https://honestjons.com/shop/label/Berceuse_Heroique
https://berceuseheroique.bandcamp.com

A2. Pessimist - Nonthing Positive

LAWRENCE ENGLISH, Observation of Breath, LP

Release date - Sept 10th 2021
Catalogue nr. - HG2103
Format - Vinyl / digital
Hallow Ground

hallowground.bandcamp.com

Tracklist:
1) A Torso (10:01)
2) A Binding (06:05)
3) And A Twist (02:42)
4) Observation Of Breath (20:44)

Credits:
All organ recorded at The Old Museum, Brisbane July-November 2020,
except A Torso’s centre section which was recorded in 2016 on the same organ.
Performed and Produced by Lawrence English
Picture by Juan Valverde de Amusco, 1560
Design by Ruth Stofer and Greenpointless

///
Do you remember the last time you were breathing consciously? Either way, you are likely doing it now. On his new album »Observation of Breath« for the Swiss-based Hallow Ground label, Lawrence English worked exclusively with an organ for four compositions that are exercises in »maximal minimalism,« as their creator himself notes in a nod to Charlemagne Palestine, who coined this term. While it seems somewhat fitting that those four pieces based on a steady flow of air were conceived and recorded in a situation of accelerated standstill caused by a respiratory disease, the Room40 founder is not so much concerned with capturing the zeitgeist than rather incorporating the spirit of time itself. »It is a record about presence and patience,« he explains. Exploring the unique sonic affordances of a singular instrument, »Observation of Breath« is not only devoted to the durability of sound but also to its density. That it marks his debut on Hallow Ground after having shaped its sound by mastering most of the label’s releases in recent years is just as fitting then as its release following albums by Kali Malone and FUJI|||||||||||TA, whose innovative work with organ instruments have facilitated a rediscovery of their possibilities. 

English’s compositions however are neither directly indebted nor responding to these musicians. His exploration of the organ’s many facets started a decade ago when the composer was given access to an instrument built in 1889 that is presently housed at The Old Museum in Brisbane. After it had already played a crucial role on his seminal albums »Wilderness Of Mirrors« and »Cruel Optimism,« last year’s self-released »Lassitude« was the first record that English entirely composed and recorded with that instrument. »During the soft lockdowns, I spent many days playing to an empty concert hall, recording the pieces that became ›Lassitude‹ and then, this album,« says English in regards to an unfortunate situation that fortunately provided him with time and space—two major themes but also key qualities of the four new compositions. In this sense, he goes on, »Observation of Breath« resolves a number of the questions originally raised by »Lassitude.«

»The organ is an exercise in the observation of breath,« English explains the album’s title. »It is a physical breath, one that manifests both audible and inaudible waves of vibrations. The sheer scale of the instrument, its weight and the physical length of the pipes involved in producing the sounds we experience is nothing short of mind-boggling.« More importantly, the sound artist is fascinated by the organ’s ability to produce frequencies that exist at the sensory limits of human awareness—it’s at the edges of these limits that fascination can be found, he argues. »The particular organ that I work with comprises four manuals and 45 speaking stops and it has a tubular-pneumatic action,« he explains. »It’s the stops that are the focus of my interest. They are very specific and when manipulated in certain ways and in certain combinations, create a unique set of unsteady timbres that make it a remarkably intoxicating instrument to collaborate with.«

LAWRENCE ENGLISH - A Binding (HG2103)

05 Couperin - Les Barricades Mysterieuses

Leap, slink, appeal
Unravel royal road
Solid ground to yonder
We drift of one's own
Invented and invited
Leaven to the unlined
Visions of unconscious, endow with a mind:
Fantasies of glacier pervades a glimpse
Deviant swells are never seen sealed.

Introspective pilgrimage through the enigmatical realms. Amulet of Tears presents a compilation that serves as an intimate and nuanced odyssey, ignited by ambiguous envision of Sigmund Freud's - 'The Interpretation of Dreams'.

