Vuzh Music Blog

Weekly Twitter Update

C. Reider — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

@_stretts Yup. You'd just need a cable w/ stereo 1/8" on one end and dual RCA on the other (or adaptors). in reply to _stretts #
@noisician That's an interesting progression. Is that chronologically left to right? in reply to noisician #
The server holding Just Not Normal releases is going black within the week http://t.co/Z0n0qJYh / http://t.co/8ADrWaU3 #
C. Reider's release on Just Not Normal – "Steam Inspector" http://t.co/Wb0khb62 #
@Gurdonark I wonder if the best strategy isn't to utilize http://t.co/nK4q4vJG / sonic squirrel AND label servers. in reply to Gurdonark #
Drinkin' beer, writing about Luigi Russolo. #noiselife #
@leafdoctor Hey your Twitter account has been hacked & they're sending out phishing notices. Better change the password #
Alert Colorado friends of @denvermuseumNS 's museum scientist expert @leafdoctor his account is sending out a phishing scam – be aware. #
@dpnem However, a netlabel ought to be free to choose whatever delivery device suits it. in reply to dpnem #
Very true. RT: @Gurdonark: Folks can to love music they don't get at first. A beloved book does not reveal all its secrets on first read. #
@falsereactions New new? Is it more like Biokinetics or the iffy s/t? in reply to falsereactions #
I love that a literature zine mentioned http://t.co/J3oUcGmR Owning Extinctions in their blog, and it's resulting in good traffic to my site #
@falsereactions Ah. Still, it'd be great to have that on vinyl. Hmmm. Damned reissues eating up $$ in reply to falsereactions #
ARgh: OpenOffice / NeoOffice is frustrating. #
@falsereactions Alright, just ordered that and the SAW II, now I need to hide under a rock so I don't spend any more money. in reply to falsereactions #
@dpnem They're not the best, no. I'm just dismayed by people saying it's no big deal / they can go elsewhere, what if archive goes down? in reply to dpnem #
@dpnem True though that those download sites have lots of noise to signal. in reply to dpnem #
@dpnem As @ubuweb keeps saying, don't trust "the cloud". in reply to dpnem #
@Steve_Hamann Oof, I hope you don't have the same thing I got. It walloped me pretty good. in reply to Steve_Hamann #
@larkinhavens Yes, I love his photos of Lee Miller & Nusch Eluard. I used to draw from those photos. in reply to larkinhavens #
@GuyBirkin We've just finished re-watching a bunch of Steve Coogan stuff. Haven't seen the Trip. in reply to GuyBirkin #
@kristenschaaled Best b-day wishes! in reply to kristenschaaled #
@larkinhavens You should see if there are some books at the library of his photography. Great stuff. in reply to larkinhavens #
Wild imaginary idea I had: a Chris Morris / Nurse With Wound collaboration. #
"Higher education can't be a luxury." #
New Noise Net throws in the hat: http://t.co/jcxnseB9 #
Two… count 'em: Two new tracks up at http://t.co/tE7ASdCp – and they are MASSIVE! EPIC! #
Dystimbria 8: Mutant Beatniks "Rainbow Vomitorium" http://t.co/tE7ASdCp #
Dystimbria 9: Post-Avantist "Vasiform Rima" http://t.co/tE7ASdCp #
Oh for Christ's sake. RT: @repcorygardner: Did #Obama get permission from Chevy to use "Built to Last" in #SOTU #
That last ridiculous tweet by @repcorygardner was the most significant thing he's done for my district since he was elected to the House. #
Two *massive* new tracks up at http://t.co/tE7ASdCp DYS008: Mutant Beatniks // DYS009 Post-Avantist #
Really cool stuff is happening with the sound art exhibition! I'm looking forward to announcing who's playing at the concert I'm organizing! #
Here's a good 2011 netlabel album I missed: http://t.co/WK30LwQL #
@disquiet Great tangents article, Marc. I'm glad you spotlighted @dpnem 's blog on gender in netlabels. #
