V/A - Frozen In Time II

Massive three tape, six artist compilation, Frozen In Time II from the incredible Black Horizons label. Artists on offer include, L’Acephale, Spettro Family, German Army, Sindre Bjerga, Micromelancolié, Night Worship, and Head Dress, and all the music was composed in order to be played in time with the films of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. Such an intense concept. Dark, bleak, black ambient and noise. Admittedly, I'm not even halfway through the entire 120 minutes of this massive heap of magnetic tape, but first instinct was to get this posted proper quick before it's sold out.

Rather than describe the physical edition on offer, I'll let the photos do the talking. Stunning edition of 200, the absolute apex of cassette fetishism. Grab directly from Black Horizons.

Rather than include a sound sample, I thought it best to provide a visual that more appropriately captures the audio/video transference. Recent Horror Fiction artist Ted Butler (Head Dress) behind the board in late 2014.

Various Artists - Taxidermy of Unicorns

Not so much a V/A release, or a compilation, as a single thematically consistent collaboration, separated into compartments. Taxidermy of Unicorns from Watery Starve Press is a double split release combining four of the brightest female voices in the experimental art scene today. Birds of passage (Alicia Merz), Je Suis Le Petit Chevalier (Felecia Atkinson), Motion Sickness of Time Travel (Rachel Evans) and Aloonaluna (Watery Starve's Lynn Fister) each bring their respective vision to bear on what becomes an expansive, and nicely cohesive, vision of forward looking experimental folk. While each half of tape works nicely with the others, there's ample space for each artist to weave their signature sounds. I like great art no matter who makes it, but I'll readily admit, it's fun to see these women staking out their turf.

Edition of 200. A whole lot going on here for sure. Double cs in tall case wrapped in yarn with a leaf. Included with purchase an oversized booklet style set of notes and art. Included in the innermost pages, an original collage from Lynn Fister. Grab directly from Watery Starve.

Various Artists - Shadow Colors And Maybe Insects

Charming introductory V/A compilation of droning forest strangeness and synth blissery from new San Francisco based, Watery Starve. If the opening act is bellwether of upcoming editions, Shadow Colors and Maybe Insects forbears an exciting future. Stellar mix of established acts, from Former Selves and Inez Lightfoot, to Quiet Evenings and Je Suis Le Petit Chevalier, channeling a variety of nostalgic, sentimental, and spectral sounds. Transmuteo does a bit of show stealing with an incredible track of shamanistic earth rituals, which alone would justify a purchase. Grabbed my walkman and enjoyed perfect vibes on an afternoon walk through the autumn woods.

Beautiful physical product. Watercolor collage pro print by Lynn Fister, personal note included. Grab one before they get scarce direct at Watery Starve.

V/A - Greetings From Spring Break Tapes! Vol. 1

Sun drenched beats and lazy acid jazz vibes on the new comp from Spring Break Tapes, Greetings From… Vol. 1. An absolutely killer stable of producers, tour de forcing their way through ten tracks of mid tempo beat scene sickness and 70’s soundtrack chic. Favorites of mine, including Junior Pande and Jah Connery make appearances, along with Lazloh, Dr. Quandary, Elaquent, Lushlife, West Widows, Don Cash, Amable, and Sunclef. Thick, beefy production, high quality sound, and a flat out fun to play feeling that begs you to borrow an old car with a tape deck and head to the beach. All ten tracks repeat on both sides to double your chill out capacity.

I hadn't grasped what a massive undertaking this comp must have been until the package arrived. Each copy packaged in a separate, custom stamped inner envelope, bursting with extra goodies. Button, die cut sticker, ten miniature postcards, one for each artist, and a download code. Grab directly from Spring Break Tapes.