Kraut Sounds is sort alias for an artist that followers of Whitelabrecs will recognise; South Germany’s Polaroid Notes. This project is reserved for more electronic, purer ambient explorations having been initiated in 2012. Previous releases have featured on Büro für Erdrotation, Stellar Transitions, Diametral and Drone Works International.

This digital-only edition is a debut under this name, for Whitelabrecs and clocks in at just over 35 minutes of audio. Silence is a peaceful journey through quiet and meditative soundscapes, based on personal studies about sleep, subconsciousness and higher awareness, in combination with a deep interest in old electronic sounds from the past century.
It is an attempt to play less, in order to gain more. Like minimal music with repeating and shifting multi-layered soundscapes. Like slow motion sound painting, with a curious view of how things evolve naturally.

All five tracks are based on improvisations, following no specific rules or schemes. Everything flows in way that works uniquely for you, as you drift along in sound and time.

Written and produced by Kraut Sounds (while the cat gently slept beside)
Recorded February/April 2021
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Kraut Sounds

Links:
https://krautsounds.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/kraut-sounds
https://www.facebook.com/krautsounds/

wlrep006 Kraut Sounds - Silence

artist: spheruleus
title: inaugurate
catalog: eR001
release date: 26th of february 2022

release type: ep
series: eRecords digital series
playing speed: 45rpm

written and produced by: harry towell
mastered by: james edward armstrong
cover photography by: harry towell

https://whitelabrecs.com/erecord-series/

eRecords are a series of digital editions which aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, whitelabel vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes and you will only be able to find out more about the themes and ideas about each record, once you’ve downloaded them.

Inaugurate

eR001 spheruleus - a blank horizon

artist: wodwo
title: veils
catalog: eR012
release date: 16/12/2022

release type: ep
series: eRecords digital series
playing speed: 45 rpm

written and produced by ray robinson
mastered by james edward armstrong
cover artwork by sydney rae
art and design by harry towell
whitelabrecs.com/erecord-series/

eRecords are a series of digital editions which aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, whitelabel vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes and you will only be able to find out more about the themes and ideas about each record, once you’ve downloaded them.

veils

eR012 wodwo - men in wooden ships

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR020
artist: harry towell
release title: photo synthesis
runtime: 12:55
location: morton, lincolnshire, uk

Photo Synthesis

eR020 harry towell - camellia

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR030
artist: Tom Smith
release title: Electio
runtime: 24:27
location: london, uk

written and produced by tom smith
mastered by james edward armstrong
cover artwork by tom smith
booklet art and design by harry towell

Electio

eR030 Tom Smith - River

Since its inception in 2019, the Sleeplaboratory compilation albums have been dedicated to exploring the interplay between Ambient music and sleep. Each volume gathers a diverse range of artists from around the world, who are invited to craft a piece of music which provides either a sense of calm or a subdued, minimal aesthetic.

Building on its four predecessors, Sleeplaboratory5.0 introduces a range of Ambient styles, from cinematic orchestral tones to hushed drones, delicate guitar passages, fractured piano notes, and deep bass textures. This edition welcomes back label previous label contributors such as Henrik Meierkord, Feeling Flying, The Bird’s Companion, Knivtid, and Calm Pieces. Their work is interwoven with contributions from new names to Whitelabrecs, offering a glimpse of potential future collaborations and releases.

As with all Whitelabrecs releases, the physical edition of Sleeplaboratory5.0 will feature companion artwork where the photographer had the same brief, to create something around the theme of sleep. This time, George Korunov’s evocative visuals adorn the four-panel sleeve, continuing our creative partnership. The deep blue and purple hues of these abstract images are suitably dreamlike, suggestive of clouds, of forest and of hard to place memories. The album is designed for versatile listening experiences, whether played quietly on headphones at night, softly through speakers in a dimly lit room, or as a soothing background companion to your day. The Sleeplaboratory series taps into the restorative qualities of both sleep and Ambient music.

