Category Archives: UPDATE

Nega – ‘Live at Kuucvaals 2011’
[EN] Live bootleg of Finnish project Nega live at the Latvian Noise festival Kuucvaals in 2011. Performing a set bridging from experimental ambient to powernoize and spoken word. The quality of the recording is a bit dodgy but good enough to feel the experience if you play it on a proper sound system.  [PT] Gravação da performance do projecto Finlândes Nega ao vivo na edição de 2011 do festival de noise letão Kuucvaals. O set varia entre a electronica ambiental experimental, o powernoize e o spoken word. A qualidade da gravação não é a melhor, mas suficiente para se sentir a experiência do projecto ao vivo.

WEBSITE

Rust Worship – ‘Terrestrial Society’ C20
Two side-long forays into deep cranial floods of sound. Thundering drone, cavernous analog hum, hair-raising thrash. Sounds from the dark side.
c20 edition of 100.

Clay Cantrell – ‘The Tree Farmer’ C32
Hypnotic folk stylings echoing in from Tennessee. Smoky, dream-like finger picking, hypnotic mournful piano, and jabs of electric guitar testifying, all in a half hours time. Songs of the late night or early morning, hazy and bruised but beautiful through and through. We were blown away on first listen and continue to be countless spins later. c32 edition of 100.

Venn Rain– ‘Bioharmonics’ C20
More hazy late-night sounds from the ever-awing Venn Rain. Ghostly beats lurk and gauzy synths lull. Deep soundscapes of distant echoes. This is the soundtrack to that second bottle of wine. c20 edition of 100.

Rambutan/Fossils From The Sun split C45
Split release from longtime House of Alchemy family crew. We couldn’t be happier to feature major solo works by these also members of Century Plants and Burnt Hills amongst other essential projects. Rambutan lulls you into a static, hazy coma of crystalline drone.  Fossils From The  Sun leads you in with hypnotic guitar before roaring off into the distance, dragging you along. We are elated to bring this to you. Enjoy. Artwork by Darryl Norsen. c45 edition of 100.

Chapels – ‘Last Nights’ C25
Late summer drought drones, maxed-out organ pulses, switch flips, crusted samples, and sweaty 16 ounce beer can-style glum. C25 edition of 50.

WEBSITE

Difference Clouds – ‘Shiro’ C40 $7(USA)/$8(Canada)/$10(World)
The wonderful city of Asheville seems to be a hotbed for up-and-coming experimental musicians these days, and Zach Smith’s Difference Clouds quickly leapt out as a standout project with his self-titled debut on Bathetic earlier this year. Veering away from the hyperspace sequencing that defined that release, ‘Shiro’ presents a side of Smith’s sound world that is subtler and even organic at times. With synthesizers, sourced thumb piano, and other samples, Smith creates works that patiently unfold and offer build ups that are just as satisfying as the sweet spots. Smith is another young mind impressively locked into electronic sound. Tune in now and expect more great work from Smith and his cohorts from the Land of the Sky very soon. Pro-dubbed and imprinted chrome cassettes, featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

Andreas Brandal – ‘Turning Point’ C35 $7(USA)/$8(Canada)/$10(World)
Norwegian twilight prince Andreas Brandal is back with more of his signature audio exorcisms. For someone who’s so outright prolific, it’s simply astounding how thoughtfully and impeccably his work is composed. On ‘Turning Point’, Brandal unleashes seven eerie compositions that come together like the soundtrack to the greatest 70s horror film never made. Somewhere between Carpenter, Lynch, and Goblin, each conveys its own distinct mood and otherworldly atmosphere. Brandal is a true multi-instrumentalist, and you’d have a hard time finding a tape that combines synthesizer, acoustic guitar, and jaw harp as eloquently as this one. Shifting between gloomy abstraction and taut melodics, Brandal never lets you off of the edge of your seat.  Turn off the lights and go in alone if you dare. Pro-dubbed and imprinted chrome cassettes, featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

Misner Space – ‘Golorium’ C22 $7(USA)/$8(Canada)/$10(World)
A tight crew of some of Hamilton, Ontario’s finest musicians, Sarah Good, Sean Gadoury, Scott Johnson (Thoughts on Air), and Annie Shaw specialize in beguiling improvisations. At once sprawling and intimate, ‘Golorium’ is a veritable cauldron of spooks and aural delights. Coventry Music brothers Gadoury and Johnson pour out a bubbling broth of guitar, synthesizer, and electronics that ebb and flow while Good and Shaw relish in the spotlight by adding deliciously twisted vocal incantations. Sounding like a pair of pixies experiencing a psychedelic meltdown, they manage to straddle the distant lines of beautiful, playful, and downright creepy all at once. Always count on Hamilton to remind you to keep it free and weird in the best possible way. Pro-dubbed and imprinted chrome cassettes, featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

