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

Andrew Heath is a UK-based soundscape artist and composer, who creates lower case ambient music based around piano, electronics and field recordings. His discography includes regular output on Toby Marks’ (Banco de Gaia’s) Disco Gecko label, along with contributions for White Paddy Mountain, Rusted Tone and Elm. He has collaborated with many artists, including Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Simon McCorry, Seigo Aoyama, Anne Chris Bakker and Mi Cosa de Resistance. With the latter two, the music has been released by Whitelabrecs, with How To Breathe Like a Stone and A Speechless Body respectively.

Andrew’s latest solo album, Quiet Noise, continues his obsession with small fragments of sound that we are continually surrounded by and exposed to in our everyday lives. Balancing these ‘lower case’ recordings with his fascination of texture and tone through extensive treatments and instruments such as piano and guitar, he explores this quiet and dreamlike world. Quiet Noise also develops a more recent trait in his work towards a warmer and more tonal sound. Andrew’s work is not static and is constantly changing, building and evolving as each piece in this stunning album unfolds.

Quiet Noise presented a perfect opportunity to work with his fellow collaborators within the side project, Konstruct and so thanks must go to cellist, Simon McCorry who adds a soulful elegance to the track Embers which opens this album and to Alexander Caminada (aka Phonsonic) for stunning and majestic, half-speed flute on the concluding piece, Building Mountains. The release is rounded off with packaging designed by Andrew himself, making use of the beautiful collage artwork produced by his wife Zoë.

Quiet Noise

wlr109 Andrew Heath - Quiet Noise

artist: jens pauly
title: 1989
catalog: eR002
release date: 26th of march 2022

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

written and produced by Jens Pauly
mastered by Alexandr Vatagin
cover photo taken in 1989 by Jens Pauly
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.

1989

eR002 jens pauly - slope

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: eR019
artist: henrik meierkord
release title: cello improvisations
runtime: 22:35
locations: Stockholm, Sweden

Cello Improvisations

eR019 Henrik Meierkord - Cello Improvisation VII

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: eR021
artist: the bird's companion
release title: the edge of the sea
runtime: 24:19
location: victoria, british columbia, canada

releases November 18, 2023

Written and produced by Casey van Wensem
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Cover art by Casey van Wensem
Booklet art and design by Harry Towell

The Edge of The Sea

eR021 The Bird's Companion - The Unmoving Shore

Hailing from Belfast, raised in Manchester, and currently residing in the serene Welsh countryside, we welcome Low Altitude to the Whitelabrecs discography with the release of the captivating album ‘Boat’. With a musical journey spanning over three decades, Bruce Magill has evolved from a frontman in local guitar bands to solo work, exploring electronic music as a producer. He has released music with labels such as Criminal Communications, Skinny Dog Records, Supermarket Records, and Mailbox Records.

The decision to step away from music in 2006 was a defining moment, but 2020 provided the perfect opportunity for a creative resurgence; "After a 14-year hiatus from music, I found solace and inspiration during the lockdowns of 2020" shares Bruce. Under his new moniker, the recording sessions led to the creation of ‘Boat’, an album that serves as a profound exploration of tranquility and solitude.

In recent years, Low Altitude’s sonic contributions extended to diverse projects, including the use of tracks from the ‘Waves’ LP in the wellbeing app Syntropy States. His participation in the Sony-sponsored immersive audio compilation, 'Immersive London Calling,' showcased his versatility with Low Altitude ambient tracks and Dub Techno creations under the name 'Seion’.

‘Boat’ is a testament to Bruce’s meticulous creative process. Drawing inspiration from modern minimalism, astral jazz, and movie soundtracks, the album explores emotions anchored by a recurring drone motif. You are invited to join on this sonic voyage, inspired by the sensation of sailing by the light of the moon and the stars. A postcard of a 2022 coastal retreat along the Pembrokeshire coast, Boat captures the essence of nature with encounters with seals, dolphins, and seagulls.

Boat

wlr155 Low Altitude - Boat

Simon McCorry is a composer based in Gloucestershire creating music and sound design mainly for theatre and contemporary dance, working with companies such as Old Vic Productions, Tiata Fahodzi, House of Absolute, Javaad Alipoor Company & Fabula Collective. Simon is a cellist, often using the instrument in his work processed and combined with electronics, field recordings, and other instruments. His work has been described as “electro-orchestral drone-scapes of, by turns, gauzy intimacy and soaring grandeur” MOJO. He has recently collaborated with artists including Andrew Heath, anthéne, Requiem and, on this record, Wodwo.Wodwo is the alias of Derbyshire-based musician Ray Robinson.

