Cover art by Lee Prescott and JT Tan
OLB001 : Lastboss / DarkestOur1 - HaveYouSeenTheHate?
Tate says:
"It’s a great pleasure to have been presented this opportunity to work with Off for this release."
<DarkestOur> is a collection of 24 tracks spread across 5 releases. Each release brings its own unique character and mood. From lush pads and ambient noise to distorted guitars and breakneck quasi-metal arrangements, genre lines are deconstructed and re-arranged in unexpected ways.
The collection takes inspiration from a wide range of themes: music therapy, social media, chemotherapy, ancient languages, magic, technology both real and imagined, in addition to longterm expat life in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Several books have also been important catalysts for this release. They are listed below for your perusal:
◦ Music As Medicine: The History of Music Therapy Since Antiquity by Peregrine Horden
◦ Extreme Music: From Silence to Noise and Everything In between by Michael Tau
◦ Voice of the Fire by Alan Moore
The following will be released bi-monthly throughout 2024.
1 - HaveYouSeenTheHate? (4 Tracks)
2 - CloakingDevice (4 Tracks)
3 - Immaterial (4 Tracks)
4 - TheGuildofStCecilia (4 Tracks)
5 - Roentgenizdat / BoneMusic (8 Tracks of Bonus Material)
Accompanying the release is a PDF liner note graced with the beautiful artwork of long time collaborator Lee Prescott and Hong Kong based visual artist JT Tan. In addition, a variety of associated projects can be found on Instagram and WeChat channels. You’ll find DIY instruments, live performance, vinyl experimentation, mobile music and much more.
@lastbossmedia
<Lastboss> is a China based music project exploring electronic music in a variety of forms. Through workshops, performance, collaboration and content creation the project aims to share a passion for creativity, music, and technology.
From its roots in Manchester, UK , the project has had significant active periods both at home and abroad. In London 2004-2008, the unique free party scene became home for regular appearances and events including extensive work with scene mainstay @badsektarecords. In Japan, 2008-2009, the project regularly appeared with the ‘Dogwalt’ crew at their Shinjuku breakcore parties. Lastboss was also crowned ‘Laptop Battle Tokyo’ champion during this period.
For the last decade, however, the project has been based in China. Highlights include performing at the @Hoodootechno Aquaticism festival in sumptuous Yangshuo, releasing cassettes via Guangdong based @Jyugam_label, providing mixes for Vogue+, doing workshops and contributing to the Beijing based ‘UnicatAttack!’ Project.
The project continues to seek out and manifest opportunities for creative expression and collaboration.
All material recorded, arranged, and produced by T.McNeil
*Except flute parts on ‘Triumvirate’ and ‘Veil’ which are by the irrepressible ProcessPrototype.
Artwork by Lee Prescott @l_prescott1
Hardware:
Hofner Shorty guitar, Joyo extreme metal pedal, Chase Bliss Mood Mk2, moskyiso10power supply, ZoomU44 audio interface, Focusrite Solo interface, Korg Microkey air, iPadMini5, AkaiMidimix, MacAir 2017, Rokit 5 Monitors, AudioTechnica M20 Headphones, Samson SM58 microphone
Software:
KymaticaAUM, Samplr, Sugabytes Turnado, Gauss field Looper, Patterning2, FLStudio21, Izotope Ozone5
Digital release on the 12th of January 2024.
Track listing:
1: UnitAndUnibrow
2: HaveYouSeenTheHate?
3: Triumvirate (ft.Process Prototype)
4: HaveYouSeenTheLove?
Itunes, Spotify, etc.:
And on Bandcamp:
