Distorted classical choral recordings, synths, processed guitar… The exquisitely complex human-machine interface experiments conducted by Stefano Pilia are kept in a delicate balance by John Duncan‘s lyrics and the soulful quality of his vocals, for an album of electroacoustic songs that are a unique blend for both artists. Seeds and memories from the past are re-actualized in the present through a machine electroacoustic compositional process creating a dark, gloomy and terrifying image of the future. Duncan’s lyrics offer a counterpointing liberation to the machine processes in action here, poetically revealing the dark and intimate struggle between the human soul and its rapport with the machine.

These recordings are a point of departure for Matilde Piazzi‘s inspired liner notes and photos, that take this release to another level entirely, becoming a metaphor for contemporary efforts to reach the limits of knowledge and discovery, their heroic nature and their inevitable failure.

Both artists worked on their respective sections in isolation, Pilia in an industrial area of central Bologna, Duncan in the wilderness several kilometers south of the urban sprawl. Together, their recordings developed an almost magnetic attraction that seemed to meld effortlessly.

The experience of listening quickly takes on a cinematic quality, exquisitely moving from an oceanic uplifting (Try Again) to the depths of apocalyptic, unsettling vocals (Fare Forward), constantly maintaining a lush, richly complex tapestry. The linear understanding of time is suddenly gone, dominated by a crushing machine-defined present, with Duncan’s lyrics and vocals becoming a shamanic portal to a possible future.

John Duncan has operated for decades at the cutting edge of performance, video, experimental music, installation, pirate radio and television. He has played a pivotal role in the development of performance art in Los Angeles, of experimental music as a member of LAFMS, of Japanese noise and pirate radio in Tokyo. Duncan’s work in experimental music continues to have a lasting influence as his art overall continues to be honed, refined, sharpened. His audio work has been released by Allquestions, iDEAL, Vinyl-On-Demand, Fragment Factory, Tourette, Sub Rosa, Touch, Die Stadt, Trente Oiseaux and Ash International. He has collaborated on music with a wide range of musicians including Jim O’Rourke, Oren Ambarchi, Joe Talia, Masami Akita, Z’EV, Carl Michael Von Hausswolff, Elliot Sharp, Mika Vainio & Ilpo Väisänen.

Stefano Pilia is a guitar player and electro-acoustic composer based in Bologna. His work has become progressively concerned with researching the sculptural properties of sound as well as its relationship with space, memory and the suspension of time. His sound can aptly be defined ‘ecstatic’, in the purest sense of the term. His output has been released by Sedimental, Die Schachtel, Blue Chopsticks, Time-Lag, Last Visible Dog, Presto!?, Soave, Improved Sequence. Pilia is one of the founding members (alongside Valerio Tricoli and Claudio Rocchetti) of 3/4HadBeenEliminated, he has played with ZU, he’s a member of psychedelic quartet In Zaire and has been a focal contributor to the BGP trio, alongside David Grubbs and Andrea Belfi. Since 2009, he has been a member of Il Sogno del Marinaio, a trio made up of legendary Minutemen bassist Mike Watt and the drummer Paolo Mongardi. As well as these projects, he is lead guitarist for celebrated Malian singer Rokia Traorè and for the band Afterhours. 

Release date: May 7th, 2021.

Premiere: John Duncan & Stefano Pilia - Try Again [Maple Death Records]

The Brvtalist is proud to premiere "DRBS" from London based Jerome. Bolognas' based Maple Death Records presents its second LP named "LP2" by the Italian/Swedish/Greek duo of Annalisa Iembo and Stella Mathioudakis. This LP was recorded over a period of 5 days locked in a small room in the Italian flatlands and then further developed and refined between Italy-Sweden during the pandemic. 

‘DRBS’ is a parallel party where the better parts of Kraftwerkian Detroit techno are sped up and spit out with shards of noise and cowbell action. 

