Celer / In Escaping Lakes
‘In Escaping Lakes’ is the sequel to ‘Cursory Asperses’, previously released on Slow Flow. Where ‘Cursory Asperses’ focused on the slow movement primarily of streams, and other field recordings, ‘In Escaping Lakes’ continues this pathway to expand into a deeper subject, of lakes and their surroundings. Inspired by a painting by Anthony Feyer, ‘In Escaping Lakes’ was made to demonstrate enclosure, depth, and closeness in still places.
Will & Danielle: Piano, Strings, Gong, Tingshas, Voice, Electronics, Hydrophone, Flute.
Tracks:
A Less Distinguished Tributary / Seagrass / Mentioned Fumes / The Light Obtainable In Spaces We Share / Extending and Directly Below / Inoffensive Sets of Misdirection / Calculated Din / Wetness Is Close To Likeness / Horizontal Reflections / Australis / A Buoyant Object, That Rests and Moves In Such A Way /
When Recounting Futures, Don’t Fail To Mention Me
Coming soon…
distribution link
http://slowflowrec.web.fc2.com/link.html
Misound – Stanze di te Reviewed by maeror3
Иногда кажется, что мир независимой, экспериментальной музыки на девяносто процентов состоит из маленьких лейблов, которые издают молодых, не всегда талантливых, музыкантов мизерными тиражами на «болванках». Именно эти «значки» готовы предоставить многим, может быть, единственный шанс донести свои идеи и мысли, их музыкальное воплощение хотя бы до очень ограниченного количества людей.
Японский «Slow Flow records» один из этих лейблов, сейчас активно выпускающий свои релизы. Надо сказать, что эти самые релизы не лишены главного – на этих кусках пластика записана Музыка, пусть не всем доступная и понятная, но качественная и интересная. Итальянский проект «Misound» на своем альбоме «Stanze di te» демонстрирует сочетание «акустического эмбиента» и трансформированных полевых записей, сделанных на разных концах света, в Японии и Англии. Не сильный, но красивый голос выдает неторопливые вокализы в обрамлении звуков скрипки, пианино, флейт, различных шорохов и эффектов. Мелодий ждать не надо – на их месте прекрасно расположились невесомые напевы, глубокие, пронизывающие звуки, красиво сочетающиеся между собой. Все кажется очень простым и доступным, музыка способна прекрасно гармонировать со слушателем и окружающим миром, но зачастую ей не хватает самой малости, чтобы всецело завладеть вниманием, и этим композициям приходится переходить в «фоновый режим». Зато начиная с «The gates» всех, кому в руки этот альбом попадет, поджидает очень глубокий, пропахший вечерней прохладой эмбиент, в котором «живые» инструменты уже довольно трудно различить в потоке медленных, обволакивающих текстур.
«Stanze di te» не перевернет мировоззрение и, возможно, не заставит возвращаться к себе слишком часто на протяжении короткой жизни «болванки» – но послушать его стоит, приятное и необременительное знакомство гарантированно.
http://slowflowrec.web.fc2.com
RPL000 Reviewed by Vital Weekly
Vital Weekly 688.
http://www.vitalweekly.net/688.html
IN THE RHETORIC OF RUPTURE AND RE-APPROPRIATION (CDR compilation by Ripples Recordings)
Last week I was introduced to the music of Ennio Mazzon, and a day later this compilation was sent to me by the same Mazzon. I assume its to introduce this as a new label by him, as it bears catalogue number RPL 000. I recognize some names from the healthy CDR scene, such as Terje Paulsen, Musil and Tiziano Milani, but also new names as Peter Stenberg, Hiroki Sasajima, James McDougall, Glenn Ryszko and Ryonkt. Much like Mazzon’s own release from last week, most this music deals with microsound, computer processing and processed field recordings. Each artist however fills in the blank space in his or her own way. Mazzon’s piece is quite dark and drone like, Sasajima works around with the crackles of branches, and Milani combines both of these ends and adds an undefined instrument. The pieces of Paulsen and Musil, placed at the end of the release, are more in a musical territory than in a soundscape one. The best piece is the last, by Ryonkt, with beautiful sustained tones in the best Alvin Lucier/Phill Niblock tradition. In all a fine compilation, with some great pieces and one excellent piece. No bad score there. (FdW)
Favorite Ambent of May
Celer – Capri – Humming Conch[CD]
Celer – Engaged Touches – Home Normal[CD]
Chubby Wolf – L’HISTOIRE – Gears of sand[CD]
Concern – Truth and Distance – digitalis[CD]
V.A – Cotton – Dragon’s eye[CD]
Jazz Piano small pieces [Podcast]
Misound “Stanze di te” Reviewed by Tanner Menard
stanze di te – misound – slow flow rec
May 4th, 2009
Simply put, Misound’s ‘Stanze di Te’ released on Slow Flow Rec is one of the most gorgeous and well rounded albums that I have heard in the experimental/ambient genre. I never make a claim to do totally unbiased reviews. For me, a review is a way to say thank you to an artist and to a label for sharing their work with the world. That said, thank you Misound and Slow Flow for putting out this really remarkable album.
What I love most about ‘Stanze di Te’ is its complex arrangement of source material. Characterized by a lush assortment of environmental sounds, roughly recorded choral, piano, saxophone and percussion sounds with an assortment of granular textures the album takes me to a place where the basic beauty of music is never forgotten. My favorite track is ‘Sonno’ the opener. It is rare for most experimental electronica to start with such a powerful and blatantly romantic tour de force track. Though it is only about two and a half minutes long the opening track packs a sonic punch and opens the door for the proceeding tracks which soften in intensity.
Whereas I am one of the biggest fans of drone, monochromatic tone poems and extreme minimal soundscapes, its a real treat to listen to an album that embodies all of the best elements of experimental/minimal/ambient music while bringing the listener through a myriad sound worlds with ease and mobility. I am also really pumped that pieces were performed live using max/msp patches and recordings of live instrumental performances. There is something real about this music and something original.
Credit also belongs to Ryo Nakata for curating such an amazing series of releases, one after the next, Slow Flow Rec continues to find some of the most innovative voices in the ambient genre. Misound’s ‘Stanze di Te’ is maybe the best kept secret i’ve run into in ages.
http://tannermenard.archaichorizon.com/2009/05/04/stanze-di-te-misound-slow-flow-rec/
segue [into the fall]
all music is recorded and produced by Jordan Sauer using field recordings, acoustic guitars, violin, piano, glockenspiel, melodica, assorted percussion and sine waves via laptop.
‘into the fall’ was recorded during a transitional period in my life when many things began to change all at once. it was also recorded during the spring-autumn season of 2008, and so the emotional trajectory of the album coincided well with the changes in the physical world around me.
for me, music is a form of meditation, of reflection on what was and will be.
“I wear my shadows where they’re harder to see, but they follow me everywhere. I guess that should tell me I’m traveling toward light.”
- Bruce Cockburn
world wide 10.00USD + shipping 3.00USD
Four Fragments reviewed by White_line
Having to choose a worthy release from all of the many labels and small producers out there has become a notoriously difficult minefield to negotiate. With a panoply of good and great output, down to the downright dodgy, it is comforting to know that certain suppliers have their hand firmly on the quality control button. Step forward Smallfish, whose releases lately are just getting better and better, and one can rely on great material combined with beautifully designed packaging, in highly collectable editions that look great propped up on any CD shelf. Their latest release, Four Fragments, by Japanese minimalist, Ryonkt is something of a rare gem. Ryonkt, a contraction of the artist’s name, Ryo Nakata is a meditation on the sublime and essential elements of minimalism. Nakata deploys the twin staples in the field of electronica, the loop and the drone, effortlessly merging them into a seemingly organic whole, that is, quite simply the personification of elegance. Nakata’s evenly paced pieces strike a middle ground between the earlier ambient works of Pola, combined with a kind of Phil Niblock tonality. Comparisons here are reluctantly made though, as Nakata’s work, although ambient and drone-like, captures something rare and unique, a language and an approach that betrays the sparkle of beckoning genius. The pieces are washed over with delicate, transcendent reverberations, and minute fluctuations and intrusions, a sublime fusion that leaves me suspended for some moments when it finishes, only to reach out and press “repeat” on my player. I am not exaggerating when I say that Nakata is most assuredly destined for greater things, and his work would easily grace the halls of labels like Touch, such is the depth and quality of his work.
