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Revjot [jiji_catfood_mix]

Stream it elsewhere: https://idol.lnk.to/Aftertouched
Visit the Record Store Day website: https://recordstoreday.co.uk/releases/rsd-2021-drop-2/qasim-naqvi/

July 17 will see the much-treasured analog synthesizer suite Chronology by Pakistani-American composer and drummer of the cult trio Dawn of Midi, Qasim Naqvi, finally receiving a worldwide vinyl release on Record Store Day 2021.

Originally conceived only digitally in 2016, Chronology was Qasim’s first release of electronic music. Having been in the world of improvised and classical music up to this point, it seemed only fitting for Naqvi’s inaugural electronic music album to be made exclusively on a malfunctioning synthesizer — an old Moog Model D. Leaving the abundant options of a computer behind.  

“Taken individually, the six pieces on Chronology dispense small-scale hits of gorgeousness. In tandem, the tracks cohere to form a compelling suite of pieces that can subtly undermine expectations for ambient-influenced composition.” — Pitchfork

According to Naqvi: "On the level of functionality, the synthesizer was kind of janky. It produced a low level din of white electrical noise and some of the knobs were erratic. Sometimes it would just shut off and the idea would end there. It was like bringing some ancient thing back from the dead and having it adapt. But with sound that always leads to interesting results." 

He used these anomalies to his advantage and the overall piece has a unique sonic signature that would perhaps be impossible to recreate on another Model D.

“When we think of a computer, we think of limitless options and an abundance of memory for recalling ideas. The Moog holds a reverse approach. It's a tactile piece of machinery with discrete circuits, 3 voltage-controlled oscillators and knobs for controlling the contour of the oscillator. It's monophonic, so chords or polyphonic playing is out of the question. The absence of this function required a layering of ideas in stages. Also, there's no way of saving anything or recalling presets. Once you make a sound, that's it. It exists in that moment unless you chronicle the settings by writing them down. It's kind of like making a gesture with a brush. Once it strikes the canvas, you can either freeze it in time or erase it forever”, Qasim recalls.

Chronology will be released physically on Record Store Day 2021, July 17 on Erased Tapes — followed by a digital release on July 31.

Tracklist

A1. Kindly Static
A2. Aftertouched
A3. Head Within a Head
A4. Turtle on Fire

B1. Chronology
B2. Mt. Erased

Chronology

Aftertouched

Stream it elsewhere

Qasim Naqvi - Aftertouched

This track was made as a contribute to Zoviet France open remix project https://soundcloud.com/zoviet-france/sets/hidden-by-the-wall-open-remix
The samples were live scrambled together with Lyra 8 synth (also played live), using a software called Forester, made by Leafcutter John. The result was recorded direct to disk, so no editing

ZF 23 24 7

Malibu is a French electronic musician whose work sails between ambient and ethereal music.
Forever inspired by soft reverbed vocals and melodious chord progressions, Malibu’s music is an immersive nostalgic journey in a sea of synthetic strings and choirs. 
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/malibu/episodes/malibu-11th-april-2024

United in Flames with F.G.S. & Malibu 110424

Parallel Landscapes is the first solo full-length album from Swiss artist Steinbrüchel on 12k, despite his relationship with the label and apperances on compilations, collaborations (Status, with Frank Bretschneider (12k1033)) and EP releases (Mit Ohne, (12k2010)). It seems that Steinbrüchel was waiting for the right moment to release such an illustrious album that is not only a release of music but of visual art as well.

Parallel Landscapes consists of a compact disc in a cd wallet and a beautifully printed sixty page colour printed booklet with a laser stenciled wrap-around cover conceptualized and designed by Steinbrüchel featuring photographs from Taylor Deupree and an essay by Lawrence English. The booklet and cd wallet are housed in a slipcase printed inside and out in black and white on contrasting paperstocks.

The music on Parallel Landscapes was created with the design process in mind. Steinbrüchel engaged himself with ideas of «designing» music instead of making or writing music and about the importance of music existing with (or without) visual enhancement.

The ideas of landscape, while not new in the musical world, were prevalent throughout the creative process. Music vs. landscape, music as horizontal layers, drawing new curves (landscapes) over sound files, imposing one landscape onto another and hearing/seeing the results. However, the album isn¹t just about horizontal combinations but vertical inbetweens as well. What happens from one event to the next? What happens when events are combined? How does the addition of one object (audio, visual) redefine another object next to it? What happens to a table when a chair is placed in front of it? ... And how does all of this coalesce into sonic and visual space?

There¹s an incredible amount of exploratory thought behind Parallel Landscapes that make this one of Steinbrüchel¹s most ambitious projects to date. His music has become increasingly refined but always retaining his signature sound. Still using the ideas of sine waves and pure tones but now softened with time, his palette stretches across electronics into a variety of found and acoustic sources. Bell tones are in the forefront, interspersed with the soft crackles of noise and static. Tones are stretched across the visual plane like a bell being carried across the land forever duplicating itself. Parallel Landscapes is engaging and reflective and sets a new standard in Steinbrüchel¹s creative output.

Matu

Rei Nakatani

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