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ioa beduneau - Mélodies pour Clairons (LP)ioa beduneau - Mélodies pour Clairons (LP)
ioa beduneau - Mélodies pour Clairons (LP)Marionette
¥4,755

Marionette presents Mélodies pour Clairons, the debut album by multidisciplinary artist Ioa Beduneau. Based in the South of France, Ioa’s world is rooted in creation - building intricate self-playing installations and handmade DIY electronics. His practice is driven by a desire to connect, challenge, and open up dialogues around disability and other social constructs. Proudly identifying as a disabled artist who is attuned to how our bodies interact with the world, Ioa brings a fresh and inimitable perspective to electronic and electroacoustic music.

On Mélodies pour Clairons, Ioa contemplates lifeforms using modular synths, channeling principles of physical modeling and bioacoustics. Ideas begin on paper and evolve into sound, forming an abstract yet intentional sonic ecosystem. Clairons refers both to a musical instrument and to a loved one with whom this music was shared, serving as a kind of sound diary during the stillness of the pandemic. The movement of air, pressure, resonance, and the physical properties of the clairon (a medieval trumpet) are reimagined and manipulated on this album, resulting in impressionistic and deeply moving compositions with poetic sensibility. Organic ASMR tones, synthesized bird calls, and pirouetting melodies of pipes and bells score an imaginary biodome where chaos and harmony coexist. Striking and singular, these works embody the kind of boundary-pushing music that defines Marionette.

"Special thanks to my parents, my brother Saty, and Clairon for their unconditional support. And to Jean Love for the music research we used to share. " - Ioa Bedunea

Jean-yves Labat - Underwater Electronic Orchestra (Yellow vinyl LP)
Jean-yves Labat - Underwater Electronic Orchestra (Yellow vinyl LP)OJO DE MUJER
¥3,693

Underwater Electronic Orchestra is a captivating blend of electronic experimentation and avant-garde aesthetics. Labat’s intricate compositions, characterized by layered synth textures and unconventional rhythms, create a sonic landscape that is both immersive and thought-provoking. Released in 1976, the album challenges traditional musical boundaries, offering listeners a glimpse into Labat’s innovative approach to electronic music.

Jah Wobble - Jah Wobble Presents The Light Programme (LP)
Jah Wobble - Jah Wobble Presents The Light Programme (LP)Eargong Records
¥3,621
For the very first time on vinyl, Jah Wobble's 1997 extraordinary descent into downtempo and world beat science. Released on his now-defunct 30 Hertz label, »The Light Programme« showcased an excellent cast of musicians. On board are historical Can drummer Jaki Liebezeit – with more of his African-induced rhythms – multi-instrumentalist - and The Wire contributor - Clive Bell, conga player Neville Murray, guitar and synth player Mark Ferda and the exceptional harpist Zi-Lan Liao. If you enjoyed »My Life In the Bush Of Ghosts« you’ll fall in love with »The Light Programme.«
Jackie Mittoo - Stepping Tiger (LP)
Jackie Mittoo - Stepping Tiger (LP)Solid Roots
¥3,333
A very welcomed reissue for this rare Jackie Mittoo album, originally released in 1979 on unknown label, Rite Sound inc. The original release was sold without a jacket, adding a mysterious vibe to the whole thing. The dubby effects-intensive sound of the album extends from "Russian Satelite" to the whole side A, with "Harder Than The Rest," "Stepping Tiger," and "World Of Love" being an excellent triptych of note. The thrill of Jackie's crazy keyboards intertwining with the floating dub sound like a heavenly space is beyond description. Space is the place.

