20.04.2010
Passeridae Update
A lot of people have been asking us about the future of the Passeridae series lately. And with god reason - it's been years since we initially announced the project, and to date only two records have surfaced. So the fact that some of you are getting antsy about the remaining ten volumes isn't surprising at all. So we thought it was time to lay it all out and lety everyone know exactly why thingshave gone so pear shaped.
The truth is that we didn't sell nearly as many records as originally hoped/planned, meaning that the money we received from subscribers barely covered the cost of pressing the first two instalments. Therefore, we've been trying - with no success - to raise the necessary funds to press the remaining ten records. Our non-label income is meagre at best, which makes saving for something as expensive as pressing a 7" difficult.
Passeridae was a massive project. Too massive, perhaps. But it was undertaken with the best of intentions. If we could do this all over again, we'd definitely scale down our ambition - and our optimism. But what's done is done, and what matters is the future. We will, no matter what, release all twelve volumes of the Passeridae series. Most of the artists have already sent in their tracks; the fact that these songs are sitting on a hard-drive right now instead of being out there for the world to hear kills us (and them). It really does. But the label's financial situation is pretty dire right now; we're running at an astronomical loss, and while we're doing everything we can to bring it back into the black, we're still not gaining any ground. Until we either win the lottery, find an abandoned suitcase of money or sell the hundreds of records currently sitting on the floor of S&F HQ (ie. my loungeroom), it's going to remain a struggle.
To all the patient subscribers out there, rest assured that we're not trying to rip anybody off. All the money receioved from subscriptions subscribers went to pressing the Moonmilk/MCIAA and Klumpes/Machinefabriek records (which at a cost of over AU$3,000 all up, was much more than we raised). We are truly sorry for the delay, and we hope that the wait for these records will be worth it.
If anybody has any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email us.
25.01.2010
sound(&fury)cloud
Today, sound&fury signed up for an account on SoundCloud. For those who haven't checked it out, it's a pretty neat website that allows people like us to easily upload a whole tonne of music so that people like you can listen to it. Which, when you put it that way, doesn't make it sound a heck of a lot different to a billion other sites out there. But we think SoundCloud is cool - it looks nice, it's easy to use, and heaps of labels much cooler than us use it.
At the moment, there are only a handful of tracks up there - some things from our current releases, a couple of selections from some of our out-of-print titles, plus an exclusive track or two. Over time we'll shuffle things around, add a few things, take a few things off.
Let us know what you think - we're always open to suggestions from people who know more about this kind of stuff than we do.
21.01.2010
People saying nice stuff about us...
We've been meaning to do this for a while, but time keeps getting away from us. A lot of people have written a lot of nice things about our recent releases, and we thought we'd share some of them with you. (If it seems like we're gloating, that's because we are.)
BRIAN GRAINGER: White Kingdoms
Oh man I'm totally full of burrito's, I feel like I'm gonna explode… We got a batch of stuff in from Australia's excellent Sound & Fury label which includes stuff from Ajilvsga (Brad Rose), Morning Stalker, Penelope Joy & Jasper TX, The Ghost Of 29 Megacycles, and Brian Grainger whose 'White Kingdoms' release is playing right now. This comes in a wax sealed envelope and I dare not open it but Brian was generous enough to send me the audio via the internet (thanks Brian!)… Oh 'Plateau Phase' is really hitting the spot right now. From the offset there is a really intense feel that sucks me straight in. Like the sound of a post apocalyptic wind sweeping across an arctic landscape while multiple layers of ambient drones reveal hidden rhythms and melodies. This really is totally absorbing audio and I'm gonna go as far as saying that I'm probably (?) enjoying this even more than the recent Milieu vinyl release. It's like being swept away in a beautiful storm and whirring around in hypnotic swirls of pure beauty. I find this very uplifting, it's not overly complex yet a little too dense to be categorised as minimalism. I guess it just generates a feeling that you need to experience for yourself. The title track has a mysterious low end drone and feels darker, like being in the same arctic environment after sundown while the winds whisper lost languages. I get the vibe of being like an explorer that has lost his way, no map or communication with the world, isolated but having that special feeling of discovering a hidden world. As the track progresses some warm tones enter the mix that make me visualise the bitter cold ice melting as the sun finally awakes after a cold solitary night.. The production throughout here is pristine. The third and final track 'Shimmering Skull Raga' begins in a much darker mode with layers of distorted drones, a bass melody enters and then the tune takes on a kind of mega-ultra slow motion glacial ambient dub sorta vibe, lots of effects and sounds dissolving into the distance. As the melodies gradually evolve I'm left with a huge grin on my face. This is a very strong release for Mr Grainger and it comes with a huge Ant seal of approval. Be quick as there are only 70 copies available of which we have but a few. A superb listen from beginning to end and very highly recommended.
