Love the sound, but really dont like the artwork

ANNOUK KAMP

from 'Symmetrie und Wahnsinn' [CD|LP|DIGITAL]
Denovali Records · den370
available on all formats at https://denovali.com/sanktotten/

After the 2020 album "Lieder Für Geometrische Stunden", Sankt Otten finally make us happy again with a new release at the beginning of 2022. "Symmetrie Und Wahnsinn" (Symmetry and madness) fits here skillfully, both creatively and musically, in an album series with geometric context.

The album starts unusually buoyant with "Hymne Der Melancholischen Programmierer" (Hymn for sentimental programmers). A Kraut-Pop pearl, which could go on forever with its Motorik swing and with its catchy melody the track doesn't come across as melancholic as the song title predicts. You have to listen twice to not succumb to the illusion that it was composed in Düsseldorf at the end of the seventies. Here (and on the track "Sei Symmetrisch Zu Mir"), Sankt Otten were supported in the studio by drummer friend DIRK PELLMANN.

The drum machine in rumbling funky mode. "Die Glücklichen Unglücklichen", the secret hit of the album? They bend the beat into geometric shapes, let the bass play in circles and cover the song with ghostly choirs. The echo of a spinett-like sound overlays the sound, spitting out a deceptively cuddly dream world.

The 10 minute long "Die Ordnung Des Lärms" could be called an Ambient-Kraut symphony without hesitation. An enormous swelling to ecstasy, a guitar sings distantly in the background. Silence. Synthetic strings pave the way and are supported by choirs. A crackle that suggests a rhythm until it is taken over by a drum computer in the main part of the track. Bombastic mountains of synthesizers pile up and yet a catchy melody finds its way through this mishmash of hypnotic electronics. Fourth movement - Kosmische-choirs in suspension over a bass synth and an Ebow guitar. Is this already Prog-Rock? The question doesn't arise, in the end everything merges into reverb.

"Luftspiegelung Der Sentimentalitäten" begins cautiously with a gentle sequence and a discreet kick drum. The mini-Moog sounds like a guitar. Anyway. A surface floats by and returns, layers and shapes build up. At last, everything melts into perfect harmony with a plaintive-sounding synth. This track was composed as a stripped back reprise of the first track from the last album "Sentimentale Sequenzen".

A hypnotic Motorik-beat of an 808 that encourages head nodding and could almost be danceable. True to style with warm analog 80s electronic sounds and a loose echo guitar. This is "Angekommen In Der letzten Reihe". Man and machine hand in hand as a homogeneous musical unit and the connection of tradition and vision.

Sankt Otten like images of infinity. In the religious sense of meditative mantras, or also in the mathematical sense of an elongated curve that eventually returns to its starting point. "Bis Das Helle Licht Uns Holt" goes exactly in this direction with its classical use of sequencers and a sound carpet of choirs. Sound worlds that, through a clever repetitiveness, barely noticeably guard the constant changes in the compositional mesh like a secret and only reveal what is to be discovered by listening closely and letting it be seen. Such a thing is probably called Berlin School?

The Osnabrück duo Sankt Otten, founded in 1999, has been releasing on Denovali since 2009. With their now 12th album they give us again a gem of timeless instrumental music. The holy trinity of Krautrock, Ambient and contemporary Electronics, but always stylistically confident and unmistakable Sankt Otten.

For the mastering New York based RAFAEL ANTON IRISARRI could be won. Also with the cover layout again good taste is proven. As part two of a cover series, this extraordinary die-cut cover artwork was again created by designer DANIEL CASTREJÓN. The vinyl version comes in a die-cut cover (in a limited transparent edition), the CD in an elegant cardboard slipcase.

Symmetrie und Wahnsinn

Luftspiegelung der Sentimentalitäten

Sankt Otten - Luftspiegelung der Sentimentalitäten

Hello you natives of the interwebs! 
Hello and welcome, you are migrating into digital worlds! 
Hello people in the haptic world! 

We are Anonymous!
We support Writers against Surveillance!
Together we stand for democracy in the digital age!

