casio pop from Norway in the Micromars vein that delves into the dinky soundtrack cheesiness of Plone and the Shibuya-esque kitsch chic aesthetic

Features the classic dustbowl tale of isolation ‘Desert’ along with Patti Smith meets Townes Van Zandt -style acoustic songs and an electronic re-working of ‘Pray For Rain’. 

Musical collective formed from the ashes of Davenport and operating with a similar free-form communal vibe. Metallic percussion clangs as if from the bottom of a well. This has a more shamanistic feel than Davenport, particularly on the B side. 

Sedayne - Glad Hours in the Green Lanes Volume 1 cdr (Reverb Worship) 6

New solo release from Sean Breadin of Venereum Arvum. Sean calls his music "Proximal Indo-European No-Age Exotica" and the 7 slowly unwinding tracks on here explore free improvisation, ethnomusicology, early music and traditional folk. Celebratory dances such as "Purgatory Field" played on jew's harp, fiddle and flute could accompany a May Day celebration and the following "Blod-Monath" with its dirge-like place and avian flute & violin flutterings could accompany a funeral procession across the moors.

Selaroda - Synaptic Portals cassette (Digitalis) 5

"reanimate the rabbit hole, pluck your piano strings, and sink in this synthetic quicksand" (Digitalis)

Selvapyy & Pyy Pivossa 3" cdr (267 Lattajjaa) 0.50

This is pretty wild: mushroom-damaged pop that sounds completely all over the place. Surf riffs, ghostly improvised piano, garbled goblin vocals, dub echo melodica, swells of distortion. 

S. Gone - Kimberley Al Butan cassette (Digitalis) 5

Straight away I like this. It sounds as though Simsuns have raided the toy cupboard and found a bunch of instruments that the much missed Melody Dog left hiding in there! Lots of chiming glockenspiel and chord organ, a "you can join in" feel to it.. yes, I'll have a copy, please! (JC)

What a fine record this is! The droney opening builds into a magnificent wall of fuzz; the closer sounds like what the Go! Team might do if they dipped into some Metal Urbaine tracks instead of mining the Northern soul vaults and in between there's a hint of sci-fi library music and overloaded riffing a-la Sonic Temple Assassins. All of these things elicit the warmest recommendations from me! (JC)

Sleepwalking is German drone artist Sisto Rossi and on this release are 2 long tracks of low rumbling dark drones.

More dark electronics on Striate Cortex from Danish duo Claus Poulsen and Henrik Bagner. Dense clouds hover like an electric storm overhead, flickering bass buzz and short-circuiting spirals.

Snails - She'd Like an Hour 7" (Great Pop Supplement) 5

"Next up on The Great Pop Supplement is the beautiful debut 45 from Bristol band “Snails”. Formed in 2010 when Dan Weltman (aka Hollowbody) recruited friend Mog Fry (The Wraiths / Ukeytronica) to help soundtrack a budget slasher movie involving a homicidal nun. Sadly no Baftas resulted, but this bonding process led to the creation of several more lost soundtracks; songs centred on two voices projecting a vision of widescreen heartache as seen through rain streaked semi-detached windows. Their sound, awash in melancholy folk and sumptuous pop arrangements, bears the influence of mavericks such as Basil Kirchin, Clive Palmer and Moondog. With tips of the hat to Francoise Hardy, The Left Banke and The Pastels. 2 beautiful, very English tunes wrapped up with the usual GPS loving eye for packaging, 300 numbered green wax 45s with insert and sticker and sure to sell out rapid style…." (GPS)

Sol - Black Cloud of Becoming cassette (Golem) 4

"Th e sound on black cloud of becoming is diverse, though strangely consistent, moving from oscillator/organ-drones to blackened doom-metal and on to heavy earth-inspired dronerock. The sound is striving and desparate. Sol has a lot of more or less straight doom metal-releases behind him on prominent labels like Paradigms and ván, but this tape examplifies a new and less genre-specific direction in his production." (Golem)

Songs of Green Pheasant - Soft Wounds cd (Rusted Rail) 9

"Rusted Rail is proud to announce the release of "Soft Wounds" by Songs of Green Pheasant. Following a trinity of releases on FatCat records, "Soft Wounds" is Songs of Green Pheasant's first release since 2007. The musical project of Sheffield-based Duncan Sumpner, Songs of Green Pheasant have now found a home for their homespun candle-lit narcoleptic folk at Rusted Rail. Written and recorded by Sumpner on 4-track and 8-track machines, the album's dreamfolk-pop stylings are cloaked in a gentle fog of impressionistic instrumentation and cloudy harmonies. An ideal late night or rainy day listen, these hazey transmissions reveal a sonambulant songcraft which can proudly nestle comfortably next to drifting pioneers such as Hood, Talk Talk and Bark Psychosis. Wrap up warm for the winter with Songs of Green Pheasant. This CD is housed in a hand-assembled and hand-stamped recycled card sleeve featuring artwork by Duncan Sumpner." (RR)