Out November 19th digitally + vinyl. Pick up the release now: https://mapledeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lp2

@mapledeathrecords
@jerojerome

PREMIERE: Jerome - DRBS [Maple Death]

A pillar of bass music since the early 2000s, DJ & producer Flore has made a name for herself in the landscape of French electronic music.Since 2014, she’s been hosting her @polaarsounds show on Rinse France, on which she invites her current musical crushes, and promotes a complex-free approach to club music.

Tune in for POLAAR every 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month, from 21h to 22h [CET] on rinse.fr

Rinse France Podcast

Download

POLAAR invite Nahash & Only Now - 27 Mars 2022

The Brvtalist is pleased to premiere a new song from Munich based artist Grotto Terrazza. "Der Zaubergeselle" comes off the 12 track "Kalte Köstlichkeiten" LP on Maple Death Records. 

Out now! The full LP will be available on August 26th in vinyl and digital formats. Get yours on Bandcamp: https://mapledeathrecords.bandcamp.com/album/kalte-k-stlichkeiten

@mapledeathrecords
@grottoterrazza

PREMIERE: Grotto Terrazza - Der Zaubergeselle [MDR061]

Dane Law & Chants - Anuar 5
Richard Hronský - Pir odchode z tohoto sveta (rozumieť prostrediu)
Adela Mede - Nestoj Nado Mnou (ft. Wojciech Rusin)
Ábris Gryllus - Parent I (ft. Thea Soti)
mu tate - spore
QOW - Fakerny Eh
Tara Clerkin Trio - Marble Walls
Rat Heart Ensemble - BYFY
Oleksandr Demianenko - Segment 2
ulla - Hope Sonata
Rob Winstone - holding
Adam Badí Donoval - Time Passes Slowly When You’re In A Submarine
Richter Band - Čínský potůček / Poloviční chytání
Hysterical Love Project - Oil Slicks (Songs For The Spirals)
Oliver Coates - Soaring X (ft. Malibu)
Kara-Lis Coverdale - Imgs /r
Maria W Horn & Vilhelm Bromander - Mycelial Bloom
Abigail Toll - A Cut In A Curve
Dania - Spriting Toward The Sun
Dawuna - The General

Sieste Ambient #112 w/ With Adam Badí Donoval

Qlowski - Taking Control

Drug Age "Costume e Società" side B (excerpt)

READ > https://inverted-audio.com/premiere-jerome-koolkool/ 

Up next on @MapleDeathRecords is 'Moods' LP from London-based production duo Jerome, consisting of Annalisa Iembo and Stella Mathioudakis.

Moods

Jerome - KoolKool [Maple Death Records]

The Hollywood Squares - Hillside Strangler
Bubaza - Ice Breaker
Baby's Berserk - What I Mean
TEKE TEKE - Chidori
Aaron Frazer - My God Has A Telephone
Kiwi Jr. - Cooler Returns
Sulka - Fear It
Daniel Romano - New Milk
Kutiman - Maasai In Dub
Stalawa ft. Nazizi - Rather Ba Alone
Mush - Blunt Instruments
The Bats - Field Of Vision
Whitney K - Maryland
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Call Your Mom
David Nance - The Merchandise
WOOM - Walk
Vernons Future - B-Movie
Teenage Fanclub - Home
Tommy McCook - Two For One
Neil Young - Tonight's The Night

Pressure Drop Show, November 16th 2020

Off upcoming 7" on SDZ/Officine
SDZ028 / OFFICINE04

Kessler Syndrome

From "SOFT EYES" (iDEAL210) LP

Edition of 300 copies. Distributed by Boomkat.

Vocals: John Duncan
Saxophone: Gabriele Zobele
Percussion: Francesco Cossu, John Duncan
Church organ, Brass, Bass: Ivan Pjevcevic
Backing vocals: Elisa Mazzola, Mattia Bonafè, Yelena De Luca Mitrjushkina, Tullia Benedicta, Ivan Pjevcevic

Recorded and mixed at ShortStraw Studio, Bologna

Mastering by Ivan Pjevcevic at ShortStraw Studio, Bologna

John Duncan - The Rabid Position (iDEAL210)

Maple Death Records - Living the unexplored noise kingdom that is left to rummage and polish. Noisers unite.