Several of you will already know that Bandcamp had done a day of waiving revenue a few weeks back. They’re doing it again on Friday (May 1st), so we put together a short list of releases we thought our readers would enjoy. We need art more than ever and are currently trapped in a system where the people producing it only earn a livelihood under the best of conditions. Let’s give back and thank those dream workers for at least a day.
We need art more than ever
The reason why we’re doing this zine, and the reason why you’re reading it, is disarmingly simple —we love music. We love to listen to it, to talk about it, we love the rush of hearing about a new release by an old favorite, or the thrill of being introduced to a new style or sound we didn’t know was possible.
Artists around the world have been hit hard by the epidemic, and musicians had to cancel tours and gigs en masse. Several of you will already know that Bandcamp had done a day of waiving revenue a few weeks back. They’re doing it again on Friday (May 1st), so we put together a short list of releases we thought our readers would enjoy. We need art more than ever and are currently trapped in a system where the people producing it only earn a livelihood under the best of conditions. Let’s give back and thank those dream workers for at least a day.
Here we go!
Tengui :: Countertransference (broken20)
The hustle continues, and with it Broken 20’s next release, a tape / digital release is out on Friday to tie in with Bandcamp’s revenue-free day (also going onto all the usual digi distro suspects a couple weeks later.) It’s the new album from London’s Tengui aka Max B of Colony/Misc. fame, with remixes from his partner in arms Datasette plus B20’s Production unit and TVO. [Bandcamp]
Drifting In Silence :: Desolate EP (Labile)
Contemplative, and relaxed textures from the other side of ambient and atmospheric realms. Drones flutter about with a sense of soundtrack isolation, created by a very talented musician, mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri — utter sonic beauty. [Bandcamp]
Acid tinged and 90s steeped from Timo Deeprhythms. [Bandcamp]
Evel Records :: 5 year anniversary
Highly effective next-level IDM/braindance label that is about to release their CD compilation celebrating their 5 year anniversary. Carried by a certain idea of experimentation, Evel decided to divide the compilation into 4 digital volumes and finally compiled into 1 CD. The 4 digital parts are intended to deepen in a certain intimate character between tracks, giving voice to four incredible EPs. Different is the case of the CD compilation that is enriched by 2 bonus tracks and a completely different playlist order. [Bandcamp]
Label run by DJ Node and Jadey Smith with some daring sounds. [Bandcamp]
Hieroglyphic Being :: Synth Expressionism/Rhythmic Cubism (On the Corner)
The prolific catalog of Moss’ covers many musical dialects from his hometown and beyond. Never standing in one artistic sphere for too long, this adventure for On the Corner Records sees Hieroglyphic Being exploring a multitude of expressions of the American Avant-garde. Abstractions Of The Future Past — Afro-Cubism: The Designation, conceived by an African With A Mainframe — An Etude Of Effigy — A Hieroglyphic Being. [Bandcamp]
Deep, exploratory sound-mining in the experimental and ambient drone vein, Heikki Lindgren (Vongoiva) and Esa Ruoho (aka Lackluster) met in 2017 and started a duo where Heikki plays obscure monophonic synthesizers through pedals and Esa samples, effects and processes them. The only thing HLER does in post-production is to pick a good segment and master it. They have only recently finished a tour of 8 libraries in Southern Finland, performing hypnotic ambient music for 3 hours in each, except for the finale which was a 6 hour performance. Totaling 27 hours of material, only some of this has been released to date. [Bandcamp]
Ignatius :: Bundle Drift EP (Buried In Time)
More fluid and abstract electronics, smoldering beats, bass, and microscopic melodies from outer space coming from a talented audio craftsman that keeps quality control at the highest standard. [Bandcamp]
Inwards :: Bright Serpent (Small Pond)
An introspective collection of psychedelic modular synth led experimentations, Bright Serpent is the new album by Kristian Shelley aka electronic musician Inwards. Electronic textures and rhythms rub up against manipulated recordings of real instruments, voices and field recordings to fashion transportive snapshots of an inner sound-world. [Bandcamp]
Long time experimental electronic / IDM musician Esa Ruoho (aka Lackluster) has dropped a 15% discount code “mayfirst” and reduced prices of all releases on his Bandcamp page, except for Container. During the past few weeks he has also made available, for free, a 2-hour stream of “severely mutilated” Lackluster tunes (broadcast on further_in on the 12th of April, following a stellar set from Kilowatts), and also an audio interview and a similar “rejig” session of old Container (deFocus, 2000) music – both from 2016. [Bandcamp]
Lee Anthony Norris :: Italian Works II (Self Released)
18 tracks of essential music from this multi-talented sonic sculpture. Features music from Norris’ Nacht Plank alias and The Angling Loser project and highlights his ongoing collaborations with Mick Chillage as Autumn Of Communion, Ishq as Ishqamatics, The Ashes Of Piemonte with Wil Bolton, Moss Garden with Dimitar Dodovski, Porya Hatami, Orphic Signals with Wil Bolton, Memex with Darren McClure and 2xirtam with Frank Rumpelt. Essential listening environments tucked away deep within. [Bandcamp]
Pedro Vian :: Ibillorca (Modern Obscure Music)
Vian, whose Modern Obscure Music label is at the heart of the Barcelona electronic scene, moved to Amsterdam in 2018. While the Dutch capital has embraced this inventive producer and DJ, Vian says the new album is inspired by a feelings of absence and longing for his Mediterranean home. “On this album I explore my feelings of missing the light,” he says. “Ibillorca is a journey to a utopian island, a journey to a new state of mind.” [Bandcamp]
 
PDF :: Pistel Drukman Farmer (Self Released)
What else would you expect from such a skilled collaboration? A welcomed new EP and moniker of psychedelic dub and rock infusion with a live recording from these current/past Meat Beat Manifesto contributors. Plenty of laid-back and drifting bass and grooves galore. [Bandcamp]
Soul Flask :: The Cassandra Complex (Mahorka)
Abstract, experimental, drifting, and emotive ambient electronics from another dimension. Soul Flask’s debut with Mahorka is 19 tracks of pure bliss, effective and complex, baffling and serene, a contemplative mixture of gauzy electronics and a chilled foray into the subconscious. [Bandcamp]
V/A :: Ghostly Swim 3 (Ghostly International)
An excellent collection of tracks from Ghostly, featuring Bogdan Raczynski, Gabor Lazar, Aquarian, and lots more! [Bandcamp]
V/A :: MOACD2 (Móatún 7)
A relatively new Icelandic imprint generates enough momentum with MOACD2, a CD/digital comp featuring B12, Autumn Of Communion, Futuregrapher, Bistro Boy, Plaid remixing Min-Y-Llan, Ruxpin, Murya, Parallel Worlds and many others in this unique electronic excursion. [Bandcamp]
V/A :: Mobile Strategies: Batter-Powered Sonics (Clan Analogue)
Here we have a survey of international mobile music making using cheap portable synths, boutique miniature noise-making gadgets or apps on the phone or tablet. The result is a unique assortment of electronics that is consistently on-track. [Bandcamp]
V/A :: SNTX1: Phase 1 (Syntax Electronix)
A 6-track EP kicking off this new label with roughened electro/techno and harder beat oddities. Dez Williams, Go5, Lex Or, Soj, Negocius Man, Electrodynamique and Mauro Nakimi all contribute. [Bandcamp]h
V/A :: Unbound Underground (Unbound Underground)
A more aggressive electronic display of tracks (15 in total) spanning raw braindance rhythms merging with hard techno, downtempo, chiptune and all forms of darker realms. [Bandcamp]