Credits:
Curated by Harry Towell
Executive mastering by James Edward Armstrong
Mastering for tracks 2, 6, 7 arranged by the artists
Artwork by George Korunov
Art and design by Andrew Heath
All rights reserved with the artists

Sleeplaboratory5.0

wlr175 Various Artists - Sleeplaboratory5.0

Calm Pieces is a València-based musician named Rafa Ramos Sania, who has a background in Jazz, Experimental, and Ambient music. He has collaborated with different artists and has previously released music on labels like Cuneiform Records and Archives. Some may recall Rafa’s collaboration with Edu Comelles for the 2022 Whitelabrecs album ‘de camp’ as well as double bass contributions on Edu’s 2020 album Línia Pedra Paisatge Solc. Rafa was a double bass player for the jazz trio Naima and his journey as a musician began in his teens with electric bass, followed by explorations in guitar, piano, and music production. As Calm Pieces, Rafa distils his work into softer, more ambient compositions, creating a sound that is both intimate and enigmatic.

Singles' is Calm Pieces' debut album, characterised by a serene and introspective sound, crafted through a blend of modern and traditional techniques. Rafa recorded acoustic instruments such as double bass, cello, classical guitar, and acoustic slide guitar, blending them with a digital sound palette into dynamic and textural cinematic soundscapes. Each track conveys a sense of calm and expressiveness, with melodies emerging naturally from improvisation. The album marks Rafa’s first solo physical release on a label, and Whitelabrecs is honored to share this evocative, minimalist journey with the world.

Credits:
Written and produced by Calm Pieces
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Cover artwork by David Linuesa
Art and design by Andrew Heath
Calm Pieces is a project by Rafa Ramos Sania.
Some of the sounds were created together with Edu Comelles

Singles

wlr176 Calm Pieces - Singles

Italian artist Jolanda Moletta returns following her acclaimed 2022 album Nine Spells, which reconnected her with her female ancestors with a new album called Night Caves. This is a transformative album that delves deep into themes of ancestry, nature, and inner exploration. Through field recordings and vocal performances captured inside ancient sea and mountain caves in Italy, Jolanda forged a profound connection between her music and the land, weaving a sonic narrative of healing, self-discovery, and belonging.

Caves, as symbols of the unconscious, serve as the album’s central motif. Jolanda describes them as sanctuaries for humanity, offering insights into ancient spirituality and creative expression. In these spaces she confronted her own shadow-self, fears, and hidden treasures, ultimately rediscovering the creative fire within. The album’s artwork features photos of these caves, interwoven with black-and-white self-portraits which reflect the duality of light and shadow, serving as portals to the inner and outer worlds. Jolanda's art bridges these realms, inviting listeners to explore their own subconscious and creative potential.

At the heart of Night Caves lies Jolanda’s artistic philosophy. She describes her work as 'Sonic and Visual Spells,” which connect the audience to their own intuition and inner world. Drawing inspiration from archetypes and shared cultural symbols, Jolanda’s creations transcend the boundaries of time, space, and tradition. Her holistic approach integrates music, imagery, and symbolism to craft immersive experiences that inspire transformation. The human voice, she believes, is a bridge between the visible and the invisible, with the power to evoke emotions, spark imagination, and connect listeners to their deeper selves.

Jolanda’s journey as an artist has been marked by critical acclaim. Her 2022 album Nine Spells, crafted entirely with her voice, earned her a performance at Le Guess Who? Festival in the Netherlands and was featured on Bandcamp Daily, Spotify’s Best of Ambiente 2022, and prominent radio platforms such as KEXP and Soho Radio. In Night Caves, Jolanda expands on her commitment to blending sound and visuals, offering listeners not just an album, but an invitation to experience art as a sacred, transformative ritual.

Credits:
Written and produced by Jolanda Moletta
Mastering by Rafael Anton Irisarri
Artwork by Jolanda Moletta
Design by Andrew Heath

Night Caves

wlr177 Jolanda Moletta - Night Caves

Sven's compositions often transport listeners to inspiring, ethereal realms. Cellos and pianos paint soft, contemplative landscapes, tinged with underlying angst and longing, showcasing Sven's talent for translating life stories into relatable and evocative music.

With 'The Undefined Feeling of Discomfort', Sven presents an album this time brimming with anxiety, fear, and anticipation. Struggle permeates the music, enhanced by distorted vocals, acoustic guitars and drone pads. Sven once again evokes deep emotions, guiding the listener through a powerful sonic journey.