DJ Sprinkles - Queerifications & Ruins - Collected Remixes By DJ Sprinkles Expanded Edition (クィア化とその残骸)(2013) (3CD)DJ Sprinkles - Queerifications & Ruins - Collected Remixes By DJ Sprinkles Expanded Edition (クィア化とその残骸)(2013) (3CD)
DJ Sprinkles - Queerifications & Ruins - Collected Remixes By DJ Sprinkles Expanded Edition (クィア化とその残骸)(2013) (3CD)Comatonse Recordings
¥3,929
A highly collectable compilation first released as a double-CD by Mule Musiq in 2013, now updated and expanded to a triple-CD set of 21 remixes clocking in at almost 4 hours. Self-released on Sprinkles' own Comatonse Recordings, Queerifications & Ruins: Collected Remixes by DJ Sprinkles Expanded Edition compiles the bulk of DJ Sprinkles' third-party remix work produced between 2006 and 2017. Discs 1 and 2 are essentially identical to the first edition, featuring reworks of tracks by Leftroom boss Matt Tolfrey, Japanese producer Kuniyuki, Chicago producer Area, Ojo De Apolo founder Jorge C., and French DJ Hardrock Striker. Disc 3 adds long sought after remixes of Scissor & Thread boss Francis Harris, UK media sweetheart Simon Fisher Turner, regular Comatonse collaborator Will Long, the late US composer John Cage, and even "that" remix of The Mole everyone bitched about not being on the original compilation despite it not even existing yet. Unfortunately, one of our audio producer friends couldn't join us this time around, so the opening two tracks on Disc 1 have been "demixed" into new DJ Sprinkles tracks exclusive to this compilation, "Empty Dancefloor" and "Lost Dancefloor." (Okay, track 1 sounds the same as before because it consisted of only Sprinkles' parts to begin with, but track 2 brings in some changes.) All copies are hand assembled by Sprinkles herself, with the packaging including three CDs in an archival vinyl pouch, a double-sided insert card (100mm x 100mm), phonograph style anti-static inner sleeves, and a 4x4 panel poster insert printed on newsprint (472mm x 472mm) featuring Emi Winter's painting, "Lady."

Comatonse.000 - Comatonse.000.R3 (CD)Comatonse.000 - Comatonse.000.R3 (CD)
Comatonse.000 - Comatonse.000.R3 (CD)Comatonse Recordings
¥2,398
Comatonse.000 was the project name, EP title, and catalog number of Terre Thaemlitz' 1993 debut 12-inch featuring the NY Loft classic A-side "Raw Through a Straw," and the bass-heavy ambient B-side that captured the attention of producers like Bill Laswell and Mixmaster Morris, "Tranquilizer." This CD compiles all Comatonse.000 related releases to date, including that other Comatonse EP working the "Scorpio" break so important to the early Loft house scene, Social Material's, Class/Consciousness. This is the first time "Consciousness" has been made available in digital format. The disc also includes a previously unreleased demo version of "Tranquilizer" as a hidden bonus track. Self- released on Comatonse Recordings with custom packaging hand assembled by Terre herself, the package includes one CD in an archival vinyl pouch with one double-sided insert card (100mm x 100mm), phonograph style anti-static inner sleeve, and 4x4 panel poster insert printed on newsprint (472mm x 472mm).
視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 1)

視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 2)

視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 3)

視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 4)

視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 5)

視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 6)

視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 7)

視聴-comatonse.000 comatonse.000.r3(Excerpt 8)
Kami-Sakunobe House Explosion (K-S.H.E) - Spirits, Lose Your Hold (CD)Kami-Sakunobe House Explosion (K-S.H.E) - Spirits, Lose Your Hold (CD)
Kami-Sakunobe House Explosion (K-S.H.E) - Spirits, Lose Your Hold (CD)Comatonse Recordings
¥2,398
A CD compiling all of K-S.H.E's 12-inch and one-off releases to date beyond the 2006 debut album Routes not Roots (one of the few albums to ever receive a full 5-star rating from Resident Advisor, and precursor to DJ Sprinkles' Midtown 120 Blues). This is the first time for many of these tracks to be available in digital format. Includes K-S.H.E's previously unreleased original version of "Reverse Rotation," which was later dramatically re-tempo'ed and re-worked for release on DJ Sprinkles' album. Self-released on Comatonse Recordings with custom packaging hand assembled by Terre herself, the package includes one CD in an archival vinyl pouch with one double-sided insert card (100mm x 100mm), phonograph style anti-static inner sleeve, and 4x4 panel poster insert printed on newsprint (472mm x 472mm).
視聴-k-s.h.e spirits, lose your hold(Excerpt 1)