Grant Evans – ‘Solos for Muted Transparent’ C39 $7(USA)/$8(Canada)/$10(World)
Since dropping the Nova Scotian Arms moniker in favor of his own name, Georgia’s Grant Evans (Quiet Evenings) has delved even further into the rabbit hole of tape music. As he experiments with longer magnetic spools, Evans’ sounds continue to stretch even further beyond the horizon. ‘Solos for Muted Transparent’ finds Evans dropping a thick cloud of abstract haze on that horizon with two magnificent, side-long pieces. Tones simmer beneath the surface, flirt with harsher textures, and gradually reveal themselves in surprising and beautiful ways. You can only begin to guess where most of the sounds originated, but new ones will continue to reveal themselves with each subsequent listen. It’s always a good time to lose yourself in a mystery. Pro-dubbed and imprinted chrome cassettes, featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

All Four New Tapes: $26(USA)/$28(Canada)/$32(World)

WEBSITE

Netherverse/Gary Busdriver split $3
The latest musical adventure from Teflon Beast is a digital only album featuring two of the most eccentric acts on the label. Netherverse is a mysterious band whose origins date back almost twelve years to the suburbs of Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX. The group held secret meetings to make films, write poetry, and record music at a furious, nearly weekly pace. Over the years Netherverse has had some nineteen members, but largely the group consisted of three or four main collaborators. Their names and biographies are a matter of some conjecture, but in the end creativity was their only unifying rule. They recorded nearly half a dozen complete albums in their time, yet not one is currently in print. Look for reissues coming soon. Gary Busdriver has had a busy 2012. He’s been trying different recording methods, different instrumentation, and different rooms all over Austin, TX to find his ultimate vision. His latest compositions are constructed around keyboard manipulations making for some very “out-there” electronic soundscapes. Busdriver’s currently recording and album of guitar improvisations…to be released spring 2013.

WEBSITE

FNL – ‘ep3’ C30 $7(US)/$8(Canada/Mexico)/$9(World)
New EP of contemporary electronic music from FNL utilizing experimental composition techniques. Featuring improvised, generative and process based compositions.

WEBSITE

ROMCOM/Magic Fades split
At first listen it seems strange that Magic Fades and ROMCOM would
make a split cassette together.  Magic Fades’ well-structured R&B sex
jams seem to exist in stark contrast to ROMCOMs corporate muzak
chop/screws and samples.  Whereas ROMCOM exists somewhere within the
vaporous ethers of the internet, puzzle-pieced together by a
foundation of filthy beats, the only thing filthy about Magic Fades’
sound is the lyrical content. Magic Fades, providing the listener with
smooth hooks, sensual synth sounds and well-crafted consistantly good
songwriting, differs greatly from ROMCOM who relies more on repitition
and the use of loops. However, despite these differences the two bands
seem connected and appropriately paired in a way that, though hard to
define, makes sense.  Within the science fiction reality of our
technological age, as well as with the overstimulation of constantly
accesable media and communication, bands like Magic Fades and ROMCOM
exist as a bridge between the electronic abstract reality we surround
ourselves with and the physical realm.  This relationship between
these two seemingly unrelated bands serves to create an engaging
listening experience and a quality cassette as a whole: something
definitely worth listening to as reality fades further into second
life.

WEBSITE

PURR 0012: Prayer – ‘Second Species’
Description: An introspective, precise circuit revealing the emotive faculty of a solitary synthesizer.  Prayer will skip stones across the surface of the still, quicksilver pond of your mind, slowly disturbing the unknown depths of thought.

PURR 0013: Pleq/Quinn Walker split
Description: Bartosz Dziadosz and Quinn Walker’s collaborative effort strikes the collective conscience.  Center your being as invisible springs, electric in origin, attach to the outer edges of the mind and collide with an incandescent force.

PURR 0014: Toning – ‘Ideas of Visions/Stuck in Slime’
Description: Ideas of Vision – Strings bring warmth to a cold chamber, thoughtful clangs suggest hard stone beneath your feet.  Sparse light sneaks through the window from the street revealing the huddled bodies.  You begin to drift and to accept. Stuck in Slime –  Added layers of arabesque, synthesized pathways over driving, staccato percussion reveal the chaotic beauty in a stifling metropolis.  

PURR 0015: Journey of Mind – ‘Oil Burner’
Description:  A liquid of infinite blackness exists at the center of the Iris; A place where each idea forms a ripple; Where each idea grows and dies within the confines of an instant.  Journey of Mind can take you there.

