Oren Ambarchi - Audience of One

This AM in the Northeast brought with it icy squalls, covering everything in several inches of snow and providing the perfect juxtaposition to relax with the warm signature guitar tone of Oren Ambarchi.

Ambarchi can lay claim to one of the most expansive and genre traversing catalogues in the experimental scene. His work remains brilliant with his latest release from Touch, Audience of One, which offers an extremely diverse genre mix, from more traditional guitar fuzz and rumble, to softer sounds laced with pop arragemets. Like much of Ambarchi's work, Audience of One feels mechanically precise and yet somehow alive and unexpected. Track 2, "Knots" is a masterclass piece of progressional drone. An over 30 minute controlled chaotic blend of electronics and live instrumentation. Beginning in near minimalism, rising with a tide of mixed melodic guitar, and punctuating in a wave of live drumming before fading back into electronic debris. The entire disc is a complex, highly detailed composition.

I purchased from the exceptional Experimedia, and recommend their services wholeheartedly for your pursuit of auditory bliss.

Heatsick - Intersex

The majority of my musical tastes (and for that matter, the majority of the experimental tape/LP scene) seems the equivalent of carefree, messy, uninhibited, children drawing their thoughts on a blank canvas with every crayon in the box. A sort of full on approach to creativity, with the dials wide open.

Intersex from Heatsick appears to me, as a statement in how wonderful a juxtaposition between inhibition and structure can be. A sort of "pendulum swing" in the other direction of experimentation towards exactness. Both sides of the LP feature extended tracks that dance with light, effortless precision through beat driven structures that walk the line between early Kraftwerk, and Jazz instrumentation. There is a metropolitan feeling present in these rhythms. A very urban vibe, that almost invites the listener to enjoy this music while walking city streets searching for the art present in places unlooked for.

The LP comes in an absolutely beautifully printed sleeve, and similar to other PAN releases, a really slick PVC slip cover package with printing front and back. I purchased from Discriminate and was nodding my head to this one in 3 days.

Pine Smoke Lodge - Season Above Lakes

I hate to post about a tape not available somewhere, but this one is just too good. Seasons Above Lakes from Pine Smoke Lodge is 2 untitled tracks of meditative free drone on cae-sur-a. Images of deep, untouched groves of Mountain Laurel, cave paintings, mountaintops, forgotten rituals, and a hazy vision of an elder shaman as you close your eyes to reality, and finally open them to your soul. Side B is an absolute mind warp, circling, rising, and falling, with melodic, entrancing and unrecognizable vocals and musicality. Truly one of the best moments of tape I've heard.

I dropped this tape into my walkman and took off to climb the nearest mountain. Took 4 listens to reach the top. One more, and I would have found my spirit animal and never returned.

Bobby from Geographic North was generous enough to trade this tape to me. He also does some excellent writing for Foxy Digitalis which you should absolutely check out. Check the distro links on right to scan for anything Pine Smoke Lodge related if you have even a passing interest in the experimental drone scene.

Hobo Cubes / J Hanson - Split (Freebie!)

Really nice split tape from Digitalis LTD, featuring Hobo Cubes and J Hanson. Cool metallic pulses and other assorted mind melting sound waves. I've enjoyed this tape and now it's ready to be shared. If you have interest, simply email me at guidemelittletape at gmail dot com and I'll drop it in the mail. No catch. Links to several other unclaimed freebies on right as well. Cheers! Gone to Tanner from Vancouver as of 1/5. Enjoy!