'Surveying' the subconscious to unravel transcendental thresholds, hidden dimensions, alternatives & impossibilities within core or peripheral perceptions, soared through phantasmal viewpoints.

The Interpretation of Dreams

Evitceles - Spatial Embodiment

Animals Will Sing

If there ever was a monicker apt for describing an artist’s behavior, that is Ghost Lemurs. Manifesting spottily in compilations and limited edition tapes, then returning to the shadows without much fanfare, the project has indeed demonstrated a ghostly behavior and a nature as puzzling as the animal it takes its name from. Wombs And Alien Spirits represents now their most public outing, one in which the duo of visual artist / producer Kareem Lofty and Daniele Guerrini (better known as Heith and as Haunter’s co-founder) are happy to showcase all the discoveries in a process of musical and spiritual research begun in 2019.
Described by the artists themselves as an experiment in mediterranean psi-trance, the album makes use of an incredibly diverse number of traditions, sonic sources and techniques of musical experimentation, keeping its psychedelic intentions central to the whole creative endeavor. Moments of meditative relaxation are brought to unsettling new levels by cavernous basses and spaced out drones, while tight polyrhythms bring beautiful granular melodies to a sidereal ceremonial dance.
As beautiful and captivating as it is, Wombs And Alien Spirits remains as chimeric and unrestrained as any previous effort by the two artists. It’s a type of folk music devoid of a specific homeland, but resulting from the authors’ heritages, simultaneously divided and united by the mediterranean sea, injected with all the trajectories of their personal journeys. It ends up sounding profoundly human and uncannily inhuman, tapping into the undiscovered alien element at the beginning of the experience of life.

Music by Ghost Lemurs
Mix by Heith
Master by Tapewave
Artwork by Katja Novitskova
Layout by Nicola Tirabasso

Codex

SIMINA OPRESCU, Sound of Matter, LP
Hallow Ground
Vinyl / digital, catalogue nr. HG2402, EAN: 0602343041803

Tracklist:
1. Sound of Matter I (16:16)
2. Sound of Matter II (19:19)

Credits:
Composed, mixed, and written in Berlin, December 2022 – February 2023 by Simina Oprescu
Mastering by Lawrence English
Master cut by Andreas Lupo Lubich
Artwork by Laurin Huber
Essay by Simina Oprescu

Sound of Matter

Simina Oprescu - Sound of Matter II (excerpt) (HG2402)

"Storms in South Africa are nothing like I ever heard in Europe. Charged with rumble and low end oscillations, they crack the sky into echos that can travel the widest jungles and valleys. It comes and goes. Like a giant loop. Movement. Nature’s arrangement. 

A full length album. Inviting me to zoom in and deconstruct."

Recorded by Ameeva with Zoom F1 / Clippy stereo mic
in Durban, South Africa

Composed with Digitakt

.FTF02 'storm, thunders, rumble' | Ameeva

All links ► https://band.link/mysticglow

Argus Illuminates the Ambient Realm with "Mystic Glow":

The ambient music landscape is set to be graced once again by the unparalleled artistry of Argus with the upcoming release of his tenth full-length chill-out album, "Mystic Glow", on October 11th, 2024, via Altar Records. Renowned for crafting immersive melodic soundscapes, Argus reaffirms his status as a leading figure in the genre with this latest masterpiece.

From the very first note, "Mystic Glow" envelops listeners in a serene atmosphere, blending ethereal melodies with intricate textures that evoke a sense of wonder and tranquility. Each track is a journey unto itself, seamlessly weaving together to create a cohesive and deeply emotive narrative. The album's harmonious layers and subtle rhythms are a testament to Argus's meticulous attention to detail and his innate ability to connect with the listener on a profound level.