Jesse Sparhawk & Eric Carbonara 

• Sixty Strings  LP (VHF) 10.75
• Sixty Strings cd (VHF) 9

The Sixty Strings referenced in the title are the combined number of strings played by both artists on this release. Jesse Sparhawk plays a 38-stringed Lever Harp and Eric Carbonara plays a 22-stringed Upright Chaturangui guitar. The harp glissandi at the start reminded me of Alice Coltrane and this certainly matches her recordings for a sense of cosmic blissfulness, though the proceedings never drift into New Age territory, due to the precision and clarity of the playing. Thrillingly intense driving modal composition. Excellent.

Ben Spiers runs the Transient label, is in Empty Mirror and Seen Through and recorded a collaborative cdr for CPP with 1/3 Octave Band's Bill Wood. This cdr is a collection of guitar and violin improv, ranging from nocturnal meanderings to flurries of obliterated notes.

• Artwork Temporarily Removed 3" cdr (Transient) 1.50

  Degraded guitar buzz and wail from New Zealander Ben Spiers. Breathes of feedback harmonise mournfully like the death gasps of a mangled guitar & amp. Individually block-printed manila sleeves.

   

• Spin You cdr (Transient) 1.50

  more late night string caressing from Mr Spiers: title track "Spin You" is gorgeous - solitary notes dropped into a gloom of taut scraping and "Trinh Has Gone" sombre violin drone disintegrating into atonal screech. 

• Smokers Please 7" (Yoko Ono Tribute Weekend) 3

The latest from New Zealander Ben Spiers on his new label. Ben has recently moved to England and has altered his approach to recording, now using a 4 track and overdubbing. Side A finds him on familiar territory with guitar, amp fuzz and hum and viola layered into a monolithic distorted drone. On the flip there's more distortion with guitar strumming a 2 chord dirge and the nasal whine of stylophone. 

• The Minstrel's Grave cdr (Reverb Worship) 6

"It gives me great pleasure to announce the release on Reverb Worship of the wonderful brand new recording from Sproatly Smith."The Minstrel's Grave" is a twelve track album from one of the labels favourite artists.Yet again Mr Smith has created a very engaging, highly creative and enjoyable compendium of music.Taking in his usual wicker man tendancies and adding his own unique psychedelic twist of folklore and storytelling.Its not everyday that you find an album with interpretations of music by Maddy Prior, Alex Harvey, the Reverend Baring-Gould and The Pretty Things alongside original compositions and traditional tunes.As on previous recordings the album features very lovely vocals by Sarah (aka Mrs Smith).This cd is available now in a hand numbered edition of 100 copies.Comes in white hand hammered card wallet style sleeves with two inserts.I give this cd the highest possible recommendation."

Star Turbine - Equilibrium 2x3" cdr (Striate Cortex) 6.50

"Star Turbine is the long-distance duo of Sindre Bjerga from Stavanger, Norway and Claus Poulsen from Copenhagen, Denmark.The long-distance collaboration seems to work very well, producing 3 records in the first few months. Bjerga and Poulsen have different musical styles, sound and instrumentation, but as Star Turbine these differences seem to balance out to form a creative forcefield. They share an interest in experimental music and improvisation and have worked with drone, noise and ambient, but might very well do other things on the future as well. Equilibrium is the condition of a system in which competing influences are balanced. Equilibrium is also the first of Star Turbine's work to be released - proud to be on the Striate Cortex label with extraordinary handmade covers by head honcho Andy Robinson. Equlibrium is a box with two 3” CD's. The first CD starting off with a string of powerful drones rising in intensity, the second CD contrasting it with two longer ambient pieces - in equilibrium." (SC)

Starving Weirdos - Rolled in the Midst of Never Ceasing Currents Flowing Without A Rest Forever Onward LP (Bo'weavil) 15.50

"Firstly, this is not for the faint-hearted, but fear not, this is not another noise record.  This LP is something else altogether.  This is a massive, glorious psychedelic din, a thick fog of dramatic sound events.  Starving Weirdo's latest offering promises to enfold the listener who will experience the ecstatic grandeur of Anton Bruckner as much as the rich industrial drone of David Jackman.  This is Lhasa in California - a world drenched in ecstatic thrills and intense ethereal exploration.There are sounds, there are drones, there are rhythms and there are songs - a glorious concoction that moves in a vertical fashion.  As we live today, in all this murk; all this twisted history and convoluted present, we can be thankful that these folks in California came together to create such a glorious record for all to bathe in.   But this, like all good things, is limited and will not be around forever.   Step in now or forever remain the great unwashed." (Bo'weavil)

