The Sustain Series project continues with its second volume, 24 recycled forms created from old and unused material. Since the release of Volume 1 in November last year, more artists have come together to salvage, repurpose, restore and deconstruct each other’s pieces, or collaborate on a particular idea. What results is a growing variety of approaches and outputs, from minor embellishments to full disfigurement.

Volume 2 moves thematically, as if in four chapters, from the expressive openers, through enchanting natural-sounding pieces, before opening up to more ethereal expanses, and finally darker and more thoughtful ones. As it does, visions emerge of our natural world - its power, its beauty and its vulnerability.

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Dylan Henner & Robert Farrugia - Xochitlatcan

https://mikeparadinas.bandcamp.com/album/secret-garden

In Spring 2021, Mike Paradinas (µ-Ziq and the owner of Planet Mu) spoke to long time friend and past label signing Hannah Davidson (Mrs Jynx) about the therapeutic power of writing music when times are tough. Both had recently been dealing with the loss of a parent due to cancer, and fresh from writing Scurlage, Paradinas suggested a collaboration.

“I’ve always thought Hannah’s melodic sensibilities chime well with my own," says Paradinas, "and I've wanted to collaborate with her for a long time, since [her 2010 album] 'Shark Carousel' in fact, because she'd written some melodies that I wish I had.”

In a matter of weeks the two collaborated online, sending stems back and forth, each encouraging the other and fitting perfectly together. 

“After about ten days we had ten tracks we were happy with." adds Davidson, "It was exciting to hear what Mike would do with the stems I sent, and equally exciting to see what he thought of my additions to his stems.”

Overall the result is an opus of deeply personal moments of grief, depicted in a feeling of serene, misty tranquility that makes it easy to get lost in. Davidson and Paradinas settled on the title 'Secret Garden' due to the melodic vista which unexpectedly opened up before them on the final track. The album truly is a melodic exploration that is so often missed in this genre. 

There are twists and turns in mood, from the pastoral loveliness of 'Jynxiq' and 'Unheard Melodies' which fall away to the dubby beats of 'Hi Jynx'; the sadness of 'Loss' leading into the beatless forlorn 'The Ballad of Darth Vader. The album ups the pace with the muffled kicks and warm atmosphere of 'Afternoon Sunshine', which sets the tone for the happier mood of the second half. This all leads up to the album's denoeument in final track 'Secret Garden' whose naïve meandering synth melodies, orchestral accompaniment and glockenspiel end the album in happy resolution.

µ-Ziq & Mrs Jynx - The Secret Garden

Pavel Milyakov & Yana Pavlova — strong-willed

Tummaa

Musta Planeetta

Garbage

VLetrmx

Dive

4k Murmurs (feat. J)

Founded in 2017, the Swedish imprint Moloton started out as an outlet for the growing experimental music scene in Stockholm. The label has to-date released six tape cassettes and two vinyl EPs by artists like Sonja Tofik, Mar-llena, Nev Lilit, Hegira Moya and Atonet.
For the label’s ninth outing, they're welcoming Orphan Ann with their debut LP ‘The Practice of Surrender’.

The duo, consisting of DIY veteran Anja Enerud (Masskultur collective) and Sofia Al Rammal Sturdza (SARS, Född Död) burst onto the scene with their pitch-black take on synth music, combining sharp, penetrating vocal chants with atonal drones and haunting drum machine patterns. Orphan Ann has previously released their music on the Danish label Posh Isolation, where they contributed with four tracks to the ‘You And Me Now’ cassette compilation.
They have been performing their live show at various stages around the world, including MUTEK in Mexico City and Norbergfestival in Sweden.

‘The Practice of Surrender’ consists of nine tracks, all recorded, produced and mixed by the duo themselves in their studio collective Tropiska Föreningen in Stockholm and is set to be released on January 25th 2019. It is indubitably a proof of a healthy Stockholm scene, where both Moloton and Orphan Ann are leading the way, pushing the Swedish experimental sound forward with a glare.

Tracklist:
A1 - Vi är överallt
A2 - The Practice of Surrender
A3 - Du kommer aldrig nära igen
A4 - Den stora knullfesten
A5 - Märkt
B1 - Marching Men
B2 - Fever
B3 - Я уезжаю
B4 - När vi såg genom glas

Release date: 25th January 2019

Order via: https://www.moloton.com/releases/
https://soundcloud.com/orphan_ann
https://soundcloud.com/moloton

Premiere: Orphan Ann - Den Stora Knullfesten [Moloton]

Taken from 'It Should Be Us', Andy Stott’s first release since 2016 and first EP since 2011 - a doublepack of slow and raw productions for the club, recorded this year and following a series of releases that started with ‘Passed Me By’ and ‘We Stay Together’ early this decade. 

There’ll be a new Andy Stott album in 2020, but in the meantime... this one’s for dancing..

It Should Be Us

Andy Stott - Versi

Sakura

Kodomotachi

Taken from the album Caterina Barbieri - Fantas Variations released as 2LP and Digital

Dive

Dumbhead

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