An award-winning novelist and coveted screenwriter, Robinson's foray into the music world began in 2018, and his gentle ambient guitar and lush neo-classical compositions have quickly attracted a blossoming legion of fans. Ray also records as one half of JARR, alongside fellow Brit, Jon Attwood (Yellow6). Their albums have been released by Hush Hush Records and on the Sound in Silence imprint. Ray's solo output has appeared on NCTMMRN, Soundtracking The Void, Submarine Broadcasting Company and Fallow.

Every Creeping Thing is a celebration of mud and moss and slugs and bugs and roots and damp – songs of the forgotten, the small, the overlooked. A musical approach of letting things unfold and follow their path, passing material back and forth, leaving space and following a philosophy of less is more. A journey that evolved through coincidences, and shared interests in literature and the natural world – the music took its course, taking on its own life. 
 
Guitar, cello, and modular synth are played, processed, and recorded live. Nothing is sequenced or quantised, maintaining an organic breath-like quality flowing throughout the tracks. Through the music’s echoes, whisperings, creeks, calls, fluttering and murmurings – sometimes as walls of sound, often as spiderweb-fine textures – Every Creeping Thing invites the listener to immerse themselves in the intricate net of the beauty of the more-than-human world.

The cover art illustrates John Masefield's lines from The Everlasting Mercy: ‘A rushing comet, crackling, numbing the folk with fear of judgement coming.’ Taken from their collection, The Book of Comets, the artists Christopher Crouch and Cherish Marrington worked together to create something that would be a synthesis of their practices, but which would also propel them into new ways of thinking about representing their ideas. However, these illustrations are less about comets and more about the artists’ retreat into the imaginary.

The track titles for Every Creeping Thing are from Jacob Polley’s wonderful poetry collection, Jackself, which Ray happened to be reading at the time of this collaboration. As the album was coming together, he felt a real connection between the sometimes off-kilter, ‘organic’ music he and Simon were creating and Jacob’s collection. It felt as if they were inhabiting similar worlds: a world of frosty mornings, kidney-coloured pools, rosehips, and buzzards’ wings.

Credits:
Written and produced by Simon McCorry and Ray Robinson
Mastered by Simon McCorry
Art and design by Andrew Heath

The titles in this album are taken from the poetry collection ‘Jackself’ by Jacob Polley (Picador) and reproduced with kind permission.

The artwork is an illustration from ‘A Book of Comets’ by Christopher Crouch and Cherish Marrington, reproduced with kind permission.

Every Creeping Thing

wlr158 Simon McCorry & Wodwo - Every Creeping Thing

Braulio Lam is an artist and photographer from the border region of San Diego/Tijuana. His journey into music began at the age of 12 when he first picked up a guitar, before he progressed to formal music education from 2009 to 2012. 
Braulio’s debut album ‘Soundtrack For Vision’ was released on Static Discos in 2016 and in 2024 he released ‘Claroscuro’ with Dragon’s Eye Recordings. He has also released with labels such as Seven Villas Voyage, AvantRoots Records, the sublabel Akasha (Éter Editions) and Facade Electronics.

Drawing from a diverse array of influences spanning reggae, jazz, electronic, avant-garde, ambient, folk, world music, rock, afrobeat, and soundtracks, Braulio's compositions are informed as a reflection of his eclectic tastes in music. His creative process is as dynamic as his music, often changing methods and environments such as the time of day when producing music, in a quest to encounter different results. Whether crafting solo in his studio, fueled by morning coffee or late-night inspiration, or collaborating remotely with artists like FAX, Braulio's commitment to musical innovation remains unwavering.

In this album entitled ‘Redscale’, Braulio sketched a concept based around photography after settling on one of his own images as the cover artwork. The chosen photo was shot using Lomograpny Redscale at 50 ISO and each track has a title relating back to this particular shoot. 
For the music, Braulio aimed to use a small set-up of electric guitars and pedals, an OP-1, a field recorder and a mixer. He restricted the number effects and post-editing to a minimum, so that the resulting sounds stand true and intimate. In spite of the minimalism there is a variety across these 8 tracks; some pieces are deep and linear, others include environmental field recordings, and then there are sun-bleached ambient passages too. Each track was recorded at a different time of day and mood and reflecting back, Braulio describes the process as being like therapy.

