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bryter layter- imprinted season – arbor - cass – 7$
The debut release from this collaborative project between Joseph Raglani (Kranky) and Mike Pollard (Arbor) was conceived during Summer 2008 upon a chance meeting and mutual inspiration. The project exists on its own, filling a space removed from either artists regular mode. “Imprinted Season” consists of six songs, cohesive and focus; a presentation of a modern take on electronic music and traditional pop structure. An attempt to reconcile the conception of the synthesizer as a drone machine and reconnect it to music’s roots, filling the circuits with life and emotion. The melancholy of early morning, dew on the blossoming flowers glistening in the sun’s haze. The future is bright no matter how bleak the present. In an edition of 125 tapes with full color cardstock covers and printed labels.
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brendan murray - inveterate – arbor - cass - 7$
Brendan Murray’s consistent output for the past decade has revealed an underlying concern for the working of sonic material. Inveterate, containing a single,extended 90 minute recording follows this line of thought; looking inside of a sustained moment developing in such a way that difference and similarity can no longer be distinguished. Establishing itself as itself by attempting to present the sound from all possible angles and orientations. Nonlinear developments; viewed from the outside as a long blur. Recorded September 2009 at Weirdo Records. In an edition of 150 copies with professionally duplicated/imprinted cassettes and cardstock covers.
mirror to mirror - a personal reality – arbor - cass -7$
Alex Twomey’s Mirror to Mirror project continues a long standing tradition of Southern California artists focused on introspection and slow simplicity. Inspired by long roads and large open spaces; as well as their place within the daily repetition, finding sense within the nonsense. Light washes of painterly composition; evolving harmonies transform, turning in on themselves. The first track, ‘Laughing and Understanding’ , was developed last winter on the California tour with Infinite Body, Pedestrian Deposit, Earn, Cloaked Light, and Pale Blue Sky. In an edition of 150 copies with professionally duplicated/imprinted cassettes and cardstock covers.
sam goldberg - having had forgot - arbor - lp – 15$
Having Had Forgot marks a distinct departure from Sam Goldberg’s past recordings, both his lush electric guitar and synth work as well as his borderline-pop project Radio People. Having Had Forgot features Sam working with a rotating ensemble of Midwestern musicians (Tiger Hatchery’s Ben Billington, Mike Forbes, and Andrew Young; as well as J. Guy Laughlin, Ben Osbourne, and Jeff Host; for a total palette consisting of acoustic and electric guitar, field recording, percussion, synthesizer, saxophone, double bass, and clarinet). The result is eight careful, delicate songs; varied in instrumentation, but presenting the same elegant consideration of mood and contemplation as his solo works. Private music from a young man; a contemporary offering in the tradition of ensemble records on Windham Hill from William Ackerman and Mark Isham; the opportunity of actualizing personal moments through various actors and the unique textures they are each able to contribute to the whole. In an edition of 500 records with full color jacket and inner sleeves.
outer space -arbor - lp – 14$
John Elliott’s Outer Space project is a laboratory for electronic investigation. Acting as a continuance of the studies of mid 20th century electronic music composers such as Nik Pascal and Laurie Spiegel, Elliott’s music is deeply indebted to the inner workings of the electric signal. Acting almost as a meditation, through the simple gesture of translation Elliott’s process begins to reveal itself as electricity is converted into acoustic pressure and potential; the melody of physics. The six recordings on the album are each a microcosmic view into Elliott’s practice; a keystone, illuminating his solo practice as well as his work as a member of Emeralds. Composed and recorded over the past three years without the use of digital synthesizers and arpeggiation; a record closely connected to a personal path, attempting to make sense, to understand one’s journey. Mastered by Keith Fullerton Whitman; pressed in an edition of 650 copies on clear vinyl with full color gloss covers and heavy stock printed euro-style inner sleeves.
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avarus – kirppujen saari – arbor - lp – 12$
Long touted as the forefathers of Finnish freeform psychedlic music, Avarus, a collective bearing members from The Anaksimadros, Kemialliset Ystävät, Maniacs Dream, and more, document their first tour of the United States on "Kirppujen Saari". The sounds contained show a departure and growth from typical Avarus recordings. The A side long track begins with a psychrock romper complete with full “band” instrumentation, slowly it deconstructs itself into the abstract electric/acoustic stylings and sonic spattering familiar to their previous work. Slowness builds into full on clatter filled walls of vocals, toy keyboards, horns, strums, and other acoustic junk, creating a unique and massive drone. The opposing side is pure acoustic drones composed of vocals, horns, and tribal beats. Room filling ambiance, corner clatter, and morphing silence also find a way to unobtrusively build themselves into the piece. In an edition of 350 LPs on coke bottle clear vinyl with printed labels by Bart of Sloow Tapes and proprinted full color foldover art by the band.
