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Aidan Baker & The Infant Cycle "Rural Sprawl" CD-R (ltd. 250) ZHB-XVII 1. Summer [mp3: fragment] 2. Temperature Drop [mp3: fragment] 3. You Left your Breath on my Window [mp3: fragment] 4. Rights of Spring [mp3: fragment] total length: 64:02 release date: December 25, 2008 price: €7 |
Canadian musicians Aidan Baker and Jim DeJong (aka The Infant Cycle) have used the "gentleman's kit" of modern experimenters for creating the compositions of this disk: guitar, bass, tapes, samples, feedback generator, playouts and thumb piano. Four album tracks correspond with four seasons, four states of the soul...
Summer - repetitive loops become overgrown with the juicy flesh of atonal sound and transform into sampled rhythms flown over by a soft guitar tune. Autumn - the rhythm is reduced to a hardly evident monotonous shroud, the atmosphere becomes more melodic and melancholic and in the end turns into a heart-piercing guitar solo. Winter - time for sleep and detachment: icy ringing, the slow breath of bass impulses, the rustling of electronics and sluggish drones painting vast snowy soundscapes. And finally spring - the drone ambient nature unfolds large as life, majestic sonic waves sweep accompanied by a swarm of tiny sounds awoken to life again.
The first two tracks were recorded in 2001 (and released on CD-R by the Italian label Blade Records in 2002 in a very limited edition), two others were recorded in 2005 and thus completed the natural cycle of this album.
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Cyclotimia "Music for Stockmarkets" CD (ltd. 500) ZHB-XVIII Wallstreet Requiem 1. Investor [mp3: full track] 2. Land of Prosperity 3. Boutique 4. Irrational Exuberance [mp3: full track] 5. Secret Markets 6. Global Economic Forum 7. Mr Chairman 8. Moneycast 9. Customer Lifetime Value 10. Quick Quote Trivial Pleasures 11. ID Number 12. NASDAQ 13. 24 Hours of Non-Stop Consumption [mp3: full track] 14. Market Experts 15. Verichip 16. .99 17. Another Digital Solution 18. Currency Indicator 19. Stock Talk [mp3: full track] 20. From Channel to Channel 21. Office Comfort Financial Glossary 22. Profit Warning 23. Negative Territory 24. Oil 25. Zero [mp3: full track] 26. Rebound 27. Mystery Shopper [mp3: full track] 28. GoldHold 29. Revenues 30. Cashflow 31. $1.4 Billion per Day 32. Commodity Movers total length: 64:31 release date: December 25, 2008 price: €12 |
Cyclotimia is most probably the only project in the world which has chosen the creation of a soundtrack to "globalisation" and life of the "consumer society" as their concept. The project members more than anyone else are immersed into the magic of finance and probably therefore has their creative intuition allowed them to compose the main part of "Music for Stockmarkets" with its unforgivingly precise name "Wallstreet Requiem". Today the whole civilised world is listening to this requiem the first cords of which were played on Wall Street itself.
The "Music for Stockmarkets" album with its radically experimental nature stands out in the extensive discography of this Moscow project. The 64-minute album includes 32 tracks divided into three conceptual parts: "Wallstreet Requiem" (25 minutes, recorded in 2004-2007), "Trivial Pleasures" (26 minutes, recorded in 2002, this part was the only one released as a seperate CD in 2003) and "Financial Glossary" (13 minutes, recorded in 2003).
The music material itself is nothing like the one heard in the previous records of Cyclotimia. There is no apocalyptic soundscapes of "Wasteland" times, no cybernetic hi-tech and media madness of "E$chaton", no cosmic downtempo of "Celestis: Space Ceremonial Music"... Minimalism, academic sterility, surgical accuracy and meditative ataraxy prevail on "Music for Stockmarkets". Then again it is not the familiar "idm", "glitch", "noise", "clicks and cuts" and not "minimal techno"... The sound of the album is chrystal-clear and warm at the same time. "Vintage" lovers have a wonderful chance to listen to the masterpieces of Soviet music production (such as Rhythm 1, Rhythm 2, Aelita, Formanta UDS, Formanta EMS-01, Polyvox) in pure sound, unprocessed by effects.
And here is how the musicians, who have celebrated the 10th anniversary of their project, intoduce their new album:
"Free market and global money movements shape the political and social reality of today, and thus, the people's minds and the culture they create.
Curiously enough, the English word "clerk" derives from "clericus", the Latin for "man of God". This word was used to refer to the clergy in Mediaeval Europe. "Office", apart from beign a key notion in today's reality, also stems from Latin, where "officinum" denoted "ceremony", "ritual".
Today's global money movements, sequences of 0s and 1s, virtually form a nonmaterial, spiritual substance - the Holy Spirit, presuming which, the stock exchange turns into a temple for the worship of the new religion, and the music presented on this album can be regarded as liturgical background for the sacred business procedures."
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Noises Of Russia "Experimental Structure - Live at ESG-21, St. Petersburg, 06.10.2008" CD-R (ltd. 250) ZHB-XIX 1. Untitled 2. Untitled [mp3: fragment] 3. Untitled 4. Untitled 5. Untitled [mp3: fragment] 6. Untitled 7. Untitled 8. Untitled 9. Untitled 10. Untitled [mp3: fragment] total length: 46:12 release date: December 25, 2008 price: €7 |
Nowadays Noises Of Russia is one of the most known groups on the Russian experimental post-industrial scene, mainly because of their numerous concerts and CDR-releases, published by their leader - Gosha Solnzev aka 1g0g ("Van Gog") - on his own label ElectroIndustria. This release has captured one of such concerts which took place at the Experimental Sound Gallery (ESG-21) in St. Petersburg in October 2008.
This concert was peculiar because of the non-traditional band line-up which aside from 1g0g included some of his friends: musicians Nikolay Kalmykov (Hladna), M.M. (Kryptogen Rundfunk), Igor Potsukailo (Bardoseneticcube) and Evgeny Savenko (Lunar Abyss Deus Organum), and also VJ Alco (video projection) and Grigory Glazunov (ODDDance Theatre, butoh dance). By common efforts these comrades performed totally improvised material quite typical for the "St. Petersburg post-industrial wave" and combining elements of collage, industrial, noise and ambient. Field recordings and voice manipulations, metal percussion and rough analogue signals, guitar semi-melodies and various sound effects - all this is harmoniously blended in the unified psychedelic soundsphere.
6 Comm / Freya Aswynn -- "The Fruits Of Yggdrasil" -- CD -- €13.50
2008 Hau Ruck!, HR!89
A Challenge Of Honour -- "No Way Out" -- CD -- €13.50
2008 Vrihaspati Recordings, VR013
Arcana -- "Raspail" -- CD -- €15.50
2008 Kalinkaland Records, KAL 32
Ataraxia -- "Paris Spleen" -- CD -- €15.50
2006 Cold Meat Industry, CMI165, (ltd. 2000)
First edition in digipak.
Bardoseneticcube -- "Noosphere" -- CD -- €10
2008 Monochrome Vision, mv24
New album by russian project Bardoseneticcube dealing with theory of russian scientist Vladimir Vernadsky about collective consciousness, emerging from the interaction of human minds. The continuos computer-generated music, minimally changing but reaching maximum concentration, comes as the one long track, designed for your mind challenge. "The universe is full of endless and omnipresent information fields, different in their energy/meaning potentials. Some of them are accessible for people who are using it extensively, others are intended only for machines that seem to be their source and destination at the same time. This soundpiece is pure improvisation by Igor Potsukailo (BARDOSENETICCUBE) and a Toshiba Satellite A-110 laptop (BARDOSENETICCUBE). The laptop is the leading performer here, created by unknown system error and playing the music of solar wind, derived from the information field that is not accessible to anyone else. Igor Potsukailo uses a kind of feedback circuit, adding the elements of human presence into this music and modifying the energy/information balance in that powerful field near our planet Earth called Noosphere... The laptop was stolen shortly after the recording session, so this particular album represents its only appearance in the project BARDOSENETICCUBE." [press-release]
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Bashnya Ledyanyh Voronov -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €6
2008 Valgriind, VG 13, (ltd. 50)
The new release of the young Russian label Valgriind is a debut recording of a project with an epic title Bashnya Ledyanyh Voronov ("Icy Ravens Tower" in Russian). Three tracks recorded live apparently on a dictaphone. The 1st track "Gates to the crystal vast" contains slow mouth harp playing accompanied by female voice, singing a wordless song. A feeling of something winter-Slavonic... The 2nd track "Rising up the snow-clad steps towards the non-existence" really contains the recording of steps, wind, something crackles, knocks during almost 6 minutes. The 3rd track "Emptiness of icy silence" - again long monotonous mouth harp piece. Minimalism. Packed in a slim-box with attached foil rune.
Bleiburg -- "Open Wound" -- CD-R -- €7
2008 The Eastern Front, Front 016, (ltd. 300)
Martial / Industrial / Electronic. German-Croatian legendary project Bleiburg does not need to be presented. This year we introduce an unique document - a record of live performance of Bleiburg in Kassel, Germany at Panoptikum club in June 2007. Live performances of Bleiburg take place seldom, all the more this release witnessing Bleiburg on stage may represent the particular interest. "Open Wound" is a collection of well-known Bleiburg songs like Gulag Good-bye, Na Rad!, Nezdrava Tvorba, Good evening, Zagreb and more... Edition of 300 copies. Special 3 panels folded cardboard packing. [label info]
c.j. mind & man ufo (eXperiment) -- "Source" -- CD -- €11
2008 Faria Records, FAR-24, (ltd. 500)
If you like music of Steve Roach - you will like it too!... The natural beginning of all life on the Earth intertwines with estrangement pressing on the person the incomprehensible power of an external world (space). Too extraneous and severe really to be a monastery of each of us, as if a mourning bed-sheet swallowed light. In this contradiction, someone finds something attractive for search of the external forms not similar to ours, but probably forgets that its house, a family and surrounding close friends as anybody another is important to him. And being behind an understanding side, and remains not untangled ball drawing to only when on it is unique a question exciting you to you by all means (here and now) it is necessary to receive it is unique a right answer... Stay in a womb, a birth, individual search of sense of existence, leaving in the other world. Spring (awakening) before fading in a cold twilight of mature autumn (death). All is marvelously simple. After all the, Nature does not suffer intervention in its nature. When it exists without our presence – flows and sounds absolutely other light. But the Creator comes and by a wave of an invisible conductor's baton twists a surprising pattern on beauty, in which the voice of a far-far star is audible... The teamwork purpose (the present album) consisted, first of all, in desire to grope some integrity of a universe and attempt to find room for this perception in presented on seventy five minutes of a music material. [press-release]
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Caul & Kirchenkampf -- "Sleep - Night - Death" -- CD -- €13.50
2008 Malignant Records, TUMOR CD31, (ltd. 888)
Changes -- "Orphan in the Storm" -- CD -- €13
2004 Hau Ruck!, HR!48, (ltd. 1000)
The long-awaited album by this folk legend is finally available. This recording also features performances and back up by Michael Moynihan and Robert Ferbrache, members of long standing neo-folk outfit Blood Axis. The CD version comes in nice digipak with a 16-page booklet. [label info]
Cisfinitumaaaa -- "Drone" -- CD-R -- €12
2008 Triangle, TR-37, (ltd. 20)
Mail-art collaboration between Moscow project Cisfinitum and Karelian project Maaaa. During the long period of time the bouquet of field fixations was collected on the Karelian ranges and later reworked by Evgeny Voronovsky. Four drone/concrete pieces. Two of them are of natural origin (anxious forest birds singing and night vanity of gluttonous toads), and two others are of technological genesis (metal creak, glass crunch and suffering of lost radio frequencies). In spite of using various sound sources the whole work sounds quite harmonic and produces powerful hypnotic effect. [press-release]
Coil -- "Musick To Play In The Dark 2" -- CD -- €23
2000 Chalice, GRAAL 005CD
Coil -- "Porto" -- CD -- €30
2006 Extremocidente
Deadwood -- "Ramblack" -- CD -- €11
2008 Cold Spring Records, CSR104CD
“Ramblack" is the follow up to Deadwood's successful 2005 album "8 19" (CSR53CD). Over the past 3 years this Swedish artist has been toiling away, creating a new black ambient / death noise masterpiece and "Ramblack" is the result. Cloaked in a more raw and morbid sound then its predecessor, this album truly changes ones perspective of audial darkness. This analogue beast of an album layers the tonal prayers of demons and the distorted cries of angels, sickness and depravity. True Death Electronics. The soundtrack to your end. "Ramblack" features guest vocals from Norwegian Black Metal legend Maniac (Skitliv, ex-Mayhem), who’s vocal approach on the song 'Forakt' shows the full range of his capacity. Truly one of the most sick and twisted pieces of sonic art ever recorded. Enjoy the disease! [press-release]
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Death In June & Boyd Rice -- "Scorpion Wind" -- CD -- €15.50
2007 Nerus, NERUS 39
Der Blutharsch -- "Everything Is Alright" -- CD -- €13
2008 WKN, WKN32
A collection of rare compilation and vinyl-only tracks and remixes recorded in 2002-2008.
Die Form -- "Bach Project" -- CD -- €23
2008 Matrix Cube / [Trisol] Music Group GmbH, TRI 338 CD
Ego Death / Cat'n'Bone -- "Bald Split" -- CD-R -- €7
2008 self-released
ED: psychopatic collage noise in best traditions of early Veprisuicids. C'n'B: quality-made harsh noise with pleasant bass passages. Nice! Split is packed in a DVD-box, full-colour print and insert made in aesthetics of Soviet agitation posters. [YAOP description]
Elli Riehl -- "Das Brauen Der Feuerwolken / Alraun" -- 2 CD -- €26
2006 Punch Productions, PP018
Extreme Stench Cock -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €4
2008 self-released
Extreme Stench Cock is one of the projects of Russian musician Grisha Avrorin (Alisa-Yhtye, ex-Monopolka, Dr. Kintchev), this material was recorded with the use of voice, violin and guitar. And this seems to be close to maximum which can be extracted from these instruments. Semi-acoustic harsh noise with brutal live energy! Great artwork - a tangled sleeve, unfolding to A3 poster with 2-sided silk-screen prints.
Faryus & Vadim Bondarenko -- "8 Atmospheres" -- CD -- €11
2008 Faria Records, FAR-25, (ltd. 500)
This album is the successful combination between two different worlds: bewitched electronics from Faryus and meditative parts of piano and clarinet from Vadim Bondarenko. In addition, this CD contains poetic video clip created by Alexander Sveshnikov. Welcome to the inner ambient dimension!... [label info]
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Faust / Nurse With Wound -- "Disconnected" -- CD -- €13
2007 Art-errorist, D/DIS1/07
A collaboration album between Colin Potter (Faust) and Steven Stapleton (Nurse With Wound).
Feindflug -- "Volk Und Armee..." -- CD -- €13.50
2005 Black Rain, BR 026
Fire + Ice -- "Birdking" -- CD -- €12
2000 Fremdheit, FREMD CD 2000
FIRE + ICE grew out of Ian Read’s involvement with Death In June, Current 93 and then Sol Invictus. After several successful albums Ian left Sol Invictus to study the fighting arts and magick in Germany and then, on returning to England, Ian formed Fire + Ice as a means of spreading the Word of Northern European magick and tradition through music but also to entertain in the way of the bards, scops and gleemen of ancient Europe. The heartlessness of the modern commercial consumer society ruins the lives of many. FIRE + ICE takes the purity and philosophy of early music and melds it into a message redolent with the powerful seeds of honour truth, loyalty and the bond of true friendship. ‘For how can man die better than facing fearful odds. For the ashes of his fathers and the temples of his gods?’... This Fire + Ice offering, "Birdking," is an incredibly accomplished work which harnesses the talents of a number of Read's fellow musicians and produces a vibrant, flourishing tome of lore. Contains contributions by Michael Cashmore (Current 93, Nature and Organization), Mee, Alice Karlsdottir, Richard Leviathan (Ostara), Michael Moynihan (Blood Axis), and Annabel Lee (Blood Axis, ex-Amber Asylum). [label info]
Five Elements Music -- "Kapotte Muziek By" -- CD-R -- €9
2008 Moving Furniture Records, MFR001, (ltd. 100)
The Dutch duo of Frans de Waard and Roel Meelkop traveled all the way to St. Petersburg, Russia in May 2008, where they did some live performances as Kapotte Muziek. From these performances one has been reworked by the Russian sound/drone artist [S] who also works under the name Five Elements Music. The result is an amazing piece combining field recordings with metal scrapping and oozing drones. [label info]
Five Elements Music -- "Pictures from Sand : Boiling Line" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, SS18
Two mini-albums on one disk. "Picures from Sand" is based on the sounds of sand: low-frequency gentle drones, layered and rustling, gradually accumulate slowly lingering resonances, then again turning into dry field recordings. The theme of "Boiling Line" is the sound of boiling water, but it's not that obvious at once: the noise of electric kettle transforms into wind moans, hi-pitched signals turn out to be seagull voices, and the sound of gurgling liquid is set off by monotonous low drones.
Five Elements Music -- "Stok (Drainage)" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, SS17
The album with Russian title "Stock" ("drainage") contains two tracks with soundscapes, based on the sounds of water. Unhurried laminating clear and processed field recordings create comfortable atmosphere, filled with drawling drones and resonances, and great number of small details (hissing sand, rivulets, stones and other artificially amplified natural sounds) carry away listener's attention, leaving him in a numb contemplation of the tangled sound flow.
Franklin, Martin & Northam, Michael -- "An Opening Of The Earth: Recovered" -- CD -- €11
2008 Faria Records, FAR-23, (ltd. 500)
“….excavating the sonic crust with heavy synthesised drones, trebly buzzes and popping bursts of sound……eerie as hell.”
Darren Bergstein, I/E (from review of original release)... "An Opening Of The Earth: Recovered" revisits a spontaneous collaboration between the two musicians, captured in the early 90's. Recorded in an obsolete format, no longer playable with today's technology. The old playback device, recovered from dusty storage for one last use, and the recording of this event brought back into the present - recovered once again.At once a sonic artifact of the recent past and a touchstone for contemporary developments in lo-fi electronic sound... Franklin and Northam's original meeting saw them both on the cusp of developments in their own careers. Franklin's seminal Ambient trio, TUU shortly after embarked on an enduring series of CD releases and performances across Europe. Michael Northam's nomadic life as a travelling sound artist continued from this point onward, leaving a trail of recorded evidence from projects in 25 countries... Mythic imagery of man descending into the mysteries of the Inner Earth is conjured in this intense recorded performance.Using lo-fi sampling, eerie drones, percussive metal instruments and effects, the players trace an intuitive path through a midnight electronic improvisation. Snippets of sound from other projects of that time slip in and out of the mix, roughly recorded Theatre rehearsals, and audio of UK street life appear from dictaphone tapes. Like an unearthed archeological find, the recordings of this ritualistic performance tie the pieces to their location, as well as the events of their time... After unearthing the original tapes, Martin Franklin has created all new mixes for this Faria Records release, including previous unheard sections, re-interpreted and enhanced for the 21st Century listener. [press-release]
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Glasberg -- "Utrennik" -- CD-R -- €6
2008 ElectroIndustria, 11EIСDr, (ltd. 100)
In a certain sense Glasberg (St. Petersburg, Russia) reminds of clanking question mark, which can appear in the head after a sleepless night on a balcony of a tower-block in St. Petersburg outskirts. Important are not the specific formulae, but the gesture and message themselves. Technologically the meditation is performed by a method of intuitive warping, by distorting the sound in real time intil it turns into a rarefied vibrational flow flavoured with a desperate voice. [press-release] The debut album of Uncle Fika, a permanent member of Deutsch Nepal concerts in St. Petersburg ;) Old-school death-industrial, analogue weirdness and insane vocals.
Glaukom Synod -- "Ogre" -- CD-R -- €2
2007 self-released
Collage electro aggro-industrial from France. Wild and energetic, but often non-structural music, compiled from noises, rhythms and heavy guitar samples.
Hag-Hag-Hagal -- "s/t" -- CD -- €6
2008 Valgriind, VG 12
Experimental ambient from little known Russian project. Sometimes noisy, sometimes melodic, but in general sounding like a constant "conscious flow" without interference of rational thought, which resembles Bardoseneticcube. A very good sound quality & nice varied atmosphere.
