MDAC034 - Top Ten Releases Of The Month, October 2011

Another incredible month crammed with fantastic new releases...As usual, it was a tough job whittling it down to just ten. I missed a couple of great releases out, including the new one from Inventors Of Aircraft out on Rural Colours. I also had to shuffle a couple of big albums I received today for next month's list - let's just hope it's a quiet month for Novemeber, for the sake of my wallet and for November's top ten.
Long standing German based netlabel Resting Bell celebrated their 100th release with FOUR highly limited CD albums. They're all available for free download of course, but if you can quickly grab one of the remaining copies you'll own a piece of history. These will be a well sought after rarity in no time. More importantly, they sound excellent. My personal favourite has to be Oskar Hallbert's double disc effort.
Elsewhere, Hibernate/Rural Colours were busy as usual with four stunning 3" CDrs. They'll sell out in no time too, so act quick if you see them for sale anywhere. Oh, and *cough cough*, my first solo physical release of the year came out on CD via Hibernate at the beginning of the month. These are still in stock here and there for now, so if you see 'Spheruleus - Voyage' up for sale in any shops, then that's me!
Ian Hawgood's well-run label empire continues in great form with a new batch of Nomadic Kids Republic albums up for grabs. Ian has made sure these are ready available in a generous run, but this is mainly due to demand in Japan and the world alike. I am particularly fond of both Maps and Diagrams albums. It is recommended by the press release that you buy both - the label aren't just after your cash, it's because they're both really very good. And what else would you expect from Mr Diagram?
Time Released Sound continue a solid year with a new release from 5turns25. It's a quintessentially American guitar based affair that'll sound good all year round but particularly lend itself to the summer.
Finally, at the bottom of this list, I've listed a freebie that I'll be writing a review about soon. Arboretus' 15 minute EP on Hawk Moon records is a solid effort and it comes with my strong recommendation.

Oh, and before I go, Nils Frahm, Simon Scott and David Wenngren have new albums out!!!! Shows what a great month it's been...

Nils Frahm - Felt
[Erased Tapes]
http://www.erasedtapes.com/Store/Index/ERATP033
Limited edition 12" Vinyl, CD and digital album

Simon Scott - Bunny
[Miasmah]
http://www.miasmah.com/recordings/cat.html#MIACD017
Vinyl, CD and digital album

David Wenngren and Christopher Bisonette - The Meridians of Longitude and Parallels of Latitude
[Home Normal]
http://www.homenormal.com/releases/david-wenngren-christopher-bissonnette-the-meridians-of-longitude-and-parallels-of-latitude
Limited edition CD and digital album

Maps and Diagrams - Lights Will Call On You / The Town Beneath The Sea
[Nomadic Kids Republic]
http://store.homenormal.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=419
http://store.homenormal.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=420
Limited edition CD and digital albums

Oskar Hallbert - Utflykter/Promenader
[Resting Bell]
http://www.restingbell.net/releases/rb100-3-promenader-utflykter
Limited edition double CDr album in a run of 30 copies, free digital download

5turns25 - Evolution Of The Human Heart
[Time Released Sound]
http://timereleasedsound.com/shop/releases/5turns25/
Limited edition hand-made CD album in a run of 100 copies

Offthesky - The Boy With The Golden Cough
[Rural Colours]
http://noise.offthesky.com/album/boy-with-the-golden-cough
Limited edition 3" CDr in a run of 75 copies, Digital EP

Arev Konn - Norbotten
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/13560
Limited edition 3" postcard CDr in a run of 100 copies

A-Sun Amissa - Beneath The Heavy Tides
[Hibernate]
http://www.gizehstore.com/products/13514
Limited edition 3" postcard CDr in a run of 100 copies

Arboretus - Soundscape De Nostalgia
[Hawk Moon]
http://hawkmoonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/soundscape-de-nostalgia
Free digital EP

MDAC033 - Top ten releases of the month, September 2011

"In September, I had a week on holiday away from music and work, to recharge the batteries in the Peak District. I didn't miss out though and made sure I got my orders in for many of the top albums out through the course of the month. There's just so much good stuff out there across the board that it can be difficult to keep track...here's my list of highly recommended additions to your personal collection. Most are highly limited and selling fast, so be sure to get in quick!"
-Harry, Audio Gourmet

Taylor Deupree and Marcus Fischer - In A Place Of Such Graceful Shapes
[12k]
http://www.12k.com/index.php/site/releases/in_a_place_of_such_graceful_shapes/
Limited edition CD and 7" record in a run of 500 copies

A Winged Victory For The Sullen - A Winged Victory For The Sullen
[Erased Tapes]
http://www.erasedtapes.com/Store/Index/ERATP032
CD and 12" Vinyl Album