Call of the authors!

In recent months, the extent of mass surveillance has become common knowledge. With a few clicks of the mouse the state can access your mobile device, your e-mail, your social networking and Internet searches. 

It can follow your political leanings and activities and, in partnership with Internet corporations, it collects and stores your data, and thus can predict your consumption and behaviour. 

The basic pillar of democracy is the inviolable integrity of the individual. Human integrity extends beyond the physical body. In their thoughts and in their personal environments and communications, all humans have the right to remain unobserved and unmolested. 

This fundamental human right has been rendered null and void through abuse of technological developments by states and corporations for mass surveillance purposes.

A person under surveillance is no longer free; a society under surveillance is no longer a democracy.

To maintain any validity, our democratic rights must apply in virtual as in real space.

* Surveillance violates the private sphere and compromises freedom of thought and opinion. 

* Mass surveillance treats every citizen as a potential suspect. It overturns one of our historical  triumphs, the presumption of innocence. 

* Surveillance makes the individual transparent, while the state and the corporation operate in secret. As we have seen, this power is being systemically abused.

* Surveillance is theft. This data is not public property: it belongs to us. When it is used to predict our behaviour, we are robbed of something else: the principle of free will crucial to democratic liberty.

WE DEMAND THE RIGHT for all people to determine, as democratic citizens, to what extent their personal data may be legally collected, stored and processed, and by whom; to obtain information on where their data is stored and how it is being used; to obtain the deletion of their data if it has been illegally collected and stored.

WE CALL ON ALL STATES AND CORPORATIONS to respect these rights.

WE CALL ON ALL CITIZENS to stand up and defend these rights.

WE CALL ON THE UNITED NATIONS to acknowledge the central importance of protecting civil rights in the digital age, and to create an International Bill of Digital Rights. 

WE CALL ON GOVERNMENTS to sign and adhere to such a convention.

CallOfTehAuthors

from 'Tombs' [LP|DIGITAL] · 'Tombs + Loss' [2xCD]
Denovali Records · den198
available in April on all formats at [http://denovali.com/moonzero]

MOON ZERO is the enigmatic and ethereal project of London-based Tim Garratt. Composed and recorded entirely in churches, Moon Zero's compositions explore the harmonic chaos of competing frequencies. Denovali Records is pleased to announce the release of Moon Zero's second EP 'LOSS' on vinyl and 2xCD, where the second CD will contain the first EP 'TOMBS' and remixes thereof, previously available only as a limited cassette release. This edition of 'Tombs' will also appear as a separate vinyl release.

'TOMBS' is, especially for a debut, a bold and confident musical statement, which reimagines the possibilities of processed organ and laptop sounds in a live context. The opener 'Dalyan' builds from slowly wavering layers of sound into a crumbling, decaying wall of fuzzed-out, peaking noise, which in turn builds again into ever-moving blocks of chopped loops and feedback, absorbing the listener completely into Moon Zero's musical space. A remarkable listen.

'LOSS' is the result of a year spent working out how to play Moon Zero live and then going on to play concerts. Using a wide range of instrumentation such ad drawbar organ, bass synth, vocals, fx processors and guitar pedals, Loss was written & recorded over 2 days at St George in The East Church in London, October 2013. 

Whereas 'Tombs' was more concerned with exploring melody in an ambient space, 'Loss' is looking at pulse and movement in sound. Indeed, Garratt states: "I wanted to create a soundscape that had a propulsion to it, a sense of rhythm but without drums. I like sounds which are dynamic in terms of both volume and frequency range, they need to have a life to them and breathe."

Composing and recording in churches, the musical works of Moon Zero embody their character; the authentic space and depth to the sound. Some frequencies cause parts of the church to vibrate wildly. One can hear children playing outside and wind blowing through the gaps of the windows. It has life.

Garratt adds: "There is a sad solitude of being alone in a large room, and as an atheist I find no comfort in the doctrine that surrounds me." Moon Zero's compositions leave with that isolation on them, the setting is directly influencing the music. Indeed, Loss is inspired by dimming nostalgia and inevitability. Exploring ideas about the end and decay of life cycles, these four tracks constitute a staggering masterpiece.


