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2LP
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ARBOR 126LP
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"Husk, a career-spanning double-LP retrospective marking Raglani's 'early period' (2004-2009), is both the artist's 'Best-of' collection, as well as a document of a personal orientation within the canon of electronic music. As a devoted student of E.M. history and synthesis techniques, Joseph Raglani has spent the past decade in his St. Louis studio consuming and refiguring. While highly-informed, these tracks avoid simple derivation, the traces of influence are not easily decipherable; the common descriptors fall away. The sonic legacies orbiting the INA GRM axis cross paths with pop sensibilities more akin to the sensuous pulse of New Order. Raglani mines the expressiveness of this fertile boundary space. The compositions on Husk are dense featuring a palette of analog and digital electronic instruments as well as guitar, voice, pedal steel, organ, melodica. Disparate elements find a way to resonate to maximum emotive effect. The sonic energies are not bound to their sources, but are rather utilized for their ability to express. One fourth of the material is available here for the first time; the remainder from private-press and small run releases has been remixed by Raglani and re-mastered by Greg Davis for presentation in this collection."
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LP
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ARBOR 136LP
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New release from this criminally-underrated project: Kithless is the first vinyl release from Pedestrian Deposit to feature member Shannon A. Kennedy (cello). "Pedestrian Deposit (Jonathan Borges and Shannon A. Kennedy) possesses a certain, restrained relationship to texture. Sources both electric and acoustic operate on a logic of hybridity becoming compositional elements organized through their activation of a shared acoustic space. This functions in multiple directions: in some instances, the cello is captured and converted to a subtle electronic variation, expanding the range of the tone through this capture, at other times it acts as a sort of mimicry, tools of one sort operating on the language of the other -- the cello played like a burst of noise, or electronic presence informed by the technique natural to the bow. The compositional practice developed by the duo is strict, bearing the marks of tension informed by the rigor of live performance. The pieces on Kithless are documents of this practice; Drift Gently Down the Frigid Tides of Sleep was recorded live at 'Activating the Medium XIII:ICE' in San Francisco on April 17, 2010. The performance extends the use of hybrid and musique concrete forms by engaging with the physical limits of the body through voluntary hypothermia, transforming the performers state and relationship to compositional tools. Under a Veil of Living Light, a staple from the 2009 East Coast tour, is a drifting of the hybrid forms expressed above, weaving in and out of each other; traces of texture, combined and re-combined. In an edition of 500 copies."
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LP
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ARBOR 094LP
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"Having Had Forgot marks a distinct departure from Sam Goldberg's past recordings, both his lush electric guitar and synth work as well as his borderline-pop project Radio People.Having Had Forgot features Sam working with a rotating ensemble of Midwestern musicians (Tiger Hatcherys Ben Billington, Mike Forbes, and Andrew Young; as well as J. Guy Laughlin, Ben Osbourne, and Jeff Host; for a total palette consisting of acoustic and electric guitar, field recording, percussion, synthesizer, saxophone, double bass, and clarinet). The result is eight careful, delicate songs; varied in instrumentation, but presenting the same elegant consideration of mood and contemplation as his solo works. Private music from a young man; a contemporary offering in the tradition of ensemble records on Windham Hill from William Ackerman and Mark Isham; the opportunity of actualizing personal moments through various actors and the unique textures they are each able to contribute to the whole. In an edition of 500 records with full color jacket and inner sleeves."
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LP
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ARBOR 138LP
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"As Concern, Gordon Ashworth has explored drone music through an inspection of the textural components of acoustic instruments and recording processes. On Cæsarean the palette presented is a singularly precise one. Using simple sources (piano, clarinet, banjo, shrutti box, and acoustic guitar), tape processing (1/4" and cassette), and reverberation, Ashworth crafts delicate tape music through transforming repetitions and obscured fidelity. The emotional and physical presence of Cæsarean is overwhelming; sounding simultaneously natural and alien. The instrumentation and field recordings are both stripped of their defining characteristics; creating a balance between the harmonic characters of both, a pure transformation empty of excess and desire. Time held in suspension. In an edition of 500 copies with black and white reverse board jackets and printed labels."
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LP
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ARBOR 098LP
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2011 repress. "John Elliott's Outer Space project is a laboratory for electronic investigation. Acting as a continuance of the studies of mid 20th century electronic music composers such as Nik Pascal and Laurie Spiegel, Elliott's music is deeply indebted to the inner workings of the electric signal. Acting almost as a meditation, through the simple gesture of translation Elliott's process begins to reveal itself as electricity is converted into acoustic pressure and potential; the melody of physics. The six recordings on the album are each a microcosmic view into Elliott's practice; a keystone, illuminating his solo practice as well as his work as a member of Emeralds. Composed and recorded over the past three years without the use of digital synthesizers and arpeggiation; a record closely connected to a personal path, attempting to make sense, to understand one's journey. Mastered by Keith Fullerton Whitman; pressed in an edition of 650 copies on clear vinyl with full color gloss covers and heavy stock printed euro-style inner sleeves."