The album opens with a floating, introspective tone. The atmosphere is dark, and an anxious feeling gradually emerges. As the first city lights appear from afar, a tumultuous force sweeps everything away, like an undertow shattering waves on a coastline. Moving on, choir-like vocals bring in a biblical aspect, adding darker, soul-wrenching depth. It feels like a scream from the abyss, leaving an empty shell resonating with its vastness. Soft guitar notes offer hope, but the passage ends with intense anxiety, and feelings of rapid flashes before one's eyes throwing us off balance.

Further along, a rise from uncertainty hints at a resolution. It starts with a sense of battle and resistance illustrated with hopeful strings and a heartbeat-like backbeat. A force emerges from the dark sonic cloud pierced by a tenacious sun. The second half brings resolution and lightness, offering hope and comforting certainty amidst the alarming tension of this transitional phase. The album leaves us feeling chaos after the storm, atoms crushing into one another. With a calmer end, as if the initial rumble had passed, a scar remains. The memory lingers, but things move forward. 

The Undefined Feeling of Discomfort

wlr180 Sven Laux - The Undefined Feeling of Discomfort

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR033
artist: alexis delozanne
release title: acclimatation
runtime: 35:00
location: paris, france

credits
written and produced by alexis delozanne
mastered by james edward armstrong
art and design by harry towell

Acclimatation

eR033 Alexis Delozanne - Poudre à Couleurs

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR034
artist: first snow of the year
release title: norwegian white
runtime: 27:45
location: mechelen, belgium

credits
written and produced by erik sevenans
mastered by james edward armstrong
art and design by harry towell

Norwegian White

eR034 First Snow of The Year - Decembers

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR035
artist: brannan lane
release title: rain nap
runtime: 58:18
location: florida, united states

Rain Nap

Brannan Lane - Rain Nap (Excerpt)

Ozbolt is the moniker of Germany-based artist Andy Ozbolt, who also records as Andy Aquarius. Andy’s music has appeared on labels such as Hush Hush, Constellation Tatsu, 7k! and Shimmering Moods to name but a few. His work as Andy Aquarius tends to focus on his Celtic Harp compositions whereas Ozbolt is a tribute to his Croatian heritage, capturing the essence of external landscapes and offering sonic reflections of specific places in time. In an album shaped by adventure, wonder, and the ineffable essence of lived experience, here Andy presents us with his Whitelabrecs debut Chasyng Drakens. This latest work stems from a transformative journey through the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa, blending the organic textures of field recordings with the ethereal resonance of the Celtic harp.

The album’s origins trace back to a chance experiment—setting up a rental harp in a coastal tree to let the wind play its strings. The resulting tones were so captivating that Andy sought to preserve them, leading to the spontaneous collection of field recordings throughout his travels. Upon returning to Berlin, these atmospheric recordings became the foundation for Chasyng Drakens, inspiring a flurry of creativity that saw most of the album come together in just two weeks. Layers of harp, from muted plucks to synthesized tones, intertwine with analog synths, rhythmic samples, and contributions from South African musicians on saxophone, flute and voice.

At its heart, Chasyng Drakens is a time capsule, as an attempt to translate the profound solitude and discovery of solo travel into an immersive sonic tapestry. While each track stands alone, the unifying presence of field recordings pulls them into a singular, cohesive world, evoking the shifting landscapes and fleeting moments of Andy’s journey.

This album serves both to document space and time, and as an invitation to open up a portal into the wonder of the unknown, and get a sense of the place and circumstance it was made. Ozbolt has captured here the raw joy of exploration, weaving sound and memory into a musical map of an extraordinary adventure, complete with photography captured on the trip. The rest of the story is for our own imagination. 

Written, recorded and produced by Andy Ozbolt
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Analog photography by Andy Ozbolt
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Saxophone on Yielbongura by Chant Messina
Flute on Harkerville Coastal Trail by Jonathan Velthuysen
A field recorder, kindly provided by Gerdus Oosthuizen, was destroyed in the process of creation.

Chasyng Drakens

wlr182 Ozbolt - Chasyng Drakens

The Bird’s Companion is the Ambient project of Casey van Wensem, a musician based in Victoria, Canada. Having first explored music through piano lessons as a child, his passion for creating original compositions has helped him  hone a sound that blends elements of minimalism, modern classical, and post-rock, drawing inspiration from the likes of Steve Reich, Nils Frahm, and Mogwai. Since adopting The Bird’s Companion moniker in 2015 with a self-released EP called After the Fire, Casey has released music on 1631 and, some may recall his debut EP for Whitelabrecs ‘The Edge of the Sea’. He also collaborates widely across genres in his local scene.

A Place Outside of Time is a collection shaped by dreamy, cinematic nostalgia. The album was crafted using a range of acoustic and electric instruments including piano, electric guitar, baritone guitar, banjo and various synths. Plucked piano strings and layered guitar feedback provides a tapestry of sound that feels both intimate and expansive, evoking lost memories and distant places.

At the heart of this record lies a meditation on memory and the fragility of tradition. Inspired by a chapter from Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, where an entire town succumbs to amnesia, the album imagines music as a vessel to retrieve what’s slipping away. Track titles such as The Memory Machine hint at this deeper narrative, as Casey reflects on the fading wisdom of elders and the challenge of preserving their stories in an age dominated by rapid digital change. Casey reflects “Many of the titles on the album are taken directly from the text of this chapter. For example, The Memory Machine is a reference to the machine built by Jose Arcadio Buendia – a machine that spins images of a person’s entire life before their eyes, so they can retrieve their memories in the midst of their amnesia. I was also thinking a lot about my family when making the album, especially my grandparents and my wife’s grandparents, who have had a major influence in my life”.

When we feel lost, we can return to our memories as a source of hope by remembering the miracles and joys of our past and of our ancestors. Through its layered melodies and wistful textures, A Place Outside of Time invites listeners into a world where memories are treasures to be unearthed; an act of quiet rebellion against forgetfulness, and a journey back to the roots of who we are.

Credits:
Written and produced by Casey van Wensem
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Casey van Wensem
Art and design by Andrew Heath

A Place Outside Of Time

wlr183 The Bird's Companion - A Place Outside of Time

Tides is an Ambient artist originally from the South East of England, now residing in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where the rugged landscapes and serene beauty deeply inspire both his music and photography. Having previously released on labels such as Dewtone Recordings, Shimmering Moods Records, Mystery Circles, and SoundGhost, Tides has spent years refining a sound that blends organic instrumentation, experimental processing, and deeply personal themes. With early days spent with Jazz, Funk, and even Deathcore, his journey toward Ambient music has been shaped by a lifelong passion for sound and recording.

Where Her Flowers Still Bloom is a deeply personal exploration of memory, grief, and healing, written as a response to witnessing his mother’s battle with early-onset dementia. As words failed to capture the weight of this experience, music became an outlet for reflection, with each track serving as a sonic expression of love, loss, and fading recollections. Through a delicate interplay of electric and acoustic guitar, piano, field recordings and granular synthesis, Tides crafts an album that is both intimate and expansive, drawing listeners into a world of nostalgia and emotional depth.

The album’s sound design is built on a fluid creative process that blends traditional recording techniques with experimental methods. Intricate textures were sculpted which blur the boundaries between composition and sound manipulation. With a young family, his workflow has been built around short bursts of time, balancing music with family life. This allows him to continuously sample, resample, and refine sounds into deeply immersive atmospheres.

Beyond its musical elements, Where Her Flowers Still Bloom is also a reflection on personal growth and transformation. Over the past year, Tides has embraced trail running, minimalism, and mindfulness as ways to navigate mental health challenges and to break cycles of consumerism and addiction. Inspired by artists like Austin Cairns (r beny), whose story of personal recovery resonated deeply, Tides has found balance through creativity and nature, shaping an album that is as cathartic for him as it is moving for the listener.

Credits:
Written and produced by Samuel Death
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Samuel Death
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Where Her Flowers Still Bloom

wlr184 Tides - Where Her Flowers Still Bloom

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR036
artist: HERE
release title: hues of amber & rose
runtime: 22:11
location: london, uk

written and produced by simon vince
photography by ann savchenko
art and design by harry towell

Hues of Amber & Rose

Beneath The Shade Of Trees

Henrik Meierkord is a Swedish artist based in Stockholm. His main instrument is the cello, although his work often incorporates viola, double bass, guitar and subtle electronic elements too. His sound blends the emotional pull of classical music with the meditative depth of Ambient and Henrik’s intuitive creative process draws inspiration from film scores, minimalist composers like Pärt or Ligeti, and Ambient pioneers such as Popol Vuh and Biosphere.

