Sweet Harmony

TLF Trio - Passacaglia (Latency 022)

Latency marks its 10th anniversary with a special collection of commissioned works by HTRK, Damsel Elysium, and Tarawangsawelas. The three artists have crafted individual soundscapes that were showcased during the label night, held in the picturesque gardens of Villa Medici, Rome, on 26 June 2023. 

Originating from Melbourne, HTRK (pronounced ​“Hate Rock”) is a duo comprising Jonnine Standish and Nigel Yang. With a discography spanning releases on labels like Ghostly, Boomkat, and their own imprint N&J Blueberries, Jonnine and Nigel have crafted a truly unique sound over the past decade. Their performances can be seen at a variety of venues like the Sydney Opera House and Rewire. 

London-based Damsel Elysium is a multifaceted artist who spans the realms of sound, visual art, and performance. Damsel utilises improvisational double bass, violin, piano and original field recordings to explore alternative connections with physical spaces and nature. They have collaborated with artists such as FKA Twigs, Celeste, Cktrl, Matt Maltese and the London Contemporary Orchestra. 

Tarawangsawelas is an Indonesian duo from Bandung. They are masters of the Tarawangsa, a traditional Sundanese instrument from West Java employed in ceremonies celebrating bountiful harvests. By combining the string instrument with a series of effect units, Tarawangsawelas conjure contemplative and hypnotic compositions while making traditional music accessible to a wider audience.

Tarawangsawelas - Tunggara (Latency 023)

HTRK - Roma nel giardino estivo (Latency 023)

Damsel Elysium - 27 Glass Ceilings (Latency 023)

https://tlftrio.bandcamp.com/album/new-songs-variations?label=3074139057&tab=music

Following the resonating success of their initial collaboration, the TLF Trio—comprising Danish cellist Cæcilie Trier (CTM), pianist Jakob Littauer, and guitarist Mads Kristian Frøslev—reunites on Latency with electronic music legend Moritz von Oswald for the follow-up to their debut album, Sweet Harmony.

TLF Trio, along with Moritz von Oswald, once again delves into the realm of chamber music, this time with two new songs further exploring the intricate acoustic dynamics of their instruments with electronics. As the second instalment in this musical journey, New Songs & Variations builds upon the minimalist, sculptural, and narrative qualities of its predecessor, weaving a tapestry of expressive and plural voices.

Moritz von Oswald, a central figure in the electronic music scene since the early 90s, brings his wealth of experience to the project, reinterpreting two of TLF Trio’s previous works. From his early days as a classical percussionist to groundbreaking collaborations in the techno sphere, von Oswald’s influence has left an indelible mark. His role in co-founding Basic Channel/​Rhythm & Sound/​Maurizio and contributions to the Berlin-Detroit-Chicago axis have defined various strains of modern music.

New Songs & Variations not only captures the rich history and influence of Moritz von Oswald but also showcases his ongoing exploration into classical, experimental, and improvisational contexts. From recomposing Ravel and Mussorgsky’s music for Deutsche Grammophon to acclaimed collaborations with jazz trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær, composer Laurel Halo, or Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen, von Oswald’s versatility continues to evolve.

TLF Trio and Moritz von Oswald invite listeners to embark on a sonic journey that bridges the past and the present, mirroring the transformative essence of Louise Lawler’s distorted image, which graces its cover—a testament to the delicate fluidity and shape-shifting nature of the music contained within.

RELEASED
December 06, 2023

COMPOSER
Moritz von Oswald
Cæcilie Trier
Jakob Littauer
Mads Kristian Frøslev

FORMAT
Digital + Streaming
Vinyl (upcoming)

MASTERING
Kassian Troyer at Dubplates & Mastering

DISTRIBUTION
Honest Jon’s

FEATURING
Claus Haxholm (beat on song 2)

COVER ART
Louise Lawler. Formica (adjusted to fit, distorted for the times, slippery slope 2), 2011−2012−2015−2017. As adjusted for Latency. Courtesy the artist and Sprüth Magers.

TLF Trio - March-Like, Wild (Moritz Von Oswald Variation) (Latency 024)

This June, Latency returned to the gardens of Villa Medici — also known as The French Academy in Rome — with a new series of commissioned soundscapes.

1. Duval Timothy - Go Without
2. Angel Bat Dawid - The Black Queen of Italy Strolls Through Her Garden
3. Mabe Fratti - Jardin de los Espirales
4. Kalia Vandever - Undulating Grace
5. CS + Kreme - Petal

Duval Timothy is a pianist, composer, and music producer who splits his time between London, UK, and Freetown, Sierra Leone. Besides music, his creative pursuits include painting, photography, sculpture, design, food, and textiles. His solo piano pieces lie at the intersection of contemporary minimalism and jazz. Timothy has collaborated with notable artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Solange, Vegyn, and the London Contemporary Orchestra.

Angel Bat Dawid is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator based in Chicago. A key figure in the city’s jazz scene and a significant voice against racial discrimination, she has worked with artists like Marshall Allen and Makaya McCraven. Drawing inspiration from the poetry of Margaret Burroughs, the music of Yusef Lateef, and even Mozart, her work spans genres including free jazz, gospel, avant-garde, and hip-hop.

Mabe Fratti is a cellist and composer from Guatemala, now residing in Mexico. Influenced by contemporary classical composer Gyorgy Ligeti and cellist Jacqueline du Pré, her diverse musical journey includes collaborations across progressive metal, krautrock, dream pop, and jazz. Fratti uses cello, voice, and synthesizers to create sound installations, compositions, and free improvisations.

