Animal Psi

Xanthocephalus – ‘sp.’ C60 $7.5(US)/$11.5(CAN)/$14.5(World)
Very few solo experimental projects lean heavily on the bass guitar, but Brooklyn’s Russ Alderson does it mightily. Combining elements of noise, drone, and free improv, Xanthocephalus is Alderson’s outlet for contemplation and destruction. sp. showcases so much of what is unique about this project, from the thoughtfully integrated field recordings, to the hypnotic low end drones, to the carefully controlled bursts of string shredding and feedback. For those who have yet to experience Alderson’s work, this is a perfect entry point, and for those already familiar, this is another incredibly satisfying and intense expression of the enticing and dangerous ways of the wild. Pro-dubbed and imprinted chrome cassettes featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

Parashi – ‘Particle Collider’ C40 $7.5(US)/$11.5(CAN)/$14.5(World)
Parashi is the solo guise of upstate New York noise head Mike Griffin. Using an arsenal of electronics, synths, and effects, Griffin carefully concocts wonderfully delirious soundscapes. Unlike the monotony that many noise projects succumb to, every piece that Griffin creates sounds utterly unique. Among the four pieces on Particle Collider, there are tracks that are raw, intense, and in-your-face while others are more restrained and subtle. Each one offers you a voyeuristic glimpse into a deeply strange but equally fascinating world of sound. You may get the sneaking suspicion that you’re not supposed to be there, but you certainly won’t want to look away anytime soon. Pro-dubbed and imprinted chrome cassettes featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

Mr. Matthews – ‘High Pass Heart’ C39 $7.5(US)/$11.5(CAN)/$14.5(World)
A core member of essential groups Telecult Powers and Hex Breaker Quartet/Quintet, Mr. Matthews strikes out on his own for his first solo release under his chosen name. Matthews has been playing/building synthesizers and recording music on his own for quite a few years, and now he’s generously sharing the incredible fruits of those endeavors with the rest of us. High Pass Heart covers a lot of territory in less than 40 minutes, from melody-driven micro-compositions, to outer space drones, to full-on noise power houses. It’s all tied together with carefully selected “found sounds” and track titles that showcase Matthews’ sly wit and mordant sense of humor. Rarely do you hear music that is so personal and human from a man who is as in touch with the machines as Mr. Matthews. Imprinted chrome cassettes featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

The Rainbow Body – ‘Magnetic Highway’ C60 $7.5(US)/$11.5(CAN)/$14.5(World)
After two self-released cassettes and one CDR, we’re happy to share new music by Providence’s Matthew Kattman, who performs as The Rainbow Body. Using the guitar and an arsenal of effects on Magnetic Highway, Kattman collects six equally massive drone soundscapes that teem with melodic beauty and interstellar textures. The shoegaze influence is quite apparent in Kattman’s work, and fans of more recent purveyors of the style like Fennesz, Jefre Cantu- Ledesma, and the first Belong album will find plenty to adore here. Kattman puts his own cosmic stamp on the style, though, by allowing deep, rich tones in each piece stretch out and shimmer to the glorious end. Pro-dubbed and imprinted chrome cassettes featuring designs by Caroline Teagle. Edition of 100.

All Four New Tapes: $24(US)/$30(CAN)/$35(World)

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ROADSIDE PICNIC – ‘I.C. & W.B.T.C’ C60 £4
Roadside Picnic is the solo project of Justin Wiggan, a UK based visual and phonic artist, and one half of Midlands based sound experimentalists, Dreams Of Tall Buildings. On this exclusive limited edition release, Justin presents us with two long absorbing tracks: ‘I.C.’ is a pyschoacoustic drama about the hope of youth rotting in the box of material falsehood portrayed through a disjointed glitch noisewerk, interjected with appropriated elements of Renzo Spiteri’s ” Invocations . ‘W.B.T.C.’ is a harsh-noise-wave immersion piece for emotional freedom. The work is packaged in a high quality smokey grey clear C60 cassette, housed in a clear plastic case, complete with a full colour hand-numbered multi-panelled double-sided cover, containing original artwork by Matt Snowden. Limited to 30 copies.

