It’s always fun to get mail, right? I mean not bills of course, but I have been fortunate to have some good musical things sent my way recently from various locales. Below are five things pulled from the old (e)mailbag that I enjoyed, and I think you will too:
Bearsuit Records tipped me to a new EP from Harold Nono entitled “Faro.” A few years ago, I wrote about Nono’s “We’re Almost Home,” an almost fever dream collection of experimental pop. Based on relistening to that record, I was not expecting what we have here. “Faro” is four instrumentals that fall closer to the ambient side of the ledger. Opener “Raukar” features lightly dramatic piano and electronic keyboard. The middle tracks are the slightly unsettled ambience of “Hour Of The Wolf” and “Broa Kiosken,” whose piano and cello interplay feels like a mournful adagio. The closing song “Sketch for Faro” runs us out with an elegant uplifting vibe. Overall, a stellar trip from a versatile artist.
I like the whole concept and execution of “hORs SoLs” by Philippe Neau. Last time I wrote about Phillipe he was providing sounds for the Antonella Eye Porcelluzzi spoken word piece “winter talisman.” On this album, he goes solo and takes field recordings from various locations and mixes them together in what he refers to as a “new sound place.” The track titles, like the various sound pieces, are variations on this theme. I really found it enjoyable listening through headphones, but it would also be fun to crank up the sound and let it blend with your current sound place. Available through Mahorka on Bandcamp.
Whether you like your electronic music pretty or noisy, IDTiL has you covered with “A Screensaver of Emotions.” The early, shorter tracks on this album feature pulsing drones, relaxed pacing, and shimmering embellishments. The title track, the first longer song (at over three minutes), builds pretty waves of sound. But a detour into more industrial sounds is taken on the next song (“Fractal Anomaly”) and for the rest of the album, with buzzing and machines and more dissonance. For example, “Into the I Of Creation” sounds like a mechanical welding machine on an assembly line. Whatever flavor, IDTiL keeps it interesting. Available from Machine Records on Bandcamp.
A couple singles were also in my mix of messages. “Alien Fig Yogurt Incident” by Geiger von Muller blends what sounds like a toy piano with experimental acoustic guitar. It’s a meandering, pleasant, gentle tune. There’s also a “B side” remix called “Origins #5 (Pelso Remix)” that adds real piano and deep beats to really flesh out the song. While it sounds very different in so many ways, it definitely manages to keep the spirit of the original.
And, last but not least, “I Don’t Trust You” by Kason Stiff has a nice sludgy/catchy 90’s alternative rock vibe. This is out of Dallas, Texas, but would not have been out of place in the Pacific Northwest back in the day. You can hear it at the link below.