Stellar Om Source – Heartlands Suite LP (Aguirre) 14.75

"Stellar Om Source's most sought-after and celebrated release, issued on 160g vinyl in edition of 500, for the first time. 'Heartlands Suite' showcases the full spectrum of Christelle Gualdi's sound and instinctively skilled take on the modern kosmiche sound. The A-side spans four longer excursions, from the nEurogenous drones of 'Grace 1' and the cascading arpeggios of 'Sequentia' to the beautiful off-planet romance of 'Latin Sirens'. However, the unusual eastern tuning and VHS psychedelia of 'Xlandia' on the flipside must be the highlight. Well recommended to fans of Dolphins Into The Future, James Ferraro or Oneohtrix Point Never." (Aguirre)

"Here we have the latest from the hottest new things in the new-'60s scene. It's a transatlantic split between Still Corners, an English hype band, and The New Lines, an American band I've never heard of. Both offer pleasant excursions into psychedelic pop territory. I think that on first impressions I'm probably enjoying the New Lines side the best. It's got a real B-movie soundtrack feel to it, with a really sparse, thin guitar sound. It's all held together by bass, drums and hammond organ, really. If my ears aren't deceiving me there's also a short trumpet solo. It's really true to the '60s pastoral freak folk aesthetic, I think, and the vocals are quite monotonous which gives it a slight Velvet Undergroundy edge. There's some cool cascading dual guitars at the end as well. A brilliantly constructed track. Flip it (and change the speed!) and the Still Corners one is a cool, breathy little groover with Spector-influenced production and girl band harmonies. Phil wants me to point out that it was previously on their 'Remember Pepper' CD EP. I think he just wants to show off that he's known about them since way back when. It's a lovely little song, actually. Took me a couple of listens to really warm to it but it's superbly put together and there's some really sweet little momentary touches - some kind of wild synth sweeps in the chorus, and I could swear there's some little string flourishes, but maybe those are done on keys, too. Both nice songs here, anyway." (GPS)

Truly sunken sounds from Antony Milton (Glory Fckn Sun, Nether Dawn) and Stefan Neville (Pumice). Sea shanties played on chord organs and the duo's wails and moans are recorded on various disintegrating machines including baby monitors and dictaphones and the effect is an extraordinary super-saturated otherworldly dirge / drone with some spectacularly creepy vocals. Highly recommended.

"Debut release for this Stumps offshoot of Antony Milton (guitar) and James Kirk (drums). Extremely distorted psyche rock that sounds like members of the Dead C getting into a back alley fist fight with Mainliner outside some dodgy fishermans bar in Greenland. World weary vocals are buried somewhere in the mix below pummelling bass heavy riffage that sounds like its being sucked down into some black hole as the room mics implode. Short sharp tracks with about the same fidelity as one would expect from a circa 1980s cellphone. Gobsmacking." (Pseudoarcana)

Svenmonsoon - A Meditation cdr (Reverb Worship) 6

Ben Mason and his guitar filtered through lots of delay. The result is a lovely wash of gentle notes, ripples of sound rather than cascades. Meditative indeed! Each copy comes with a used or unused postcard dating from the 1950s to present day.

Sylvester Anfang II - Buda Rehearsals cassette (Who Can You Trust) 6.50

4 tracks of hypnotic kosmische groove from Belgian's finest psych rockers, recorded in 2009.

"Balancing contradictory cultural fragments into a psychadelic yin and yang power drive of glitch emission sprezzatura horns, Zarathrusta organ drone launch, and sayanora-rama drum spills, alan wilkinson, matt mottel, and kevin shea turn anamitronic nihilists into veritable musicological sexphorisms -- they cut the tension on the dance floor like that abrupt liminal point between peace and footsie, between donuts and bagels, between lizards and turtles. Our three dangerously handsome myriad-men from the future have materialized mixed signals into sharp-fanged foreign accents on this red-eye voyage to vinyl metropoly, a 2-sided ecosystem of Gatsby-killer morph-prov entitled "dem old apple pie melodies". Talibam! Was set up on a blind date by Bo' Weavil records for a london basement gig in may 2008. It was a french kiss right off the bat.. a second gig happened in the fall and recording in winter 09. Talibam! Was excited to continue in its path of collaboration and heard in Wilkinson's tone the strength and grit of a fine british pint served cool and fresh...a perfect energy to bounce and swing with  Talibam!s rolly polly hyroglypic dance mayhem..  if talibam! And wilkinson were a rugby team they'd be in first place, trouncing the competiton with more riff hard tenacity and powerful declarative end zone dances" (Bo'weavil)

Gorgeous slow-building ambient-drone compositions based around acoustic / electric guitars, synth, shortwave radio, organ and chimes. Each one of the 4 tracks throbs with melancholy and drifts into darker Twin Peaks'-ish territory (particulary track 2). Recommended.