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 SS041 OTTAVEN – ‘musica per un giorno registrata in un mese’ 24xC60 + book 100€
This composition of 24 hours recorded in one month, is a reflection on time. Ambient sounds, carpets of keyboard, pulsating electronic, moments of life gathered and where necessary assembled. All closely and soundly tied to what took place between January 4, 2012 and February 4, 2012. Sound reflections ‘interrupted’ by real necessity, by the train arriving, the phone ringing, by work commitments. “Our lifes are often strictly connected with time. The random swarming into ourself and around us creates interruptions. Life is cutted in a chronology of events. Musica per un giorno registrata in un mese is the 3rd chapter of my project about the Time. The idea started at the beginning of the 90’s when the mp3 format appeared and started to spread around. From one day to the next a simple cd could carry lots of music, so much more than before. I was thinking about 7″s, Lps or tapes. In those typical formats we were all commonly using there was a specific and fisically limited lenght of time, hard to force and maybe better not to strecht. I felt that somehow with the mp3 format the time for music, the lenght of music in general, could start to change or at least to evolve. Listen to a 24 hour piece – even if it’s an unnatural idea, artefact with the real needs of our lifetime – it was now possible, all in one easy format. We jumped into the digital audio era. The format influences the music itself. A 7″ is not a proper support for a 30 minutes set, or what about a c-90 with just a 10 minutes pieces on one side? What’s happening in all the other tape time? Crackling silence? Or can you image a big Lp, a very big one: 12 hours long side A and 12 hours long side B? The digital audio era gives us lots of new possibilities. I’m sure there is a physical difference between an analogic listenig and a digital one. We probably feel the gap in a very deep area of our body, something not easy to explain, but there is a sort of cold pellicle over a sound coming out from a computer.. Time. I need time to explain. I need time to think and reflect. I need time to listen, with or without interruptions. I had just one month to record a 24 hours piece, a serie of my life pieces or audio events. It became an exercice: go back home to record, recording in the train, recording walking, everywhere, listenig or recording. From january 4th to february 4th i thought – as much as i could in relation with my regular life – about those 24 hours. 24 hours is one day. How long it will take me to listen this record? is Time flexible? See you later..” Ottaven / march 2012. 24xC60 + 100 pg. book housed in a custom wooden box. Edition of 30.

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Ashtray Navigations – ‘Insect Descent’
Phil Todd’s Ashtray Navigations has endured in numerous multifarious formations since the mid-90’s, operating as both a solo and group enterprise that has recorded for an extensive list of crucial experimental labels (Siltbreeze, Chocolate Monk, and Celebrate Psi Phenomenon to name a few, as well as Todd’s own Memoirs Of An Aesthete) while having conquered all approaches to subterranean psychedelia: gargantuan deep-drones, endless minimalism, pastoral improvisations. A long-unreleased full-length recorded circa 2008, Insect Descent sees Todd generating his music in isolation, yet the sonics suggest some of Ash Nav’s most densely constructed and meticulously overlapped torrents of noise, a tumult that recalls Matthew Bowers various guitar-and-electronics masterworks as well as the piercingly gorgeous instrumental chants of Vibracathedral Orchestra and the meditative mantras of LaMonte Young. From the bombastic feedback symphony of One Millions Pleasurecards All Painted White to the tranquilizing serenity of Fake Aeroplanes, these five works intertwine into a seamless fusion of cathartic eruption and trance-inducing edification. One of Todd’s most immediate and paramount recordings by far. Pro-pressed/pro-printed CDR housed in a pro-printed digipack. Edition of 100.

