[2011] Tuusanuuskat - Nääksää Nää Mun Kyyneleet

Fonal Records' latest release, Tuusanuuskat is a collaborative work between their label manager Sami Sänpäkkilä (also known as ES) and Jan Anderzén (Kemialliset Ystävät), both very involved in the past and current finnish experimental scene. This album is a series of disjointed sound collages revolving around similar themes, heavily layered in non-abrasive noise. Defying description, the underlying melodies buried beneath these 5 tracks are both confusing and soothing in nature, concealing its real depth.




Buy it directly from Fonal Records here.

[2011] Torture Corpse/Architeuthis Rex - Ignorance/Daemon

Architeuthis Rex returns this year in a split with the paranoid, trance-inducing, dark ambient project known as Torture Corpse. 4 songs, three full songs on side A belonging to Torture Corpse and a longer one on side B, belonging to Architeuthis Rex, both following a tribal, psychedelic sound evoking wilderness and ashen, forbidden territories. Released under the niche label Stunned Records, dedicated mostly to noise, drone and dark ambient artists with abstract leanings.



Currently out of stock at Stunned Records.

[2010] Architeuthis Rex - Dark As The Sea

Sunken civilizations, inhabited by fearsome creatures and forgotten, devout cultures subdued by eons of tectonic and oceanic chaos. Architeuthis Rex (the monicker used by the italian artist Antonio Galluci) does it best to manifest all these obscure dreamworlds evoked by the immensity of the sea, in which bizarre entities come back to life.




Buy it directly from Utech Records here (scroll down).

[2011] Nurse With Wound - Orgasm Mix

Sold at the KOKO show back in May 15th, making it a tour-only release. Abrasive loops of noise, interlaced with haunting, indiscernible sampling.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]


Unavailable for purchase.

[2010] The Skull Defekts & The Sons Of God - Received In Studio Dental, Gothenburg

A bizarre collaboration between part of The Skull Defekts (typically known for their noisy, stripped out guitar output) and the bizarre duo The Sons of God, whose main focus are free performances, noise and visual exploration (each documented in a somewhat long discography). The set recorded for this album is comprised by a tense, unresolved aura full of scraped metallic sounds and an empty, haunting atmosphere.




Buy it directly from Utech Records here.

[1987] AMM - The Inexhaustible Document (Reissue 1994)

Very few albums from back in those days get close to what AMM engineered during the recording of this album: tense, minimal improvisations which explored and exerted the slow building mindset of the ensemble, while managing to retain a feebly kept attention from the listener due to its length.
This reissue in particular has an expanded version of the track Page 9:2 with material recorded during the same period, and considerably less minimal than the original version track.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC Part 1 Part 2] Updated!


Buy it directly from Matchless Recordings here.

[2008] Spunk - En Aldeles Forferdelig Sykdom

The darkest Spunk album, and pretty much in line with their preceding release Den øverste Toppen På en Blåmalt Flaggstang, it brings most of the bizarre elements of the group by straining as much as possible their instruments capabilities and delivering a somewhat offputting (yet entrancing) atmosphere. Their most cohesive work.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[1989] AMM - AMMMusic 1966

Reissue by Recommended Records from the original 1967 release, which consists on at least 30min extra of free improvisation. Essential material of one of the earliest free improv bands in the history of the style, which borrowed heavily from the jazz basic structure and experimented with electronic equipment, particularly transistor radios.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from ReR Megacorp here.

Utech Records Music Festival 2011

This summer in the state of Wisconsin, Utech Records (label whose releases I'm a faithful follower) will hold its first curated festival, in which 11 of their US-based bands and artists will perform a unique show, and some of the best underground music will be showcased. The label is also offering a sample for those not familiar with the bands that will perform (check the link below); so far the names included are the following: James Plotkin, Ural Umbo, Mamiffer, House of Low Culture, Horseback, GOG, Locrian, ITHI and Willian Fowler Collins. If you're in the area, you can't afford to miss this!

This festival is scheduled by June 11 at the Cactus Club, in Milwukee, Wisconsin.

More information about this Festival here.

[2009] Tim Catlin & Machinefabriek - Glisten

I've been in such a big Machinefabriek bing lately, that's an understatement. I think it's mostly because of his collabs more than anything else, although Machinefabriek by himself does a great job at adjusting and molding soundscapes and field recordings the way he wants, and every collab is merely an extension of said ability.
In this case, Tim Catlin (experimental guitar composer from Australia) assumes the task of spicing up Machinefabriek's usually low key compositions, by adding guitar-based, unrecognizable sound patterns, turning what once was basically ambient music into a bittersweet experience, constantly changing song after song. The only downside: it's as short as an EP (clocking at 35min), which may not seem enough for a release of this caliber.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Low Point here.

[2007] The Stargazer's Assistant - The Other Side of The Island

The Stargazer's Assistant is a collective fronted by David J Smith and conformed by Daniel O'Sullivan (Ulver, Mothlite) and Antti Uusimaki (also from Mothlite), whose deeply layered soundscapes seek to evoke the ever-changing geological structure of the Earth, decaying and resurfacing every new era. Amazingly diverse material ranging from vocal arrangements to sparse percussion, this album is a truly entrancing piece of work, way beyond run-of-the-mill ambient music, and a display of the rich, organic compositions O'Sullivan and Uusumaki are capable of, also heard in Mothlite.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Aurora Borealis here (scroll down).