Junichiro Tanaka is a member of Ju Sei who had a recent release out on Black Petal. This is fairly similar to that disc - off-the-wall bedroom pop similar to some of the Maher Shalal-associated solo releases, glitchy electronica / found sound collages, layered vocal hymnals. 

4 tracks of communal clang and clatter and searing metallic drone from Tarhumans. Mette Mareridt contribute 6 tracks of screwed-up no wave. Excelloent packaging featuring inserts and hand-painted card sleeves.

"The debut recording of an international sextet featuring Aaron Moore from Volcano the Bear, Justin Wiggan of Dreams of Tall Buildings and 4 other top class players.. This 27 minute recording captures the group in rare form.. Acoustic and electronic instruments creates  intense plateaus where sonic masses glides through, slides along, rubs noses and on occasion collides, forming sprawling spectres of colorful audio candy.. Kinda improv without the beard-stroking and free jazz without the jazz..." (GS)

The Terminals - Touch cd (Last Visible Dog) 4

Much-needed reissue of this great New Zealand band's 1992 album. Featuring Peter Stapleton (also Flies Around the Sun), Brian Crook, Mick Elborado, Steven Cogle and John Chrisstoffels and 2 extra tracks, it's a ragged affair of NZ pop / rock at its finest with a garage-psych feel (which occasionally veers into Cramps territory on this release) and Stephen Cogle's fine tenor lending the sound a bit of a Doors' feel too.

These Are Powers - Silver Lung 7" (Elsie and Jack) 3.50

"These ex-members of LIARS, KNIFE SKILLS & NO THINGS express their abrasive avant noise rock w/vigour over this 3 track 7". This is their 1st vinyl after several well received tapes & cdr's. Anna's primal screams & ghostly whispers, Pat's nursery rhyme chanting w/surging bass & Ted's near motorik beats run riot like a crazed Plastic Ono Band filtered through that Brooklyn/NYC haze. This is E&J's first foray into the lair of lacquer, pressed on heavyweight white vinyl presented in a beautifully printed & laser etched black card sleeve w/additional colour transluscent vellum insert."

Greg Thomas / Empty Bell Tower cassette (Rayon) 4

Sounds and found objects manipulations recorded on a beach on Re island in France.  Nocturnal music concrete: scratchings in the undergrowth and some occasional blasts of pure noise.

"first the party then the afterglow" (Digitalis)

Ever-expanding shadowy drones; sounds like the decay from a distant cacophonous explosion creeping spookily through the air. 

Trimdon Grange Explosion 7" (Great Pop Supplement) 3

During the folk song revival of the early 20th century, someone remarked�caustically�that the only thing you can do with a folk song is play it again, only louder. There were several other possibilities which this short-sighted critic had not taken into account. Adding twangy electric guitars was one of them, but that lay in the future, and writing "Trad. Arr." and adding your own name onto the title opened up the avenue of making a stack of money from having a folk song hit. Alan Price was particularly adept at this and is still making a killing from House of the Rising Sun. He tried the same trick again with a particularly heinous version of the 1882 number about a colliery tragedy at Trimdon Grange, near Durham. Now this London based band, calling themselves after that very tune, have found another thing you can do with a folk song: counteract the evil works of Alan Price by recording a good version of said song! This side of the 45 features female vocals, there's a male lead on the twang-fest that is the flipside, Raider, the whole thing is easy to recommend and comes in the GPS label's usual high standard of packaging. Folk-rock lives again! (JC)

Truant - The Truant Accord cdr (Memoirs of a Flatworm) 5.50

Hooray!! This release sees the welcome return of Leeds' label Fencing Flatworm, albeit in collaboration with Phil Todd's Memoirs of an Aesthete. Truant are a trio featuring Cloughie (Rancid Poultry), Fencing Flatworm's Rob Hayler (Midwich) and Phil Todd. High-octane throbbing synth drone. The final track strays into ASh Nav territory with some superb Phil Todd psych guitar winding its way through the undulating drone.