Corcorax – ‘Tape/Circles’
Corcorax is a recondite duo consisting of sound sculptors Che Chen and Tom Mulligan (billed here as Xhe Xhen and Tmm Mulligan), both of whom have operated within numerous practices and projects in the recent past (Mulligan as Radio Ruido, part of the Dub Dub DJ crew, and the Triangulation podcast; Chen as half of True Primes and part of Heresy Of The Free Spirit which includes the acclaimed composer/lute player Jozef Van Wissem). Their inaugural release Tape/Circles is a short suite consisting of two distinct pieces of churning and enticing abstraction that make a controlled clamour out of a distinctly minimal set-up (Chen on tape and object manipulation, Mulligan on a modified turntable); a distinct mechanized ambience alternately consoles and flusters, the intermingling absonant tones latching into an exclusive synergy. Recalling at once Francisco Lopez’s building recordings, moments of Jason Lescaleet’s early work, and even the chain-dragging squal of early New Blockaders, the erratic and elusive sounds presented here solicit curious concentration. The artwork and insert for this release comes beautifully letterpressed (silver ink on dark orange stock) by Ben Owen of Middle Press. Pro-pressed/pro-dubbed edition of 100.

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Cold Showers – ‘Still Life’ 7″
The beautiful, enigmatic shoegaze bliss of L.A.’s own Cold Showers returns to Dais with a new single. Two virgin cuts which bring their lush heartbeat back to life. The Fire, a fluid post punk anthem drenched in romantic heartbreak, crying to the masses for love. On the heels is Crowds, an acoustic, crooning diamond which shines through the daybreak. Limited to 500 copies.

Missing Foundation s/t LP
In the 1980s, New York City was a dismal wasteland filled with urban decay and creative miracles. It was only a matter of time before the suits saw an investment opportunity, with cash in hand they bought off NYC and started the criminal gentrification of downtown New York, sterilizing any sense of culture and fumigating all residents deemed financially worthless. This kind of invasion brought the perfect storm in the form of Missing Foundation. Founded by Peter Missing in the early 80′s, Missing Foundation and their “Party’s Over” logo challenged the governing trends of NYC, pouring gasoline on the tinderbox of the class war taking place on the city streets. Known for their hostile and fiery performances (and infamous ban from CBGB’s in the late 80′s), Missing Foundation left a scorched mark behind and started a movement still felt in the underground community today. Their debut album was originally released on Purge/Sound in 1987 and now Dais is honored to being reissuing this masterpiece of industrial folklore to a new generation who forgot where it started. Countless thanks to Erik Proft and Bill Cashman for all their help in making this happen. Limited to 500 copies.

Missing Foundation – ‘1933 Your House Is Mine’ LP
The cacophonic dischord of Missing Foundation and the prophetic vision of Peter Missing culminated into a follow up album following their legendary self-titled debut which was collected under the banner as 1933 Your House Is Mine. This sophomore effort was brought about in 1988 as a means to educate the forgotten and venerate their followers using brash performance tactics and industrial rhythm to rally their cause. An industrial soundtrack of urban protest, Missing Foundation found their voice, garnishing attention from the mainstream as well as being lauded by underground. The cultural divide had been marked with Missing Foundation’s flipping martini glass signature declaring that the party was over. After being out of print for almost 25 years, Dais has reissued this legendary recording in a limited edition of 500 copies.

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Bitter Fictions LP $13
Bitter Fictions is the project of Devin Friesen, a guitarist/writer from Calgary, AB. On this debut LP, Bitter Fictions presents solo guitar in extended practice: alternate tunings, controlled feedback manipulations, drone building, live looping, improvisation—these are all elements to the whole, as Friesen layers scraps of feedback, melodies, and pure texture into blossoming sound narratives. Think “post-rock” (in the “rock instruments used in non-rock ways” vein, not faux-cinematic crescendo nonsense) as interpreted by the likes of say, Alan Licht, Roy Montgomery, or Thurston Moore, and you’re maybe starting to get there. 300 copies w/download card and insert.

