Tuesday, January 31, 2012

2011 Favorites by Sublamp





  • Ravedeath, 1972 - Tim Hecker
This has been on my ipod since it was released, I've probably listened to it more than any other record this year.
  • A Static Place - Stephan Mathieu
Pure gorgeousness. I often fall asleep to this album.
  • Seefeel - Seefeel
I think this album is even better than anything they did in the 90s, mainly because of all the delicious fuzzy bass sounds. This album made me get back into fuzz pedals, which led me to spend most of 2011 learning how to build them myself.
  • An Occupied Space - Robert Crouch
The concept behind this album is great. I've always thought music sounded best outside the club, across the street, in a different building all together.
  • Presence - Yann Novak
Yann always manages to craft such delicate sounds, like watching an mri scan cut through a mass of sound, layer by layer, edge on.
  • As High As The Highest Heavens And From The Center To The Circumference Of The Earth - True Widow
The guitars on this album sound like thick syrup poured across an empty river bed, coagulating in the sun. Texas shoegaze at it's best.
  • Periodic Orbits of a Dynamic System Related to a Knot - Mark Fell
It was hard to decide which Mark Fell record I liked the best this year, but this one wins.


Ryan Connor


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More and more often, the word "drone" is being used in CD liner notes, descriptions, reviews of works. Almost always associated with the term "ambient". This is because "ambient/drone" is an area heavily frequented, and, consequently, we have a flood of releases, very similar each other, or even duplicates.
Fortunately, there are good exceptions: the music of Ryan Connor, aka Sublamp, Los Angeles-based artist, is one of those.
In January 2011 he released "In Our Hiding Voice", published by hibernate (also a bonus 3" CD-R with the first copies).
It's a strange, unclassifiable, magnificent album: a bit ambient, a little noisy, partly drone, sweet and harsh at the same time, a hypnotic vortex of sounds that reaches its highest point in "Hiding Song".
One of the best albums of the past year, nothing further to add.


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Discography:

Shiverland
















Label: Serac
Cat. #: --
Format: File, Mp3 / FLAC / ALAC
Release date: 10/2007


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Cathedrals Of Gravity
















Label: SEM Label
Cat. #: IOD 005
Format: File, Mp3 / FLAC / ALAC
Release date: 09/2008


______________________________________

Breathletters
















Label: Dragon's Eye Recordings
Cat. #: de5022
Format: CD-R
Release date: 07/2009

______________________________________

Wickerships
















Label: Ahora Eterno Recordings
Cat. #: ae003
Format: CD-R
Release date: 08/2010

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In Our Hiding Voice
















Label: hibernate
Cat. #: hb23
Format: CD + 3" CD-R (bonus with the first 50 copies)
Release date: 01/2011

______________________________________

Orphan Horns

















Label: Self-released
Cat. #:
Format: CD-R
Release date: 11/2012

______________________________________

Split

















(w/ Giovanni Lami)

Label: Felt
Cat. #:Felt 6
Format: Cassette
Release date: 12/2012

______________________________________

Lianas

















Label: Eilean Rec.
Cat. #: 005
Format: CD
Release date: 07/2014

______________________________________

Sister Maps

















Label: Dragon's Eye Recordings
Cat. #: de6027
Format: File, Digital download
Release date: 03/2019

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Tracks appear on:
  • VV.AA. - The Best Of NTNS Radio - JanFebMar 2008 (2008, Not The Normal Shit Radio, NNTS02) track: Animalface
  • VV.AA. - The Best Of NTNS Radio - JulAugSep 2008 (2008, Not The Normal Shit Radio, NNTS04) track: Mineral Hall
  • VV.AA. - Sing (2010, Duckbay, --) track: Owldrive (For Ann)
  • VV.AA. - Untitled 10 (The Black Album) (2010, Untitled & After, UA10) track: andamurmur
  • VV.AA. - Burning Palms (2011, Flaming Pines, FLP003) track: Twin Pools
  • VV.AA. - Various Artists (Eilean 53) (2014, Eilean Rec., 013) track: Felt Hands

