x.y.r / sunmoonstar / water bureau

x.y.r. ~ mental journey to b​.​c. (not not fun records, 2015)
 

«The mood of Mental Journey To B.C. is pre-human: obscure landscapes hissing in the heat, shimmering in the dark, uninhabited, unreal. Humid loops of Formanta Mini and smoke-ring keys float over hushed jungle metronomes and moonlit field recordings». not not fun

Once again we are invited to a journey with russian project X.Y.R., which name can be decrypted as "temple of solitary contemplation". Name of the album says about time of our destination, but it's certainly not some ancient civilization spot, at least there are no people in the picture. All we hear is same "tropical new age" music which is always crafted so beautifully by Vladimir with simple set of soviet synths and some guitar pedals. This music have to do with feelings much more than usual ambient music does, because it creates not just landscape or some script to fill it - it also stimulates listeners imagination and creativity, so you can make your own journey basically from just few hints. Shorts melodies, simple drum pads and lo-fi noise of old soviet gear... But this simplicity is full of magic, secret of which, I believe, should remain unsolved. Simply enjoy the possibilities it gives us!

listen ~ buy

sunmoonstar ~ gymnasium flower (squiggle dot, 2015)

«Composed with a sequencer and synthesizer, "Gymnasium Flower" is a ode to math, movement, and physicality. With her signature sculptural inklings, dot matrix's of soft light shift through each other to expose fantastic new patterns». squiggle dot

Newly composed set of aural impressions by australian charmer Natasha Home aka Sunmoonstar comes as a digital release and sounds respectively – on the edge of old-school ambient classics and modern internet lo-fi punk, varying from simple childish cartoon tunes to cyberpunkish opuses, tropical vaporwave and even some techno beats. It may sound crazy, but believe me - each time I listened to this album it sounded different somehow. I even thought that maybe someone just put new tracks there every day after release. Should admit, I expected same meditative lush that was on previous Sunmoontar's tape, but this album surprised me with new facets of Sunmoonstar talent - inventive, explorational sounds put together without being too serious about it. Not a geek music, but geeks will like it very much. I do!

listen ~ buy

water bureau ~ water bureau (sacred phrases, 2015)

«In some truly cosmic turn of events, Water Bureau finds Norm Chambers (Panabrite, Jürgen Müller, Spiral Index) and Daryl Groetsch (Pulse Emitter, Space Habitat) teaming up for a series of celestial meanderings that speak to the merits of both Pac-NW synth-heroes». sacred phrases

After having impressive box of "unshared properties" by Kyle Landstra and warm guitar lullaby by prolific Hakobune, one of the leading labels of the tape universe releases collaboration of another two super bright stars of this scene. I'm pretty sure that Norm and Daryl both are future (and even present) gurus of electronic music in the whole world and what they do is organic inheritance of what happened to music since the invention of synthesizers. Despite being a bit retro-oriented, their music rushes to new horizons and this collaboration is a good reason to explore the boundaries that were set before. Some critics say that everything in modern music is retro and everything new is the result of hybridization of old ideas, but I think that music in our age shouldn't be analyzed only by form and message behind it. At some point music became less attached to external qualities like styles or sound sources and what deserves attention nowadays is the complex picture of music inside our hypertextual world. What you may call a clishe taken from Michael Stearns album is actually a hyperlink to the huge amount of impressions and meanings embedded in this certain type sound or effect. And you choose to follow it - or not to. Thinking that way, music presented on Water Bureau debut tape may be experienced as a complex and quite interesting essay about the electronic music in US where musicians playing not only with synths, midi & effects, but with meanings and impressions, which already exist in collective mind of humanity, at least the part which listens to electronic music, of course. In the same time, this is just beautiful and refreshing piece of music, and it's already a good reason to have it in your collection!

listen ~ buy

kyle landstra – unshared properties

kyle landstra – unshared properties vol. I-IV (sacred phrases, 2015)

Quadruple-cassette, limited to 50 copies, will be released on September 25, 2015

When your perception is affected on many levels starting from basic emotion and achieving pure transcendent states of deep meditation experiences – it is a certain sign of good ambient music. What started as an experimentation with lo-fi drone patterns, blossoms now as a gorgeous crystal-clear universe of wide spectrum sounds. Through last few years Kyle's music saw an exponential grow and what we have now presented by always inspiring Sacred Phrases label as a four(!) tape documentation of extensive exploration of variety of synths & effects. Creating different worlds, Kyle Landstra takes us to a journey where astronomical-scaled objects are decorated with exquisite microscopic details and we are constantly moving between them, touching surfaces full of light inside them, feeling warmth of hidden energies and smelling an odours never experienced before. Powerful, but still minimalist sequencing meets here multi-layerness of drones and early-morning pureness of reverberation. Minds are open, all energies interconnected – it's easy to feel the links between Universe and yourself, to travel that way. Ever-unfolding fractal of manifestations that we usually call life. 

