Pop-Ambient from Uruguay. Following two tape releases (one of them on British Touch Rec.) Gastón Arévalo is releasing his debut CD „Rollin Ballads“ via Oktaf Records. Growing up close to the harbour of Montevideo, Uruguay´s capital, being surrounded by old architecture, fishermen, boats and the sea on the one hand and subtropical nature on the other, his fascination with his natural and urban surroundings seems to have developed only naturally. His earliest acoustic childhood impressions and associations from this surroundings are still his most vivid – for example the sounds of the textile factory, which used to be his father´s workplace. His latest recordings are intensely inspired by natural and organic sounds – tracks like „Selvagem“ are the result of field recordings of long walks at sun dawn mixed with unconventional sounds of natural elements such as stones and bones. The result is a synaesthetic impression of foggy, far away landscapes; yet still flooded with light. This is what Arévalo intends with his aurally and ,visually‘ stunning tracks. „Souvenir“, „Rollin Ballad I“ or „Geographia II“ let the listener loose himself in the never ending repetitions evoking those images. 
Classically trained, Arévalo intersperses analogue sounds into his tracks as he incorporates modulated and modified fragments and passages played by instruments. This evokes the musical influence of Soundconnoisseurs such as Brian Eno, Terry Riley, Arvo Pärt or Erik Satie. 
As a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on experimental ambient music, this record based on neo-classical sound collages and modulated and synthesized field recordings rife with hidden melodies and abstract sound structures. His tracks are and should be mirror images of life – „Rollin Ballads“ – which, as life is, are always moving and constantly changing. 

Pre-order via:

www.oktaf.bandcamp.com

Bandcamp

Gastón Arévalo - Rollin Ballads - Album Preview

A first preview to Marsen Jules new album "Beautyfear" to be released in January 2014 on Oktaf Records.

With "Beautyfear" on Oktaf Records the German electronic musician Marsen Jules (CCO, 12K, Kompakt) delivers one of his most outstanding albums so far. Mastered by no one else than 12K-labelboss Taylor Deupree and with a coverpicture taken by the highly acclaimed photographer Erik Madigan Heck from NYC, the best conditions are laid for a lasting experience of abstract musical poetry and touching soundscapeism. Jules has never been this dense, subtile and fragile before. All twelve tracks on „Beautyfear“ were created during a week stay in a theatre workspace on one of the hills of Lisbon. The panoramic view over the dusty city in spring seemed to have been the perfect surrounding for this cloudy soundscapes, which at some points remind of Angelo Bandalamentis‘ work for David Lynch‘s "Mullholland Drive". „It‘s an album on the fragility of beauty“, as Jules describes briefly. Music that can neither be described as ambient music or experimental sound art, but more likely delivers a poetic approach to music, live and sound itself. With „Beautyfear“ Marsen Jules makes a great start into 2014 and with the already announced cooperation with Swedish filmmaker Anders Weberg and an upcoming release of his works from a residence at the legendary GRM studios in Paris, one should definitely keep an eye on what is coming next. ﻿

Releasdate: 27.01.2014
Pre-Orders: 01.01.2014
Label: OKTAF www.oktaf.com
Distribution: Kompakt

Marsen Jules - Beautyfear  -  Beautyfear III (First Album Preview)

A first preview to Lufth -  "Distanz und Nähe" to be released in April 2014 on Oktaf Records.

Releasdate: 07.04.2014 | Pre-Orders: 01.03.2014
Label: OKTAF www.oktaf.com | Distribution: Kompakt