Hauschka and Hildur Guðnadóttir - Pan Tone
[Sonic Pieces]
http://www.sonicpieces.com/sonicpieces012.html
Limited edition 12" album in a run of 350, Limited edition CD in a run of 450 copies

Lawrence English - The Peregrine
[Experimedia]
http://www.experimedia.net/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&cPath=1&products_id=3954
Limited edition 12" Album in a run of 500 copies

The A.Lords - The A.Lords
[Rif Mountain]
http://www.normanrecords.com/vinyl/126119-the-a-lords-the-a-lords
Limited edition 12" Vinyl + CD album in a run of 300 copies

Félicia Atkinson – O-RE-GON
[Home Normal]
http://www.homenormal.com/releases/felicia-atkinson-o-re-gon
Limited edition CD in a run of 500 copies

Hakobune - I Discover I'm Missing
[Apollolaan]
http://www.store.fluid-radio.co.uk/2011/09/hakobune-i-discover-im-missing-cd/
Limited edition CD album in a run of 100

Janek Schaefer - Phoenix & Phaedra Holding Patterns
[Spekk]
http://naturebliss.bandcamp.com/album/phoenix-phaedra-holding-patternsjanek-schaefer
CD album

Gareth Davis, Jan Kleefstra, Romke Kleefstra - Tongerswel
[Home Normal]
http://www.homenormal.com/releases/gareth-davis-jan-kleefstra-romke-kleefstra-tongerswel
Limited edition CD album in a run of 500

Natalia Noelia Siebuła & Bartosz Dziadosz - Ferðast um Ísland
[Heat Death]
http://heatdeath.limitedpressing.com/products/12197
Limited edition 3" CDr in a run of 75

Marta Mist - Ain't No Mountain
[Heat Death]
http://heatdeath.limitedpressing.com/products/12196
Limited edition 3" CDr in a run of 75

Part Timer - Undead
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/12695
Limited edition 3" postcard CDr in a run if 100

Spheruleus - Voyage [Hibernate Recordings]

CD VERSION DIRECT FROM THE LABEL:
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/12687

DIGITAL/STREAMING AND CD DIRECT FROM THE ARTIST:
http://audiogourmet.bandcamp.com/album/voyage

'Voyage' is the latest album from Lincolnshire based sound designer Harry Towell. Released under his Spheruleus guise, this album utimately provides a soundtrack to a doomed sea-voyage. Through eight different movements, 'Voyage' chronicles everything from the immense pride felt as the ship sets sail to depicting the horror and heartache of its sinking. The album then closes with detailed passages that portray the decomposition of the ship as it begins to rot deep under sea.

This album is well researched with Harry having explored his chosen subject thoroughly. For the two years in which the album has been in the making, the young sound designer studied the history of great sea disasters and also took inspiration from soundtracks such as Gavin Bryars’ ‘The Sinking Of The Titanic’ and Gareth Hardwick's 'Of The Sea And Shore'. Although the Titantic's infamous fate was naturally a strong influence on the project, 'Voyage', does not refer to any particular sinking ship. Instead, its purpose is to sonically depict the various emotional aspects that lie within a failed sea voyage, as felt by all those who are affected by it.

Spheruleus: Set Sail by hibernate

Once the concept for 'Voyage' had been born, Harry revisited one of his old demos from early 2010 and decided to make this the spine of the album. He then used his instrument collection including; guitar, violin, trumpet, bugle, zither and keyboard to add several layers to the demo. In doing so Harry has been able to develop his chosen theme and create the character required to turn this forgotten treasure into the album it is today. As a poignant exaggeration of the events that unfold through the track 'She Sinks', there is a contribution from Russian pianist Alex Tiuniaev that opens and closes this dramatic track. He also performs on the track 'Clouds Swarm', as it heads into a crescendo.

Spheruleus: Clouds Swarm by hibernate

Aside from his solo production work, Harry also records with brother Stuart under the name Paper Relics and runs the Audio Gourmet netlabel, which specialises in 15 minute EPs designed for shorter 'tea-break' listening. His work as Spheruleus has seen him release through netlabels such as Test Tube, Resting Bell, Earth Mantra, Audio Gourmet and in March 2010, his first physical album 'Frozen Quarters' was released on CD format by the Under The Spire imprint.

Mastered by Rudi Arapahoe

Photography by Richard Outram and Daniel Crossley

Limited edition CD pressing of 200. Release date: 07/10/11

REVIEW: Nest - Body Pilot [Serein]

http://www.serein.co.uk/releases/sere11-3/nest-body-pilot

Serein's Seasons project continues - a four piece set of limited edition 10" records released periodically throughout the year. The penultimate installment sees a four track highly anticipated EP called 'Body Pilot' from Nest; their first excursion since the magnificent Retold album out on the same label last year.