In terms of listening, "unshared properties" serves as a powerful tool for consciousness expansion. Usually equal to psychedelic experience it is yet not the same thing. This music isn't hazy or confusing, it has no intention to overwhelm the listener. Instead of that, Kyle creates a state of total awareness, when you can feel everything perfectly clear, when all impressions are perceived simultaneously, but you can easily focus on any selected and move forward watching it evolve without losing attention to any other detail. It's a certain sign of masterpiece and I hope that time will prove this. Meanwhile, we are here and now – probably watching the dawn of a new era in electronic ambient music, and Kyle Landstra works at the forefront of it. 

listen ~ pre-order ~ buy

dry valleys

 dry valleys ~ mayall's object (hobo cult, 2013)

"ambient visions, slowly creeping and soothing synth infused star-gazing."

dry valleys is adam meyer (peyote cristal, sacred phrases)

sold out ~ listen ~ download

günter schlienz

 guenter schlienz ~ treehut visions (sacred phrases, 2014)

"may the complex rhythms, supported by its troughs and troches, mend what you’re missing. It gives another half of what you need. gently, breezy, slightly elevated, languid, nonchalant, with you. for you.  

recorded Spring 2013 in Stuttgart/Germany with a DIY modular synthesizer. mastered by Niko. inspired by childhood memories and Jack Kerouac's "Visions" novels.   

"the world of raging action and folly and also of gentle sweetness seen through the keyhole of my eye." sacred phrases

ahora ya es como si nos hubiéramos acostumbrado, pero lo que hace Günter Schlienz de verdad que es de otro mundo. 'treehut visions' roza la delicadeza de 'through the music to the self' y añade algunas grabaciones de campo como en 'the norman tapes'. pero es sólo una ínfima parte de todo lo bonito que hay en él. pajaritos, mareas, sintetizador modular, unas campanas lejanas y nunca una nota más alta que la otra. la sutilidad. a veces pienso que si no hubiera surgido microphones gracias a la emoción que supuso aquella explosión de free folk ('golden apples of the sun' y Jewelled Antler siempre siempre), seguramente unos años más tarde 'tape studies' y 'through the music to the self' me hubieran inspirado para crearlo. y hoy 'treehut visions' con su preciosa mezcla de hojas verdes y marrones. se podrán recordar muchos discos, pero pocos son tan especiales y emanan tanta belleza. es como cuando ves la portada verde acuosa de 'science of the sea' de Jürgen Müller, o la portada verde musgo de 'secondary efflorescence', o el astrónomo observador de 'many moons'...o la azul cielo de 'on sea-faring isolation' de los delfines y no puedes pasar de largo. los compararías mil veces y los escucharías otras mil. te obligan a quedarte ahí, deshaciendo el ovillo de nombres que aunque sea sólo de refilón te recuerdan a ese sonido: la electrónica analógica que siempre habíamos soñado y de la que habíamos estado muy cerca. puro magnetismo.

Günter es ya una leyenda a pequeña escala, la eterna referencia del renacer de los teclados modulares. hay muchos favoritos (Panabrite, Pulse Emitter, Lieven Moana, Paul Skomsvold) pero él pone algo más, no se sabe qué. los sintes artesanos al aire libre y en contacto con la naturaleza que siempre parecerán theremines o el canto de una sirena...sonidos ululantes que parecen salidos de un sueño y que más que sonar es como si te hablaran. 'the meadow at summernights' es tan bonita, y 'games at the creek', y el 'pastel de domingo por la mañana'. pero sobre todo los treinta minutos limbo de 'treehut vision': electrónica algodonosa de cambios sutiles y esa sensación de transparencia, de intimidad, de suspensión en el tiempo. una miniatura de estructura circular, un simple apunte melódico sin principio ni final. Günter Schlienz es un estilista que todo lo que toca lo impregna de un barniz delicado, pulido, que no resta ni un ápice de emoción. al contrario. sus mágicas habilidades a la hora de construir ritmos en suspensión, frecuencias, vibraciones y nebulosas de melodía, de la belleza en general y el minimalismo en particular, han evolucionado cinta tras cinta, probablemente a la misma velocidad que los sintes modulares hechos a mano y con mimo de su casa-taller. sólo puedo hacer mías y suyas estas palabras de more felationship acerca de un disco cualquiera: "escucharlo parece una tarea para arqueólogos: es como ir descubriendo sus finísimas capas, pincel en mano, con miedo a no romper nada." devoción y amor eterno. ¿y la guinda? que la magia continuará en 'contemplation', su inminente disco en preservation. ya sólo leyendo los títulos, que parecen descifrar su personalidad o al menos lo que a mí me transmite, sé que volverá a ser un regalo.