Halo Manash -- "Am Kha Astrie" -- CD -- €11
2008 Aural Hypnox, [AH10], (ltd. 1000)
As the apex of Spring heralds awakenings, Halo Manash emerges from Winter and hibernation ~ Treefaced. Horns spiral skyward and antlers ascend. A tripartite trunk arises – a pillar that splits all worlds... Am Kha Astrie, a work of heliotropic, elemental ambient, is an opening, an awakening, a summoning, a crossing of thresholds. After their previous oneiric and minimal album, Am Kha Astrie sees Halo Manash re-integrate a more diverse instrumentation and a multiplicity of soundsources to create their work, which consists of seven interrelated tracks. Am Kha Astrie is a complete work in itself, but can also be viewed as the second facet of a tripartite series of works that are part of one holistic creation... Archaic elemental drums, bones and spiraling animal horns merge with various metal percussions, chimes, wind-instruments, voices and a multitude of other instruments to create a deep, earthly and yet celestially-bound opus. Am Kha Astrie is a massive and sometimes ominous work, a primal experience of coming-into-being, with all the terror, ecstasy and divine awe that it implies... Comes in a hand finished cardboard booklet, in an edition of 1000 copies. [press-release]
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Heal -- "Extension" -- CD -- €11
2000 Sound On Probation, SOP 002, (ltd. 500)
From the mind of Lauren Perrier - who also works under the names Zonk't, Pylone and his own - comes the new trip-hop electronica project Heal and their debut CD Extension. In collaboration with Bernard Ducayron and featuring collaborations with Samia Doukali & Anouk Azar - Extension is sure to appeal to fans of Massive Attack with smooth, deep bass lines, laid back electronic drum grooves and synth washes that perfect the modern club 'chill-out' vibe. [Lens Records info]
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Heal -- "Starting Back" -- CD -- €11
2007 Sound On Probation, SOP 007, (ltd. 500)
Laurent Perrier don't know rest, he's always working to something new. It is amazing that he's running a label where every project of its roster is headed by Laurent himself. This time after seven years from the previous album "Extension" we have a new CD by Heal. STARTING BACK is the most melodic work to date made by Laurent and if the first Heal album was approaching to dub and ambient just like the Scorn of the first period did, the new album changes everything by introducing elements of jazz, 70s progressive rock (check "Chute d'oreiller" and its approach a la Goblin) and hip hop. Blending everything just to compose an ideal soundtrack for a futuristic noir movie, Heal did something new where the dub element is still present and you can hear it by listening to the bass lines but the new influences enrich the sound creating a new and fresh mixture. The fifteen instrumental tracks sound mysterious and if you check "Mainmise" you'll be seduced by its oriental melodies. Good one! [Maurizio Pustianaz, Chain D.L.K.]
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In Gowan Ring -- "Hazel Steps Through A Weathered Home" -- CD -- €13.50
2002/2005 Shayo, Shayo005
In Gowan Ring -- "The Twin Trees" -- CD -- €13.50
1997/2006 Shayo, Shayo009
Indigo Larvae -- "Behind These Walls The Night Is Total" -- CD -- €13.50
2007 Steinklang Industries, SK 44, (ltd. 500)
Ion And Sophus -- "Three" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR10
Third album of lo-fi ambient project of Sergey [s], just as gentle and fairy as previous two.
Kopp, Hermann -- "Under a Demon's Mask" -- CD -- €15
2008 Galakthorrö 021
Everybody who has seen the Buttgereit films Nekromantik 1+2 and Todesking, has heard of Hermann Kopp. The music he wrote and performed for them is ever-present, pervading the atmosphere and has contributed considerably to the advancement of these films into classics. He still retains to this day his exceptional musical ability, and proves it yet again. Galakthorrö is proud to be able to present 13 new songs from the nekrodramatist: more than 40 minutes of new material, which today – just as it did then – has as its core his dissonantly tempered and individualistic violin playing. Combined with electronics, a host of weird instruments and metal percussion he creates an unequalled gruesome opus, carried by an effectively conceived minimalism, and the most beautiful and haunting Angst melodies imaginable. So morbid and wonderful in fact, that we have to ask ourselves how we could manage to survive for so long without any new material from Hermann Kopp – and which demons were riding him that he had to keep us waiting so long. CD in matt finish digipac, 20-page booklet incl. all texts and lyrics. [press-release]
Krasniy! -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €4.50
2008 S und S records, SS-2008-004-04, (ltd. 13)
This is how the music of our ancestors sounds in the modern world, the expression of extasy and turnover during the ritual of Kolo zeal. Furious noise, tambourine and fifes - a live recording of the ritual. The blood-belief is not forgotten, it waits for its morning hour to be awaken with the rise of the clear bright face. Recorded in 2007 by one of the members of UFA Muzak label. [press-release] Fourth variant of limited edition, in simple but nice handmade package.
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Kriminaaliset Metsänhaltijat -- "Finlandia" -- CD-R -- €11
2008 Triangle, TR-35, (ltd. 10)
The only recording of this project made in a professional studio. This recording was made for one of the leading post-industrial labels, but by common agreement the material was not released. Ten years later the band decided to publish some of the materials from that record-session. In 2007 it was remastered, mainly the vocal parts. Here are used the field recordings, settled in Southern Finland and Mourmansk region of Russia, analogue syths, drum-machine and sound-processing units. Exceptionally warm sound. Musically it differs a lot from the other works of this project and presents industrial power ambient with influences from SPK from industrial and Inade from ambient. Hypnotic bursts of industrial rumbles, sythesizer ambient buzz, live concrete sounds and mysterious vocals. [press-release]
Kriminaaliset Metsänhaltijat -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €11
2008 Triangle, TR-36, (ltd. 16)
One more forgotten work of this project, a collection of live recordings. Radical. Utterly unpleasant noise flow, rattle and metal clank. [label info]
The Lindbergh Baby -- "Hoodwinked" -- CD -- €13.50
2007 False Flag Records
Lustmord -- "The Monstrous Soul" -- CD -- €13.50
2000 Soleilmoon, SOL 97 CD
Merzbow -- "Annica" -- CD -- €11
2008 Cold Spring Records, CSR107CD
The first track on Merzbow's latest opus was recorded at Tin Pan Alley studios, London, on 20th April 2008 - the day after his momentous performance at ULU. Akita created an astounding and very unique 20-minute track, playing freestyle drums over his trademark noise. The final 2 tracks were created at Munemi House in Tokyo. Another fine example of why Merzbow is the undisputed King of Japanese Noise! 58 minutes in total. [press-release]
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Mizutani, Kiyoshi / Shimada, Hideaki / Kuwayama, Kiyoharu -- "Gambetta" -- CD -- €10
2008 Monochrome Vision, mv27, (ltd. 500)
This unique collaboration of three Japanese musicians coming from quite different music background (Kiyoharu Kuwayama: contact microphone, hand made electronics; Hideaki Shimada: violin, live electronics; Kiyoshi Mizutani: feed back, drumstick) tends to be the most radical and uncompromising one. It's really hard to explain what it's all about, it's too alien and very far from any rational thought you can imagine. For the unprepared listener, it can be very uneasy and helpless experience, but for me, it explains the very idea of avant garde music in our post modern age. [label info]
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MZ.412 -- "Burning The Temple Of God" -- CD -- €15.50
1996 Cold Meat Industry, CMI.41
N. -- "Memories From Before Being Born" -- CD -- €12
2005 + Belligeranza, + BELLIGERANZA cd02
Two empty tape-recorders, one connected to the other, no sound if not the distortion produced by the tape-recorders themselves in play/rec. On this recording of Nothing the modulations of vintage analogic effects: emptied frequencies, prenatal sounds without any sonic grain, audio for a flat electroencephalogram. The selection of the technical set-up through which sounds are produced is part of the N. (Nihilism, No, Not, Never...) aesthetics: THE PROCESS IS THE POETICS in "Memories from before being born", a possible conceptual-noize manifesto. [label info]
NON -- "Children Of A Black Sun" -- CD + DVD -- €15.50
Mute Records, CDSTUMM213
Nordvargr / Drakh -- "The Betrayal Of Light" -- CD -- €15.50
2007 tUMULt, TM373
Norma Reaktsii -- "Telluric Energy" -- CD-R -- €6
2008 Valgriind, VG 08, (ltd. 50)
Four tracks of pure unprocessed radionoise.
Norma Reaktsii -- "Chaosgaze" -- CD-R -- €6
2008 Valgriind, VG 14, (ltd. 50)
Nurse With Wound -- "Drunk With The Old Man Of The Mountains" -- CD -- €19
2005 Jnana Records, UNITED JNANA 1978CD
Orchestra Noir -- "The Affordable Holmes EP" -- mCD -- €13.50
2007 Extremocidente, DEO 05030507 - 221b
Pacific 231 -- "Stif(f)le - Etats Brut et Balances" -- CD-R -- €10
2008 Monochrome Vision, (ltd. 150)
Pierre Jolivet has been producing music since 1981. His most recent CD Palestine has been released in 2007 in collaboration with Rapoon. In the Autumn of the same year, he visited Russia with concerts. They were organized in Moscow, St.-Petersbourg and Yaroslavl by Monochrome Vision label, which started the new series of live albums with this one. The concept of "Stif(f)le" is to encompass a space by creating a virtual world based on the use of digital technology. Since my first performance, nearly 25 years ago, progress has been made in creating and controlling the performance in a real time environment. The equipment consists of a single laptop, connected through MIDI to an upper torso exoskeleton and a data projector displaying the visual in sync with the sound feed. Abolishing the instrument liberates the performer as motion sensors on the body facilitate gesture found in dance or in sculpture. The minimalist aspect of the performance makes the spectator closer to an altered state of consciousness, a format used since the early sixties repetitive school of music to include the public as part of the event as a cerebral feedback loop. [label info]
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Passione Nera -- "Research EP" -- mCD -- €10
2008 Cold Meat Industry, cmi185
The "Research EP" marks the first offering from the ever-growing Roman outfit Passione Nera. Originally conceived by Andy in the dying days of 2005, it would not be until the spring of the following year that the band took its first steps, and embarked on a journey that would eventually see the project evolve into a 4-piece band (by early 2007). Initially, the songs were stripped-down acoustic guitar compositions with the occasional addition of piano, accordion or organ. However, as the band grew and expanded, the songs were redefined and their sound changed. Today, Passione Nera has evolved from a folk-pop creature into a fully-fledged chamber-pop ensemble. The band keeps one watery alcoholic eye fixed on the cinematic tradition, with melodic landscapes that are dusty and melancholy. These melodious scenes are then wrapped up in lush, orchestrated songs with acoustic and electric guitars taking the center stage, and additionally enhanced by a large array of other instruments. It is as if these songs were written on the backs of 1960s postcards brought back from some imaginary journey into “Americana”, then bred with French-pop, cross-fertilized with baroque-pop, and finally molded into a soundtrack for the broken-hearted, the disenchanted and the misunderstood. The "Research EP" features appearances by Simone "Hellvis" Salvatori (guest vocals on "Sinking"), and Piergiorgio "PJ" Ambrosi (additional arrangements and co-production) of older brothers Spiritual Front. [press-release]
PBK / Telepherique -- "Noise-Ambient Connection" -- CD -- €10
2008 Monochrome Vision, mv22, (ltd. 500)
This particular album is the first ever collaboration between american soundartist Phillip B. Klingler and german band Telepherique, it represents yet another breakthrough in the search for a music that is comprehensively exploring 21st century ambient music, an essential listening experience which is absolutely unique for the whole genre history as well as for both artists. PBK and Telepherique proposes premium quality music with manifold edges: some hypnotic ambient pieces, some crazy noise collages, but mostly just unclassifiable abstract sound-sculptures. Both artists uses a lot of synthetic sound sources and sequences, creating unsettling atmosphere from the structured electronic patterns ranging from intense rhythmic work to creepy ambient out-of-body soundscapes. [label info]
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Perrier, Laurent -- "As Far As" -- CD -- €11
2008 Sound On Probation, SOP 010, (ltd. 500)
Created for Alban Richard’s choreographic show of the same name, “as far as” -slightly modified for its release on CD - is a sound structure built on classical music samples, off beat loops, collages, quotations. The album starts with a long, minimal, repetitive track - organ sequences and micro events reminding one of some of Charlemagne Palestine’s pieces. “As far as” is a work where emotion prevails on abstraction, a long heady, cinematic development, a play on volumes and contrasts like hesitating between total anguish and peaceful contemplation. The musical form thus created is the prelude to an almost apocalyptic noise swoop which, in an oddly beautiful manner, finally transforms itself into a collage of orchestrated violins, illusion of infinity meeting a most abrupt end. [press-release]
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Perrier, Laurent -- "Downfall / Disperse" -- 2 CD -- €14
2008 Sound On Probation, SOP 006, (ltd. 500)
Not to be confused with the champagne of the same name, this is the first solo album in a decade by this French artist (member of Zonk’t / Nox and label manager of Odd Size). ‘Downfall’ is a single track which develops ultra slowly, with very low, organic rumbling and hypnotic bass. The composition seems minimalistic but yet complex, absorbing and disintegrating, cold yet organic. ‘Disperse’ is also a singular track, but is more in the vein of concrete electro-acoustic music. Inspired by the compositions of Steve Reich, loops are copied, layered and moved around, so that the listener is under the permanent impression of growing turbulence and spatial buzzing. [Cold Spring info]
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Phillips, Tomas / King, Dean -- "Les Mailles" -- CD -- €10
2008 Monochrome Vision, mv26, (ltd. 500)
The duo of Dean King and Tomas Phillips came together in 2000 with the mere intention of exploring a shared aesthetic. Their aim was the achievement of a balance between digital and non-digital sound and a functional recognition of their differences in terms of utility and signification. Whilst computer technology remains central to their work, they make an effort to locate composition within a space of physicality. Hence the use of acoustic instrumentation and field recordings gathered on the periphery of laptops, they seek to foreground the act of listening in the slowly evolving tradition of microsound, without precluding the possibility of active and engaged harmony. Les Mailles translates into English as "meshes", finely interlaced material that invites a certain transparency. Maya Deren's Meshes of the Afternoon relies on such opportunity of vision in order to communicate the inherent emotion of seemingly banal events, phenomena that go otherwise unnoticed at the expense of the character whose interiority becomes increasingly compromised in the unraveling universe of a film noir. Of course, accessing an inner life is not all storm and stress. In a context of quiet attention to slowly shifting movements, recognition of the microscopic may also yield productive insights into occurrences observed beyond the fabric of our inventions. [label info]
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Procer Veneficus -- "Saltwater And Glassmoon" -- CD-R -- €12
2008 Stellar Auditorium, NAD-AUD002, (ltd. 300)
Ambient / Minimalism.
Pylone -- "Black Grains" -- CD -- €11
2006 Sound On Probation, SOP 004, (ltd. 500)
First album by this Zonk't side project, resolutely ambient and more experimental. “Black Grains” takes the listener on a one-hour long journey through subtle frequencies, very grainy (of course) clicks and blips, a little noise, and very deep drones (reminding of The [law-rah] Collective). Atmospheric in the truest sense of the word, this debut is a success, being a well produced and intelligently executed album which sets Pylone aside as an interesting project. [Cold Spring info]
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Pylone -- "Grounded Hands" -- CD -- €11
2008 Sound On Probation, SOP 009, (ltd. 500)
After Black Grains, Pylone’s second album goes on developing micro sounds in closed environments. Grounded Hand is a mass in disarray, a collage of cracking and clicking sounds, clinical minimal repetitive heartbeat inviting listeners to follow its author through an experience of granular meditation, a dive into crunching, vibrating sound material. If the first part is made of harsh abstract compositions, the second part opens up to space, to cinematic, contemplative atmospheres. [press-release]
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raison d'etre -- "Collective Archives" -- 2 CD -- €27
1999 Cold Meat Industry, CMI.68
raison d'etre -- "The Luminous Experience (Live in Enschede 2008)" -- CD -- €13
2008 Cold Meat Industry, cmi188
This is raison d'etre alive! Put yourself in a comfortable position, light some candles in a darkened room and open a bottle of red wine of your choice. Prepare for meeting raison d'etre live in your living room. Press the play button and imagine a dark place: hear a distant sound that multiplies and coming closer and closer. The sound becoming a sonic swarm that surrounds your body, penetrating your mind and makes your soul trembling in its sublime foundation. Now, inhale a massive amount of air and hold your breath for a while. Constantly repeat. Let the sonic landscapes trigger your experience. Be enlighten... 'The Luminous Experience', recorded on the darkest hour of Midsummer night 2008 in Enschede (The Netherlands), is the first complete live album from raison d'etre featuring the whole set of one concert. The live set mainly contains live only material: a mixture of composed and improvised elements that has never been experienced on CD before. Present here are also some live adapted compositions from the albums 'The Empty Hollow Unfolds' and 'Metamorphyses'. 'The Luminous Experience' is the 11th original album by raison d'e^tre since their first album 'Prospectus I', released 15 years ago. [press-release]
Rapoon -- "Obscure Objects of Desire" -- CD -- €13
2008 Vivo Records, vivo2008039CD
This album is about yearning. That aching emptiness that still exists when all rational processes have been exhausted. The unobtainable,
all consuming and immaterial. The irrelevant and the irrational. The dark torments and the light hearted banter. The victories and the defeats. The achievements and the failures. The loves and the losses. When all are accounted for there remains only... the obscure objects of desire. [from the author]
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Reutoff -- "Gute Nacht, Berlin!" -- CD -- €13
2003 Hau Ruck!, HR!47
"Gute Nacht Berlin" (Good Night, Berlin) is the 3rd release on the HauRuck! label from this Russian band. Reutoff follows the ritual electronic side of their last limited CD "Unseen ritual" by once again offering melodic and well-arranged soundscapes far away from cliches, while always maintaining that special "Reutoff-touch." Released 5th May 2003. Packaged in a full-color digipak. [label info]
Rich, Robert & Boddy, Ian -- "Lithosphere" -- CD -- €12
2005 DiN, DiN21, (ltd. 2000)
Rich, Robert & Boddy, Ian -- "React" -- CD -- €12
2008 DiN, DiN29, (ltd. 2000)
Romowe Rikoito -- "Austradeiwa" -- CD -- €13
2005 Ars Benevola Mater, ABM 10, (ltd. 1000)
ABM is glad to announce the 3rd Romowe Rikoito release. After 2 CDS (NARCISSISM - 1996 & L'AUTOMN ETERNEL - 2000 ....now really hard to find) out on Brudenia (cult prussian label) I have to honour to release the last fantastic opera of this prussian band. Romowe Rikoito is one of my favorite bands of ever, so it's a big joy for me to have them in my ABM family. DARK-FOLK music, NEOCLASSICAL ...with a touch of melancholy, make this intimistic release a masterpiece for everyones that love folk music...What to say more..? it's not possible to explain in words the sensations I feel when I listen Austradeiwa!!! [press-release]
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Ryr -- "Avvertimento 1909" -- 3"CD-R -- €5
2008 S und S records, SS-2008-006-01, (ltd. 13)
New work of this Russian project brings you back to beginning of the 20th century, the age of Italian futuristic movement. The project develops it's non-standard collage technique: fragments of retro-songs, arrant industrial sounds, wild noise cut-ups and martial tunes may caper in feverous gallop through the one track. Don't take this music seriously, otherwise you take a risk to catch mental derangement. This is the 2nd edition of this work on S und S label, with a bonus-track, with simple but nice handmade package.
Sagittarius -- "Songs From The Ivory Tower" -- CD -- €11
2008 Cold Spring Records, CSR89CD
"Songs from the Ivory Tower" contains 15 pieces of dark Neoclassical music and is mainly based on poems by Stefan George, Bernhard von Uxkull-Gyllenband, Gottfried Benn, Ludwig Uhland and Timo Kolling, plus a number of instrumental and Neofolk pieces. Featuring guest contributions by Marcel P. (Von Thronstahl), Herr Twiggs (Kammer Sieben), Damiano Mercuri (Rose Rovine E Amanti), Troy Southgate (H.E.R.R. / Seelenlicht) and Philipp Jonas (Secrets Of The Moon). [press-release]
Sarah's Charity -- "Code of Red Twin" -- CD-R -- €6
Arbor, Arbor40, (ltd. 150)
Among the metal forests of Denmark, there is Sarah’s Charity. A maelstrom of expert tone work and free electricity; sounds so electric, yet still reminiscent of the flowing natural growth of fellow Danes Family Underground (it should be noted that Nicolas of FU helps out on track 2). This naturalism plus the actual sterility create a feeling nothing short of psychedelic. A wall of intense oscillation and soothing vacuous space ala Marcia Bassett’s various projects. Speaking of Marcia, SC is also famed for being the only non Bassett/Bower related project to be released on the esteemed Heavy Blossom label. In a numbered edition of 150 copies in absolutely beautiful mind tripping deluxe screened sleeves by Dylan Martorell, with screened discs and an insert. [press-release]
Sempervirens -- "Dirge of the Dying Year" -- CD-R -- €12
2008 Stellar Auditorium, NAD-AUD001, (ltd. 300)
Soundscape / Minimalism.