Lufth´s „Distanz und Nähe“ on Oktaf Records accompanies the return of German experimental-dubtech and electronica producer Joerg Schuster. With his unique trademark sound and former releases on Source Records, Thinner and Archipel as Digitalverein and Sensual Physics – Schuster already established a loyal and enthusiastic fan crowd all around the world. His debut album as Lufth now introduces us to his most personal and experimental release so far. A 55 minute long collection of nine tracks that have been created over the past decade. As already done in other releases Schuster takes a strong reference to the German Ruhr area, the former industrial area where he lives, whereas other tracks take reference to inner states and personal developments. The opening-tune „Democracy is dead like printed matter“ combines crispy beat-fragments with cineastic Pink Floyd like Synthesizer-Pads. „Methan on Mars“ incorporates downtempo beats with experimental noises and „Duisburg links“ slows down even more for some subtile and tricky dub-melodies. The title track „Distanz und Nähe“ reveals the most beats within this album – a nice electronica track with floating hooklines. Extremely slowed down and filtered dubs can be heard again in „Rotes Dortmund“ which is one of the most touching tracks of this album. „Motion-Emotion“ displays a futuristic version of abstracted Tango. „Nicht ohne Dich (Not without you)“ and „Ebbe und Flut (Ebb and Flow)“ conquer the listener with tricky beats and supernice melodies. The album is closed by the beautiful 10 minute epos „Zwischen uns der Mund (Between us the mouth)“. All in all Schuster is once again convincing with his abstract trademark sounds and a super-futuristic interpretation of todays dub-electronica.   







Lufth - Distanz Und Nähe (OKTAF#08 / First Album Preview) - Track: Methan On Mars

MARSEN JULES AT GRM
CD/DIGITAL OUT: NOV 10TH 2014
LABEL: OKTAF DISTRIBUTION: KOMPAKT

LIMITED EDITION PRE ORDERS NOW AVAILABLE: WWW.OKTAF.COM

Following his highly acclaimed album „Beautyfear“, which is still featured besides Trentemöller and Bonobo in the top-ten of german chill out-charts, sound poet Marsen Jules bridges the time with the release of a conceptual mini album on his own Oktaf Records. The two tracks on the 35 minutes long album were created during a two week residency in the legendary GRM-Studios at Radio France in paris. The „Groupe de Recherches Musicales“ is an institute for the exploration of electroacoustic music. It was founded 1958 by composer Pierre Schaeffer, one of the main protagonists of the so called „Musique Concrète“, a musical movement that focused on recorded sounds and sound manipulations as a basis for compositions. Therefore the artists used tape recorders and record players as their instruments and widened the musical horizon, which till then was only defined through classical known instruments. Especially these ideas of defining every acoustic event as possible music and the approach to explore the individual universe of such a sound, have always been a big inspiration for the music of german Martin Juhls. Therefore it was a big honor for the artist to be able to work at this legendary space for two weeks in 2009. For the two tracks created at GRM Jules dives deeply into the level of subatomic sound-particles. Clusters of string crescendos emerge from a nearly psychoacoustic sound-wall of warm drones in which they disappear with ultra long fade outs and reverbs. A touching work - which has the quality to let the listener drown into it completely.


More infos: www.oktaf.com | www.marsenjules.de

Album Preview: Marsen Jules at GRM (OKTAF#09 / CD/DIGITAL)

Marsen Jules - The Empire Of Silence 

Buy this now: oktaf.bandcamp.com
(CD inludes download of a 38 minute bonus track)

Ten years after his debut-album “Herbstlaub“ on CCO, german ambient composer Marsen Jules takes us to his “Empire of Silence“. An impressing soundtrack to the epic power and  beauty of nordic snow and ice-landscapes. Thereby he sounds even more elegiac, warm and romantic as ever before. This might be a result of a strict reduction to bittersweet symphonic string-sounds. Sounds which Jules elapses like a prism on the timeline and lets them meander on the slightly on the listeners eardrum. While others are still talking about “modern classic“, Jules is already moving on the particle-layer through the sound-continuum. Diving deeper into the sounds then ever before, he lets the frequencies mirror on the sound spectrum with an impressing precision. Actually there is not much space for “real“ silence on the album. Instead the epic sounds of “The Empire of Silence“ seem to unfold their archaic euphoria best at high volumes. An euphoria that carries everything away and occupies the whole space. For the track titles of the eight gems on this album Jules refers to different Words for snow in Inuit language, of which the legend says there are dozens. While the melancholic openers “penstla“ (the idea of snow) and “tlaslo“ (snow that falls slowly) still travel on soft ways, the album raises to its full euphoria with “kayi“ (drifting snow) and “skriniya“ (snow that never reaches the ground). With its epic magic the nine minute long “katiyana“ (night snow) thrills the listeners attention while “naklin“ (forgotten snow) brings a short inhale. The album finds its peak with the ecstatic glisandi of „chathalin“ (snow that makes a sizzling sound as it falls on water) and finds its finish in the beautiful and lofty “ylaipi“ (tomorrow´s snow). For everyone who is still not satisfied fully after this 55 minute journey through nearly endless stringlisandi, we recommend the 45-minute bonus track which comes as digital download with the cd version on bandcamp.