[2006] Khlyst - Chaos Is My Name

For what it seemed to be a one-off recording (although confirmation is still needed), Khlyst is a twisted reminiscence of Khanate's Things Viral era with a strong free jazz/noise vibe, an absolute portrayal of insanity. Tim Wyskida, James Plotkin and Runhild Gammelsæter, two parts Khanate and one part Thorr's Hammer, are the ones behind this bizarre recording, which touches upon the darkest places of the mind. Wyskida's percussion really adds up a lot to the atmosphere, from his arrythmical drumming during every odd song, to his sparse crash and gong on every even song. The same could be said about Plotkin, a veteran in dark ambient and guitar/bass mindfuckery.

Stephen Kasner (Utech Records) did the artwork

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Hydra Head Records here.

[2003] Sidsel Endresen & Christian Wallumrød & Helge Sten - Merriwinkle

Collaboration between one of the figureheads of the current norwegian jazz scene, Christian Wallumrød (Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, Close Erase), Sidsel Endresen and Helge Sten (Deathprod's real name) in a free improvisation album with no lyrics, no sheets, no prior arrangements, but full of rich melodies and complex, unpredictable changes.Sidsel Endresen does a great job improvising vocals on the spot, making it seem as if she had been reciting, when it was a case of stream of consciousness. Christian and Helge /Deathprod took care of the synths and electronic arrangements respectively, giving the album an spastic feel.

Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Jazzland Recordings here.

[2009] Spunk - Kantarell

Latest Spunk album, is their most daring release so far, tuning down the vocal experimentation a notch and focusing on the brass instruments, straining the sounds at a vertiginous pace, and leaving a sense of tension through ever song. Sounds somewhat darker than their previous efforts, although the vocals retain a certain innocence that has become their own trademark sound.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2008] Runhild Gammelsæter - Amplicon

Runhild's (Thorr's Hammer, Khlyst, Sunn O)))) first solo album, following the theme of death and rebirth described in biology terms, and chaotic vocals breaking the opressing silence imposed on every song. Tore Ylvisaker (Ulver) remixed this album, comprised of captivating and menacing vocalizations in equal proportions.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Utech Records here.

[2007] Stephen O'Malley & Z'EV - Magistral

Revolving around some guitar samples recorded back in 2005, Stephen O'Malley and Z'EV created this album using percussion arrangements and sample manipulation over the same 8m42s guitar recording, making it sound completely different to what's expected from the artists involved. Closer to the rumbling, overbearing sonic landscape from KTL, this album is also one of the most "out there" releases ever made by Southern Lord.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Southern Lord here.

[2002] SPUNK - Den Øverste Toppen På En Blåmalt Flaggstang

Spunk is an all-women jazz quartet from Norway, this being their second album, also released under the experimental/jazz label Rune Grammofon. Unlike most free jazz ensembles, Spunk employs vocal experimentation in an extensive way, going as far as becoming the main instrument in most of the songs. It's ensured to sound bizarre at a first listen, given as all of their output so far is quite abstract, but Den Øverste Toppen På En Blåmalt Flaggstang is one of their most accessible material, in which silence doesn't have as much predominance as Det Eneste Jeg Vet Er At Det Ikke Er En Støvsuger, or Kantarell (which I consider one of my top 20 albums of 2009), the latter being shorter and more spastic than the rest.
I have a somewhat curious history with Spunk, seeing as they were the first "out there" band I ever listened to, which in turn made me more interested in Rune Grammofon releases and a variety of genres I got into much later.

Download it here: [V2][V0] Updated!


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[1998] You Fantastic! - Homesickness

Retaining some of the upbeat feeling present in Cheer-Accident, You Fantastic! is a more experimental and sparse take on said math/prog/indie rock band fronted by Thymme Jones. This isn't really a side-project though, it feels more of an experimental "jam band" going at it, snipping and pasting everything they've collected through years of performing in their respective bands (Brise-Glace and Cheer-Accident), and resulting on a very interesting album that borders math-rock, prog-rock, noise, spoken word, field recordings, all over rough 70min. Good for fans of any of these bands and for those interested in crazy, somewhat random pieces of music.

Download it here: [256][320][V0]

Buy it directly from Skin Graft Records here (page 3).

[2006] Nurse With Wound - Shipwreck Radio: Final Broadcasts

And here we have it, the final release of the Shipwreck Radio sessions.Only one CD, three tracks, with the last batch of transmissions from their radio show at Lofoten, consisting of recordings in the island of Utvær. Perfect way to end this series.

Download it here: [320][V0]

[2004] Nurse With Wound - Lofoten Deadhead

Following the concept of the Shipwreck Radio sessions, this album contains again on the recorded sounds and experiences spent on the island of Utvær. This album contains 3 songs which according to the names, belong to the transmission dates, and opposed to the incessantly gull squeak present in Gulls Just Wanna Have Fun, this album focuses on fishing, water and sea life being the main protagonists. Lots of spoken word parts sections, some of them untreated (and recorded by Stapleton and Potter as they walked by).

Download it here: [320][V0]