November 2003

Volume 1, Number 7

(note: CD info comes from mailing lists and press releases; descriptive comments below are not from a Wind and Wire reviewer, unless specifically annotated as such)

• The Syngate label has released a new Syn CD, Synphära; the music is described as being "Berlin-School/Experimental." For more details, go here.
• October 27th will see the release of ßHarmundum, a profoundly moving 56 minute long work by the American electro-acoustic ambient composer DAC Crowell. An MP3 segment can be found on the website http://www.suilvenrecordings.com as can further information on this and other Suilven releases.
• James Johnson has a new CD out, called Echoes. Here's what he had to say about it: "Over the last 2 years I've been exploring the process of 'designed systems' of sound. The end result being a self-generating soundfield, filled with nuances, melody, and floating textures. The beginnings of these explorations began to show themselves around the time of Odyssey & The Butterfly Chamber. By carefully designing a micro framework of multiple simplesystems of sound from various sources such as synthesizer, software field recordings etc... and then tying this micro framework together into a larger structure I'm able to create elaborate fields of real-time ambience that continuously unfold and change shape and color on their own. Echoes is a shimmering glimpse into these ever-changing, self-generating soundfields and structures."
• Also from Atmoworks,Vir Nuis' latest release, Book Of Mutations. Here's the scoop on that: Book of Mutations is the next solo album from Vir Unis since last yearís critically acclaimed Mercury & Plastic and it's companion album Symbology. Combining and mixing a fresh blend of fractal groove textures and subtle rhythmic architecture steeped in glowing atmospherics Book of Mutations, utilizes an array of acoustic and electronic percussion, drum machine, computer and synthesizer from work that's been continually evolving since Vir Unis' collaborative work with Steve Roach, Saul Stokes, James Johnson, Ma Ja Le, and three solo albums. For information on this and the James Johnson CD, Echoes, check out the Atmoworks site.
• Jonathan Hughes, whose triliium was one of my faves of last year, has a new album coming soon. Here's info on that release: Jonathan Hughes new project, Fluidities, is nearing completion. To refresh your memory, Fluidities will be a two CD set wherein the discs are designed to be played together in order to create new compositions and collaborations between participants. I have now heard all the tracks and can say with assurance that the contributors (Tetsu Inoue, Ian Boddy, Mat Jarvis/High Skies, Susanne Brokesch, Saul Stokes, Seofon, Dreamstate, Interstitial, Jussi Vaisanen, Dean Santomieri, and Michael Bentley/eM) have produced some really cool tracks. Further details can be found on the Fluidities page. Expect to see this one released in early 2004. More info here.
• The Foundry label (one of the premier labels for ambient and glitch today) is releasing a new compilation project: The Bibimbap compilation. All tracks are now in hand with only the final mastering to be done. The album will feature works from Archipelago members Forrest Fang, Saul Stokes, Chris de Giere, M. Bentley/eM, Thermal, Ben Swire, Dean Santomieri, and Seofon/Ear Wicker. More details about the compilation can be found on the bibimbap page at Foundrysite. Bibimbap looks set for a January 2004 release.
• Brannan Lane has new release on SpaceForMusic. Escape Velocity. It's the follow-up CD to his successful debut recording at SFM To Earth and Back. Go here for info.
• Also from SpaceForMusic: Mason Stevens' One Step Into The Unknown (Fall/Winter 2003) and Max Corbacho's Nocturnal Emanations (due in December sometime).
• Pianist Bradley Joseph has a new piano CD available, titled The Journey Continues. See his site for details.
• Tony O'Connor is one of my favorite new age music artists. He recently announced the following: "Aqua Zone...the DVD and CD soundtrack...is nearly ready for release. The final master tapes were sent off yesterday, and we expect both to be available to you by the end of October...early November. We spent the last weekend viewing the final edit and doing some final tweaking, and I have to say, it looks and sounds terrific! (if I don't say so myself :-) The Sea Horse sequence is particularly magical....I'm sure that you, like me, will watch this one over and over again. My Live in Concert at the Sydney Opera House will also be available on DVD by then." For more info, here ya go!
• Kevin Kendle, previously known fo rbeing a premier English new age music artist, has launched a new spacemusic project under the banner of his own label, Eventide. The side project is called Deep Skies and the the first release is here. Light From Orion is a winner, pure and simple, full of expansive washes of blisssful classic spacemusic. Check it out here (click on the Deep Skies link at this page).
• Michael Graham Allen of Coyote Oldman recently notified me he is finalizing his next solo album, featuring mostly Anasazi flutes. The CD is due around the first of the year. No title yet.

ARTISTS: Please email me with album titles and info if you want your latest release mentioned in this column.

Announcing the launch of http://www.labelsound.com our new website for record labels and artists to promote their music for licensing to Ad agencies, TV, film and other opportunities.... we also host graphic designers and other service providers who wish to promote their work to the music industry.

After a few months of testing the site went properly live last week. Check it out - tell me what you think, and if you know anyone who might be interested in an account - forward on the details. We're running it as a co-operative and spending all cash raised on promoting our work.

Painting With Sound is a new book about the life and music of Hans-Joachim Roedelius. As the foreword by Brian Eno acknowledges, this godfather of electronica has been seminal to ambient music. As one half of the West German duo Cluster his work equalled the achievement of his more well-known cohorts Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk and Can - while his solo work melds cool electronica with jazz, folk and classical voices to often stunning effect. Just as remarkable is his life story: from the childhood horrors of Wartime Berlin to his imprisonment by the Stasi in East Germany and then his involvement with the 1960s counterculture. Brian Bieniowski's book review will appear on this site and you can get further details from www.meridianguides.com

News of a new label is always welcome. Here's one for you: Sandpiper Records. "This new label will produce and distribute (mostly cosmic electronic) music that is considered non-commercial and creative. The aim is to discover new interesting music and re-release long-lost classics from hitherto forgotten artists. We aspire to keep releases as low-cost as possible to ensure a good response to a quality product." Visit our site