Wednesday 31 July 2019

OMT006 : Mame Balla / I Wanna Be


Cover art by A.L., image from the clip



OMT006 : Mame Balla / I Wanna Be

First single from the forthcoming album of this Senegal legend, 'I wanna be' sees Mame Balla going for a dance floor hit, singing in English, French and wolof! 

The video:



Digital release on the 31th of July 2019.



Friday 26 July 2019

OJP037 : ITACHI MODE / Melancholy For 60 Seconds


Cover art by A.L. / pic by Itachi Mode




OJP037 : ITACHI MODE / Melancholy  For 60 Seconds

Agito Maruyama a.k.a ITACHI MODE is a Japanese musician who started his career as a guitarist in various bands, jumping from rock to fusion to techno or noise. 

After disbanding his own band, he devoted himself in composing only, providing music for typical Idols and singers. 

From 2018, Hajime questioned the current state of the music industry and started pursuing music as an "expression" or "Art", which is not popularized or in vogue in Japan.
He has been influenced regardless of genre by a lot of music, people or graphics looking for a wide range of approaches.
Recently, he has started to try new things and music based on field recordings.

'Melancholia for 60 seconds' shows us his different approaches, trying to give us new emotions though using beats and sounds that reminds certain electronic artists but with a definitely Japanese spirit and even some humour which are his own. 
5 tracks to bring us to another level of thinking, meditating, dancing and being happy.

 Hajime

Digital release on the 26th of July 2019.

Track listing:

1: Melancholy For 60 Seconds
2: Insomnia
3: Gas Burner Won't Light
4: 174 Hz
5: it's Mono A're




And on Bandcamp:

Friday 19 July 2019

ODG108 : Jürgen Augusteyns / Das ewige Ende (Diptych)


Cover artwork by Jürgen / Drawing Untitled#5, © Dorothea Dejonckheere



ODG108 : Jürgen Augusteyns / Das ewige Ende (Diptych)


Jürgen Augusteyns (Ghent, 1972) is a Belgian musician. 

"Inspired by guitarists such as Amy Brandon, David Torn, Loren Connors but also composers the likes of Hiroshi Yoshimura and Fennesz to name but a few, I am constantly searching to refine and redefine my musical voice. Whether improvising or composing, contingencies play a major role in my work.
Coming from a mainstream rock and pop background, I found it difficult to let go of what has shaped my approach to music and my instrument, the guitar. At a certain point, I became tired of my own playing, finding it compromised by the preoccupation of what music should be.
I believe the only thing music should really be is sincere, and a reflection of what the creator refers to as beauty.
While evolving from “playing” to “creating”, the instrument itself has become more of a tool for expressing myself. I no longer refer to myself as a “guitarist” but as a musician. Never before have I experienced such joy in playing and composing since I embarked on this journey. The ultimate goal of playing freely without being hindered by a stack of cue cards is not easily accomplished. Accidents happen, but that’s where the fun starts."

On composing “Das ewige Ende // Dyptich”:


"Both pieces began as improvisations using analog synthesizers fed through effect pedals and manipulated live. Only at a later stage did I apply structure and used these ingredients to actually compose, much like dropping a bucket of paint on a canvas and using the splatter as the debut of a painting.
Auch ich in Arkadien // edit (Pt 1) and Auch ich in Arkadien // redux (Pt 2) were originally recorded as one piece. After a while, I felt there were two very distinct parts, which led me to create two separate tracks.
I added additional layers where needed but the improvised parts remain unaltered timewise. Apart from a few minor details no cuts/copies/pastes were performed.
Joachim Badenhorst co-composed and played bass clarinet on Auch ich in Arkadien // redux (Pt 2).
His tone, style and sensitivity suit the piece perfectly. I learned a lot just by listening to him. His phrasing, control and dynamics are world class and it was a privilege to work with him. This is also an improvised single-take recording.
At the time of composing these tracks, I often listened to one of my favorite albums So red the rose by Arcadia. Apart from the music being hugely inspirational, the band’s name eventually pointed me to the paintings of Poussin and Guercino, in which “Et in Arcadia ego”
features as an inscription on a tombstone, and consequently to Goethe’s Italienische Reise, in which “Auch ich in Arkadien” is his motto.
Goethe’s Auch ich in Arkadien roughly translates as “Even I managed to get into paradise”, implying that we could all get there if we chose.
If death is universal, the possibility of paradise might be universal too."

