Xiphiidae – ‘Pass Hidingly Seek’ LP and ‘Quaking Myth’ LP
Long-running solo project by Jeffry Astin. Label head honcho of everyone’s favorite underground cassette label Housecraft. His highly organic style, represented on over 40 releases, predominantly cassettes, defies all attempts at elementary categorisation, but indicates broad influences from modern and ethnic drone, tape music, musique concrète, kosmische and lo-fi, amongst others. Two selected recordings Pass Hidingly Seek (2009) and Quaking Myth (2010) finally get the proper issue on wax!

Tuluum Shimmering - ‘Ulau Tau/Spirit Of Sun’ LP
One of the most magical recordings you’ll hear this year is the first LP by Uk-based one-man trancedental-drone band Tuluum Shimmering. The sound of Tuluum Shimmering is like a sort of loop driven, timeless ethnic music without a region or a tradition. the recordings on the LP were made on a 4-track cassette recorder. On the A side there’s: homemade bamboo xylophone, homemade flute, acoustic guitar customised with buzz bridge, Roland digital piano, vietnamese gong, cymbal, rattle. On the B side: homemade tamboura, various flutes, Roland digital piano, hand drums, vocals, tibetan singing bowl, snake charmer, rattle, saxophone.

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LAKES – ‘Blood of the Grove’ LP
Fifth album by Lakes, aka Sean Bailey from Melbourne, Australia. Since 2002, Lakes has released a constant stream of 7-inch’s, cassettes, CD-r’s and LP’s cloaked in a thick mist of noise and lowfidelity. 2011’s Winter’s Blade pointed to a new direction and strength of production with a challenging take on bleak folk, medieval wanderings, and the darker side of post-punk. The newest Blood Of The Grove marks the squaring of the circle with ten brand new songs: simple yet evocative, direct but solemn. Think of Rose Clouds Of Holocaust-era Death In June covering Discharge’s Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing and you’ll get what we might call combat-folk aka how to match peace-punk impetuosity with post-industrial acoustic ballads. One long-awaited and well-deserved comeback, for fans of the classic sounds of Current 93 and Sol Invictus, as well as for those you dig the curt and martial ones by Joy Of Life and Above The Ruins, obviously without forgetting to mention the influence of the local heroes Strength Through Joy. Comes in total black look: black wax in black paper inner sleeves and pic sleeves printed in black on the inner side too.

KINIT HER – ‘The Poet & The Blue Flower’ LP
Through kaleidoscopic composition, constitution of voice, and timbral experimentation, Nathaniel Ritter and Troy Schafer continue to braid their string of works as Kinit Her. Their discography has grown strong over recent years with releases on such esteemed labels as Alt.Vinyl, Small Doses, Pesanta Urfolk, Reue um Reue, and now AVANT!; this repertoire has become a powerful force that is harmoniously reliable and unpredictable in theme, atmosphere, and trajectory. On The Poet & The Blue Flower, Schafer and Ritter endure in architecting a unique system of auditory mysticism. Falling in an undefinable territory of the post-industrial and neofolk landscapes with both strictly structured songlike fragments and more free-associative passages throughout its 8 tracks, this album features the exalted rhetoric that is Schafer’s stoic orchestral arrangements, Ritter’s tidal electronics and the continually evolving vocal deliveries of both men. Lyrically The Poet & The Blue Flower continues with Kinit Her’s recent bent of drawing on poetry from Germany’s early 20th Century post-romantic literary underground. With this record they drift slightly from Der Kosmikerkreis to the poems of literary and political philosopher Rudolf Pannwitz serving as their sole inspiration. Pannwitz’ poetry effortlessly escalates Kinit Her’s themes of the entanglement of Heaven, Earth, and those who believe to be dwelling in some intersection thereof. Visual accompaniment to Kinit Her’s music, as it was on the recent The Cavern Stanzas, has been graciously provided by the brush of Gianluca Martucci. Comes on grey vinyl in black paper inner sleeve, all housed in heavy full-color sleeve printed on the inner part too. Mastered by James Plotkin.

