*following recent posts about multiple spam messages, i'm consolidating all the Low Point/Gareth Hardwick news/release posts into one all-encompassing thread which will be the one i update when neccessary. Feel free to join in/contribute!*
Available Low Point releases as of Feb 09, most recent first;LP023 - Mariska Baars, Robert Deters, Rutger Zuydervelt - Gris Gris cd
‘Gris Gris’ is a collaborative release between Dutch musicians Mariska Baars (who also writes and performs as soccer Committee) Robert Deters (of Vance Orchestra) and Rutger Zuydervelt (also known as the highly prolific Machinefabriek).
The material for ‘Gris Gris’ (named after Robert’s cat and also the term for a Voodoo amulet that protects the wearer from evil or brings luck) was recorded during a single day in late August 2008. The session consisted of using Mariska’s voice as source material with Robert and Rutger adding further processing, field recordings and electronics.
Whereas previous collaborations between Machinefabriek and soccer Committee used processing principally to supplement the minimal framework of Mariska’s songs, here her voice is used to generate a whole spectrum of different pitches and timbres. At times the source material is almost unrecognisable, transformed and buried under layers of manipulation, whilst at other moments slithers of untreated tones appear as if they’re part of some vaporous radio broadcast.
The end result is some of the three artists most minimal, slow and eerie music to date.
Cd packaged in a matt two-tone folding card wallet featuring illustrations by Mariska Baars. Ltd edition of 500 copies.
On sale for £6 plus shipping to your part of the world. To listen to sound samples and to order, please head to
http://www.low-point.com/LP023.htmlLP021 - Apalusa 'Obadiah' cd
Following on from his warmly received cdr releases of 2007, ‘Obadiah’ is the second full length album by Apalusa, aka Nottingham based musician Dan Layton.
Over the course of 50 minutes, these three long-form tracks focus on darker territory than previous releases, with sub-bass rumbles and minor-key chord progressions augmenting the multiple layers of Apalusa’s trademark processed guitar drones and field recordings to form an all-encompassing listening environment.
With Layton’s use of raw sounds and processing techniques now forging an identity for himself which is very much his own, the end result is the most focused and realised Apalusa release to date.
CD packaged in a letter-pressed 'Arigato Pak' card sleeve courtesy of Stumptown Printers of Portland, Oregon. Ltd edition of 300 copies. On sale for £6 plus shipping to your part of the world. To listen to sound samples and to order, please head to
http://www.low-point.com/LP021.htmlLP020 - Gareth Hardwick & Taiga Remains - Split 10"EP
A meeting of minds from across the Atlantic, this release pairs UK resident Gareth Hardwick with Taiga Remains of the USA for two sides of solo experimental guitar.
Gareth Hardwick’s contribution to the release, “High Tension”, continues to demonstrate his unique take on guitar-based ambience. The patented smears of processed guitar are still present, whilst more dissonant elements including fuzz, hiss and static have also been introduced to bolster and underpin the nature of the composition.
Taiga Remains is the solo guise of Alex Cobb, label head of Students of Decay and resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Taiga Remains track, ‘Pantomime Bodies’ presents an intricate listening environment that through layer upon layer of sound reveals new depth and tones with every play.
10" vinyl EP packaged in a heavyweight antique green paper sleeve. Ltd edition of 300 copies. Everyone who purchases the EP will also be able to download a copy of the tracks in 192kb encoded mp3 format. On sale for £4.50 plus shipping to your part of the world. To listen to sound samples and to order a copy, please head to
http://www.low-point.com/LP020.htmlLP019 - Freiband & Machinefabriek 'Oahu'
‘Oahu’ is a collaborative release between Dutch sound artists Freiband
(the latest project of Frans de Waard, founder of the Korm Plastics
label and member of Kapotte Muziek, Beequeen and Goem to name but three)
and Machinefabriek (the prolific Rutger Zuydervelt).
The genesis of the project was a 90 second recording of improvised
acoustic lapsteel (the Oahu of the title) played by Martin Luiten. From
this initial recording, segments of music, each lasting 30 seconds in
length, were created then passed back and forth between de Waard and
Zuydervelt over a period of four months for further processing, editing
and refinement. Finally, with a collection of 20 of these segments, each
artist composed their own 20 minute mix using these pieces.
Though the nature of processing and reprocessing applied to the initial
recording of the lapsteel makes it at times almost unrecognisable, the
harmonic and melodic essence of the instrument is retained and utilised
throughout. And whilst unified by the source material at their disposal,
these two tracks have a distinct feel and identity that manage to
perfectly encapsulate the work of both artists.
Cd packaged in a matt printed digipak case. Ltd edition of 450 copies.
On sale for £7.50 plus shipping to your part of the world.
To listen to sound samples and to order a copy, head to
http://www.low-point.com/LP019.htmlLP018 - Helm - Impasse 3"cdr
Helm is the solo project of Luke Younger, one half of the London/Berlin noise duo Birds of Delay and guitarist for avant-weirdos Spin Spin The Dogs.
Drawing equally upon noise and ambient elements, the music on Impasse illustrates Younger’s continuing development within the field of experimental electronics and drone composition. Utilising synths, feedback systems and effects, these two long-form tracks offer a dense mixture of blistering yet melodic walls of sound.
3"cdr packaged in a white mini-dvd style case with colour wrap-around artwork. Ltd edition of 80 copies.
On sale for £3 plus shipping to your part of the world. To listen to sound samples and to buy a copy, please head to
http://www.low-point.com/LP018.htmlLP017 - Strategy - Electric Soup 12"EP *Note: Price reduced!*
Building upon the multi-genre musical narrative established on last years critically acclaimed 'Future Rock' album, 'Electric Soup' is the latest release from Portland, Oregon based Strategy, aka multi-instrumentalist, programmer and DJ Paul Dickow.
The compositions feature material initially road-tested during his whistle-stop tour of the UK and France in October 2007, which were then refined through a studio process that fuses old-school analogue equipment with modern digital sound design and manipulation. It is this blend of the old and new, combined with Paul's own retro-futurist outlook which makes the songs on Electric Soup seem instantly familiar yet still unreservedly unique.
From the Kosmiche of 'Unconventional Wisdom' through to the final theremin squeals of 'Primordial Soup' (which also features a guest appearance by Nudge cohort Brian Foote on additional guitar and synth duties), the almost dizzying array of textures, themes and musical motifs blended into the 24 minute running time provides food for the senses. Anyone for soup?
12" vinyl EP packaged in a full colour printed sleeve designed by The Speeding Train. Ltd edition of 450 copies. Everyone who purchases the EP will also be able to download a copy of the tracks in high-quality (192kb) mp3 format.
On sale for £4.00 plus shipping to your part of the world. To listen to sound samples and to order, please head to
http://www.low-point.com/LP017.html