Redscale

wlr162 Braulio Lam - Redscale

Slow Heart Music is the acoustic side project of ambient and drone musician Ben Rath. Based in Manchester, UK, Ben has released music under his own name with labels including Sound in Silence, Unknown Tone Records, Eilean Rec., Cathedral Transmissions, Moonswing Netlabel, Triple Moon Records and Whitelabrecs. As Slow Heart Music, Ben focuses more closely on solo acoustic guitar instrumentals and has released albums exclusively through Whitelabrecs.
The majority of Ben's musical output finds its home in the rich and diverse territory of experimental ambient and drone music. Ben creates compositions using original recordings of guitar, keyboard, and piano, as well as samples, field recordings, and digital synthesizers. These sounds from various sources are then moulded, transformed, and edited together to form instrumental arrangements which span a wide variety of styles, tones, and emotional registers, with inspiration drawn from pioneers in the genre such as Tim Hecker and Lawrence English, the early ambient works of artists such as Sean McCann and Colleen, and the emotional weight and resonance of Constellation Records greats such as Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Esmerine (among many others).

Under the Slow Heart Music moniker, Ben strips things back to explore the simple joy of the acoustic guitar. His playing, influenced by the likes of Eric Chenaux and Richard Dawson, as well as the gentle beauty of solo piano works from artists such as Nils Frahm and Olafur Arnalds, combines a sense of playful and spontaneous improvisation with arrangements and compositions that often express a gentle and tender emotion.

For his new album ‘Hope’, Ben returns to the artful acoustic arrangements and soulful guitar playing that marked his debut as Slow Heart Music, ‘This Body Is Not Me’ (2017). Armed with the same £5 half-size classical guitar which was used to record the first time around, Ben adds a second classical acoustic borrowed from his girlfriend in the spirit of using whatever was to hand to create with. He had a vision for the sound he wanted to achieve, which builds on influences from artists that embrace the mournful and melancholic, but also find beauty and uplift amidst the sadness. As Ben explains, “I’ve struggled with my mental health ever since adolescence, and music was the thing that often provided me with the most solace and comfort. The artists that inspired me were those who were expressing something that felt real to my experience, that taught me that I was not as alone in my feelings of deep sadness and anxiety as I often felt, and that meaning and beauty could still be found and expressed in the midst of it all.’’

Those who know him would describe Ben as a quiet, calm, and reserved person, but his music is the space where he is able to express himself more fully. ‘Hope’ is a collection of soft and minimal pieces, steeped in emotion and feeling, at times mournful, at others uplifting, but never seeking to prematurely soothe or distract from the suffering of the world, instead sitting in the mud of it all, and seeing what can be created from there. It is Ben’s sincere hope that his music may help some other lonely soul feel that little bit more connected and understood.

Hope

wlr161 Slow Heart Music - Hope

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: eR028
artist: the unknown shape
release title: transient ep
runtime: 15:30
location: north rhine westphalia, germany

written and produced by tobias dziapko
mastered by NFM-Mastering (HerbLF)
cover artwork by george korunov
booklet art and design by harry towell

Transient

eR028 The Unknown Shape - Transient

‘I ett annat land’ is a collaborative album by the talented Swedish duo Henrik Meierkord and Knivtid. It brings together two innovative musicians whose combined artistry results in a sound that blends ambient, neoclassical and drone elements, set to a nostalgic theme.

Henrik Meierkord, originally from Helsingborg in southern Sweden, has been residing in Stockholm for the past 25 years. He began his musical journey at the age of 14, playing cello in orchestras before transitioning to creating his own music. Over the years Henrik has released works on a variety of labels including Ambientologist, Projekt Records, Shimmering Moods, Dronarivm, Ella Ruthinstitutet, Subcontinental Records, Sound Meditation, Audiobulb, Universal, and The Nerve. He has also worked with Whitelabrecs before, ‘Proscenium’ (2024), ‘Cello Improvisations’ (2023) and ‘Inseln’, a collaboration with Logic Moon (2022). His creative process is highly intuitive, often starting with the cello and layering additional strings, double bass, and violin, while drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences such as film scores, classical composers, and contemporary artists.