Pale Lobo – ‘Hands Down’ CS $5
Pale Lobo is the solo project of Andrew Hume. He hits things in Seizure Salad and Burro, and also makes synthesizer jams in Dada Centauri. Hands Down is a freaky swamp of chewn-apart tapes and headphone gargle, a bubbling excursion through waves of synthesized ooze. When yr head surfaces, the smell is still there: mutant, rolling, and strung from the trees, clinging like the eye that may or may not be looming over yr shoulder… 50 pro-dubbed + screened cassettes.

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Marcus Fjellström – ‘Epilogue -M-‘ LP/CD
Epilogue -M- exposes a dark and frightening ambient universe, an outer space of exploding galaxies, vaporizing masses, magnitudes, the interior of gravitation, and floating emotions in an apparently silent sea of white light, full of grace and dark black anxious endings. The first entry in Aagoo’s new Rev. Lab. series is Swedish composer and multimedia artist Marcus Fjellström’s EP “Epilogue -M-“. The EP follows the critically acclaimed albums “Gebrauchsmusik” (2006, Lampse), “Exercises in Estrangement” (2005, Lampse), “Schattenspieler” (2010, Miasmah Recordings) and the self-released “Library Music 1” (2011, Kafkagarden). Fjellström’s artistic output ranges from the purely orchestral to electronic music and audiovisual work. He has worked with the Swedish Royal Ballet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, as well as numerous ensembles and soloists, independent record labels, artists and filmmakers. In his works, Fjellström often aims to combine opposites so that they don’t contradict each other, but rather fuse into a natural, third element. There is often a challenging of the gap between “high” and “low” culture, of the naïve and the sophisticated, of good and bad taste. Musical influences range from electronica such as Aphex Twin and Autechre, to 20th century composers such as György Ligeti and John Cage. Further influences include impressionist composers Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy, and film music composers Bernard Herrmann, Angelo Badalamenti and Zdenk Liska… The EP “Epilogue -M-” presents six compositions, which could be described as claustrophobic sounds in interstellar beauty. They explore the cold thin space of ambience and melody, texture and silence, haunting synth and orchestral audio constructions coupled with driven percussion and creaky background noise. There exists a seemingly equal and sinister parallel universe of oppressive and frightened sounds with particularly harrowing and tense undertones. The origin of Epilogue -M- lies in the collaboration between Fjellström and graphic artist Bas Mantel. Mantel has translated and interpreted the six sonic compositions into graphic interstellar maps for the album artwork, which consists of two double-sided 24-inch posters. Epilogue -M- exposes a dark and frightening ambient universe, an outer space of exploding galaxies, vaporizing masses, magnitudes, the interior of gravitation, and floating emotions in an apparently silent sea of white light, full of grace and dark black anxious endings.

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ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE – ‘In Search Of The Lost Divine Arc’ 2LP/CD
Incredible new AMT full length referencing Led Zeppelin the way Son Of A Bitches Brew referenced Miles Davis. Expansive AMT jams but also very structured song writing. If you saw them on tour recently you definitely saw some of these songs live.

JOZEF VAN WISSEM – ‘Nihil Obstat’ CD/LP
Jozef Van Wissem’s most far reaching and accessible record yet is Nihil Obstat. Full of gorgeous, slowly unraveling melodies, this JVW furthers his reputation as a singular composer and performer.

TOTAL LIFE/DECEH LP
Split release from Kevin Doria (Growing) and Deceh who, for this record, are comprised of members of Eleh & Srines. Deceh’s composition is in 3 parts & we had some difficulty editing it down accurately for an excerpt so we simply cut up the track into three sections for the Mp3 sample online. Total Life’s side, however, is a slowly evolving heavy duty monster of a piece that foreshadows his upcoming full lengths for Imprec (yes, full lengths) in 2013/2014.

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