-Ant, Norman Records
THE GHOST OF 29 MEGACYCLES: Love Via Paper Planes
The Ghost of 29 Megacycles come from Australia where it's sunny and people have corks hanging from their hats and Alf Stewart lives there shaking his fist at children and people say "I can see the pub from here" sometimes. However, they seem happy to ignore most of these things in favour of sculpting sheer, blissful surfaces of drone from organs and guitars before topping them off with occasional shoegaze-style breathy female vocalising. And on 'Love Via Paper Planes' they do a very fine job of it, the sonic maelstrom occasionally reminding me of a more hopeful Nadja. Edition of 500 on Sound and Fury.
-Brett, Norman Records
PENELOPE JOY & JASPER TX: Waverley Cemetery (Sydney)
Also on Sound and Fury is a wee tapey by Penelope Joy and the popular hitmaker Jasper TX. Musically it's pure Jasper TX, mind, the fifteen minute piece being inspired by the Penelope Joy poem printed on the inlay and entitled 'Waverly Cemetery (Sydney)'. As you might expect from the textural physicality of the source material (all bones, stones and body bits) it doesn't begin as the cheeriest listen in the world, but the slow-building funereal drone gradually gives way to piano which offers welcome traces of hope and redemption. A fine complement to the words and I can imagine getting well into it all in the right mood.
-Brett, Norman RecordsAustralian label Sound & Fury releases this as its first ever cassette venture. It features a fifteen minute composition from Swedish ambient auteur Jasper TX inspired by the words of poet Penelope Joy. The poem is titled Waverly Cemetery (Sydney) and opens with the line: "The land here is bone". From this point onwards Joy seems to merge the imagery of landscape with that of the body and anatomy, with talk of "a collar of rock" and "the gut of ocean". This very earthy picture of death is the starting point for Dag Rosenqvist's composition, which draws itself quite tentatively into earshot over the opening couple of minutes. Here, gentle drones convey sustaining minor chords unhurriedly, building up an atmosphere and layering sounds through the early stages, before ebbing away into an assemblage of field recordings, bowed strings and loose piano phrases. Quite unexpectedly, thudding kick drums and full-blooded bass emerge, adding up to a wispy post-rock soundscape that's not too far removed from Sigur Ros' more haunting moments. This makes for a beautiful climax to the piece, latching onto a fittingly lamentful tone. As ever with this man's work, quality and detail are at the highest levels, and you could justifiably place Waverly Cemetery (Sydney) towards the very top end of his output to date. Limited to just 100 copies.
-Boomkat
With Pefkin's latest release I'd like to work backwards because of the simple guts shown on the closing track of "Zugunruhe."
Remember the Words starts with some simple (and, I must say, very lonely) plucks, and somehow the addition of vocals makes it lonelier still. But then, a high organ joins the fold and transforms it into something else, a kind of solo strength gazing out the window. There is loneliness still, but I would not call it sadness, and that seems to be a dominant theme of the album.
Now, back to the beginning.
Imagine coming home and finding out that all of your music gear was lost in a deep green woods. Should this happen to you, chances are that Pefkin, a psyche-folk siren, is the one who lured them out there. The album seems to almost be linear, moving from the aural reverie of Shells all the way to the aforementioned closing tune. I like the continuity of it. Unlike many albums where the lack of structure seems faceless or difficult to imagine as coming from a human, "Zugunruhe" is clearly the work of careful hands. It's a noticeably developed sound.
The aptly titled third track, Third Part plays out like a Japanese western. A twangy guitar strums chords of dusty cherry trees long past blossoming, and by the time you've made it through the song you feel as if you've walked in one end of town and out the other. No one was there. It then dissolves into Ancient Wings of the Printing Stone, a bubbling tour over jagged spans that eventually touches down into the title track of the album, which is a worthy title track indeed. It puts you in the center, a strong synthesis of each individual noise, and an excellent summation of the distance that's been covered. There are birds and banshees, tumbleweeds and radio towers, and if I had to guess, I'd say that any fence you come across is electrified.
Now, back to the end.
