Gudrun Gut and Mabe Fratti have worked together on a powerful hybrid album, where taut rhythms fuse with haunted vocal melodies and spoken word, and field recordings meld with extended ambient pieces. Limited edition of 500 copies on Yellow Transparent vinyl LP, digital downloads and streamings.

As part of Umor Rex’s 15th anniversary, we here present an album that builds a dialogue between two lands and two unique artists. Mexico is the origin and conceptual residence of our label, while Germany is where we produce and manufacture our records (Berlin functions as the center of distribution and logistics, thanks to our friends at Morr Music). The intertwining imaginations belong to German producer Gudrun Gut (Malaria!) —a notable figure of the subculture and the German music scene since the early 80s, and also a founder of Monika Enterprise and recipient of the ‘Listen to Berlin’ Award in 2019— and singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer Mabe Fratti (originally from Guatemala, now based in Mexico City). We knew about “Let’s Talk About The Weather” from the beginning, and since the moment Gudrun and Mabe made us part of their project, our excitement could not be greater.

The process started with Gudrun and Mabe having long distance conversations, asking about their whereabouts and discussing the weather. This might seem rather commonplace, but it works as a key thematic component for the entire album. The weather as the new great unknown, perceived through the optics of everyday life. Sound files were methodically exchanged, with Mabe exploring words and vocals, and Gudrun working with field recordings taken from each city. In the end, this joint musical venture would provide a healing effect for both artists during life in quarantine.

“Aufregend”, the opening track of the album, reflects upon a general lack of excitement in modern life. It wonders what the future might hold. Is it cold? Is it warm? Will it be the same? “Air Condition” is an eerie, dazzling collision of climates: the hazy warmth of Mexico City, the deep cold of Uckermark. The last track, which gives the album its name, is a long ambient piece composed of four parts: sound sculptures, field recordings of city life, news and weather forecasts, and private conversations about the climate. It’s kind of a collaborative diary, obsessed with a single, all-encompassing subject.

Produced and recorded by Gudrun Gut and Mabe Fratti between Berlin, Uckermark, Veracruz and Mexico City. Mixed by GGut at Stern Studio Mastered by John Tejada in Sherman Oaks, USA. Artwork & photos by Daniel Castrejón in Mexico City.

Special thanks to Goethe Institute, who contributed to the creation of this album with a Virtual Partner Residency support.

Let’s Talk About The Weather

Gudrun Gut + Mabe Fratti — Aufregend

Lena Platonos - Shadow Of Blood

Rare and great 7" from 1981, produced by The Metronomes' Ash Wednesday.
http://www.discogs.com/Karen-Marks-Co...


Karen Marks - Cold Café (Oz Minimal Synth 1981)

Made from uncleared samples of Н. Соколов, Max Lodebauer and Privacy

Near To The Wild Heart

Stereolab_Nurse_With_Wound_Simple_headphone_mind.mp3

Mag & The Suspects ‎– Erection

SKY GIRL 2LP/CD/DIG OUT NOW

Sky Girl is a mysteriously unshakeable companion, a deeply melancholic and sentimental journey through folk-pop, new wave and art music micro presses that span 1961-1991. A seemingly disparate suite of selections of forgotten fables by more or less neverknowns, Sky Girl forms a beautifully coherent and utterly sublime whole deftly compiled by French collectors DJ Sundae and Julien Dechery.

From Scott Seskind's adolescent musical road movie to Karen Marks' icy Oz-wave, the charming DIY storytelling of Italian-American go-getter Joe Tossini and the ethereal slow dance themes of Parisian artists Nini Raviolette and Hugo Weris, Sky Girl resonates on a wide spectrum historically, geographically and stylistically. It unites in a singular, longing, almost intangible ambience.

If the names sound wholly unfamiliar that doesn't matter, the nature of the compositions swiftly nurtures an intimacy with these lonely, poignant, openhearted wanderers. Most were available in a very limited capacity at the time of their release, some were never really released at all - Gary Davenport declined to release Sarra after he split with the girl for whom the track is named - years later a friend convinced Davenport to allow him to put 100 copies online to sell and DJ Sundae was quick enough to snare one. Beyond their scarcity, these tracks are bound together by a certain raw beauty that's achievable when music is made and no one is listening.

Sky Girl comprises of fifteen officially licensed songs, a two year international scavenger hunt through long-folded home label operations, the depths of internet forums and traceless acetates. Both compilers are well trained record sleuths - DJ Sundae's labels Hollie and Idle Press have reissued Arthur Russell affiliate Nirosta Steel and DIY relic Pitch, while Julien Dechery previously compiled 'Fire Star', a retrospective on Tamil film composer Ilaiyaraaja, for Bombay Connection.

Released by Noise In My Head offshoot Efficient Space, Sky Girl is enriched with artwork from Perks and Mini mutant Misha Hollenbach and appropriately elegant sleeve notes courtesy of Ivan Smagghe.

02 Karen Marks - Cold Cafe 3:04 (ES002)

The Antinote guys have always been keen on introducing new names to you and this addition to the label’s catalogue makes no exception to the rule: they are pleased to present Sfarot, the debut EP from Alek Lee, a musician currently living in Tel-Aviv.

The geographic origin of the artists on the Parisian imprint has never been felt as much as on Alek Lee’s debut 12”. In a very “fourth world” manner, Alek Lee brings together middle-eastern influences in his music with ease and without ever having it sounding cliché: on Harabait and Sfarot (and its dub version), his friends and him play the violin, the bass clarinet and the accordion in a way which reminds of Klezmer music, putting the three songs on the EP in line with both his musical education and his cultural background. 

This seems strikingly true when taking into account the process Alek Lee went through to record the tittle-track: the original material used in Sfarot comes from a recording Lee did a few years, and on which were recorded traditional songs Israeli children used to learn at school, performed by a choir of very young kids. Both conceptually and musically hypnotizing, Sfarot and its dub version take the listener on a slightly psychedelic trip
as the haunted voices from the kids loose themselves in long reverbs and are backed by a wide range of instruments played by the Israeli musician including an electric organ, percussions, etc.

And if you are still in need of more dubby excursions, the closing track is the one for you !

Sfarot

ALEK LEE - SFAROT

Taken from the Maximum Joy compilation "I Can't Stand It Here On Quiet Nights: Singles 1981-82", forthcoming on Silent Street Records. 

Pre-order 2x12" here:
https://silentstreet.bandcamp.com/album/i-cant-stand-it-here-on-quiet-nights-singles-1981-82

Lyrics: Wrafter; Music: Maximum Joy
Produced by Dick O'Dell, John Walker, Pete Mayburn
Originally released on Y Records (12Y 11, 1981).

I Can't Stand It Here On Quiet Nights (SSR001 - Mastered WAVs)

Maximum Joy - Silent Street / Silent Dub

Extrait du LP "Route du vertige" 
dispo le 16 février 2018 (vinyl 12" + Digital) 
© Objet Disque 2017 
www.objetdisque.org/grand-veymont-route-du-vertige

Grand Veymont "Bois barbu"

Grauzone - Raum (Ata's Extended Mix)

Label run by @noise-in-my-head

Distribution queries:

Australia | info@noiseinmyhead.com.au
Rest of the World | www.wordandsound.de