Sister Loolomie & Kryptogen Rundfunk -- "[W]interloop[s]" -- CD-R -- €7
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR11
This is a mail-art collaboration between two Russian experimental musicians. Kryptogen Rundfunk has prepared the sonic canvas from radiowaves reworked with a computer, and Sister Loolomie has painted it with toned guitar fingering, sample of cosmic vibraions and melodic synth lines. This resulted into one deliberate ambient noise track lasting for half an hour, in which persistent resonances harmonize with glitchy digital effects, non-aggressive noises - with long spatial drones, repetitive loops and samples - with airy melodies...
Sol Invictus -- "The Killing Tide" -- CD -- €17
2007 Extremocidente, DEO 05020407, (ltd. 888)
STROM.ec -- "Divine Legions Beyond Psyche" -- CD -- €15.50
2008 Malignant Records, TUMOR CD32
Svarrogh -- "Yer Su" -- CD -- €13.50
2008 Ahnstern, Ahnstern34
Tho-So-Aa -- "Absorb" -- CD -- €13
2000 Art Konkret, ART 33, (ltd. 500)
"Absorb" is a great early Tho-So-Aa release that exudes many facets of the genre, including dark ambience, low, echoing sound collages, rhythmic, ritual, electronic sound work and fresh, intelligent sounds. [label info]
Tho-So-Aa -- "Enrielle" -- CD -- €13
2002 Art Konkret, ART 35, (ltd. 500)
The re-release of the praised Enrielle tape. Art Konkret 15 is finally finished. The CD includes also three previously unreleased tracks.
THO-SO-AA's dark sound reflects the dreams and visions of the person behind THO-SO-AA. The sounds are created with acoustic instruments and this makes it more interesting, than the normal dark ambient music. You can think about of ambient death-industrial with a lot of different faces. It takes you in another world, the dark world of THO-SO-AA. The CD comes in special A5 artwork created by Drape Excrement. [label info]
The Threshold HouseBoys Choir -- "Form Grows Rampant" -- CD + DVD -- €27
2007 Threshold House, THBKK3
The Triple Tree -- "Ghosts" -- CD -- €11
2008 Cold Spring Records, CSR96CD
The Triple Tree consists of Tony Wakeford (Sol Invictus) and Andrew King aided and abetted by M, Autumn Greeve, Kris Force, Guy Harries, Renee Rosen and John Murphy, and is an extended homage to the supernatural fiction of M. R. James (with a certain nod to his notable studies in the New Testament Apocrypha) the greatest ghost story writer in the English language, and the finest medievalist of his generation. Join Dr Wakeford and the Rev. King as they search for the Three Crowns, attempt to Cast the Runes, purchase The Mezzotint, follow Mr Abney’s "remarkable enlightenment" in Lost Hearts, and join Count Magnus on the "Black Crusade"! Winter evenings will never be the same again… Luxurious digipak with booklet. [press-release]
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Underjordiska -- "Dystert Vilse" -- CD-R -- €12
2008 Stellar Auditorium, NAD-AUD003, (ltd. 300)
Ambient Black Metal.
Underjordiska -- "Spectral Lore" -- CD-R -- €12
2008 Stellar Auditorium, NAD-AUD004, (ltd. 300)
Ambient / Acoustic / Drone.
Velehentor/ Vishudha Kali / Closing The Eternity -- "Ishopanishad" -- CD -- €12
2008 Vesvigir Music, [o:001], (ltd. 976)
"Ishopanishad" is a unique album for present days, as it was created in the process of a real-time performance, and all the music was played on "live" acoustic instruments, without using any "electronics". The album is conceptual and consists of three tracks - preparatory ritual, anticipating the mystery of performing Isha Upanishad, 2nd track - the mystery itself, and the 3rd - long, meditative, concluding, allowing the listener to immerse deep into himself and feel the traces of vibes of one of the most monumental Veda texts. The Upanishad is executed in a canonical style in Sanskrit in state of deepest concentration and meditative practice. During the recording of the album, the "eastern" traditional musical instruments were used, all brought from ethnographic trips... A little bit about the contents of Isha Upanishad - this ancient text is a conditional commentary to Veda, containing the preamble and 18 hymns, and it's one of the ten most authoritative texts (after the Veda) which in short and easy to understand yet very capacious form tell about truth and falsity of so called "human values", not thrusting any doctrines or religions to anyone. It just shows the misery, futility, transiency, caducity and infirmity of so called Karmic, "worldly" activity of modern people. Reading and rereading it's shlocks (quatrains), it's impossible not to feel surprised by that exactness of descriptions of realities of our contemporary life, as if the author could watch forward the time through the centuries while writing this astonishing text, and he showed to us, modern people, from his faraway past, that actually... nothing changed, people remained the same, their problems didn't change, and that's why like 4 thousand years ago this text is still actual and fresh... "Those who honour mystics fall into endless darkness, but even bigger darkness engulf those who worship the Absolute" - Sri Ishopanishad, 9. [press-release]
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Vilgoc -- "Wypelnienie" -- CD-R -- €9
2007 Beast of Prey, bop 4.9, (ltd. 150)
Obscure brutal power electronics from Poland. Sounds like late Con-Dom replays Hladna... Heart-rending and self-destroying. Handmade cardboard sleeve. [YAOP description]
Vrtacek, C.W. -- "Fifteen Mnemonic Devices" -- CD -- €11
1996 Odd Size, CD OS 18
Chuck Vrtacek is an American guitarist, Czech by origin, once played in an avant-guard rock band Forever Einstein. The material for "Fifteen Mnemonic Devices" was recorded in 1986-1994, and it shows his interest to more compex musical forms. Blending noise samples and awkward guitar passages in that elegant proportion which keeps the balance between serious and funny, Vrtacek manoeuvres between the melancholy of the european saloon music, witty pun of improvisation and playful jazz turmoil. Sometimes the music seem to wither and become cold and laid-back, as if it was tired of life, then suddenly the fresh rhythm arrives and the atmosphere wakes again. We have to mention that some of the recordings were aided by Nick Didkovsky - one of the most original experimental guitarists, whose retrospective was recently released on a CD by Pogus label. [Monochrome Vision info]
Wereju -- "When The Heart Shows Trough" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR08
Blurry, eerie drones that have a lot in common with Aidan Baker's solo guitarscapes, but this is darker stuff. Heavily processed feedback swells in tide-like form, deep and sonorous, and underneath the warbling ambience is a dark soundworld enveloped in shadow. Muted melancholy melodies appear and disappear, soft whorls of sound carry over vast expanses of blackness, and reverberating strings hum suspended in the air. Wereju inhabits a realm of mysterious, drifting, meditative dark ambience. [Crucial Blast Records]
Xaaron -- "Looking for the Saint Grail" -- CD-R -- €4.50
2008 S und S prod., SS-2008-003-02, (ltd. 13)
Solo project of Alexander Eresh from the Russian band Tenochtitlan. The medieval spirit merged with bombastic drumming and melancholic flutes in search of secret and saint Grail. The style of the music can be defined as martial folk ambient, the dark intense rhythm is accompanied with medieval Slavic, Celtic and Irish tunes. Recorded in 2002 at Imitation Sound Systems, released for the first time. [press-release]
[download page]
Zonk't -- "-trope" -- CD -- €11
2007 Sound On Probation, SOP 008, (ltd. 500)
In recent times the name Laurent Perrier pops up quite regularly: either under his one name, or as Heal or Zonk't. Here it is the Zonk't hat again, and once again he changes the parameters of his sound. On his first (not reviewed in Vital Weekly) it was in the trip hop/illbient fashion of DJ Spooky, on 'Purr' it was the minimalism of Bretschneider and Pan Sonic but now on '-Trope' he combines these along side a lot of other dance music influences, such as techno, ambient house, hip hop, more dub, intelligent dance music or glitchy clicks 'n cuts. All played on a blend of analogue and digital instruments. One could all too easily think that this mixture of styles would lead to a CD that is too scattered, but its this variation that makes this a highly enjoyable CD - for home listening, I must add. Somehow I don't see the mass on the dance floor going crazy for one of these tracks or even a live concert - there the varied palette of Zonk't would work against it, but at home this hotchpotch of dance styles would make a fine listen. [FdW, Vital Weekly]
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Zonk't -- "Falling Down Fearless Of Bruises" -- CD -- €11
1999 Sound On Probation, SOP 001, (ltd. 500)
In his research, Laurent Perrier has never stopped regarding experimentations as his main piority. He is attached to rhythmical lines, floods of sounds trapped in a loop as well as attempting to create a 3-D type of experience where the sound would be shaped by Space, Silence and Accident. Zonk't confirms the impact that the fascinating tangle of hypnosis, abstraction, rhythms and different shades has on Perrier. Zonk't is far more than just one off project. Laurent Perrier now steps in a world marked with the thick and stingy texture left by Zoviet France, Scorn, the labels Asphodel and Mille Plateaux. Still, there are zillion of untouched paths left, to explore... Zonk't functions around long developing tracks. In turn: abismal or airy, bright or dark. The project is an exciting and haunting wondering conducted by the amazing application of one man behind so many machines. All of them subject to temperamental gravity... [Denis Boyer, Fear Drop]
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Zonk't -- "Purr" -- CD -- €11
2006 Sound On Probation, SOP 005, (ltd. 500)
Third full album for Zonk't, following his remarkable "Itching" on Brume Records. This French act (former member of Nox) presents another very well-written album made of ultra-deep basses, flowing atmospheres, small clicks'n'cuts, and a rather massive sound. Ranging from smooth, minimal dub pulses to drone-oriented, ultra-deep bass, "Purr" takes distilled techno under the microscope and well below freezing with its infinitesimal examination of slow-motion electronic minimalism. It is a work of astonishingly deep character, with an undeniable undercurrent of unease. [Cold Spring info]
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V/A -- "23 Drifts To Guestling" -- CD -- €13.50
1983/2008 Iham Products, NANA 004 / FOPI, LAT23
Genesis P-Orridge, Joan Armstrong, Throbbing Gristle, Monte Cazazza, Peter Christopherson, Gary Gilmore, Adi Newton, Martin Denny, COUM Transmissions, Millions Like Us, Charles Manson, Alex Fergusson, Lynette Fromme.
V/A -- "You Get So Alone: Solo Instrumentals" -- CD-R -- €7
2008 Harha-Askel, HA-6
Solo drone ambient and near-industrial instrumentals from Sindre Bjerga, Jani Hellen, Amigo Result, Maxime Primault, Ville Moskiitto, Sparkle In Grey, Robert Horton, Talugung, Andy Futreal, Michael Futreal, Crow Feathers, Destroy All Tie Fighters, Throuroof.
Amon -- "Aura" -- 7" -- €7
1998/2002 Drone Records, DR-29, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
Re-release of 300 copies on beautiful orange-grey-yellow multicoloured vinyl, with full colour covers using magic photos by swedish photograph Björn Mascher! Haunting & shimmering magique as coming from an ancient culture. "...with the minimal, but effective dark ambient soundstructures on this first AMON-vinyl the listener is taken to a journey into the "archaic" heart of darkness. 1000 miles away, calming and alien". [from the original press release 1995]
Artefactum -- "Sub Rosa" -- 7" -- €7
2008 Drone Records, DR-94, (ltd. 300)
Drone Records is very proud to present the first vinyl-release of the enchanting ARTEFACTUM project from Poland! Described by herself as "Female Esoterica", SUB ROSA opens a vast space filled with tons of different sounds coming from very far away, as nebulous melodies, whispers & voices & choirs, little clicks & cracks, with soft percussive structures appearing on Side B. The two pieces named ROSA ALBA and ROSA RUBEA (white & red rose) have a strong metaphorical alchemistic background, meaning the end point of all alchemistic transmuations. The overall release including the beautiful artwork gives the impression of an almost fabulous acoustic phantasy, so refined & almost caressing yet secretful at the same time. A record filled with "sonic magic"! Filed under: Alchemistic Drones. PINK VINYL. SPECIAL HANDMADE COVERS USING DECOUPAGE TECHNIQUE; COVERS CLOSED WITH A PINK BOWED RIBBON. [press-release]
Asianova -- "Magnamnemonicon" -- 10" -- €11
2006 Substantia Innominata, SUB-02, (ltd. 500)
ASIA NOVA is a project of Californian artist URE THRALL [ex VOICE OF EYE, etc.] and PAMELA PASSMORE with guest musicians Paul Valsecchi and Marlon Porter. "Magnamnemonicon" contains 6 parts of music spread on 2 sides, more than 30 minutes of material: The mind as an abyss of supressed memories. Voices & sounds arise from the own dark continent, materializing in strong emotions of loss & yearning for the un-reachable. The Unknown as an eerie entity in our selves? Artwork by Gregor Schultz. Red-white / pink marmorized vinyl in a first edition of 500 copies. [press-release]
Contagious Orgasm -- "Daft Jarring Effects" -- LP -- €13
2004 Multi National Disaster Records, MNDR 2006, (ltd. 250)
Unique Japanese experimental madness. Recorded live at Tokuzo, 2002 Nov. 01, Nogoya, by Hiroshi Hashimoto, Kenji Kobayashi, Shingo Sugiura.
Dual -- "Klanik" -- 7" -- €7
1999/2005 Drone Records, DR-39, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
DUAL hail from Doncaster, now based in London, England and have so far released two cassettes and a 7" on Dirter Promotions. Their music is a mixture of mighty guitar-drones with massive sub bass undertones & slight rhythmic structures that evoke feelings of total transcendence and grandeur. On Side A (KLANIK) there seem to be cascades of tuneful layered guitars that speak a special language of their own, on Side B (4tH) more concrete elements (rumbling and squealing) and unpleasent feedback arising, added by strange backwards sounds creating a rather eerie and challenging feel to it. This is highly demanding incremental experimental guitar-music with a very individual style! [original Drone Records press release]
Gruntsplatter -- "The Passions of a Cripple" -- LP -- €13
2005 Force Of Nature Productions, fonr02, (ltd. 300)
Gruntsplatter delivers 6 tracks of unrelenting death industrial, adding power electronic vocals to continue on his path to explore the dark side of music. A must for collectors and fans of this genre, and those familiar with Gruntsplatter's previous works. [label info]
Hati -- "Recycled Magick Drones" -- 7" -- €7
2007 Drone Records, DR-88, (ltd. 300)
The Polish duo HATI is a very active live group, using an array of archaic and ethnic instruments such as gongs, cymbals, north-African drums and clarinets, wooden trumpets, horns and flutes. What’s more, their music also includes found objects of scrap metal, plastic or wood. Their first release on vinyl presents two pieces of multi-layered gong drones, nicely processed for full trance effect and enriched with whistling and rattling sounds and delayed percussion. Above all these sounds, there’s a mighty overtune buzz with heavenly droning contemplation wafts. File under: archaic Trance Drones. RED VINYL, SILKSCREEN-PRINTED COVERS (TEXT & VISUAL), INLAY. [press-release]
Helice Pied -- "Conduit No.2" -- 7" -- €7
2006 Drone Records, DR-83, (ltd. 300)
HELICE PIED is a newcomer from Athens, Greece, who had a few outstanding releases before under the nom de plume NIXILX.NIJILX, but for this very first vinyl release a new project-name was chosen. "Conduit No.2" is a perfect example of sensibly spun experimental drone, floating waves with metallic tinkling-sounds slowly approaching and disappearing again, soft white noise-swooshes circulating widely around an invisible center... sound-sources are hardly recognizable (coming from concrete sounds of churchbells and e-guitar), the atmosphere rising is one of quietness & meditation, able to transcend your mind. All words & symbols HELICE PIED uses (see inlay & cover-structure & endgroove) have a strong structural and inter-related meaning...Filed under: hologram-drones. BLACK COVERS WITH HANDPAINTED GOLDEN COCK & CHURCH BELLS ON IT. [press-release]
Hum -- "The Spectral Ship" -- 10" -- €11
2008 Substantia Innominata, SUB-08, (ltd. 500)
Two great new pieces by this Russian artist from the Moscow-area, most sensible & emotional drone-ambience, a graceful dance of acoustic reflections & resonances. "Spectral Ship" and "Tidal Fire" appear like universal mantras, revealing the basic HUM of the universe. These works seem to represent perfectly the concept of the SUBSTANTIA-series: Sound that exists but which is not originating from the impact of two subjects in contact. Sound that is simply "there", with no beginning or ending. Edition of 500 copies on silver-coloured vinyl, with a full colour sleeve design by DANIEL CROKAERT / MYSTERY SEA. [press-release]
The Infant Cycle -- "Secret Hidden Message" -- 7" -- €7
2008 Drone Records, DR-95, (ltd. 300)
THE INFANT CYCLE is a long operating experimental project from Ontario (Canada), active since 1992 with many releases on MC & CDR on different labels and the home imprint THE CEILING. The three pieces on this EP were created using sounds from various instruments as Trombone, guitar, windchimes, marimba, birdcage, etc. The result sounds rather electronic & hypnotic, with bright shining drones & repetitive rhythmic patterns & loops moving into more amorphous & multilayered sounding electro-acoustics. In spite of the rather experimental working-methods the outcome is very compact & condensed. THE INFANT CYCLEs approach to sound is based on the belief that words and explanations can only fail to describe or explain it, what is needed is a non-verbal, intuitive understanding of the work: "The artist's ego must not inhibit the piece's effect. It is the sound you are hearing, not the artist." Is the artist playing the sound or the sound playing the artist? Filed under: Multilayered Drone-Hypnotism. FOGGY VINYL; BLACK COVERS WITH DIFFERENT SIZED BLACK SPOTS ON IT & TRANSPARENT COVERAGE USING INFANT CYCLE-LOGO. [press-release]
Licht-ung -- "Kristall" -- 7" -- €7
2007 Drone Records, DR-86, (ltd. 300)
LICHT-UNG (German for "glade") is the name of a label, art- (publishing lyrics, pictures, etc.) and sound project from the western part of Gemany with a very peculiar and rather dadaistic approach. The two pieces on "kristall" seem to be based mainly on feedback- and metal or glass sounds that are carefully put together for a queer-sounding trip. Side A ("Listen to the music playing in your head") consists of humming, growling drones, low siren-like sounds and high-frequency feedbacks, powerful and absorbing and very abstract, while never turning into sheer noise. Side B (with the odd title "Heute war ich bei den weissen Elefantens") delivers a crystal-clear noise chant and metallic overtones processed with obscure effects. File under: high-tension & crystal Drones. BLUE VINYL WITH BLACK STRIAE. COVERS WITH SILKSCREEN-PRINTED TEXT & VISUAL, SILVER-PRINTED BLACK INLAY. [press-release]
Maeror Tri -- "Hypnotikum I" -- LP -- €11
1998 Soleilmoon Recordings, SOLV 008, (ltd. 800)
1st part of the last ever studio-recordings of MT from 1996/1997! Smooth & harmonic repetitive recordings, based on loops that were used by Maeror Tri during their live-concerts in Torino, Cologne and Ghent 1996. Nice fullcolour cover designed by Mars Wellink (Vance Orchestra). [label info]
Murmer -- "In Their Homes And In Their Heads" -- 7" -- €7
2007 Drone Records, DR-85, (ltd. 300)
The man behind MURMER is the US-American field recording specialist PATRICK MCGINLEY (who lives in France now), who’s also responsible for the great 'Framework' radio programme on London’s RESONANCE 104.4FM. The two pieces on this "Drone" captivate the listener with intelligently assembled and multi-layered recordings of a garden in London (i.e. tree bark, water, footsteps, a creaking gate), processer and ventilation sounds of an old computer, and beads of a broken necklace. All sounds were left un-processed. Combined, they take you on a trip into an other world of low drones and high-pitched noises, crunching and gritting microsounds, surprising cut-ups, all very near and clear... File under: concrete Drones. CLEAR VINYL, HAND-ASSEMBLED COVERS WITH PIECES OF A SCARF, SCRAPS OF A NOTEBOOK AND HAIR OF PATRICK MCGINLEY! [press-release]
Onodera, Yui -- "Synergetics" -- 7" -- €7
2007 Drone Records, DR-84, (ltd. 300)
YUI ONODERA is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Tokyo, who runs his own label 'Critical Path' to find "new ways to listen to sound" and who is also active in organizing concerts, composing soundtracks for experimental films and in designing sounds for contemporary dance & Butoh. On "Synergetics", he presents two tracks of very minimal and quiet oceanic drones, based on guitar and piano. The music shimmers like light-reflections on water in extreme slow motion, when single recognizable tunes appear. Music for full concentration and contemplation, almost feathery and warm. File under: Silence-Drones. BLUE-WHITE VINYL. MINIMALLY SELF-MADE PRINTED COVERS WITH INLAY. [press-release]
Oophoi -- "Potala" -- 10" -- €11
2008 Substantia Innominata, SUB-07, (ltd. 500)
First ever vinyl by the Italian deep ambient master! Two long contemplative tracks into the center of holy places (may it be physically or mentally), opening endless spaces with low humming & reverberating meditation-drones! Edition of 500 copies pressed on luminous green vinyl, full-colour artwork by 1000SCHOEN aka ex-MAEROR TRI-member HELGE SIEHL. [press-release]
Ovro -- "Vertical / Horizontal" -- 7" -- €7
2008 Drone Records, DR-93, (ltd. 300)
OVRO has already been called "the wondergirl of Finnish experimental music" and with this, her first ever vinyl-release, she really proves this! On HORIZONTAL / VERTICAL deep waving droning noises are set against vortexing echoes & swirling digital effects, derived from what could be instrumental sources or object recordings, moving the willing listener into a surrealistic subconscious dimension. Especially on the second side the contrasting conrete material can fill your imagination with "something" that "happens", so captivating & condensed! This music spreads like an unconscious aural travelogue in different spatial directions (horizontal & vertical). What makes OVRO so special is her capability to create very "cinematographic" and "narrative" drone-atmospheres or landscapes, with great care for even tiniest details. OVRO is also a part of the SOME PLACE ELSE-association, together with NIKO SKORPIO. Filed under: Subsconscious Travel-Drones. WHITE VINYL. HANDMADE COVERS PASTED UP WITH NEWSPAPER-SHEETS & FILMSTRIPS. [press-release]
Reutoff -- "ReuTRauM IV" -- 7" -- €7
2000/2005 Drone Records, DR-46, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
The re-release of this classic first REUTOFF 7“ from 2000 ! Comes with nice full-colour cover and on extraordinary brown-black vinyl!
“This russian trio comes from a suburb of Moscow (called Reutov), and this, following some cassette-releases, is their vinyl-debut and first release outside of Russia. As one of the pioneers of the Russian industrial-scene REUTOFF create an ultra dark visionary music, using elements of ambient as well as rhythmic industrial. "WAILED", the A-Side, begins with atmospheric, but rather unpleasant samples & sounds, before harsh electronic beats come in; "VEILED" on the B-Side however, is a perfect example for the group's ability to build unsettled, sinister & creepy dark ambient industrial sounds, with an overall atmosphere of despair & deep melancholy, maybe mirroring today's "Russian soul". There is no light in this darkness, maybe only behind it. "The space of Reut as the dream of regret" [original Drone Records press release]
Reynols -- "10.000 Chickens Symphony" -- 7" -- €7
2000/2003 Drone Records, DR-42, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
One of the most famous and immensely requested EPs on Drone ever by this unique group from Argentina, finally re-released!! "First 7" for this obscure group from Buenos Aires that has existed since 1993, as they entered the international cassette scene with a kind of abrasive ambient sound. Since then, they have released several cassettes & CDs on various labels, did concerts in their home country and recently worked with PAULINE OLIVEROS. For their first 7", REYNOLS did field recordings of (at least) 10.000 chickens and effected them to create a deep-frequency drone with bits of chicken sounds in it for side 1. As a contrast, side 2 shows the more original face of the recordings, a storm of unbelievably high & shrieking sounds (similar in a way to FRANCISCO LOPEZ insect recordings), which are at last also being manipulated to increase the astonishing orchestral noise the chickens produce. A very successful field-recording experiment made of pure animal sounds!!!" [original Drone Records press release]
RLW -- "Contours Imaginaires" -- 10" -- €11
2007 Substantia Innominata, SUB-06, (ltd. 500)
After a break SUBSTANTIA INNOMINATA is back with a terrific 3-track 10" by the prolific german composer RLW (Ralf Wehowsky, who started his activities back in the early 80's and was the main member of the legendary german experimental outfit P16.D4). The full title is: CONTOURS IMAGINAIRES. The whole composition is based on only few seconds of piano-sounds and vocals (the rest is "imagination") and the track-titles & pieces offer strong inter-relations in a complex way. The used sounds develop through imagination & decay ("denaturing transformations") and appear in the pieces with different emphases. The "classical" piano-sounds and its highly processed permutations are set in contrast with the highly emotional voice-material, like entering a convoluted labyrinth of voice-frazzles, drones & fragmented strange sounds...... Being on a microlevel ("phantasized cell"), judging the decay of shadows. Are these the memories of single cells? The shadow of abrasion-processes? The slow decay of imaginations? A fantastic work where conceptual thoughts and emotionally driven acoustics merge in a perfect way. 500 copies, colour-vinyl, full colour artwork by Oliver Jakobi. [press-release]
Seetyca -- "The Lake" -- 7" -- €7
2007 Drone Records, DR-87, (ltd. 300)
Another German project dealing with language, poetry and sound is SEETYCA. They use their own orthography and publish lyrics and prose on their projects website. Seetyca’s musical interest lies more in creating "acoustic landscapes" or moods than in telling stories. They’re especially interested in unconscious archaic states of the mind. The two pieces on "The Lake" relate to a sacral approach of experiencing nature. When beautiful (classic?) samples are set into a sphere of extremely wide spaces and reverbation, when these clouds of sounds spread out in infinite refulgence, moving like slow surging billows, a point of utmost inner calmness can be reached..... File under: mysterious organic drones. BLACK MARBLED DARK GREEN VINYL, HANDSPRAYED COVERS WITH COLOUR PHOTO, INLAY. [press-release]
Shrine -- "Distorted Legends, Pt.1" -- 7" -- €7
2008 Drone Records, DR-89, (ltd. 300)
Behind SHRINE we find a fresh experimental drone project from Bulgaria (currently residing in England) combining the melancholia of distorted synths with odd micro noises & effects. The fusion of rough and thunderous drones with hidden melodies evokes a strong emotional impact, like the feeling of being stuck in a confusing dream. SHRINE's philosophy shows a way to realize that what we call “reality” is to be mistrusted based upon our usual perceptions. The distortion of this reality opens up a chance to better understand its true essence and confront the things that lie behind the surface. Filed under: DREAM & DISTORTION DRONES. BLACK VINYL. OVERSIZED FULL-COLOUR GATEFOLD SLEEVE. [press-release]
Tam Quam Tabula Rasa -- "Cotidie Morimur" -- 7" -- €7
1995/2003 Drone Records, DR-10, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
A legendary and very original Italian post industrial group from the cassette-underground culture of the late 80’s/ early 90’s, who had their one and only vinyl release on Drone in 1995. They were at the forefront of what one could call “archaic drone-noise”... TQTR are active again these days so we decided to put this early Drone EP back into existence. “Their mysterious and monotonic music can in our opinion be truly classified as real archaic music, evoking emotions of an ancient and fundamental character. Focusing deep into the ground of human existence, their music is a kind of archetypical expression that is timeless and aesthetic. Perhaps to underscore the quality of their music as its own secret language, the band insists on using latins for their titles. This EP shows the group working on a more rhythmic mode, with urgent drones and strange harmonies creating and atmosphere of natural mysticism - mirroring the never understood forces within oneself. Cotidie morimur. Cotidie demitur aliqua pars vitae.” [from the original press release 1995]
Tarkatak -- "Skärva" -- 7" -- €7
1998/2003 Drone Records, DR-34, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
A North German drone-project that has since this EP developed to one of the main german atmospheric deep droners... Beautiful & dark transcendental noise. “First full-lenght E.P. of a quite unknown German project, which only appeared on 3 cassettes so far and on a split-7" with DEEP. TARKATAK uses synths and other electronic devices, the music is slow & dull, non-impulsive and dream-like. Very low rumblings, dark harmonies, some subliminal & dense backwards-effects, this is sensible "archaic music" which could be easily compared to old Zoviet France and the likes. Another Mind-Drone. If you're able to go INTO the sound, the sound will pulsate in YOU and have effects for a long time...” [original Drone Records press release] 300 copies on blue-white-red multicolour vinyl and beautifully designed fullcolour covers by Mario F.
Thrall, Ure -- "Premonition 9/11" -- 7" -- €7
2003/2007 Drone Records, DR-58, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
URE THRALL is an american artist from Houston, TX (living since years in the Bay Area) who is long active in the more atmospheric- transcendental experimental US-scene – in former days he was a member of the pre-VOICE OF EYE project CRUOR and later with ASIA NOVA, and he also participated in the two first V.O.E. – CDs as a guest musician. Now, apart from being a member of SMOOTH QUALITY EXCREMENT, he works solo and creates most impressive soundscapish depth-drones with an incredible emotional quality, harmony & sadness melting together into beautiful aural visions. "This 7”, his first vinyl-release as URE THRALL, contains two long tracks (> 8 min.) with an organic, filmic & sublime quality, using echo-flutes, bass, e-bowed guitar & restrained percussion underneath. THE TRAVELER with all its majestic harmony seems to be like an endless travel through emotional fields of melancholia - expressing the endless search for something once known which is lost forever and you can’t even remember what is was, but you feel that you need it back existentially ! Perfect music for endless drives on highways (both physically and spiritually) ... The title track PREMONITION 9/11 is less relaxed and more of a threatening quality, using faster percussion and strange bass-patterns with oriental sounding flutes & swirling sound-effects. This track also uses field-recordings from the tragical events happened on 11. Sept. 2001 in NYC and must be also seen as a treatment of traumatic experiences. The whole 7” is a personal statement about the politics of the USA after this tragic day, which is expressed also in the cover-artwork and the liner-notes: “THE COVER ART is an effigy of the American Flag in decay and is composed of an extreme close-up shot of the World Trade Center moments before its collapse, its occupants leaning out the windows fully aware of their impending transition to the next plane of existence." [original Drone Records press release]
Ultrasound -- "Death Comes From The Left" -- 7" -- €7
2001/2005 Drone Records, DR-50, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
Coming originally from Texas, the trio ultrasound (partly ex-STARS OF THE LID) are now located in Den Haag, Netherlands, and Austin, Texas, USA. They did a couple of fantastic guitar-drone-releases in the 90s, climaxing in their so far latest CD-album Hamesh, that went into new musical territory combining melodic songs with drones. With this, their first ever 7 EP, they present two unbelievable emotional touching pieces of guitar & bass-drone-music, where long echoes of overtone guitar-sounds melt in one stream of pure sensible acoustics... ultrasound submerges the listener into a deep salty sea to float on the frail border between air and water, light and reflection, perception and knowing. This is pure yearning transformed into sounds. [original Drone Records press release]
Vance Orchestra -- "Monstrance" -- 7" -- €7
2001 Dachstuhl, Dach 01, (ltd. 300)
The duo from Arnhem, Netherlands, with a new 7“ on the new label of TARKATAK Lutz Pruditsch – wonderful obscure ambient-electronics made out of loops and analogue sounds and probably Theremin & lots of atmosphere... lim. & numbered ed. of 300 copies, silk-screened covers, each one is different. [Drone Records info]
Zonk't / Electronicat -- "Coccyx" -- 12" -- €11
2001 Sound On Probation, SOP 003, (ltd. 300)
Very nice split between the well known Electronicat (dirty, distorted and tasty as ever) and Zonk't, presenting a strong, heavy catchy and head nod-inducing track. "Coccyx" is a very interesting release which somehow presents two ways of dealing with massive bass and mid-tempo beats (in a very digital way for Zonk't, and down and dirty for Electronicat). Both acts succeed in their own way, which results in a very enjoyable and massive 12". [Ad Noiseam info]
Alisa-Yhtye -- "Untitled #2" -- MC -- €3
2008 self-released
Second untitled tape from Grigoriy Avrorin, a noisician from St. Petersburg, Russia (ex-Monopolka, Dr. Kintchev, Extreme Stench Cock and others). Harsh.
Baptist Skin Communiti -- "Magnified Section of Dreams" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle, TR-38, (ltd. 38)
A project of Richard Ramirez and two more noise persons. Rich juicy noise. [label info]
Cisfinitumaaaa -- "Drone" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle, TR-37, (ltd. 30)
Mail-art collaboration between Moscow project Cisfinitum and Karelian project Maaaa. During the long period of time the bouquet of field fixations was collected on the Karelian ranges and later reworked by Evgeny Voronovsky. Four drone/concrete pieces. Two of them are of natural origin (anxious forest birds singing and night vanity of gluttonous toads), and two others are of technological genesis (metal creak, glass crunch and suffering of lost radio frequencies). In spite of using various sound sources the whole work sounds quite harmonic and produces powerful hypnotic effect. [press-release]
Courtis & The Soviet Sex Machines -- "Histolisis Vol.1 / Razkolnikoff!!" -- MC -- €3
2005 Monopolka, This is Monopolka 60
Split-release between Argentinian Alan Courtis (Reynols, UL, etc.) and Russian band The Soviet Sex Machines (= Monopolka).
Guseva -- "URO" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle, TR-040, (ltd. 10)
An exclusive album from an extravagant noise girl from Petrozavodsk, Karelia, Russia - Evgeniya Guseva. Sighs of huge monsters and tinkling of lonely bells, totally female material. Fourty minutes of sorrow and yearning. Strictly limited to 10 handnumbered copies. [label info]
Kriminaaliset Metsänhaltijat -- "Anarkkia, Kaaos, Maailmanloppu!" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle Records, [TR039], (ltd. 30)
Ultimate industrial/power-electronics. Manifests about the end of the world, politics and dark angels of Chaos. Might. [label info]
Kriminaaliset Metsänhaltijat -- "Finlandia" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle, TR-35, (ltd. 50)
The only recording of this project made in a professional studio. This recording was made for one of the leading post-industrial labels, but by common agreement the material was not released. Ten years later the band decided to publish some of the materials from that record-session. In 2007 it was remastered, mainly the vocal parts. Here are used the field recordings, settled in Southern Finland and Mourmansk region of Russia, analogue syths, drum-machine and sound-processing units. Exceptionally warm sound. Musically it differs a lot from the other works of this project and presents industrial power ambient with influences from SPK from industrial and Inade from ambient. Hypnotic bursts of industrial rumbles, sythesizer ambient buzz, live concrete sounds and mysterious vocals. [press-release]
Kriminaaliset Metsänhaltijat -- "s/t" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle, TR-36, (ltd. 40)
One more forgotten work of this project, a collection of live recordings. Radical. Utterly unpleasant noise flow, rattle and metal clank. [label info]
Maaaa -- "Burning Kukkovka's Cock" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle, TR-041, (ltd. 41)
Completely acoustic album, recorded in an abandoned building standing in the woods near Kukkovka. This building was projected in the beginning of 90-s for a TV-center, but after all was desolated like many other neverending projects. In the last decade it has been visited mainly by the lovers of strong drinks and other mutants. During several record-sessions we have recorded some tracks inside the basement of the building, and on the roof too. This is power acoustics. A scream for destruction of the symbol. An international line-up: two Karelians, one Finnish and one Pole bawl and destroy stone, glass and iron. Limited to 41 copies. [press-release]
Maaaa / Out Of Focus -- "Blood And Shit" -- MC -- €7
2008 Triangle, TR 034, (ltd. 50)
Blood clot of noise evil from Karelia. M: industrial rumbles of concrete samples, recorded on tape in Leningrad, and a shroud of analogue noise, extruded from Polyvox and materials at hand. OOF: not frequent but melodic synth lines and vinyl records manipulations, processed with Soviet electronic devices. Karelian school of industrial noise. 4-page booklet, sealed tape. Factory-made, 50 copies. [press-release]
Feindflug -- "...Hinter Feindlichen Linien" -- DVD -- €20
2006 Black Rain, BR 034
Der Blutharsch -- "10th Anniversary" -- T-shirt -- €13
2008 WKN
Black T-shirt with yellow print. Front: DER BLUTHARSCH - LABEL OF SUPERIOR GOODS. EST. 1997. MADE IN AUSTRIA BY ALBIN JULIUS & COMPANY, back: UNIFORMS ARE CHANGIN', ROCK'N'ROLL WILL STAY FOREVER, arms: 451. Image. Only S size.
Herbst9 -- "Logo" -- T-shirt -- €12
2006 Cold Lands, (ltd. 40)
High quality 2-sided TS specially made for the Herbst9, Inade, Land:Fire performance in Moscow, Russia in 2006. Dark-green colour, size S.