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DBA121 TURBINE – ‘Lherbuchsuite’ CS
Last year, the 90s Bay Area experimental rock act, rRope, saw their entire discography reissued. An effort that took them from obscurity to praise in everywhere from Pitchfork to WIRE. That is the past though. For the last two decades, rRope’s lead guitarist, Scott Thiessen, and David Barrett of the band VNC, have been tending to a garden of electronics and noise guitar known as Turbine. Their debut 12”, ‘Thanks Karen’ was the first release on Deathbomb Arc back in 2000. Since then, Turbine has remained fairly private with their intimate, romantic sounds. This new cassette, recorded in the summer of 2012, is a rare chance to hear some of the incredibly beautiful sounds being created by Turbine at their Brick Factory studio. Featuring Brian Kinsman (Foot Village, True Neutral) and Ricky Wayne Garrett (Inferno of Joy) on dueling drums, these special tracks have been picked just for you. Recorded by Scott Thiessen & David Barrett. Mastered by Weasel Walter.

DBA122 FAIRHORNS – ‘Satan Replicant’ CS
Matt Loveridge is a secret weapon. Recruited by Geoff Barrow (Portishead) as a founding member of both Beak> and Anika’s original backing band, and most recently brought in as a 5th member of the drum corp, Foot Village. Matt’s completely uninhibited performance style, combined with his truly savant level musicianship, has brought huge waves of creative renewal to the work of others. He has that unnamable spark. So when Matt goes rogue as Fairhorns, it is, as they say, “On another level.” With the latest Fairhorn album, ‘Satan Replicant’ (cassette on Deathbomb Arc this May), this is no exception. The follow-up to 2012’s ‘Doki Doki Run’ (on Invada), Matt dives in two directions at once. Deep, gritty, subterranean burners that also soar high above thanks to some truly (gasp) late 90s emo inspired vocal hooks. On “Nodens”, a staple of the Fairhorns live shows, a beautiful bit-crunched melody is given over to a sludge metal relentless repetition. While Matt’s work in Beak> shows its krautrock cards clearly, this sort of influence creates a more mysterious sound here. These are not genre exercises. This is Matt Loveridges unique statement to the world after many years of helping others with their own. Fairhorns has performed at All Tomorrows Parties in London, Mo’Fo’ Fest in Paris, and toured much of the UK and Europe.

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the One (family) – ‘the One (family)’ C40/CD $5/$7
“the One (family) are a fearlessly migrating force. A husband and wife team who attempt to combat complacency around every turn. Both members are multi-instrumentalists (and experienced producers) who utilize a wide range of acoustic and electronic instruments (including electric violin, analog synthesizers, guitars, percussion and homemade items)… The group blends their studio techniques with live performance, while focusing heavily on textures and dynamics… They are less concerned with genre than creating interesting and unique music. Identifying with the ethos of film-maker John Cassevetes (who allowed the spontaneity of improvisation to shape his works beyond what was initially conceived); the group’s objective is and has always been: to do what is necessary. (whatever that may sound like). Their new self-titled album (actually their 5th release) combines elements of all of their previous explorations, now focused with an ornate and compositionally progressive sound… Foreboding experimental passages give way to dense melodic rhythms (and vice versa), as they utilize every sound at their disposal (including the creaking floor…literally). The most obvious evolutionary tactic on this recording is the addition of lead female vocals by b.burroughs, which aids and desists tension at will. Her operatic vocal style meshes perfectly with the generally freeform nature of the group… One thing is certain with this release: the One (family)’s imprint has been clearly defined. (for now)”

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1971.038 Shooting Guns – ‘Spectral Laundromat’ C50
We’ve been waiting a long time to make this one happen. If there’s one thing Saskatoon’s Shooting Guns can do well, it’s lay out thick slabs of heavy psych. Collecting 5 live tracks records from all over – pulled from a suitcase of recordings, Spectral Laundromat bridges the gap between their Polaris nominated Born to Deal in Magic: 1952-1976 and their upcoming John McBain produced Brotherhood of the Ram LP. Ed. of 75 w DL.

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Tortura Sistematika CD/LP
TORTURA SISTEMATIKA are remembered as the predecessors of the interesting band Bukaera and the very influential Ruido de Rabia. After several failed attempts, they had never received a retrospective that recovered their raw recordings to them as true pioneers of hardcore and extreme music in Spain. Now the label Truco Esparrago releases “Todos Somos Culpables: Live & Demo Collection 84-85″, a CD that contains most of the material of the legendary band from Gipuzkoa. The album contains four live recordings (Barcelona, San Sebastian, Barakaldo and Azkoitia) and the first three demos from 1984. A total of 82 tracks with remastered sound and a 8 pages booklet with texts, photos and lyrics. Furthermore, Truco Esparrago presents “The Demos: Tolosako Hardcore (84-85): Las Fosas Siguen Abiertas” a limited to 100 copies cassette which includes four demos of the band. Three of them appear on the CD (but here without the remastered sound), and also another demo of long duration (not included on CD). A total of 59 tracks, including lyrics and credits on a pro-tape with DIY presentation.

