Deluxe cassette edition of the album comes on high quality C50 chrome tape. Includes translucent purple case, 4 panel inlay card and outer slipcase. Limited run of 50.
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THE QUIETUS / TRISTAN BATH :
This duo from Edinburgh make intensely brilliant experimental electronics, indebted to Trap music’s instrument sets and the frantic abstraction of Autechre, with the odd helping of cosy melody inspired by vintage game music. On the self-released Anthology, both opening tunes - ‘Voluxes’ segueing right into ‘Halyc’ - move at an insanely unhinged pace, pattering crunchy rhythms across the stereo field, occasionally syncopated dangerously close to slipping out of time. There’s all manner of warmer noises going on underneath, but the duo staccato open and close little virtual lids on the music, as if playing whack-a-mole at hyperspeed. Both ‘Halyc’ and ‘Flextrap’ boast contributions from guest violin and bass respectively, but these elements are snipped up and littered randomly throughout by NOL’s lightning speed methodologies. Miraculously everything holds together, creating some resemblance to the sparse production and dense pacing of footwork (except for noisy drumless interludes like ‘Idithol’). The palette is cold and sheer, like some old Star Trek sound effects package, or the early tones of musique concrète, yet the pair cut and splice and open and close the noises into such breakneck rhythms they’re almost entirely unrecognisable, and often darkly danceable. Some of the the best schizoid rhythmic electronic experiments I’ve come across in a while.
Strangely beguiling electroid gibber glitch from Scotland’s NOL. The focus here is on the IDM manic rather than relaxed yet despite its arrhythmic nature a meditative air of amusement hangs across it all. Snatches of guitar and audio oddities beat out obscure patterns across “Myad” and there’s even a showdown of pig grunts in “Pigg.” Later we find “Lode-Tec” exploring excellent early Autechre ethos with hints of pointillist footwork production and breakcore thrown in for good measure. “Axion” is a joyous assemblage of wonky melody whilst “Emprlec” brings on the full algorithmic scatter-drum territory.
This ambient pop album from Chute Records label head Jan the Man captures melancholy, contemplative moods simply, and without words. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 15, 2021
“Save Game Before Dune” rides the line between synthwave and chiptune, drawing out the darker and more melodic elements of both. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 22, 2020