geology records winter batch

black eagle child ~ six lugubrious airs (geology records, 2019)

Sitting in the dead of Winter, I'm really excited about this collection of songs because it is just dripping with Spring. If you are familiar with Black Eagle Child, this collection fits very nicely on the continuum of his work. Gorgeous, sometimes folky, looping guitars, found sound and field recordings. A lathe-cut 12" version is also available from the artist's Bandcamp page. Cassette packaging includes a slipcase and full-color j-card with art by Black Eagle Child.

Yes, we are familiar with Black Eagle Child and when it comes to guitar goodness infused with tape hiss and light-radiating psychedelic repetition, one can hardly find something better than this. Since 2009 and thanks to such imprints as Digitalis, Stunned, Housecraft records signature tunes by Michael Jantz found their place in my subconscious and roll out of it in moments when they are most needed – like now, 1,5 months (and counting) without the sunlight in the middle of Russian winter... When these melodies are here, I can almost feel the breeze of warmth and imagine as snowdrifts outside suddenly started to melt... And the greyness were removed from the sky, and birds started to sing their spring songs. Okay, they will eventually, so no tragedy here. Actually, I love winter pretty much and with music like this, I do even more.

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adam michael krause ~ as nice as a tree (geology records, 2019)

Adam is a prolific experimental artist in Milwaukee, having played in or guested on piles of the best albums to come out of the scene over the past 15+ years. These are more song-based than his normal terrain, but still with a nod to his drone/minimal work. Adam and I have a similar music coming of age background, I think, and so a lot of this hits my musical lizard brain in a really satisfying way. Wholly original, but sounds like home. Packaging includes a fold-out booklet and Autumn leaves from near my home in Milwaukee (unique to each tape).

Pretty much warming as the Black Eagle Child, yet a bit diverse and with carefully overdriven guitars and rudimentary percussion, this is another example of chord repetition which can be as meditative as pretty dynamic. Sliding from mantra-like folk ballads towards droning sound overlays and humming and back to songs rendered in krauty mood. Changing moods from lazy contemplations to melancholic philosophizing (on the dead bird). At any given moment this tape captures something sincere and emotional despite the seemingly cynical and indolent approach. It all resolves in Trees Listed Alphabetically with exalted awe and marching rhythm which takes you up above treetops... Cozy heartwarming music, what else we need to spend January evenings?

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black eagle child

black eagle child ~ family jam (self~released, 2012)

"a collection of six ephemeral, looped melodies captured during periods of play. these songs exhibit a very special kind of whimsy that surfaces in adults in the company of children." michael jantz

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black eagle child ~ go around, again (under the spire, 2012)

"born during the recording of Lobelia, Go Around, Again bears little resemblance to its epochal twin. Jantz explains the differences between the two by referencing the clever wordplay of the album title: "It's a conceptual title playing on the minimalist compositions, repeating patterns, etc"

michael jantz siempre ha estado ahí, en una esquinita y en la sombra. desde 'seeds that sprout in the summer' su presencia en el blog ha sido casi una obligación...muy difícil resistirse a compartir su música cada vez que asoma la nariz, ahora con dos discos como dos soles que se unen a su mágica, inabarcable y maravillosa discografía. todo lo bueno que pueda decir es poco...sus canciones son como viajes, no importa que sea en el jardín de su casa, con niños pululando por la cocina y pucheros de bebé colándose en las grabaciones, la conexión es inmediata, los paisajes, inolvidables. en 'go around, again', 'un himno a los bucles, ciclos y repeticiones', ese viaje se convierte en un crucero de belleza infinita por paisajes modulares y cuevas misteriosas, es hipnótico, espiraloide, es hallogallo de neu! correteando por las galaxias luminosas de jim o'rourke y mark mcguire, el frenesí. en 'phrases of the moon', un banjo y la voz de un niño dan la bienvenida al viaje soñado, con sabor a polvo, el más tranquilo y el más bonito del mundo mundial: ennio morricone y bruce langhorne nos acompañan en un paseo en carromato por los áridos desiertos de meek's cutoff de kelly reichardt. ¿qué hay en la tierra, el aire o el corazón de milwaukee, wisconsin, para que allí se hagan canciones así de bonitas? lo único que puedo decir después de algo así, es un gracias de corazón y recordar aquella carta de vincent, "no sé si puedes comprender que se pueda hacer un poema sólo mezclando colores, en la misma forma que pueden decirse cosas reconfortantes con la música..."

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fotos via old chum & inès amd

black eagle child

black eagle child ~ pages on a plane (under the spire, 2011)

"to know Black Eagle Child is to love Black Eagle Child. under this pseudonym, Michael Jantz makes the kind of music that anyone can fall in love with, even children, one of whom actually has some guest vocals on this brilliant new record. although Pages on a Plane saw its release this summer, it still stands as a remarkable work and one of Jantz’s most compelling statements yet. full of luscious, looping guitar melodies, this one even features an absolutely killer track with an uncharacteristic steady, grooving drum beat. covering new ground while also capitalizing on what he does best, Jantz has made a truly essential album." zen effects

"outdoor field recordings bolster the music's natural feel, with Jantz creating luscious tapestries of picked guitars" under the spire

como dice zen effects, es imposible no enamorarse de black eagle child, cada disco suyo es siempre motivo de alegría, pero además, tal vez porque lo tengo reciente, 'pages on a plane' es a michael jantz lo que 'the garden of eternal life' a mark macguire, ese disco perfecto que consigue ponerte la piel de gallina desde la primera hasta la última nota. en especial las flotante 'cycle to the moon' y la infinitamente tierna 'i am a bunny'. kraut field pastoral recordings

fotos: sha'an d'anthes & luke byrne

 

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black eagle child

black eagle child • poland [sturmundrugs, 2009]

"After the warped visions of his collaboration album together Kabizdoh Obtruhamchi, Michael Jantz returns to the subtle atmospheres of his solo music with this second album on sturmundrugs records. Acoustic guitar, with touches of accordion, glockenspiel, manipulated voice, piano flute, and scant field-recordings, for a collection of more intimate pieces written and partly improvised over the course of 2009. Blissful. Limited number of 100 copies with handmade covers & art by Michael Jantz." sturmundrugs records

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somewhere i read that the human mind possesses a magical ability to play in higher dimensions where music, poetry, literature and fine art live. it makes me think that if all of this is moved by love, the universal one... it shakes our spirit, so in some way we become a part of 'the act' or 'the feeling'... then come the sighs... while listening 'poland' i sigh, i smile and i love... all i can say is: thanks ^.^

illustration by seth neefus