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dSCi – ‘Live at Auditório Carlos Alberto 27/03/2013′
[EN] New therapeutic release from our usual suspects dSCi, here presented live in their drummer-less form exploring experimental electronics at Auditório Carlos Paredes during the celebrations for Open Document day earlier this year (27/03/2013). This release also signals the liftoff of the Zaratak tour through Spain and beyond. [PT] Nova incursão terapêutica pelos nossos suspeitos do costume dSCi, aqui na sua forma sem bateria experimentando com electrónicas ao vivo no Auditório Carlos Paredes durante o dia da celebração da documentação aberta (27/03/2013). Esta edição marca o inicio da Zaratak tour por terras Espanholas.

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ANT’LRD – ‘EXTRA DOMICILE’
Collage bliss from Chicago’s Colin Blantonn. Beautiful and chill vibes on Extra Domicile. It’s like if Blantonn sets up dreamcatchers around the world’s bedrooms. He finds those who are having nightmares and soothes their souls with a warm and comforting blanket. The focus is texture, not so different from a Monet painting or an out-of-focus photograph. Chrome tape in blue shell. Pro-dubbed and printed with butterfly assemblage. Limited to 75.

THANIEL ION LEE – ‘AMBIGUITY MAKES THE CONFUSING NORMAL’
How does someone make something both ambiguous and also to-the-point? Somehow Thaniel Ion Lee manages this in the cleverest fashion. When artist Lee makes music, he specializes in sublime, minimal black drone. Metallic tones and angular counterpoints dot his thoughtful compositions. Ambiguity Makes the Confusing Seem Normal is a mirror to what you want it to be. Perhaps bleakness is light and vice versa. Remember Thaniel Ion Lee’s name- as he seems to know some useful secrets- and he’s telling you about them all right here. Just look. Chrome tape in purple shell. Pro-dubbed and printed with butterfly assemblage. Limited to 75.

JANE JANE – ‘THE EDUCATION OF MY RUBBER DOLLY’ EP
Carnivalesque dusty pop explorations from Jane Jane. Seemingly inspired by their recent transplant to New Orleans, Michael Arcos and Courtney Asztalos cook up a most delicious soup of grime, lounge, tragedian folk and bent lullaby with the ep The Education of my Rubber Dolly. Shedding their skin as Jane Jane Pollock, we have spellbinding croons for our ears and love charms to put in our pocket. This is a new manifestation of the Jane story. Here a bearded woman whispers where we’ll find a lost carousel in the kudzu-infested wood. After eating strange fruit, days later we wake up sunburnt, and we both don’t know what happened. We don’t have our wallets or passports, and we don’t even remember our last name. Whatever the case, the way Jane Jane reinterprets pop is always delightful. Cobalt tape on gray shell. Pro-dubbed and printed with butterfly and paper assemblage. Limited to 75.

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Rich Jacobs – ‘The Tooth Lady’
2nd release in the new “Artist Series” on Sanity Muffin! We asked a number of select Artists, who may or may not consider themselves Musicians, to explore the cassette format. They can do anything they want for the artwork packaging AND the audio. In this case Rich explores free improv Surf and Western cinematic themes, slightly dark and twisted in nature. He conjures his raw, spontaneus and inovative guitar technique which compliments his art-making. Rich Jacobs has been a powerhouse in the art scenes in LA, San Diego, NY, Buenos Aires and Oakland. Currating his own Move artshows and showing solo around the globe. This release features a full length albums worth of solo guitar for a yet to be filmed soundtrack. Packaging includes:Blue tapes, custom tape labels, a mini zine in an array of colors, a mini Japanese Gocco print, stamped & numbered OBI strip wrapping it’s contents tight. Limited to 150 copies.

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A Story of Rats – ‘Vastness and the Inverse’ LP $18
Two ethereal, dramatic side-long tracks from Seattle-based dark drone architects A Story of Rats. Recorded by Blake Green, mastered by James Plotkin. Featuring hand silkscreened artwork. Edition of 300 LPs with download card, download includes bonus remix by Author & Punisher.

Midday Veil – ‘Midnight Movies’ VHS $12
Human sacrifice, cake orgies, and analog video feedback abound on this hand dubbed VHS compilation of music videos from Seattle psych-prog shapeshifters Midday Veil. Hand silkscreened artwork, 57 minutes. Edition of 50.

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