Alexander Turnquist 

• Hallway Of Mirrors LP (VHF) 10.75
• Hallway Of Mirrors cd (VHF) 9

Third album from Alexander Turnquist. Guitar playing of densely packed notes create a richly reverbed thrum of harmonics while vibraphone and violin carry the melody lines. Partly inspired by Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians", the compositions have more in common with minimalism that Takoma-style fingerpicking. Recommended.

Hanna Tuulikki - Salutation to the Sun 2nd edition (self-released) 15

"A sonic representation of an early spring dawn chorus in Scotland. The 30 different bird sounds are made up entirely from a single human voice.
To imitate the sound of the 30 different birds, a field recording of each bird was slowed down. At this pitch and speed, the sounds are more accessible to the human ear. Whilst listening at this speed, a phrase of each bird was roughly transcribed onto a piece of paper to create a visual score. Using the score as a reminder, I imitated each track with my voice. This recording was then sped up to the same frequency as the bird and used in the final composition. The work has been exhibited in a gallery context and aired on radio. In collaboration with other artists and musicians, it has been installed and distributed in a variety of forms, encompassing drawing, visual scores, video and performance." This version is beautifully packaged and comes with a fold-out poster featuring the sonograms of the songs used.

Twins - The Other Side of LP (Rural Faune) 10

Twinsistermoon 

• When Stars Glide Through Solid 2LP (Blackest Rainbow) 15 

• When Stars Glide Through Solid cd (Blackest Rainbow) 8

"Long awaited reissue of the debut release from Mehdi Amezianes Twinsistermoon project, originally released as a gorgeous handmade self released CDR in 2007, to many of Natural Snow Buildings and each of their solo project, this is the pick of all their releases, which is rather ironic being that its one of the smallest release runs in the discography of all the Natural Snow Buildings and related projects, it is infact the most limited release of all the Twinsistermoon releases. But due to the massive level of word of mouth about their releases on blogs and in the smaller press publications this release has become one of those holy grail releases. Unlessof course you have a small wedge of cash lying around doing nothing. So, finally, and with great pleasure, the much talked of reissue is finally here. The record opens with a real stunner, 'I Wish I Could Drown The World In Reverberation' is a trance inducing piece, with percussive tambourine, dreamy vocals, and shimmering strings, with a gorgeous organic rich feeling. It's followed by 'To Breath Underwater', a more pastoral folk song, akin to some late 60s/early 70s folk artists. The album as a whole focuses more on the song based material which occasionally venture into the more far out zone outs.  " (BR)

Cath & Phil Tyler - Dumb Supper LP (MIE Music) 10.75

"Limited Edition of 500 12" on 180 gram vinyl in heavyduty printed inners and sleeves. Blood n guts folk from the Anglo-American duo. The Wire says “The twining harmonies…recall the heyday of English pastoral folk song”. Plan B says "Dumb Supper is one of those rare modern folk albums that will find a home both in the longstanding 'traditional' music community and among those attracted to the form's more experimental and lo-fi possibilities". Most of the tracks are re-discovered and adapted by the Tylers, their searing harmonies and sparse, vital instrumentation breathing new life into timeless tales of love, loss and death." (MIE)

Reissue of an earlier UBS release. 'Airs' is a return to free pastoral folk - recorded live in a church in Limerick using harp, guitars and percussion and it's utterly gorgeous. 

"The album title Downland is a play both on van Wissem’s Lowlands home, and the Renaissance Lute composer John Dowland, rumored to have been born in Ireland. The seeds of this collaboration were sown in late 2007, when United Bible Studies were part of the bill for van Wissem’s first Irish concert. Van Wissem began recording tracks for United Bible Studies to overdub and a postal collaboration began in earnest in 2009. The Bible Students were given a free hand, and different band members were drawn to different pieces. Áine O’Dwyers harp playing goes hand in glove with the lute parts, both players favoring hypnotic figures accruing impact over time. The Bible Students have woven murk and mystery around the lucid austerity of van Wissem’s compositions,together creating an album which is unlike anything in either of their substantial back catalogues, and more than the mere sum of its parts. Limited edition, cover silk screen printed silver on black." (label)

A gorgeous album from John McCaffrey, who also records as Part Timer. Upward Arrows is an entirely new project from him and mixes modern classical with laptop-drone to create a beautiful, if short, album of drift and melancholy.

