Tumblr is a place full of surprises (yes, and porn, and lame SJWs and freaks, and so on…). This is a happier experience. Wes Parham, recording under the name warmphase, reads some rather good poetry. If you have a Soundcloud account, consider subscribing to this.
Music Technology
[Music] Ballast Update: Eric Lunde’s The fear of appearing monotonous prevents us from recording expressions which, upon such occasions, are all very apt to resemble one another
News from Blake Edwards:
Hello, and welcome to the first 2016 email from ballast.
First, and utterly foremost, thank you for your interest in this venture thus far. It’s been moving along for almost a year, and to have as many people interested in both the art I produce and the artists with whom I share affiliations and interests has been, and I’m pretty sure will continue to be, a fantastic counterbalance to my “9 to 5” life.
So, let us press on with information about the first ballast release for 2016, and some teasers for what is to come…
Out now!
NVP06. Eric Lunde: The fear of appearing monotonous prevents us from recording expressions which, upon such occasions, are all very apt to resemble one another (CDR, book, collage)
I am extremely pleased to present this reissue of a 1988 cassette withdrawn (not for audio related reasons…) almost immediately upon release at Eric’s request, a decision Eric has often said was extremely frustrating as he considers this a seminal example of both his process- and language-driven works: I am hard pressed to disagree.
As noted in his original liner notes, Eric initiated the recording process using his preferred taped reduplication process with voice but “In the middle of the engagement, I discovered at the local Radio Shack a simple biofeedback monitor…” He then used said biofeedback monitor to document responses to various readings of de Sade’s work. Although he acknowledged that the device was “rarely sensitive enough to register the slightest reaction of the mind through the body to highly aggressive sexual and violent words,” Eric still says he was satisfied with the outcome, having “always been interested in a direct form of expression: the body directly creating sound and image without interference.”
With that framework in mind, I hope you can see why I am so excited to bring this release back into the world. This edition, housed in a small 6″ x 9″ booklet, contains both the original liner notes and contemporary supplemental texts by Lunde.
One extremely special component of this edition is that each copy includes a unique, original signed and numbered 4″ x 6″ collage by Matt Taggart (known to many as PCRV). Both Eric and I have been fans of Matt’s collage work over the past few years, so we decided to commission these collages. To make things a bit more challenging / interesting for Matt, and to cement the collage’s connection to the audio, we placed some OULIPO-inspired constraints on the visual elements (outlined the booklet) to reflect the source material. Unsurprisingly, Matt delivered beautifully.
This is in an edition of 78 copies (signed and numbered by Eric, with the collage signed and numbered by Matt). The cost will be $32 ppd in the United States; for rest of world orders, please contact so I can calculate postage.
~However~!
Since you asked to be kept abreast of ballast releases, the price is $26 ppd in the United States–the rest of world will still be stuck with shipping, but the base price will still be reduced.
Some final notes about NVP 06:
1) I can (to a limited extent) provide you with the edition number of your choosing, but I’d say send three options to be safe.
2) when you make payment via Paypal, if you can do so as a “friend / family” it will spare me the administrative fees they dock.The web presence for ballast is here:
http://ballastnvp.blogspot.com/and, last, here is what’s coming down the pike for Ballast in 2016:
NVP07. Vertonen: Rose Gardens (CDR, textual support) The second in a trilogy of releases (which began with Send the Call Out Send). Edition of 33 copies.
NVP08. Vertonen: stutterer (CDR, visuals) A collection of more rhythmic mechanical compositions: think Esplendor Geometrico or Sat Stochismo and you’re in the ballpark. Edition of 33 copies.
…and, catalog numbers are yet to be determined for the following:
• Arvo Zylo Children of the Stones (2 x 3” CDR) Compositions by this Chicago artist that revolve around audio (and underlying concepts) from the 1970s children’s British TV program. Edition of 55 copies.
• Howard Stelzer: (6 x cs, title TBD) A master of cassette manipulation and the pride of New England.
• Vertonen: Intentional Accident (CDR, textual support) The final in the trilogy of releases (which began with Send the Call Out Send). The textual support features a key that answers all the puzzles brought up throughout the trilogy. Edition of 33 copies.
• Jason Soliday & Matt Taggart (format and title TBD)
Thank you for your time and interest,
Blake
[Music] Bandcamp Radio #161
Andrew Jervis broadcasts for Bandcamp.com as their chief curator and host of the Friday Night Session radio show (KUSF). I only wish Bandcamp would host more shows, but if this is it, it’s a damn good one.
This week’s show highlights Awesome Tapes from Africa, and Paris Strother, one third of the soulful Prince protégés known as King.
Click here for the show.
[Music] Marty Willson-Piper – The Sniper
Marty Willson-Piper is the former guitarist of The Church. Though I’m bummed he left the band, he’s still making some rather solid music these days.
[Music] Maraca – Time In Time
I’m lucky enough to be served some amazing dishes by Premek over at Indies Records from Prague. The Czech Republic’s coolest label put out another gem with Maraca, who produce a type of indie rock that should be appealing to a wide audience. Mellow and very tasteful stuff, especially with the fine vocal work turned in by Gabriela Vermelho.
[Music] Various Artists – Kollektive 1
An impressive compilation from a new label out of Tehran, Iran, a place not normally associated with experimental music. What’s more impressive is that this comp covers a mix of local and international talent. Bitrot Records are certainly worth a continued look.
[Music] The Diplomatic Core – Valentine Vivisection – 07012016
New work by my friend Christopher Morley (Mr. The Diplomatic Core himself). Bombastic, interesting rhythms. I’m looking forward to a full album of this.
[Music] Amplidyne Effect – Patternized Movements
Post Global Recordings has been active in the Macedonian electronic/experimental music scene for a number of years. They’ve been releasing works onto Bandcamp, and this release by producer Martin Georgievski (a.k.a. Amplidyne Effect) is the label’s most recent. Icy post-rock mixed with airy electronic tones which keep one engaged in the way one listens to modern contemporary classical music.
[Music] Fred Lorca – Sonic Gringo
Imagine if DAF discovered cumbias in the 1980s with lo-fi equipment, but made up for it with a high, hazy, nearly psychedelic level of energy? Friends, I give you Fred Lorca, a composer originally from Argentina who had been residing in Spain for some years, and is, perhaps, once again residing in the Southern Cone.
This album isn’t imbued with kitschiness like, say, Señor Coconut. Think Yello, as this has a driving, danceable rhythm while maintaining its focus. That doesn’t mean it’s all serious, as there are small, cheeky interludes, and a feeling of a gang-land soundtrack in these rhythms.
[Music] The Diplomatic Core – Monsieur Claude 2012-2015
My friend Christopher (a.k.a. The Diplomatic Core) is a tunesmith par excellence. He’s constantly reworking material, forging some very groovy beats in the process. Follow his work on Soundcloud here.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 