten-course Renaissance lute (aka retrograde lute), employs not only his notion of using palindromes and backwards reading of music for the instrument, but also brings electronics and field recordings into the discussion. Van Wissem applies mirror images in compositions for solo lute. He inserts a microphone into the body of his lute, records the sounds inside (known as "wolftones"), and then electronically alters them by sampling, cutting, and past…

Latest in a series of releases from Dutch company Konkurrent where they give touring bands 2 days in their 24 trk studio to record 20-30 mins. of whatever they like! This feat. a collaboration between the guys from TORTOISE & the people from THE EX, the legendary Dutch anarcho punk band. 6 cuts that blend Tortoise's introspective subdued layers of sound w/ the Ex's dynamic, tense & confrontational punk rocking. An unlikely combo w/ interesting results!

Another installment of Konkurrent's fantastic series which invites bands to record while touring Holland, giving 2 days to record 20-30 min of whatever they want. In June 2001 SY played the Holland Festival. For their studio time they invited the Dutch ICP-jazzers HAN BEENICK, AB BEARS & WOLTER WIERBOS, plus LUC & TERRIE of THE legendary EX! In one day they recorded these delicate, abstract & elusive miniatures that fit in the jazz tradition rather than pop music, based on sounds, instant compos…

A striking collaboration took place between Andrea Belfi on drums and assorted small percussion and Rutger Zuydervelt on guitar and organ. Together they produce the 'pulses' and 'places' mentioned in the title. Organic yet partially improvised, it resembles a kind of sonic geography. The listener is taken away for a journey of mild drones, soft yet outspoken percussion. A strong release.

Limited copies back in stock. Last year's 'Drawn' from the amazing duo of Soccer Committee and Machinefabriek was a flickering beacon of hope in its understated beauty. A record which improved with age, the simple and unfussy folk songs were helped along by Rutger Zuydervelt's careful (and incredibly restrained) electronic production, giving them an individuality only bolstered by Mariska Baars' stunning voice. It was seemingly inevitable then that Rutger would get round to fielding the tracks o…

Limited copies back in stock. It's hard to believe that it's been almost a year since Rutger Zuydervelt helped nail our jaws to the floor with his exceptional album 'Dauw'. It used to be that there was a new Machinefabriek album almost every week (sometimes two or three) but since 'Dauw' it seems like Rutger's slowed down and withdrawn into a self-imposed silence . And that's no bad thing - 'Shuffle' is his first self-released record in some time and it shows in the near-obsessive quality of the…

Product, politics and package make this the most outstanding incinerating concept single ever. The Ex create the perfect stimulating collision of art, pop and politics to date, musically subverting and visually building a forum of thought.

Machinefabriek is the alias for Rutger Zuydervelt currently residing in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. 'dauw'is one of Zuydervelt's most subtle & quiet yet refined works. Mainly built around small but gorgeous melodies of piano and guitar playing and the crackling sound of dusty vinyl samples, these songs slowly build into intensive hymn-like angel choirs of sheer heavenly. Mastered by Guiseppe Ielasi with elegant artwork by Zuydervelt himself.