視聴-k-s.h.e spirits, lose your hold(Excerpt 2)

視聴-k-s.h.e spirits, lose your hold(Excerpt 3)

視聴-k-s.h.e spirits, lose your hold(Excerpt 4)

視聴-k-s.h.e spirits, lose your hold(Excerpt 5)

視聴-k-s.h.e spirits, lose your hold(Excerpt 6)

視聴-k-s.h.e spirits, lose your hold(Excerpt 7)
DJ Sprinkles + Mark Fell - Incomplete Insight (2012-2015) (2CD)DJ Sprinkles + Mark Fell - Incomplete Insight (2012-2015) (2CD)
DJ Sprinkles + Mark Fell - Incomplete Insight (2012-2015) (2CD)Comatonse Recordings
¥2,948
A double-CD set compiling all of DJ Sprinkles & Mark Fell's collaborative 12-inches on the first disc, combined with a second disc filled with ten previously unreleased outtakes from the Complete Spiral EP sessions. As the album title suggests, listeners get an "incomplete insight" into the mixing and editing methods of these two very different electronic audio producers united by their histories with, and love of, classic deep house. (Track tip: out of this entire set, DJ Sprinkles' personal favorite for mixing on the dancefloor is "Incomplete Spiral 4.") Self-released on Comatonse Recordings with custom packaging hand assembled by Terre herself, the package includes two CDs in an archival vinyl pouch with two double-sided insert cards (100mm x 100mm), phonograph style anti-static inner sleeve, and 4x4 panel poster insert printed on newsprint (472mm x 472mm).
視聴-dj sprinkles & mark fell incomplete insight (2012-2015)(Excerpt 1)

視聴-dj sprinkles & mark fell incomplete insight (2012-2015)(Excerpt 2)

視聴-dj sprinkles & mark fell incomplete insight (2012-2015)(Excerpt 3)

視聴-dj sprinkles & mark fell incomplete insight (2012-2015)(Excerpt 4)
Round Four Feat. Tikiman - Find A Way (12")
Round Four Feat. Tikiman - Find A Way (12")Main Street Records
¥3,076

originally released on Main Street Records in 1998, and repressed in 2025.

Rhythm & Sound - Carrier (12")
Rhythm & Sound - Carrier (12")Rhythm & Sound
¥3,076
unification of techno and dub reggae. The long-awaited 2023 repress of Rhythm & Sound catalog number 5, which was originally announced in 1999! A one-of-a-kind solitary acoustic space by Mark Ernestus & Moritz von Oswald's Basic Channel.
Insanlar / Ricardo Villalobos - Kime Ne (12"x2)
Insanlar / Ricardo Villalobos - Kime Ne (12"x2)Honest Jon's Records
¥3,672
Downtempo, Psychedelic, Techno … Using the Turkish psychedelic project Insanlar as a jump off point, Honest Jon’s have enlisted Ricardo Villalobos to turn out one of his grandiose remix projects that gels so naturally with more exotic sound sources.