@g_stefanou I'm just streaming "path.f" on Bandcamp. Very nice work. #
The uncanny valley of sound is imitative synthesis. #
@Gurdonark Music and language can both be distractions from paying attention. in reply to Gurdonark #
With a photo of my ögly face! RT: @liminallistener: New blog by FRCC about Sound Through Barriers exhibiton http://t.co/EqKnuqGc #
@cinchel Thankee! in reply to cinchel #
@Le_Berger I could live with that! Now I have GG songs in me head. in reply to Le_Berger #
I need a haircut! #
@Le_Berger I am the opposite of a giant though. in reply to Le_Berger #
This year's Conference on World Affairs @CWABoulder is April 9-13 I hope I have some time to attend some panels. #
@snooksarmy Isn't Shigeru Miyamoto the Nintendo dude who invented Mario. in reply to snooksarmy #
@leonrosado That's up to the artist. As an unknown-my own audience grew as I made my music free. Other people have better luck w/ pay model. in reply to leonrosado #
@dpnem @leonrosado Thinking more about how to get money & production stuff than the creative stuff was what made me start w/ the free model. in reply to dpnem #
@leonrosado @dpnem I think a common error is for people to assume that free netlabelers are dogmatic and think all music should be free… in reply to leonrosado #
@leonrosado @dpnem … Very few people think that, they think it's up to the individual artist. in reply to leonrosado #
Firestone "Velvet Merlin" Oatmeal Stout Limited Release. #
Loveland Museum Gallery will start charging a fee for entry. http://t.co/p1Kyd24x I think this is a good move for them. #
@dpnem @leonrosado David's got a point, it does create a 'tiered' system. Would _I_ do it? I'm leaning toward no, but … (1 of 2) in reply to dpnem #
@leonrosado @dpnem (2 of 2) … but I do have physical products for sale on my netlabel as well as free downloads. in reply to leonrosado #
@newpractice Seriously? Self-defeating, crass and just stupid. in reply to newpractice #
I've often wondered why I don't find more netlabel releases with singing / lyrics. It's possible I'm just not looking for it. @dpnem #
@Gurdonark I've thought about doing some stuff like this. in reply to Gurdonark #
@dpnem I wonder if it's because writing good lyrics & melody is ass-hard. in reply to dpnem #
@leonrosado @dpnem I have a lot of singing/lyrics work, i've just chosen to keep it unreleased. Well, there is that one Crook'd Finger tune in reply to leonrosado #
@leonrosado As I go further on my journey, I am less and less fond of rigid systems and clear-cut hard boundaries. in reply to leonrosado #
Well, THAT was an exciting night. #notinthegoodway #
@DawnPutney Does it have any hops in it? My wife is frustrated w/ glutenfree beer that tastes like fruit pop. in reply to DawnPutney #
@newpractice Check out @Museo_Denver. #
Beer. #
♥ A Strange Day by The Cure http://t.co/74yawGty #
@DawnPutney Huzzahh! Where does one get this beer? in reply to DawnPutney #
Ai Wei Wei @aiww will quite @twitter over its new censorship policy, if implemented: http://t.co/aIw8OvfX #
@ubuweb New Noise Net threw in the towel this week. in reply to ubuweb #
#TwitterBlackout http://t.co/yb1Bo2KQ #
#TwitterBlackout is trending. #
♥ Piggy In The Mirror – Remastered LP Version by The Cure http://t.co/zJJK6Db9 #
I always thought that the perfect cover version would be Slayer doing "Piggy in the Mirror" by the Cure. #
@ValhallArts @DawnPutney I think Mountain Sun in Boulder did one once, but haven't made it a regular brew. in reply to ValhallArts #
@c_a_harebell Acc'd to Dawn from ArtLab there's a good gluten free beer at Pateros Creek in FC: http://t.co/UqQyriEV (correct link) #
♥ 2 by Cinchel http://t.co/njn3wvJ3 #

