(02.03.05) John Twell’s and Stefan Lewandowski’s UK based label,
set to have another successful year, with a typically broad stylistic
range of new releases forthcoming in 2005.
The Type back-catalouge will also shortly be available to preview and
download from
alt=”bleepdotcom”>Bleep.com.
Here’s what to look out for from the label in the coming months ::
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
“Boston- based multi Instrumentalist Keith Kenniff is a busy man. He
has appeared as Helios on a number of acclaimed releases, including
Type Records’ very own Deaf Center – Neon City EP, and released a
debut album Unomia on Merck records which has appeared on many best
of 2004 lists. All this while studying at the prestigious Berklee
College of Music, and playing drums, guitar or contributing production
to a host of amazing musicicans. Kenniff lives and breathes music;
something that is very obvious when hearing tracks under any of his
pseudonyms.
As Goldmund, Kenniff has disregarded the electronic elements of his
music almost entirely in favour of just a piano, a microphone and
occasionally a guitar. Corduroy Road is thirteen tracks of pure
recording, the sound of the piano being opened and the feet on the
pedals, the sound of fingers pressing lovingly onto the keys. This is
a record of rare and unusual beauty, so shocking and yet unpretentious
in its simplicity. When the guitar does emerge from beside the
delicately touched piano, it serves as a balancing point for the
record. Weaving in and out of the melodies, it adds another layer to
what is already incredibly moving music.
Corduroy Road is rooted in Kenniff’s love of folk music from the
American Civil War. We can hear this directly from his rendition of
Civil War era classic ‘Marching Through Georgia’, but the influence
carries throughout the record. There is an unheard voice that propels
each track through history, maybe the ghosts of dying soldiers
whispering in a long forgotten bar. Every haunting note drifts deep
into the psyche and is lost in the ether of nostalgia. In this way it
is a concept recording of sorts, it certainly has a narrative and has
to be listened to in sequence. The story has clear themes; loss,
history, friendship, camaraderie, forgiveness and hope, all clearly
marked out by musical segments. It is no surprise that Kenniff’s
passion for cinema shines through so strongly.
It would be hard to draw comparisons to music so rooted in folk
traditions, but the music evokes traces of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Mark
Hollis, Keith Jarret or even Eno’s more piano based compositions. Yet
influence seems unimportant when listening to this deeply personal
work. Just let it sink in and drift into the psyche.”
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
“A beautiful, cinematic work from Parisian Julien Neto. Taking
influence from Satie, Debussy and ancient French film soundtracks,
Neto has forged something timeless and nostalgic. The finest childhood
memories collected in a torn, dusty notebook.”
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
“Ryan Teague has created six epic modern classical works melding
electronic ideas with avant-classical structure. For fans of ECM, Arvo
Part and more recently Arve Henriksen, this is a release destined for
cult status.”
For a sneak preview of 6 Preludes, the second in what seems likely to
become a classic series of EP’s, visit the Radio section of Type’s
website (typerecords.com/radio) and listen to some of the
remarkable mixes available to stream or download.
Or you can tune in to
alt=”209radio”>209radio on Sunday 6th February between 15:00 and
16:00 GMT to hear an interview with Ryan Teague, tracks from 6
Preludes and other forthcoming items from the Type catalogue.
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
“Imagine if Robert Johnson had a laptop instead of a guitar and you’ll
go some way to describing this skewed electronic hybrid created by
Australian born London resident Melissa Agate. Instruments are
crushed, destroyed and re-constructed but Agate’s music never loses
sight of the soul.”
Xtro Site
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
“The live band that has received so much acclaim over the last two
years finally drops their debut album, and it is not to be missed. A
perfect blend of improvised jazz and electronics, and beautiful vocal
tracks, there is something for everyone.”
::..:::…..:..::….:::::..:::..:::::::……:::…::.:::….::::..:..:::…::…….:::::
Forthcoming in Autumn 2005 :: New albums from RJ Valeo, Deaf Center.