In sharp contrast to the work of Ryonkt, although not a million miles away in terms of moody atmospherics is the work of Monostation, whose Tristimulus EP has also just been released by Smallfish. The Monostation boys are now favourites amongst the Smallfish intelligentsia, and little wonder, as their work explores territories fringing the world of ambience and techno. Each track here sounds like the extended introduction to a full-on techno workout, but then kept in check by it’s creators, it creates a delicious tension between swirls of atmospherics, topped with stringed elements from the guitar as on opener, Spectral Locus. Closing track Metamarism is a more expansive ambient drift work, uniting stringed chords with wispy atmospherics, to engender a soft, yet enticing dynamic. Once again, Smallfish, Monosation, Ryonkt – you have not disappointed..these are two incredible 8cm releases that demand the attention of a wider audience. Highly recommended.BGN
http://whiteline1.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/smallfish-new-releases-ryonkt-monostation/
Periodic Wind Release!!
Description:
After almost one year Ryonkt is back to Audiotalaia. After a ascending and outstanding success through this year, the artist from Sapporo delivers another large soundscape of harmonic lines.
This time Ryonkt presents a gentle composition that goes by while listenning. A sonic space where time stops and the soft waves of Periodic Wind drags yourself into a mysterious land.
For this release we are also proud to present the new line of designs for the Audiotalaia Releases. Carla Ariza (graphic designer and digital artist) and Oriol Panadés (Photographer) are going to be in charge, for now and on of the Artwork Team in Audiotalaia,a nd we are happy to encrease the Audiotalaia family.
Tracklist:
01. Periodic Wind
Lenght: 27:14 min
Artwork by: Carla Ariza
Photography by: Oriol Panadés
SFR003 – Misound – Stanze di te
Misound – Stanze di te
Track List:
1. Sonno
2. Stanze di te
3. So easy
4. Giorni vuoti
5. Se non lo sai
6. The gates
7. Creta
8. Quando e’ sera
9. Sotto la pioggia
Recorded in London and Tokyo between 2006-2008.
Produced by Marco Iavarone aka Misound
Mastered at Misound Studio (London-UK)
Marco Iavarone: Electronics, Piano, Vocals.
Melanie Gaebel Violin on Track 4
“Four Fragments” reviewed by Tanner Menard
About a year ago I met Ryo Nakata aka ‘ryonkt’ through Myspace and immediately fell in love with his masterful use of harmonics, melodic simplicity and sonic interference patterns. His recent release on the esteemed label smallfish is no exception. ‘Four Fragments’, the title of this shining diamond of an EP are four perfectly designed audio haiku. Unlike many of his other releases which combine drone like manipulation of overtones with minimalist folk-centric melodies, four fragments have been stripped down to pure manipulation of what I call ‘barely audible’ sonic phenomenon. These tracks, stunningly mastered by Taylor Dupree, are sure to repeat on your ipod for hours at a time.
A few months ago Ryo and I decided to start work on our own collaboration. I sent him six pianoteq works, having no clue what he would do with them or where he would take them. For months there was a silent gap between us. One day, as if a phoenix had appeared from the sky, I received an email from Ryo with the six tracks. His manipulations and additions to my pianoteq tracks contained some of the most subtle and delicate work that I had ever heard, and I truly felt humbled that this rare talent had agreed to work with me.
For whatever reason, I think there is a tendency to avoid the personal in much ambient and experiental music. In the music of ‘ryonkt’ this is not the case. Even in this instance, with an album named after its structure, four fragments, there is the sense that you KNOW who Ryo Nakata is. I can very deeply feel HIS presence in the audio. But like much Japanese art, one can only detect this if one allows oneself to drop all pretense and to merely be. So when you play this album, take a minute, allow your mind to empty and let it be filled with the myriad psycho-accoustic meanderings that are Ryo Nakata. Like the third track of this album, if you allow his music in, suddely you will be filled with a sparkling radiance.
It seems unfitting to write a long review about the work of ‘ryonkt’ because he may be the only master of short form currently working in the ambient genre. In a genre filled with hour long drones and twenty minute meandering tracks, Ryo Nakata says more in these four four minute tracks than most artists say in three days. Pick up a copy of Four Fragments from smallfish. This 3 inch crd is strictly limited to 100 copies so act quick. They are likely to remain on your play list for weeks on end.