Daniel Andersson, who records under the name Knivtid, is currently based just outside Stockholm. His musical journey began in his teens with home computers and tracking software, later acquiring his first synthesizer with the money he’d earnt from a summer job. Daniel has released music on labels such as Purlieu Recordings, Eilean Rec, ACR, and The Ambient Zone, as well as his own self-released projects. Knivtid's music-making process often involves improvisation, recording spontaneously and building upon those foundations, with influences spanning a wide range of genres from electronic and ambient to hip hop, R&B, pop, and free jazz.

‘I ett annat land’ is characterised by a meditative, otherworldly Ambient sound, combining electronics with modern classical textures. It evokes a dreamlike state of longing for another world, encapsulating the mood of Scandinavian forests and lakes. The album's title and one of its tracks are inspired by Mare Kandre's 1984 book ‘I ett annat land’, which translates to ‘In another country’. The work captures a child's perspective on traveling, evoking the familiar sensation of sitting in the back of a car watching the landscapes pass by. For both artists, the album represents a fantasy world of sounds and tonal creations, inviting listeners to meditate and immerse themselves in the experience. Henrik and Knivtid hope that listeners will take the time to find the right mood to fully appreciate the depth of I ett annat land, an album that is not just music to be heard, but an experience to be felt and lived.

I ett annat land

wlr168 Henrik Meierkord & Knivtid - I ett annat land

Polaroid Notes is a German artist named Andreas, who lives in the countryside between Munich and the Alps. In addition to his work as an ambient dub electronic musician under the name Kraut Sounds, he started Polaroid Notes almost ten years ago as a side project for contemporary classical music, but in recent times it has become the main focus of his artistic work.
 
Polaroid Notes has released music on Germany based labels Büro für Erdrotation, Drone Works International, Weber & Alcantu and soon on Licht-ung. He has also released albums on Whitelabrecs, including Unsung Memories (2017), Home Diaries 014: Moonlight Sessions and Ghost Sounds (both 2020) and Cloud Anthems (2022). He also released on Whitelabrecs predecessors Tesselate Recordings and Audio Gourmet.
 
Quiet Rooms came about during a strange phase of deliberate and involuntary personal changes and attempts to refocus. Moving back home after nearly eight years of working far away and dealing with one of the most annoying things a musician can experience ; tinnitus.
 
Quiet Rooms was therefore initially a kind of self-healing process to get back onto a decent track with music, focusing on slow-burning, minimalist piano lines, gentle melodies and lots of space in between the individual notes. The tracks ‘Quiet Rooms’ and ‘Two Wrongs Won’t Make It Right’ were the first pieces to be recorded and these set the direction for what was to come in the rest of the album.
 
Everything was improvised and recorded at a time when it felt right. One particular idea was to keep the tracks as transparent as possible, so that light and atmosphere could shine through as if through a piece of gauze. Later, electric piano, reversed loops and some additional electronic and field recording sounds were added. And that’s it. The music is focused, dense and uplifting in its quest for deep contemplation. It instills a sense of serenity with a gently absorbing, balanced stillness.
 
All recordings were made in the evening and at night, with the lights dimmed while the artist's cat slept gently next to the recording equipment. The individual titles of the twelve tracks reflect the mood and hope in which the album was created. What you hear on the album is a carefully curated extract from several hours of recordings. The photos that can be seen across the four gatefold sleeves of the packaging were staged presentations of quiet rooms inside the artist’s home. For us the listener, they serve as fictitious environments to place ourselves, in which to escape into a quiet space.

Quiet Rooms

wlr169 Polaroid Notes - Quiet Rooms

Mardit B. Lleshi is a cellist and composer from Tirana, Albania, who previously released an album on Whitelabrecs in 2023 as part of a duo with Bledi Boraku for an album called Saggio. He has been immersed in music since the age of seven and his journey in composition began in 2006, leading him to explore a diverse range of sounds and styles. Over the years, he has released music on various international labels, including Interpretnull (Czech Republic) and PMG Record (North Macedonia). His approach to music is multifaceted, combining software, hardware, and both acoustic and electric instruments to create distinctive soundscapes. Lleshi’s influences are broad, spanning classical and contemporary music, minimalism, rock, and darkwave. He draws inspiration from legendary composers such as Mozart, Rachmaninov, John Tavener, Arvo Pärt, and Schnittke, as well as iconic artists such as Pink Floyd and Massive Attack. Known for his preference for live performance, Lleshi has been presenting his work under his real name since 2012, having previously recorded under a pseudonym. He has also composed music for several films including an album that was part of a VICE series documentary by Ben Anderson on the humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso.