Two New Pieces at Dystimbria

C. Reider — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:03:28 +0000

Two new tracks have just gone live at Dystimbria, the new netlabel devoted to a continually evolving community discussion in sound of the grey areas between noise and ambient.
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The two new tracks are really heavy and incredibly good. These are some of my favorite entries yet! Don’t miss them.
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Dystimbria #8 – Mutant Beatnik’s “Rainbow Vomitorium” is a constantly evolving composition of entrancing and exciting textures and noises. Incredible. This will take the top of your head clean off.
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Dystimbria #9 – Post-Avantist’s “Vasiform Rima” is a slow-burning, slow-churning piece of quasi-doom-metal DROOOOOOOONNNNNNEEE. Grrrruuuuhhhh!!!!
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Get them both right now for free at http://dystimbria.cc

Weekly Twitter Update

C. Reider — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

David Bowie's "Low" was released 35 years ago today. #
@c_a_harebell http://t.co/rKGLYMpN #
Today's accomplishments: figuring out how to download & convert YouTube vids + insert them into powerpoint. I am a simpleton. #
A note in my in box from Bertoia Studios #
Which one of you guys is trying to kill me? The brakes on my car gave out on the way to Longmont tonight. #
Okay, so I accuse you all of trying to kill me, and you are suspiciously silent… ah hmmm…. #
Colorado people: If you haven't seen @mcadenver 's West of Center yet, it's incredible! Don't miss- closes 2/19. Countercultural art 1965-77 #
Someone: Your guideline says "send me a link, don't email files" so can I email the file? /Me: "No, send a link" /Someone: *emails the file* #
Wouldn't life be easier without empathy? –This message brought to you by the Republican National Committee #
@MMFlint You must be so proud! in reply to MMFlint #
@saffronslumber It is very good work. I'm glad it has gotten you a wide listenership! in reply to saffronslumber #
A vinyl re-release of SAW II in March! !!!! (No I'm not talking about the stupid horror movie, sheesh) #
@c_a_harebell Putt putt golf game: http://t.co/UxrH32vn #
My Top 3 #lastfm Artists: Autechre (13), Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan (11) & Oval (8) http://t.co/tvPbaNRK #
Man from Loveland reported missing-found his car in the parking lot of the mall, then FIVE DAYS LATER they found him dead in cinema bathroom #
Makes me not so thrilled to visit the local movie theater: http://t.co/a0XdFa1e Five staffers "on leave" -one for every rotting day. #
I've just received a new contribution to http://t.co/tE7ASdCp and it's In-frikkin-credible. It's going to take the tops right off yer heads! #
@vuzhmusic I'll get it up soon, until then you'll just have to stew in your own anticipation juice. in reply to vuzhmusic #
I'll get the new Dystimbria track up soon, until then you'll just have to stew in your own anticipation juice. #
@disquiet Ah, very interesting topic for me. Dream sounds are a key informer of my work. in reply to disquiet #
@disquiet Remedios Varo is my wife's (a.k.a. Auzel) favorite painter. in reply to disquiet #
@newpractice Is silence necessary for this awareness? in reply to newpractice #
@c_a_harebell RT @disquiet: Remedios Varo, the impact of surrealism, and the sound of dreams: http://t.co/rQTT40zW #
@mrdankelly Guy we work with pronounces "faux" as "fox" and "macabre" as mac-uh-BRAY. in reply to mrdankelly #
@falsereactions Dude, yeah I'm super excited for Subotnik & Leslie Flanigan. in reply to falsereactions #
@saffronslumber Pshaw, if I were any good at promoting anything people would listen to MY music! in reply to saffronslumber #
Just me, but I feel the effect more by http://t.co/nK4q4vJG being blacked out than by Wikipedia. #
@falsereactions Yes!! I think it'll be out in March. Must buy. in reply to falsereactions #
@falsereactions I think someone mentioned it on Google+. Link: http://t.co/Xlkg8Yoy in reply to falsereactions #
@Le_Berger Hmm. I disagree. in reply to Le_Berger #
@falsereactions It's looking like CMKY is focussing more & more on expression outside of dance music, which is a good direction IMO. in reply to falsereactions #
@Le_Berger I have no real problem w/ digital reverb, just think that overapplication can be a crutch, esp. for "ambient" artists. in reply to Le_Berger #
Newsflash: Steina Vasulka is STILL made of awesomeness. #
@ValhallArts Call for entries of art from @communikey Guidelines here: http://t.co/c1wLShqx #
Hurdle. #jump #
Have you checked out the most recent release at Vuzh Music by Euphoric Hum? Don't miss this one: http://t.co/RsEasOO1 #
I wonder how many netlabels were affected by the Megaupload closure. I can think of a few that were using Rapidshare. #
@cinchel Yeah, I've wondered the same thing, but I have seen it around. in reply to cinchel #
Usually I can't stand NPR's music coverage, but this is unassailably lovely: http://t.co/YiCv7ynz Thanks @c_a_harebell for the link. #
I love Bayer, happy DAM has this collection RT @DenverArtMuseum Added exhibition listing to site on Herbert Bayer show http://t.co/8xfcRm2q #
@saffronslumber I'm happy you liked it, thanks for the tweet! in reply to saffronslumber #
So now we're down to the creep, the total dickhead, the joke and the guy who stoners dig because they don't know what he really stands for. #
@cinchel Time of day? Yeah, alright, I *guess* I'd give you the time of day. in reply to cinchel #
@cinchel @disquiet 10:20 here. Up past me bedtime since it's the weekend. in reply to disquiet #
I have a date with a car in my very dark and cold and cramped garage. #
Is that true? "Art people like things they don’t understand." – Dieter Moebius #
Big news in that Moebius interview is an upcoming collab with Asmus Tietchens! #
http://t.co/IAh23vzC #
NP: Moebius + Asmus Tietchens live stream: http://t.co/IAh23vzC #
Two of my favorite music guys of all time, together again. #
@fripptastic Every bar band in America is Regressive Rock. in reply to fripptastic #
I CAN NOT WAIT for the Moebius/Tietchens collab album. #fanboy #
@Gurdonark Me too, by a long shot. That's a really great flick! in reply to Gurdonark #
Today on G+ Bernhard Günter announced that the Megaupload takedown had made unavailable all of the tracks on his netlabel Trente Oiseaux. #
Brief stop into local Habitat for Humanity thrift, and I netted all three seasons of Arrested Development on DVD for about $20 #thriftscore #
@minkofforama Should he have to? Because he doesn't have any choice now. in reply to minkofforama #
Dessert: Halvah + homemade mead aged a few years (made by my brother Jordan) #