Madteo - Head Gone Wrong By Noise (2LP)
Madteo - Head Gone Wrong By Noise (2LP)Honest Jon's Records
¥4,998
This is the first full-length album in two years from NY-based genius Madteo, who has released strong titles on prestigious labels such as DDS, Sähkö Recordings, and Hinge Finger. The album is the first full-length album in two years, and it is a collection of unorthodox sounds, dub-wise memories, sweat, and blood. This is a huge album that is sure to attract fans of Actress, Demdike Stare, and Theo Parrish!
Moritz von Oswald Trio - Vertical Ascent (2LP)
Moritz von Oswald Trio - Vertical Ascent (2LP)Honest Jon's Records
¥4,998
Moritz von Oswald, who has created a foundation for deep interaction between authentic Jamaican dub and Detroit-style classic techno through his collaborations with Mark Ernestus, dub techno legend =Basic Channel and Rhythm And Sound, is creating ambient techno. Moritz Von Oswald Trio, a legendary trio teamed up with Max Loderbauer of Sun Electric, the pioneer of , and Vladislav Delay, a master of avant-garde electronic music from Scandinavia and Finland. Stock up on the first album "Vertical Ascent" released in 2009 from London's prestigious !
X-Cetra - Summer 2000 (Clear Pink Vinyl LP)
X-Cetra - Summer 2000 (Clear Pink Vinyl LP)Numero Group
¥3,942
Super sweet sleepover core from the turn of the millennium. When not at the mall or elementary school, Jessica, Ayden, Janet, and Mary created a suburban Spice World all their own, singing, dancing, and making videos in anticipation of a global pop takeover. Summer 2000 expands their home-burned Y2K CD-R Stardust, encapsulating girl group R&B, trip hop, Eurofunk, and pool party heartbreak into a revealing portrait of millennial girlhood. Party til 2, sleep til 1, come on baby let's have some fun.

Laraaji - Glimpses of Infinity (Ocean Blue Vinyl LP)Laraaji - Glimpses of Infinity (Ocean Blue Vinyl LP)
Laraaji - Glimpses of Infinity (Ocean Blue Vinyl LP)Numero Group
¥3,694
An overview of Laraaji’s earliest works, Glimpses of Infinity gathers selections from his 1978 debut Celestial Vibration and six additional studio sessions from the era. Full of discovery and wonderment, Glimpses of Infinity is a miraculous chronicle of new age’s most fabled artist. A condensed version of the 2023's sold out 4xLP Boxset.

Duma - Duma (LP)Duma - Duma (LP)
Duma - Duma (LP)Nyege Nyege Tapes
¥3,073

Martin Khanja (aka Lord Spike Heart) and Sam Karugu emerge from Nairobi's flourishing underground metal scene as former members of the bands Lust of a Dying Breed and Seeds of Datura. Together in 2019 they formed Duma (Darkness in Kikuyu) with Sam abandoning bass for production and guitars and Lord Spike Heart providing extreme vocals to the project. 

Recorded at Nyege Nyege Studios in Kampala over three months in mid 2019 their self-titled debut album fuses the frenetic euphoria, unrelenting physicality and rebellious attitude of hardcore punk and trash metal with bone-crunching breakcore and raw, nihilist industrial noise through a claustrophobic vortex of visceral screams. 

The savant mix of brutally adrenalized drums, caustic industrial trap, shredding grindcore inspired guitars and abrupt speed changes create a darkly atmospheric menace and is lethal on tracks like the opener "Angels and Abysses" , "Omni" or "Uganda with Sam". 

The gruelling slow techno dirges and monolithic vocals on "Pembe 666" or "Sin Nature" add a pinch of dramatic inevitability bringing a new sense of theatricality and terrifying fate awaiting into the record's progression. 

A sinister sonic aggression of feral intensity with disregard for styles, Duma promises to impact the burgeoning African metal scene moving it into totally new, boundary-challenging experimental territories. 