______________________________________


Links:
Sublamp
(website) (bandcamp) (myspace)

Sunday, January 29, 2012

2011 Favorites by Hiroki Sasajima






  • El tren fantasma. CHRIS WATSON (Touch)
  • Phonography Meeting 070823. -VARIOUS ARTISTS- (Winds Measure Recordings)
  • Ki. LUIGI TURRA (and/OAR)
  • Credence. CHRISTOPHER McFALL, DAVID VELEZ (Impulsive Habitat)
  • Estuary. CHRIS WHITEHEAD (Impulsive Habitat)
  • Connection. SIMON WHETHAM (3leaves)
  • Barges & Flows. AKOS GARAI (3leaves)
  • Where Once We Walked. MARK PETER WRIGHT (Another Space)
  • For Objects. JEZ RILEY FRENCH (Engraved Glass)
  • Aguatierra. JUAN JOSE CALARCO (Unfathomless)
  • Ultrasonic Scapes. EISUKE YANAGISAWA (Gruenrekorder)


______________________________________


It's no surprise that we take great interest in sound artists working with field recordings.
Particularly if the artist in question is Hiroki Sasajima.
Hiroki has been able, over the years, to stand out in the experimental scene, drawing the attention of a large number of listeners.
This might be due to effective methods of managing the collected sounds, the ability to assemble his sources, to integrate them into wider contexts, anyway it's a fact that the result is always remarkable.
A long list of works released in 2011: "Bells" on Ahora Eterno, "Hidden Bird's Nest" (with Takahisa Hirao) on 3LEAVES, "Injya" (with James McDougall) on Unfathomless, "Time & Language" (with Pleq and Spheruleus) on Felt and "Aspects", double DVD-R (in collaboration with Yuki Izumi) on Somehow Recordings.
Furthermore, some collaborative tracks included in compilations.


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Discography:

Moment And Silence













Label: Dog Eared Records
Cat. #: Dogeared23
Format: File, Mp3, 192k
Release date: 2008

______________________________________

Nine













Label: --
Cat. #: --
Format: CD-R
Release date: 2009

______________________________________

Monogenic













Label: Sentient Recognition Archive
Cat. #: SRA025
Format: CD-R
Release date: 2009

______________________________________

Focus













Label: Q-Tone
Cat. #: dl08
Format: File, Mp3, 192k
Release date: 2009


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Quadro













Label: Mandorla Netlabel
Cat. #: MNL 018
Format: File, Mp3, 192k
Release date: 2009


______________________________________

Renz
 












Label: Q-Tone
Cat. #: qt04
Format: CD-R
Release date: 2009

______________________________________

Crossion













Label: Tobira Records
Cat. #: Tobira 02
Format: Cassette
Release date: 02/2010

______________________________________

Into The Nothings














Label: Impulsive Habitat
Cat. #: IHab006
Format: File, Mp3, VBR
Release date: 03/2010


______________________________________

Nille













Label: Mystery Sea
Cat. #: MS60
Format: CD-R
Release date: 04/2010

______________________________________

Suikinkutsu













Label: 3LEAVES
Cat. #: 3LTS02
Format: 3" CD-R
Release date: 10/2010

______________________________________

Far East













Label: Semperflorens
Cat. #: sf04
Format: CD
Release date: 12/2010

______________________________________

Bells













Label: Ahora Eterno Recordings
Cat. #: 005
Format: CD-R
Release date: 07/2011

______________________________________
 
Hidden Bird's Nest













(w/ Takahisa Hirao)

Label: 3LEAVES
Cat. #: 3L011
Format: CD
Release date: 10/2011

______________________________________

Injya














(w/ James McDougall)

Label: Unfathomless
Cat. #: U08
Format: CD
Release date: 10/2011

______________________________________ 

Time & Language













(w/ Pleq, Spheruleus)

Label: Felt
Cat. #: Felt / 3
Format: 12"
Release date: 11/2011

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Aspects













(w/ Yuki Izumi)

