September 2003

Volume 1, Number 6

(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 label Aural Fixation Records has released its first CD, The Perfume of Creosote: Desert Exotica Part 1 by Smoke & Mirrors
• Acoustic guitarist Ken Bonfield has a new album just out. It's called Harbor Town and features, besides his usual artistry on guitar, some vocal tracks from Bonfield. Look for a review in Wind and Wire soon.
• Electronic keyboard wizard Robert Solheim, who records as Current, has a new recording, Communion, which will be out very soon. Check here for details.
• The out-of-print album by ambient minimalist James Johnson, Linger, has been remastered and is being re-released on through Atmoworks . Besides the original album, the new re-release will also feature a brand new un-released track from James Johnson's 2002 live collaborative Ambient Ping performance with dreamSTATE & Wally Jericho (as well as entirely new artwork and packaging).
• From Fateless Records, comes this update: Stephen (Zygote) has been in San Francisco summer time isolation mode to put the finishing touches on his latest release. It will be a full-length clocking in at over an hour, and will feature a range of sounds that manuver from cinematic sound scapes to beat-infected glitch jams with a heavy dose of melodic sensability. On Under the Radar Records.Street Date: October 13th. A compact demo E.P. CD (promo only CDr) entitled Zygote's Summer Sardonic Sampler, which features 3 tracks from the new record, as well as 2 unreleased tracks, will be making the rounds in early September. If you would like one, please e-mail zygotesf@lycos.com for details.
• The duo MaJaLe (Christopher Short and Paul Vnuk dropped these assorted tidbits on their mailing list recently:
  • On the horizon for 2003/2004 is:
    • an as of yet untitled collaboration between Paul Vnuk Jr and Oophoi - this project was started last fall and was continued during a visit by Paul to the legendary Kiva (Oophoi's studio in Italy). Since that time the two artists have been bending and mutating sound waves into what promises to be an intense and beautiful sensory experience.
    • Chris Short and prolific composer Brannan Lane have also been hard at work on their first untitled collaboration.
    • The Abstract Season - Paul Vnuk, Jr's newest solo work is about 2/3 of the way done and work should resume shortly.
    • Ma Ja Le have been working on their most ambitious project to date with a very unique guest artist...but that is all we can say for now...prepare to be surprised...
• SynGate shares his 2nd anniversary with Frank Klare's 20th anniversary of music making. To celebrate this event, SynGate released his first musical cooperation work,TimeSharing. Due to the length, it is a kind of Maxi-CD-R. Back in 1983, it was released on a C-30 music cassette. After his successful SynGate releases, Berlin Sequences and Memorial Dream, the 3rd volume of his unreleased private pieces will be released this fall. The working title is Berlin Parks.
• What promises to be a great collaborative effort (how could it be any less?) is now available. It is Sextant, the album by Ashera and Brannan Lane. I have a copy but have yet to play it (drats!) but will be reviewing it soon enough. Being a fan of both artists, I expect to be summarily impressed! (comments by Bill Binkelman). Check out Lane's or Ashera's website.
• ANY news of a Richard Bone recording being released is GREAT news to my ears, so you can imagine how excited I was to read that Spiralight Recordings is releasing Alternate Realities, a collection of rare, unreleased and alternate tracks. Specifically, the CD contains nine tracks; two alternate versions from Ascensionism and seven previously unreleased. Audio samples are available at the label's website, as well as purchase info. Expect a review of this CD next issue. (comments by Bill Binkelman)
• Robert Carty, one of the most prolific ambient/spacemusic artists around, has just released Ethereal Deserts on his own label. Per reviewer Dodds Wiley, "This album is an electro tribal killer!" Go to Carty's website for info.
• All kinds of stuff is apparently brewing in the way of current and new releases at Tony Gerber's fine SpaceForMusic label. Here is a snippet of what I know:
  • Roedelius with Eric Bonerz, Alec Way, David Bickley and Eric Marlyn American Steamboat NEW RELEASE for Fall/Winter 2003
  • John Rose Piano Solos NEW RELEASE TBA
  • Fred Becker Inner, Stellar RE-RELEASE for August, 2003
  • Craig Padilla with Skip Murphy Planetary Elements NEW RELEASE for September/October 2003
  • Tony Gerber Bonfire An acoustic guitar NEW RELEASE for September 2003
  • Tony Gerber, Aashid Himons & Giles Reaves A Hidden Space NEW RELEASE for September/October 2003
  • Also new releases upcoming from MASON STEVENS, BRANNAN LANE, ZERO OHMS and more.
• Still more upcoming release info from James Johnson and Atmoworks:
  • James Johnson - Echoes: Eastern influenced self generating soundscapes & rhythms.Part 3 of the continuing Journey's series
  • Brian McWilliams - TBA: Brand new solo work from Remenance group performer Brian McWilliams. Fans of Remanence's recent release Lamkhyer will want this one
• If you haven't heard of Austere, a fine ambient duo in a minimal/drone/glitch vein (dependingon their mood), here's some news to hopefully pique your interest:
  • Announcing two new Music for Seances releases:
    • AOM #5 - The Nether-Carols Les Pons Du Waffles Beyond the glitch or glitch from the beyond? California's masters of "mu-sick" that's impossible to catagorize channel transmissions from the otherworld directly to your CD player. Beyond genrefication, The Nether-Carols take you to sonic realms yet explored. Packaged with a lovely Crystal Ball Gazer on the outside and a tribute to Norman Rockwell inside, you'll find a coloured Ouija Queen board full of aural goodness.
    • AOM #6 - Broken Gadget Ossip A track from Brighton, England's other finest musician, experimenter, mad-scientist and agent provocateur, this prepared piano piece cannot resist comparisons to John Cage's seminal works, but other than in concept, they have little in common. Interesting tonalities and haunting timbres are found on this pocket-sized Ouia (sic) board from the 1950's, decorated with a box from a postcard-style Ouija board of the same era.
    • Upcoming releases. Please note we are taking a 6-8 week break from this project so this will not be available until some time in October or a bit later:
      • AOM #8 - Numina - TBA
      • AOM #9 - Abstract Audio Systems - TBA
      • AOM #10 - Joe+N - TBA
• I know next to nothing about this artist, but who can keep up with everything being released these days anyway?
  • New Age/Ambient/Electro Music done by Finnish musician named Thomas Vee. He uses "limited" sound fields and plays live instruments in a couple of bands too. Every Song/Track he makes in his home without any obligations to anyone. The sound is humid and sometimes symphonic, let the listener decide. Here is his website. Vee has made 6 (7th and 8th are in the making) albums and publishes them by himself.
    • KAOS TRIP TO EARTH (1999-2000)
    • THE DOLPHIN (2000)
    • WARRIOR TRANCE (2000)
    • KAOS TRIP TO HOME (2000-2001)
    • KF (2002)
    • PHOBICIA Parts 1-7 (2002)
    • PECHTAM ARRIVAL (August 2003)
  • They are available to order from him directly, but at the Iuma Web site (the link above) you can download "unmastered" version of over thirty songs from his albums
• Michael Mage's The New Tribes EP is now available from his website. It features all new artwork and includes a book of selected writings from 1989 to 1996. It's the first time he has published any of his writings. The CD and booklet are enclosed in an Amaray style (DVD) case.
• Todd Fletcher, an artist who I believe is highly under-rated and overlooked in the EM/ambient field is at work on several projects: The next psychetropic (his recording alter ego) release, China Radio Sunshine. It should be ready for the fall. He also is scheduled to have on an upcoming compilation on the Databloem label. Also in the works is some kind of ambient/drone album; though it's in the very early stages, it's sounding promising, per Fletcher. Visit his website.

