MDAC029 - Top ten releases of the month, May 2011

ARGH!?!?!!?!? For the first time in over two years of doing a monthly top ten, I am simply unable to whittle the albums I have added to my collection this month down to a 'favourite ten'. Absolutely impossible this month and it's largely down to the fact that I have ordered practically everything available. So much sheer quality out there at the moment, it's difficult to give anything a miss.

JOHANN JOHANNSSON - The Miners' Hymns
[Fat Cat]
http://fat-cat.co.uk/fatcat/release.php?id=355
2 x 12" Vinyl album, CD album and digital album

JASPER TX - Black Sun Transmission
[Fang Bomb]
http://www.fangbomb.com/FB016/index.html
CD album

MAPS AND DIAGRAMS - Get Lost
[Time Released Sound]
http://timereleasedsound.com/releases/maps-and-diagrams/
Limited art edition and digi-pack CD album

KYLE BOBBY DUNN - Ways Of Meaning
[Desire Path Recordings]
http://www.desirepathrecordings.com/releases/kyle-bobby-dunn-ways-of-meaning/
Limited edition 12" vinyl album in a run of 500, digital album

HALLOCK HILL - The Union
[Hundred Acre Recordings]
http://hundredacrerecords.greedbag.com/buy/the-union-1/
CD and digital album

MICHAEL TANNER and SHARRON KRAUS - In The Rheidol Valley
[Morc Tapes]
http://www.morctapes.com/skmt/rheidol.html
12" vinyl and CD album

FIELD ROTATION - And Tomorrow I Will Sleep
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/9887
Limited edition CD in a run of 100, digital album

RICHARD MOULT - Celestial King For A Year
[Second Language]
http://www.secondlanguagemusic.com/SL10.html
Limited edition CD album in a run of 300 copies

EZEKIEL HONIG - Folding In On Itself
[Type]
http://typerecords.com/releases/folding-in-on-itself-2-2-2
12" Vinyl album, CD album
TIAGO SOUSA - Walden Pond's Monk
[Immune]
http://immunerecordings.net/catalog/walden-ponds-monk/
Limited edition 12" Vinyl album in a run of 500 copies, CD album and digital album
M.OSTERMEIER - The Rules Of Another Small World
[Tench]
http://www.tenchrec.com/TCH04.html
CD Album
SIMON BAINTON - Sun Settings
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/9581
Limited edition 3" CDr Postcard in a run of 100 (SOLD OUT), digital EP
ED COOKE - Spirit House
[Rural Colours]
http://ruralcolours.co.uk/news/?page_id=167
Free netlabel EP
OFFTHESKY - Subtle Trees
[Nomadic Kids Republic]
http://nomadickids.com/releases/
CD album
MYRMYR - Fire Star
[Under The Spire]
http://www.underthespire.co.uk/releases-buy/myrmyr-fire-star/
Limited edition vinyl and CD album

TEN AND TRACER - Friendless Now
[Nomadic Kids Republic]
http://nomadickids.com/releases/
CD album

Various Artists - In The Bleak Wilderness Of Sleep

http://music.audiogourmet.co.uk/album/in-the-bleak-wilderness-of-sleep

1. Michael Trommer - Pushing Through Gray
2. Simon Whetham - Cold Shoulder (Part 1.2)
3. D'Incise - Octobre-Septembre
4. James McDougall - Scarborough
5. Specta Ciera - Under Cool Air
6. Deep Into Perspectives - Home
7. Francisco Lopez - Untitled #264
8. Spheruleus - Overcast
9. Small Things On Sundays - Harbour
10. Philip Sulidae - Aher
11. Natalia Noelia Siebuła & Bartosz Dziadosz - Ótta og kvíða
12. Julien Demoulin - Dull Ache
On the 17th of May 2011, Audio Gourmet is precisely a year old. To celebrate this, we have been busy putting together a couple of compilation albums. One of which is 'In The Bleak Wilderness Of Sleep' available for purchase here as either a multi-format digital album or as a limited edition CDr.


The compilation features 12 tracks from some of the globe's most talented sound-designers. It is a subtly rewarding headphone listen from start to finish; curated and ordered to purposefully induce a state of sleep. Starting off minimally, gradually gathering tone and atmosphere, the experience goes on without ever boiling over or reaching a crescendo. Parts of the album are light and restful whereas traces of it tread darker territory. All in all, the imagery that the album conjurs sits perfectly as a soundtrack to the dreams one experiences during a nights sleep.