Auch ich in Arkadien // edit (Pt 1) composed, recorded, mixed at home by Jürgen Augusteyns.
Guitars, synthesizers and programming by Jürgen Augusteyns

Auch ich in Arkadien // redux (Pt 2) composed, recorded and mixed at home by Jürgen Augusteyns and Joachim Badenhorst.
Guitars, synthesizers and programming by Jürgen Augusteyns
Bass clarinet by Joachim Badenhorst
Theremin by Yonat Hafftka
Mastered by Uwe Teichert at Elektropolis

Drawing Untitled#5, © Dorothea Dejonckheere: 2016 - Charcoal on cotton 29 x 28cm
Courtesy of Dorothea Dejonckheere/Loodwit 2018

Jürgen

Digital release on the 19 of July 2019.

Track listing:

1:Auch ich in Arkadien, Pt. 1
2: Auch ich in Arkadien, Pt. 2


And on Bandcamp:

Friday 12 July 2019

ODG109 : Sonido Amazonico / 250µg


Cover art by Jordan Bruner

ODG109 : Sonido Amazonico / 250µg

Sonido Amazonico are an electro free jazz Italian band from Modena, formed in 2018.

The band consists of Lucio Cavallari (electronic and synth) and Matteo Pellegrini (bass, loopstation).
The music of Sonido Amazonico interweave sound suggestions originating from different parts and cultures throughout the world.

Lucio and Matteo mixe tablas, ethnic percussions, autochthonous sounds from the tropical rainforest, echos from North Africa reworked live with loops, electronics, calypso rhythms, rumba and experimental electro to produce a contemporary lounge / trip-hop album.

Their first Album 250μg was conceived and realised in four nights. New Zealander Josh Buckler added his plastic clarinet later to give more density to the final mix.

The purpose of the band Sonido Amazonico is to create soundtracks for movies, theatrical representations, audio-video shows and video games.


Sonido Amazonico is:
Lucio Cavallari and Matteo Pellegrini

Lucio Cavallari: CPU, Synth, Electronics, Bass
Matteo Pellegrini: Bass, Guitar 
Josh Buckler: Plastic Clarinet on track 3-4-5-7
Additional guitar on Amazonico: Xeno Meersohn

Mixing: Sonido Amazonico
Mastering: Sonido Amazonico
Recorded at Mushroom Studio, Modena - Italy
Artwork: Jordan Bruner
Layout: Sonido Amazonico



Digital release on the 12th of July 2019.

Track listing:


01 - Aria 1120_17 
02 - Amazonico
03 - Prima
04 - Pasta Vuota
05 - Africa
06 - Cristallo
07 - Sonido


Friday 5 July 2019

ORT022 : Vitja Pauwels / Day at Half Speed

Cover art by Vita Pauwels



ORT022 : Vitja Pauwels / Day at Half Speed

Day at Half Speed is the first solo album of Belgian guitar player Vitja Pauwels (see also the 2 previous album from his band Soldier Six, OCD017 and OCD030). 

The album was recorded during a concert he did in May 2017 in Trondheim (Norway) where he stayed over a year working on this project under the guidance of Stian Westerhus (see also ORT016).

This live album consists of five pieces written for acoustic guitar and acoustic baritone guitar in which different kinds of interplay with electronics were investigated in a solo situation. 
Vitja combines his guitar playing with carefully chosen electronics that form complements or contrasts to the acoustic sound.

Using guitar pedals, computer processing, synthesizers and samples - played and triggered with the toes - he tried to maximize some of the compositions’ potential with attention for melody and form.

A small trailer here!

Vitja 

The album is out on Rat Records and Walter Label and digitally released on Off on the 5th of July 2019.

Track listing:
  1. glow
  2. overseas
  3. paper airplanes
  4. see me
  5. blossom


And on Bandcamp: