2020 plays out to the sound of ‘Ghost Sounds’ by Polaroid Notes, who returns to Whitelabrecs following 2017’s ‘Unsung Memories’. The artist, based in the countryside that lies between Munich and the Alps, has released with us on sister labels Tessellate Recordings and Audio Gourmet, as well as Weber & Alcantu, Büro für Erdrotation and his own label Drone Works International. Some may also recall the Rhodes-led ambience of the ‘Moonlight Sessions’, the fourteenth edition of our Home Diaries series.

‘Ghost Sounds’ treads the cinematic lines of atmospheric piano and electronic ambient music, with unsettling undercurrents which occasionally creep into view. It has been in production since November 2019 as the sound of Polaroid Notes was pushed to develop a wider variety. The recording methods, effects and techniques were painstakingly adapted through experimentation and some truly spooky moments were captured. From here, Ghost Sounds became an obvious working title for the album.

The basic approach behind this album is an attempt to deal with our weird and uncertain times in politics, health, social separation, isolation and cocooning. Ghost Sounds tries to capture this strange atmosphere - somewhere between deep despair, silent hope and the wish to wake up from restless and unfullfillable dreams. The album artwork features photography by the artist during the first few winter days of 2020, captured in the Black Forest, which is close to the artist’s working residence during the week.

Ghost Sounds

wlr084 Polaroid Notes - Ghost Sounds

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/