lost in a sea of sound

For the farthest reaches, the consciousness must tune itself. Like an analog radio dial, the slightest turn bringing the most distant transmission into clarity. The questions then manifest, are these sounds the ones to hear, should the knob be turned again, maybe there is something better? Listening to music, especially sonic energy filtering in from the fringes, is a similar process. With the massive amount of sounds to hear, what finally takes transparency, is subject to the same aspects of the radio dial. The consciousness has tuned in, talent and creativity begin their osmosis.

Organ defies framework. Heavy ambient pressures mixing in the darkest depths. These are sounds that take time to travel to. A symbiosis of both organic and mechanical, both vying to be heard at select frequencies. Five lengthy tracks exploring many sonic textures. The second offering, "Look at the Clock", emitting sonar visions of a submarine traversing underwater canyons. Massive engines pushing …

In an ongoing search for radio transmissions broadcasting the full potential of music and sounds, discovery by cassette is a first. The Drache Musicale radio show is on RADIO PANIK 105.4 FM in Brussels. Hosted by FrontChaud and Miss Sirocco, a curation of everything that is good. The show is live on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month at 17h-18h UTC. Replayed on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month 10h-11h UTC



Released on Tanuki Records in an edition of thirty. Copies quickly sold out. There was no download originally, but Tanuki Records has offered a limited time download on their bandcamp page. This show is titled "Piano à Pouces", diving into sub-Saharan African rhythms and branching out with worldly beats. Strong influences of metal tongued instruments plucked in traditional styles, accompanied by beautiful vocals. Described as "Likembe / Sanza / Mbira / Kondi / Kalimba / Marimba", from the Drache Musicale website. The Tanuki Records cassette is also a hybri…

The second cassette release in the De Greef Mix Tape Series has Brussels connections with Tanuki Records, like the first in the series. Belgium's LOWDJO brings together more sounds, more mystery, more than is processable in one listen. Beats, rhythms, samples, poetry, stories, and a ton of talent, this release titled simply LOWJO, will fill every listening desire possibly imaginable. The entire composition is a heavy, heavily chilled sonic experience and is awesome. Gliding across countries and continents, LOWDJO expertly transitions styles and genres, atmospheric static with words lost in time. The real wisdom of these sounds is the patience. LOWDJO allows time to hear what is in focus, and the movement through the sonic lens is perfectly balanced. There is never a feeling of aural kitchen sinks being thrown at you, and in LOWDJO's world of musical knowledge, he easily could. His mixes are well conceived recipes of sonic savoriness, experiences to go back to for many repeated…

Music finding roots, the heart feeling at home. The double bass crosses many genres, and with two, exponentially expanded. Daniel Barbiero & Cristiano Bocci take these sounds to town straight away. The opening track and the composition title, a most pleasant cruise in a world of deep resonance.  The ride begins with a heavy mass of jazz undertones played freely and with excellent restrain. This world gradually dissolves as one double bass begins it's low howl, the bow now gliding across the strings. The second bass joins and a very classical feel is born. This brief interlude ends with both Daniel and Cristiano setting bows down and inching their fretwork up the neck. The next transition is slightly more chaotic, both tempo and tone with a quicker pulse. This style seems to slip through any genre nomenclature, with a final foray of double bass bows bidding a triumphant departure. Many styles have come to confluence and many listeners should be very satisfied.

The second track,…

Going back through all of the descriptions on this site, there has been mention of how listening time and environment contour the feelings music creates. With this in mind, the correct moment to drop the stylus on this pair of vinyl heavies needs some degree of calculation. Thankfully, responsibilities were pushed aside and consolidated, leaving enough undisturbed absorption time to cycle through multiple plays of both of these compositions. Initial thoughts were to separate Sun Cycle and Elk Jam into separate entries, but at some point while listening the realization stabilized for this to be one description.

The most appreciable feature of music is the ability to loose the fact it is being listened to. This might seem like a contradiction, so an explanation is needed. Listening to Elkhorn through four sides of grooves, there are many instances when the fervor of the sounds reach a red lining overloading status. Each musician in some conscious singularity playing with such intensity …

If you are a fan of Oakland's Inner Islands label, Skyminds could have been there. Instead, these sounds have been directed southerly to Los Angeles' auasca label. A place where arrival is fortunately facilitated by the first track on this composition titled "An Opening", giving all listeners a chance to chemical wash the inner worries and daily wearisome from thoughts. The distances covered in these sonic long hauls is tremendous. A flattened landscape exposing three hundred and sixty degrees of horizon. Blue emptiness infiltrated by high clouds with glowing feathered edges. The sun falls below the curve, then everything above changes tones. Skyminds follows similar patterns. The expansiveness of these sounds finding tranquility in drone, ancient worldly rhythms and even the resolve of human voice. Like dusk slowly grabbing light away, changes go relatively unnoticed as it happens. Skyminds subtly transforms aural constitutes without any jagged edges. Ambience to rh…

Sometimes it takes a while to figure out something simple. Six Lugubrious Airs is a second release for Black Eagle Child on Geology Records. The first titled Lobelia was just shy of two years ago. Was wondering what the connection was, then noticed Black Eagle Child and Geology Records are both from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Lobelia was beautiful place for a beginning and Six Lugubrious Airs is an excellent way to continue the fine working relationship. Most interesting is the title to this composition, something that must have a further meaning. At least term "German Athens" is able to be searched for and processed, Six Lugubrious Airs will most likely remain a mystery.  