WEBSITE

mm-015 – borngräber & strüver – ‘Clouds’
With a perfectly formed clutch of albums exploring the facets of modern krautrock in their pocket, Borngräber & Strüver impart their most impressive and diffuse work. ‘Clouds’ is a unique selection of chamber music compositions created in the period of 2000-2012, drawing upon Berlin-skool minimalism (natch), classical and baroque modes, with a knowing regard for the duelling forces of improvisation and pop culture. “The album begins with the piece Wellen (Waves) for soprano and strings. The music is arranged and composed in a sort of wavy-shape, as the title suggests. It is a piece in the purest form of minimalism: Without an end, without a beginning. The following track Mobile pays homage to Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote, as musical parts and constantly changing atmospheres reconcile to create a sense of movement and mobility. Last but not least, Secret Bells represents an “instant composition” as Charles Mingus would say, combining piano works and field recordings. Clouds 1-3 were written for a virtual chamber orchestra and join together to give the album its leading name. These “Clouds” differentiate themselves trough stylistic influences, ranging from classical to the latest in music.” Recommended to fans of Leyland Kirby & The Caretaker, Richard Skelton, Christian Naujoks.

mm-016 – borngräber & strüver – ‘urlaub/in g’ LP
After several requests from our partners and distributors we at m=minimal decided to publish the fresh remastered vinyl albums “in g” and “urlaub” . Both albums have received worldwide acclaim since their appearance and have without a doubt the potential to become an allround classic. “in g” was published in 2010 and was referred to as a “21st century electro kraut”. This concept is expanded with “urlaub” (2011) with a dash of “cosmic disco”.

WEBSITE

SCIENTIST – ‘Introducing Scientist: The Best Dub Album In The World’ & ‘In The Kingdom Of Dub’ LP
Scientist began as King Tubby’s protege at Tubby’s Drumalie Avenue Studios in Kingston (essentially the birthplace of dub) and In The Kingdom Of Dub was one of his first records released under his own name. This classic dub album is now available remastered and reissued on vinyl for the first time. Recorded at Channel One & mixed at King Tubby’s. Pressed in an edition of 1000 on heavy duty vinyl.
 
ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE – ‘Live As Troubadour’ LP
Screen printed jackets to use up leftover records. Edition of 100. These are located in the special edition section of the Important site.
 
PAULINE OLIVEROS – ‘Tape-A-Thon’ print
Reproduction of the original poster for Pauline’s July 22, 1967 Tape-A-Thon, a 12 hour event during which she presented most of her electronic compositions before moving from San Francisco to San Diego. #’d edition of 107 signed by Pauline Oliveros.

WEBSITE

MYRRH – ‘Hymns’ C32
After the first edition flew out the door in record time, this killer cassette has been repressed in a pro duplicated edition of 100. Sludge-mystics trigger involuntary trance-mode. Myrrh is the power trio of Jackie Beckey (of Brute Heart), Andie Mazorol (Mother Of Fire) and Jason Millard (Lighted). They have made a name for themselves around Minneapolis with their epic and minimal form of instrumental doom pummel, but the instrumentation itself also sets this group apart. Viola, Lap Steel, Electronics and Drums weave together to form what could possibly be the heaviest folk music ever made. There is an air filled sense of space throughout these recordings, while still providing detailed crunch and clarity to the goings on. Sweeping strings and percussive plucking folded over sliding fuzz and tone-crackle, backed by enormous crushing rhythm. Restrained yet unbelievably massive. Masterfully recorded by Jason Misik to 1” tape, and beautifully mixed by John Marks (Art of This), “Hymns” comes as a very powerful follow up to their excellent self-titled debut album, recently re-released on vinyl from Soft Abuse. Pro duplicated black shell Type II Chrome cassette comes with a double-sided glossy cardstock J-card featuring layout and original black and white photography by Andie Mazorol. Dramatic and drifting psychedelic doom anthems for tomorrow’s sweat soaked soirée. 


SINDRE BJERGA – ‘Radiant Flux’ C44
Majestic balance burns through damaged synapse. Entrancing electro-acoustic scratch, long form isolationism and cavernous tape-drone meditation from Sindre Bjerga, who should need no introduction after his prolific string of releases on various labels across the underground spectrum. With “Radiant Flux”, Bjerga provides a well matched pair of profound live documents from his recent live actions in Norway. Broken tone acrobatics and crinkled tape stew, garble and wallow in the hopeless gurgle ditch. Side A was recorded live in Public Library! Each side features the same gear setup and deliberate sonic approach, yielding two obviously related but distinctly separate audio tapestries. An impulsive trance nod off, slashed silk. Pure room-sound environments! Real time duplicated bright yellow opaque shell cassette with printed bright yellow labels comes beautifully packaged inside custom fabricated machine-sewn plastic envelopes, featuring original full color/translucent collage art by M.H. with a hand-numbered printed vellum insert. Frozen fire shines brightly, an everlasting shard of light.

