CODES: - Drone Records

"After a break SUBSTANTIA INNOMINATA is back with a terrific 3-track
10" by the prolific german composer RLW (who started his activities
back in the early 80's and was the main member of the legendary
german experimental outfit P16.D4). The full title is: CONTOURS
IMAGINAIRES. The whole composition is based on only few seconds of
piano-sounds and vocals (the rest is "imagination") and the track-titles &
pieces offer strong inter-relations in a complex way.
The used sounds develop through imagination & decay ("denaturing
transformations") and appear in the pieces with different emphases.
The "classical" piano-sounds and its highly processed permutations are
set in contrast with the highly emotional voice-material, like entering a
convoluted labyrinth of voice-frazzles, drones & fragmented strange
sounds......
Being on a microlevel ("phantasized cell"), judging the decay of
shadows. Are these the memories of single cells The shadow of
abrasion-processes The slow decay of imaginations
A fantastic work where conceptual thoughts and emotionally driven
acoustics merge in a perfect way. 500 copies, colour-vinyl, full colour
artwork by Oliver Jakobi" [label description]
* SCHNÄBI GAGGI PISSI GAGGI - same 12" (Tochnit Aleph Punk
Series Volume 4 / TA068, 2007) € 12.00
Dada-Noise supergroup with RUNZELSTIRN & GURGELSTOCK and
SUDDEN INFANT-members! You have been warned!
"Tochnit Aleph Punk Series Volume Four. Featuring Joke Lanz -
Ventilatorbass, Celèste Urech - Drums & Lyrics, Rudolf Eb.er -
Vacuumvocals. Recorded live in Kölliken, Switzerland 92-02-27 at 3pm.
Written by Celèste Urech (3 years of age + the son of Joke), except
"Elisabeth Kopp" written by Joke Lanz & Rudolf Eb.er. Limited Edition of
519 copies." [label info]
* SHIFTS - Trees / Leaves LP (Entr'acte E43, 2007) € 14.00
Dies soll die allerletzte SHIFTS-Veröffentlichung sein, dem reinen
"drone" oder "minimal" Projekt von FRANS DE WAARD. Zwei
wunderbar organische, aber sehr "nahe" und konkrete Drones, die eher
nach Streichern klingen (aber auf einer viersaitigen spanischen Gitarre
beruhen) breiten sich hier aus, etwas fuzzy, auf "Trees" mit
Glockenklang-artigen Überlagerungen und Obertönen.... eine
überzeugene Abschiedvorstellung von SHIFTS!
"This record is Shifts’ probable farewell, following over a decade of
recordings and concerts. Initiated by Frans de Waard for a ‘soft guitar’
record on Richo Johnson’s Fourth Dimension label in 1995, the project
has evolved to include many releases, all distinguished by their singular
instrumentation (including two deviations from the guitar — Sonates
and Interlude uses the piano, while One Piece for Cymbal has a single
cymbal). Trees/Leaves was made with a four-string Spanish guitar
de Waard bought for one Euro on Koninginnedag (Dutch Queen’s Day)
in 2004. Besides running his Korm Plastics label and recording
variously as Kapotte Muziek, Goem, Freiband or Captain Black, Frans
de Waard is also the founder and editor of Vital Weekly, the music news
and reviews bulletin he had been publishing 48 times a year since 1987
— an impressive commitment in our fickle times. First edition of 200
copies" [label info]
"Added liner notes to a release are a bliss for both the listener as the
reviewer: they put the music into context, often adding an additional
perspective to the composer's work. On this album the liner notes
include the full history of Shifts as well as an explanation why this work
was recorded. In short: Shifts was formed in 1995 when Frans de
Waard (Shifts' main- and only man) discovered the electrical guitar,
which is interesting when you realize that De Waard is not an
instrument-man at all; he is best at working with sounds rather than
playing them on an instrument. Over the years, De Waard created
many Shifts pieces, which are mostly layered re-workings of guitar
sounds in a traditional Steve Reichian-way. Personal favorite of Shift
records is the limited album "Leaving/At Last" which is well-worth
hunting for if you got time, money and patience (as it is limited to 25
copies!). However, after a number of vinyl and CD releases and live
performances, De Waard decided to stop working as Shifts. The reason
was that he felt he had reached his limitations of what he considered
possible by using the electrical guitar as sound source. This is a praise
worthy decision and I know quite a few artists who would benefit from a
similar decision. When, in 2004, De Waard bought a 4 string
Spanishguitar he recorded the final three Shifts pieces; Trees, Leaves
and Branches, two of which appear on this album. Both Trees and
Leaves are long minimal layered guitar experiments, with just enough
variation and depth to warrant your attention and enough similarity to
lull you into a comfortable listen. Those qualifications are what makes
this album great and probably the best Shifts album out there. One
small, but very important point of criticism though. The Entracte
releases do not come in an LP cover. Instead, they are packed in
plastic with the record in a plastic inner sleeve and a flimsy piece of
paper. This is an insult for the artist and his/her music. Do not let the
packaging stop you from getting this album though; it's the best Shifts
you'll ever buy!" [FK / Vital Weekly]
* SIGUR ROS - In a Frozen Sea: A year with Sigur Ros (Vinyl
Collection) 7 x LP-Box / Map (Artists in Residence AINR001,
2007) € 180.00
Irre Veröffentlichung, das Gesamtwerk von SIGUR ROS auf Vinyl (7
LPs) in einer Art dickem Photoalbum mit Extra-Farbbooklet, unglaublich
schön aufgemacht, auf 5000 nummerierte Exemplare limitiert. Der Preis
ist heftig aber dies ist eine absolute Ausnahme-Veröffentlichung.