Weekly Twitter Update

C. Reider — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

There will be a new Vuzh Music release, probably by tomorrow. #
@cinchel You sound disappointed. in reply to cinchel #
@cinchel I'm too fatigued to make something myself, so I'm happily releasing good stuff by others. in reply to cinchel #
@cinchel As exhausted as I've been, It's an accomplishment just coding the webpage! Stupid sickness. in reply to cinchel #
Listen to artists speak about their work. Change the words "mark-making" to "sound-making", or "painting"/"sculpture" to "composition" etc. #
Popol Vuh. #
@Gurdonark Things are usually more interesting when they do not purely follow form. in reply to Gurdonark #
Incredible new EP on Vuzh Music netlabel http://t.co/oA8Ny9iO "Flow" by The Euphoric Hum. Electronic weirdness. Free. #
Prickly electronic sounds and deep rumbling drones. The Euphoric Hum on Vuzh Music: http://t.co/oA8Ny9iO #netlabels #ccmusic #
My Top 3 #lastfm Artists: Popol Vuh (21), Eyvind Kang (5) & Ashra (4) http://t.co/tvPbaNRK #
Accursed fatigue. I need my enthusiasm back. I was kicking the world's ass just a couple of weeks ago, dammit. #
You should check out this cool electronic experimental music EP: http://t.co/oA8Ny9iO It's free. #
@gacougnol Thanks for the RTs, comrade! in reply to gacougnol #
@tobiasreber @gacougnol Thanks for the feedback. Stephan is a really good new artist, I think. in reply to tobiasreber #
@noisician Glad you dig it! in reply to noisician #
@mystified131 @disquiet Was it Daniel Menche who swallowed a contact mic? in reply to mystified131 #
@Gurdonark Me too! It's a wonderful EP, the more listeners the better in reply to Gurdonark #
@benjamindauer Drone Forest – Amy's Arms in reply to benjamindauer #
Listening to gamelan, reading about sound art. #
Now I'm going to watch "I'm Alan Partridge" season 2 #
Good thoughts from my teacher @newpractice : http://t.co/QdE3tCfz #
I agree. Important thoughts. RT: @Gurdonark: great weblog post by your teacher. #
Gamelan is the best music for head banging. #
@c_a_harebell Y'know @liminallistener can't see your tweets because they're protected. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@c_a_harebell I can see them with this account, because you have me friended, but the other acct can't see the tweets. in reply to c_a_harebell #
RT: @c_a_harebell: http://t.co/xkVMjlMk Air Bass! #
@c_a_harebell What a funny story. in reply to c_a_harebell #
I agree! RT @ValhallArts Dont let this one pass you by-Street Cred @ Longmont Museum http://t.co/AIynzVD4 (A museum w/o a Twitter Acct?!) #
Kona Brewing Co. Pipeline Porter #
@saffronslumber Jeebus. These people really do just want to turn back the whole 20th century, dont' they? in reply to saffronslumber #
@snooksarmy I prefer Om to Sleep. in reply to snooksarmy #
Other museums in Colorado should look at @Still_Museum for how to use twitter. They're enthusiasts for culture -thus interesting to read. #
How did I end up missing an entire Autechre album? #
@c_a_harebell That inspires stirring in my nether regions in reply to c_a_harebell #
@c_a_harebell http://t.co/K57vVsHG in reply to c_a_harebell #
Results of the Brainwashed 2011 poll http://t.co/vYLL2dB4 in case you care about commercial music. #
@c_a_harebell I'm totally seeing T-Rex here when you say that. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@implicitorder Yes, and furthermore they're wrong because they disagree with me! #iamtheultrasnob in reply to implicitorder #
Feeling an urge to cross out "Walter" and write in "Wendy" onto the cover of "The Well Tempered Synthesizer" #np #
Junto by @disquiet is a great project, If I weren't on music-making hiatus, I'd be all over it: http://t.co/FqAimvqA #
@c_a_harebell http://t.co/mzEL63u1 #

Sound Through Barriers

C. Reider — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:55:11 +0000

News to some, and a reminder to others:

I am curating an exhibition of sound art that will be open April 20-29 of 2012 at Art Lab in Fort Collins, Colorado.

There is a call for entries, if you’re into sound art at all, please run to the website – http://soundthroughbarriers.com – and either read the call for entries on the site, or download a PDF of it.

The Euphoric Hum – Flow

C. Reider — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:04:32 +0000

The new EP from Germany’s the Euphoric Hum is an exciting mix of prickly electronic noises and powerful bass rumbles. Check out this new work that was created specifically for Vuzh Music by special invitation.
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The Euphoric Hum – Flow

http://vuzhmusic.com/releases/flow.html

Weekly Twitter Update

C. Reider — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

Eating breakfast at 3PM. Set my goal low, but didn't make it. This virus sucks. #
If you haven't seen it yet: @disquiet 's list of the best of 2011 in free/netlabel/creative commons music: http://t.co/GVU0K4xv #
I feel like I have fallen a month behind. #
My Top 1 #lastfm Artists: Sunn O))) meets Nurse With Wound (2) http://t.co/tvPbaNRK #
@snooksarmy Yes, it was really a good one. Best thing since "Tragedy For You". The EP Still & Raw was equally good. in reply to snooksarmy #
@grahamdunning I had luck reading it, but I listened to the audio version first. Changed the way I looked at the world. in reply to grahamdunning #
@dpnem You don't even need an article for that topic, the title says it all. in reply to dpnem #
Vandalism http://t.co/gPcwQfPB at the Clyfford @Still_Museum — Drunken crazy woman. What is with the recent spate of vandalism against art? #
Trying to re-enter the land of the living, but I can't find the door. #
There is a seventh entry at http://t.co/tE7ASdCp – a piece by AODL, known on twitter as @jshell #
@newpractice What is rubbing your naked buttocks on artwork and pissing yourself if not a critical statement? (1 of 2) in reply to newpractice #
@newpractice It's just not a very insightful one. Like most critique it says more about the critic than the subject. (2 of 2) in reply to newpractice #
@c_a_harebell Don't give up, just find the one that has the features closest to what you desire. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@snooksarmy Might be more appropriate to select a virus that makes you hear a looped sound until you go crazy and sweat to death in bed. in reply to snooksarmy #
@c_a_harebell Looks like the memory man 2880 has a lot of what you want. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@c_a_harebell Nonsense. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@birdsbreath Thanks! in reply to birdsbreath #
The seventh track is now up at http://t.co/tE7ASdCp #noiselife #dronelife #