0ID -- "Red Book (Ambient Mix)" -- CD -- €10
2004 Lagunamuch Community, LMC200, (ltd. 500)
0id is Andrey Antonets solo project, created for the realization of the author's own ideas outside the Alexandroid project. Taking part in the Alexandroid project with Alex Matrosov and releasing albums all over the world, Andrey creats his own ambient soundsystem. There is no complexity in his world, no ambiguity or vagueness - there are only his own ideas and mood, embodied in music. Red Book was specially created for private listening - two in the room is too much to understand him. [press-release]
0ID -- "Systems of Mercy" -- CD -- €10
2006 Lagunamuch Community, LMC700, (ltd. 1000)
0id is one Andrey Antonets, who is a member of Alexandroid, but solo creates his own ambient music. I think it's played on analogue synthesizers, and it's not the tapestry sounds of Hypnos but more the stripped down version of ambient house music. Things move a little bit, there is arpeggio's on the piano, and even a bit of percussion. However the highlight of the cd is the fourth track, which started out with a voice going through a vocoder, later on forming a duet of voices and brings it close to space age popmusic. That is absolutely a great piece. Even with such a title for the cd things can't go wrong. [Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly]
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AIT! -- "Romanticismo Oltranzista" -- CD -- €15.50
2007 Punch Productions, PP020
Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. AIT! is back at last to reveal himself with a new kinky show for those of you having lost their heart in a dark Italian discotheque, some thirty years ago. With a couple of hard-boiled songs and a boxful of extremist love letters this obscure erotique one man orchestra gets its stylish fists right into the face of todays fashion kids. Too strong to be pussy. Too pussy to be romantic. A bizarre cup of circus fun served in a Jess Franco ballet dance through hell. Remember the mirrorballs and watch this whole unique striptease from lounge to funk to rock'n'punk. Everything in here, more than a spicy cocktail. All shaken not stirred. A punch of its own! Comes in beautiful digipak including a 28 pages booklet with all lyrics in italian and english too! [press-release]
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Allerseelen -- "Abenteuerliches Herz" -- CD -- €13.50
Aorta, AORCD07
"Abenteuerliches Herz is a great album. Raw, powerful and complex. It is very exciting to see someone take the neo-folk music genre and completely redefine and broaden its scope. To see an artist infuse this genre with so many diverse musical approaches and infuse it with Mediterranean flavor has been a very unique and enjoyable experience. Allerseelen’s Abenteuerliches Herz truly stands out as an original and innovative release. I highly recommend this album to everyone. The music is very approachable and seductive. Faeries coming from many different music scenes will find both something familiar and something new in this music. All of the songs lyrical content is poetically esoteric and open to interpretation. The music is also good just for the experience. If you love innovative music that is redefining limits and boundaries you have to get Abenteuerliches Herz!" [Malahki Thorn, Heathen Harvest]
Allerseelen -- "Edelweiss" -- CD -- €13.50
Aorta, AORCD11
This outstanding collection of newer musical works of the Austrian artist ALLERSEELEN is a co-production of AHNSTERN and Allerseelen's own label AORTA. the 74 minute CD in luxurious 6-side digipack contains a selection of the best ALLERSEELEN songs, many of them for the first time on CD. also some unreleased Industrial-Folk hymns will give pleasure to the listener's ears. at a bigger part of the songs, ALLERSEELEN was supportet by guest-musicians: Demian (O PARADIS), Rosa (CIRCE), Gaya (HAGSHADOW), JOSEF and Herr Percht (STURMPERCHT) help to give this album a very special touch. [label info]
Allerseelen -- "Flamme" -- CD -- €13.50
2003 Aorta, AORCD10
"Apocalyptic folklore magnetico pop.. The music on these two records is warm and sensual with apocalyptic pop, folklore magic and flamenco magnetico. Fine catchy melodies, infectious groovy rhythms, a lot of joie de vivre ambiance, lovely strings and a varied musical menu. Accessible and original at the same time. There are no weak moments. Some of my favourite songs are the sing-along 'Sonne golthi-ade (Josef)', the intimate classical songs 'Ob auch mein Herz so funkelt' and the almost Latin 'Sturmlied'. On the album even a DAF cover is present: 'Als wars das letzte Mal '.?"Flamme" sparks with the lovely choral 'Kamerad', the cheerful 'Lowin', the irrestible dancehit 'Goldener Lebenswein', the mysterious 'Knistern'... With this record the temperatures are rising again..." [funprox.com]
Allerseelen -- "Hallstatt" -- CD -- €13.50
2007 Aorta, AORCD12
The Allerseelen CD Hallstatt contains thirteen brand-new apocalyptic and passionate songs about love and death. This release - musically situated somewhere in a terra incognita between folklore, krautrock, metal and industrial music - is inspired by the beautiful Upper Austrian village Hallstatt which belongs to the world cultural heritage due to its amazing tomb findings of the Hallstatt culture and the unique ossuary with the painted skulls. The songs have lyrics and vocals by Gerhard Petak and R.N. Taylor from Changes. [label info]
Allerseelen -- "Neuschwabenland" -- CD -- €13.50
Aorta, AORCD05
"It is not only the packaging that possesses the texture of ice. A shimmering world of subterranean glacial caverns. One's consciousness is mesmerised by siren-like strings and metallic chimes, that glisten like frozen stalactites in this palace of ice. Sophisticated upbeat numbers veering toward pop territory in terms of its melody and construction, gelid love-songs. The addition of string and brass sections imbues the whole with a sense of subdued tension which acts as the perfect vehicle for Kadmon's pondering, poetic lyrics. Backdrobs of pulsating bass, sweeping reverberations. Wonderfully expressive violins provide a respite from the cold. As always with Allerseelen, one is left feeling enthused and invigorated by a brilliant listening experience. With concepts and music of this quality, Kadmons looks set to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge sounds for years to come." [Judas Kiss zine]
Allerseelen -- "Stirb und Werde" -- CD -- €13.50
Aorta, AORCD04
"An Allerseelen CD is an event. A ritual. I have never been disappointed. I have never heard an Allerseelen piece that sounded weak, poorly done, or uncared for. Allerseelen represent a standard of excellence that is almost unheard of in the world today. Stirb und Werde is no exception. It refers to the journey of death and rebirth. The artwork is taken from photographs of the sanctuary Externsteine in Westphalia. The music follows a progression, beginning softly, and almost tentatively, like the first rays of sunlight on the horizon; and, like the sun, a few minutes after this CD has begun to arise, it becomes almost overwhelmingly brilliant. Stirb und Werde is a masterpiece of the Twentieth Century, and a sentinel of the Golden Age that must surely follow this modern world of darkness." [starvox.net]
Allerseelen -- "Venezia" -- CD -- €13.50
Aorta, AORCD06
Dedicated to Mediterranean culture and music, this album was inspired by the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. The albums music moves between powerful and rhythmic oriented tracks to soundtrack-type grooves, encompassing the decadent, inspired, hypnotic and surreal. Based on R.M.Rilke and inspired by Nietzsche and E.Pound. Lounge and downtempo industrial. [label info]
Allerseelen / Sangre Cavallum -- "Barco do Vinho" -- CD -- €13.50
Ahnstern, Ahnstern 21
Barco do Vinho is the Portuguese word for Wine Boat - the boats that in the past brought the barrels of wine from the vineyards in Callaecia (Northern Portugal) on the river Douro to the town of Porto. The CD features four exclusive songs by the Northern-Portuguese group Sangre Cavallum and four exclusive songs by the Austrian group Allerseelen - ancient and traditional but at the same time brand-new avant-garde music, somewhere between apocalyptic folklore and psychedelic rock. Poetical songs about wine taken down rivers with crews of strong men, floating down throats with crews of sparkling spirits. Inspired by the vineyards that welcome the sun bringing character to grapes. Then a silent darkness, a timeless life inside oak barrels turn wine into flavoured blood for a toast between men and nature. [label info]
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Altai Ashram -- "Tynbhura" -- CD-R -- €10
2003 Fight Muzik, FM09, (ltd. 420)
Recorded in Altai, at the bottom of Belukha mountain, in the western Shamballa entrance, by Mighty Shaman Altai Kagan Khum and His progeny. It is live heathen shamanic ritual session in His magical Domicilium. The Mighty Shaman sings magickal formulas by guttural singing, talks in language of animals and birds also. His progeny creates soft real-time noises as well as some keyboard and sound fx. [label info] Handmade 10" cardboard cover with inserts & photos.
Apoptose -- "Schattenmädchen" -- CD -- €13
2007 Tesco Organisation, Tesco 068
Schattenmädchen (English: »shadow girl«) has always been around, waiting patiently for seven years to step out of the shadows and reveal its face. Apoptose's third album explores dystopian locations: the undergrounds of Japanese megacities, the depths of worldwide data highways, the nightmares of little children. The seven tracks express images of a desolate and dying world, far removed from the solitude of the beloved Northern woods. A world lacking daylight and oxygen. A bleak vision of reality. Over the years, several of these tracks made their way to compilation CDs all over the globe. There they laid dormant to be reunited some day to form this album. In autumn 2006, Apoptose joined forces with Japanese cyberpunk author Kenji Siratori to complete the cycle. On this album, Apoptose works for the first time with spoken word lyrics. Featured languages are Japanese, English, and German. The tracks previously on compilations have been polished/remixed/rerecorded and renamed especially for the unique listening experience of Schattenmädchen. The CD is housed in an embossed 6-panel cardboard cover with an additional booklet. 7 tracks, 62 min. [press release]
Arditi -- "Omne Ensis Impera" -- CD -- €13.50
2008 Equilibrium Music, EQM020
The highly anticipated new album by the Swedish duo is finally upon us, under the title “Omne Ensis Impera” . The sense of determination that echoes through their music and which has brought them to the forefront of Martial / Industrial Neo-Classical scene has stayed untouched, evoking the sense of duty and commitment that Italy’s WWI elite storm troops, from which the name Arditi originated, were known for. “Omne Ensis Impera” introduces an additional strength to Arditi’s compositions - epic orchestral loops and thunderous percussions are granted a more prominent role, stirring the damp and suffocating ambiance that the duo have always produced so well with their use of ominous synths, obscure speeches and mesmerizing narrations. Similarly, shades of the Italian Futuristic movement of the early XXth century, which served as inspiration in the early days of the project, remain imprinted in Arditi’s work – “Omne Ensis Impera” could well be a modern interpretation of the Futurist’s goal of glorifying warfare to an artistic expression beyond its inherent violence and intrinsic sense of heroism. “Omne Ensis Impera” has been mastered by Kamrat Nordvargr of Mz.412 and Toroidh, an old ally of the band. Nordvargr has also contributed with additional arrangements on a couple of tracks, and prepared a slightly modified track list, which will feature on the vinyl version of the album that will follow soon, together with a limited edition box set. The CD version is presented in a deluxe glossy Digipak, with embossed artwork. [press-release]
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Arditi -- "Spirit of Sacrifice" -- CD -- €15.50
Regain Records, Blood 019
The 2nd full-length album by Arditi continues to explore the darker tones of militaristic industrial, combining dark ambient passages and neo-classical orchestrations.
Ariu Kara -- "Medlennii Skaner Stalkera" -- CD -- €10
2005 Lagunamuch Community, LMC300, (ltd. 300)
Ariu Kara is a musical component part of audio-visual project Ariu Lab, created in 2001 by industrial photographer Anastasiya Krutova. Ariu Lab deals with documentary, video installations and visual design. Ariu Kara records sound for all visual parts of the project. Ariu Kara plays gloomy music of post-human future, dead earth, covered with snow of nuclear winter. It's music of dark overcastted sky, and huge rusty broken cars, living alone in their own eternal cycle. They assemble creatures from odd details and disassemble to assemble again. [press-release]
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Asmorod -- "Hysope" -- CD -- €13.50
Steinklang Industries, SKD 12
A fascinating introspective deep ambient work that distinguished itself from the mass of uniformized dark ambient releases. Niiko (now the only member of Asmorod) used the word Hysope (French word for Hyssop) as a symbolism of spiritual purification. In ancient times, Hyssop was used for the cleansing of lepers (Leprosy may represent sin... but lepers were not necessarily sinful) and used for cleaning sacred places. It is alluded to in the Scriptures: 'Purge me with Hyssop, and I shall be clean' (Purify me from my sins, and i will be clean; wash me, and i will be whiter than snow. Psalms 51:7). Two tracks from that album feature choirs by eLL from Sui Generis Umbra. [press release]
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Atrium Carceri -- "Ptahil" -- CD -- €13
2007 Cold Meat Industry, cmi168
The fourth album from composer Simon Heath (Sweden) ventures beyond the vestiges of your mortality, granting a fleeting glance at the world beyond the veil. As ever, Simon has reinvented the genre as well as himself with a unique ambience created from his ever-increasingly complex and obscure techniques of mental dissolution and musical innovation. Atrium Carceri emerges from the vapours with yet another stunning release entitled Ptahil (fetahil). The obsidian citadel stands stoic, its forceful gaze forever over streets running rampant with the councils bidders, while the citadel of glass attracts the mindless reincarnates grasping at anything physical while their memories slowly burn away in the womb of their eternal home. The comforts of quiet lives forever washed away by a miasmic tidal wave of necrotic flesh, sagging, protean forms and the chill of the grave. This is a place where steel rusts and is forgotten, where flesh and the fleeting forms it inhabits are forever changed. Ptahil sees all, and forgets naught. Let your mind be stripped to the pulpy, undulating core with this darkened voyage into domains both dreadful and serenely beautiful. [press-release]
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Atrium Carceri -- "Seishinbyouin" -- CD -- €13.50
2004 Cold Meat Industry, cmi133
Seishinbyouin is the second album from Atrium Carceri, and drags the listener on a violent journey through haunted mental asylums, ripe with the cries of the lost and the damned. Rotting jailcells, past insanity and the crumbling domes of the other side are a few of the many eerily twisted images that this evocative music compels. There is a constant dark majesty that forcefully propels the message of inevitability: The colorful illusion people spend most of their lives in is fragile as a rose petal, and just as easily shattered in Seishinbyouin. With brilliant use of the full spectrum of dystopia, this will surely leave no one unscathed. The album is filled with dark ambient soundscapes, haunting symphonic intensities and engulfing atmospheres that let you get inside the twisted psyche of the total other. One can but wonder at the twisted mind of the tortured soul that made this vision spring to ghastly unlife. [press-release]
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Bad Sector -- "Storage Disk 2" -- CD -- €12
2008 Waystyx, WR43, (ltd. 500)
2nd part of rare tracks anthology. Contains material from: "Planar Energy" picture 7" (Smallvoices), "Scrignum Vitae" box with CD and objects (Old Europa Cafe), "Ten Years Of Madness" 2 CD (Achtung Baby!), "Land:[Schaft]" 2x10" (Cold Lands), "Hover" CDr (Bastet Rec.), "L'Ame Electrique Presents Old Europa Cafe" (Ame Electrique) + 4 previously unreleased tracks recorded in 2002.
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Bardoseneticcube -- "Necklace" -- CD -- €11
Athanor, ATNR 012
Originally released as a CDR on Black Dead Rabbit limited to 100 copies, this was considered by us as one of the most important "dark ambiant" recording we have heard since Lustmord's The Place Where the Black Stars Hangs that we decided to release it as a proper remastered CD. The sound is not the usual dark ambiant type of keyboards too often heard but real innovative and captivating soundscapes with pulsating spiral of sound like if it was a Solar winds soundtrack. In itself it goes beyond dark ambiant and this is one of our favorite Athanor release since the begining of the label! [label info]
Bates, Martyn & Troum -- "To a Child Dancing in the Wind" -- CD -- €11
2006 Transgredient Records, TR-03
Profound songs inspired by Yeats-poems: The acoustic transformation of the deepest yearning for this release, the German 'transcendental-drone'-duo Troum teams up with the legendary British singer/songwriter and Eyeless In Gaza-member Martyn Bates. More than 2 years in the making, Martyn Bates has sung & played (mouth organ & melodica) over basic material Troum provided - consisting of harmonic minimal loops & basic song structures derived from accordion, e-bass & guitar, percussion, who were then also responsible for the final subsequent additional mastering (adding more guitar-work, voices & balalaika). Martyn Bates has chosen to sing four poems of the famous Irish poet W.B.Yeats, and he did this with a most impressive sensitivity for Troum's very sublime & rather hidden harmonic structures. There are also two instrumentals in a more experimental style on this disc, one being a dark drone reprise of the main piece 'Mad As the Mist and Snow #2.' Martyn's voice is surely not something for everyone - it's of an extreme emotional & yearnful quality that might be not easy to stand - a yearning which is like a deep 'cry out to the horizon,' to something that is unreachable per se, feeling a passion that tears you apart inside. This is pure emotional poetry transformed into yearnful audible spherics! [label info]
Beyond Sensory Experience -- "Korrelations" -- CD -- €13.50
Old Europa Cafe, OECD 070
The production of the anounced special box was cancelled! but we will now produce a 4th CD in the BSE series with unreleased BSE material plus remixes by Mr. Nordvargr, Alk0, Do Shaska!, Alexxx & more ... Soon also a new BSE CD on Cold Meat Industry but we are proud to know we was the label releasing their debut trilogy! of course also this CD comes in usual elegant digipack cover with wonderfull design! Numbers rule the world! [label info]
Beyond Sensory Experience -- "Pursuit of Pleasure" -- CD -- €13.50
2005 Cold Meat Industry, cmi137
With "Pursuit of Pleasure" Beyond Sensory Experience takes yet another leap into the unknown, deepening the all-embracing concept of their 2003 trilogy, with an accentuated focus on life in general and Advanced Human Sexuality (AHS) in particular. On this release a pattern that permeates the history of time is investigated without blinders. Beyond Sensory Experience delivers a characteristic blend of haunting dark ambient soundscapes, experimental electronics and arcane dialogues, which set the listener on an unforgettable musical and scientific journey. [label info]
Beyond Sensory Experience -- "Ratan" -- CD -- €13.50
Old Europa Cafe, OECD 064
Third & final part of the BSE trilogy during 2003 ! It takes off where Urmula ended, spiralling further down the dark ambient soundscapes. wonderfull dark ambient sounds with exoterical inspiration from Mr. Drakh (star of MZ.412) & the scientist K. Meizter, digipack plus booklet in the same vain of the 1st & 2nd album! [label info]
Beyond Sensory Experience -- "Urmula" -- CD -- €13.50
Old Europa Cafe, OECD 059
Second part of a trilogy produced during 2003 ! Those recordings are the result of an intense creative process performed in the nordic absence of sun. It takes off where Tortuna ended, spiralling further down the dark ambient soundscapes. Wonderfull dark ambient sounds with exoterical inspiration from Mr. Drakh (star of MZ.412) & the scientist K. Meizter. Digipack plus booklet in the same vain of the 1st album! [label info]
Big City Orchestra -- "Drone Gnomes" -- 10" -- €11
2006 Substantia Innominata, SUB-05, (ltd. 500)
Acoustic trance by San Francisco's great masters of obscure atmospheric noises... artwork by well-known illustrator Mike Dringenberg!!! Light blue colour vinyl with special marmor-effect, 4-colour covers & labels ! 5th part in the new 10"series by Drone Records... [label info]
Black Deal With Snow & Mesopic Vision -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR06
Black Deal With Snow is one of the multiple incarnations of Russian drone-musician [S], known for his projects Exit In Grey, Five Elements Music, Sister Loolomie, etc. Mesopic Vision is a creation of another Russian musician who previously used the name Polaris and is also known for his label Abgurd. Their collaboration work is a one 37-min. long track of dark drone ambient. Really strong, varied and powerful recording.
Brighter Death Now -- "Kamikaze Kabaret" -- CD -- €13.50
2005 Cold Meat Industry, cmi151
BDN's steady mainman Roger Karmanik never goes out of style! A new punishing fullength CD packed with 8 churning traditional kneecapwrenching tracks, get down with it or bow in shame... Following the last album "1890" from 2001, this new work is more in the vein of 1998's "May all be dead": meaning slight punk mode ON. Diverse, hallucinatory, monotone and HEAVY with that sweet characteristic doom-laden and depressive touch. Simple and effective; just right for your pulsating private parts. [label info]
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Candyman And Evil Flowers -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, CDR07
One more project of Russian musician [S] known for Exit In Grey, Five Elements Music, Sister Loolomie, etc... Under this name he explores more dense sounding side of drone ambient music, sometimes even bordering with noise, but still driven by emotions. The closest analogues are Maeror Tri and Troum albums. The lovers of these projects should really draw their attantion to this release - you won't be disappointed. The recording was done with the help of guitar, accordion, flute, voice and percussion.
Cisfinitum -- "Devotio" -- 10" -- €11
2006 Substantia Innominata, SUB-04, (ltd. 500)
The fourth volume in our new series comes from one of the currently best projects of the russian experimental-atmospheric / drone / post-industrial-scene. Main force behind CISFINITUM we find Evgueny Voronovsky, an educated violinist from Moscow. CISFINITUM is a notion by russian poet & writer DANIIL CHARMS, meaning the „logic of the infinite non-existence“, that „something“ that is beyond all rational things. DEVOTIO uses monumental bell-sounds that build complex overlappings & hypnotic drone-waves in various layers, dissolving into pure vibrations. To us It sounds like a journey into the heart of the sacral, pointing at a sphere of transcendence where all questions end. Or begin again. Comes on white vinyl and with great artwork by Berlin-based artworker TILMANN BENNINGHAUS. [press-release]
Cold Fusion -- "Occupatria" -- CD -- €13.50
2005 Steinklang Industries, SKD 07, (ltd. 1000)
An oppressive atmosphere in a occupied town, in a occupied country. Only illusion of freedom - no freedom. Cold Fusion - Occupatria - a musical journey on the thin line between urge of freedom and lack of its realisation. 45 minutes of beautiful symphonic Martial music, compared to A Challenge Of Honour, Les Joyaux de la Princesse, with a strong touch of early Dead Can Dance and Graeme Revell's soundtracks! [label info]
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Con-Dom -- "Holy Bible" -- mCD -- €12.50
2007 Freak Animal Records, FREAK-CD-028, (ltd. 500)
Con-Dom "Holy Bible" mCD is the latest studio material what was originally to be released by Tesco Organization, but changed to Freak Animal. Great and unusual power electronics. No walls of noise, no heavy distorted screech, but innovative and experimental approach for real power electronics-industrial! Comes in A5 black cardboard sleeve with silver printing, including lyrics. [press-release]
Death In June -- "Take Care and Control" -- CD -- €15.50
NERUS, NERUS42
Albin Julius of Der Blutharsch contributed to this album and continues a theme consistent to Douglas P.'s collaborations over his long career. A platter of scathing militance and surreal atmospheres backed by a wealth of experience makes this a truly masterful release from the commanders of dark industrial. [label info]
Drape Excrement -- "Borrowed Time" -- CD -- €11
Art Konkret, Art37, (ltd. 500)
Drape Excrement is still several years active in the experimental music scene. The mastermind behind the project is also kown as a part of Söldnergeist. The sic transit gloria mundi tape, the born dead lp, a split 7inch with Söldnergeist, a split cd with catharsis and several tracks for compilations are the history of drape excrement. Now the new full time CD is finished. The recording includes nearly only brand new material, which sounds more like ambient death-industrial. Dark soundwalls are combinded with deep crunchy sounds. Urban voices create a menacing athmosphere. Dark bass-droning and atmospheric, rattling and crackling sounds rise and vanish. Slow rhythmics filled with black walls of corroded atmospheres and ghostly wails and moans. The last three tracks are older and still unreleased recordings in a more dark power electronics style. A masterpiece of dark ambience combining hovering sounds with rumbling dark noises. A classic union of darkness, anger, and power that's a must for death industrial admirers. Punishment never sounded so good!". Drape Excrement captures sounds of agony and inner torment, of madness and glorious insanity. A release that explores the blackest depths of man's soul. [label info]
Drape Excrement / Söldnergeist -- "Black Rider" -- CD -- €11
Steinklang, SK32, (ltd. 500)
Dark and impressive Industrial-Electronics in classical style mixed with dronning and pulsating Power-Electronic tracks. Unreleased early recordings from these pioneers of the early 90ies! Cover-art by Fabrice Billard. [label info]
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Dronaement -- "Wassermond" -- 7" -- €7
2000/2007 Drone Records, DR-41, (ltd. 300), 2nd edition
DRONAEMENT is a newcomer from a small village in East Germany, who is also active in DAS RHYTHMISCHE ORNAMENT and D:RHYTHM:O and his small cassette-label NAUZE MUZICK. After a few amazing tapes, this is the very first vinyl issue for DRONAEMENT, containing two flowing tracks based on water sounds, entitled "wassermond" and "wassertank". Sounds go up and down like waves, pulsate soft and tender, surround you like cotton wool, being added up by sensitively created electronics. This is a kind of hommage to water, symbol for life, moving and development. Listen to the endless streaming and flowing of life. [press-release]
Dvar -- "Rakhilim" -- CD -- €9
2003 Monopoly Records, MONO 002-1103
The music is frivilous and amusing, making you smile and grimace, sometimes slightly sad, sometimes just semi-danceable. Round-dance of elves overdozed with acid. "Started back in early 90's and playing some kind of bizzare 'cartoonish-like' avantguard music, DVAR released several works ('Dvar', 'Raii') which now are rated among big rarities. After long years of silence DVAR returned with a gothic darkwave album 'Piirrah' released in Italy in 2002 and presenting material from the period 1999-2000. A year later the band produced 'Roah'. This time DVAR's style changed once again. It wasn't really 'dark' anymore, but rather melancholic. Oriental and minimalist influences could be easily heard. Music critics claimed it 'lightwave'. DVAR was recording 'Rakhilim' during year 2002, and by now it is the freshiest material of the bizzare formation. With this album DVAR's unique style reaches its artistic and technical purity." [label info]
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Exit In Grey -- "Emotional Resounding" -- CD-R -- €8
2005/2007 Daphnia Records, PH06, 2nd edition
Slowly evolving spaces filled with deep guitar drones, field recordings and ocassional electronic sounds. Definite recommendations! Second edition.