Italian composer Marco Lucchi from Modena brings plenty of experience to this collaboration, having been active in experimental and Ambient music since the late 1980s. A former music teacher and scholar, Marco's approach is grounded in kosmische music, minimalism and Ambient styles. In this album, he joins Henrik in a continuation of their longstanding creative dialogue. Swedish flautist and producer Pawel Kobak adds a third strand to this project, layering processed flute textures into some of Henrik and Marco’s evolving pieces.

The Book of Dreams explores themes of sleep and dreams. What began as a collaborative piece for the Sleeplaboratory5.0 compilation grew into a fully realised collaboration. Henrik and Marco exchanged ideas from across the borders, building lush, drifting pieces through a process of inspiration and response. Pawel's flute recordings, gently pitched, time-stretched, and transformed, were later woven into the fabric of this album. The result is an album that lives between the conscious and the unconscious, where layered strings, gentle drones, and evolving Ambient passages unfold slowly like distant memories.

Themes of restlessness and retreat run throughout the album, echoing the growing tension many of us can feel in modern life. It acts as both an ode and antidote to sleeplessness, intended not just for passive listening but as a contemplative aid. Whether heard during late-night solitude or the quiet morning hours, The Book of Dreams offers a space to wander, drift, and dissolve into stillness.

The Book Of Dreams

wlr185 Henrik Meierkord, Marco Lucchi & Pawel Kobak - The Book Of Dreams

Edge Angles, the debut album for Whitelabrecs by French artist Aries Mond, is a collection of nine contemporary pieces shaped by instinct, spontaneity and the constraints of everyday life. Boris Billier, the artist behind the Aries Mond moniker, has previously released music through revered compatriot labels such as Eilean Rec and IIKKI. His background in environmental sound art, theatre and installation informs a rich, multidisciplinary approach to composition, often blurring the lines between real everyday sound sources and hints of surreal, out of context ideas.

Where earlier works embraced precision and atmosphere, Edge Angles takes a more rugged and impulsive route. The album was born not from carefully planned sessions, but from fleeting windows of time; snatched moments between the daily demands, recorded with the nearest microphone at hand. Piano lines were captured in single takes, often without any preparation, with the urgency of someone striving to realise an idea before it disappears.

This fast and unpredictable creative process is likened by the artist to slide sports, where each decision must be made in real time, balancing between a controlled flow and a misstep. There is a fine line, he suggests, between an elegant movement and a complete collapse. Edge Angles traces that fragile balance, embracing imperfection as part of a pursuit to uncover something unique and intimate.

Edge Angles

wlr186 Aries Mond - Edge Angles

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR037
artist: alexis delozanne
release title: hues of amber & rose
runtime: 21:26
location: paris, france

written and produced by alexis delozanne
mastered by james edward armstrong
artwork by nkl
art and design by harry towell

Abréviation

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR038
artist: the deccan traps
release title: sentinel of the moors
runtime: 45:12
location: high peak, uk

written and produced by phil frodsham
mastered by james edward armstrong
artwork by phil frodsham
art and design by harry towell

Sentinel of the Moors

The Deccan Traps - Mellor Moor

Wandering Mind, Drifting Weather is a cross-border collaboration between Norwegian composer and pianist Julia Gjertsen and Swedish trombonist and sound artist Gustav Davidsson. Both artists have a classically trained background, and are known for their improvised sound and Ambient compositions. Between them they’ve released on labels such as Moderna Records, Constellation Tatsu, Bigo & Twigetti and Blue Spiral Records. While Julia is known for her emotive piano-led pieces and evolving electronic textures, Gustav brings his unique approach to the trombone, treating it as both a melodic and atmospheric instrument. They reside in separate but neighbouring countries with Julia in Oslo, Norway and Gustav in the village of Ljungskile near Gothenburg in Sweden.

This album was created as a slow and intuitive exchange of sketches, sent back and forth between these two artists over the course of several months. The result is an immersive suite of compositions which place the piano and trombone front of stage, enhanced by subtle restrained pads, Wurlitzer tones and gentle electronics. Each piece represents a different time of day and evokes a mood akin to weather in motion such as shifting light, drifting clouds or a sudden breeze. The title Wandering Mind, Drifting Weather reflects the intuitive progression of these works, where ideas and improvisations gradually shaped a harmonious collection. Thematically, it paints nature as both a setting and a metaphor; the way a setting can be transformed by meteorological elements, and how thoughts, just like weather, pass with their own emotional charge.

Rather than follow a rigid structure, the music here exists in a space between composition and spontaneity, often capturing a moment rather than refining it. Julia’s minimal and expressive piano sketches form the structural foundation, while Gustav explores the trombone’s many voices not just as a lead instrument, but as a background hum, gentle harmony, or a shadowy atmosphere

Written and produced by Julia Gjertsen and Gustav Davidsson
Mastered by Gustav Davidsson
Photography by Julia Gjertsen
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Wandering Mind, Drifting Weather

wlr187 Julia Gjertsen & Gustav Davidsson - Wandering Mind, Drifting Weather

eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.

We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release, so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will give you the background of each edition in the series.

catalog: eR039
artist: akira film script
release title: live at the modern
runtime: 1:44:03
location: san francisco, usa

Akira Film Script - V

wlr188 - JARR - Sun Swift Swoon

Southend-based composer and visual artist Adrian Lane returns to Whitelabrecs with ‘Where Once We Danced’, following on from his previous acclaimed and long-since sold out albums ‘Vignettes’ (2024), ‘Missing The Crows’ (2022) and ‘The Fleet’ (2021). This new collection further develops his Modern Classical and Ambient repertoire, blending piano, strings and electronic textures into rich and evocative cinematic songs. With a growing back catalogue of several albums released across respected labels such as Oscarson, Chitra, Preserved Sound and Hibernate, as well as his own independent projects, Adrian’s music draws on a wealth of inspiration, spanning from minimalism and neo-classical composers to sound design and visual arts.

The roots of Where Once We Danced trace back to a period of unexpected inspiration. When a fault in his car stereo left him reliant on BBC Radio 3 during long commutes, Adrian found himself immersed in more traditional classical music. This shift in listening sparked a desire to write music that, while not intended as formal scores, could be imagined as notated pieces. He began developing themes around piano and strings, later incorporating clarinet as a leading voice across several tracks with guest performances by Bryan Styles in the track ‘Your Eyes Lift’. He feels that through his exposure to composers such as Chopin, Schubert and both Clara and Robert Schumann, his writing was influenced subconsciously. And so we have in this album, what Adrian considers his most classical record to date.

Despite its classical leaning, Where Once We Danced is rooted in Adrian’s signature approach of building atmospheric textures, arpeggiated synths and layered arrangements crafted meticulously at home. The album blends acoustic instrumentation with electronic elements in a way that feels both timeless and contemporary. As is the case so often with his work, the artwork was created by Adrian himself, using mixed media collage techniques using vintage books, newspapers, magazines and acrylic paint. Rather than aiming for a single definitive cover, he produced a series of ten experimental pieces, three of which have been used in the final design. The visuals echo the eroded and delicate textures to be found in the music; the track and album titles serve as intimate glimpses of a story that feels weathered by time and half-remembered. It serves as a metaphor for the listener  to apply their own circumstances and it is hoped that this makes for a nostalgic, relatable journey.

wlr189 Adrian Lane - Where Once We Danced

South Londoner Bill Bawden has been releasing delicate ambient music since 2005 under various guises, most notably albums and EPs on Serein, 12Rec, Resting Bell, Audio Gourmet and Rural Colours under the name Herzog. On his first full-length release under his Prairie Lines moniker, Bill has continued to refine his sound, processing piano samples to bring out warm lo-fi textures and layers of static. 
The prairie lines are wide open spaces and homely values. Pylons and cables stretching for miles. Lines of migration. Interrupted communications. 

eyes down slowdown is a call to become more introspective, to temporarily reject the speed of life around you. 
An invitation to a (sinister?) place of worship, stepping into a resonant holy chamber.. this is where we kneel. A secret home away from the buzzing city streets, but also a secret home inside yourself. The performance of a repetitive ritual in order to achieve some result. A bright melodic loop which gradually corrodes (over time? or while some other truth is revealed?). A familiar sequence that gradually falls apart, an examination of what is necessary. A repetition to bring about 
a trance-like state.. to see without seeing and hear without hearing. To touch hands from the sky. 
Calm landing.. to descend to somewhere new (or a transformation of the familiar).. an open field and a gentle breeze. 
To accept the familiar and unfamiliar as one, to be comfortable with life whatever it holds. 
Stop haunting my door.. not a physical door but a way in (to a higher consciousness?) The ghost is not trying to gain access but preventing you or anyone close to you from 
gaining access. Smile but prepare (..for what?). When you look inside yourself, what if you don't like what you see, or it scares you?