"Brand new one from these Scottish improvisers Ali Robertson and Malcy Duff aka Usurper, here joined by UK underground legend and A Band member, Sticky Foster. Sticky Foster fits in perfectly with Robertson and Duff's bizarre weirdo sound of somehow using a shit load of stuff that you can never quite tell what exactly it is doing what. I remember I saw these two lads down at the Rose Of England in Notthingham, both leaning over what seemed to be some kind of mic-ed up board and they were scrapping all kinds of objects all over it. This disc however opens with a bunch of total whacked out vocal madness that at one point almost sounds like the guys holding in laughter at god knows what insane expressions were across their faces while they're making these bizarre noises. Then even more weirdness kicks in with minimal creaking, popping, screeching, clicking and clunking. The second track is very much the opposite (on the whole) of the opener, which crashing vocal madness, wild clattering objects, strange woodwind type instrumentation, that I guarantee isn't any item you'd find in your local music shop... A fine example of the true underground outsider UK scene. Limited to 50." (BR)

last in the LE 'wage slave' series and appropriately packaged in a wage packet: recorded live in Glasgow 2003, nigh inaudible improv jam featuring laptop, disabled percussion, dismantled trumpet, stringless guitar and a whole lot of hum - turn up for maximum effect

Uton - From the Twilight, Next to Nowhere and Disappeared cd (Musik Atlach) 8.50

"Uton is the one-man project of Jani Hirvonen originally hailing from Tampere, Finland. After 2001 Uton’s been releasing many albums on many different labels (like PseudoArcana, Jewelled Antler, Last Visible Dog, Ikuisuus). Uton’s music is a mix of many genres, including elements from drone, avant-noise, free-improv, psychedelia, ambient, tape-music, musique concre´te etc. Sometimes wondering in the silent dark semi-acoustic mysteries, and in the next day creating noisy wall of sound with outer space echoes and alien atmospheres. Uton's sound is made from many sources; like electric guitar (which is usually detuned, prepared or/and bowed), small synths (usually far away from modern possibilities), electronics (mixer, bunch of cables with effect pedals), voice, different type of percussions (small drums, maracasses), bells, violin, flutes, keyboards... and nowadays also some digital manipulation too. All kind of instruments are welcome to join in, but the result is always coming from the same filter (which we call now with name "Uton")
He has collaborated with Alan Courtis (Reynols), Antony Milton (Mrtyu, Black Boned Angel), Ben Reynolds, Peter Wright, Jari Koho (Vapaa), Maxime Primault (Enfer Boreal, High Wolf) and Jan Anderzen (Tomutonttu, Kemialliset Ysta¨va¨t) among others.
"From The Twilight, Next to Nowhere and Disappeared" album was recorded already around 2004-2005 in Tampere, Finland. Recorded with four-track tape recorder, and later edited and mastered digitally on computer. Musically this album shows the most mysterious and atmospheric side of Uton." (MA)

Annerledes Enn is the title of a book of poetry by Norway's Arild Vange. It means "Otherwise Than" in English and, were you to buy a copy of it, you would find this album inside. As the book is in Norwegian, a limited number of cds are being made available separate from this volume. After all, what may be beyond our comprehension in print may sound most interesting in an abstract way in purely sonic form. Vange switches between English and Norwegian, throws in a line from Leonard Cohen along the way and develops a rhythm and form which works as sound poetry, even if you don't understand all of the words. Neil Davidson's subtle and understated accompaniments provide a very sympatico space for the poet's voice to flow and a context for meaningful sound beyond the literal meaning of words. (JC)

Velvet Hour 

• Demo cdr (Fictitious Sighs) 2

One of 3 releases on Tim Coster's new label. Duo comprising Tim with Shannon O'Brien, recorded live in Christchurch, February 2009. Guitar pounds out a monotonous percussive growl and casio, melodica and percussion loosely hang around its dirge-like drone. 

Venn Rain - Place in World cassette (Tranquility Tapes) 4.50

"Though it doesn’t stray too far from the blissful sonic territory mined by his primary guise, Tidal, loops are the chief focus of Jimmy Billingham’s latest project, Venn Rain. Billingham takes the listener for a whirling ride as he presents each loop and affects it gradually, adding new loops into the mix with careful precision and ultimately building each track to a billowing climax. A wide variety of moods and sounds are explored throughout Place in World, from jangly guitars, to lush Cocteau worship, to utterly infectious dance pop grooves. With only short bites of sound and a relatively simple premise, Billingham is able to craft four sprawling works that manage to engross and even surprise throughout their entire duration. Pro-dubbed and imprinted, featuring designs by Caroline Teagle." (TT)

Vogue Forums - s/t cassette (Fictitious Sighs / Bunyip Trax) 5

Tim Coster & L. G. Hill take us on a sonic map tour of radio tunings, creepy fairground organs, loops and natural atmospheres. Enjoy this trip, for it is a trip! (JC)