The artwork was put together by French artist Eric Lacombe (Monstror) who some may remember for his cover art collaborations for Spheruleus releases in the past. Here for 'In The Bleak Wilderness Of Sleep', his surreal imagery lends itself perfectly to this mysterious dream invoking soundtrack.

The limited edition CDr release comes housed inside a recycled card case with the cover artwork slipped inside and printed to photographic paper. Along with a CDr copy of the album itself, the tracklist will be printed to high quality salmon coloured paper/card. On the front, the album title will be rubber stamped in brown ink and on the back, the Audio Gourmet logo will be cut out by lazers. It will be hand-numbered in brown pen and limited to 200 copies.

*The first 50 copies will include a second bonus image, taken by select friends and photographers. These include:

Gerry McDermott
Harry Towell
James McDougall
Peter Nejedly
Seth Chrisman
Simon Whetham
Stuart Towell

Everyone who purchases the CD version will be entitled to a free and instant digital copy of the album. For those that wish to purchase a digital only version, this can be obtained as usual through the Audio Gourmet Bandcamp account.

MDAC028 - Top Ten Releases Of The Month, April 2011

ANTONYMES - The License To Interpret Dreams
[Hidden Shoal]
http://agora.hiddenshoal.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=49&products_id=167&zenid=9f58663d59e73fcaf30ed51d49171ee6
CD and digital album

WOODWORKINGS - Goodbye Homes
[Future Recordings]
http://futurerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/goodbye-homes
Limited edition CD of 100 copies, digital album

STROM NOIR - Dni Stratili Svoju Farbu
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/8031
Limited edition CD of 200 copies, digital album

FELICIA ATKINSON - The Driver
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/8007
Limited edition vinyl of 200, limited edition CD of 50 (Sold Out), digital album

HERZOG - Young Lungs Against The Sea
[Bedside Table]
http://herzog.bandcamp.com/
Limited edition CDr of 100 copies, digital album

TIM NOBLE - Diffaith
[Hundred Acre Recordings]
http://hundredacrerecords.greedbag.com/buy/diffaith-0/
Digital only album

QUINN WALKER - Kwichon
[Heat Death]
http://www.heatdeathrecords.co.uk/
Limited edition 3"CDr of 75 copies, digital album

BENGALFUEL - Sprague
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/8033
Limited edition 3"CDr (part 1/4)

LISTENING MIRROR - Even In The Quietest Moments
[Self-released]
http://listening-mirror.bandcamp.com/track/even-in-the-quietest-moments-2
Limited edition 3" postcard CDr of 100 copies, digital track

GARETH DAVIS/JAN KLEEFSTRA/ROMKE KLEEFSTRA - Sieleslyk
[Rural Colours]
http://www.ruralcolours.co.uk/releases/rc031/rc031.html
Free netlabel download

REVIEW: Kyle Bobby Dunn "Ways Of Meaning" [Desire Path Recordings]

http://www.desirepathrecordings.com/releases/kyle-bobby-dunn-ways-of-meaning/

In short, the title for this new album by Brooklyn based ambient music composer Kyle Bobby Dunn leaves everything wide open for listener interpretation. At a single glance, it encourages you to strive to understand the album in its concepts and leaves you wanting to fully explore its intentions.
Perhaps it hints that the concept might be multi-dimensional with several hidden meanings and almost comes across as a sort of interactive listener challenge?

Upon closer inspection and after a skim through the press-release on the Desire Path Recordings website, it becomes apparent that the album refers to the actual resonance of memory itself. It is a complex subject concerning time and circumstance and many artists have explored this through great lengths of careful study and theory. Perhaps when this is allowed to take centre stage when presented as a record, the listener can become overwhelmed?
Instead for Kyle Bobby Dunn, 'Ways Of Meaning' is intended as a deeply personal recording: dealing with particular moments and circumstances throughout his life, offered out as a listening experience that can be related to in different ways by its consumer. With 'Ways Of Meaning', Dunn is affording the listener time and space to pick up and relate it to their own individual circumstances, at any given time.