What truly sets "Mystic Glow" apart is its balance between the cosmic and the intimate. The expansive soundscapes invite listeners to lose themselves in the music, while the nuanced compositions keep them anchored in the emotional core of each piece. It's an album that not only showcases Argus's signature style but also pushes the boundaries of ambient melodic music, offering fresh perspectives and sonic innovations.

The production quality is, unsurprisingly, top-notch. Every element, from the lush synths to the delicate ambient noises, is polished to perfection, creating an immersive auditory experience that is both soothing and invigorating. Argus has a knack for making music that feels both timeless and refreshingly new, and "Mystic Glow" is no exception.

For longtime fans and newcomers alike, *Mystic Glow* is a must-listen. It serves as a beacon of light in the chill-out genre, offering solace and inspiration in equal measure. As the release date approaches, anticipation builds for what is sure to be one of the standout ambient albums of the year.

Mark your calendars for October 11th, 2024, and prepare to embark on a transcendent musical journey with Argus's "Mystic Glow". It's an album that not only meets expectations but exceeds them, reaffirming why Argus remains a number one choice for ambient melodic music enthusiasts around the world...
♪♫ All tracks written and produced by Branko Stojiljkovic, Serbia
https://www.facebook.com/Argus.Altar.Records

♪♫ Track 9 written and produced by Bojan & Mina Stojiljkovic, Serbia
https://www.facebook.com/tmina.mina1
https://www.facebook.com/ascentpsytrance

► Mastering by DJ Zen @ Altar Records
https://bnd.lc/AltarRecords
https://www.altar-records.com

► Artwork by Digitalys Studios, France
https://linktr.ee/digitalys

More tracks and albums from Argus:
► argus-music.bandcamp.com
► compiledbydjzen.bandcamp.com/album/winter-24bits

More music from Ascent:
► https://ascent-music.bandcamp.com

More music from Mina:
► https://mina-altar.bandcamp.com

Offered in 24Bit studio master quality only in Bandcamp:
► https://argus-music.bandcamp.com/album/mystic-glow

|ARCDA148|

Mystic Glow

Buy  | Listen

Caucasus

Blues Alif Lam Mim In the Mode Of Rag Infinity/Rag Cosmosis is a new composition from Catherine Christer Hennix's expanded just-intonation ensemble, the Chora(s)san Time-Court Mirage. The expanded ensemble includes vocalists Imam Ahmet Muhsin Tüzer, Amir Elsaffan and Amirtha Kidambi, an expanded brass section with the addition of Paul Schwingesnschlögl and Elena Kakaliagou, and the additon of Marcus Pal and Stefan Tiedje on electronics. This new piece was recorded live at the Issue Project Room and was mastered by Dubplates + Mastering in Berlin. 
Live At Issue Project Room is packaged in a deluxe letterpressed sleeve and is being issued at the same time as Central Palace Music from 100 Model Subjects For Hegikan Roku, a recording of Hennix's ensemble from 1976, also on Important.

Catherine Christer Hennix / Chora(s)an Time-Court Mirage - Live At ISSUE Project Room -

»sichten« refers both to »opinions« as well as the »examination of material«. in lose sequence, we will invite friends and colleagues, but especially music lovers to share their opinions on music with us or to look through their collected materials in order to present music that tends to be out of the focus of current media channels.

as a label for electronic music our focus is on examining exactly this genre. but in the context of the series, we are rather looking for more hidden, unknown, perhaps forgotten music. we want to present the yet undiscovered, and also offer a platform for other cultural environments with different musical approaches.

each issue will be supervised and compiled by a curator. an introductory text shall explain the artistic approach of the respective curator. in this sense, the format of a double lp can only provide a first insight and wants to invite to a more in-depth research.

for the first issue of the series, »sichten 1«, we asked frank bretschneider to compile his own, very personal selection of current electronic music. his choice fell on six artists, whose different styles meander between accessible music on the one hand and very abstract compositions on the other hand.

Evitceles - Spatial Embodiment

Amulet of Tears

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