Given the short duration of the format, their return is a brief affair - just a fleeting twenty minutes of beautiful sound inspired by themes of air travel. If you were lucky enough to have picked up a copy of Retold (which sold out very quickly at source), or you are one of the 25,000+ people that downloaded the first part of the album during Serein's netlabel days, your expectations will rightly be high and I will do little to encourage you to purchase 'Body Pilot'.

For those unfamiliar with Nest and in need of a little background information, they consist of Serein label owner Huw Roberts, based in Wales and Norwegian Otto Totland, who is one half of Deaf Center. The duo are both excellent pianists for starters and together they weave the sound of ivory keys with a collection of acoustic instruments and sound sources to create incredible pieces of modern classical tinged music. Although the music hints lightly at a traditionally classical background through the piano and orchestrated walls of sound, their collaboration yields a unique result that goes some way to establish the duo as a cut above many. Perhaps if the stormy but highly melodic debut 'Retold' were to serve as the ideal introduction to their sound, 'Body Pilot' would indeed be an artistic exploration that delves much deeper and allows the melody to draw out for longer. Seemingly, at least. What is interesting about 'Body Pilot' is that Nest are presented with a time restriction, by the nature of the 10" vinyl format yet they decide to take this time and draw it out to the maximum, instead of rushing through a collection of short melodic extensions of Retold. Through the four movements, time stands on end and this is where the loose concept of flight comes into play so poignantly for the listener. It gives a sense of free-falling through the sky at speed, but at a gently drifting, semi-conscious pace thanks to the sheer marvel and wonder of it. It is literally happening so quickly, yet it seems to move so slowly. If we look down from the sky that is 'Body Pilot' we can almost see 'Retold', an album that felt very much 'of land'. We have an aerial perspective of it now.

'Body Pilot' shows great ambition and marks a welcome artistic development for Nest, whilst still retaining the depth and character that they have become so well acclaimed for. It comes with my highest recommendation and is not to be missed by anyone. For new listeners, I'd recommend hunting down a copy of Retold too, if you can, or at least purchasing a digital copy

MDAC032 - Top Ten Releases Of The Month, August 2011

RICHARD GINNS - Sea Change
[Slow Flow]
http://slowflowstore.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=80
Limited edition CD album in a run of 300, digital album

KINDER SCOUT - The Writing Life
[Preco]
http://www.normanrecords.com/cd/127641-kinder-scout-the-writing-life
CD album

KEITH FREUND - Constant Comments
[Experimedia]
http://www.experimedia.net/index.php?main_page=product_music_info&products_id=3668
Limited edition vinyl album in a run of 300, digital album

TALVIHORROS - Decent Into Delta
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/11806
Limited edition CDand vinyl album , digital album

DAMIAN VALLES - Skeleton Taxa
[Drifting Falling]
http://store.driftingfalling.com/product/damian-valles-skeleton-taxa
CD and digital album

PLEQ & LAUKI - The Gravity Lens
[Ephre]
http://www.ephreimprint.eu/releases.htm
Limited edition 5" CDr EP, Digital download through artists' Bandcamp page

VARIOUS ARTISTS - SEQUENCE1
[Futuresequence]
http://www.futuresequence.com/sequence1/
Compilation, Free Digital Download

ADAM A. WILLIAMS - Another Day The Same
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/11708
Limited edition 3" Postcard CDr in a run of 100 (Out Of Stock), digital download

DAMIAN VALLES
[Twisted Treeline]
http://www.twistedtreeline.co.uk/
Limited edition 3" postcard CDr in a run of 100

HEU{S-K}ACH & PEDRO SOUSA – I Know Not What Tomorrow Will Bring
[Resting Bell]
http://www.restingbell.net/releases/rb099-i-know-not-what-tomorrow-will-bring
Free digital netlabel album

REVIEW: Richard Ginns - Sea Change [Slow Flow Recordings]

Thanks to an earlier digital version of Sea Change being made available through Richard Ginns' Bandcamp account, I have had the luxury of familiarising myself with this excellent body of work before my CD copy arrived in the post via Slow Flow recordings.
The album itself is presented with a concept that straddles themes of both the resonance of memory and an overall nautical aesthetic, whilst allowing lots of scope for individual listener interpretation. The inspiration for the project was drawn from Ginns' personal memories of childhood visits to the seaside and the sentimental memories that he attaches to these. Other than sound, another key ingredient he uses is polaroid photography which is something often associated with memory. Both the Bandcamp mp3 version and the Slow Flow CD copy sport different but equally effective images, although it has to be said that the effect is much better received in the physical format.