Khotin - Release Spirit (Pink Cloud Vinyl LP)Khotin - Release Spirit (Pink Cloud Vinyl LP)
Khotin - Release Spirit (Pink Cloud Vinyl LP)Ghostly International
¥3,322
Canadian producer Dylan Khotin-Foote has kept his Khotin alias going for the better part of a decade; the impressionistic electronic project shifts with the movements in his life. Sometimes it leads, like when the club-friendly grooves of 2014’s Hello World immersed him in the heart of Vancouver’s underground dance scene, and sometimes it follows, like 2018’s Beautiful You, a downtempo salve for DJ fatigue. His melodic sensibility and playful ear for atmosphere remain the rippling core of the project’s fingerprint; whether beat-driven or ambient, a foggy smear or a dusted and pristine print, a Khotin track has a distinct and instantly recognizable swirl. During and after the 2020 release of Finds You Well, his second LP on Ghostly International, Khotin-Foote settled back into a slower vibe in his hometown of Edmonton. Even before the pandemic, his pivots to softer production, and away from DJing, left him with fewer opportunities in Vancouver and club bookings overall, and as a self-identifying introvert, he was fine with that. But the change of pace did open space for Khotin-Foote to grapple with concepts of adulthood and career. At his lowest, he almost walked off this musical path altogether; instead, he doubled down on the craft — the tone, pacing, and dynamism of new material — arriving at a definitive full-length. With Release Spirit, Khotin releases himself from the pressure of expectation, fusing and refining everything we know about his music. The warmth and familiarity of Khotin’s dreamy, dulcet style meet new ideas and frameworks, a natural progression, a modest revelation; Khotin confirms it is okay to move slowly and he’s never sounded better doing it. The album title borrows from the “release spirit” mechanic in the video game World of Warcraft. When players die, they are prompted to release their spirit and return as ghosts to find their corpses and come back to life. Khotin sees it as a worthy metaphor for the impending change his return home presented and the resulting process of purging artistic expectations to find his creative self again. On this go-around, he is freer, more playful, and more intentional within his palette of warped synth, breakbeats, and piano sounds — including the classic Casio SK-1 presets he’s used since the start — mingling with wistful samples, field recordings, and other abstract snippets. For the first time, he enlisted Nik Kozub to do the mix and assist with sequencing. Khotin-Foote has long worked with the Edmonton-based musician and engineer in the mastering phase, as well as their days co-running the label Normals Welcome, and this time was able to involve his ears earlier given their newfound proximity. “I think it’s my best sounding record to date.” We begin on “HV Road” or Happy Valley Road, where Khotin-Foote spent time during a family vacation in British Columbia’s Okanagan Lake. His plans to record crickets at night are quickly foiled by his younger siblings; the cute exchange orients the listener to a core memory of sorts, setting the tone of universally understood warmth and wonder that has defined some of Khotin’s most transportive tracks. Hazy percussion takes hold, and we are swept further into the wisp of “Lovely,” a grooving, melodic standout built on the interplay between the beat and human voice-like hums. Khotin knows this zone well; equally suited for a reverie or a club warm-up. The bubbling atmosphere and absurdity of “3 pz” offer a cosmic/comic interlude and also speak to reflections on his family’s move to Canada two generations ago, and the audio tutorials they used to learn English. “I can only imagine my grandparents repeating some of the bizarre phrases.” “Fountain, Growth” finds Khotin in collaboration with Montreal’s Tess Roby (Dawn to Dawn) for the project’s first-ever vocal track. Roby’s soft cadence echoes atop spiraling air pockets of rhythmic production, lending a breezy, almost shoegaze pop feel. Throughout the single and the album, wind gusts between the compositional layers, akin to the roaming spirits of its namesake, curving around the birdsong of “Life Mask” and seamlessly reaching “Unlimited <3.” The latter bumps in slow motion; disembodied whirrs from his Casio collide with 808 drums and sub-bass for a vibe that teeters on trap and instrumental hip-hop. Release Spirit rests in a dream sequence. Oscillating synth lines dance around the heartbeat of “Techno Creep,” a hyperactive REM state before the digitized ambient sprawl of “My Same Size.” In the final pass, Khotin imagines transcontinental travel from the glow of his screen. He recorded “Sound Gathering Trip” to soundtrack a genre of YouTube videos he’s taken to that follows train routes through Europe and Japan. The scene is serene and moving; piano keys warble as static-filled sound design shimmers off the rails, from cityscapes to the countryside, an introspective ride through a world beyond his bedroom. It doubles as an apt parting image for Khotin’s project as a whole: dreaming big but happiest when riffing on the details, shaping environments from the inside out. Over the last decade, he has stretched from his core in Edmonton, leaving a trace in Vancouver and beyond; but when all signs point home, he loops back to see it all from a different vantage, revitalized, refined, and free.
Ata Kak -  Batakari (Lily Pad Green Marble Vinyl LP)Ata Kak -  Batakari (Lily Pad Green Marble Vinyl LP)
Ata Kak - Batakari (Lily Pad Green Marble Vinyl LP)Awesome Tapes From Africa
¥3,571