In reference to the duration of sounds on offer, Dunn has condensed the epic proportions that we enjoy in 'A Young Person's Guide To Kyle Bobby Dunn' to a single piece of vinyl, over two sides. The sounds find Dunn exploring an even more lulled and restful palette than previous excursions, which is really quite something! It's really quite hard to believe that based on Dunn's choice of titling for a particular track, something as tranquil as this would have a 'parental guidance, explicit content' sticker slapped on it if sold in a commercial record shop...
Through six peaceful movements, time stands on end whilst your mind wanders, reflecting on a shuffling collection of personal memories. In structure and tone, the music does seem to go back to basics; eminating the sorts of sounds that the pioneers of ambient music might have produced. It also seems to stand akin with the ambient sounds of the 1990s and early 2000s, which is why it seems apt that legendary producer James Plotkin has overseen the mastering of this record.

Desire Path are a fairly new label in the scene and were responsible for giving us Solo Andata's 'Ritual' last year and although albums are available digitally, it is vinyl editions that they specialise in.
With 'Ways Of Meaning', digital listeners will have the 'sleep tape' to end all sleep albums. But you have to feel here that the real reward on offer is to those who purchase the vinyl edition. Years of repeated listens for quiet reflection over a hot cup of coffee; each time with something new to contemplate.
Contrary to a sleepy night-time headphone journey or a dozy bus commute listen, the vinyl edition is a companion in which listeners can take their thoughts to. The record oozes warmth from the stylus and the emanating sound is assuringly positive...

Highly recommended, but it is particularly for those with a turntable who will enjoy the full effects of 'Ways Of Meaning'

REVIEW: Herzog - Young Lungs Against The Sea

Dusting off my trusty little book of adjectives, I've decided to selectively review the odd release. Not necessarily reviewing my favourite records - just the odd release that compells me to write a few sentences. This perhaps isn't the best idea as the reason I'd stopped blogging about music was the sheer time it used to take up. Especially since now I have even less spare time at my disposal than ever before!

http://herzog.bandcamp.com/album/young-lungs-against-the-sea

First off, I've decided to take a stab at the recent self-released album by Herzog 'Young Lungs Against The Sea'. The reason being that there's such a lot to talk about, with the wealth of thoughts that the album title encourages and onto the superb music itself; I just had to post something about it.
Herzog will need little introuduction, particularly to the netlabel world. Releases on the mighty 12rec, Berlin's Resting Bell, the now defunct Serein netlabel and of course, the recent EP 'Small Loves' here on Audio Gourmet. It's hard to believe that after such a solid few years of activity, this is the first physical release from Herzog. Rather than leaving it up to a label to organise all the hard-work of designing and printing the CD, Bill Bawden, the man behind the project has taken it upon himself to do this. It is released as a digital download through his Bandcamp account and there is an option to buy a handmade CD; copies of which are limited to just 100. Both are modestly priced too...

Onto the record itself, in the press-release there isn't a clearly written out concept as such. I do tend to gravitate more towards material where there is a clear and full written concept to accompany an album. However, once I'd taken advantage of the free instant digital download that accompanied my CD purchase and began to listen I was struck by a concept that was evoked purely through the album title and the sounds that comprise it.
On paper, Bill's chosen formula of marrying piano with glitchy electronic effects and treatment is less than pioneering. It is often a pleasant result when these are paired but it does seem to be a pretty saturated sound these days and can often sound unoriginal.
Having said this, Bill doesn't simply rely on the obvious beaty that impeccable piano playing gives off, resting it on a light bed of static. He decides instead to treat his chosen instrument into complete obscurity, coaxing it into subtle electronic-sounding passages that mark a stark fragility against such a wall of noise. It is this chosen formula that really encapsulates the album title and bring this record to life.

To me, the whole record is presented almost as a battle between the piano/melody (young lungs) and the host of electronic sounds, static, noise and rustles (the sea). The fragile young lungs are obviously no match for the sea but they naievely set about trying to come out on top anyway. Through more gentle and calmer moments, it almost seems as if they have done just that - only to be swept away by the prevailing waves of the sea.
It's such a marvellous listening spectacle and is riddled with metaphors that allow this content to be applied to many situations. Perhaps it could simply portray the innocence of a child, crossing paths with the ugliness of the world for the first time? Maybe it refers to an artist fighting for a voice in a world of commercial saturation? Perhaps it teaches a respect for nature, in that we are powerless to fight it?