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LP
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ARBOR 145LP
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"Working together, but differently. Clear Of, shows Cloaked Light working within a new mode; an expanded temporal sensitivity through field recording and discrete static chords. Slow movement- revealing growth and decay at the subtlest thresholds; disappearing music with a heavy presence, a shifting sense of space, not in the room, but of the room. Pale Blue Sky's Someday, Sometime approaches a similar expansion of perception and unobscuring blur. Through tape manipulation, the inner workings of tonal relationships are placed under focus; extending time to reveal new moments; widening the view. Distorting to understand; a reorienting pause. Originally conceived to coincide with the Cloaked Light/Pale Blue Sky California tour with Pedestrian Deposit, Infinite Body, Earn, and Mirror to Mirror in January 2010; a testament to a common point and its different trajectories. Approaching the possibility. Mastered by Pete Swanson; cut at 45 rpm. In an edition of 400 copies with glossy jackets and inner sleeves."
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2LP
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ARBOR 135LP
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"Following in the tradition of minimalist composers such as La Monte Young, Yoshi Wada, and Charlemagne Palestine, Sun Circle exemplifies a contemporary focus on long form drone music. Members Greg Davis and Zach Wallace have shown their interest in the field with extended works on Kranky and Root Strata respectively; together on Lessness, they show a deep-rooted interest in the power of simple forms. Building upon themes from their recent solo work (Davis' subtly shifting tonal work with electronic oscillators and Wallace's acoustic drone work on the glass armonica), Lessness is comprised of four side long works each exhibiting a different acoustic instrument in isolation. Exploring drums, tambouras (both rhythmic and droning), and gongs with a meditative precision, Davis and Wallace's work seems at once both mechanic and human; the product of focus, revealing a vast beauty within the subtlety of the geometric potential of sound. In an edition of 400 copies with full color matte jackets."
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7"
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ARBOR 130EP
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"Copper Glove, the new project from Baltimore's Door (formerly Earth Crown; who shared splits with Secret Abuse and Kites on past Arbor releases), shows a further progression of his one man industrial-noise synth unit. In opposition to his former work, Copper Glove is more mindful of composition; utilizing tone generators and processed synthesis and vocals, to present a dense cut up analog form of industrial concréte. Door's nihilistic optimism carries itself with a sense of effortlessness; ideological aggression, a pure translation. With focused energy, the noise of the machine continues as man controls it. The city is destroyed but we can still live here, forever. In an edition of 300 7"s with silkscreened covers and printed labels by Door."
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7"
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ARBOR 140EP
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"Ryan Garbes is the drummer of Iowa City bands such as Wet Hair, Dunebuggy, Trash Dog, and formerly Raccoo-oo-oon. His recordings under his own name represent a unique brand of solo multi-track recording with a seamless integrity; through a skillful use of instrumentation and recording technique, Garbes eschews notions of low fidelity for songs reminiscent of traditional American garage rock produced in the haze of an early '90s UK aesthetic. Genuine pop songs, cloaked in a comforting wash of reverb, as if Lou Reed had done a record for Creation; more ecstatic than obstructed, Garbes' voice is a refreshing one outside the continuum of the contemporary four-track bedroom pop. In an edition of 300 copies with full color sleeve and printed labels by Ryan."
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LP
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ARBOR 097LP
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One-sided release. "Michigan heavy domestic-electronic couple Dead Machines always create records that confuse and intrigue. They are the forefathers of broken gear / appliance / wind instrument basement jamming and have their niche dug deep. 'Invasion' exists on the borders of existence- room ambiance is present, but the sounds are totally alien. Twisting mixer feedback and found sound source into a twisted collage of life outside the 'Pod': harsh and awakening, but at times giving way to the trance of the machine lull. Don't fall asleep. In an edition of 450 LPs with full color pro-printed cardboard sleeves with art by John Olson."
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LP
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ARBOR 078LP
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"God Willing and Privy Seals are two of the prime purveyors of meditative harsh tones. God Willing's guitar and oscillator drone has been reaching epic levels of hypnosis lately, and this piece is a great example. The repetitive nature of textured signals act like the swaying charm of the pocket watch: onward march. Matthew Sullivan has been crafting his Earn project recently, and this, one of the final Privy Seals recordings, acts as a logical bridge. Heavy, hi-end guitar and tape interlacing: a harsh movement, but possessing transcendently soothing qualities buried under the deprivation of distorted tones. At the end of the hallway, a door lies open. A long overdue document of the L.A. diaspora. In an edition of 300 LPs with silkscreened chipboard covers by Ren Schofield."