la otra guinda: nuevo disco de x.r.y. en constellation tatsu. muy muy feliz. pero hay una tercera guinda, y es 'autumnal hum' de Bird People. ahora mismo me parece casi imposible que este año se componga algo más bonito y bucle, en el sentido mantra del término, que 'blodeuwedd's night song' y 'the looming mountain is a wide-awake body'.

listen/buy ~ buy the cassette

enumclaw

enumclaw ~ holographic headdress (sacred phrases, 2013)

"an auditory late night journey weaving in and out of ancient auras and unknown terrestrials. electronic keys represent a lost and forgotten galaxy ~ at times foggy and dense yet a radiant glow never leaves the third eye. for fans of Terry Riley's 'A Rainbow in Curved Air'." sacred phrases

una maravilla de entrada: un sinte modular aparece de la nada y deja paso a un acorde que no sube ni baja, sólo fluye y entonces... dale volumen, sin miedo, y verás-oirás una de las canciones más bonitas del mundo, el ejemplo perfecto de música cósmica atemporal. la primera vez que oí 'ka-ata-killa', tan vintage, tan günter, tan voice of the garden, la hice mi canción favorita (luego llegó 'golden teacher' y enmudecí) y quise tener en mis manos 'holographic headdress', cuyo título resulta tan revelador y lleno de imágenes: es como el mandala imposible de una estación cósmica a los mandos de Norman Fetter, una corona de plumas de infinitos colores vintage, un monasterio zen, monjes tibetanos en el espacio, belleza retrofuturista en espiral. Enumclaw son muchas cosas y todas bonitas: la holosíntesis hecha música, ese mandala terapéutico y vibracional que, como Oliwa, integra la naturaleza en el cosmos y produce bienestar. en 'encyclopedia mythica' Norman Fetter se ensimisma recordando explícitamente a Florian Fricke e implícitamente a cualquier cinta retro y comestible que podamos encontrar en Sounds of the Dawn o Hidden Valley, aunque el inicio de 'golden teacher', con esos sonidos ululantes del espacio que caen en cascada a lo largo de sus diez minutos, me hacen pensar de nuevo y como viene siendo habitual en Louis and Bebe Barron (siempre ahí revoloteando). el resultado es una bendición, una odisea preciosa que va más allá del revival o la nostalgia y que en manos de Norman Fetter suena a gran disco pequeño y a pequeña gran, deslumbrante, reliquia.

la guinda es que está masterizado por Sam Cusumano, otro artesano de los sintes modulares hechos por él mismo y uno de los componentes de Niagara Falls junto Norman Fetter. y otra guinda para los arbóreos: Sam, colaboró en el pasado con Christina Carter, Black Forest/Black Sea y Tara Burke. la magia está en cómo algo tan ingrávido y abstracto puede, a veces, compartir colorido y sensibilidad con el folk crepuscular, ese holograma espiritual que propaga emociones por las sensaciones que transmite la música. en fin, se acerca diciembre y si este año hay tiempo y fuerzas para hacer una lista con los discos favoritos, seguro que 'holographic address' aparecerá pegadito, porque comparten energía y clima, a Kyle Landstra, Floating Gardens y The Rainbow Body... y muy cerca de todas y cada una de las cintas-burbuja que Günter Schlienz ha editado en el dosmiltrece.

listen ~ buy the cassette ~ golden teacher (mp3)

water lily jaguar

water lily jaguar ~ voyage of hope/voyage of discovery (sound holes, 2011)

"a set of deep sea explorations. each starts with a simple direction, dissolving into warm tones and shimmering sounds. the calming lap/bubble of the ocean is never far away..." sound holes

" ...gorgeous, compelling and calming, relaxing and soothing, tape-blissy wonder of a release that gently rubs those super-sensitive spots like behind the temples or at the small of the back; exactly where you want a massage, but never do for yourself. slowly and softly, the music surrounds you as each of the four pieces starts with a synth droplet smack-dab in the middle of an electronic lake, letting simple motifs ebb outward in micro ripples as the listener begins to submerge into a deeper, warmer environment. this tape is easily the most beautiful music on any format I’ve had the chance to review yet in 2011, and it’s always a joy when one tape clicks to stop… because it’s just time to put the next one in. great for the last thing of the night or the first thing at dawn’s break. a gleaming, glittery gem." foxy digitalis