Label: Somehow Recordings
Cat. #: SR-25
Format: 2xDVD-R
Release date: 12/2011

______________________________________

Colony













Label: Impulsive Habitat
Cat. #: IHab040
Format: File, Mp3 / FLAC
Release date: 03/2012


______________________________________

X And Y













(w/ Pleq)

Label: Ginjoha
Cat. #: GJ-030
Format: Cassette, C30
Release date: 05/2012

______________________________________

Witch-Hunt













(w/ Pleq)

Label: taâlem
Cat. #: alm86
Format: 3" CD-R
Release date: 06/2012

______________________________________

Circle Winds













Label: Felt
Cat. #: Felt 8
Format: CD
Release date: 06/2013

______________________________________

FOR SEASONS #001













(w/ Jez riley French, Sawako)

Label: Tiny Tiny Press
Cat. #: #005
Format: File, Digital download + Postcard Set
Release date: 07/2013

______________________________________

As Stilllife (w/ Takashi Tsuda)

Archipelago













Label: Ftarri
Cat. #: ftarri-959
Format: CD
Release date: 10/2015

______________________________________

Appears on:
  • Pleq - Good Night Two (2011, Progressive Form, --) 
  • VV.AA. - Traces Of Artificial Memories (2012, Impulsive Habitat, IHab061)   
______________________________________

Tracks appear on:

  • VV.AA. - Mandorla Autumn Net - Project Vol.III / Part Two (2008, Mandorla Netlabel, MNL 015) track: Deep Wall
  • VV.AA. - Q (2009, Q-Tone, --) track: Part 2 (Ausschnitt)
  • VV.AA. - In The Rhetoric Of Rupture And Re-appropriation (2009, Ripples Recordings, RPL000) track: Fluid Pack
  • VV.AA. - Circles Around The World (2009, Audiotalaia, at025) track: Roukoku
  • VV.AA. - Various Compilation 01 (2009, Load And Clear Netlabel, L&C 01) track: Phase
  • Pyramids - Wvndrkmmer (2010, Small Doses, DOSE88 ) track: Untitled
  • VV.AA. - Just A Moment (2011, Audio Gourmet Netlabel, AG07) track: A Dream The Vapor Have (w/ Ami Yamasaki)
  • VV.AA. - Tobira Compilation Vol.1 (2011, Tobira Records, tbr-09) track: Katamuki (w/ Yui Onodera)
  • VV.AA. - Reverse 08​/​06​/​2011 (2011, Murmur Records, MMR-) track: Waterscape
  • VV.AA. - Somehow Compilation 2011 - The Pursuit Of Quintessence (2012, Somehow Recordings, SR-26) track: X (Cut) (w/ Pleq)
  • VV.AA. - Escala 2.3 - Volume 2.3.1 Ice (2012, escala NetLabel / Sismógrafo Radio3, --) track: Nanoparticle  
  • VV.AA. - Mandorla Autumn Soundscapes II (2014, Mandorla Netlabel, MNL 030) track: Wire And Stone 

______________________________________


Links:
Hiroki Sasajima

Friday, January 27, 2012

2011 Favorites by Gil Sansón





These are twenty releases that in my opinion are among the best of last year.

  • John Tilbury, Keith Rowe-E.E. Tension and Circumstance (potlach)
  • Cornelius Cardew-The Great Learning (Bölt)
  • Ben Owen, Alfredo Costa Monteiro-Frele a Vide (contour)
  • Cut Hands-Afronoise (susan lawly/very friendly)
  • Morton Feldman-Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello (bvhaast)
  • John Cage-108, 109, 110 (ogre ogress)
  • Christopher Delaurenti-Perforate Silence (spectropol)
  • Anett Nemeth-A Pauper's Guide to John Cage (another timbre)
  • Michael Pisaro-Fields Have Ears (another timbre)
  • Pierre Gerard, Andy Graydon-Untitled (magnetisms) (winds measure)
  • Jürg Frey-Metal, Stone, Skin, Foliage, Air (l'innomable)
  • Taku Unami, Takahiro Kawaguchi-Teatro Assente (erstwhile)
  • Radu Malfatti, Keith Rowe-phi (erstwhile)
  • Corrupted-Garten der Unbewusstheit (nostalgia blackrain)
  • Morton Feldman-Orchestra (mode)
  • Eliane Radigue-Transamorem, Transmortem (important)
  • Anne Guthrie-Perhaps a favourable Organic Moment (copy for your records)
  • Lucio capece, Radu Malfatti-Explorational (b-boim)
  • Michael Pisaro-Asleep, Street, Pipes, Tones (gravity wave)
  • Juan José Calarco, Manrico Montero, Pablo Reche-Embalse(1) (impulsive habitat)