Tombs

Preorder / Buy

Moon Zero - Endless Palms

from 'Systeme' [CD|LP|DIGITAL]
Denovali Records · den381
available on all formats at http://denovali.com/bersarinquartett

Finally the 5th album of the imaginary German quartet - as always via Denovali. Although the title "Systeme" suggests a perhaps rather distant-cool album, it is the most personal and concentrated soundtrack so far created by Thomas Bücker from Münster in his "E-Smog-Playground" studio. In 2008, the quartet still flirted with cyrillic-mysterious melancholy and red wine-swilling trakl melancholy. 15 years and four albums later, it seems almost cynical to simply continue at this point. Because: late modernity delivers its very own complex tragedies - in real time.

This feeling of "Something's not right here" runs like a thread through the entire new album. While it still sounds popularly symphonic here and there, there are also many soundscapes that have an observing, almost unmasking effect. Microtonal shifts, polyrhythmic structures, tempo fluctuations and sound aesthetics torn out of context create a fragile, unpredictable foundation - as if Talk Talk, Tim Hecker and Skrillex were making music together and challenging our tolerance for ambiguity. Typical of the Bersarin Quartet: sparks of optimism shimmer through everything. However, sitting back and enjoying doesn't really want to work - necessarily. Because that makes it exciting without freezing in escapism - fortunately.

Systeme

Bersarin Quartett - Autopoesie

from 'Sabi' [CD|LP|DIGITAL]
Denovali Records · den383
available on all formats at http://denovali.com/eraldobernocchi

Denovali is pleased to present the second cooperation album of the Italian composer, arranger, producer and guitarist ERALDO BERNOCCHI with the Berlin-based Japanese violinist, composer, electronic producer and TANGERINE DREAM member HOSHIKO YAMANE.

Eraldo Bernocchi and Hoshiko Yamane have come together again to create their second album - inspired by the Japanese concept of "Sabi". The record is a unique blend of electronic and acoustic music - with Bernocchi’s pulsating textures and Yamane's haunting treated violin melodies weaving together to create a captivating and emotional sonic landscape.

"Sabi" is a Japanese aesthetic that celebrates the beauty of impermanence and decay. It is often associated with the simplicity, austerity, and solitude found in nature, and is said to evoke a sense of melancholy, nostalgia, and reverence for the passage of time. Bernocchi and Yamane's "Sabi" explores these themes through a collection of minimalist compositions that combine electronic and acoustic instruments immersing the listener in a deeply cinematic experience.

The album takes the listener on a journey through a series of atmospheric tracks, sometimes melancholic pieces that evokes the sense of solitude and simplicity often associated with the concept, other times more energetic and uplifting, optimistic ones that celebrates the beauty of transience.

Throughout the record, Bernocchi's electronics work provides a powerful, quite physical, backdrop for Yamane's violin melodies and harmonies , which are at once mournful and hopeful. Together, they again created a sound that is both beautiful and haunting, evoking the sense of nostalgia and reverence that is at the heart of the "Sabi" aesthetic. "Sabi" is a unique and powerful work of art that explores the beauty of impermanence and the passage of time. With its blend of electronic and acoustic elements, it is a record that is both modern and timeless, and is sure to appeal to a wide range of fans of electronic, ambient and experimental music. The artwork again was created by the renowned designer Petulia Mattioli.

Sabi

Eraldo Bernocchi / Hoshiko Yamane - Our days

from 'DARTS & KITES' [CD|LP|DIGITAL]
Denovali Records · den382
available on all formats at http://denovali.com/taroug

Taroug is the solo project by drummer and electronic music producer Tarek Zarroug with roots in the suburbs of the Tunisian desert and having grown up in Germany. Following the release of his 2020 EP, „Perpetual,“ as well as a number of notable remixes for artists such as Archive, Taroug has continued to refine his musical aesthetic.