After a quiet time, the mid 2000s have found VTB most definitely back with a bang, There's a hymnal quality to a lot of this that's a bit like a crossroads between a Gaelic service in Scotland's Western Isles, temple sounds from the far East and a free music freakout, with the emphasis on "out", as in "far…". Those who get it will leave with a big smile, those who don't with an expression of utter bafflement. Thing about Volcano is they have no quarter for the middle distance - and they're all the better for that! (JC)

blistering static noise bursts from this Maine duo

Warmer Milks - Let Your Friends In cd (Release the Bats) 9

"The current line up of Warmer Milks is probably not what it was yesterday or what it is today. Hell, there is talk of it changing up for next month. Blame this on schizophrenia or an urge to not run in circles but it's how things have always been for the loose group. Founder Michael Turner started Warmer Milks in 2003 and has refused to go backwards regardless of outside (or in house) opinions since it's inception. Warmer Milks have toured by themselves throughout the United States as well with the likes of Six Organs of Admittance, Bonnie Prince Billy, Arbouretum, Howlin' Rain and others The band did an extensive tour throughout Europe winter of 2007 and will be back on said continent Summer 2008. Let Your Friends In is another chapter in the more brash, aggressive side of Warmer Milks catalog. Leaning more towards skate punk and black metal, the group touched on intensities left behind from nerd critically acclaimed Radish On Light (Troubleman Unlimited 2006) but with a more street rock cum vomitorium feel. The flipside to the first track is a spook gang romper, drumless yet still punching the walls with a force no other rock can manage. The "Let Your Friends In" sessions went down in Shelbyville, Kentuckee at Rove Studios home to engineer Paul Oldham (Speed To Roam, Bonnie Prince Billy Band, ex-Broadcast Choir and Royal Trux) where various members present during the "Soft Walks" sessions (coming March 2008, Animal Disguise) took time to record this scorcher. Featuring usual WM attendees Michael Turner and Greg Backus the two lengthy cuts on "Let Your Friends In" also boasts the addition of Shawn David McMillen (Austin, TX solo artist, Iron Kite member and former member of Ash Castles) on guitar and Paul O. on dead wah guitar. Where the group has flirted with heavy rock in the past, it is easy to say that group now owns heavy rock." (RTB)

Bobbie Watson - Off the Leafy Pathway cdr (Reverb Worship) 6

I've long admired Reverb Worship as a label whose releases are impossible to fit into any sort of category description and this one certainly places the output of the imprint at another point of the compass. This is a compilation of Watson't works from the years 2001 - 2008 which actually sound very cohesive together. The jazz-tinged vocal styles run with some slightly trip-hoppy beats, John Martyn-esque guitar squall and overtones of prog-rock lushness too, in the keyboard and sax department. The facts that Watson is the singer with cult favourites Comus, her partner in both band & personal life Jon Seagroatt is heavily involved here too and there are only fifty copies of this, all signed by Bobbie herself, will probably make this an instant collectable, aside from a collection of highly polished songs. (JC)

Wax Ghost 

• The Halo of Mt. St. Helens cdr (Foxglove) 2.50

Delicate beat-less electronic melodies that have all the wide-eyed simplicity of Raymond Scott's 'Soothing Sounds For Babies' - gorgeous sounds from Eden Rose (also of Corsican Paintbrush / Sunmilk).

• Adze cdr (Cook an Egg) 4

It's been too long since the last release from Eden Hemming Rose (also of Sunmilk and Corsica Paintbrush). This is beautiful and surpasses her last 2 cdrs - with a rolecall of instruments that reads like a list of my favourites - piano, autoharp, thumb piano, hand percussion, violin, glockenspiel, melodica, chord organ - Eden creates fragmentary lullabies that it sounds almost obtrusive to overhear. 

Whirling Hall of Knives - Saw the Recurrent Future cdr (Reverb Worship) 6

Full-on power-drone built from layer upon layer of flicker-motion synths and occasional guitar. Some of it is reminiscent of Ashtray Navigations synth-based stuff; some of it more mysterious and submarinal.

Wi77!N6 - Brotherhood of the Backwards Handshake cd (Evolving Ear) 9

This album was recorded in 2000 and sounds as though it's been screaming, gnashing and slashing to get out of the vaults ever since! Ian Christie & Fritz Welch are responsible for - according to the liner notes - all foregrounds and backgrounds, drums, unnatural ringing, whistles, chains and unprepared guitar. Throw in some radio tuning, voices and a few other things and you're sort of getting the picture. It'll come into focus better if you enjoy, say, the current work of Peeesseye, as the wild abandon of Mr Welch is healthily in evidence here! The cover art is the sort of thing that would once have ended up being sold in a brown paper bag.... let's just say the record is loud and the sleeve is proud! (JC)