Eyes Down Slowdown

wlr031 the prairie lines - eyes down slowdown

Anthéne is Toronto, Canada based artist Brad Deschamps who has been recording Ambient music since 2011, after also forming part of the duo North Atlantic Drift for which he’d performed alongside artists such as Benoit Pioulard and Bing and Ruth. Solo releases have emerged on leading labels such as Hibernate, Sound In Silence and most recently Home Normal, who released ‘weightless’ only last month which label boss Ian Hawgood describes on the website as ‘warm analog sleep echoes’. Brad also runs the magnificent Polar Seas Recording label, which has released material from artists such as Mikael Lind, Celer and Andrew Tasselmyer.

We’re pleased to present the next release in Brad’s catalog, which is entitled ‘asymmetry’ as he strived to explore different depths of sound. The title of the album was born out of his idea of recording in different ways to create narrow, saturated recordings as well as widescreen ambience yet trying to blend these works together as a cohesive whole. Guitar and effects pedals, synthesizers and field recordings are some of the elements that form the basis of this dynamic yet minimal range of compositions but a simple yet key ingredient can be heard in the warm and gentle tape hiss which underpins the record.

Whilst Brad’s ideas are rooted in joining disparate, unrelated textures, the resulting record is something that makes sense; the seven pieces have been lovingly mastered by Ian Hawgood, the sheer patience of each gently unfolding track will comfort even the most restless of soul and the packaging design features artwork from Peter Nejedly. Somewhere, unintentionally, an indescribable theme emerges from nothing to blanket your eyes and ears.

Asymmetry

wlr053 anthéne - asymmetry

Logic Moon is Tobias Lorsbach, an artist from Mainz, Germany. His previous releases have appeared on labels such as Archives, Archipel and his own spontanMusik imprint across all physical and digital formats. He spent many years in the minimal techno scenes since the early 2000s and whilst out on a field recording excursion, he fell upon the idea of layering some Ambient drones. From here, his debut album as Logic Moon was born, Herbst11. 

Tobias’ musical background has drawn in a widescreen of genres with him having performed guitar in a death metal band, embarked on a DJ career and now as an Ambient musician. His varied experiences have only served to give birth to a range of ideas which are evident in his latest album ‘I See Planets’, clocking in at just over an hour. 
Compositions typically start life as a sketch on guitar before synth and additional components were added to build an environment. 

Retro-futurism is the over-arching concept to I See Planets, something which Tobias does not map out for you the listener to read so you’re clear. Instead, this bewildering atmosphere is a heady journey that requires the time and space for it to unfold carefully. 
The title track opens proceedings over 8 minutes, taking its time to wash over science fiction tales from the 70s. ‘Somnia’ follows, hinting of a drowsy night’s gaze into the black sky above as you imagine all kinds of stars, galaxies and planets. Fleeting moments of warmth are interspersed with themes of artificial intelligence, comprehension of time and darkness. 

We’ve teamed up with Thomas Easton for the artwork, who produces retro-futuristic collages. We discovered his work through Instagram and we’re pleased to find a work of art which truly encapsulates the tales of I See Planets.

Written, produced and mastered by Tobias Lorsbach 
Artwork by Thomas Easton 
Packaging design by Harry Towell

I See Planets

wlr059 Logic Moon - I See Planets

Gray Acres are brothers Michael and Andrew Tasselmyer, whose debut album was released last year on Sound In Silence. The project began in 2017 as another creative avenue for these two artists, who are already established as Hotel Neon as well as working on other collaborations and solo ventures. Andrew records under his own name as well as working with Tobias Hellkvist as Mordançage whereas Mike records under the alias Transient Sounds.
The brothers are originally from Baltimore in USA and whilst Mike still lives there, Andrew moved a hundred miles or so away to neighbouring city Philadelphia. Their work is initially created independently by building ideas, loops and recordings and these are realised into full tracks once they get together in person.

