Tragedy & Geometry
On Tragedy & Geometry, Steve Hauschildt, one-third of Cleveland’s neo-kosmische revivalists Emeralds, crafts an hour’s worth of instrumental synthesizer vignettes. His pieces tend to evoke thoughts of bygone eras of technological pop culture — many of these tracks could be placed seamlessly into Blade Runner, or into some lost Playstation-era (you know, when Final Fantasy VII was cutting edge) videogame. Hauschildt doesn’t craft wholly formed songs so much as he works with detached, technologica…
24-24 Music
Though classically trained Arthur Russell's major contribution to the music world was in the dance genre. Despite the fact that his pioneering work in the late '70s and through the '80s was only quietly acknowledged at the time his long term impact on the genre is best described as formidable Russell's innovative; left field dance records were way ahead of what people were used to hearing at the time, in part due to his involvement New York's downtown avant-garde music scene. He scored se…
Hiss Vol.1
The works included in 'hiSS [Synesthesia Sampler] vol.1' have been produced using only analogue devices and processing tools - such as no input mixers, analogue synthesizers and custom-built or hacked/reconfigured instruments. Without the use of computers or digital devices, the 4 pieces recall an era from the 1950s-70s, when most of the electronic music makers around the world had limited resources and quite primitive equipment.
Wasser im Wind
LP version on 180 gram vinyl. Of all the Hans-Joachim Roedelius solo releases, this is the one which most closely resembles the work of Cluster. Wasser Im Wind sees Roedelius use a wide variety of musical and sonic ingredients hitherto associated with Cluster, almost as if he sought to erect a monument to the group. Right from the word "go," the familiar sound of the Drummer One rhythm machine can be discerned on the opening track, like a wood gnome crashing his way through the shire; then we he…
Progress Chance
In recent years, Boston has become an epicenter for some of the best experimental music emerging out of the USA. A native of Brazil, Ricardo Donoso has floated under the radar until recently, but has become an integral piece of the Boston puzzle. Not only is he half of the exquisite Perispirit and the brains behind the Semata label, but he's also a member of avant-metal outfit, Ehnare. Donoso's previous two solo efforts were both cassettes (on Digitalis and Razors & Medicine, respectively) bu…
Ten horned moses descended the mountain
Terrific triple CD set...Formerly of 1990's dark ambient pioneers Endvra. Three previous full lengths on U.K. label Cold Spring. Over three hours of music focusing on subtle changes that command attention and focus; imagine if Philip Glass composed a three hour drone piece... Triple disc set, each disc with its own artwork, held together by a custom band with genuine letterpress printing. Original landscape photos reflecting the mood of each disc by Chris Walton himself, and packaging design by …
Tapes 81-89
A sumptuous 5-CD box-set covering the entire discography of the cult Absolute Body Control band. Influenced by bands from the German and UK electronic scene, Dirk Ivens (synths & voice) formed the band early 1980, and was joined by Mark de Jonghe (synths) and Veerle de Schepper (backing vocals). After a first track on a compilation and a first 7" single (Is there an exit?), Mark leaves the band and Eric van Wonterghem (who was in fact a spectator at the first ABC concert), filled in the gap…
Lift
Pressed in an edition of 250 copies on 200 gram virgin clear vinyl. A new studio LP from this synth maverick. Primordial dance music comprised of pulsating analog rhythms and austere waves of mechanical tones. With beginnings in laptop electronics and his focus now turned toward analog synthesizers and modular manipulation, results vary from the extreme to the beautiful. Photography by Rachael Cassells."...the impression of countless banks of machinery being flicked into operation and the distin…
Split LP
Amazing!! There is a murder in the beach. Ducktails arrives in his spaceship escalade to investigate the scene. Dracula Lewis is the principal suspect. They become best friends and decide to work on a split LP. When a vampire kills a body is never found. At the same time beautiful and terrifying cavern drone sounds from Dracula Lewis, Psychedelic spiraling melodies and electronics beats from Ducktails. Both investigate the limits of the space time continuum. This is the new dawn of expansi…
Aika & Aine (Time and Matter). The Dawn of DIMI
MINDBLOWING! Last copies available...Come see the utopia of plastic architecture. Discover the challenging world of Finnish scientist artist and philosopher Erkki Kureniemmi inventor of DIMI (Digital Musical Instruments) series. Witness mysterious scientific experiments enjoy a symphony for matrix-printers and see a team of robots challenge the reigning world champion football team. It features "The Future Is Not What It Used To Be", Mika Taanila's film about the Finnish electronic music visiona…
Entanglements in the orthopedic sensorium
Vinyl Lp, edition of 300 copies. The work of the Berlin-based composer Andrew Pekler has been been documented in various releases for labels such as ~scape, Staubgold and Kranky. When asked by Giuseppe Ielasi for some material to be released on Schoolmap Records, Pekler immediately considered the possibility of taking the many unused music fragments that had been collecting cyber-dust on various hard drives and bringing them into some kind of order. Raw sketches, orphaned sounds, finished pieces…
Allegory Of Allergies
RESTOCKED! april 2009 release: deluxe reissue of emeralds long o/p august 2007 gods of tundra tape, a production-value-heavy edition consisting of two lps (each in their own metallic-ink inner sleeve) housed inside a full-color stoughton gatefold sleeve ; yowza ...for many the original cassette release was the one that made emeralds’ unique combination of stasis-heavy analogue synth wave-shifting stick (certainly was the one that “did it” for me) ; this majestic record-object does everything to …
Imperial Distortion
BACK IN STOCK. Very occasionally a record comes along that we just don't want to review, a record so wondrous that words just seem to fall short. Since we have an urge to persuade anyone who crosses our path to hear 'Imperial Distortion', though, perhaps it's worth a shot nonetheless. Dominick Fernow's Hospital imprint has long impressed us with its output, but never before have we heard anything quite like 'Imperial Distortion' slip out of its ornate iron gates. Those of you in the know will al…
Multitudes
Last copies available: there are a lot of good times happening in SoCal these days and the Stunned Records/Magic Lantern crew is responsible for a whole hell of a lot of it. Well, Super Minerals are an important cog in that machine and this duo's intentions are blaring loud and clear on their first proper CD, Multitudes. This duo of Phil French and William Giachhi may rip it up when they're moonlighting in Magic Lantern, but here they are burning it all down slow. This is an album full of zoned-…