Olli Aarni – ‘Ylitse’ C35 $5
Olli Arni’s work as Ous Mal has 
had a kind of entrancing effect on me ever since I first pressed ‘play’ on his 2010 album Nuojuva Halava. Since then, I’ve been drawn to Olli’s music almost magnetically. Throughout all his music, there is an apparent lightness, perhaps a statement that says something like, “just enjoy this”. There is no pretense. Ylitse presents the same assortment of candid expressions as Olli’s other works. In 4 pieces, Olli weaves blankets of sorts that sound like panoramic vistas of mountains or snowy plains. The scenes are nearly still, and most of the movement you perceive while listening will come from within you. These pieces are composed in much the same way as Ous Mal works, but the end results are quite different. Instead of jovial and poppy loops, these are long, simple pieces that sound like scores for silent films. This is music that can be repeated many times with little or no listener fatigue. Listening to Ylitse feels much like standing in a frozen field for hours, feeling all the effects of the cold and wind, but somehow still managing to resist decomposition.
Jeremy Bible & Jason Henry – ‘Marker/Magnet’ 2xcassette $10
Originally released individually, Bible & Henry’s Marker and Magnet are two complimentary volumes in a set that covers quite a bit of ground, and covers it quite masterfully. The duo’s work here is mostly in the area of electroacoustic improvisation and musique concrète. Jeremy and Jason manage to utilize the tiny musical space they’ve alotted themselves and stretch it out to a length of over two hours. Typically I’d say this is an accident waiting to happen, but these fellows have pulled it off with class to spare. Never does anything sound recycled or looped, never is there a moment where the music returns to a point. It is always winnowing, sifting, threshing through waves of electronic abstractions and obscured acousmatic sounds. The result is a confounding experience in which I find myself searching for some familiarity and finding little. There are moments of potential clarity, but those are seldom and surprising when they arrive. The rest of these compositions are steeped in mystery and endless engagement. This is not background music; please listen with care.