In this album, entitled ‘Monumenta’ Mardit has created a deep and enveloping album, characterised by themes of deep, dark space, and melancholy. This project was shaped by a blend of software, hardware, and a variety of instruments, resulting in a rich and textured sonic landscape. The creation of the album was heavily influenced by the artist’s account of a natural disaster; the 2019 earthquake in North West Albania. These emotions are deeply embedded in the music and separately, his sister created the cover artwork to reflect upon the same events. Though this album is not structured as a traditional concept album, the profound events culminate into a combined audio-visual experience in which the painting and soundtrack convey something bigger than can be described into words. Something monumental.

Credits:
Written and produced by Mardit B. Lleshi
Mixed at Studio Projekti, Tirane, Albania
Mastering by Michael Haves (Berlin) and Red Red Paw (Denmark)
Executive Mastering by James Edward Armstrong
Cover painting by Blerida Lleshi
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Monumenta

wlr170 Mardit B. Lleshi - Monumenta

Glacis is the musical alias for Euan Alexander Millar-McMeeken, an artist originally hailing from Dundee but now residing in Hastings, on the south coast of England. He began composing music in the late 2000s but it was in 2010, following the dissolution of his band, that his work as glacis truly took shape. Left alone with just his piano, this project became a conduit for his creativity during a solitary period. Over the years, glacis’ music has been released through several esteemed labels including Fluid Audio, Tavern Eightieth, Oscarson, and Lost Tribe Sound. Beyond his work as Glacis, he has also been involved in numerous collaborative duos, such as Gallowglas, Civic Hall, and The Dead Bell, constantly exploring different facets of his musical identity. Not to mention his work alongside the likes of Satomimagae, Adrian Lane and soon, Polaroid Notes.

Glacis' music is deeply personal and often born from immediacy—a necessity when creating amidst the constant presence of his children. However, since the summer of last year, he’s been able to dedicate more time to his craft, allowing for a more deliberate creative process, whether at the piano or his laptop. His influences are eclectic, with his listening habits varying depending on the nature of his current work.
‘This Darkness From Which We Cannot Run’ encapsulates a unique moment in Euan’s life, where the serenity of a peaceful week in Tighnabruaich contrasted with the darkness of the broader period in which it was created. Characterised by themes of sea, silence, and regret, this album diverges from his earlier work by stepping away from his trusty piano. Except for one track, the compositions were developed using software, originating from sketches made at a kitchen table during the holiday and later refined upon his return to London.

The creation of this album was deeply influenced by the calmness and isolation of Tighnabruaich, a place where Euan found solace amidst the surrounding sea and silence. The memories of watching gannets dive and experiencing a rare tranquility with his family permeate the music, providing a stark contrast to the underlying darkness he was experiencing at the time. Although there is no explicit concept driving the album, it is inherently tied to that week and the feelings it evoked. Notably, ‘This Darkness From Which We Cannot Run’ marks a significant shift in Glacis' approach, focusing on creating soundscapes rather than relying on his piano, a method that will continue to evolve in his future work

Credits:
Written and produced by Euan Alexander Millar-McMeeken
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by George Korunov
Art and design by Andrew Heath

This Darkness From Which We Cannot Run

wlr171 Glacis - This Darkness From Which We Cannot Run

Glåsbird is the work of British artist and composer Harry Towell, who is also owner of the Ambient record label Whitelabrecs. The project began in 2018 as Harry worked anonymously on a series of 8 albums, which was called ‘A Sonic Expedition’. This body of work saw him focus on a different remote geographic location for each location and he researched and explored places such as Greenland, Siberia and the Pacific Ocean, albeit from his home.

After the conclusion of this series, at the beginning of 2024 in a video interview with Kevin Press for his The Moderns blog, Harry announced that he was responsible for the music of Glåsbird. Having released a compilation album and booklet, curating music from A Sonic Expedition, Harry was quietly working on this next album; ‘Fenscapes’. He had virtually explored the world and immersed himself in epic landscapes and harsh conditions. By contrast, the landscapes around his sleeply Lincolnshire village were flat, minimal, and some might say quite unremarkable. He felt drawn to the South Lincolnshire fens around him and this became the theme for this album.