Exit In Grey -- "Radionarayan" -- CD-R -- €8
2007 Daphnia Records, ph08
This time Exit In Grey, reduced to one member [S], experiments with combining guitar drones and radionoises, and does it really successfully! More than an hour of calm yet energetic meditative drone music.
Eyeless In Gaza -- "Summer Salt & Subway Sun" -- CD -- €12
2006 A-Scale Recordings, a-scale 033
The album neatly encapsulates two key aspects of the music Eyeless in Gaza are presently creating – offering a balance of atmos/acoustic material and sprawling, rhythmic/semi-improvised spidery electric pieces. This has resulted in a heady blend of song based material juxtaposed with a distinctive brand of kaleidoscopic, “cityscaping” filmic musics. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is the latter, primarily instrumental pieces which gleefully reflect the band’s recent activity in cinema – in Patrice Chereau’s controversial Intimacy, and Jim Jarmusch collaborator Glen McQuaid’s poetic, sub Hammer short, The Resurrection Apprentice. After the plaudits attributed to the 25th Anniversary release of No Noise compilation (“They were one of the great bands that emerged (from the) post punk (period)” – Alan McGee) Eyeless In Gaza continue to display a characteristic “fierce independence” of style and attitude – with the release of Summer Salt & Subway Sun, issued via the band’s own A-Scale label...." [website info]
Five Elements Music -- "Isolation & Echoscopy" -- CD-R -- €8
2007 Still*Sleep, SS13
One more exploration of elements by FEM this time is based on prepared sounds produced by human body. All kinds of crunches, gurglings and wheezes are plaited in sophisticated sound tracery with FEM's trademark sound. An interesting phisiological experiment - listen to what your body can make in the hands of the artist.
Five Elements Music -- "Mystic Echo" -- CD-R -- €8
2006 Still*Sleep, SS11
Isolationist and somewhat vague ambient collage based on field recordings with ghostly and distant sound. Everything is imbued with sounds of wind, quiet but fairly tense. Heavily transformed resonating soundflows of winds in their enviroments... These are mystic echoes, pseudo-subterranean vibrations, faint sounds of surroundings, chime of bell and glass... Entangled in the light haze of air streams. [label info]
Five Elements Music -- "New Communications: One" -- CD-R -- €8
2006 Still*Sleep, SS09
Russian project FEM works approximately in the same conceptual course as Japanese Aube, but oriented towards "natural" approach. While Aube uses only one sound source for an album, may it be tone generator's waves or sounds of water, FEM chooses only 5 elements: air, water, earth and stone. And while Aube often goes mad with building mathematically precise multy-level constructions with hi-fi sound, FEM on the contrary inherited droning structure of tracks from other projects of [S] (Sister Loolomie, Exit In Grey) with muffled lingering sounds. This album starts with literally stone ambient but by 10th minute the identification of sound practically disappears and only sometimes kind of familiar timbres emerge: cicadas, radionoises, etc.
Five Elements Music -- "Solumpremoterra" -- CD-R -- €8
2005 Still*Sleep, SS05
The second album of FEM is entirely dedicated to the earth element - completely low-frequency drone, to some extent close to the collaboration album of Troum & Yen Pox.
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Five Elements Music -- "Suite In Terra" -- CD-R -- €8
2005 Still*Sleep, SS04
Five Elements Music is a conceprual project of Sergey [S] (Exit In Grey, Sister Loolomie), based on using natural sounds. Drone ambient with lots of field recordings: earth, water, sand, fire, salt...
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Five Elements Music -- "Sylphstream" -- CD-R -- €8
2008 Still*Sleep, SS16
First half an hour long track sounds a lot like another project of [S] - Ion And Sophus - very quiet atmospheric tunes accompanied by lo-fi field recordings. Second track starts to condense the sound and brings the feeling of being in a primeval night forest not in the best time... the campfire is playing tricks, the swamps are droning, the wood spirits are wandering around... The last third track continues this feeling drawing in the very inside of fire - here dominate the sounds of flames and charcoal crackles, little by little dissolving in their own echoes...
Gae Bolg vs. Omne Datum Optimum -- "s/t" -- mCD -- €13.50
2005 self-released, (ltd. 467)
4 tracks, 2 from each band, previouly unreleased. CD comes in cartonsleeve and is limited to 467 pieces.
Gruuthaagy -- "Pannonian Witchcraft" -- CD-R -- €7
2004 Chaos Society Productions, #3
Bewitching Ritual Drone Ambient. [YAOP description]
Halo Manash -- "SYoMA" -- CD -- €11
2004 Aural Hypnox, [AH03], (ltd. 1000)
Another great album (the third one) from this Finnish band continues exploration of hidden natural forces through diving in deep droning ritualistic ambient music of their own style. "All of the material on this album is dedicated to and inspired by the dynamic subconscious force which gave impulse to visions relating to auto-cannibalism and metempsychosis". Comes in nice black 6-panel digisleeve with silver drawings.
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Haus Arafna -- "Blut + Nachblutung" -- CD -- €15
2006 Galakthorrö, 006
Before someone else does it for us, we'd rather do it ourselves: the debut album from Haus Arafna is, after 11 years, once more available. In re-freshed sound quality, and with a new look: a 24 page monster booklet which is filled to the top with blood-enriched pictures and texts, with which the listeners can also enjoy themselves visually. In addition to the well-known "Trilogie des Blutes" from 1995, there are three bonus tracks ("Nachblutung"), to listen to, which also stem from this period. These have, however, only now been fully completed in order to be included in this re-issue from mr. and mrs. Arafna. [press release]
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Haus Arafna -- "Butterfly" -- CD -- €15
2003 Galakthorrö 014
Third album is finally here, after five years delay. New Haus Arafna album... well, it's very different from all previous works. Some of you who already had opportunity to listen "Fur Immer" 7"-single will definitely understand what I mean. The old fans should be amazed. No, there is even more fascination of the beyond and general darkness. Just like the prominent horror movie which is well done without dead bodies, blood streams and other superficial features of borrowed violence - no need for that while really frightening. All the senses are submerged into fathomless pit of human soul, still continuing torture and threaten with inexplicable force. An awful prophecy and damnable firmness - a bitter grin turns to deadly mask. This album is not so easy to understand, for me it took at least five times to play it back again and again, then something more or less distinct began to standing up against me. On the other hand, there are many people who didn't heard any previous Haus Arafna song, the new generation - seems that for them "Butterfly" should be more accessible. I even think that it could bring much new flesh into the fans camp. According to musicians, this is their first album sincerelly devoted to the true love sense, and logical develpement out of previous releases - like it always was and, I hope so, always will be. [Dmitry Vasilyev, "Independent Electronic Music"]
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Haus Arafna -- "Children Of God" -- CD -- €15
1998 Galakthorrö 008
The second album of legendary German angst-pop band. Horror from the dark corners of consciousness, rage, putrid cold and absolute electronic insanity. "Our paralysed Agnesle with the pretty hydrocephalus learns to speak only to tell her heart's desire: let me die in gas".
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His Divine Grace -- "Reverse Aleph" -- CD -- €10
2001 Hau Ruck!, HR!14
A lot of secrets around this band, no information. Even the labels seems to know nothing about this formation. So is the music, dark & ritual, doomy and gloomy, coming from behind, getting you in your sleep. Haunting you in your deepest nightmares. You may be dead and even then you don't know a thing about this release. Just experience it! [label info]
Hum -- "Corvine Station II Extra Tracks" -- 3"CD-R -- €7
2008 self-released
This mini-album contains 3 tracks which continue the theme of the Hum / Misery / Exit In Grey split-release dedicated to crows. Transformed corvine voices interwoven with Hum trademark minimal and tranquil drone ambient.
Hum / Misery / Exit In Grey -- "s/t" -- CD-R -- €12
2008 Linija Shuma, Shum 0005, (ltd. 67)
LINIJA SHUMA presents a split-release of three Russian artists: HUM, MI3ERY, EXIT IN GREY. This release is dedicated to one of the most multifaced and ambiguous heroes of the anscient myths and modern social landscape - a crow (Corvus corone cornix, or carrion-crow). It is a shaman's prospector in the spiritual worlds and a foreteller of misfortune and war; a "queen" of carrion and rotten flesh, and a getter of vivifying moisture and rain. A Raptor, a thief, a turnskin, a chtonic symbol of Navia, a harbinger. In any case, regardless of a characteristic, anxious voice of a grey crow is always magical and pricks the ears... HUM - quasi-rhythmic ornithomorph collage created under influence of crow voice and places of living. Sound material of 2003-2006. To all lovers of shades of grey. MI3ERY - minimalistic noise-concrete built on field recordings of crows and atonal backgrounds. Crows were recorded at the cemetary during the period of little crows learing to fly, when the energies of fear and activity unify in these birds most vividly. A symbolical exit of inner self from suffocating embrace of reality. EXIT IN GREY - emotional guitar noise-drone meditation. Bird as a key to the unknown reality, a guide to the other side. A collision... deep experience and elusive images. Dis-identification of a self with surrounding. A new instinct... The release is packed in a DVD-box and limited to 67 copies, handmade. Contains conceptual inserts: three cards and a magic packet. [press-release]
Inade -- "Aldebaran" -- CD -- €11
1996/2007 Cold Spring Records, CSR13CD, 3rd edition
The masters of Black Ambient! "Aldebaran" is the black sun of the secret knowledge. This work focuses on the German Vril society myths of 'Aldebaran', from which universal spirituality is said to originate. One hour of immense walls of dark, brooding atmospherics, pulsating anthems of the universal power, mixed with themes of heritage and history. The ultimate document of deep and cavernous dark ambient. [press-release]
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Institution D.O.L. -- "Instructions for Modern Weakniks" -- CD -- €13.50
2007 Steinklang Industries, SKD 23, (ltd. 500)
"Instructions for modern Weakniks" is the opus magnum of the Austrian Obscure-Electronic act no.1. This album is the most violent, harshest and simultaneosly the most musical release in the history of INSTITUTION D.O.L. The album was recorded in co-operation with artists from projects like CONTROL, OPERATION CLEANSWEEP, A CHALLENGE OF HONOUR, RASTHOF DACHAU, WERTHAM and FUCKHEAD. This is a groundbreaking piece of Extreme Electronic Music with all facettes and at the same time a very entertaining and enjoyable piece of weird and sick Noise-Pop. Digipack with booklet, CD includes a video. [label info]
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Ion And Sophus -- "The First Step towards the Abyss..." -- CD-R -- €8
2007 Still*Sleep, cdr1
One more project from the Exit In Grey / Five Elements Music company - created by Sergey [S] and [D]iona. Stylistically it's almost the same: totally calm atmospheric ambient woven from mainly processed field recordings and smooth synth tunes.
Karjalan Sissit -- "Tannsit On Loppu Nyt" -- CD -- €15.50
Cyclic Law, 17th Cycle
4th full lenght and 2nd for Cyclic Law from one of Sweden's most respected Martial/Industrial act. Quoted from Markus Pesonen himself "This is my personal W.A.R. against everything that reveals my hate! You are the enemy!"... so you can expect a logical follow up to his last album where Anti socialism, Bitterness, Alcoholism and his Finnish roots are still at the center stage of his purpose and where harsh industrial passages, aggressive vocal lines and soft ambient textures collide with intense bombastic outbursts. The album was again exquisitely produced by Peter Bjargo at Erebus Odora. [press-release]
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Kerovnian -- "From the Depth of Haron" -- CD -- €18
2001 Cold Spring Records, CSR35CD, (ltd. 1000)
Sepulchral black-ambient with sinister atmosphere. Dead voices and melodies, moans of winds and swarms of worms. Exploration of the other world in it's darkest manifestation.
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Kriminaaliset Metsanhaltijat -- "Mina Rangaistan Loukkaajaa!" -- CD-R -- €7
2007 Triangle Records, [TR019]
Greatest lakes in Europe... Hejniasejmaa island... They have conducted some tests here... Late autumn... Everything's died... Moisture... Beton bunker walls... Taren... Malice put out by chemicals and atmosphere of nuclear trials of the past. Protest in every track, unwillingness to obey the system and to have connection with rotten society. Dirty emotional noise/power-electronics: dark pulsations of analogue synthesizers and rattle of metal junk, natural reverberation of an abandoned bunker and two furious vocals. Hail Finland! [press-release]
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Kromeshna -- "Antiworlds" -- CD-R -- €7
2007 Ostroga, OTR-012, (ltd. 30)
Mini-album of Ural-based project (side-project of Light Collapse and Obozdur). Three tracks sounding like roaming in a pitch dark electronic forest by feel. Isolationist dark ambient.
Kromeshna -- "Locked in the Sky" -- CD-R -- €7
2007 Ostroga, OTR-013, (ltd. 25)
Mini-album of Ural-based project (side-project of Light Collapse and Obozdur). One almost 20-minute long trask. Movements in total darkness. Hollow distant dark ambient / drone.
Light Collapse -- "Pop" -- CD-R -- €7
2007 Heart Shaped Box Prod., HSB-018, (ltd. 31)
Concrete Radionoise. A portrait of Russian radio-ether. Handmade sleeve from a page of some glamour zine.
Lustmord -- "Heresy" -- CD -- €13.50
Soleilmoon, Sol 99 CD
It's not often that an album comes along that both initiates and defines a genre. From the deepest vault at Soleilmoon, precisely such a cherished but long unavailable classic has been remastered, repackaged and re-issued. "Heresy", the album that launched and defined the dark ambient genre when it was first released in 1990, has been hailed by critics and fans as one of the most important works of its time. Nearly 15 years after its release it regularly features on top-ten lists of ambient music. "Heresy" was recorded in various subterranean locations and manipulated in the studio with Andrew Lagowski providing engineering and additional programming. It was the first Lustmord album to feature extensive sampling and computer assisted sound design. Recent improvements in sound technology permitted Lustmord to re-master and significantly improve on the original recordings for this new version, which comes in a digipak and even bears a new catalog number. Based on recognition established through recordings like "Heresy", Brian Williams, the man behind Lustmord, went on to work as a sound designer in Hollywood and has over 40 major motion picture credits as well as TV, games and now commercials. His resume includes musical collaborations with The Melvins, Adam Jones (Tool), Chris & Cosey, Coil, Paul Haslinger (Tangerine Dream), SPK, Robert Rich, Current 93 and Nurse with Wound. He has done remixes for Jarboe (Swans), Venetian Snares, Lori Carson and Mortiis. From 1985 until 1999 he ran Side Effects Records, the label launched by SPK, releasing more than 30 albums. As Lustmord he has released 11 albums since 1981. "Heresy" stands as Lustmord's signature work, the gauntlet that birthed a genre, and this new edition shows even more why it's been a best seller for such a long time. [press-release]
Lustmord -- "Purifying Fire" -- CD -- €13.50
2000 Soleilmoon, Sol 98 CD
A collection of rare and unreleased tracks from this master of dark ambience... Covering the years between 1995 and 1998, it includes tracks previously given for compilations to a diverse range of labels, including Plug Research, Side Effects, Cold Spring and Dry Lungs, also some completely unreleased tracks.
Lustmord -- "Zoetrope" -- CD -- €13.50
Nextera, ERA 2014-2
This is an expanded soundtrack to the immersive short film of the same name and presents the darker sound of Brian Williams and again pushes further into uncharted dephts. Comes in digipak and CD including a Video for mac & PC.
Maaaa / Torturing Nurse -- "We Are So Fucking Harsh! You Are So Fucking Suck!" -- CD-R -- €7
2007 Triangle Records, [TR028], (ltd. 50)
Harsh-noise metal-junk massacre from Karelia with evilkids from Chine against other sucking world. Bloody waltz of dangerous frequencies, tones and noises. Try to survive. ltd. to 50 copies. [press-release]
Maeror Tri -- "Hypnobasia / Ultimate Time" -- 2 CD-R -- €23
Old Europa Cafe, OECDR 005, (ltd. 300)
Re-edition of two cassettes released on Old Europa Cafe with a bonus-track from the same period.
Maeror Tri -- "Meditamentum" -- CD -- €15.50
2005 Manifold Records, mancd044
Re-edition of the CD previously published by German label Holonom in 1994. This was the 2nd full-length of Maeror Tri after "Multiple Personality Disorder". It contains retrospective compilation of cassette tracks dated 1989-1992. "This compilation is probably the more ambient of any Maeror Tri compilation, going for more textural guitar and drift than the rumbling, backwards-chord sound. Comes in an amazing brown artboard case and embroidered cloth sleeve, four-page booklet inside inspired by rough layouts of cassette-years past gives plenty of text to absorb with the sounds. Amazing sounds demand amazing packages and we wanted to make sure this would be a treasure for all who were ever interested in Maeror Tri." [label info]
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Maeror Tri -- "Peak Experience" -- CD-R -- €23
2005 Blade Records / AFE Records, WMDA 057 / afe061lcd, (ltd. 190)
Maeror Tri are widely known as real masters of guitar-based droning soundscapes. "Peak Experience" is the re-release of one of their earliest tapes. All material was originally recorded in 1988/1989. Tracks 1 to 5 (the "A" side of the original cassette) showcase the harsher and raw industrial roots of the band, while tracks 6 to 11 (the "B" side of the original cassette) point towards more dark ambient areas. The track "Boundary to Insanity" was a live improvised harsh noise opera that existed in different versions. This re-release of "Peak Experience" contains the relatively short fifth version. Packed between wooden plates. [label info]
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Maeror Tri -- "Sensuum Mendacia" -- CD-R -- €13.50
2006 L-White Records, LW 030, (ltd. 200)
Re-release of the legendary "Sensuum Mendacia" tape / originally released as DMC20 on the welch label DIRECTION Music, in 1991. This was the third full-length tape of MAEROR TRI finest atmospheric and psychedlic dark ambient recording. Sold out from the label - last copies in stock.
Majdanek Waltz -- T-shirt -- €12
2008 KultFront
Black T-shirt with white printing. Sizes L, XL, XXL. Watch the image.