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youth of the beast – lantern – arbor - 7"– 5$
Youth of the Beast is pure primitive electronics, suffocating saxophone scrawl and epic percussion. Acting as the solo output for Raccoo-oo-oon’s Andy Spore, this record is YOTB’s first vinyl offering following up a few tapes on Night People and Fuck It Tapes. Blistering vocal screeches and mixer feedback blasts meld with stray tones as brass wails and drums are pounded. Spore is a master of channeling the spirits right into the basement where he crafts his jams, creating a captivating mass of noise and psychedelic signals crossing for a painfully beautiful 10 minutes. Breathless sax solos and massive tribal percussion interspersed throughout. The sum of all these parts is something intense, unknown; an ever evolving sonic creature as bleak as it is restless. In an edition of 315 records with EPIC xeroxed double sided/double foldover (you’ll understand it when you see it) sleeves and printed labels by Spore.
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carlos giffoni - the absence of essence – arbor - 2x7" - 8$
arlos giffoni’s heavy synthesizer work recalls the crushing, massiveness of early industrial music. completely consuming the air around it with heavy vibrations and total deprivation. these four tracks rip holes through the sonic barriers, loud and powerful but with entrancing subtleties and discreet builds. the nature of the 7” format does not harm giffoni’s work which normally exists in extended lengths; instead very succinct and unwavering compositions result: creating four vignettes of grey industrial zones. as the person responsible for no fun productions and the no fun fest, this brooklyn transplants presence in the current progression of the genre is undeniable. in an edition of 400 2x7
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c. spencer yeh + lasse marhaug - the elementary particles– arbor - 7" – 5$
this collaborative work between us improviser c. spencer yeh (burning star core) and european sound artist lasse marhaug is one of the most diverse and rewarding efforts by either artist. it is the result of hours of recording, cut up and spliced together, giving the listener a glimpse into various short snippets of the sessions. harsh quick sonic blasts, violin scrapes and drones, field recordings, vocal exercises, room clatter and more are used in the process, but the way that they are assembled and woven together provides a nonstop experience that goes best with highly concentrated listening. still the result is so varied that something new can be heard on every listen; a recording so intense you can never truly grasp what is actually happening; most definitely a highlight in both artists’ discographies. in an edition of 400 7”s in proprinted foldover sleeves with art jose dediego and an insert.
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evan miller - transfigurations on lap-steel guitar – arbor - lp – 14$
Iowa City’s Evan Miller is never one to stay in the same rut for too long. His earlier releases were composed of Fahey-esque spells, heavily emotional acoustic guitar work emanating tones of nostalgia and simplicity. On “Transfigurations” a new zone is crafted with lap-steel guitar and tape collage, creating equally nostalgic music from the other end of the spectrum: delicate, minimal drones. Tones interweave and textures evolve: it is Evan’s most personally progressive work, combining past themes and reinterpreting them on another medium: electric lap-steel guitar. Mastered by Pete Swanson. In an edition of 450 full color pro-printed cardboard LP sleeves and printed labels designed by Jeff Witscher (Secret Abuse / Callow God).
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rale - whispering gallery – arbor - lp – 11$
Following recent tape releases on Young and Ekhein, Bill Hutson’s Rale project should no longer be an elusive one. His modular synthesized low-end focus reaches new depths with each release; managing to provide a richness in texture and a deep listening experience in slow moving forms. Hutson exercises a dedicated control and mastery in composition as a result of his overwhelming knowledge of the potentials of sound. “Far off organ chords become enveloped by an atmospheric heavy air; melody isn’t shunned, but obscured. Frequencies arranged seamlessly, with a modest approach; like the growth of a grey cloud. In an edition of 400 12” EPs in proprinted cardboard sleeves with printed labels.
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dead machines - plays invasion of the body snatchers – arbor - 1 sided lp – 10$
Michigan heavy domestic-electronic couple Dead Machines always create records that confuse and intrigue. They are the forefathers of broken gear / appliance / wind instrument basement jamming and have their niche dug deep. “Invasion” exists on the borders of existence- room ambiance is present, but the sounds are totally alien. Twisting mixer feedback and found sound source into a twisted collage of life outside the “Pod”: harsh and awakening, but at times giving way to the trance of the machine lull. Don’t fall asleep. In an edition of 450 LPs with full color pro-printed cardboard sleeves with art by John Olson.