Michael Jantz as Black Eagle Child offers eight songs that have slipped past all hungry labels and their double barrels of releases. Maybe something from ten years ago or just one, these selections have accumulated and had good fortune to find love from Geology Records. Might as well get this noted, there is …

The confluence of ambient worlds, a consciousness channeling outward through current electronics as subtle natural surroundings well up. Naps finds home here. Two mediums, thought and environment, with vastly different constructs, both reaching back to the same origin. Interesting how emotions and feelings rely heavily on the surrounding landscape and increasingly more, this fostering habitat depends upon the feelings of all the souls it harbors. A topic for future discussion, but relevant in what is being heard now on better to give.

Jason Calhoun has found home on Lily Tapes and Discs with previous Naps releases. There is also Bridgetown Records full length from 2016. The common factor of all three of these featured recordings, they are sold out. Now the Omaha, Nebraska label Gertrude Tapes has a very limited full length, in an edition of fifty at almost forty minutes of recording time. Hopefully this helps to quantify the how special Jason's forays into beautiful concurrence ar…

Played with just a little bit of volume, the clarity of First Lapse resonates with definition. The aural matter these three artist emit, reaches towards the threshold of the unknown. Each instrument, it's own voice in a three person conversation. And in this dialogue, the fervor and freedom First Lapse sustains, is truly the most magnificent feature of the composition. A sonic foray in such a degree of motion, kinematic theory will be needed for music scholar's studies.

How to describe music played in the fringes, is a difficult task. The most honest words to write, "these sounds are out there". From listening and writing, there are other combinations of skilled musicians working in the same vein. This release was described just a few entries ago, Every Way But What Came to Mind. Three different artists, similar in structure, but with a sally in their own unique direction. And farther back, the three artist making First Lapse were together on a split cassette issued …

A hot and very humid afternoon in Florida. The freshwater springs sparkle with cool and refreshing invitations. Plunging into the natural pool changes points of view, quickly and most agreeably. Temperature drops and the mind and body are charged. A world below is now exposed, ancient and always there. You are a visitor but still feel at home. Constellations embodies the aspects of this transitioning space. From the initial press of play, sounds surround the spirit, energizing and causing thoughts to wander. A reposition of perspectives allow splendid feelings to surface.

Bret Schneider captures consciousnesses with incredible deftness in electronic skills. These sounds match thought patterns and usher the mind from current frames of reference. There is a faint feeling of loneliness though. Something beautiful on a solo flight, speeding through natural mediums, water, air and farther out into space. Listeners hear the exquisiteness, but the sounds are not effected. Four tracks on this…

Fire side folk one hundred years from now.Rhythms have relinquished themselves to time. This was once avant-garde improvisational freedom. Now the underwater home sphere company is playing these sounds during their open houses. Time changes everything and this can be heard on the new compilation by Alexander Adams, Bob Bucko Jr, and Alexander Cunningham. There are moments when the fever is in full force, but this is far from the feature. These artists have settled in, drawing a giant triangle to see how far the sounds can separate but still be connected. Of course stretching something that far has an elastic sonic snap back, there will be some serious welts on the consciousness. The distance each artist gives the other is the true genius of this composition. And as a listener, a new fourth corner has bid welcome and opened up.

Three tracks across forty minutes allows an abundant amount of time for development. But this is the wrong word. Every Way But What Came to Mind could be the a…

Five musicians making musical power at mercurial speeds. Percussion filling all senses, "the long roll" amazingly played by only one drummer. Imminent chords executed by dueling guitars, the landscape disappearing as smokey haze chokes all senses. Bass notes inducing surfaces to vibrate, the effect causing stability to be lost, everything falls. A voice reigns above, patterned with daily instructions or lessons of wisdom, difficult to decipher as the frantic urgency becomes overwhelming. Ernia has entered thoughts, pace and seriousness incentivizing the pulse rate to quicken. A sonic heaviness resting in the skull as brain matter is tenderized.

Hailing from Logroño, Spain, Ernia finds the pathway to Already Dead Tapes and Records for a self titled release. Recorded between 2013 to 2015, and originally released in 2016. There after these tracks fell before meticulous ears. Each step to follow, a professional curation crossing both country and continent. From Spain to Nachrodt…