Oktaf Bandcamp Store

Marsen Jules - The Empire Of Silence (Album Preview)

Denzel + Huhn - Asid Trei 
taken from the album "brom" (oktaf#11)
To be released on oktaf records on sept. 25th 2015.
Distributed via Kompakt.

Download this for free at:
http://www.oktaf.com/denzel+huhn-asid_trei/download.php

The berlin based electronica duo „Denzel + Huhn“ releases their first album after eight years of silence. The brand new 14-tracker titled „brom“ will be released on Oktaf Records on September 25th distributed via Kompakt. In best D+H style it consists of finest handmade experimental electronica with a good touch of pop-appeal. Who already liked their classic releases on City Centre Office, will love this one even more. The album features guest appearances by a couple of Bertram Denzel and Erik Huhn´s good friends as Ronald Lippok (Tarwater), Florian Juncker (Brandt Brauer Frick), Naf tali and plenty others. A release concert accompanied by guest musicians Ronald Lippok, Manuel Miethe, Bettina Bruns and a DJ-Set of Oktaf labelhead Marsen Jules will take place on september 20th at Berghain Kantine in Berlin.

A videotrailer can be seen here:
https://youtu.be/H6tAiWEaSZ0

Album pre-order is available at:
www.oktaf.com

Release concert link:
http://berghain.de/events/2015-09


Buy this at Bandcamp

Denzel + Huhn - Asid Trei (taken from "brom" oktaf#11)

Pre-order this album: https://oktaf.bandcamp.com/album/brom-pre-order

The berlin based electronica duo „Denzel + Huhn“ will release their first album after eight years of silence. The brand new 14-tracker titled „Brom“ will be released on Oktaf Records on September 25th. In best D+H style it consists of finest handmade experimental electronica with a good touch of pop-appeal. Who already liked their classic releases on City Centre Office will love this one even better. The album features guest appearances by a couple of Bertram Denzel and Erik Huhn´s good friends as Ronald Lippok (Tarwater), Florian Juncker (Brandt Brauer Frick), Naftali and plenty others. A release concert accompanied by guest musicians Ronald Lippok, Manuel Miethe, Bettina Bruns and a DJ-Set of Oktaf labelhead Marsen Jules will take place on september 20th at Berghain Kantine in Berlin.

Denzel + Huhn - brom (Album Medley)

Oktaf Sketches is a series of exclusive MP3 tracks by artists from the oktaf surroundings.

OKTAFSKETCH#02-Marsen Jules Trio-Excalibur (edit) - FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD

OKTAFSKETCH#04-Marsen Jules-Serenade - FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD

A preview to Marsen Jules new concept Album "Shadows in Time". A generative composition which is going to be released in over 300 variations.

“A statement on the fragile beauty in every moment.“ 

Marsen Jules releases his concept album “Shadows in Time” end of May 2016 on Oktaf Records/ Kompakt. The generative composition is released as static CD version and in more than 300 variations on USB flash drives and vinyl pressings in a limited edition.

Marsen Jules - Shadows In Time - (Oktaf12/album preview)

Order this album at:
 https://oktaf.bandcamp.com/album/still-air

“Still Air” is the 3rd solo album by japanese electronic musician and soundtrack composer Teruyuki Nobuchika. Who already released on the well known japanese label „Plop“. The eight track album on german label “Oktaf Records”. features electronic abstractions and classic sensitivity influences in a minimal ambient music context. 



Teruyuki Nobuchika - Still Air [oktaf13/Kompakt] (Album Medley)

Pre-Order on: oktaf.bandcamp.com
Promo requests for journalists: label@oktaf.com

With "Lost In The Humming Air - Music inspired by Harold Budd" oktaf records announces an amazing collection of thirteen exclusive tracks made by a selection of some of todays best known ambient music producers giving their tribute to the outstanding piano legend Harold Budd. 

The playlists features names as: Deaf Center, Loscil, Martin Fuhs, Biosphere, Xela, Marsen Jules, Andrew Thomas, Mokira, Christopher Willits, Taylor Deupree, Rafael Anton Irisarri, Porn Sword Tobacco and bvdub feat. Criss Van Wey.

