NICK KEELING “Fallen Flags” C54 (Self-Released)

“Fallen Flags”, Nick Keeling’s latest experiment in lo-fi piano explorations, finds him covering some compelling new ground here by hi-lighting the overtonal distortions and limitations of magnetic tape machines through a thorough inundation of Reichian repetition, phasing, and intensity*. There’s enough forced warble on “FF" to make you worry your own tape deck has the flu, so be apprised that it’s just the charm of second-hand tape decay, sit back, &…well…not “relax”, per se, but enjoy the novelty of sounds expanding within the frailty of physical media. It can be a slightly herky-jerky, disorienting ride at times, especially when played LOUD**, so don’t mix this with your morning coffee, lest you’re of remarkably strong constitution. 

RIYL: Phillip Glass, Steve Reich, La Monte Young, Lubomyr Melnyk, William Basinski

https://nickkeeling.bandcamp.com/album/fallen-flags

— Jacob An Kittenplan

*oh, and, like, loops and unsync’d LOOPS upon muddled loops!

**which is HIGHLY recommended, some time around noon, for best results!

NICK KEELING “The City of Seven Hills" (Self-Released)

The City of Seven Hills tells the story of a man who had a story to tell and used the only tools he had available to tell it: “a piano, a broken tape recorder, and the city of Cincinnati”. There is a moment in Cincinnati. Keeling plays his feelings over them. Listen to bus rides, college students, news broadcasts, and feel what Keeling feels. This tape is empathy at its finest.

The man is making the digital download of the album available for free. But if you feel something the way I did, if some love for civilization and appreciation for life has spawned in your heart, I recommend you make a donation.

Be gentle.

https://nickkeeling.bandcamp.com/album/the-city-of-seven-hills

- Mansoor Syed