https://primordial-void.com/releases/twig-harper-two-variations-for-the-shadow-of-the-absolute

PV-22

Twig Harper’s second release of 2021 is a game-changing work of contemporary classical music. Consisting of two longform pieces, Two Variations for the Shadow of the Absolute builds on the “classical electronics” of the Baltimore artist’s recent tape for Radical Documents, incorporating synthesized instrumentation and digitally manipulated studio recordings. The one-two punch of “Positive Charge” and “Negative Charge” falls somewhere between Ligeti’s electronic works and Boulez conducting Zappa, yet Harper’s trademark compositional techniques are present, and, above all, these two variations could only have been made by him and his shadowy cohorts (Dolphin Webinar, anyone?).

Known for his collaborations with musicians such as Bill Nace and Nate Young, Harper has been a prominent figure in the U.S. noise scene for the past two decades. Two Variations for the Shadow of the Absolute serves as the follow-up to March’s excellent Classical Electronics. Mastered by Jack Callahan (aka die Reihe).

James Harper: composition, synthetic programming, recording, realization
"Max" Headcleaner: synthesizer
William Nance: hurdy gurdy, tapes, acoustic
Aaron "Ford Model" D: microphones, oboe, slide
Norma "Pinkie B" Winklidia: text, editing, cello
Twigford Johnston: Timpani, percussion, bass clarinet
Dolphin Webinar: basson, flutes
Ace "Patrice" Vincent: Vibes, Space Flute
Marcy "the Chiller" Mering: string arrangements, bass guitar
Flex City Car Repair: catering, coffee
TD Bank Baltimore Orioles Youth Choir: harp, cleaning & waste disposal

2021. Baltimore, Maryland.

    Mastered by Jack Callahan (aka die Reihe).
    Artwork and Design by Susu Laroche.
    CD edition includes the exclusive bonus track "Valley".

Track Listing

    Positive Charge (23:02)
    Negative Charge (15:24)
    Valley (8:13)*

* CD exclusive bonus track

Release Date November 12, 2021
Catalog Number PV-22
Format CD / Digital

Two Variations for the Shadow of the Absolute

Positive Charge / single edit

An album written during 2016-2017, released in 2021.

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Heaven Junk once shined like a beacon of light. Sat in the center of a sprawling desolate plain known as The Barren, the structure was built out of desperation and a collective longing for something new. The haven was something meant to conjure a sense of hope, hope in a future that seemed nonexistent before.

The terra surrounding The Barren hadn't existed for sometime. It had been engulfed by the blistering threat that Heaven Junk was built to repel, a noxious sea of matter cascading across the earth, bound to encompass everything. The matter seemed destined to claim and engulf the planet like a virus.

Junk's populace had lost their ability to dream, to see potential in others and themselves before finding residence in the space. These abilities still waned in and out over time, a trend that drew collective concern. Members constantly found themselves just short of breakthroughs. Hope came in waves.

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Written, recorded, & mastered by Kid Smpl
Recorded in San Francisco, California from December 2016 to November 2017
Artwork & layout by Joey Butler aka Kid Smpl

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twitter.com/KidSmpl
soundcloud.com/kidsmpl
soundcloud.com/otherchannelslabel

Kid Smpl - Grief In Flux

Sakura Tsuruta with machìna - 06/12/2021

221215

let it out prod twinglxksss

bcafwm (prod. tiresss)

Lifes a game

On this week’s episode of the Talkhouse Podcast, we share a deep-diving conversation about the idea of space for BIPOC folks in indie rock venues — a discussion with the explicit intent “to talk about brown voices, and to talk about how we can uplift them.”

Black Belt Eagle Scout — real name Katherine Paul — is a self-described “radical indigenous queer feminist” who grew up on the Swinomish Indian Reservation in Northwest Washington state. KP, as she’s known, is Swinomish and Iñupiaq (a Native community in Alaska). Here, she speaks with Sasami Ashworth, aka SASAMI, a Korean-American singer/songwriter and musician based in Los Angeles. Sasami made her name playing synth in Cherry Glazerr before going solo in 2018. Our special guest-host is Vagabon, or Lætitia Tamko, a Cameroonian-born singer/songwriter/producer.

This episode was inspired by the Twitter backlash after a conversation Black Belt Eagle Scout had with Ailsa Chang on the NPR show All Things Considered. With Chang, KP discussed feeling uncomfortable with so many white people at her shows, as her music is intended for BIPOC folks, and stated:

“It’s for people of color, for indigenous people, for queer people, and white men are so fragile when I say stuff like that. It’s because of white privilege and they don’t often get told that.”

KP was obviously not advocating for banning white men from her shows, but for there to be more room at each performance for her community. Still, of course, a number of fragile white men took to Twitter calling KP racist, and hating on the show for having her on. I saw Lætitia and Sasami tweeting support for KP, with Sasami doing full on UFC-style e-battle with some trolls! I reached out the next day to offer the platform of the Talkhouse Podcast for an extended convo on the topic, one without journalists or “fragile white men” involved. This talk was recorded back in March, just before Covid-19 slammed the States, and before the Black Lives Matter movement’s incredible recent strides.

Keep it locked to hear about issues of safety and space in DIY touring, the importance of land acknowledgments, and actionable things that bands and fans can do.

Check it out, and subscribe now to stay in the loop on future episodes of the Talkhouse Podcast; next week’s is Julien Baker with Katie Harkin.
—Elia Einhorn, Talkhouse Podcast host and producer

For this week’s episode, Sasami Ashworth was recorded by Eric Rennaker at bedrock.LA; Katherine Paul, Lætitia Tamko and I each recorded ourselves. Our producer extraordinaire is Mark Yoshizumi.

The Talkhouse Podcast theme song was composed and performed by The Range.

Please direct all podcast-related ideas, vitriol, and compliments to elia@thetalkhouse.com.

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Black Belt Eagle Scout with SASAMI

I’m a simple person
Angel take me down
I was blocking out the image
Without sound

You entered wordless
Shook me to the core
If your wings are shattered
Where’s the door?


I can’t help but think that
In this burnt out room
My dad’s reflection’s shouting
In the ruins

In this tattered classroom
You walk into your doom
The lessons come too late 
And much too soon


I am not a angel
Take me down the stairs
A butterfly is painted 
In the lair

Those storied objects
Titillate the past
Remembering my angels
Breaks the glass


I can’t help but think that
In this burnt out room
My dad’s reflection’s shouting
In the ruins


If I go out 
Will I walk on broken glass
Oh it’s all lost in the past

If I go out 
I won't walk on broken glass
Oh I’m running so freaking fast


You’re a gentle person 
You wouldn’t shout like that
You harmonize with _____
You make me laugh

I was only joking
When I said I’m fast
A wooden puppet’s waiting
In the past


If I go out 
Will I walk on broken glass
Oh it’s all lost in the past

If I go out 
I won't walk on broken glass
Oh I’m running so freaking fast

Merry X-mas 2 Me Only (Prod. by yungspoiler)

Pim