I have to say that Richard Ginns is a new one on me. I was alerted to his work through social networking and a glance at his past discography reveals that he is relatively new to the scene with just one other release on the 12x50 imprint. It's interesting to learn that this artist hasn't even had an early foray into the netlabel scene, which is where lots of artists begin treading their path to sort of test the water. Upon listening to 'Sea Change', you will likely be struck by how beautifully crafted this body of work is for such a new name...this could perhaps be attributed to time spent studying music technology at the universty of Huddersfield in the UK. Regardless, Ginns' work will plant him firmly on my radar; 'Sea Change' is a fine body of work.
Minimalist, yet brimming with detail, this is something that warrants and subtly encourages repeated listens. It is so considered, careful and explorative, conveying a strong but loose collection of half remembered childhood memories at the sea-side...something that is close to the hearts of most individuals. Even if you don't have any early sea-side memories...this album will have you dreaming of them, as if they actually happened.

Timescale and track placement-wise, Sea Change is set out perfectly. The opening piece 'Riverbank' is mid-length and is a subtle lulling piece to initiate the events to follow. From then, a collection of three shorter pieces break things up a little. Second piece 'On Lakes' is outstanding, 'Mossbank' fuses textured drones with jittering glitchy tones before 'Point Dunes' adds a real sense of wonder as you listen. In 'Looking North', we have the longest composition on offer, clocking in at fifteen minutes. The sheer level of detail will hold your interest, as the soothing atmosphere ebbs and flows like the sea. Things draw to a close with the soothing chimes of the title track 'Sea Change', which really eek out those nostalgic moments. The whole album has a wonderful helping of nostalgia-inducing ingredients to it, but never more so than in the closing piece. Maybe this is because as you listen, you know that the experience is drawing to a close and this ties in well with your own realisation that those past memories have gone and are fading with the passing of time.
The album has been released through Slow Flow recordings in Japan and is a wonderful record as part of a solid roster of releases, including work from the likes of Fabio Orsi and Ian Hawgood to name but a few. It'll obviously appeal to fans of the label but for those of you unfamiliar with Slow Flow but like anything by the likes of Marcus Fischer, Taylor Deupree, Offthesky, The Green Kingdom or Asuna and Opitope, you know what to do... Highly recommeded - here's where to get yourself a copy:

FROM THE LABEL (JAPAN):
http://slowflowstore.net/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=80

UK:
http://www.normanrecords.com/cd/127160-richard-ginns-sea-change
http://boomkat.com/cds/435067-richard-ginns-sea-change

DIGITAL ONLY FROM THE ARTIST:
http://richardginns.bandcamp.com/

MDAC031 - Top ten releases of the month, July 2011

Offthesky - The Beautiful Nowhere
[Hibernate]
http://store.hibernate-recs.co.uk/products/10882
Limited edition 12" Vinyl in a run of 250, Limited edition CD in a run of 200, Digital album

Two People In A Room - Wrapped In Plastic
[Home Normal]
http://www.homenormal.com/releases/two-people-in-a-room
Limited edition CD in a run of 500, Digital album

Y0t0 - Uriarra Road
[Facture]
http://facture.bandcamp.com/album/uriarra-road
Digital only album

Field Rotation - Regenzeit
[Denovali]
http://denovali.com/shop/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=regenzeit
Limited edition 10" Vinyl (100 Gold, 200 Black), Digital EP

Anna Rose Carter & Pleq - My Piano Is Broken
[Rural Colours]
http://ruralcolours.co.uk/news/?page_id=601
Limited edition 3" CDr in a run of, digital EP

Darren Harper - Falls
[Childrenplay]
http://childrenplayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/falls
Limited edition CDr in a run of 20, Digital album

Black Eagle Child - Pages On A Plane
[Under The Spire]
http://www.underthespire.co.uk/releases-buy/black-eagle-child-pages-on-a-plane/
Limited edition 12" marbled vinyl in a run of 250

Gimu - Crestfallen
[Childrenplay]
http://childrenplayrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crestfallen
Limited edition CDr in a run of 20, Digital album

Darren Harper and Gimu - Field and Fern; Mountain and Sea
[Rural Colours]
http://ruralcolours.co.uk/news/?page_id=489
Limited edition 3" CDr in a run of 75, Free digital download

Christopher McFall and David Velez - Credence

[Impulsive Habitat]
http://impulsivehabitat.com/releases/ihab025.htm
Free digital download


Nigel Samways - Mirror
[Audiotalaia]
http://www.audiotalaia.net/at043.html
Free digital download