Collarado

C. Reider — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:49:38 +0000

The seventh track in the Dystimbria continuum is by Utah’s AODL, and is titled “Collarado”.
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Artist statement: “I took Dystimbria 6 and chopped it up, shuffled it, re-joined it, chopped it up, and shuffled it again, and had a couple of tracks built from all of that, all on the computer. I did some computer distortion of one of the generated tracks, and chopped the non-distorted and distorted ones up into two batches of samples of 2 seconds each. I then loaded those samples into MPC500 programs and plugged the MPC500 into two MoogerFoogers (Ring Modulator and FreqBox) and a Metasonix TM-1 Waveshaper and played a live set using only this gear and these samples (in pairs of noise and non-noise, one with “note-on” play, and one with “oneshot” play). “

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Download it here: http://dystimbria.cc

Weekly Twitter Update

C. Reider — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:47:00 +0000

I believe I have finally completed a blog post about my favorite free netlabel music of 2011. Will publish soon. #
Is purity interesting? #
@falsereactions Is rarity the property that is interesting about it? in reply to falsereactions #
Is purity possible? #
When I get website hits from the middle East, inevitably they've been doing web searches for something sex themed, such as "orgasm sounds". #
@dpnem Google it, man, google it. in reply to dpnem #
@dpnem http://t.co/o5mJjgwB in reply to dpnem #
My favorite #netlabel releases of 2011 http://t.co/eURbj7bx #ccmusic #freemusic 31 albums selected. #
@Le_Berger In what way is that bad? in reply to Le_Berger #
@saffronslumber @computerneix @gurdonark @mystified131 @jshell @cinchel @meteer You are mentioned herein: http://t.co/eURbj7bx #
@implicitorder @maraxnoise @DaveSeidel @Steve_Hamann @blackantlers @sonorefiction @kaltemusic You are mentioned herein: http://t.co/eURbj7bx #
@nyctaper I've had my site hacked twice now, it really is the pits. I'm sorry to hear about it. #
As a result of my best-of list I've gotten a few very pleased notes from artists happy to know that someone is out there listening! #
It's good to let #netlabels and artists know that you appreciate their work. This kind of positive feedback is what they're hoping for. #
The list of my favorite free-to-download netlabel releases of 2011: http://t.co/eURbj7bx #ccmusic #netlabels #dronelife #noiselife #
I just was chatting w/ UC Davis prof / HuffPo writer / #netlabel artist Bob Ostertag – turns out he grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado. Hm. #
♥ Some Grateful Hollow by Andreas Brandal http://t.co/EjdLO6Yp #
I recommend listening: RT: @radioartnet: Luc Ferrari: Far-West News nº 3 http://t.co/ywlxC3GT #
The lady wants a looper. #
Cool little musical interactive flash toy coded by someone I'm reading on G+ http://t.co/1GNRHQr2 #
I kind of wish I could un-eat that Mexican food we had for dinner. #
@Le_Berger I love Gentle Giant. in reply to Le_Berger #
Today we're visiting museums in Longmont and Boulder. At least 2, up to 4 different museums in one day. #
Quote: "I'm still working through the idea that giving your music away means you think (and other will think) it's worthless." #
In my practice, worth and value don't come from financial gain. #
@saffronslumber Thank you! It's a pleasure pointing out the good stuff to people who may've missed it. in reply to saffronslumber #
Natural History Museums weighed down by their own history. #
@dpnem A few years before she was a household name I saw her in a small divey venue. Good show. in reply to dpnem #
@dpnem Although it's weird that the pope photo was her jumping the shark moment, because it was actually a pretty brave protest action. in reply to dpnem #
RT: @olivep: 12 Dozen Places To Educate Yourself Online For Free http://t.co/3biVDUfo #
@jshell Have you seen "the Corporation"? "King Corn" was pretty good too. in reply to jshell #
@jshell We just saw a great doc (not political) called Marwencol, definitely recommend highly. in reply to jshell #
@c_a_harebell http://t.co/DkRkPukU #
@c_a_harebell Right. Which one looks best? in reply to c_a_harebell #
Who even bothers DDoS-ing LJ anymore? SRSLY. #
My Top 3 #lastfm Artists: restive (20), NP (14) & Andreas Brandal (14) http://t.co/tvPbaNRK #
@c_a_harebell http://t.co/h1lBgKh2 #
@c_a_harebell Actually I think it was the RC-30 I was looking at… they're both Boss so I got confused. #
@c_a_harebell … but it looks like the jamman has an SD card, which would be pretty handy. #
@saffronslumber That's one of those automatic paper.li aggregators. I ignore those, usually. in reply to saffronslumber #
@Le_Berger Please don't drink and drive. in reply to Le_Berger #
Today we're visiting Denver Museum of Contemporary Art & El Museo de las Americas. #