Well known for his spaceful piano playing and his early cooperations with Brian Eno, Harold Budd has inspired a whole generation of modern protagonists of ambient, jazz and especially the so called modern classical genre. WIth his recent releases on David Sylvians Samadhi Sound label as well as on Darla, he is still showing his outstanding musical genius to the world.

"Lost in the Humming Air (Music inspired by Harold Budd)" will be released on April 9th (March 26th digital) on oktaf records. Exclusively distributed by Kompakt.

www.oktaf.com
oktaf.bandcamp.com

PLAYLIST:
01 Deaf Center - Plateaux 
02 Loscil - Rye Fields 
03 Martin Fuhs - untitled.eleven 
04 Biosphere - Det Var Kulmørkt Hjem 
05 Xela - The Only Rose 
06 Marsen Jules - Sunrise On 3rd Avenue 
07 Andrew Thomas - Hushhh (Variation 2) 
08 Mokira - Harold Dubb 
09 Christopher Willits - Olancha Hello 
10 Taylor Deupree - Sleepover 
11 Rafael Anton Irisarri - Gloaming 
12 Porn Sword Tobacco - Painting World War 3 
13 bvdub & Criss Van Wey - My Father, My Friend 

Mastering: Björn Scheuerman
Design: KeepAdding

VA-Lost In The Humming Air (Music inspired by Harold Budd)-Album preview-CD out April 9th on oktaf

Oktaf Sketches is a series of exclusive MP3 tracks by artists from the oktaf surroundings.

Christopher Willits - Olancha Hello
taken from Oktaf#04 
Various Artists - Lost In The Humming Air (Music inspired by Harold Budd)
Out on Oktaf (Kompakt) DIgital from March 26th and CD from April 9th.
www.oktaf.com

More about Christopher Willits:
http://christopherwillits.com
https://www.facebook.com/christopher.willits.fans
http://soundcloud.com/willits


Pre-Order Album: http://oktaf.bandcamp.com

Also at:
itunes: 
http://itunes.apple.com/de/album/sleepover/id511873032?i=511873124&ign-mp...
boomkat: 
http://boomkat.com/downloads/507702-various-oktaf-lost-in-the-humming-air-mus...
beatport:
http://www.beatport.com/search?query=music+inspired+by+harold+budd
juno: 
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/450457-01.htm
bleep: 
https://bleep.com/release/35734


OKTAFSKETCH#05-Christopher Willits-Olancha Hello - FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD

OKTAFSKETCH#06 - Evo Luthi - Efflorations  - FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD

German ambient-connaisseur and soundpoet Marsen Jules (aka Martin Juhls) is well known for his releases on City Center Offices, Kompakt or his own label Oktaf Records. On stage he often combines his atmospheric soundscapes with live musicians. A steady formation is the Marsen Jules Trio, which features the twin brothers Anwar Alam and Jan-Philipp Alam on piano and violins accompanied by Jules´ restrained live-sampling, bowed percussions 
and singing wine glasses. For tours and festivals the Trio already played in the US as well as in Canada and all over Europe. With their debut-album „Présence Acousmatique“ on Oktaf Records the musicians bring their „acoustic presence“ to CD for the first time. It 
features six highly atmospheric soundsculptures between ambient, avantgarde-classic and modern jazz. Whereas the opening „OEillet Parfait / OEillet Sauvage“ is still a variation of a track from Jules´ „Les Fleurs“ album, all other tracks are composed for the Trio or 
developed out of the cooperation itself. Two tracks also feature saxophone player Roger Döring (Dictaphone) as a guest musician. The combination of dark scapes and saxophone on „Histoire de la nuit“ and „Éclipse“ makes one think of an ambient version of Bohren und der Club Ghore. The abstract „Excalibur“ and „Maison en Vitre“ remind of early avantgarde-classic and twelve-tone music and the closing „Les trains stortent de la gare“ brings a bittersweet composition for piano and violin hold together by sparkling 
percussions. 

Buy Album:
http://oktaf.bandcamp.com/album/pr-sences-acousmatique


Marsen Jules Trio - Présence Acousmatique - Album Preview

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