"Encased in a hard cover album, this deluxe version contains a repressing
of 3 classic Sigur Ros LP's: Agaetis Byrjun, ( ), and Takk. As a
special bonus, Smaskifa which has never before been released in a 12"
format is included in the set (7 total pieces of vinyl). These LP's slip into
seven individually customized vinyl sleeves which are designed with
original photography from the 2006 Takk tour. The classic publication is
included in this package, and slips into a customized jacket inside the
back cover." [label info]
* SONIC YOUTH - Sonic Nurse do-LP (Goofin' Records GOO-
006, 2004) € 15.00
"After twenty-three years of explosive creativity Sonic Youth throws
down what may be their heaviest classic since the genre-breaking
Daydream Nation. Nurse is the nineteenth long player by the New York
City supernova, an action explosion Time magazine has already tagged
as "Sonic Youth's most adventurous and soul-stirring release to date,
by a goddamn country mile." Ten songs of American beauty and sonic
death: on "Pattern Recognition" Kim Gordon takes Justin Timberlake's
hand and sticks it in a tendon-shredding meat grinder; they gay
marriage the hell out of religious zealot war pigs Cheney, Rumsfeld,
Bush and Ashcroft with the meditative "Peace Attack"; Bare Trees-era
Fleetwood Mac jams with Jealous Again-era Black Flag on the heartpounding
"Unmade Bed" and "I Love You Golden Blue"; the core
reactor awesomeness of "Paper Cup Exit" reduces such legends as
Led Zeppelin and Yes to just so much British schoolboy whimpering."
[label info]
* SONIC YOUTH - Destroyed Room: B-sides and raritites do-LP
(Goofin' Records GOO-012, 2007) € 15.00
"Now available on vinyl!! A totally fantastic collection of Sonic Youth b-
sides and rarities spanning the years 1994-2003 with the bulk of the
material coming from the Jim O'Rourke years of 2001-3. This is Sonic
Youth at their most expansive. Except for three tracks, this is an allinstrumental
Sonic Youth. Sprawling guitars, layers of sound,
building tension, dreamy passages, all the elements that have made
Sonic Youth one of the best bands of the last quarter century. In
many ways this recalls some of their more experimental works released
on their SYR imprint, while managing to still be very listenable and
rewarding. It ends with an even longer version of their epic beauty
"The Diamond Sea" which for many of us is the perfect snapshot of
everything great about Sonic Youth. Once again, showing that their
music is as relevant and timeless as ever!" [Aquarius Records]
* STARS OF THE LID - And their Refinement of the Decline 3 x LP
(Kranky Records KRANKY100, 2007) €18.50
Vinyl-Version des neuen Albums (nach 5 Jahren), orchestraler und fast
schon neo-klassischer zu nennender Breitwand-Ambient, so subtil und
langsam wie es nur SOTL hinkriegen... full info at the CD-section!
* SUDDEN INFANT & CARLOS GIFFONI - Oslo Oscillation LP
(Entr'acte E40, 2007) [ed. of 200] € 15.50
"This collaborative release has its origins in a joint performance which
took place in ‘a shady pub in London’, according to Carlos. Recordings
have since been exchanged and reworked, and finalised when the two
played together again in Oslo last year. Based in Berlin and London,
Joke Lanz toils ceaselessly to create new sounds. He crafts an abrupt
musique concrète, a bewildering edifice of no-fi electronics, turntables,
and unexpected and disorientating sound sources. Since 1986 he has
appeared under a variety of guises, including Schimpfluch-Gruppe,
Schnäbi Gaggi Pissi Gaggi, WAL, Catholic Boys in Heavy Leather,
Opposite Opponents, and the ubiquitous Sudden Infant.
Carlos Giffoni is a Venezuelan artist based in New York. His
compositions utilise analogue and digital synthesis, modular
manipulation, feedback systems, and rewired electronic instruments.
He is a prolific performer, appearing with Thurston Moore, Jim
O’Rourke, Kid 606, Merzbow and Smegma, amongst many others.
Carlos is the curator of the annual experimental music No Fun Fest in
Brooklyn, and also a member of no wave/noise/rock trio Monotract.
First edition of 200 copies" [label info]
"Two masters of noise team up. The old master from Switzerland is
Joke Lanz, also known as Sudden Infant since about twenty years and
Carlos Giffoni from Venezuala but since some time in New York. They
met four or five years ago and have played together a number of times.