March > spring 2020

Written and produced by Agustín Mena
Collaborations by Pepo Galán and Robert Farrugia
Mastering by Taylor Deupree
Photography by Alexander Kopatz
www.go70north.com
Archives59 // ArchivesCD40
Archives / 2019

Warmth - Soil

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spotify link: spoti.fi/3Trxrx9

unfulfilled duty (ambient)

Gazi Mix

Simple Pleasures

Seahenge

Purchase: ariarostamidanielblomquist.bandcamp.com/album/floating-tone
Catalog #: GN58
February 28, 2020
CASSETTE+DIGI

**The eighth installment in Geographic North’s long-running Sketch for Winter series, which highlights compositions intentionally crafted for the colder season.**

Unsung heroes of the ambient underground, Aria Rostami and Daniel Blomquist have quietly created some of the most aurally alluring sounds released in the past five years. And although that time has solidified the duo’s prowess of production and tenacity of texture, it has also shown its share of disruption and disorder. Having met and recorded all of their past works together in San Francisco, Sketch for Winter VIII: Floating Tone marks the first release made by the pair apart, with Rostami’s recent move to Brooklyn. But rather losing touch or stalling collaboration, the duo’s bond only grew stronger. 

Rather than perform live improvisations in the same room, Rostami and Blomquist repeatedly passed material back and forth to be altered over time - sometimes involving extensive alterations, and others barely none. The result brings an astoundingly varied mix of melody, texture, and movement. 

“The Sloping Tower” seeps into focus in a haze of pristine clatter, celestial chords, and synthetic detritus. Distant disembodied voices appear through rippling waves of melody, leaving only a tapestry of tattered sound. “The Sleeping Floor” meanders with a nocturnal melody that lulls and placates with a deft, delicate touch. A-side closer “The Guessing Hand” cultivates a seething but subtle soirée of nonchalant noir, suggesting some solemn and forgotten subterranean piano bar.

“The Running Glass” wafts in a cloud of blissful warmth, backlit with dimmed glee and neon vibrancy. “The Sinking Tone” turns the focus back to our piano, heaving in a lush and all-consuming storm of shimmering texture and noise. “The Floating Table” closes things out with utter resolve, reflecting on the receding action and dabbling in some amorphous beauty. 

It’s a powerful new chapter in Rostami and Blomquist’s journey that solidifies their past and suggests endless opportunities ahead.

Aria Rostami & Daniel Blomquist - "The Floating Table"

Mastering by Ian Hawgood
Photography by Alexander Kopatz
www.go70north.com
Archives65 // ArchivesCD46
Archives / 2020

Buy CD/Dig

Pepo Galán & Lee Yi  - L'Isolée

Sleeplaboratory is a compilation series that we launched in 2019 and the success of this effectively launched our printed gatefold-LP style CDrs which featured all of last year. The Sleeplaboratory1/.0 compilation was created as a special celebration for our fiftieth release and we enjoyed the concept so much, that we decided to run another one. Sleeplaboratory2.0 continues the themes of sleep, rest and personal reflection, not necessarily aiming to meet the current trend of mindfulness and well-being but instead, it intends to rest the listener in a way that is appropriate to them.

The idea was originally came about after our label owner Harry and his wife had a baby daughter, Isla. Harry curated a full-length compilation to help soothe his daughter to sleep and whilst Isla hasn’t needed much of a helping hand where sleep is concerned, he was keen to continue this project as a series. Throughout much of last year, we have been working on a follow-up, inviting artists to meet this sleepy brief of minimalist Ambient tones. We’ve invited familiar label artists back as well as established names and perhaps you’ll see that the odd one or two go on to have releases with us later this year.


Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Bethany Towell

Warmth - Transition

Written and Produced by Agustín Mena
Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio (NY)
Photography by Alexander Kopatz
www.go70north.com
Archives66 // ArchivesCD47
Archives / 2020

Life

Buy 12"/CD/Cass/Dig

Warmth - Life

life

Warmth - Safe

This track is quoted from the album 'Fresh Air'.
Listening to all tracks of the album and freedownload are available on the link below.

https://gallerysix.bandcamp.com/album/fresh-air

生まれたての空はかくも青くどこまでも透んでいる 
それはこの地球上の総てのものに平たく与えられ 
誰もが感じ心に留めておくことができる 
あの空になりたいと願いその色に触れてみる 

The newborn sky is so blue and endlessly transparent 
It is given equally to everything on this earth 
Everything can feel and keep in mind 
I wish I could become that sky and touch that color 

----------------------------------- 

新型コロナウィルスのパンデミックにより外出禁止を余儀なくされている方々、また様々なストレスを抱えて不安や怒りを感じている方々へ、このアルバムが一服の清涼剤になれば幸いです。どうか冷静に、忍耐強く。 

※新型コロナウィルスの終息宣言がなされるまでの無料ダウンロードアルバムとなります。 

I hope this album could be refreshing for those who are forced to be quarantined, and who feel anxiety, anger due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Please be calm and patient. 

[Notification] 
This album will be free until the end of 
COVID-19 (coronavirus) is declared.

All tracks are produced by Hidekazu Imashige 
Cover Photo by Hidekazu Imashige

Free Download

Drift About

During our time of self quarantine, a few friends decided to give ourselves a week to make a piece of music. The goal was simple: be creative and open. I've been working on my new album and with my humble setup, started noodling with a simple chord progression and built it up from there. 

The water sound is a recording I made at the 9/11 Memorial in June 2019. Visiting the memorial for the first time, I was overwhelmed by the sound of the site. The huge water fall, descending to the reflecting pool below, sounded like a chorus of grief to me. Listening back to the recording later, I started to hear more in the sheets of sound. I remembered standing there and looking up to the sky where the towers once reached and then over to where the Freedom Tower now stood. I knew there was more than grief present, there was hope. 

I've seen many people compare our current time to 9/11. Having lived in NY during 9/11 and now a global pandemic, there are certainly many similarities. The first responders then and those on the frontlines now remind me that we have to focus on helping each other and moving ahead. We have to hope, but not passively so. This is work and we are all responsible. 

This piece, 'Hope,' bridges two traumatic times in my life and the world's. I felt comforted while writing it and I hope that it calms you and offers you some sense of peace.

Hope

Warmth - Breathe

In the south of southern Spain, SanFernando (Cádiz) is surrounded by marshes and salt lakes, where we were both born and grown up among its labyrinths and landscapes.
‘Salinas’ has been encouraged by these spaces so familiar to us, now that we have visited them again after many years. They have united us to write eight songs inspired by the most important salt mines that existed and that is why they bear their names.
We have worked on the calmness of sound, silences and repetitions, as these places sound now. We wish you like it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Written and Produced by David Cordero & Miguel Otero
Mixed by Miguel Otero at MadCap Soundlab
Mastered by Ian Hawgood
ARCHIVES70 // ARCHIVESCD51
Archives | 2020

David Cordero & Miguel Otero - Dolores

Written and Produced by Powlos
Mastered by Emanuele Pertoldi
Photography by Alexander Kopatz.
www.go70north.com
Faint020 // FaintCD020
Faint / 2020

Powlos - Reality Shy

Pre-order and buy Vinyl/CD releases 
https://archivesdubmusic.bandcamp.com/merch

Warmth - Safe

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