@nofi I've used both Hover & Dreamhost with good experiences. in reply to nofi #
Drove down to @museo_americas but they were closed for a week. It'd have been nice if they could've put that on their website. Or twitter. #
@Le_Berger Good to know. in reply to Le_Berger #
@sebastienstars Dear me, you don't recommend the future? in reply to sebastienstars #
@tobiasreber A nice acknowledgement! Congratulations. in reply to tobiasreber #
RT: @icystew: I liked a @YouTube video http://t.co/Wkf1BdBV Sara Ayers and Jeff Sampson – Not Even All The Stars #
Ebert's best documentaries of 2011: http://t.co/gWJl96ol #
"Isn’t the whole glitch/micro-sound thing as embarrassing as DX-7 horns?" — Tom Ellard #
Hey European prog folk. Help Bob Drake plan his tour: http://t.co/cieZY0bV @fripptastic @tobiasreber #
@Gurdonark It is probably the primary impulse. in reply to Gurdonark #
@c_a_harebell Marc W.'s write-up about Zimoun: http://t.co/CTL3vYP9 #
@c_a_harebell Still looks good. Have you looked at Vox VDL1, or Electro Harmonix 2880? in reply to c_a_harebell #
Kim Jong Un is the Kwisatz Haderach. #
@tobiasreber I would love to see what you come up with. The entries so far have seemingly not read the text of the call for entries, sadly. in reply to tobiasreber #
Today we're going to see some Chuck Close art @ loveland, then Dale Chihuly art at @FCMOA and also a bird sanctuary. #
@c_a_harebell Shouldn't second thought it too much. A looper's been on my to-get list for ages. Better now than never. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@dpnem Who's Adele? in reply to dpnem #
@dpnem I wonder whether an artist ought to concern her/him self about what value the audience sets for the work. in reply to dpnem #
@jshell Why wouldn't it? Beards are good. in reply to jshell #
The one-eyed bald eagle at the bird sanctuary liked me. It made chirping and rasping noises at me and no one else. #
@Le_Berger I am happy when an audience agrees with me that the work is valuable. When they do not, I simply think they are wrong. in reply to Le_Berger #
@Le_Berger From my perspective, making art is between you and the material, and it is, or should be an ever-shifting discovery process. in reply to Le_Berger #
@Le_Berger The audience response does matter if the audience is the material the artist is working with, but it matters in a different way. in reply to Le_Berger #
What is the material boundary between decorative art and provocative art? #
@Le_Berger Hm? No disclaimers needed. Talking about this stuff is a process for me too. Ask me again in a year or two & I'll disavow it all. in reply to Le_Berger #
@Le_Berger I like exchanges with you & others, trading ideas is important. in reply to Le_Berger #
@Gurdonark Good thought. Consumables just end up consumed. Products end up discarded. in reply to Gurdonark #
@Le_Berger Clearly distribution is a concern, and accessibility is a concern. I'm not only doing this for me, but … (1 of 2) in reply to Le_Berger #
@Le_Berger … the audience doesn't participate in the creative act — unless the audience is the material. (2 of 2) in reply to Le_Berger #
@Gurdonark @Le_Berger Yup, there's nothing wrong with profit. In my art practice, however, seeking this would be a distraction from work. in reply to Gurdonark #
@Le_Berger Yes. Access is important. I agree with this statement. in reply to Le_Berger #
@Gurdonark The poor lady, she had been shot & surgically reconstructed, then later contracted West Nile virus when she lost the eye. in reply to Gurdonark #
@Le_Berger The distraction would still be there, one would still need to manage accountings between business partners-seek new opportunities in reply to Le_Berger #
@Le_Berger For me the free model means open exchange between audience and artist, direct conduit, no distraction. in reply to Le_Berger #
Oh dear. http://t.co/i0PUmmgr I think this is a bad idea. I can't answer this question ever. Everything is both, and neither. #artornot #
@c_a_harebell I can answer the question is it good or not, but I can't answer the question is it art or not. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@c_a_harebell Is it a talentless hunk of shit? Sure… but the talentless hunk of shit is still art. Fucking Ricker shit is art. in reply to c_a_harebell #
@Gurdonark Presumably one doesn't say "break a leg" before such an ordeal. I hope everything goes smoothly. in reply to Gurdonark #
Finishing up our 11 North/Central Colorado museums in 4 days tour today with a visit to @denverartmuseum and our 1st visit to @Still_Museum #
Sadly, I became quite ill while at the Still Museum & we had to cut our trip short & come home. A drag. #
Fever. #
ow #
@c_a_harebell Not so much the sniffles as the exploding head. in reply to c_a_harebell #
Well, that was a miserable 24 hours. #
@DaveSeidel 24 hr flu in reply to DaveSeidel #