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god willing / privy seals - split – arbor - lp – 12$
god willing and privy seals are two of the prime purveyors of meditative harsh tones. god willing’s guitar and oscillatior drone has been reaching epic levels of hypnosis lately and this piece is a great example. the repetitive nature of textured signals act like the swaying charm of the pocket watch: onward march. matthew sullivan has been crafting his earn project recently, and this, one of the final privy seals recordings acts as a logical bridge. heavy, hi-end guitar and tape interlacing: a harsh movement, but possessing transcendently soothing qualities buried under the deprivation of distorted tones. at the end of the hallway a door lies open. a long overdue document of the la diaspora. in an edition of 300 lps with silkscreened chipboard covers by ren schofield.
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c. spencer yeh / sick llama - split – arbor - 7" – 5$
the malformed compositions of c. spencer yeh and sick llama come from opposing spectrums of noise music, though their similarities are undeniable. whether it be yeh’s solo piece for violin or sick llama’s gunked tape work, the spirit of improvisation shines through. on yeh’s track, the churning sounds of metal scrapes and light tinges, like crossed electric static and growing, buzzing drones are the result of one violin. his unique approach to the instrument marks him as one of the most exciting improvisers today whether it be with his solo work or through his work in burning star core. sick llama’s untitled piece is one of his most concise and interesting tracks; crushing and dirty with the hiss of tape static. coming from the stoned mind of heath moreland of fag tapes, the expected tape aesthetic is transferred to vinyl with a compilation of cut up compositions, evoking a series of mystery sound sources. in an edition of 400 7”s in proprinited fold over sleeves with art by maya miller of heavy tapes/religious knives.
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maniacs dream - zanzibar – arbor - lp – 12$
Finland is the epicenter of collective music making. Under the name Maniacs Dream, members of Finnish bands such as Avarus, Fricara Pacchu, Kemialliset Ystävät, and more come together to create blown out free rock. Their unique/bizarre approach to music making, constantly questioning the construction/deconstruction of sound creates songs at times recalling the electro acoustic clatter drone of Avarus crossed with tribal rhythms and intergalactic kraut rock guitar zones. Total sonic freedom with a punk ethos directly influenced by a trip to Zanzibar prior to recording this record (which is a reissue of the long sold out tape originally released on Lal Lal Lal in 2006). In an edition of 450 records on light blue vinyl with printed labels and full color proprinted foldover sleeves with art by Benjamin Bergman and an insert.
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ryan garbes - real sugar b/w the lights – arbor - 7" - 7$
Ryan Garbes is the drummer of Iowa City bands such as Wet Hair, Dunebuggy, Trash Dog, and formerly Raccoo-oo-oon. His recordings under his own name represent a unique brand of solo multi-track recording with a seamless integrity; through a skillful use of instrumentation and recording technique, Garbes eschews notions of low fidelity for songs reminiscent of traditional American garage rock produced in the haze of an early 90’s UK aesthetic. Genuine pop songs, cloaked in a comforting wash of reverb, as if Lou Reed had done a record for Creation; more ecstatic than obstructed Garbes’ voice is a refreshing one outside the continuum of contemporary four-track bedroom pop. In an edition of 300 copies with full color sleeve and printed labels by Ryan.
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cloaked light / pale blue sky - split – arbor - lp - 12$
Working together, but differently. Clear Of, shows Cloaked Light working within a new mode; an expanded temporal sensitivity through field recording and discrete static chords. Slow movement- revealing growth and decay at the subtlest thresholds; disappearing music with a heavy presence, a shifting sense of space, not in the room, but of the room. Pale Blue Sky’s Someday, Sometime approaches a similar expansion of perception and unobscuring blur. Through tape manipulation, the inner workings of tonal relationships are placed under focus; extending time to reveal new moments; widening the view. Distorting to understand; a reorienting pause. Originally conceived to coincide with the Cloaked Light / Pale Blue Sky California tour with Pedestrian Deposit, Infinite Body, Earn, and Mirror to Mirror in January 2010; a testament to a common point and it’s different trajectories. Approaching the possibility. Mastered by Pete Swanson; cut at 45 rpm. In an edition of 400 copies with glossy jackets and inner sleeves.
