"Craco", from Hauschka's latest studio album, 'Abandoned City'. Get it today at www.smarturl.it/abandonedcity

Hauschka - "Craco" (Live from 89.9 KCRW — 4/22/14)

Buy Infinity Pools EP: http://smarturl.it/buyipools

What does the future of peace and quiet look like? Is it possible for someone to find serenity in a world where population mushrooms and buildings continuously jockey for the best possible view? With Kael Smith’s (Mombi, Khale) Mute Forest this dichotomy is at the epicenter of his 'Infinity Pools EP' due April 7th via Lost Tribe Sound. 

To coincide with visuals courtesy of Gregory Euclide (Bon Iver, Erased Tapes), Smith’s debut EP fuses acoustic sounds, mangled electronics and provocative lyrics across four meditative yet mesmerizing tracks. 

Serving as a companion piece to his expansive and sonorous LP, 'Deforestation', due later this year, Smith’s 'Infinity Pools EP' was actually written as a reaction to that material but will be released first.“ 'Deforestation' will in a sense be a prequel to the EP,” explains Smith. “And for listeners who follow along, should provide an interesting reverse narrative,” he concludes. 

“Crypt,” the EP’s opener, contains oscillating vinyl-sampled rhythms, chiming electric guitar and gently struck nylon guitar. Following that is the sparce and haunting “Volcanoes Flowing,” which traces a melancholy beat and slow, lovely piano crescendos to its heartbreaking conclusion. 

Darker in tone, title track "Infinity Pools" has a commanding presence using ominous electronics and damaged samples of Le Creuset pots being struck. Heavily processed and featuring vocals from Smith’s longtime girlfriend Kelly O’Brien, the track unfurls into a hypnotic groove over the chilling words “You’ll feel like an ember trilling/out in space.” 

Washing over the listener to conclude the EP, “Eat the Skin” originally started as an A Winged Victory for the Sullen remix of a song off of their recent LP, 'Atomos'. As the track progressed though, all of the layers performed by AWVFTS were eventually stripped leaving only acoustic guitar and Smith’s voice. “I like to pretend we wrote that song together, hopefully someday they will hear it” desires Smith. He uses the big, cavernous sound of acoustic guitar as base for unhurried, dulcet vocals and airy electronics. “I’ve always loved the big, acoustic sound of Seafood’s “Desert Stretched Before the Sun”“ explains Smith. “I really tried to emulate that deep resonate tone where the acoustic sounds like a tidal wave.”

All songs written, performed, recorded and mixed by Kael Smith (http://kaelsmithmusic.com) 
Kelly O'Brien backing vocals on "Infinity Pools."  
Mastering by Taylor Deupree at 12k Mastering 
Production assistance on "Crypt" & "Volcanoes Flowing" by Matthew Herron 

Original artwork by Gregory Euclide (http://gregoryeuclide.com) 
Copyright 2015 Lost Tribe Sound (http://losttribesound.com) 
Published by Settled Scores 2015 (ASCAP)

Infinity Pools EP

Volcanoes Flowing

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Mute Forest - Volcanoes Flowing (from Infinity Pools EP)

Cinematic, Soundscape and Expressive Thematic Compositions

01 A Journey to Somewhere

Dragon Rider fantasy heroic

Nils Frahm & Olafur Arnalds : An excerpt from Trance Frendz 2

Taken from his forthcoming album 'Spells' out June 10 on Erased Tapes.

Pre-order the LP/CD/DL here: www.erasedtapes.com/store/index/ERATP085
iTunes: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spells
Spotify: http://snip.ftpromo.net/goldentimes
Bandcamp: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spellsbc
or any other good record store worldwide

"It's just incredible" – Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6 Music
“Strangely upbeat nocturnes" – The Wire

‘Spells’ merges programmed piano pieces with live instruments, combining the controllable technical world and the often unpredictable aspects of live improvisation. In some ways it continues where his underground debut ‘Gravity’ left off, though a lot of weight is lifted, making room for a lighter and more energetic listen. Friend and fellow Erased Tapes artist Nils Frahm mixed and mastered both albums. Ben is not a master pianist like his dear friend, but his sound collages are so meticulously designed that after hearing the result an impressed Nils declared: “from now on, if anyone asks – this is a real piano”. 

His intricate, humanised programming – enhanced by drummer Achim Färber, cellist Anton Peisakhov and harpist Lara Somogyi, and a considerate selection of echoes, delays and compressors – has been used to create a hybrid sound that intends to deceive, question and challenge existing listening habits. Utilising the contrast between reduction and decoration, ‘Spells’ can be seen as a quest to find out how much or how little composition is required to constitute a song. Why the ear can and should be deceived about the authenticity of instruments. What significance these instruments have within this process, and why the personal perception of balance and sound exclude ultimate truths. 

Linking the two albums are the four movements of ‘Nocturne’, an ever-developing conversation that on occasion flirts with the grandeur of compressed rock drums. The first single, ‘Golden Times 1’, received a world premiere by BBC 6 Music’s Mary Anne Hobbs, proclaiming it as "incredible." An alternative version of ‘Sleepers Beat Theme’ – composed for the soundtrack to a short film about the Trans-Siberian Express – opened Jon Hopkins’ Late Night Tales album from 2015, who noted “I thought it was such a calming and sensitive piece that sounded to me like the beginning of something...the warmth and depth of the sound entrances me every time”. 

Though ‘Spells’ and ‘Gravity’ are his first albums recorded under his own name, as acclaimed electronic producer HECQ he’s released nine albums since 2003, exploring everything from ambient to breakcore. He has simultaneously established himself as a trusted composer and sound designer, working for a wide array of clients including Amnesty International and Marvel Comics; composing for feature films, games, art installations and convention opening titles.

After embracing this demanding line of work, in 2010 Ben felt the need to explore his roots and early education, which inspired these albums under his own name. Born in 1981 as the third child of opera singer Deirdre Boysen and actor Claus Boysen, his classical music training on piano and guitar began when he was seven years old; the works of Bruckner, Wagner and Bach laid an important foundation. Rediscovering this music shared with his parents – united with the sounds of Autechre, Cristian Vogel and Jiri.Ceiver to Pink Floyd and Godspeed You! Black Emperor – brought back an understanding of why he wanted to write music in the first place.

“Finding my views understood, reflected and welcomed by Erased Tapes was an encouraging experience, crowned by the offer to release ‘Spells’ and re-issue ‘Gravity’ with them. Through many caring conversations with Robert I felt that there’s no better home for the existing ideas and no better cradle for new ones.”  – Ben Lukas Boysen 

TRACK LISTING:  	

01. The Veil  02. Nocturne 3  03. Sleepers Beat Theme  04. Golden Times 1
05. Nocturne 4  06. Keep Watch  07. Golden Times 2  08. Selene

Spells

Golden Times 1

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Ben Lukas Boysen – Golden Times 1

Digits

first excerpt from upcoming 'elephant' by Dag Rosenqvist.

Cello by Aaron Martin
Saxophone by Lisen Rylander Löve
Mastered by Taylor Deupree

order here - https://dronarivm.bandcamp.com/album/elephant

Buy CD

Dag Rosenqvist - Come Silence (from 'elephant' CD)

Pre-order 'The Imperfect Sea' on Vinyl, CD and DL here: http://phonofile.link/the-imperfect-sea

The iconic Penguin Cafe join the Erased Tapes family and open a brand new chapter to their unique world with new album The Imperfect Sea – out on Erased Tapes 5th May 2017.

A penguin stands in the middle of a scorching desert, far away from its natural habitat. This mirrors composer Arthur Jeffes’ journey and exploration into a new musical territory. Penguin Cafe have evolved into something of their own at the hands of Arthur who started the band in 2009 with the continuation and homage to his father’s legacy, to the late Simon Jeffes’ Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Now, their upcoming album echoes reminiscent sounds that embrace the new.

The album title refers to a saying by his father that “we wade in a sea of imperfections…”, reflecting upon the idea that beauty can be found amongst the chaos. “If there is a narrative to the album it’s coming to the acceptance of the imperfections in all aspects of life; moreover, the recognition that these imperfections and tiny randomnesses are in fact what make up the best parts”, Arthur explains. This has also been highlighted by the striking cover artwork designed by FELD under the art direction of label founder Robert Raths, resembling a lone figure adapting to and accepting its surrounding environment.

