New Releases for December 2007

Index of New Releases for December 2007

Artist:	NASCIMBENE, MARIO
Title:	L'Eneide OST
Label:	DAGORED (ITALY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$16.50
Catalog #:	RED 179CD

"Mario Nascimbene's music for the 1971 hit TV series of Virgil's immortal epic, the Aeneid, is not so much a comment on the scenic action, as a study of sounds and themes used to emphasize the psychological nature of the various characters. Amidst instrumental and vocal sounds (including the splendid voice of Olga Karlatos) an extremely new and intriguing concept in film music of the '60s/'70s is born. The viola of Dino Asciolla -- warm and vibrating -- manages to transport the listener into an ocean of sound of rare intensity. The splendid and sensible conducting skills of Maestro Carlo Savina add (especially in the five voice canon, a reinterpretation of antique and archaic melodies) a certain expressive luster that makes Mario Nascimbene's new sounds a confirmation of his great artistic genius."

Artist:	MISRAKI, PAUL
Title:	And God Created Woman
Label:	DAGORED (ITALY)
Format:	LP
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	RED 180LP

"Although Brigitte Bardot was already famous in France, this is the movie that made Bardot an international star. She was the first foreign language star to gain such widespread popularity abroad and she opened the door for others to follow in her footsteps. Bardot was a bombshell in any language... and you certainly didn't need to read the subtitles to see that! The tag line to the movie was 'And God Created Woman... but the devil created Brigitte Bardot!' An erotic drama (the scene with Bardot dancing barefoot on a table is still hot enough to melt any acetate it's printed on) co-starring Jean-Louis Trintignant (who Bardot allegedly had an affair with) that tells the tale of 'life and love' on the Riviera. It made St. Tropez the popular resort for the rich and famous that it soon was to become. French director Roger Vadim (known for his affairs with beautiful women) was Brigitte's husband at the time and he wrote this film specifically for her, in hopes of adding more depth to Bardot's on-screen characters. While Bardot was received well in Hollywood, she was still considered too risqué to be offered any kind of contract in the USA. Ironic considering she is now a supporter of the extreme right-wing in France, but it was 1956 and the bikini was still considered a scandalous piece of clothing in the USA. The sexual content also created a huge uproar and was boycotted by the Catholic Church's Legion of Decency. Brigitte (only 23 years old) can be heard for the first time on record, doing some spoken French narration as intros and outros to the soundtrack, a jazz-fused 1950s orchestra and mambo-influenced piece (all the rave at the time)."

DIE STADT (GERMANY)

Artist:	DOYLE, ROGER
Title:	The Ninth Set
Label:	DIE STADT (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$22.00
Catalog #:	DS 103CD

"Irish composer Roger Doyle's first release on Die Stadt is his prize-winning work The Ninth Set, a 67-minute masterpiece in 5 parts. He was awarded the Magisterium Prize at this years' Bourges International Electro-Acoustic Music Competition in France for parts 4 and 5. The award, which is one of the most important prizes in the world for electronic music, is open to composers having at least 25 years of professional experience in the field, and its objective is 'the promotion and diffusion of works that might become milestones in the history of electro-acoustic music.' Previous works of Doyle include a 5CD set Babel which took ten years to compose, where each track corresponds to a room or place within an imagined tower city; and the 3 hour Passades, music made from software that freezes sounds like a freeze-frame in DVD. He's also known for his project Operating Theatre which released the classic Rapid Eye Movements album -- consisting of 4 works composed between 1968-1980 -- on Steven Stapleton's (Nurse With Wound) own United Dairies label in 1980. Furthermore, he guested on Fovea Hex's Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent EP number 2 Huge, alongside (among others) Clodagh Simonds, Brian Eno, Percy Jones and Colin Potter. The CD comes in a color digipack in a first edition of 600 copies."