CLEAR FLUIDS s/t C10
Pure alien-funk synthesis recorded live direct to tape. Two pounding doses of primitive and propulsive dance-floor industrial from mysterious sex maniac CLEAR LIQUIDS. Gritty rhythm, blown synths, addictive bass grooves and obsessive beat worship make for instant banger classics demanding repeated listens. My neighbor said it reminded him of another time and place long ago, sitting around smoking crack and shooting dice. Uhh… To each his own. Sexually charged and highly rhythmic lurch-pummel, perfect for late night subwoofer abuse, or illicit back room frottage. Translucent purple shell cassette comes looking sharp in a clear Norelco case with stark black and white double-sided xerox death, featuring original creeper artwork by M.H. in a hand-numbered edition of 33. Slamming and smoked out.

HOUSE OF BATS s/t C40
Dare to enter The House of Bats. This is one of those recordings that might make you think that your tape deck is dying. Strangled and deeply bruised magnetic sound, twisted into tortured new shapes and thickly coated in poisonous bile. House of Bats is the duo project of Andreas Brandal (of Flesh Coffin, Hour of the Wolf) and Robert Meldrum (of Corpse Candle, Ghoul). Brilliant new harsh/creep score for hardcore social deviancy and subversive oppression of the subconscious. Real time duplicated clear shell cassette w/ lacquer sealed black and white labels comes packaged with double sided full color J-card, in a clear and red painted Norelco case.. Mutant garbled death moves and truly demented horror audio.Hand numbered edition of 50

SAGAS – ‘Sojourner’s Lament’ C40
Wailing feedback morphs into delicate fingerpicking and sweeping tides of lap-steel shimmer. Sagas is the solo project of Matt McDowell (of Dire Wolves, Waterfinder). Lovely and real,”Sojourner’s Lament”, presents three focused improvisations for lap steel, guitar and electronics, each with its own respective sense of deep spacial awareness and an uneasy sense of doom hovering just beneath the surface. Lighten Up is proud to offer up these new sessions for your personal deep listening and metaphysical mind travel. Clear shell cassette comes packaged with full color double sided J-card featuring original collage artwork by M.H. with matching full color labels in a clear Norelco case. Aqua-lung beauty for barren cornfields.

MOLE HOLE – ‘Sordid Hypnosis’ C40/wooden object
Raw delivery in an attempt to document and capture the essence of recent crude and cathartic live actions. Grinding static assault and shifting granular murk-attack. Recorded live, no mixer, no pedals, no overdubs. Sounds sourced from adapted/broken phonograph machine, prepared/damaged lathe-cut picnic plates, and prepared/damaged 16mm film loops and projector, along with analog micro synth, everything heavily zonked and spat back out for ultimate brain damage. Psychedelic crackle-mantras and rhythmic warble tone, carving deep jagged lines into frontal lobe. Handmade wooden-object package, with unlabeled solid red shell C40 sandwiched between two thick chunks of 90 year old barn wood (slightly rotten, old paint flakes, etc.) firmly fastened together with a pair of 2” phillips screws, topped off with wrap around xerox paste-on artwork featuring disturbing and stark double exposure hypno-regression fantasy, wrapped up tight and protected in heavy 7” plastic bag. Numbered edition of 25.

VISITOR – ‘III’ C32
Let yourself drown. Visitor have established themselves around Minneapolis as an undeniable powerhouse, with their singular brand of pounding riff worship and massive double drummer attack. Featuring Andie Mazorol (Myrrh, Mother Of Fire), Graham Baldwin (Bloodwall, 2208), and Jefferson Zurna (3 Moons, Gili Gili Men). Gigantic guitar wash and crunch, waves of echo and relentless pummeling rhythm. Have no fear, this is NOT bass laden drone bore, but crushing and deeply psychedelic doom rock anthems of the highest order. Two heavy side-long improv monoliths for these frightening modern days. Real time duplicated black shell cassette with black and brown labels comes packed in double sided fold out J-card featuring antique sepia tone photograph in a clear Norelco case. Like the ocean.

THE HOWLING HEAD – ‘Nausea Swamp’ C20/printed vomit bag
Difficult to capture in words, The Howling Head brings horrific mind-altering onslaught. Caution, may damage speakers. Twenty minutes of crude and pure sonic nihilism. Piercing feedback cuts through steep grinding walls of analog oblivion. No instruments, synths or computers were used in the creation of this material. Entirely sourced from amplified micro-cassette field recordings of air conditioner motors. Transparent blue shell cassette with bright green and black “nausea” labels comes with gross bright green art paper J-card featuring vague and grainy “ditch” xerox artwork. Special duplication methods were used in the production of these cassettes to ensure complete destruction of sound. WARNING: Because of the intense nature of this album, stomach distress may occur. Custom printed Vomit Bag for use when listening is included with every copy. Hand numbered edition of 25. Yuck.

WEBSITE