[12rec.048] Automassage – Ambience EP

Looking for organic Ambient music, Neuf Meuf’s “It’s Cold In Space“, released back in 2006 as a cooperation project with Serein Netlabel, is one of the finest records you can get. Short after, Neuf Meuf aka Rok Vrbancic told me about the new band project he just joined: Automassage. Vrbancic teamed up with his Slovenian buddy Samo Ismajlovic and Gottfried Krienzer from Graz (active in Code Inconnu and under the name of Kauders). Accomplished by Markus “Maex” Sworcik of Hella Comet on drums soon after, the band recorded their debut “The Ambience Between Your Ears Is Noise”. At 12rec., you can download an exclusive EP-selection from their full-length CD. The digipak CD is published by God Bless This Mess (SLO) and Chamfu Nocords (AT).

The “Ambience EP” is a furry little beast. Automassage fuse abrasive instrumental Rock music with elements of Ambient and Avant-Garde. The crackling guitar sound of Code Inconnu ain’t far, still Automassage add a their two cents of Psychedelica. Opening track ‘Vortex Diva’ sounds a bit like Jazzrockers Slon for the middle part but develops in noisy guitars towards the end. The loop-like guitars at ‘Alice’ bring forth an idea of Folklore, slighty permutated and processed. Here, Vrbancic’s synth textures are unmistakeable (the vocals are his, too). Another consuming tune is ‘Ert’. The song is based on a simple bass pulse played in the back of diffuse field recordings. Layers of aquatic guitars, synthesizer and trumpet make ‘Ert’ swell with gloomy noise. Last track ‘Crepinje’ is a slow motion waltz with Ismajlovic’s shy violin, a Hawaiian guitar interlude and blissful distortion in the end. Beautiful fall of curtain, indeed.

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Ambience EP @ 12rec.net

Hit this link for Direct Download (41MB via SonicSquirrel all inclusive)

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#75 GoGooo – “Long, Lointain” CD (Baskaru)

As I write this review, two new GoGooo-records are online for download already. It’s hard to keep track with Gabriel Hernandez’ intimate Ambient alter ego GoGooo considering a release-policy of albums and EPs popping up every three or four month. The main problem herein: quantity does not negotiate quality. Up to now, I haven’t heard a boring GoGooo record. Let’s talk about his first real CD release “Long, Lointain” for the French Baskaru label.
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#74 Br’er – “Of Shemales and Kissaboos” CD (Beat is Murder)

Another brittle-beautiful CD album from Vienna’s hottest Indiepop outlet Beat is Murder! Br’er is Philly-based Benjamin Schurr and Christian Mirande, plus a good amount of friends and followers that all play a certain role on the full-length debut “Of Shemales and Kissaboos“. Bittersweet and dysfunctional Avant Pop that beats the hell out of your expectants.
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The Love Songs – “Live in Dresden” (Resting Bell)

This is my new record! Online for free download at the lovely Resting Bell Netlabel. These are the liner notes:

“In June 2007, Sven Swift aka The Love Songs performed a 25-minutes live-set at the DIY 2.0 festival in Dresden. The whole set consists of one well-structured, tension-filled piece of drone music, created with analogue synthesizers and effect-feedback only (an exception is the little nightingale-chant framing the performance). The complete recording is naturally placed atop the sound of the audience and city underneath, people chatting around, an ambulance passing the venue. It was Alexander Peterhaensel who carefully recorded all of this.”
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New Sven Swift Mixtape @ Audiotalaia

After a couple of stylistically diversified mixtapes, the urge to do something more coherent became stronger day by day. Inspired by Biathalon’s awesome EP “2” and especially the longform meditation “Underwater is a Place to be Alone” (this is where i borrowed the title), i began to join my favorite free Ambient-tunes, keeping in mind to preserve a certain “underwater” atmosphere. Rich textures, hypnotic humming and and overall warmth, these were my criteria. Turn on your headphones and enjoy this 80 minutes trip to the depths and back!
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#73 Svefn – “Lightness”

Mysterious Ambient Dub | Svefn is about organic Ambient music, surface noise and harmonicism (which is a word i just invented). Svefn is Manchester-based Lee Chapman who created a tiny EP tellingly entitled “Lightness”. Svenfn refers to a song by Iceland’s ethereal superstars Sigur Rós who work fine as a loose reference also. Svefn is “Sven” with an additional “f”, and this is simply awesome.
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#72 Ian D. Hawgood – “The Fires Will Die At Night” (Resting Bell)

Vespertine Ambient Drones | Ian D. Hawgood is a traveler. He switches from Occident to Orient, living in the UK and Japan, recording music with a four-track machine at the Pacific Ocean or in his London apartment. His huge Ambient Drones carry along memories of American Minimal-Music, roughed up with moments of joyful noise and the fractal remains of analog instruments.
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#71 Inlets – “Vestibule EP” (Luv Sound)

Songs for the Allergic | Sebastian Krueger from NYC is the handsome fellow behind the Inlets-moniker. His “Vestibule EP” for the Luv Sound-Netlabel is a chamber musical treasure chest of heartbreaking melodies, bitter-sweet vocal arrangements and a dozen of hand played instruments. Decent opulence from a Brooklyn bedroom.
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DEAD Magazine #4

German-language DEAD Magazine is online with it’s fourth volume. Grap the free PDF here or ask the guys for a copy of the seriously limited print version which includes not only the mag itself but also a highly exclusive CD-compilation with neck snappers from Oskar Ohlson, roly-poly Ceschi, B-Ju and Mnemotrauma which both have a track on the latest Equinox-compilation “A Year & A Day” (check my article at Phlow Magazine). Inherently, the interview and photo series (!) of hairy Anticon-headmaster Tim “Sole” Holland is worth the download.

#70 Endlos – “Live EP” (1bit Wonder)

DSP Postrock | Endlos are a two-man band from Leipzig, Eastern Germany, fusing synthesizer melodies and drum machine-grooves with electric guitars and live battery. Exclusively for the elegant 1bit Wonder-Netlabel, Daniel Graumüller and Mario Kreuzer fixed a “Live EP” with five songs from their latest album “Kein Grund Zufrieden Zu Sein”. Energetic and a bit nostalgic.
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