I've already talked about the closing song but now there's a little more context. What I like so much about it is that Pefkin was willing to attach a simple song, with actual singing, to a wonderfully disjointed album. Maybe that's why it feels so human, like how Woody Allen is always willing to break character if it will help tug on your heart a little bit more. I like admissions of guilt, taking the blame for being alive. Such willingness is difficult to find. 8/10
-Chad Parsons, Foxy Digitalis
HEIL SPIRITS: Tracing New Swords for Chasing Oblivion and Other Collected Sketches
Immediately after popping this one in and the first noise is made you'll probably think, "Wolf Eyes?" Electronics squeal, squelch, and ricochet back and forth between walls. Total fucked up, gnarly electronics from Heil Spirits. The included description on this one says "This is the soundtrack to the end of days, or at least to society's imminent collapse. Brutal power electronics forged in self-imposed exile from the filth-ridden decadence of this nation's cities." Sounds pretty brutal, right? This description might throw people a bit off though. You might expect some angry kid making noise in his bedroom and screaming over it, right? Well, this disc has a lot more depth than your normal "soundtracks to the end of days," with a mix between squelchy homemade sounding electronics, and you normal, straight up harsh fuzz. He ain't just makin noise to scream over, no, this dudes letting this shit breathe. The only problem with this disc is the feeling of distance between tracks. The first track is totally killer, the next two tracks a more harsh quality, and the final track more lo-fi slow metal bashing. It has more of a feel of a collection than a full, thought out release. As the title suggests some of these are only sketches. Still though, I think you might want to keep your eye on this dude. 6/10
-Jon Lorenz, Foxy Digitalis
19.10.2009
Foul is Fair
It's been in the wings for a little while now, but the time has come to properly announce our newest venture: Foul is Fair, a label dedicated to the proliferation of high-quality black metal originating this side of the equator. It never felt right for us to start releasing black metal records on S&F; hence Foul is Fair.
The onslaught will begin in the coming weeks with a 7" of hateful one-man black metal by Bleakwood, followed by a split CD-R of grim ambience from Mistsorrow and Ein Skopudhr Galdra. Information about future releases will be unveiled shortly.
All further announcements regarding Foul is Fair will be made via its website - this will be the last time we mention it here.
18.10.2009
The Ghost of 29 Megacycles on tour!
To celebrate the release of their brilliant new album Love Via Paper Planes, The Ghost of 29 Megacycles are hitting the road with their good friend M.Rösner for a run of dates across the country. Dates are below, as well as the poster (for the visual learners amongst you).
Wednesday October 21
The Street Theatre, Canberra
Spartak, Lawrence English, Candlesnuffer,
M.Rosner, The Ghost of 29 Megacycles
Thursday October 22
Horse Bazaar, Melbourne
The Ghost of 29 Megacycles, M.Rosner,
Seth Rees and The Townhouses
Friday October 23
Glitch Bar, Melbourne
Amplifer Machine, Nervous Doll Dancing,
The Ghost of 29 Megacycles, M.Rosner
& Mystic Quilts
Saturday October 24
The Tote, Melbourne
This is Your Captain Speaking,
M.Rosner, The Red Tree
& The Ghost of 29 Megacycles
Friday October 30
Serial Space, Sydney
The Ghost of 29 Megacycles,
Seaworthy & M.Rosner (duo set),
Broken Chip & Scissor Lock
Sunday November 8
Velvet Lounge, Perth
M.Rosner, Adam Trainer
& Gilbert Fawn
09.10.2009
New stuff from An Out Recordings
Just a quick note to let everyone know that a pile of new(ish) releases from Sydney-based label An Out Recordings turned up today, and have now for their way into the shop. Here's the rundown:
BIRCHVILLE CAT MOTEL / ANTONY MILTON / WITH THROATS AS FINE AS NEEDLES: Live 2xCD-R $14SOLD OUT
Last year, Campbell Kneale visited visited Australia to perform his last ever shows under the Birchville Cat Motel. With him was fellow New Zealander Antony Milton (A.M, Mrtyu, etc.). Luckily, someone had the good sense to record some of their shows, and now Sydney label An Out Recordings have been kind enough to release the recordings as a limited edition double CD-R set, beautifully packaged in hand-made sleeves. There aren't many of these left, folks, so grab 'em while you can.
DEAD LAKES: Distance CD-R $10
Distance makes the heart grow fonder, sure, but what does it do for musical collaborations? Thanks to something called the internet (sounds like a fad to us), Anna Vo and Dan Kaufman were able to record Distance together in a single day even though they live in Sydney and Chicago, respectively. The wonders of technology, eh? Limited, hand-packaged, recommended, etc.
SPACEBONG: The Death of Utopia CD $10
We do love us some doom here at S&F HQ. The slower, more torturous the better. So how Adelaide's Spacebong eluded us for so long we're not quite sure. Across four epic tracks (each clocking in at somewhere around the 20-minute mark), these occult-obsessed stoners churn out an endless succession of crushing riffs and anguished vocals, all soldered together with searing blasts of white noise. Highly recommended.
Meanwhile, the sale is still going on, so check it out and see if you can't pick up a bargain or five.
07.10.2009
You can't buy much for a fiver these days
Everywhere you go, people are complaining about inflation. From Chupa-Chups to festival tickets, everything costs more than it used to, and nobody's shy about expressing their annoyance about it.
So, here at S&F HQ, we thought to ourselves, "What can we do to help the good people of the world? To remind them that all is not rotten in these times?"
