Flatland Frequencies
Gorgeous micro looped tones and fuzzy, cascading drones form the sonic landscape of the 12 varied pieces here. From the organ-like tonalities in ‘Wind for Weighted Keys’ sometimes reminiscent of A Rainbow In Curved Air (albeit mangled in a most pleasant way), to the crunchy tape-like twists and turns in ‘Outcrease’, there’s a real positive energy coming from the LP, of which I’ll be returning for repeat listens.
Out now on CD and Digital via Bandcamp
Ingentingskogen or (according to google translate) ‘nothing forest’, is a new collection of drone works from Tomas Nordström, noughties techno survivor and one half of cult heroes Transexual Swedish Rebels (TSR), the greatest live techno act to come out of Sweden and possibly the world. So it’s always a welcome sight to see new material transmitting from his Stockholm base.
Ingentingskogen is solely based around the Sequential Circuits Pro One synth, layered through various effects whilst Tomas was learning to repair the instrument. The general vibe is quite dark, but varied in intensity, from the power drone zones of ‘Natten regnade I cmoll’, to the softer palettes explored in ‘Stampvall’. All of which demonstrates the juicy tonal character of the instrument, without drowning it in effects.
Lets hope this is just the beginning of more pure synth excursions from Mr Nordström!
Russian producer and Shells Rattle label owner, Hoavi brings 10 tracks of dubbed-out dreaminess to the Balearic-based Balmat label. Serious production values here, with filtered echos fluttering across lush, evolving synthscapes. Japanese minimalism meets Berlin-school dub techno.
The sharp attention to detail carries from the sound to the visual, with another gallery-worthy cover piece from José Quintanar.
Recommended.
Vinyl and digital at bandcamp.
Fast becoming one of our fave labels for cutting edge electronic and experimental music, Unexplained Sounds Group are consistently curating high quality various artist compilations, organised by global region.
This time, the expanding ‘sound mapping’ collection of CDs lands on the Scandinavian electronic underground as its point of focus.
The album is predominately drone-based excursions, ranging from cold, baron soundscapes, to densely layered synth excursions. However, on my first proper listen through, it’s the tracks that venture into more experimental tonal territory which really piqued my curiosity, with the wonderfully wonky ‘Ilmeisesti’ by vÄäristymä and the hypnotic ‘Nightbreeze’ by Havdis being particular favourites.
Order the CD/Digital now via their Bandcamp.
Soaring, psychotropic drones, which manage to tastefully meld spoken word, cello and synthesised tones into a deep meditative experience.
An entirely mesmerising release which ticks all the boxes (for me) when it comes to drones. Evolving textures and shifting synth tones combine with beautifully ghostly vocal elements, the resultant effect is somewhat intoxicating. Would love to hear this live.
Order the cassette or digital via their Bandcamp
Picked this up on Bandcamp last week after casually scrolling over a post on the Ciat-Lonbarde FB group. Glad I clicked, as what awaited was a magical sound world, weaving electronic and found sounds into a tapestry of molten and frazzled textures. In parts it reminds me of Cornelius, especially the wry humour.
The nerd in me enjoyed listening out for the signature Ciat-Lonbarde sounds, especially noticeable on the aliased destruction of samples the Cocoquantus imparts on everything it touches. However, this shouldn’t detract from what is a really original, fun and considered body of work.
Deep and heady dubbed out ambience from the Ish Records camp. Echoes of early Basic Channel swirl around more contemporary production techniques, with an emphasis on surface noise and dynamics.
A record that would serve equally well on a big soundsystem to warm up the dance, or to listen at home.
Head to Ish to cop the vinyl.
Christopher Otto, the violinist and founding member of JACK Quartet, brings a strict mathematical approach to acoustic composition and performance. Unfurling drones begin at a base frequency and methodically work their way outwards, causing shifts and minute imbalances between the (impeccably) recorded instrumentation. Utilising just intonation tuning techniques, the result is some really interesting and unique timbral combinations.
According to the blurb “Otto drew inspiration from a particularly complex interval known as the ragisma — a ratio of 4375:4374. The size of this interval, 0.396 cents, is so small that most would say it cannot be perceived as such by the human ear.”
The record has a strong mathematical concept, however it works on levels that can be enjoyed purely as a great tonal record and which rewards deeper listening, especially when referencing the sleeve notes. Speaking of which, the sleeve and overall package follows in the gorgeously high production standard as set in previous greyfade releases.
Keep your eyes on greyfade for a copy.
Modernist rave, jungle and trap stylings from the UK don Landstrumm. 808s, ravey stabs and some sneaky vocals snips string the EP together. Even if the styles are somewhat disparate, they are undeniably Landstrumm in sound, with a leaning to breaks ‘n’ bleeps in this outing. Those classic jungle loops are a mainstay after the first 2 tracks, which are more trap in style, and it’s the first track, ‘Spice (ft Legacy and Tina P)’ that really shines here. With some almost pop(!) sensibilities in the composition and synth sound design, with some great guest vox.
TIP!
13130 is the number of nuclear warheads currently in existence, so as the release says “we have a problem”, through accident or design the world can be obliterated at any moment.
The music on this EP, the second from French label Seclusion, follows the cold war emergency vibes. Technological but sinister vibes throughout. The original mix is in a classic Jeff Mills vein, whilst the remix, from Aux 88 collaborator Blaktony, takes the beats a more Elektrofunk direction.