Material Forces became the name of the follow-up to last year’s eponymous unveiling, a dense but physical drift session which is as tactile as it is lulling. They did not initially have a clear vision on what this record would eventually become and much of it was performed live, with limited post-production. A key element is some field recordings taken in Asia, which provided the influence for the concept as they were all selected specifically for their powerful, intense characteristics. Rushing water, thunder claps, rock, earth and other heavy materials helped inspire the title ‘Material Forces’ as these field recordings become a focal point in which the power of the natural world collide with softer, processed guitar and synth drones to mimic the undeniable beauty that is left behind by nature as it shifts and evolves.

Material Forces

wlr064 Gray Acres - Material Forces

Blochemy is an artist from the Czech Republic, with previous releases on labels such as Clean Error Records and Sun Sea Sky Production. The latter release featured remixes by Halftribe, Sinerider and Stray Theories. Blochemy has been making music one way or another since the late nineties, following the Ambient and IDM scenes, informed by the likes of Warp and Ghostly International. His current sound is inspired by labels such as Home Normal, Spekk, Dronarivm and 12k.

His work is produced in a small home studio, as a form of escapism from the daily routine; for relaxation and self-expression.
We’re pleased to welcome the Blochemy sound to Whitelabrecs with his new album ‘Nebe’, which translates to sky in Czech. The album was created using a combination of software and hardware and is a beautiful blend of lo-fi Ambient drones, full of rich melodic tones.

Nebe expresses into sound a fascination of the variability and complexity of the sky. Its form and tone constantly evolve, as shapeshifting clouds decorate the full spectrum of blue hues. Sometimes, they disappear completely and sometimes, darkness is dotted by glittering stars.

Written and produced by Blochemy
Mastering by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Peter Nejedly

nebe

wlr070 blochemy - nebe

The fictitious tour of far-away lands continues, as anonymous artist Glåsbird follows the scratchy, folk-ambience of Norskfjǫrðr with a return to lonely arctic-island sounds. Novaya Zemlya is a Russian-owned island, stretching from just off the mainland between the Kara and Barents seas, with two islands split by the Matochkin Strait.

The Southern island Yuzhny is the home of a few inhabitants whereas the Northern counterpart Severny is pretty much all glacier. The added complication of sea-ice during Arctic winters have made certain parts of this land very difficult to navigate. There are accounts stretching back to the 16th century when explorer Willem Barentsz died on an expedition and his body is rumoured to have been buried on Severny.
Into more recent times, Novaya Zemlya has been a sensitive military area throughout the cold war as well as a nuclear testing site. In 1961 the world's most powerful nuclear weapon was detonated, the 'Tsar Bomba'.

In this album, Glåsbird composes a soundtrack which transcends the years of history, combining themes of explorers and Barentsz's tragic demise, isolation, climate change and polar bears, underpinned by radio broadcasts to give a slightly unsettling undercurrent, hinting back to the cold war. The track Vanya is named after a code name the Russians had for the Tsar Bomba detonation project and this piece sits at the centre of this album, in some of the most dramatic soundtrack work this artist has made to date.

The cover artwork and bonus images within the CD packaging were taken by photographer Uliana Prokhorova, who visited a few locations on the island. As always, this album uses the sounds, photography and track titles to build an imaginary soundtrack in your mind as you listen and immerse yourself in this latest sonic exploration.

Credits:
Written and produced by Glåsbird
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Uliana Prokhorova
Packaging Design by Harry Towell

Novaya Zemlya

wlr080 Glåsbird - Novaya Zemlya

Whitelabrecs was set up by Harry Towell in late 2015 as another outlet to put out experimental electronic/acoustic music. It followed Harry’s previous labels Audio Gourmet, Tessellate and Warehouse Decay and focuses on a collectable series of highly limited edition vinyl-effect CDr packaging, with the first 50 releases influenced by white label vinyl records. The label also runs a digital only series called eRecords, with each of these releases including a special PDF booklet.

https://www.whitelabrecs.com
https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/

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