Predominantly self-composed, the new album also features covers of electronic works by Simian Mobile Disco and Kraftwerk, along with a re-working of Simon's 'Now Nothing'. Arthur has developed from the traditional folk and jazz heritage Penguin Cafe Orchestra is known for into another realm of blissful ambience and dance music, recreated using strictly acoustic elements.

“For this album I wanted to effect a departure from where we’d been up to now. The idea was to create a musical world that would feel familiar to an audience more used to dance records but stay true to our own values. So we replaced electronic layers with real instruments: pads with real string sections, synths with heavily-effected pianos, and atmospheric analogue drones with real feedback loops ringing through a stone and a piano soundboard.”

On the day of release, the band will play a headline show at New York’s Le Poisson Rouge, commencing the beginning of this new adventure for Penguin Cafe.

Penguin Cafe - Cantorum

Multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer Peter Broderick will release a new extended player titled 'Two Balloons' on November 9th with Erased Tapes. Available as a limited edition 10” vinyl and digital download, it features the score for the award-winning animation of the same name, inspired by an early recording of his, plus a 9-minute electronic rework on the B-side titled Techno For Lemurs.

Fairly often we see albums of “Music inspired by the film __”, but less common is a film inspired by music. Such is the case with Two Balloons. Director Mark C. Smith got the idea for his nine-minute stop frame animation film while out at sea, looking at a majestic funnel cloud in the distance. Shortly after he heard a song by Peter Broderick from one of his earliest recordings — 4 Track Songs — and the music struck a chord so strongly, he knew he wanted to make a film to fit the melody. And so began the five-year labour of love that would eventually produce this enchanting little film, currently circulating film festivals around the world and racking up countless awards and accolades including ‘Best Original Music Score’ at the New Renaissance Film Festival in Amsterdam.

Peter begins his European tour tomorrow in Cardiff and will perform at the Erased Tapes Northern Showcase in Wakefield with Rival Consoles and Hatis Noit on Saturday September 15th. Information and tickets: https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1124408
 
European Dates:

2018
13.09. Cardiff (UK) — The Gate Arts & Community Centre 
14.09. Oxford (UK) — The Old Fire Station 
15.09. Wakefield (UK) — Erased Tapes Showcase  
16.09. Dublin (IE) — Pavilion Theatre 
07.10. Galway (IE) — Galway Jazz Festival at LOAM 
17.10. Lausanne (CH) — Le Bourg  
18.10. Lugano (CH) — FOCE 
27.10. Kaltern (IT) — Kaltern Pop Festival (with Stargaze) 
17.11. Cobh (IE) — Sirius Arts Centre (One Hear Now)
15.12. Pattaya (TH) — Wonderfruit Festival 
30.03. Mechelen (BE) — Cultuurcentrum

Pre-order 'Two Balloons' on 10"EP/DL: https://www.erasedtapes.com/release/eratp115-peter-broderick-two-balloons

Two Balloons

Two Balloons (Part 4)

Buy 10"/DL

Peter Broderick - Two Balloons (Part 4)

Nils Frahm - More & Less (Skyphos Remix)

Founded by sonic architect and explorer Robert Raths aka ghostworker in 2007, Erased Tapes is a truly independent record label that has disrupted the industry and rejuvenated the musical landscape. The London-based label has consistently nurtured genre-defying artists from all around the world without losing its avant-garde ethos.

2015 saw BBC 6 Music radio presenter Mary Anne Hobbs stage an Erased Tapes evening featuring Nils Frahm and A Winged Victory For The Sullen at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the prestigious BBC Prom. It was the fastest selling ticket of the entire season. Shortly after Erased Tapes was awarded Best Small Label 2015 at the AIM Awards.

On February 5th 2017 Erased Tapes opened the doors to its new East London home, marking the 10th anniversary by introducing fans and the public to the new Erased Tapes Sound Gallery.

“Ten years of one of the most important record labels of the last few years“ — Gilles Peterson

"Over the last decade, Robert Raths’ label Erased Tapes has developed a sonic profile perfectly in step with the growing taste for quiet, meditative works on the cusp of ambient and chamber music" — The Independent

“The heart-string-tugging London label that floats gently between 20th century composition and ambient music” — Rolling Stone