The Fens, or Fenlands, in eastern England are a low-lying, naturally marshy region historically rich in biodiversity. Over centuries, most of the area was drained to create flat, arable land supported by a complex system of drainage channels, man-made rivers, and pumping stations. This reclamation has led to the land sinking, necessitating higher dykes to prevent flooding. Covering nearly 1,500 square miles across parts of Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, the Fens now serve as a highly fertile agricultural zone, producing significant quantities of grains and vegetables. Despite these changes, the area retains its unique ecological character, with a landscape shaped by its historical marshland origins.

Harry set out to visit and explore the sights and sounds of the six nearest fen roads to his home, including Rippingale, Dunsby, Haconby, Morton, Dyke and Bourne. Many of these consisted of long, straight, narrow roads, often worn and dusty. Some were dead ends. Either side of the roads were flat landscape views, stretching many miles out into expanses of open nothingness. Yet just as had been reported in history, they were full of wildlife with crickets, skylarks and owls were quietly thriving alongside a path less travelled. This album shares the results of Harry’s time spent walking in and appreciating these unsung local spaces, aiming to produce a work of art that might raise their cultural profile if only by a small amount.

For the artwork, Harry bought an 8 x 8 inch canvas, initially intending to paint a typical fenland landscape from one of the photos he’d taken during the visits. However, he had an idea to use leaves and flowers to rub onto the canvas – leaves, daisies and buttercups were used to depict the land whereas white and lilac flowers were used to paint the sky. The album marks the very first Whitelabrecs vinyl release, in a limited run of 100 copies.

Written and produced by Harry Towell
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Harry Towell
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Fenscapes

wlr172 Glåsbird - Fenscapes

Feeling Flying are a duo from Wellington, New Zealand, comprised of Andrew Thomas and Bevan Smith. The two artists – whose solo projects have been released on labels such as Kompakt, !K7, Air Texture, Carpark Records and Hotham Sound – have collaborated since the turn of the millennium, often helping each other out behind the scenes. For Feeling Flying, Andrew and Bevan combine their unique approaches to composition and improvisation to produce music neither could have made alone. Using a four-track tape recorder and the classic Roland D-550, they build soundscapes that draw inspiration from modern classical, jazz, and a wide spectrum of electronic music. The first Feeling Flying album was released by UK label Handstiched* in early 2024. This latest release, ‘Spirit Level’, is a further exploration in minimalism and immersive sound design.

‘Spirit Level’ was produced instinctively by Andrew and Bevan, who used a set method and basic tools, making space for a flowing approach to collaboration. The process started with Andrew improvising piano pieces and sending them to Bevan, who slowed them down by 400% and manipulated the sounds using the Roland D-550. The results were a series of atmospheric and meditative pieces, some of which originated as 45-minute compositions, before being edited into their final forms. On writing ‘Spirit Level’, Andrew and Bevan said “when we started to build out the sound world, it became apparent this work was evoking ideas of transformative and expansive experiences. Of moving through space, without time. Our immersion and connectedness with nature. How we position ourselves in the world, both physically and spiritually.” These emotive and spiritual concepts are beautifully captured in the album’s cover image by Philip Kelly, who presents listeners with a range of moods and metaphors that allows them room to make their own interpretation.

Credits
Written and produced by Bevan Smith and Andrew Thomas
Mastered by Bevan Smith
Photography by Philip Kelly
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Spirit Level

wlr173 Feeling Flying - Spirit Level

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

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: eR031
artist: one far west
release title: heliacal risings
runtime: 54:50
location: santa fe, usa

written and produced by john wilkins
mastered by james edward armstrong
cover artwork by john wilkins
booklet art and design by harry towell

Heliacal Risings

eR031 One Far West - Eventide

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

Lorenzo Masotto is an Italian pianist and composer from a village just outside Verona. He graduated from his studies on Pianoforte and Composition at the Conservatory F.E.Dall’Abaco abacus in Verona, before continuing his studies at The Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar (Germany). His music has been released on labels such as Dronarivm, Preserved Sound and he returns to Whitelabrecs following 2021’s ‘i=r’ with this new album, Earde.

Named after the Cimbrian word for earth, Earde is a deeply personal and evocative tribute to the landscapes that surround Masotto’s home in Giazza, a small village at the foot of the Little Dolomites in Northern Italy. Inspired by the serene beauty of its woods, streams, and meadows, as well as his journeys through Icelandic glaciers and the towering peaks of the Dolomites, the album channels the raw, poetic power of nature into a rich, harmonic experience.

Masotto’s compositions are brought to life through the natural acoustics of a deconsecrated church where the piano, strings, solo voice and choir were recorded, to harness the room’s natural reverb. This setting lends a live and organic feel to the album, reflecting Masotto’s philosophy of music as a direct, vibrational connection between artist and listener. For Lorenzo, each note is not merely sound but a moment of pure energy that unites musician, instrument, and audience in a shared, transcendent experience.

At its heart, Earde is an exploration of the profound connections between place, memory, and creativity. Lorenzo Masotto invites listeners to join him on a meditative journey through a sound which echoes the strength and fragility of the natural world.

Credits:
Written and produced by Lorenzo Masotto
Recorded and mixed by Edoardo Carli
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Vocals on ‘Falling Sun’ by Stefania Avolio
‘Glacier’ is sung by the Voce Dei Colli Choir
‘Pulse’ and ‘Shiver’ are performed by Laura Masotto on violin,
Leonardo Sapere on cello and Lorenzo Gugole on violin
Photography by Michele Dolci
Art and design by Andrew Heath

wlr178 Lorenzo Masotto - Earde

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

wlr177 Jolanda Moletta - Night Caves

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: eR032
artist: kevin paczesny
release title: lost horizons
runtime: 30:30
location: los angeles, usa

credits
written, produced and mastered by kevin paczesny
art and design by harry towell

Lost Horizons

Childhood Beach

Robert Farrugia is a composer from Malta who has released through labels such as Assembly Field, Post Global Recordings, Batenim and more recently Spanish imprint Archives. Robert is a classically trained pianist although his earlier work saw him produce experimental guitar-based music before returning to focus more on piano recordings in 2013. 
Citing Ólafur Arnalds, Stars of the Lid and Taylor Deupree as his major influences, Robert’s work usually starts off with small motifs which are layered with a largely improvisational approach. 

Robert has also performed live many times alongside artists such as Jimmy Bartolo, Joseph Wilkins, Timothy Garrett & Cosmicomics and he has also collaborated with Roman Willi, Warmth and SineRider. He’s also a member of Eyes To Argus, an atmospheric/shoegaze band who have recently released an album entitled ‘VEER’ in October 2017.

‘Almost There’ is an Ambient record with droning synth/piano texture in a similar vein to the aforementioned Stars of the Lid as well as Hammock and is a record that Robert quotes as being his first serious attempt at recording a full length album. It was recorded during the examination period of his first year at University and he used it as a means of breaking away from his hectic routine, over the course of 3 weeks. The contents of the record are soothing yet dramatic as they map out a relaxing space that pauses all of life’s challenges into microscopic slow motion frames. Almost There gives a sense of being on the brink of achievement and as the finish line comes into focus, moments of reflection and triumph overflow. 
credits
releases February 24, 2018 

Written and produced by Robert Farrugia 
Mastered by Tim Diagram 
Artwork by Chris Vella

Almost There

wlr035 Robert Farrugia - Almost There

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

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

We're about to launch a series called Home Diaries, which encourages artists to document their time indoors under lockdown or social distancing conditions, caused by the current Covid 19 outbreak.

The invitation to artists is global and we plan to curate a series of sonic diaries from an exciting line-up, spanning Ambient, Modern Classical, Drone, Electro Acoustic and other related genres.

The idea for the project was born when Whitelabrecs label owner Harry Towell was indoors due to the UK government's social distancing campaign. This was a chance to spend more time with his daughter Isla amongst many things and so he began to record acoustic instrument jams whilst she was playing. These would be assembled later the same day into an electro acoustic track and so for each day of recording whilst the news of the world unfolded, a track would be created to document this time.

Like many of the artists who are keen to join this project, Harry will have created a new Spheruleus album to be released digitally by Whitelabrecs. Each release will feature an image of a lonely home, dressed to look like a lo-fi polaroid.

This track was recorded today and will feature on the album. It includes guitar, piano and zither with electronic processing techniques and some tape effects.

Home Diaries: Spheruleus

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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