Kalia Vandever is a Grammy Award-winning trombonist and composer based in Brooklyn. Recognised as one of the prominent new voices in jazz, her distinctive approach to the trombone is characterised by a sonorous tone and lyrical improvisational style. Vandever is also known for her work as a side-woman, performing with artists such as Joel Ross, Immanuel Wilkins, Lizzo, and Moses Sumney.

CS & Kreme is a musical duo consisting of Conrad Standish and Sam Karmel, based in Melbourne. Their music transcends style and space, blending heavy dub processing, sweeping post-punk, and chamber music soundscapes into what they describe as ​“horizontal music.” Both seasoned musicians, Standish and Karmel have a rich history of collaborations in successful experimental groups such as F ingers and Bum Creek.

COMPOSER
Duval Timothy
Angel Bat Dawid
Mabe Fratti
Kalia Vandever
Conrad Standish
Sam Karmel

FORMAT
Digital + Streaming

DISTRIBUTION
Honest Jon’s

SOUND
Silas Bieri, Dennis Tousana

COVER ART
Kate Spencer Stewart

Duval Timothy - Go Without

Latency present És pregunta, the second album from Catalan vocal duo Tarta Relena.

Founded by Helena Ros Redon and Marta Torrella i Martínez, Tarta Relena explores the rich vocal traditions of the Mediterranean, singing in languages such as Classical Greek, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Catalan, Ladino, and more. Their music blends sacred and secular influences, drawing inspirationfrom flamenco, lyrical song, traditional music, and electronic experimentation.

És pregunta dives into themes of tragic contemplation, portraying the tension between natural andhuman forces grappling with mysterious and inevitable consequences. The album is a conceptual journey through fate, knowledge, and the struggle to reconcile our future selves with present realities. Influenced by Mediterranean folk, Georgian laments, and the mystic works of 12th-century visionary Hildegard von Bingen, Tarta Relena crafts a vibrant sonic world where the past and future converge.

Renowned for their captivating live performances, Tarta Relena has enchanted audiences at festivals like Sónar, Le Guess Who?, Mutek, Big Ears, and Primavera Sound. Their stage presence isenriched by subtle electronics and rhythmic patterns played on a ceramic amphora, creating a unique
texture to their vocal artistry. Collaborations with artists such as Marina Herlop and Maria Arnal i Marcel Bagés have further pushed the duo to explore new dimensions of contemporary folk music. For Tarta Relena, folk is a living tradition – deeply rooted in the past but always evolving. Tarta Relena will debut És pregunta live at Unsound on October 2, 2024.

« Time and distance collapse in the music of Tarta Relena. With little more than their two voices, Helena Ros and Marta Torrella connect the far corners of the Mediterranean, drawing on traditions stretching back more than a thousand years. This is music of primal essence and unnameable longing, full of frequencies that seem to tap an ancient ache in one’s bones.» – Pitchfork

NPR Tiny Desk live video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lwoczostI0

Credits:

Written and composed by Helena Ros Redon & Marta Torrella i Martínez.
Recorded by Juan Luis Batalla Aparicio at Etopia, Zaragoza, and Vallirana’s garage
Produced by Tarta Relena, with assistance from Juan Luis Batalla Aparicio and Borja Ruiz Esteban
Guitar on Mano décima: Juan Luis Batalla Aparicio
Mix: Borja Ruiz Esteban
Mastering: Silas Bieri
Cover art: Katharina Schilling
Creative Direction: Souleymane Said & Sidney Gerard
Distribution: Honest Jon’s
Latency © 2024 | www.latency.fr | @__latency

Tarta Relena - Si veriash a la rana (Latency 029)

From the album Raw Silk Uncut Wood (Latency 014)  
latency.fr/catalogue/raw-silk-uncut-wood

1. Raw Silk Uncut Wood feat. Oliver Coates(10:00)
2.  Mercury feat. Eli Keszler (03:56)
3. Quietude (02:32) 
4. The Sick Mind (04:24) 
5. Supine (01:27) 
6. Nahbarkeit feat. Eli Keszler and Oliver Coates(10:07)

"What works reliably is to know the raw silk, hold the uncut wood. Need little. Want less. Forget the rules. Be untroubled."

Laurel Halo presents six instrumental pieces that form a meditative, cinematic listening experience. Inspired by recent film score work for Metahaven and Ursula Le Guin's translation of the 'Tao Te Ching'. Featuring cello work by Oliver Coates and percussion by Eli Keszler.

Working in abstraction leads to a deeper longing for touch and closeness. The tactile sensation of struck organ keys and bowed strings, wood and felt on drum heads. Smoke and dirt and stone. Febrile and tactile, hairy and hissy. A clover of highway onramps, a continuous flow, like old leaves melting on their way down a stream at the back of a house. Constant contradiction, the truth's nowhere.

DATE
July 13, 2018

COMPOSER
Laurel Halo

FORMAT
Vinyl, Digital, Streaming

MASTERING
Dubplates & Mastering

DISTRIBUTION
Honest Jon’s

FEATURING
Oliver Coates (cello)
Eli Keszler (percussion)

ARTWORK
Jill Mulleady

@laurelhalo
https://www.latency.fr/

Raw Silk Uncut Wood

Laurel Halo - Raw Silk Uncut Wood (feat. Oliver Coates) (Latency 014)

Independent record label and curatorial platform. 
Established 2013 in Paris.

Listen to the entire Latency catalogue via https://www.latency.fr

Latency

Popular tracks