Our solution was to have another sale. Because what's better to alleviate the blues than cheap records? Nothing, right?
Admittedly, we got a little bit carried away this time. If you check out the shop page, you'll notice that just about everything - including the remaining stock of our early releases - is available for five measly bucks. Five bucks! You can't even buy a chicken parma for that much these days. What's more, those prices include postage - so, once again, whether you live in Gosford or Grenada, Strahan or Stockholm, you won't pay any more to have it shipped to your very door. (Well, to your letterbox at least, which may or may not be in close proximity to your actual door. If your letterbox is indeed a fair way from the door, and it happens to be raining or snowing or something on the day your parcel arrives, we are sincerely sorry.)
28.09.2009
New releases galore!
Delayed beyond belief, Morning Stalker's Styraciflua is now finally ready to ship. The newest solo missive from Underlapper's Morgan McKellar, Styraciflua is a suite of three gorgeous, autumnal drones, bathed in gentle meodies and subtle dynamic shifts. Packaged in S&F-style handmade envelopes, and limited to 75 copies.
Looking just a little bit ahead, we're immensely excited to be able to announce a new trio of releases. First up is the debut album from Perth ensemble The Ghost of 29 Megacycles, entitled Love Via Paper Planes. Displaying a more shoegaze-inspired side of the group than we've ever heard, Love Via Paper Planes is the perfect record for sun-drenched spring afternoons. Look out for it mid-October.
Around the same time we'll be releasing two new CD-Rs, which will be (for the time being, at least) the end of our relationship with the format. One is from Ajilvsga - we've been dying to get some of Brad Rose's music out on S&F since the very beginning, and The White Feathered Stem is definitely worth the wait. The other is from Brian Grainger, and is a stunning album titled White Kingdoms.
That will be it from us for a little while. Excluding the remaining Passeridae volumes (they are coming, promise!), S&F will take a break from releasing records for the foreseeable future. When we return (maybe in 2010, maybe not until 2011), it will be with renewed vigour (and, hopefully, better financial management).
13.06.2009
Quick webshop update
Just a brief note to let you know about a few new additions to ye olde S&F webshop:
HEIRS: Alchera CD $20
Heirs may well be the best instru-metal band in this country. Alchera is definitely the most impressive debut album we've heard in a long, long time. Across six monolithic tracks, this Melbourne quartet reference Swans, Godflesh and Neurosis, while all the while managing not to sound like clones. Packaged in gorgeous matt cello sleeves (with nice spot-gloss touches), it looks as good as it sounds.
CRAIG MCELHINNEY: You and Me Are Young and Brutal CD $20
Recorded live in the studio by Georgia Martin in January 2009, You and Me Are Young and Brutal is the amazing debut album from Perth guitarist Craig McElhinney. Glacial drone loops meet meandering doom improvisations as McElhinney performs the sound of bringing the mountains to the sea. See you in Mesopotamia, Tennis Prince.
PIMMON: Curse You, Evil Clown CD $20
Gathering three pieces originally found on the highly collectible limited edition 3" CD-R titled Curse of Evil Clown, this release is more than a remastered reissue: fleshing out and filling a large gap in Pimmon release history with three long, previously unreleased pieces from Paul Gough’s seemingly endless archive of deep, dark electronic drone and minimal micro-tones. A must for fans of Tim Hecker and Machinefabriek.
07.05.2009
CD-R avalanche!
There's no middle ground here at S&F HQ - it's either a famine or a flood. After months of relative silence, we sprung out from the blue last month with the announcement of Anonymeye's The Disambiguation of Anonymeye. And now, while we wait with bated breathe to release that little gem, we've prepared a brand new batch of limited-edition CD-Rs.
The first comes from Heil Spirits, a fellow escapee from urban chaos whose coruscating power violence has been creating dense ripples among the noise community for some years now. A three-part soundtrack to the end of days, Tracing New Swords for Chasing Oblivion and Other Collected Sketches is definitely the darkest thing we've ever released, which is maybe why we've balanced it with two gentler titles.
We've been a fan of Pefkin's delicate dreamscapes for a long time, and as such we're immensely proud to be able to present Zugunruhe. With its combination of processed guitar, free-form percussion, haunting vocals and analogue electronics, Zugunruhe is a beautiful collection of tracks that walks that ever-narrowing path between pop songs and pure abstraction.
And finally, there's Lumetorm, from globetrotting sound artist Felicity Mangan. The title means 'snow storm' in Estonian, which is a perfectly appropriate term for the crystalline soundscapes on this disc. Recorded variously in Melbourne, Berlin and Estonia, Lumetorm is part travelogue, part imaginary soundtrack, part heartbreaking song-suite.
All three of these discs will be available on May 11th, or thereabouts; pre-orders are being taken now.