______________________________________


Eclectic artist from Caracas, Venezuela, esteemed composer (scores written for the EA collective), brilliant improvisor, some excellent releases under his name, contributions to various compilations in the past years.
Something more to say about Gil Sansón? Oh, we almost forgot: Gil is another great friend of this blog.
Waiting for his next move, confident that he will exceed our expectations...

______________________________________


Discography:

EA - Balancing Act With Controlled Dynamics




































Label: Winds Measure Recordings
Cat. #: wm05
Format: CD-R
Release date: 2006
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EA - Balancing Act With Controlled Dynamics: Take Two














Label: CONV
Cat. #: CNV47
Format: File, MP3, VBR
Release date: 2008


______________________________________

Por La Adversidad A Las Estrellas














Label: Contour Editions
Cat. #: ce.onl_0001
Format: File, Mp3, 192k
Release date: 06/2009


______________________________________

VV.AA. - Physical, Absent, Tangible














Label: Contour Editions
Cat. #: ce.cd_0001
Format: CD-R
Release date: 02/2010
tracks: La Montaña Se Ha Ido 1-8
______________________________________

EA - Variations













Label: Contour Editions
Cat. #: ce.onl_0003
Format: File, Mp3, 192k
Release date: 05/2010


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VV.AA. - V-p V-f Is V-n - cs02










Label: Winds Measure Recordings
Cat. #: wm20
Format: Cassette, C50
Release date: 12/2010
track: On The Tristan Chord
______________________________________

El Gris En Nuestras Vidas













Label: Impulsive Habitat

Cat. #: IHab057
Format: File, Mp3 / FLAC
Release date: 10/2012


______________________________________


Same Place













(w/ Bruno Duplant)


Label: Idealstate Recordings (No-Number Series)
Cat. #: --
Format:
File, Digital download
Release date: 12/2013
______________________________________


Blank













(w/ Bruno Duplant)


Label: Mystery Sea
Cat. #: MS76
Format:
CD
Release date: 10/2014
______________________________________


Ese Maldito Yo/El Ocaso Del Pensamiento













Label: Lengua De Lava
Cat. #: Lava003CS
Format: Cassette, C44
Release date: 12/2014
______________________________________

Immanence, A Life













Label: Makam
Cat. #: Makam 003
Format: CD
Release date: 2015
______________________________________

Untitled (For Pierre Boulez)













Label: Rhizome.s
Cat. #: Rhizome.s 15
Format:
File, Digital download  
Release date: 12/2016
______________________________________


Sonidos Para Deleuze













Label: Rhizome.s
Cat. #: Rhizome.s 16
Format: File, Digital download
Release date: 12/2016
______________________________________

Untitled (For Dion Workman)













Label: Contour Editions
Cat. #: ce.onl_0013
Format: File, Mp3, 320k
Release date: 09/2017


______________________________________

Works On Paper













(w/
Lance Austin Olsen)

Label: Elsewhere
Cat. #: Elsewhere 006
Format:
CD
Release date: 01/2019
______________________________________


Appears on:

    • Lance Austin Olsen - Dark Heart (2018, Another Timbre, at128)
      ______________________________________ 

      Tracks appear on:

      • VV.AA. - 4 Realisations Of Manfred Werder’s ‘2005(1) (2013, Another Timbre, --) track: 2005(1)
      • VV.AA. - Presque Rien (2013, Rhizome.s, Rhizome.s # 03) track: Presque Rien

      ______________________________________

      Links:
      Gil Sansón