My Favorite Free Netlabel Music of 2011

C. Reider — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:28:20 +0000

Here’s my favorite netlabel releases of 2011. What qualifies me to make a list like this? Nothing at all! You don’t need credentials in the netlabel underground. I listen to a lot of music published on netlabels, I like making lists, and I like sharing what I’ve found with other potential listeners. There’s my qualifications! I wish more people would get vocal about the stuff they like in netlabel music. A few people did, including David Nemeth, Thomas Park and Alex Stretton. I’d love to read more lists of netlabel music people have enjoyed, I love discovering new music, and checking out the tastes of people who are different from me. So why don’t you consider sharing some of the things you listened to and liked this year? If you don’t want to write a blog post, feel free to add a comment to this post, you’ll share your recommendation with me & everyone who reads this.
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Before I proceed with the rest of this post, I’d like to point my readers to a blog post I wrote re-capping some of the stuff I personally released in 2011, both my own music and stuff on my label. That blog post can be found right HERE.
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I should probably give a special shout-out to one artist who gets the most-listened-to netlabel artist of the year award. It’s pretty clear from this screenshot of my last.FM stats who I’m talking about:
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Saffron Slumber kicks ass, and the release by his other project Earthbreather made a pretty good dent too! Well done!
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A few final notes:
- I’m dividing my list into 8 releases that are especially excellent, and then 23 more that I really like.
- I limited my list to releases that were available for free. Some are “Pay what you want”, including zero.
- Not all of this stuff is released with Creative Commons licenses, though most of it is.
- For some reason most of this year’s list is ambient music, even though, to be frank, most ambient bores me to tears. This stuff defies the expectations.
- The two lists are presented in alphabetical order.
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Without further ado, here’s…
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Eight Essential Releases of 2011

Earthbreather – Forget the Sky – Skrow!media

http://skrowmedia.com/skrow/audio-releases/skrow038/

Ambient that shakes the floorboards. Ambient that feels like heavy metal. Distortion as an element of beauty. Sometimes I download something and forget everything about it before listening to it. That happened with this album. When I finally listened for the first time, I put it on, and I was like, “Dude, who IS this, this is fucking awesome!” – and so I googled Earthbreather and realized that it’s the a collaborative project including Kevin Stephens, a.k.a. Saffron Slumber (along with Jason George of Ellipse) and I said to myself “Ah, no wonder it fucking rules.”

Ángel Faraldo – Scelsi Remix: 7 Mantras – Modisti

http://modisti.com/netlabel/?p=520

This was actually released in December 2010, but I didn’t discover it until after I’d written last year’s best-of post. It surely would have made it to the list, seeing as how it’s incredibly good and all. Perfect drone music.

Gurdonark – Weights and Measures – Treetrunk

http://treetrunkrecords.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/gurdonark-weights-and-measures-treetrunk-191/

This is probably Gurdonark’s best work, in my humble opinion. Some of the songs remind me of something that might appear on a Boards of Canada album. Subdued melodies with round tones.

Christopher McFall – The Alpha is Strong and Amplifying Beta – Impulsive Habitat

http://impulsivehabitat.com/releases/ihab033.htm

This guy rules. Will he make it on every year’s best-of list? Only if he does something every year. Heavy clumps of lo-fi sounds.

Mystified – Remembering the Engine – self released

http://mystified.bandcamp.com/album/remembering-the-engine

Mystified always releases a ton of good stuff. This was the one from this year that I really liked the best. Motorik mechanical industrial-ambient.

Saffron Slumber – Somnogen – Resting Bell

http://www.restingbell.net/releases/rb092-somnogen

Just take another look at that statistical graphic above. Yes. This is ambient music done right.

Various Artists – Dead Voices: White Noise – Intelligent Machinery / Just Not Normal

http://justnotnormal.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/imc03-dead-voices-white-noise/

A great compilation of edgey abstract music derived from ‘electronic voice phenomenon’, and very, very sadly the last release on Just Not Normal for “some time to come”.

Wirewall / Hal McGee – Dimension Shift – Cohort

http://cohortrecords.0catch.com/download.htm

A really interesting hybrid of harsh noise and ambient, from two of my old contacts from the hometaping days. One or both of these guys ought to participate in the Dystimbria continuum.

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-23 Really Good Releases of 2011

AODL – Wanted Valley – Rive

http://euc.cx/rive/061/

Noise!

Sandra Boss – Seks Kompositioner – Modisti

http://modisti.com/netlabel/?p=575

Composed electronic sounds.

Chiodata – Copla – Cocodriller

http://www.cocodriller.com/?page_id=1442

Synth music with lingering tones a la Eno.

Cinchel – friday.deconstruction – self released

http://cinchel.bandcamp.com/album/friday-deconstrucion

Sadly this is not a deconstruction of the amazing song by Rebecca Black. Instead it’s rather good guitar-drone-loop-glitch music.

Closer Contact + Meteer – Geography 2 – BFW Recordings

http://www.bfwrecordings.com/releases/CloserContactMeteer/Geography2/

A well thought out blend of chilled melodies, site recordings, rhythms and electroacoustic experiments, not all at the same time.