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cloaked light - plain curtain – arbor - cass - 5$
These early four-track experiments from Peter Friel’s Cloaked Light project offers a look into focus. With the slowest subtlety changes grow, only perceptible through reflection. A new form of seeking to understand; a non-linear music, offering a space of contemplation to look forward and behind. On A Long Green Hall Friel shifts meaning and reorients the place of speech in a Lucierian experiment with self-help tapes. On But I’m Trying, subtle tonal expansions mirror the manipulation of speech on the previous track, though without the recognizable markers of language the result is more obscured. Each track offers insight to the others processes. Recorded in Summer 2009, these tracks are some of the earliest from the project, a precursory inquiry to the tapes on Ekhein and Monorail. Upcoming split 12” EP with Pale Blue Sky further explores the nature of tonal interactions and non-linear potentials of sound. In an edition of 125 copies with full color cardstock covers and labeled tapes.
pale blue sky - shades of grey – arbor - lp - 12$
Pale Blue Sky is the new project from Mike Pollard (formerly Treetops). Shades Of Grey is the project’s genesis; a long considered transition uniting the organic drone-work of the former project with compositional structures. The recordings embody a delicate sense of distance; staring out at the moving landscape obscured by the mediation of the window. Through blurred fidelity the origin of melody is placed under microscopic inquiry; an exploration into the moment of tonal interaction. Pale Blue Sky utilizes repetition and non-linear movements, attempting to reconcile simplicity, form, and sentiment through modes of difference. Placing focus on spatial concerns, as well as emotive potential, the five songs contained within are each different embodiments of the possibility of the transformative decay of remembrance. An ephemeral glimpse; the moment has already passed. For quiet, distanced listening. Mastered by William Hutson, cut at 45 rpm. In an edition of 400 copies with full color glossy jackets, printed inner sleeves, and printed labels.
justin meyers - the amplitude of neighbors – arbor - cass - 6$
Minneapolis’ Justin Meyers has been producing extremely discrete musique concrete for the past few years. Through field recordings Meyers achieves a double sided voyeurism; his capturing of another’s space, and the listeners glimpse into his space. His care and precision demands attention with an unconscious magnetism; on Both Sides the recording of an outdoor summer’s evening is paired with subtle beating frequencies symbiotically shifting in and out of the other, producing a deeply compelling command over space. This same phenomena is explored on A Visitor: composed with simple sine waves, infinite variations of listening interaction are possible, imposing the piece directly within the space of the listener. In an edition of 125 copies with full color cardstock covers and labeled tapes.
lazy magnet / social junk - split – arbor - cass – 6$
Jeremy Harris’ Lazy Magnet project has been active for well over a decade though the work has remained relatively shrouded in mystery. A true nomad; shifting location and inspiration, following whatever path may prevent itself. Under the Lazy Magnet guise, Harris has explored an innumerable amount of musical styles, adapting each to his uses. On “Yet From The Highest Crown No Blossom Fell” Harris (along with Sakiko Mori of Daily Life) explores the Sci-Fi textures of digital synthesizers. A drifting score from the Providence Futuristic District where man and machine meet to look inside each other. Philadelphia’s Social Junk present four tracks operating from a similarly paired Industrial Sci-Fi stance. Some of the groups strongest work, recorded in December 2008 while still living in Oakland, CA. Feedback is tamed into a smooth element, as pliable as the human voice. The union of these organic/inorganic elements create a unique sense of melody from within the warehouse; clearing away the trash, polishing the concrete. In an edition of 125 copies with full color cardstock covers and labeled tapes.
binges– return to whatever – arbor - cdr – 6$
Binges are a hometown favorite here in Chicago. Up until this point their music has existed to the public in one form: the live set. For the benefit of those outside of Chicago, the duo, comprised of drummer Chris Robert and guitar/bass/drum/mic/tape dude Anthony Decanini, recently teamed up with Midwestern Raccoo-oo-oon to cover the west coast with their syncopated improvisations. It is only fitting that their first release be made up of live material(recorded to DAT tape and mastered with the utmost care). Decanini creates a vast number of growing and receding loops from his guitar, bass, contact mic, tapes, and other sources which act as the perfect foil to Robert’s percussion(a serious thing to behold). It isn’t so much one person acting as the leader as much as the two creating an absolute sonic union of sounds blurring the line between free jazz and noise. In an edition of 200 screened CDRs in screened sleeves.