Taroug‘s debut album Darts & Kites, set to be released on Denovali Records, draws inspiration from the Penrose tiling and explores themes of change and transformation. Fascinated from the pattern‘s unending possibilities, Taroug incorporated its infinite permutations not only into the album‘s nine tracks, but also in the cover art design.

Darts & Kites showcases a blending of genres and styles, resulting in a sonic landscape, that is both hunting and beautiful. Experimental and abstract soundscapes are enriched by oriental influences, collected field recordings, pulsating dark beats and hypnotic vocals.

The album also features the contributions of other notable artists, including Beate Wolff‘s cello performance on Jewels I. Benedikt Koch‘s saxophone adds a sense of controlled chaos with delayed and swelling notes to the track Deguech, while Timo Schieber‘s piano provides a crucial element of the album‘s title track, Darts & Kites. Niklas Genschel lends his vocals to Queen of Carthage, which also features the saz playing of Abdallah Abozekry.

Created in collaboration with architect and designer Marie Brosius, the album artwork captures different ornaments reflecting the album‘s content. Darts & Kites is a mosaic of sound, blending together elements of unfamiliar and familiar.

Darts & Kites

Taroug - Jewels I

One of four remixes taken from 'Weightless' by Alex Kozobolis

Preorder LP | CD | DL: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/alex-kozobolis-weightless#/

Weightless is an EP of intricate original piano compositions by UK artist Alex Kozobolis. With a series of solo releases over the past few years and collaborations with artists such as Lee Chapman, Harry Edwards, and Anna Rose Carter, Weightless represents Alex's unique approach to composition and melody.

His touch on the piano is light and fluid; moving between dense sustained runs, which evaporate as soon as they are heard, to spaciously plotted notes. Weightless is the sound of weight itself lifting, of the earthly effect of gravity removed and allowing the listener to be suspended within mid-air, uninterrupted by pressures and restrains of the physical world. Coursing with energy, and running to take flight.

Each of the four tracks have been remixed by Siavash Amini, Tom Adams, Trnspt and Hedia, with very different, but cohesive results, expanding the tone of the EP into new areas.

Weightless will be available on limited clear vinyl, digipack CD and digital editions.

Tracklist

Side A
1. Unravel
2. Closure
3. And Find Yourself
4. Weightless

Side B
1. Weightless (Tom Adams Remix)
2. And Find Yourself (Siavash Amini Remix)
3. Closure (Hedia Remix)
4. Unravel (Transept Remix)

And Find Yourself by Alex Kozobolis (Siavash Amini Remix)

minor planet

Midori Hirano - Haiyuki

Inner

Ocoeur - Embers

Monument was a series of in-gallery performances organized by Nick Malkin and I from 2016 — 2017 at MOCA in Los Angeles. Nick and I curated performances from Celia Hollander, Palmbomen II, Metal Rouge, Anna Homler, Sean McCann and Matthew Sullivan, Gregg Kowalsky, Damon Eliza Palermo, Visible Cloaks, Patrick Shiroishi with Paco Casanova and Dylan Fujioka, as well as this Anenon set. All performances interfaced with work from MOCA's Permanent Collection.

Brian Allen Simon - Tenor Saxophone
Yvette Holzwarth - Violin
Sam Gendel - Guitar
Jon-Kyle Mohr - Drums

Performance took place inside the Black Mountain College gallery.

Thank you to Santi Vernetti for the recording.

RIP Cooper

Monument at MOCA, January 21, 2016

Monument 1 at MOCA Los Angeles, 21 January, 2016

I am but a man,
Under you’re rule.
And those who attended 
you’re Private School
You’re selling arms,
In my name.
If I protest,
I’m locked up again.
We are one,
We are driven, 
We shall not stop
We ‘re unforgiving
How you would behave,
Staring down the barrel 
of the weapons you trade
Seeing you’re child,
As a bloody corpse, 
For an oil well,
gained with no remorse.
We are not gonna,
Watch pop shows in quiet
We have no peace left
Its time to riot.