Reñe Muñoz Cordova – Entity – Petcord

http://www.petcord.com/releases/pc1210-01-rene-munoz-cordova-entity/

Musique concrete.

Christian Doil – Maschinen – Earth Mantra

http://earthmantra.com/release-detail.php?id=185

Full disclosure: this contains a remix of my sounds on one track. Metallic drones, loops and vague rhythmic chirps.

Gusev K.P. – Vb K. – Petcord

http://www.petcord.com/releases/pc2011-16-gusev-kp-vb-k/

In a recent review I said: “it’s minimal techno that threatens to erupt into a big beat and never does. It hovers there, all potential, unresolved – unresolvable. There’s no real beginning or ending, it occupies a limbo… The longer it goes along, the greater the tension, the greater the intensity, not because the piece builds to a crescendo – it never does – but because the enduring potential persists. The music does not repeat, and continually invents itself in interesting ways, but it refuses to progress… instead it hovers, intensely.”

The Implicit Order – Our Haunted Planet – self released

http://theimplicitorder.bandcamp.com/album/our-haunted-planet

Our favorite appropriation artist is at it again. I’m thrilled that Anthony’s been so productive this year. His stuff is always worth the time for a listen.

The Implicit Order – Wartime Genetics – self released

http://theimplicitorder.bandcamp.com/album/wartime-genetics

Very weirdly, some of this sounds like it could break into black metal screeee at any moment.

Kalte – Fissures – Petcord

http://www.petcord.com/releases/pc0311-02-kalte-fissures/

Drones.

Kirill Platonkin – Orogenesis – Petcord

http://www.petcord.com/releases/pc2011-09-kirill-platonkin-orogenesis/

Drones. Vaguely textural.

Marax – the Weight of Insignificance – self released

http://www.archive.org/details/Marax-TheWeightOfInsignificance

In a recent review, I said: “The normally screamin’ noise monster Marax takes an ultra minimal approach with this release, exploring the self-noise of a wah pedal. A droning, low-frequency oscillation with a mild static wash. This reminds me, of course, of Nurse With Wound’s “Soliloquy for Lilith”, in which Steven Stapleton found that waving his hands around a certain effects set-up caused a seemingly magic sound response, creating an accidental, playable instrument. The second track is the same source material as the first, taken in a more post-production / effected direction.”

Mysterybear – Complex Silence 12 – Treetrunk

http://treetrunkrecords.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/mysterybear-complex-silence-12-treetrunk-133/

Electronic drones with frequency beating. Very trancey. The release page recommends headphones, but I prefer this kind of thing out-loud so I can move my head around and hear phase effects.

Mystified – Bone Drones 3 – Webbed Hand

http://webbedhandrecords.com/wh200-mystified-bone-drones-3/

Many people are referring to the ‘trilogy’ of trombone releases by Mystified, but in reality Thomas produced quite a lot of material with trombones, both solo and in collaboration, so I think maybe calling it a trilogy and leaving it at that is selling it short. I heard several of Mystified’s trombone works this year, but this one was my favorite of what I heard.

NP – Couleur ASCII – Petcord

http://www.petcord.com/releases/pc2011-10-np-couleur-ascii/

Post-glitch, post-IDM, frantic electronic music. Rhythmic, but so unlikely to stay on one rhythm for long, it’s almost a misrepresentation to say so. A comparison would be the work of Ryoji Ikeda or Alva Noto.

Bob Ostertag – Motormouth – self released

http://bobostertag.com/music-recordings-motormouth.htm

Really cool blippy-bloopy modular synth workouts with a Buchla 200e.

Restive – Generative 2 – Modisti

http://modisti.com/11/2011/06/21/restive-%E2%80%93-generative-ambient-2-2/

Supposedly this is “generative ambient music”. It’s quite minimal, sounds a bit like a guy and a sampler doing spooky loops.

Jeff Sampson – Requiem in Shallows – Treetrunk

http://treetrunkrecords.wordpress.com/2011/08/01/jeff-sampson-requiem-in-shallows-treetrunk-163/

Best looped singing artist since Eyelight released all those amazing tapes back in the hometaping days. Jeff’s fellow Coloradan too! A fellow avant-prog fan too! Racking up the “cool” points!

SIGHUP – City Passage – Feedback Loop Label

http://feedbacklooplabel.blogspot.com/2011/07/fbl016-sighup-city-passage.html

Very interesting sonics, sounds like it might be heavily processed site recordings.

Sonorefiction – Automatique – Monokrak

http://www.archive.org/details/monokrak77Sonorefictionautomatique

Vast minimal ambient-techno.

Uncertain – Amniotic Fluid EP – self released

http://uncertain.bandcamp.com/album/amniotic-fluid-ep

Goes from Coil-esque melodic play to total drone.

Wjiik og Chefkirk – We Love Ginger Candy – Control Valve

http://www.controlvalve.net/blog/index.blog/2143685

Electronic music, possibly you could call it musique concrete. Occasional blasts of invigorating harshness.