It is all in all a minimal record, favouring the actual tone of the piano when it has been treated rather than an obvious melody. Yet, given the endless listener application that can be explored and the food for thought it provides, this could very well be the finest piece of work that we have heard from Herzog.
Highly recommended.

MDAC027: Top Ten Albums of the Month, March 2011

DUSTIN O'HALLORAN - Lumiere
[Fat Cat]
http://fat-cat.co.uk/fatcat/release.php?id=350
Vinyl album, CD and digital download album

PETER BRODERICK & MACHINEFABRIEK - Mort Aux Vaches
[Staalplaat/Mort Aux Vaches]
http://www.staalplaat.com/search/catalog/19821
Limited edition CD of 500 copies

FEDERICO DURAND - El Éxtasis De Las Flores Pequeñas
[Own]
http://ownrecords.bandcamp.com/album/el-xtasis-de-las-flores-peque-as
CD and digital download album

VARIOUS ARTISTS - SMM: Context
[Ghostly International]
http://ghostly.com/releases/smm-context
Limited edition LP of 800 copies, CD and digital download album

LISTENING MIRROR - Outside Heaven
[Hibernate]
http://listening-mirror.bandcamp.com/album/outside-heaven
Limited edition 3" postcard CDr of 100 copies, digital download album

DAMIAN VALLES - The Waves That Destroy
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/8513
Limited edition 3" postcard CDr of 100 copies

ISNAJ DUI - Circle Of Sleep
[fBox]
http://www.fboxrecords.co.uk/releases.html
Limited edition CD, free digital download:
http://www.archive.org/details/CircleOfSleep

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Minute Papillon
[Second Language]
http://www.normanrecords.com/artists/21774-various-jasper-tx-drradio-boats-everyone-in-the-world-ever
Limited edition CD

LISTENING MIRROR - Spires, Spirals and Stones
[Heat Death]
http://listening-mirror.bandcamp.com/album/spires-spirals-and-stones-ep
Limited edition 3" CDr and digital download album

TANNER MENARD & ENTIA NON - I Never Expected Your Decays (Part One)
[Rural Colours]
http://www.ruralcolours.co.uk/releases/rc029/rc029.html
Subscriptions only 3" CDr series, free digital download

MDAC026 - Top Ten albums of the month, February 2011

DEAF CENTER- Owl Splinters
[Type]
http://typerecords.com/releases/owl-splinters-2
Limited edition vinyl, 100 copies (2xLP), CD album, digital mp3

SHAULA - The Girl In The Clock
[Time Released Sound]
http://timereleasedsound.com/html/releases/shaula/
Limited edition 3" CDr

CLEM LEEK - Home Outside
[Rural Colours]
http://clemleek.bandcamp.com/album/home-outside
Limited edition 3" CDr, digital download

AREV KONN - Nospelt
[Humming Conch]
http://www.hummingconch.net/releases/conch-008-arev-konn-nospelt
Limited edition CD of 250 copies
SHAULA - Yona
[Somehow Recordings]
http://www.somehowrecordings.co.uk/
Limited edition CDr

ANNE GARNER - Trusting A Twirled World
[Slowcraft Records]
http://slowcraft.bandcamp.com/
Limited edition CDr

Coldstream
[Rural Colours]
http://www.ruralcolours.co.uk/releases/rc027/rc027.html
Subscriptions only limited edition 3" CDr, free digital download

DARREN HARPER - Suspended Memory
[Self-Release]
http://darrenharper.bandcamp.com/album/suspended-memory
Free digital download

Monolyth and Cobalt
[Feedback Loop]
http://www.archive.org/download/fbl011MonolythAndCobalt-LaTempratureDuFeuillageEntreDeuxSaisons/fbl011MonolythAndCobalt-LaTempratureDuFeuillageEntreDeuxSaisons_vbr_mp3.zip
Free digital download

WIDESKY - Floating In Being
[Rural Colours]
http://www.ruralcolours.co.uk/releases/rc025/rc025.html
Subscriptions only limited edition 3" CDr, free digital download

Devin Underwood and Marcus Fischer - Correspond
[Distance Recordings]
http://distancerecordings.com/dist020
Free digital download