We are one,
We are driven, 
We shall not stop
We ‘re unforgiving
To burn down this system,
That keeps us down
To destroy the palace 
And rip of you’re crown
To destroy the pain
That you cause. 
to rip the power
From you evil claws.
We are one,
We are driven, 
We shall not stop
We ‘re unforgiving.
We are Anonymous, 
Self Governing, Autonomous,
No crew Synonymous
We’re unforgiving,
But totally willing
To take this fight,
To the end from Beginning,
not allowing the distilling
of the untruth you’re Drilling
into the People of our earth.
Proud parents of freedoms Birth…
You rob working men
to the give to the system,
Like their filthy whore,
then in all your wisdom
you just take for more,
To finance the addiction 
And your bloody war. 
and a teenage conscription.
Give him a weapon 
In promise of college
To Rob Kill and Threaten,
Dead, before an ounce knowledge.
We’ll carry this fight,
We’ll protect the poor
Don’t forget its you 
Who started the war
Robbing the Frail
To fund the strong
We will prevail 
To end this wrong
We are one, We are Anonymous
We’ll fight to the end
Everyone of us.

Lyrics by my brother Robin Hoodz

UntilTheEnd!

Written with a heavy heart on a cold, gloomy Sunday and finished with a heart full of hope on a warm, sunny Sunday. A little sign of things to come later this year.

Available via Bandcamp: https://subheim.bandcamp.com/track/sundays

Sundays

Legion

Dear activists for the protection of privacy, dear people from all over the European Union, dear mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters. Since 2009, the EU has been subsidizing the INDECT project with millions of Euros. Even though several media outlets have already reported about this networked surveillance technology, only few EU citizens know what it is supposed to be. The application of INDECT aims to analyze conspicuous behavior to prevent crimes, in virtual life as well as in real life, before they actually happen. Not only does this sound crazy, it is cutting deeply into our basic right to privacy, because those cameras will be able to replicate scanned personal biometrical features with existing digital files about persons in databases such as social networks. Hence, every person could be retraced and supervised, anybody who says or does anything "abnormal" or anything which the system considers to be "threatening" both on the internet and in real life, is potentially suspicious. We have been accepting the claims of disclosure of our private data for too long in order to prevent acts of terrorism. People started to accept being treated as potential terrorists or criminals, being more and more deprived of their basic rights, and allowing the surveillance society to gain increased control over them. Basic rights weren't given to us as a matter of course, but many generations kept fighting for them. Don't let those rights be taken away from us now! These days, we see the situation in Spain where calls for protests are criminalized by the government. Though the right to protest is an essential part of free speech, we should not tolerate the increasingly upcoming undemocratic features in the EU which mostly hide under the cloak of suppression of terrorism. And therefore we should move NOW and tell the citizens of the European Union about this project, which has been kept as a secret for so many years. We must create a public awareness and get the people on the streets and fight for their rights. It is for these reasons that we ask you to call up all organizations, which campaign for data privacy protection in your country, to join the protest. Create flyers and other media which provide information about INDECT and organize Paperstorms. Translate the message of this video into your mother tongue and spread it! We are Anonymous We are Legion We do not fight for slavery, we fight for liberty In the name of democracy, Let us all unite! Expect us

StopIndectInYourCity

You're my place of quiet retreat;
I wait for your word to renew me

...

New website / radio station coming soon!

www.the-quiet-place.co.uk

The Quiet Place

The form is empty. The void is to form. 
The emptiness is form. And the form is emptiness. No emergence. And no offense. No blame. And no freedom from blemishes. No decrease. And no increase. No eye. 
No ear. 
no nose. 
No tongue. 
No body. 
No spirit. No Color. 
No sound. 
No smell. 
No taste. 
No sense of touch. 
Nothing. Visible No spirit and no consciousness. No thing that exists. 
No ignorance and no end of ignorance. No Age and no death. No End of the Age. 
No end to the death. No sorrow. 
No cause for grief, or the end of suffering.  No way. 
No wisdom. 
And no benefits. 
Not avail.
energy in perfect harmony. Without the barriers of the mind. And therefore without any fear. Beyond all misleading thoughts. This is the interweb.

Moon Zero - Endless Palms

Denovali

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