Minus Hydrargyrum -- "Chemical Silence" -- CD-R -- €10
2002 Fight Muzik, FM02, (ltd. 484)
Black DVD box, newspaper, print inserts & 5-6 gramm of pyrotechnical chemical element ammonium bichromate. Professional mix of avantgarde and post-industrial music, broken beats, ambient soundscapes.
Misery -- "Rings of Life" -- CD-R -- €9
2007 Operator Produkzion, OPERPRODUKT16, (ltd. 160)
Rolling are rings of magnetic tape repeating cyclic rhythms of shaman's drum, rolling is the Earth and seasons alternate, trees grow with new yearly rings... A retrospective of live recordings of one of the oldest Russian post-industrial projects: 2 long live tracks and a 25-min. video. Archaic shaman's harsh ambient of completely analogue origin. Limited to 160 copies in a handmade cardboard sleeve. [press-release]
Moljebka Pvlse -- "lode lvx" -- 7" -- €7
2008 Drone Records, DR-91, (ltd. 300)
For some years now Stockholm based artist MATHIAS JOSEFSON has delighted the drone scene with his highly minimal excursions into drone territory. From harsh noise to soft & gentle ambience the aim is to reach a basic level of sound conscience. In doing so the "human mind" and the "sound mind" interact to build a symbiotic entity. MOLJEBKA PVLSE is Josefson’s sound art project where he often collaborates with KARIN JACOBSON. The two pieces "lode" and "lvx" are great examples of breathing drone structures which seem to be derived from real string or wind instruments. Harmonic & mysterious, dense & aspiring.... this is indeed music like a lode of illuminations... Filed under: BREATHING DRONES. BLACK VINYL, BLACK SILKSCREENED BLACK COVER, WITH EXTRA EMBOSSED WHITE INLAY. [press-release]
Mortart -- "Green Death" -- CD-R -- €6
Imbecil Records 002
One of the earliest recordings from this Russian death ambient/industrial project. Obscure atmosphere of a vault, dirty lo-fi analogue sound, the whole album is impregnated with the feeling of darkness and some unconscious violence.
Mortart -- "This World So Beauteful As Formerly" -- CD-R -- €6
Imbecil Records 010
"Although Russian projects didn't manage to go down in history of 'indusrial culture', they confidently take their niche in post-industrial existence. In this relation Mortart is obviously the one who consolidates the foundation of modern industrialism; sounding from total obscurity he is one of the few whose truth and honesty is without doubt. His debut album "World Downfall" caught the attention with its dark beauty and interesting studio moments, for example for this recording was invited Marina Kurasova, the leader of Rostov's division of National-Bolshevist Party. Nowadays Mortart has about a dozen of releases on his own label Imbecil Records, and the project found its trademark sound... As far as we already can speak about 'influences' and 'inspiration sources' in 'post-industrial culture', first of all we have to mention the visible facts of 'where his legs grow from': obviously early BDN, then MEGAPTERA, MZ.412 and ARCHON SATANI. Hence the style of the project can be described as morose blend of death industrial and dark ambient. Main stimulant images-themes are also comparable to mentioned bands: misanthropy, Death as the only aim, anti-christianity (but not Satanism!!!), sexual violence, dissection, serial killers. Nevertheless one can feel Mortart's 'south-Russian' accent: compositions sound especially unhurry and criminal aura of the city he lives in adds subconscious spite and doom..." [CODE_188, "Organic Human Mechanisms"]
Nightech -- "Deviation" -- CD -- €7
2007 Lagunamuch Community, LMC900, (ltd. 1000)
Nickname Nightech conceals a talented painter of ambient structures, aka Ed Sherbakoff, living in a remote industrial city of Serov in Urals. Beginning from 2001 he has recorded about 10 original works on different labels in Russia and in Europe. His new album Deviation, written in space dark-ambient direction is another sound experiment dedicated to research of transition between outer sound spaces by means of music and a thought. This is a message from extraterrestrial worlds that has occasionally found the receiver in thounds of light years. [press-release]
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Nocturne -- "Fleisch und Metall" -- CD -- €13.50
2007 Steinklang Industries, SKD 17, (ltd. 500)
"Fleisch und Metall" is a conceptual album, a soundtrack for an actionistic performance, done by the French Industrial / Noise act Nocturne. The performance took place in a old, ruined factory and the 20-page booklet shows impressions from this event, as well as several artistic fotos from industrial areas. "Fleisch und Metall" is a very organic and icecold album, sometimes reminding to early Werkbund, sometimes even to japanoise-like metall-orgies. All in all the album is very complexly structured and many changes in music and style don't let come up any boring moments. Nocturne also uses a lot of samples in French language and even more sirenes, saws, metal-hammerings and more machine sounds, what gives "Fleisch und Metall" the grade of a 100% pure Industrial album. An additional 11 minute video brings you a challenging hommage to industrial work and revolution, accompanied by an amazing Industrial soundtrack. [press release]
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Noise Dreams Machina -- "In / Out" -- 7" -- €7
2008 Drone Records, DR-90, (ltd. 300)
NOISE DREAMS MACHINA is the project of Spanish artist OSCAR MARTIN. Now living & studying in Berlin & Barcelona, he is currently exploring the possibilities of homemade software with free tools for sound deconstrucion and realtime performance. IN & OUT is his first vinyl release and uses a wide range of environmental recordings which are processed digitally in more "electro-acoustic" ways. This leads to a balance between "Drone" and "Electro-Acoustic" where the acoustic potential of conventional reality is enlarged via digital processing. In his own words: "It brings attention to the peripheral zones of the sound phenomenon". Through intense mutation & deconstruction of acoustic materials a new or previously hidden meaning can be revealed for the blind spot of our perception. Filed under: ADVANCED ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC DRONES. MILKY VINYL, WHITE COVER WITH BLACK SILK-SCREENED PRINT. [press-release]
Noise-Maker's Fifes -- "Zona Incerta" -- 10" -- €11
2006 Substantia Innominata, SUB-03, (ltd. 500)
NOISE-MAKER’S FIFES is an experimental performance group from Brussels who do impressive shows with many selfbuild instruments and surrealistic sound-theatre-choreographies. The first side on “Zona Incerta” is based on the choreography “Dyonisos’ Last Day” from 2003 and uses various live-material from this and other different performances. The second side is created from insects field recordings made in Kenya. ZONA INCERTA builds a very dimension of its own, totally hazy and foggy sounds ebb and flow in and out...water and metal-sounds are recognizable in the sound-field, high insect-frequencies intertwine with all kinds of strange noises and animal sounds... The Unknown is also the world of other creatures who perceive a totally different world. Listen with new ears, with different neurons. [press-release]
November Novelet -- "From Heaven On Earth" -- CD -- €15
1999 Galakthorrö 011
November Növelet is more calm and romantic side of Haus Arafna, most of texts and vocals belong to the female part of the duet. Detached, beautiful and blameless as an ice sculpture music which simply has no analogues.
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November Novelet -- "Magic" -- CD -- €15
2007 Galakthorrö 019
This magically-charged jewel of electronic music consists of twelve new songs. The analogue foundation combines with electric vibraphone and 8-bit surrealism transformed into sound. Melancholic synthesiser melodies and the ethereal voice of Mrs. Arafna melt into a fragile beauty with emotional depth. Unpretentious and lost, a gripping experience. In spite of all this exploration of the depths, there is also the opportunity to roll up the carpet. Mr. and Mrs. Arafna have conjured up a few dance hits, which because of their minimalism and cultured morbid charm, should kick off the party mood for the creatures of the night. These contrast well with the slow pieces – tinged with a breath of experimentation, resulting in a many-facetted, and at the same time very balanced, Angst Pop album. The long time in waiting for the release of this new record will soon be forgotten in sheer listening pleasure. CD in de luxe matt finish gatefold digipac plus 16-page booklet incl. all lyrics. [press-release]
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O Paradis -- "La Boca Del Infierno" -- CD -- €13.50
2005 Punch Productions, PP011
"La Boca Del Infierno" (Hell's Mouth) is by far the darkest and most suffered album by Ô Paradis. As tracks go on you sink in a sort of dantesque circle, the boundary between joy and suffering,life and death, where Eros and Thanatos melt and become the same thing. The cover couldn't be more explicative! Is this the door to life and joy or isn't it more true that it's the door to hell and its torments? Here Ô Paradis laid himself bare. Sounds have become more industrial and dreary than ever. The warm and melancholic mediterranean ballads, dear to the heart of the catalan project, get oriented in more experimental directions; here melancholy leads to a truly dark and choking anguish. [press-release]
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O Paradis -- "Serpiente de Luna, Serpiente de Sol" -- CD -- €13.50
2003 Aorta, AORCD08
Most of the songs are based on samples, exquisitely knitted together over original bass-lines, and topped off with Demian's somewhat mournful and nostalgic vocals. Despite being richly produced, some of the songs have a bare, folky quality about them, with Demian's Spanish vocals creating an air of impenetrability to my Anglo-Saxon ears. This is not a negative, just something that underlines the difference between this project and its patron. It is also something that is less noticeable when concession are made to, how does one say, catchiness, such as on the simply gorgeous 'Por Cuidar de Mi, Amor', in which a beautiful synth line carries the song along. One could say that the folkier songs are solid and beautiful, whilst tracks like 'Por Cuidar', and the equally gorgeous 'Palabras', are just transcendent. The clarity of the album‚s production is worth emphasising, as is the stunning foldout digipak. [label info]
:Of The Wand And The Moon: -- "Midnight Will" -- mCD -- €11
2005 Heidrunar Myrkrunar, HEIM001
Re-release of the long sold out 10" issued on Eis & Licht with additional tracks and different versions.
:Of The Wand And The Moon: -- "Sonnenheim" -- CD -- €13
2005 Heidrunar Myrkrunar, HEIM003
This is the 4th, long awaited and anticipated masterpiece from :OTWATM: with 15 new tracks also featuring collaborators from Forseti and Sonne Hagal. Musically this is Kim Larsen and :OTWATM:, but with a very big development in sound and atmosphere. Comes in very nice digipack with embossed metallic-foilblocked titles and debossed images and a 12 page booklet with all the texts.
Oloolo -- "Pavilosta" -- CD -- €7
2006 Lagunamuch Community, LMC333
Oloolo is the project of two sound designers from Riga, Latvia - Kriipis Tulo and Rodion Zolotarew. It's founded in 2001. This peculiar quality of Oloolo music is achieved through extensive use of Soviet-era analogue synthesizers (Polyvox, Yunost-21, Formanta, RMIF TI-5 and others). Oloolo took part events: Pan Sonic's and Phill Niblock concerts in Riga (2002, 2004), Watercolors 2002, Skanu Mezs (Sound Forrest - Klangwald) festival (2003), Microstraava (2005) and more. This album is dedicated to Pavilosta, latvian little town, Baltic sea, where it was so good for us, as far as it happens probably. [press-release]
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Orplid -- "Sterbender Satyr" -- CD -- €15.50
Auerbach Tontrager, AB014
Orplid's "Sterbender Satyr" is as successful a mosaic of language, music, and representing images, as were their earlier releases. Apart from almost purely acoustic, mostly guitar-based songs, however, their new release sees Frank Machau and Uwe Nolte increasingly aiming for more ethereal soundscapes. Aside from Uwe's distinctive lyrics, it has become a cherished stable of Orplid to include settings of classical poetry on their albums. Uwe takes considerable pride in their interpretation of Oda Schaefer's poem 'Die Seherin', a track that ranks with Orplid's most expressive works. On this song the group collaborated with the artist Sandra Fink from Leipzig whose vocal delivery "is a reflection of the poem's archaic depths, rendered with a theatrical sensibility." "Sterbender Satyr" underlines a development that was already apparent in ist predecessor, "Nächtliche Juenger" (2003): Orplid are not a pure (Neo) Folk band, even if their early releases might have made that impression. The two musicians are rather constantly working on their unique settings of Uwe's "New German Poetry": lyrical, fragile, and sensitive, but powerful in expression and interpretation. [label info]
Penitent -- "Roses by Chaos Spawned" -- CD -- €10
1999 Memento Mori, MORI 06
Orchestral classical music coupled with vocals and apocalyptic lyrics.
Poochlatz -- "Thanks for Giving in" -- CD-R -- €5
2007 Something On The Road, SOTR_018, (ltd. 150)
Combining elements of primitive power electronics and their explorations into contemporary drone-metal territories, "Thanks for Giving in" is the new live album from Israel's Poochlatz, Recorded in July 2006, when opening to the Grave Temple Trio of Stephen O'malley, Oren Ambarchi and Mayhem's Attila. On this live assault, Poochlatz are bleak, sinister and iconoclastic than ever, mending and molding moral conventions, slaughtering holy cows and questioning the truth only to make it more vague and unreachable than it already is. Best described as power-electronics sludge this is highly Recommended if you like Sunn 0))), Burmese, Haus Arafna, Institut, Ocean (U.S.A), Khanate, Urtam etc. [press-release] 20 minutes of dirty noise, vocal growlings and smeared guitar sludge with pronounced negative enegry.
Propergol -- "Ground Proximity Warning System" -- CD -- €17
2006 Annihilvs / Stridulum Recordings, APEX004 / STR-010, (ltd. 500)
The Protagonist -- "Interim" -- mCD -- €12
2005 Cold Meat Industry, cmi145, (ltd. 1000)
The Protagonist may not be known for being the most productive band, but they should definitely be known and statued as a prime example of how Neoclassical music should sound. 7 years after their debut CD "A Rebours" they still remain as a great influence to many new acts. In a most dramatic way it forces your will to desire for more, not only more of music but more of life. The bombastic male drums and snares are seduced by the romantic and feminine violins. The Protagonist's music is classic in design, strongly inspired by literature, film and the fine arts. For this recording accompanied by The Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden. 4 tracks 21 minutes of supreme Neoclassical music. - Lighten up your absinthe, sink down into your sofa, lay back and let your self be devoured by the romantic atmosphere of a early 1900-century - France - Paris - dreamers - thinkers - creators. Loose yourself in a theatrical world of beauty, mystery, nightmares.... here is the soundtrack to your dearest desires. [press-release]
Puissance -- "Let Us Lead" -- CD -- €13.50
Equilibrium Music, EQM 007
Originaly released on Cold Meat Industry in 1996, "Let Us Lead" stills stands as one of the most impressive and groundbreaking releases in the Industrial/Militaristic fusion that has become so popular recently. Carefuly elaborated overwhelming orchestrations brought to Puissance's Industrial structures a disturbing apocalyptic touch, impregnated with somber beauty and bitter, often polemic, spoken-word speeches. Announced for re-release on various occasions, "Let Us Lead" is finally made available again, with re-mastered sound and an additional bonus track, presented in matte-black deluxe digipak edition, with classy UV spot-varnish finishing [press-release].
raison d'etre -- "The Empty Hollow Unfolds" -- CD -- €13
2000 Cold Meat Industry, CMI.78
This is a grim travelogue from the land where the sun never rises; grievous keyboard overlayed by factory noises and the trademark chanting monks turns this into some of the most unsettling listening since of Lustmord's 'Paradise Disowned'. [label info]
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raison d'etre -- "Reflections from the Time of Opening" -- CD -- €13.50
2005 Cold Meat Industry, cmi138
Re-issue of the CD initially released on Bloodless Creations which contained early tracks from 1991. New version of this album includes 7 new tracks: 3 tracks from compilations, 2 previously unreleased tracks and 2 re-mixed tracks from "Prospectus I" album.
raison d'etre -- "Within the Depths of Silence and Phormations" -- CD -- €13.50
1995 Cold Meat Industry, CMI.38
Dark mesmerizing atmospheric / ritual chants. An expedition into the hidden parts of your inner self. [label info]
Runau, Karl -- "Beyond Frequencies" -- CD -- €15
1999 Galakthorrö 010
One of the possible associations which come to mind when listening to this CD - this is an engineer-physicist in deep dissociative trip, with exfoliated perception of the world, communicating with his analogue synthesizers under impression of formerly heard early Kraftwerk recordings. Completely abnormal music - highest recommendations.
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Sangre Cavallum -- "Patria Granitica" -- CD -- €13.50
Ahnstern, Ahnstern 18
"Pátria Granítica" - Granite Fatherland - is the long awaited new album from the northern Portuguese Sangre Cavallum. The album contains ten powerful songs combining heroic traditional music and beautiful folk-ballads, sometimes even with a slight avantgardistic touch. The artists perfectly play a large variety of early traditional instruments, blended with electrical sounds and mesmerizing psychedelic arrangements. "Pátria Granítica" is a pagan journey into the world of stones of their historical homeland Callæcia and its gods, giving voice to the traditional heritage of granite warriors. Their first album "Barbara Carmina" was released on Michael Moynihan's (Blood Axis) label Storm. [press-release]
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Sangre Cavallum -- "Veleno De Teixo" -- CD -- €13.50
2007 Ahnstern, Ahnstern28
The northern Portuguese Sangre Cavallum return with a new and outstanding folk album. It is titled “Veleno de Teixo” meaning Yew Poison and it is a collection of tributes to women and to the cult of mother-goddess in pre-Christian era. "Veleno de Teixo" contains a brand-new set of 16 powerful songs between pagan folk and power-psych atmospheres. Inspired by the music and ethnography of their homeland Callaecia/northern Portugal. It is laboriously produced, capturing the revolutionary minds of these musicians. Among many traditional instruments they play the hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, flutes, folkloric guitars, war-drums and many times these acoustic instruments are transformed with heavy distortions and meet the psychedelic bass and vintage guitars. It also features the new singer Emanuel Melo da Cunha on a fine debut. "Veleno de Teixo" is a step forward in their wonderful path and a pleasing example of how tradition is a living thing when folklore meets folk rock or dark industrial music. Includes great artwork and a 16 page booklet with psych-photo art and beautiful texts. 63 min. / 16 tracks. [press-release]
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Skorpio, Niko -- "Half Born in Half Light" -- CD -- €10
2008 Some Place Else, SPECD08049, (ltd. 1000)
Half Born in Half Light is based on the foundations of psychedelic ambient soundscapes and darkly majestic bass drone, over which tribal rhythms and magickal vocal invocations build grotesque alien monoliths whose angles mock the euclidean mathematics of conventional composition. Niko Skorpio is not restricted to one particular genre, but draws on many sources. This makes the music colourful and diverse, yet it remains coherent and has the artist’s unique fingerprints all over (this time literally in the cover as well). If we are to give it a label, let’s call it HERMETIC FUSION MUSICK. CD comes with gorgeously designed 12-panel leaflet with art, photos, liner notes etc. Edition of 1000 copies. [press-release]
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Sleep Research_Facility -- "Nostromo" -- CD -- €11
2001/2007 Cold Spring Records, CSR34CD, 2nd edition
Ultra deep ambience, based on the first 8 minutes of the movie 'Alien' which depicts the deep space haulage vessel slowly moving through the void. The disc takes you through a slow trip into the ship via tracks DECK A - E, deeper and deeper into the bowels of the 'Nostromo'. Colossal dark ambience from the abyss, with beautiful artwork that evokes the sinister atmosphere of the ship. Reissue with bonus track 'Narcissus'. [press-release]
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Sonne Hagal -- "Jordansfrost" -- CD -- €13
2008 Luftschutz Entertainment, Luftschutz 011
SONNE HAGAL's second full-time album once more bestows the listener with a journey into the unknown realms of poetry, mysteries and enthralling melodies. Closely connected to Europa's folk-music tradition and the Northern mysteries, the band develops song structures that reach from simple traditional arrangements to complex compositions. The songs, performed in German and English, reveal rediscovered poems as well as self-written lyrics. The atmosphere of the songs varies from intimate, quiet parts to fresher, light-hearted and lively sounds up to heavy distorted parts supported by real or electronic drums. Each song unfolds its own universe, interconnected by the central idea of "Jordansfrost": the constant changing between light and darkness, the seasons or even life and death themselves. A number of well-known international artists supports the band in their intention to create more than just music: a whole philosophy. Amongst others you'll find: Of The Wand And The Moon (DK), In Gowan Ring (US), Waldteufel (US), Ernte (GER), Lux Interna (US), Darkwood (GER) and Black Sun Productions (CH). The cover artwork uses exclusive paintings by Fabrice/Divine Comedy Records (FR) and underlines the depth and beauty of these 45 minutes of German Darkfolk. Special Digipak comes in three different artworks. [label info]
Sturmpercht -- "Geister im Waldgebirg" -- CD -- €13.50
Percht, Percht 07
One year has passed since the Austrian / south Bavarian Alpin-Folk formation Sturmpercht released their last 7". Finally now here is their long awaited new album! "Geister im Waldgebirg" is a journey through the deepest central-European forests and mountains with all their strange creatures, fairies, myths and legends. The sounds and lyrics on this album are engrained in old pagan rites and cults, in hunters-legends and in tales from darkest woods and the people living there. The songstyles vary from powerful Martial-Folk hymns, over fragile Folk-balads, to weird songs about strange people and creepy animals. Several great artists supported Sturmpercht in the making of this album: first af all Axel from WERKRAUM, who is a basic Sturmpercht-member since quite a while now. It's Axels perfect guitar- and flute playing and his skillful hands in mixing, that the Folk-songs have this brilliant late 60ies/early 70ies touch now. The close Sturmpercht-friends ALLERSEELEN, SANGRE CAVALLUM and WALDTEUFEL have also recorded fantastic songs especially for this album. Allerseelen and Sangre Cavallum also contributed several sounds from their large archives and Waldteufel additionally gave his voice for "Riesenbruder". Sturmpercht is the only Folk-band, who created their own music style named "ALPIN-FOLK", which is absolutely unique up to now. Anyway if you prefer straight or weird Folk: there is no way around this album for all kinds of Folk-Lovers. This album will be your closest friend in dark and frosty winter nights! [press-release]
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Subliminal -- "Coping" -- CD -- €15
2006 Galakthorrö 018
Pure terror! With his new album Albert Fisch has created such an impressive inferno of hate that hearing it warms the cockles of the heart! Violent analog electronic and machine noise is skillfully structured by the use of pulsating bass frequencies and aggressive vocal performances. The combination of all these elements culminate in a mighty shockwave that just surges off straight into the central nervous system. Powerelectronics at its best, uncompromising, dirty and trigger-happy! The theme "coping" forms the theoretic and emotional foundation, inspiring and evoking ideas, both acoustic and visual. Since the debut album Gracebudd, the development has continued. Those who appreciated Subliminals' contribution to the Kosmoloko sampler will find Coping a particularly successful follow-up experience. For anyone who wants to re-adjust his hate-wavelengths one more time, here is the right tool for the job. [press-release]
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Subliminal -- "Gracebudd" -- CD -- €15
2000 Galakthorrö 013
Harsh frequencies leaking from the depths of analog electrosound machines, weird voices, diabolical power and clinical atmosphere - what do you expect to be released on Galakthorrö label? Especially since Haus Arafna gave their hand in recording of this album.