"epic double cassette of lo-fi new age synth warble, caught between Dolphins into the Future and Josh Burke, but with a unique enough approach to set it apart. I really like this project, and have enjoyed all the tapes I've heard." Norm Chambers (Panabrite)

foto: wolfgang tillmans 

 sold out ~ download

water lily jaguar ~ kipona aloha for the reef spirits (sacred phrases, 2010)

"each note spirals up towards the surface and is there just long enough to catch some air. the audio links and travels through the sea in rhythmic motion. these sounds swell and sparkle, allowing the listener to speculate the extent of all that exists" sacred phrases

out of print ~ download

lunar miasma

lunar miasma ~ managing the dream (tranquility tapes, 2012)

"Grecian synth lord Panos Alexiadis has been releasing music steadily as Lunar Miasma over the past three years, ratcheting up the intensity significantly with each new missive. Managing the Dream is certainly no exception in that regard, diving deep into a world of lucid dreams and nighttime hallucinations. There's a real narrative feel to the release, consisting of two dense, long-form pieces in the middle and two short but sweet pieces at each end. Showcasing his impressive abilities as a player, Alexiadis unleashes rapid-fire keyboard solos that dance atop gorgeous melodic loops which sound as though they were imported from another realm. The dream is under your control and the possibilities are endless...what will you do next?" tranquility tapes

sold out ~ try ~ listen ~ download

lunar miasma ~ false memories (sacred phrases, 2011)

"gorgeous ambient synth music that floats and progresses in a uniquely melodic and spacious manner. for that reason, Panos Alexiadis has a truly distinct voice, and his numerous releases always arrive to high expectations. his latest album is another example of why few artists can compete with Alexiadis. four pieces of haunting glacial beauty unfold over two sides, reverberating and melting into one another, while False Memories builds into a truly magical work of art." zen effects

sold out ~ download

lunar miasma ~ impermanent nature (sicsic tapes, 2012)

"Lunar Miasma from Greece is handing over three pieces of lush synthesizer meditations. Berlin-School-Style? Of course,… but: despite the now wide spread love for mid-seventies-adventures-in-modular-music „Impermanent Nature“ goes beyond the style of its ancestors. Panos Alexiadis effortlessly reaches out into stellar and colorful sonic worlds unmapped and the recorded music on „Impermanent Nature“ is in contrast to its title a constant source of energy. we don’t know how Panos does the trick, but listening over and over we’ve been flabbergasted. deep shit, no kidding" sicsic tapes

sold out ~ name your price

fotos: luke byrne

peyote cristal / euglossine

peyote cristal ~ foreign tongues (housecraft, 2012)

"ong-awaited collaboration between Adam of Sacred Phrases/Dry Valleys and Grant Evans (Quiet Evenings, Nova Scotian Arms, Crippling). twisted channels straight to/from subconscious networks employing a myriad of mysterious and organic elements conjure a streaming dark/vivid/nostalgic and, of course, psychedelic state of mind."

listen ~ buy

 euglossine ~ floridian abstract (housecraft, 2012)

"Tristan Whitehill represents/maintains a unique facet of Gainesville, FL sound. following up his debut solo release on Rotifer, 'Floridian Abstract' digs deep into new fidelities. complexities never outweigh aesthetic charm and restraint but the abstract and articulate muscles flex hard. much heart, much sweat. warm and welcoming vignettes all around."

listen ~ buy

fotos: kevin hsia

spirit catepetl

spirit catepetl ~ lai khur (sacred phrases, 2011)

"These spirit catepetl tracks take the listeners on a post-ritual journey in the form of astral story telling. The listener is inserted into raw and mesmerizing, but obscured, strings accentuated by grainy electronics, which transport them on this late-night odyssey. limited edition of 100, art by adam" sacred phrases

buy | download | float forever

pine smoke lodge / deep magic

pine smoke lodge / deep magic ~ split (sacred phrases 2010)

"Pine Smoke Lodge takes the listener deep in the woodlands, where moon light peaks, abated, through the old-growth trees while glistening sounds of bells, chimes and percussion lead the way. the whispers help keep the listener on the path, where he quickly slips into reverie.

 Deep Magic keeps the ears at ease with subtle, layered hums and sounds of nature. A constant underlying whir, comes in and out of focus, providing continuity while more layers build up." sacred phrases

buy / download