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

I have become aware of the number of people here on the list who reside and compose in Arizona USA. It is because of this that I wanted to let those people know that there is an entity in Arizona that is ready to actively promote ambient and electronic events here. Our web addy is http://www.azambience.org

Currently we are working hard to establish a base of musicians (all ambient/experimental related genres) and visual artists so as to promote events and effectively erect a scene in Arizona. Once this has been established to some degree we will begin setting up events @ local venues to launch the scene and try to have the success that both Toronto and Philly enjoy. Expect pics and streaming media from the site to let those who missed the event see what they missed ;)

If you are a fan or composer who plays live and resides in Arizona please contact the organization by:

website: http://www.azambience.org

individual email: events@azambience.org

list: AZ_ambience@yahoogroups.com (or you can sign up on azambience.org)

Friday 19 September 2003 - Before Sleep

Saul Stokes and Michael Bentley/eM

Musician's Union Hall, San Francisco

8PM - 11PM / $5

This evening of music will present solo sets from Saul Stokes and Michael Bentley/eM, as well as a set featuring collaborations between these two artists. Stokes will be presenting improvised soundscapes using his collection of hand forged electronic music instruments and devices. Bentley will be presenting his audio/video composition Chronos and Kairos. The collaborative material will include some studies for their upcoming Dreamspace sleep concert on October 4th at False Profit in San Francisco.

Saturday 4 October 2003 - Dreamspace

Michael Bentley/eM, Saul Stokes and Dean Santomieri

False Profit, San Francisco

11PM - 9AM / $TBA

Following the tradition pioneered by Robert Rich, Dub Beautiful and The Foundry are proud to present Dreamspace, an 8 hour sleep concert to be held at False Profit in San Francisco. Music for this event will be provided by sound artists Dean Santomieri, Saul Stokes, and Foundry founder Michael Bentley (eM). The trios' performance will be oriented around the idea of "Music for Lucid Dreaming." Bentley and Santomieri will also provide imagery.

Please arrive at 11pm. Do bring a sleeping bag and comfy clothes so you can rest/sleep and enjoy the all-night live performances by Stokes, Santomieri and Bentley.

More details about Dreamspace at the Dub Beautiful website

Saturday 1 November 2003 - The Uninvited Guest

Dean Santomieri, Michael Bentley, David Kwan, Sarah Klein, Greg

Moore, Karen Stackpole and others

The Church Hall at the Pt. Reyes Dance Palace, Point Reyes Station

7PM / $3

This will be an evening of macabre stories, video and music to celebrate the season. Stories/poems including Santomieri's "A Book Bound in Red Buckram," E.A. Poe's "Ulalume" and others. NOTE: This show is not suitable for young children.

More information call 415-663-1075 and for info/map click here