Artist:	DUNCAN/KONTAKT DER JUNGLINGE/C.M. VON HAUSSWOLFF, JOHN
Title:	Untitled
Label:	DIE STADT (GERMANY)
Format:	CD
Price:	$20.00
Catalog #:	DS 104CD

"A compilation of live recordings specially-released for a Die Stadt label night feature at ARGOS in Brussels on the 18th of October, 2007. The John Duncan recording was made at The Compound, San Francisco on 21 July 2007. Kontakt der Jünglinge (Asmus Tietchens & Thomas Köner) 'Montreal Solution 1' is an excerpt from their live performance at Mutek Festival, Montreal on 28 May, 2003. The final track on this CD is by C.M. Von Hausswolff and was recorded at 'Easy To Swallow,' All Tomorrows Parties, SEOne Club, London, curated by Russell Haswell, on 2 June 2005. Released in a limited edition of 500 numbered copies."

DIGITALIS

Artist:	MUDBOY
Title:	Hungry Ghosts! These Songs Are Doors
Label:	DIGITALIS
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	ACE 005CD

"Mudboy dares you to find a suitable label for his warped sonic missives. But find one way to trap him and he changes direction and weasels out under the cracks in the wall. This is music for those who like to skit the line between light and dark, because we believe Mudboy himself when he says that this record is all about the dark arts. His spells and incantations are the perfect guide through this analog labyrinth. Hungry Ghosts is at times hypnotic, dabbling in psychedelia, but is also disorientating like a house of mirrors. The circuit bent organ and arsenal of pedals does Mudboy well and will keep you guessing for as long as you're willing to give it a go. This album is a grower, but after a few listens you'll find yourself completely hooked. On Hungry Ghosts, the listener is given glimpses into a whole host of new worlds. Each song is like a diorama; intricate, detailed, and totally 3-D. You'll find yourself wandering aimlessly through this mess of devilish sonic missives only to realize that once it ends, not only are you lost, but completely entranced and calm. This is meditative music for the agitated soul. Like poltergeists that haunt belfries and spires, Mudboy is never in one place for too long. This is the CD version of the recent LP on Not Not Fun. This enhanced CD contains the same music as well as a short video by Mudboy, 'Orthern Lights.' The disc is packaged in lasercut & slightly burned cardstock sleeves with matching insert. It's similar to the LP, only more intricate."

Artist:	SMITH, STEVEN R.
Title:	Owl
Label:	DIGITALIS
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	ACE 007CD

"Steven R. Smith's name has become more commonplace over the last half-decade, and that's a very good thing. From his monumental works as Hala Strana to being a prominent contributor to many Jewelled Antler projects, his sound is distinct. This is the first brand new solo album from Steven R. Smith since last year's epic The Anchorite. On here, you'll find some of the things you expect with a new Steven R. Smith record: sparse, angular walls of his trademark guitar playing with embellishments from an array of acoustic instrumentation. But there's a new twist here: vocals. Yep, vocals. Smith unleashes his voice on Owl and does so in such an impressive fashion that it leaves one asking 'what took so long'? Owl is full of desolate but hopeful aural landscapes. There's a tinge of regret and longing in his voice when he belts out the words, 'this is the world we know...' And in those six words, Smith sums up what Owl brings to the table. There is something recognizable about this terrain; the paint is just worn down enough to expose the raw wood underneath. But carefully placed in each corner, in each nook is something new that breathes life into the familiar. This is a bold step for someone who has already accomplished a great deal, and leaves us listeners without a clue as to what will happen next. This is magic, indeed."

Artist:	SUTHERLAND, CHRISS
Title:	Me In A "Field"
Label:	DIGITALIS
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	ACE 008CD