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7"
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ARBOR 052EP
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"The malformed compositions of C. Spencer Yeh and Sick Llama come from opposing spectrums of noise music, though their similarities are undeniable. Whether it be Yeh's solo piece for violin or Sick Llama's gunked tape work, the spirit of improvisation shines through. On Yeh's track, the churning sounds of metal scrapes and light tinges, like crossed radio static and growing, buzzing drones are the result of one source: violin. His unique approach to the instrument marks him as one of the most exciting improvisers today whether it be with his solo work or through his work in Burning Star Core. Sick Llama's untitled track is one of his most varied and interesting tracks; like a cut up compilation of his brain damaged worked constantly flowing into new junkyard zones: crushing and dirty with the hiss of tape static. Coming from the stoned mind of Heath Moreland of Fag Tapes, the expected tape aesthetic is transferred to vinyl with a compilation of cut up compositions, evoking a series of mystery sound sources. In an edition of 400 7"s in pro-printed fold-over sleeves with art by Maya Miller of Heavy Tapes/Religious Knives."
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7"
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ARBOR 017EP
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"Karl Bauer and Eva Saelens (Axolotl and Inca Ore respectively) are two like-minded Bay area psychers operating on two opposing levels. Axolotl marks the A-side with skyward streaking drones and ethereal loops tinged and focused, ringing with the joyous bliss of upward passage. An endless array of vocals, electronics, and violin looping and looping, building and growing: stasis. Inca Ore makes her craft from an Earth-bound level. Oneness with her surroundings, roots firmly planted. Eerie incantations and meandering harp play foreground to layer upon layer of looped vocals and murky ambience, charting your way towards forever. In an edition of 450 white purity colored 7"s in black and white pro-printed collage fold-over sleeves by Eva with a numbered insert."
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LP
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ARBOR 054LP
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One-sided LP. "Suburban Michigan is a breeding ground where every weirdo has a label, a band, and a handful of secret/under the radar collaborative projects. Here Graveyard's Ben Hall and Lambsbread's Zac Davis create a monolithic one-sider influenced by too many private press jazz records and abstract instrumentalism. Davis turns in his effect pedals for nothing; pure clean tones plucked up and down scales and bridges so uniquely that it is easy to confuse the guitar for a sax. Ben Hall drums like a man with four arms; constant rattling trap-tapping and assorted pots and pans clattering, flowing completely smoothly. A perfect union of sound. In an edition of 300 copies in screened chipboard sleeves by Anthony Decanini."
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LP
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ARBOR 041LP
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"Even though Warmth main man Steev Thompson still appears to be incommunicado, totally epic recordings continue to surface. Before Roxanne Jean Polise was officially over and Steev still lived in Chicago, he joined up with another then-Chicago resident Branden Diven of Quilts/American Grizzly Records. The jams that were created filled a couple of CD-Rs and the Warmth side of the split with Quintana Roo on Not Not Fun. This LP consists of a remixed and edited version of the original CD-R running at just under 45 minutes. Forgotten smog floats through a Northside basement. Sounds emanate but their source is totally unrecognizable. Quiet growing tonal blobs erupt into washes of aural color. A complete union of samplers, synths, vocals, guitar, organs, percussion, and electronics merge to create the sounds contained within; a loss of individual existence. Completely serene. In an edition of 300 LPs on creamy yellow marbled vinyl with hand-stamped labels in pro-printed and screened fold over sleeves with art by Roy Tatum and an insert by Steev."
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7"
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ARBOR 046EP
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"Youth of the Beast is pure primitive electronics, suffocating saxophone scrawl and epic percussion. Acting as the solo output for Raccoo-oo-oon's Andy Spore, this record is YOTB's first vinyl offering following up a few tapes on Night People and Fuck It Tapes. Blistering vocal screeches and mixer feedback blasts meld with stray tones as brass wails and drums are pounded. Spore is a master of channeling the spirits right into the basement where he crafts his jams, creating a captivating mass of noise and psychedelic signals crossing for a painfully beautiful 10 minutes. Breathless sax solos and massive tribal percussion interspersed throughout. The sum of all these parts is something intense, unknown; an ever-evolving sonic creature as bleak as it is restless. In an edition of 315 records with EPIC xeroxed double-sided/double foldover."
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