Ghanaian hiplife phenom Yaw Atta-Owusu presents charming results of his first studio session since 1994’s sleeper hit ‘Obaa Sima’, which found an overdue, cult audience via the blogosphere as one of Awesome Tapes From Africa’s earliest and greatest drops in 2015. If you weren’t snagged on the ohrwurming keys, vox, and groove of the title tune to Ata Kak’s ‘Obaa Sima’ in 2015, you probably weren’t going to the right clubs and checking the right sites. 10 years later it still kills and is set to be joined by this fresh haul from the Bishop Beatz recording studio in Kumasi, Ghana, where Ata Kak laid down ‘Batakari’, his 1st recordings in three decades, recapturing the moxie of his original sound on six cuts that betray time and space travelled within more ambitious arrangements of signature fast chat factored by layered harmonies and rhythmic variegation. “Honed in studios around Kumasi over the last several years, the songs feature the rapper-singer’s acrobatic rap, signature scatting, dramatic drums and even traditional Akan harp. The compositions are more ambitious than his earlier work, with more complex arrangements and layered harmonies. Ata Kak’s new songs are also the natural expression of a restless artist—he is a prolific poet and author of a half-dozen books, as well as an active gardener and busy painter. Born in Ghana in 1960, Ata Kak wasn’t always involved in music. But his travels and openness to the world lead him into the music industry. While living in Germany, he was invited to play drums in a reggae band and subsequently played in highlife bands in Ontario after moving to the Toronto area. He recorded “Obaa Sima” there at his home studio and released it in Ghana in 1994. He didn’t participate in music much in the intervening years until “Obaa Sima” was reissued in 2015. He started performing his song live with the help of a brilliant cast of London-based musicians and has toured three continents and played to thousands of fans in venues of all kinds.”

NEW MANUKE - SOUR VALLEY (CD)NEW MANUKE - SOUR VALLEY (CD)
NEW MANUKE - SOUR VALLEY (CD)Leftbrain / HEADZ
¥2,530

This is NEW MANUKE's first album. Shake your hips, shake the world, keep on movin', Maximum volume!

Nala Sinephro - Space 1.8 (LP+Obi)Nala Sinephro - Space 1.8 (LP+Obi)
Nala Sinephro - Space 1.8 (LP+Obi)Warp
¥4,636
London based Caribbean-Belgian composer, producer, and musician Nala Sinephro steps out on her own with a deeply personal debut album and her first release with Warp Records.
Burial - Comafields / Imaginary Festival (12")
Burial - Comafields / Imaginary Festival (12")XL Recordings
¥3,615

With his 2006 masterpiece debut album Burial and his 2007 second album Untrue, which earned him the highest praise as “the most important electronic music work of the century,” Burial has established two monumental achievements. Despite his identity and background remaining unknown, he has captivated many music fans and influenced numerous artists. He has also generated significant buzz through split works with Thom Yorke and Four Tet, as well as collaborations with Massive Attack, continuing to captivate people across eras and genres as one of the most important musicians of our time. Now, he releases his latest single!