"Many people might not be directly familiar with the name Chriss Sutherland, but most know Cerberus Shoal, of which Sutherland is a founding member. Me in a 'Field' marks his solo debut and shows why Cerberus Shoal is so revered. He's also a current member of Fire on Fire, who will release their debut on Michael Gira's Young God label. But here, Sutherland presents simple, wonderfully crafted songs in their barest form, but backed by the same heart that has made his previous efforts so great. This collection of songs has been brewing for years, but finally found its way into the light after Sutherland returned from an extended stay in Spain and urging from his friend and compatriot, James Toth aka Wooden Wand. All of the songs are built around the combination of guitar and voice, though some are enhanced with piano, banjo, etc. Simplicity is often a lost art form in-and-of itself, but this is where Sutherland strives. Listening to him belt out his almost-perfect lyrics reminds me that even though the singer/songwriter realm is overpopulated and generally tired, when it's done right it can be magnificent. Me in a 'Field' is such a welcome entry into the genre that it goes down smooth and sweet. Lyrically, Sutherland is a wizard. His songs are universal. When he sings about those close and important to him, they become the listener's friends and family too. It's music that will appeal to many audiences and cuts across boundaries. At its heart it may be folk music, but Sutherland's offering something that's freer and more exciting."

Artist:	MB/HUE/FHIEVEL
Title:	Erimos
Label:	DIGITALIS
Format:	CD
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	DIGI 048CD

"This release is quite special as it has given us the opportunity to work with one of our all-time favorite artists (and one of the true all-time greats), Maurizio Bianchi. Erimos is the first in a series of works about the spaces 'between the elements.' This album contains a single, 40+ minute exploration. Heavy on electronics, the amazing thing is how warm the whole piece feels. Bianchi is joined by two of the next generation of Italian sound sculptors, Hue (aka Matteo Uggeri) and Fhievel (aka Luca Bergero). The two have breathed new life into Bianchi's music, showing that the future of the Italian underground is brighter than ever. Bianchi began producing music almost 30 years ago in 1979, and since 1980 has used electronic equipment with the avowed goal 'to produce technological sounds and in such a way to work on complete realizing of the modern decadence.' His best known work, Symphony for a Genocide was recently reissued by New York-based Hospital Productions. This seminal work proved what a pioneer in electronic music he was. On Erimos, we find Bianchi stretching time and manipulating sound as ever. Over the course of this monster performance, the trio weaves intricate circles around one another, nearly colliding at every point. But the success comes from their abilities to play off each other, resulting in original and captivating sounds and textures. It is electronic drones unlike any other. Erimos is captivating and beautiful, even if its main inspiration comes from something as desolate and isolated as the deserts on its cover."

Artist:	ANGELL, THEO
Title:	Auraplinth
Label:	DIGITALIS
Format:	CD
Price:	$11.00
Catalog #:	DIGI 050CD

"What can I say about Theo Angell? He's an artist, a musician, a filmmaker, a shaman. He lives and works in New York City, but plies his trade all over the country. Angell is perhaps best known for his work in Hall of Fame and Jackie-O Motherfucker, and also as part of Samara Lubelski's live band. But with the release of Auraplinth, all that will change. This is Theo Angell's opus. This is his masterwork. It finds him at his absolute peak and delivers an album unlike anything else. He uses his voice to etch out a detailed map of the stars, made up of dirt and bone, proving the organic nature of the cosmos. Auraplinth is an amalgamation and invention, joining foundation with the ether. Both of these forces are constantly at work throughout these 15 tracks. His voice is molded into every possible form. At times it reverberates above a river of folk-inspired melodies, while at other moments, he creates a bed of sound with wordless vocal moans. That voice is the glue that holds this great document together. On Auraplinth, Theo is once again joined by the evolving cast of characters known as The Tabernacle Hillside Singers. This time it includes Cynthia Nelson (Ruby Falls), Dan Brown (Hall of Fame) & Josh Stevenson (Magneticring)."

DISTORTIONS RECORDS

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Artist:	VA
Title:	Biet-Het Vol. 1
Label:	DISTORTIONS RECORDS
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	DR 1039CD

Artist:	VA
Title:	Biet-Het Vol. 2
Label:	DISTORTIONS RECORDS
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	DR 1045CD

Artist:	VA
Title:	From the Kitchen to the Garage
Label:	DISTORTIONS RECORDS
Format:	CD
Price:	$12.00
Catalog #:	DR 1046CD