Winter Family - Red Sugar 2LP (Alt Vinyl) 11.50

Woodcraft Folk 7" (Great Pop Supplement) 5

"Woodcraft Folk re-emerge from the hills of Lancashire with 2 new tunes for the GPS. “Quiet, Birds…“ is a hazy electronic, vaguely psych work out with vocals by Ivan Ink and Pen. The flip is a wholly different sonic experience. “At Home with Howls” starts off all strange and hallucinatory but soon the drums, swirling organ and moogs take over, -reminiscent of some kraut themed, motorik 60s horror soundtrack. Dressed up in trademark, lovingly created packaging consisting of hand drawn spirograph inserts, hammer card sleeves and half white, half clear wax, numbered to 400 copies, with none of that download or cd nonsense." (GPS) 

• The Death of Folk cdr (Reverb Worship) 6

Limited cdr release and destined to fly! Delightful pastoral electronica. Handmade sleeve.

Wounded Knee 

• Star Wars Minus the Shite 3" cdr (Lapsed Electronics) 1.50

frenetic machine chatter and blasts of noise 

• Mystic Mixtape cdr (Shazzblat) 4

Another helping of loop-magic from Drew Wright. This is one long (38 minute) track which builds a chorus of murmurs into a blurry drone cloud. Drew recorded this late at night and it has the sound of being for his ears alone; his vocals are soft and weary, layered into a crepuscular hymnal. Deep in those layers magic lies and this is a most peaceful listen.

• Creatures of Habit cdr (self-released) 2

This new self-released cdr continues in the folk / drone vein explored on "New Flesh": doleful a cappella rounds with Drew's deep tones looped and echoing off into the horizon and the frenetic looped throb of wooden percussion (xylophone) that reminds me of some of Robert Horton's Far Eastern meditations. The sci-fi analogue electronic hum of "Prizzi's Honour" reminds me of Mount Vernon Arts Lab. Best of all is "How Soon is Your Face": an undulating massed drone like a blanket of fog and a blatant Smiths' steal used to haunting effect. 

• Die Berliner Luft cdr (Shazzblat) 2

New cdr from Edinburgh's Drew Wright on his new label, recorded in Berlin. As distinctive and fascinating as ever this is minimally recorded using one mic, a radio and looping pedals, much like his live sets. The vocal tracks range from the suitably soporific thrum and almost Aboriginal drone of "The Big Sleep" to the protest round-singing of "Iran" to the a cappella renditions of "I See a Darkness" and the traditional "When the Whale Gets Strike". Add to this some wonderfully fuzzed-up drones, kazoo crooned melancholy and shortwave hauntings, and you have a mighty fine disc.

Yek Koo - Oh Woman 7" (Emerald Cocoon) 7.50

"Helga Fassonaki (of Metal Rouge) returns as Yek Koo with her first new release since last years 'I Saw Myself' on Stunned Records. Gone are the horizontal string-sprawl epics of past, replaced by a new density and compositional focus. Dictaphone guitar-swirl and declamatory vocal preaching atop loping nod-out rhythm samples, you could almost say Yek Koo has gone pop….until the b-side hits: a sheet of live industrial slamming recorded at LA's now defunct spiritual hub, the Echo Curio, that sounds like a realtime channelling of Kali. As hard to pin down as ever, the closest point of comparison would be the Morley/Russell split 7" lathe on Corpus Hermeticum left to percolate in the merciless Californian sun And even that sounds nothing like it. Confusing, enticing, nuanced and brutal. Part 3 of the 'Alone Together' series. Mastered by Pete Swanson. Edition of 300." (EC)

Richard Youngs - Like A Neuron LP (Dekorder) 7

"Richard Youngs is a prolific British musician (located in Glasgow) with an extremely diverse output. Dusted Magazine once wrote he is "defying strict genre classifications since the early nineties, swapping labels, styles, partners, motifs, and recording techniques as the desire has struck him". So his new album for Dekorder might not be a surprise to anyone following his career. Still, a self-proclaimed all-electronic “ecstatic House record” comes somewhat unexpected. With a line of distinctive synthesizers often used for Techno/House Music Youngs recreates the energy, euphoria and frenzy of these styles without ever trying to recreate the music note by note. The final outcome sounds like recordings made by aliens who have received transmissions about House Music but never listened to the music itself. The album reminds of the sound of hallways/corridors inbetween large House parties where you can hear the music from several floors collide. While it’s an emulation, interpretation or replica of House Music, it’s still managing to evoke similar feelings even though some might find it difficult to dance to the music." (Dekorder)

Yuko x Chino - Sensory Deprivation Techniques cdr (Rural Faune) 1

Monolithic distorted guitar from Danny Sasqrotch - it howls and squeals and is mightily black.