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tusco terror – pyschedelic narcosis – arbor - cdr – 6$
Cleveland noiseniks, Tusco Terror, barrage the earth with their subterranean dirt worship. Having just released a split LP with Emeralds on Ecstatic Peace, this crew is ready to take their Midwestern gear slaughter beyond the realm of the breadbasket. Operating with a loose lineup usually ranging from 3-5 players all jamming in their own private zones, contributing their own part to the psychedelic nonsequitors and cosmic confusions contained within the recording. Pile upon pile of unrecognizable source contort themselves into an unrecognizable yet brutally intriguing end result. Don’t stop digging. In two editions: A( of 68 numbered copies in silkscreened, watercolored, and sewn sleeves with screened discs) and B (of 32 numbered copies in printed collage sleeves with screened discs).
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sarah's charity – code of red twin – arbor - cdr – 7$
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.
Past the desert smoke and arid dust trails of Arizona lies an Oasis of broken folk. Occupied by Tent/City, this area is like a river of creativity and blessed drones. Six artful dwellers armed with instruments ranging from pots and pans to synths and guitars, pianos and flutes, have the perfect recipe for clattery commune psych. Taken out of their natural habitat and thrown into the studio they offer these five tracks to the coyote spirit. The first three tracks act as studies focusing on different pairings of the featured instrumentation. This culminates in the fourth track, an epic 12 minute long jam full of rotted synth, flute prayers, electric guitar with hints of the raccoon’s good blessing, all over a foundation of unwavering percussion. In an edition of 90 triangle stickered cd-rs with an insert all in a hand sewn paisley pouch complete with button clasp.
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noise nomads - tone deaf – arbor - 2xcass & zine – 10$
Total Western Mass scum. Jeff Hartford (Grey Skull, Bonescraper) destroys all sonic barriers; forty minutes of harsh, sweating electronics and acoustic rampage straight from the gutter. Hartford always leaves the audience guessing, whether it is his cut up garbage sources, contact mic’d gurgles or hairwhips, the end result is guaranteed to be something physical. The truth lies somewhere within the mess of cables and the stack of amps; they must be destroyed to uncover it. In an edition of 100 double tape sets with printed labels and a zine housed in a 7” reel to reel box with full color paste on by NN.
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black monk - flowstone – nnf / arbor - lp - 12$
Flowstoned and dethroned, finally. Last year’s bored/burning summer spell of Eagle Rock entropy birthed a numb drum ‘n drones duo dubbed Black Monk. The aesthetic of inept, free-punk drumming and red-eyed, void-surfing low-end infinity found output on two micro-limited cassette releases (one on Buried Valley, one on Zac/Lambsbread’s Maim & Disfigure) and one weedian live show (in Tempe, AZ) and then the scholars split to separate coasts. Fortunately for us/you, Flowstone comes crawling outta the caverns of a babeless summer on a slab of black wax, collecting their out-of-print Murmur CS and half the V CS, plus an unreleased side-long wastoid-land of subterranean percussion and roaring magma. Just in time for 2012. Black vinyl LPs in stark pro-printed fold-over covers plus a poster of arcane team scribble by BM. Limited to 270.
sleeping babies –beneath the blood moon – arbor - cass – 6$
What is love? Love is… making eerie jams with your honey. This recently relocated BF/GF duo drop their first release on arbor. Creepy organ drones and hypo-hypnotic percussion carry your ears. Howls of a wolf in heat to the blood moon. Ritual dreams realized through vocal drones. Totally organic. Featuring members of Quilts. Limited to 50 numbered copies with art by the band and tapes salvaged from the swamp; stamped with a blood moon.
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trauma - calming effects of the ocean vol. 3 – arbor - cass – 6$
The third chapter of Trauma’s six part series (other volumes on Fag Tapes, Excite Bike, Tapeworm Tapes, Holy Cheever Church, and American Tapes) finds the Detroit duo of percussionist Ben Hall and guitarist Chris Riggs adrift in texture. Neither’s role can be distinguished; a seriously strange and pure approach. Percussive guitar and melodic drums intertwine denying all points of departure. The piece constantly advances incessantly in a blur of energy; almost non-human: like a field recording of playerless instruments outside during a rainstorm. In an edition of 100 tapes with full color cardstock covers and printed labels.
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druids of huge – ergotism/pure hype – arbor - cass – 5$
Chicago trio Druids of Huge rock, roll, and destroy the modern concept of a rock band. With a name that screams “hooded gods of shred”, the resulting sounds can be quite refreshing. Percussionary styles can change at any moment from Sword Heaven-esque pummeling and crash destruction to light jazz splash/tom simmering. The guitar feeds back from a massive Sunn amp and rips its way through the basement, fists pumping and beers spilling. Suitcase electronics provide a warm and massive tonal base, erupting with its own existence. Rip it real good, bro. In a numbered edition of 50 sprayed/stamped tapes in cassingle style sleeves.
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