Soundscaping

Pleq & Lauki - the anatomy of melancholy

szola — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:31:56 GMT

Pleq and Lauki released last year an album entitled ‘the Anatomy of Melancholy’. This is only one of several collaborations between these two artists. Both musicians have been described as experimental and ambient, although as we know such labels only cover parts of a more complex picture. Soundscaping took a listen to what the melancholy sounded like.

The quintessence of Nomadic Kids Republic

trym — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 GMT

And just like that I had my lap full of five new albums on Ian Hawgood’s Nomadic Kids Republic (NKR). Readers of this website should be aware of yours truly’s fascination with Home Normal, another of Hawgood’s curated labels, but until now I had not made myself familiar with the NKR catalogue. Imagine the disappointment then when I realised what I have been missing out on, so with this pack of five releases all ambushing the market in a flurry of release dates spanning a month from mid-October to November 2011, I was very pleased to tie up some loose ends.

A Winged Victory For The Sullen - s/t

trym — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 GMT

A Winged Victory For The Sullen is the new collaboration between Dustin O’Halloran and Adam Wiltzie (of Stars of The Lid), and their eponymously named debut is the perfect amalgamation of their two distinctive sounds with Wiltzie’s long-drawn orchestral, droning movements of chords and textures to which O’Halloran adds his trademark solemn and truly evocative piano melodies.

The perilous «Voyage» of Spheruleus

trym — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:00:00 GMT

Spheruleus’ album Voyage for Jonathan Lees’ Hibernate label is the dreary tale of a doomed ship voyage in 8 parts, with the atmosphere of events mapped out in low frequency drones. Initially capturing the air of excitement at charting the unknown and setting sail, the first tracks are filled with promise and a sense of exploratory optimism, however with that underlying insecurity that follows with the vast ocean to every sea expedition that sets out.

V/A - That It Stays Winter Forever [White Box]

trym — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:51:39 GMT

We became familiar with the excellent Manchester-based White Box (headed by Danny Saul of Liondialer) back when we reviewed the debut album by Liondialer, and so it is exciting to return to this label with this limited release in only 300 copies. Though the playing time matches that of an album, this three-way split CD is a collection of individual tracks by three different artists, each roughly 20 minutes long, which was pressed up to accompany their Japanese tour in November 2010.

On Richard Ginns and the Memories of Seaside Visits

trym — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:56:00 GMT

Slow and tireless like the sea by which it is named, Richard Ginns’ second album – released now on Ryo Nakata’s Slow Flow Rec – is a compilation of gently, flowing drones produced by Ginns’ guitar and microsound electronic glitchiness and slows the pace and tone for the next following 47 minutes of nautical bliss.

On Gurun Gurun and the Japanese sound of a Czech outfit

trym — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

My my, this is quite a new direction for Home Normal, and it is certainly refreshing that labels allow themselves the choice to generally just release great music and defy being classified as a particular sort of label. With Hawgood’s affinity for Japanese culture clear in your mind, and particularly the dazzle of the child-like and curious aspects of Japanese music, it’s quite easy to see Gurun Gurun would trigger the right strings in the label owner’s heart. The real surprise however is that Gurun Gurun are neither Japanese or have ever been to Japan, but is a Czech ensemble…