Strategy - Cerebral Hut AKA Off the Grid

Interwoven metallic soundscapes from Strategy with Cerebral Hut AKA Off the Grid on Field Hymns. A live, one take performance from 2014, and a relatively dramatic departure from the LP release Pressure Wassure, which you may recall I enjoyed. Whereas that release thumps and skitters around your headphone space, this 4 track c-30 wags around thick noisy slabs, supplanting melody with intrigue. A mysterious mechanical, almost metallic world of the unexpected. Whirring, whirling, clicking, growling. Sounds like a planetarium being sucked into a black hole and reconstructed in a parallel universe.

Edition of 75 hand numbered pro dubbed and imprinted copies on red. Digital copy included. Grab direct from Field Hymns.

Scammers - Cover You

Filthy, slinky, after party scene jams from Scammers with Cover You on Field Hymns. Playful, slightly campy 4th wall breaking lyrical delivery complemented by an absolutely stunning electro lounge dance fusion. Post industrial meets David Bowie (is that a Station To Station reference?) impersonating David Tibet making references to 90's rave timbres. Strangely depressing and reaffirming, a kind of emotional duality that opposes humanity and embraces humanism. Weird, I know and tons of fun. The standout track 30 And Smokin twists the formula into beautifully produced dance, reminiscent of the most effective early Prince records and lays down endlessly clever off kilter lyrics in the vein of, "I'll get down on my knees and crawl around you, around the feces and bicycle grease". Something this brilliant is destined to be obscure and thank goodness for that.

Hand numbered edition of 75, pro dubbed and printed on purple (mauve? pink?), digital download included. Grab direct from Field Hymns.

Black Unicorn - Traced Landscapes

Massive spacescapes from Black Unicorn with Traced Landscapes on Field Hymns. Intergalactic blazers for staring out the flight deck as you approach an unknown world. There are tapes for that little ship you held between your index finger and thumb when you were eight, flying it around the room pretending you were in the cockpit. This be one of those. Mid tempo, almost ballad-esq synth formations. Moments of emotion swell, sweet and genuine melodies tempered by something alien working with restraint to create tracks that sit halfway between ambience and soundtrack. Big sweeping washes of texture that glide from one side to the other. Nothing crusty or vague about this, it's confident and clean as a whistle. Fun, powerful stuff.

Edition of 75 hand numbered copies, pro printed and duplicated. Got that awesome signature Field Hymns vibe to the art. I wonder what the little man on the front is thinking? Is he wondering what's on that planet, or longing to go back? Grab direct from Field Hymns.

FH040 Black Unicorn - Lowland Observatory by Field Hymns Records

Oxykitten - Escape From New Amsterdam

Have I posted about all the Oxykitten tapes? Almost, this makes 4 of 6. And of course the reason for that is the complete sickness of everything that has to do with this project. Aesthetic perfection, the way the art, sound, and concept work in complete synchronicity. The latest Escape from New Amsterdam on Field Hymns, is hands down the best yet, with a much more complex and robust sound. All that low-fi Genesis sleeze is intact, but the variety of sonic elements is richer than ever before. Razor sharp hissing bass lines that curl around each and every track like the crooked smile of a stimpatch dealer lurking in the streetlight outside the pleasure dome. The arpegiated melodies that pop and crackle with neon intensity. Ripping, head-nodding, swagger and I swear, there might even be something that sounds like a ballad to close this one out. The curation of sounds here is incredible, each and every one a simultaneous nod to cyberpunk futures and dusty black cartridges with video rental stickers torn off.

Edition of 100 hand numbered copies, each with digital download included, pro on every level, design, imprinting, duplication. Make it happen over at Field Hymns.

Cremator - Alpha Ralpha Boulevard

Another in an increasingly fantastic run of experimental synth on Field Hymns, Alpha Ralpha Boulevard from Cremator is an ultra smooth dose of planetarium nightmares. Something about this sounds just intoxicatingly, profoundly lonely. Two long form synth sequences that pulse with rich, detailed timbres, and alternate between poles of high intensity, and mellow introspection. Everything has this clean, highly digestable sound, that feels low on double digit polyphony, and high on knife edge precision. What really stands out to me here, is the way in which these two lyric less tracks felt like they told me a story throughout. Something about a narrow escape from evil robot sentries in a hellish cyberpunk futurescape. Menacing, beautiful, killer stuff.

As always, super slick ultra pro look and feel from Dylan at Field Hymns. Edition of 100, pro dubbed and printed, download included. Acquire.

Bastian Void - Fluorescent Bells

Vintage space transmissions from Bastian Void, with Fluorescent Bells on Field Hymns. A very traditionally extraterrestrial snyth sound, both crystaline and murky, pulsating with thick, echoing bass and percussion. Tracks fade into and out of each other, seeming to collide and become singular. It becomes difficult, particularly on the flip to determine where concepts end and begin, blending together with abandon, pulling the listener along on a exploration of the farthest reaches. Somewhat optimistic, and in places, extremely menacing. Feels like the soundtrack to a Ray Bradbury novel transcribed to the inside of your eardrums.

Double sided jcard, edition of 100 pro printed on white shells, download included. Pretty much everything you could want compliments of Field Hymns.

Oxykitten - Octagonal Wax

Slinky back alley space funk from Oxykitten with their latest Octagonal Wax, on Field Hymns. Perhaps a bit more prog'd out and space rock than previous entries, without losing any of that tounge in cheek sense of playfulness. A sick menagerie of extraterrestrial synth leads mixed with Genesis beats and cyberpunk sensibilities. No delicate soundscapes, no hazy nostalgic tape sentiment, just crazy weird beat scene vibes. 11 tracks that worm their way through the seedy underbelly of a futuristic metropolis of alien dance clubs and designer cocktails to meet you under a lamp post and offer a one way ticket outta here.

Everything about this release is super pro. Incredible design, hand numbered, digital download included. Grab directly from Field Hymns for the full physical experience.

Oxykitten - Toucht (Freebie!)

Toucht by Oxykitten is a batch of twisted videogame beats and retro synth work on Field Hymns Recordings. Sounds like a jam session between Prince and Koji Kondo after a night of watching horror movies together. I purchased my copy directly from Field Hyms If you're interested in this tape, email me at guidemelittletape at gmail dot com. This item will be given away on a first contact basis. Gone to Bennett from DC as of 1/5. Enjoy! FH005 Oxykitten - Infinite Posse by Field Hymns Records