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Sunchariot -- "Ruina Atrasiab" -- CD-R -- €6
2007 Observatory Records, Observatory 07, (ltd. 10)
A short 25-min work divided on 2 tracks. All project's trademark features are here: slow stalk of rhythm exuding through the wall of obscure rough sound and unexpected melancholic guitar tune.
Svarrogh (feat. Allerseelen & Sangre Cavallum) -- "Temple of the Sun" -- mCD -- €11
2007 Ahnstern, Ahnstern27
Welcome to Svarrogh's "Temple of the sun". Bells and whispers are droning through empty places, through empty cities. Black Forests, silver skies, and deep blue seas drown grey, abandoned vastness into a flow of lightened wine and honey. "Temple of the Sun" is a decadent and transcendental journey with mandoline, tamboura, mighty synths, bulgarian folklore, deep balcan voices and european ambient as well as blizzard guitars and several elements from the black metal past of Svarrogh. This mini album is a macrocosmic european theme - although still mainly bulgarian and balcan - a gathering of pagan culture with fragments from modern world. Wine and honey will flow through grey streets, through cities of glass, weeping giants cry out in sorrow - welcome to Svarrogh's temple of decadence! This mini-Album also features some extraordinary guest vocals: Gerhard (Allerseelen - Aut), Valerio (Symbiosis - Ita), Juris (Beverina - Lv), B. Ardo & Rangel (Sangre Cavallum - Por). All these artists participate in their own native languages. [press-release]
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Tho-So-Aa -- "Minus" -- CD -- €13
2004 Art Konkret / Dark Ambient Series, ART 39 / DAS 02, (ltd. 500)
With “Minus” by THO-SO-AA the ART KONKRET label presents the second release in the dark ambient series. The CD comes out with a 17 x 17 cm printed artwork in a plastic packing and is strictly limited to 500 copies. On “Minus“ THO-SO-AA finds the way back to his roots. The new material is different to the “Absorb” release. It is very dark, like the early THO-SO-AA material, but with a lot of new influences. You find drones, pushing down bass sounds and ghostly voices. Song titles like "Introduction for a demon", "It's a nightmare", "Below peace & happiness", "A perfect collapse", "Darkness" speak their own language. The dark frequencies corrode slowly deep into the inner life and spread out their blackness. This release is the soundtrack for an intensive search for a physically noticeable zool sound, the "place where the black stars hang" as Brain Lustmord expressed it. For all who black is not dark enough. [press-release]
Troum -- "AIWS" -- CD -- €11
2007 Transgredient Records, TR-05
AIWS is the first full-length cd release from Troum since 2003. It covers studio-recordings composed from 2002-2005. These musicians have compiled some of their most favorable pieces through the years to be placed on this release. Presenting nine analogue (4 & 8 track) recorded compositions that lead the listener through vast feelings of beautifully deep melancholic and hypnotic states of mind. Composed with guitar-drones and harmonic phrases that are processed in various ways creating an atmosphere of the sublime and emotional meditative states that transcend listener to immerse within themselves. Ingredients: Sufi-songs, old vinyl-crackles, acoustic & e-guitars, e-bow, e-bass, voice & whisperings, accordion & flute. Stunning photography & design work by Alan McClelland (Eye.lyft). One of the most emotional and profound Troum releases to date now available on Transgrediant Records. Dedicated to Eternity. [press release]
Troum -- "Dreaming Muzak" -- CD-R -- €11
2006 Kokeshidisk, kodi 5, (ltd. 100)
"You may hear melodies, you may hear voices, you may hear anything you like. This music was especially designed to be played endlessly during your sleeping hours. The Soundtrack to your dreams. Troum 1997" [original liner-notes] "Dreaming Muzak" was the first (and last) Troum cassette-release and came out on the Belgian label Cling-Film in October 1998 in an edition of 100 copies in a handmade pillow-cover. It belongs with "Ryna" (the first cd) and the "Daur" 10'' vinyl to the first band-releases. Both tracks on "Dreaming muzak" were recorded in 1997 on analogue 4-track and are based on recycled material. "Dreaming Muzak Part 1" had to be re-mastered from the original tapes, so it could differ a little from the original version. [press-release]
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Troum -- "Nargis" -- 7" -- €7
2007 Viva Hate Records, VHR-45-002.1, (ltd. 400)
Part one of the "Landscapes Single Series", full-colour artwork & inlay designed by Mars Wellink (adVANCEd). Black vinyl - standard edition.
Troum -- "Symballein" -- CD -- €12
2007 SmallVoices, SVR 07024
A collection of rare & early tracks from 1997-1999 previously released on various compilations.
Troum -- "Symbiosis" -- 3"CD -- €7
2002 Transgredient Records, TR-02
Mini-album on which BarakaH and Glit(s)ch recorded their tracks separately. Guitar and balalaika tunes, layers and psychedelic harmonies.
Troum -- "Tjukurrpa (part one: the harmonies)" -- CD -- €11
Transgredient Records, TR-01a
First release on Troum's new label Transgredient Records and first part of the Tjukurrpa-trilogy, aiming to show the different sides of Troum's organic & archaic dreamscapes. This part 1 is dedicated to "harmonies", containing seven yearnful & atmospheric tracks made by guitar, bass, accordion, voices and effects. Listen to dreaming beauty...
Troum -- "Tjukurrpa (part two: drones)" -- CD -- €11
Transgredient Records, TR-01b
This part two is dedicated to "drones", presenting five highly atmospheric and droning tracks ranging from minimal to monumental sounds, from dark ambient to more ritualistic areas: these are drones to loose your rational mind in. The music on Tjukurrpa II is made by loops based on metal-sounds, percussion & other more obscure sources, as well as mouth-organ, choirs, guitars, and effects. [press release]
Troum -- "Tjukurrpa (part three: rhythms and pulsations)" -- CD -- €11
2003 Transgredient Records, TR-01c
Dronecore. This is the third part in Troum's Tjukurrpa-trilogy, following part 1 (harmonies) and part 2 (drones). This final part is dedicated to "rhythms" and "pulsations", with a focus on rhythmic, pounding, looping & repetitive elements and structures. With Tjukurrpa 3, Troum shows a not so well known side, using the trance-power of repetitive textures. In every of the seven extensive tracks (playtime 66+ min) rhythms in various moods build the basis: from smooth ambience-pulsations over ritualistic surroundings up to ecstatic pounding harshness, from underneath & soft pulsative patterns up to evolving harsh & overwhelming rhythmic loops. The music on Tjukurrpa 3 is made by raw & processed loops & handplayed percussion, along with electric guitar & bass, balalaika, mouth organ, male & female human voice, flute, and accordeon. No samplers, synths or computers used. [press-release]
Werkraum -- "Kristalle" -- mCD -- €11
Ahnstern, Ahnstern 10
The new mini-album of WERKRAUM is not only fascinating because of it's gracile perfection in composition and musical virtuosity, but also through it's musical diversity, supportet by Nicholas Tesluk and Robert Taylor (CHANGES), by Nick Nedzinsky (LADY MORPHIA) and by Antje Hoppenrath. Fulfilled with traditional melodies and psychedelic moments, WERKRAUM guides the listener in a magical world of acoustic sounds and picturesque poetry, telling from ancient fairiedays. The 6 beautiful Folk-songs of this mini-album together fill handsome 32 minutes. [label info]
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Wermut -- "Anna" -- CD -- €13.50
2005 Punch Productions, PP012, (ltd. 1000)
The third album of post-apocalyptic minimal electro twosome WERMUT tells the story of Anna, a wooden Colin Archer yacht, which was build in the late 70s by Reiner and Petra, out of the desperate need to seek beyond their horizons. The cherished boat would lead them on a magic three-year-long journey to Scandinavia, Ireland, over the Atlantic and back. A tale of passion, of revelation, of freedom …but also of loneliness and introspection. WERMUT and their guest musicians HIS DIVINE GRACE and FRL. TOST give us the soundtrack to this outer and inner quest. A soothing mixture of acoustic music, electro-wave anthems and “fall on your knees”-ambient, this much awaited first CD combines magnificently both the folk and retro-electro influences of “Les cinq-a-sept post-neoistes” (OEC) and “Hoffnung” (Treue um Treue). A conceptual, melancholic and visionary new album from a band which defies all labelling. [press-release]
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Xabec -- "Feuerstern" -- 7" -- €7
2008 Drone Records, DR-92, (ltd. 300)
DRONE RECORDS is very proud to finally issue this long planned Drone by this prolific German artist! FEUERSTERN (which translates as "Firestar") captures two tracks of luminous tones & magnetic resonances which create a warm and floating aural flux. With mellow concrete material setting the counterpoint, very subtle hisses, smacking & clicking sounds can be distinguished. These are enriched further on Side B with field recordings by MICHAEL NORTHAM made in September 2006 at the Audioframes Sonic Art Festival in Herne. This was where FEUERSTERN was also performed in a choreographed way using fireworks! Very delicate tone colours and a perfectly balanced sound pattern allow for contemplative listening sessions... The 7" comes in a golden lettered & embossed grey cardboard box with golden printed grey inlay. Filed under: GLOWING DRONE-AMBIENCE. DARK RED VINYL. COMES IN CARDBOARD-BOX WITH GOLDEN EMBOSSING. [press-release]
Zoat-Aon -- "Star Autopsy" -- CD -- €11
2005 Aural Hypnox, [AH04], (ltd. 1000)
'Star Autopsy' presents nine multi-dimensional dark ambient tracks which range from radiant textures, mesmerizing / swirling soundscapes to dense / crushing walls of sound and hidden abstract melodies. By using conventional instruments, various sound generating devices (such as analog synthesizers and samplers), vocals and other carefully chosen sonic objects Zoat-Aon manages to create an unique, dynamic and truly enigmatic / expansive atmosphere that continuously spirals further towards the unknown areas of consciousness. [press-release]
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Zoat-Aon -- "The Triplex Bestial" -- CD -- €11
2006 Aural Hypnox, [AH07], (ltd. 1000)
By the careful adjustment and manipulation of both modern and archaic mediums is created a highly dynamic work of aural alchemy depicting the trance and dream of a carnal totem standing between Heaven and Earth, where the unearthly sound of starlight's serpentine arteries winding together with the blackened branches above mingles with the oneiric hisses and crackles of necromantic phantoms and slithering roots below. A barbarous, sonic paradox suggesting the subtle arousal of the ancestry in flesh, a work both soothing and threatening to the intuitive mind. [press-release]
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V/A -- "Deep Sea Shipping" -- CD -- €7
2006 Lagunamuch Community, LMC800
Deep Sea Shipping is the first compilation on Lagunamuch, an electronic label in Moscow. This compilation has united many russian-speaking artists living in Russia and abroad. Deep Sea Shipping is a term borrowed from the maritime logistics and navigation. It perfectly reflects the whole internal component of music on this compilation. The concept of Deep Sea Shipping is rooted way back in the mythical worlds of H.P.Lovecraft, as well as in the realm of sci-fi stories. Moreover, the word 'deep' is of key importance here, because initially all the tracks on Deep Sea Shipping were stylistically aligned with each other and interconnected by such concepts as deep-tech, deep-ambient and deep electronic. Depth and diving is part of each composition, no matter how the genres may vary. Musicians: Selffish, Lazyfish, Abstract Avenue, Unit21, Oloolo, Sever, Riverz End, Holden, Unbound Persistence, Batiskaf, Total Reboot, Kriipis Tulo, Father?, 0id. [press-release]
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V/A -- "DRONE RECORDS - A Selection of Drones Past: Singles 1993-2000" -- 2 CD -- €15
2006 Tumult Records, TM000, (ltd. 1000)
A selection of tracks from Drone Records Vinyl-only EPs 1993-2000, most of the material presented here is for the first time on CD! Tracks by MAEROR TRI, ALIO DIE, DUAL, ULTRA UNITED, DELPHIUM, INADE, AUBE, VANCE ORCHESTRA, OSSO EXOTICO, KLOOD, VIR, REYNOLS, SPEAR, DRONAEMENT, TOY BIZARRE, TARKATAK, F. LOPEZ, KALLABRIS, YEN POX, FEINEN TRINKERS BEI PINKELS DAHEIM. Double-digisleeve, full-colour inlay / mini-poster with all 7"-covers.
V/A -- "Filmwerk Flammenzauber" -- 2 DVD -- €23
Ahnstern, Ahnstern 13
Live documentation from the 4th Flammenzauber Festival on the Wasserburg Heldrungen in 2004. Featuring MERCY DESIGN / AXON NEURON/VAGWA / ECHO WEST / WALDTEUFEL / IN GOWAN RING / CHANGES / OSTARA plus interviews and a exclusive video-clip by Ostara. The video-recordings were made by 3 TV-cameras and the sound was directly recorded from the mixing-desk to get the very best quality.
V/A -- "Kalte Container" -- CD -- €13.50
2001 Radio Luxor, RL 23401
An assortment of remixes and covers of Kirlian Camera songs. Cover versions from Shining Vril, Naevus, Collection D'Arnell-Andrea and remixes from Wumpscut, 6 COMM and Allerseelen and many more. This is the regular cd edition.
V/A -- "Khatyn: Tacet, Sed Loquitur" -- CD -- €10
2007 Stigmata
Belarussian magazine Stigmata presents the exclusive compilation KHATYN: Tacet, Sed Loquitur. 13 legendary projects from Europe, Baltia and Russia joined their forces to pay homage to the victims of those who died in the fire of Belorussian village Khatyn in WW2. The compilation presents such genres as dark ambient, folk, electro, industrial and gothic. Most of the tracks are exclusive, the CD is beautifully packed and includes 12-page booklet and 3 postcards. Featuring: PROPERGOL, PRAGNAVIT, CYCLOTIMIA, BAD SECTOR, MAJDANEK WALTZ, ATARAXIA, MOON FAR AWAY, OSIMIRA, DONIS, CAWATANA, VISHUDHA KALI, FIRST LAW, NECRO STELLAR. [label info]
V/A -- "Kosmoloko" -- CD -- €15
2003 Galakthorrö 016
According to plan, the third part of the 10 years of Galakthorrö jubilee edition. This is a compilation comprised of two new and exclusive titles each from Haus Arafna, Karl Runau, Maska Genetik, November Növelet und Subliminal, together on one disc. The artists have lovingly presented their diverse and individual styles. A birthday present for Mother Galakthorrö. [label info]
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V/A -- "Pere Lachaise" -- CD -- €13.50
Divine Comedy, DC045
A great compilation of dark and neoclassical music, dedicated to Père-Lachaise cemetery, which is one of the most romantic and mysterious places in this holy world. It's also an unmissable reference in gloomy and cinematic "tragical" culture. Together, Steinklang & Divine Comedy Records are producing a tribute to this worldwide and legendary atmospheric icon. This musical journey is depicted by four top bands (with two tracks each) from the new emerging Dark-Ambiant and Neo-Symphonic scene: HOROLOGIUM; PROJECT WINTER and ARTEFACTUM from Poland completed by FOUNDATION HOPE from the Netherlands. The mood is dark, menacing and epic at time with Horologium being the most martial act. "Paradise One" symbolises a passage from life to death surrounded by fading memories from different areas and destinies. The CD is packed in a beautiful book with full pages sepia pictures by Fabrice Billard, known for his previous pictures and illustrations for DCR releases and bands such as Sonne Hagal. Art and history beyond the graves. Père-Lachaise is a feeric and beautiful place. A place you'll need a whole existence to know "tous les coins et recoins". [press-release]
V/A -- "Steinklang Industries II" -- 2 CD -- €9
2006 Steinklang Industries
Second part of label's sampler-compliation. First CD contains industrial / power-noise / cold electronics: DRAPE EXCREMENT / SOLDNERGEIST, SURVIVAL UNIT, RASTHOF DACHAU, STAHLWERK 9, GREEN ARMY FRACTION, PAINSLUT, FLEISCH-MACHT-BOESE, SEKTION B, THE FINAL RESISTANCE, ANTRACOT, ATROX, INDUSTRIEPALAST, LEICHE RUSTIKAL, NOCTURNE, RADIO MURMANSK. Second CD contains folk / martial / neoclassic / ritual / ambient: ALLERSEELEN, SOULSEARCH, WERKRAUM, SANGRE CAVALLUM, CONCRESCENCE, THELEMA, STURMPERCHT, TARDIVE DYSKINESIA, COLD FUSION, INSTITUTION D.O.L., BARDOSENETICCUBE, ASMOROD, LAMBITANI, A CHALLENGE OF HONOUR, LAHARIS.
V/A -- "Teito" -- CD -- €13.50
Teito Sound Company, TEITO-006
Anenzephalia, Inade, Operation Cleansweep. Nearly more than 10 minutes of unreleased material by each group. This compilation was released by the japanese label TEITO to go along with the first live appearance of all three bands in Tokyo/Japan.
V/A -- "Wilde Jaeger" -- 2 CD -- €18.50
2007 Percht, Percht10
WILDE JAEGER is a unique compilation of Alpine Folk Music, Pagan Ritual Music and authentic field-recordings from the darkest woods and deepest valleys to the highest peaks of the sacred Central- European Alps, as well as of other pagan and alpine regions in Europe and the USA. Wilde Jaeger is accompanied by an astonishing 24-page booklet, housed in a highest-quality 6-sided digipack with cover- paintings by Markus Wolff (Waldteufel). Participants: Svarrogh, Werkraum, Sangre Cavallum, A Minority Of One, Allerseelen, Heiliges Licht, Waldteufel, Scivias, Hamramr, Haberfeld, Ernte, Teatro Satanico, Fanes, Sturmpercht, Magdalena, Elli Riehl, Jagerblut, Hekate, The Joy Of Nature, Soulsearch, Jahrtal, Foresta Di Ferro, SagenToeterRiharcSmilesTrollFerd (Riharc Smiles), Thelema. [label info]