Natsuki Takeda - 白のひと月 (CS+DL)Natsuki Takeda - 白のひと月 (CS+DL)
Natsuki Takeda - 白のひと月 (CS+DL)MATSUNOMI TO SENSO REC
¥1,886
Renowned for her releases on Sweet Dreams Press, Natsuki Takeda delivers a pure, white ambient document with Shiro no Hitotsuki! Based in Kyoto, she has been an active member of numerous bands such as Kaze no Mata Sunny, quaeru, and Matamata. Since around 2021, she has begun composing solo works using YAMAHA reface CP and DX, analog synthesizers, and loopers, while also performing extensively in solo and session settings in pursuit of a transparent and delicate sound. This album records a month of recovery following a fever at the end of 2022, captured through daily improvisational sessions. Gentle synth fluctuations, overlapping loops, and the breath of subtle noise combine to create a dreamlike soundscape that drifts along the boundary between dreams and reality.
CazU-23 & Sinkichi - 今出川銀河|IMA DE GAWA GINGA (CS+DL)CazU-23 & Sinkichi - 今出川銀河|IMA DE GAWA GINGA (CS+DL)
CazU-23 & Sinkichi - 今出川銀河|IMA DE GAWA GINGA (CS+DL)MATSUNOMI TO SENSO REC
¥1,886
Shipping begins September 21: an improvised ambient/experimental document born in Kyoto’s Imadegawa. The collaborative work IMA DE GAWA GINGA by CazU-23 & Sinkichi now arrives on cassette. CazU-23, an artist who has explored a unique sonic world through solo and band activities, employs guitar and monosynth to striking effect, while Sinkichi—a veteran DJ/producer active since the dawn of Kyoto’s club scene—works fluidly with modular synths and field recordings. Recorded in a single, unbroken session at Softribe Studio, the album interweaves the plucked tones of a 1970s Teisco guitar, shimmering modular layers, and environmental sounds gathered from the city, achieving a quietude and spaciousness akin to the night air. Subtle noise and breath-like resonances evoke layers of time and fragments of memory, with a sense of prayer offered as homage to the late ambient DJ OPERON. A meditative minimal new age/ambient work, where city and nature, present and memory converge into a small yet luminous galaxy.
Mark Fell & Pat Thomas - Reality Is Not A Theory (LP+DL)Mark Fell & Pat Thomas - Reality Is Not A Theory (LP+DL)
Mark Fell & Pat Thomas - Reality Is Not A Theory (LP+DL)Black Truffle
¥4,996

Recorded in concert at the University of Sheffield in March 2025, Reality Is Not A Theory is the first collaboration between Mark Fell and Pat Thomas. Major figures in British experimental music since the 1990s, Fell and Thomas have developed their rigorous practices from radically different backgrounds and perspectives: where Fell’s singular take on synthetic abstraction emerged from Sheffield’s electronic underground, Thomas is a virtuoso improvising pianist steeped in jazz and modernist art music who has simultaneously worked with sampler-based electronics for decades. As the record’s wonderfully academic subtitle explains, we are presented here with two sides of ‘algorithmic and improvised music for computer and piano’, exemplifying both players’ insatiable search for new (and sometimes uncomfortable) playing situations.

The performance begins with Fell’s electronics close to the timbres of acoustic percussion, attacks that suggest wood, metal or glass threaded along a rapid pulse while Thomas focuses on the lowest registers of the piano, deadening the strings. As Fell’s electronics start to ring out and occupy more harmonic space, Thomas turns to wide, repeated clusters, which slowly expand into patterns of chords. Like in his recent solo recordings and his trio work with Joel Grip and Anton Gerbal, Thomas’ playing combines extreme dissonance with a deep lyrical sense. Fell’s work gradually shifts its focus toward drum sounds, drawing on the microtemporal processes that have characterized his practice in recent decades. Heard together with Thomas’ probing piano, the computer sounds call up unexpected associations with the klangfarben antics of improv drummers like Paul Lovens or Tony Oxley. Throughout its second half, the music grows increasingly frenetic, as Thomas sounds out rapid, irregularly repeated figures and beautifully sour chords in the upper register, while Fell’s percussion develops into angular pan-pipe-like feedback and waves of glissandi.

With great confidence and patience, Fell and Thomas often let their individual contributions remain rhythmically distinct and unsynchronised, allowing unexpected correspondence and coincidence to guide the music’s development. Recorded in a hall named after Sheffield steel manufacturer and Master Cutler Mark Firth, the location might suggest a model for understanding how Fell and Thomas interact here: two workers in the same workshop, each immersed in their own part of the production process. Arriving in a striking sleeve designed by Mark Fell, with liner notes by Francis Plagne, Reality Is Not A Theory is an invigorating document of the meeting of two mavericks of contemporary music.

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