VARIOUS ARTISTS “Chthonic Records Presents: It’s Halloween Time” 2x66.6 (Chthonic Records/Almost Halloween Time Records)

We’re at a disadvantage, we music writers. There’s just so much out there, right? Almost too much to cover with any sort of consistency or timeliness. Scratch that – just timeliness. (I’m nothing if not consistent.) That’s why I’m writing about Halloween in the doldrums of Isolation April, and it’ll be May before you even read this. See how that works? This October 2018 compilation – still available, I might add – landed in my mailbox a month or two ago, and I’m just getting to writing about it. And now you know the inner workings of the process.

Meh, it’s not all like that, but that’s how the chips fell for Chthonic Records Presents: It’s Halloween Time, a double-cassette release that clocks in at 66.6 minutes per tape – that’s a really spooky number!* In conjunction with Almost Halloween Time Records, the Bari, Italy, label that gave it a second life in October 2019, Chthonic Records cobbles together a compilation of outsider weirdos that give new meaning to the phrase “horrorcore,” in that there isn’t a lot of horror and also very little core. Instead we’re treated to a bunch of lo-fi mood pieces that run the gamut from seasonal incidental music to trippy sample collages to actual ditties about Halloween itself, and/or creepy goings-on. (Plus extra credit to the dude who calls himself “Charles Dingus.”)

Still, we’re not talking “Monster Mash” or “Werewolf Bar Mitzvah” to spruce up a party or anything. It’s more like Cougheteria’s take on a Twilight Zone episode (“The Ghosts We Know”) or Hoops’ funereal dirge (“A Monster at Home”). There’s also Restaurnaut’s usual garbage-can soliloquizing (“I Was Possessed [by a Ghost]”), Painted Faces’ spiked-punch reeling (“Hippy Halloween”), and a surprisingly straightforward turn by Bob Bucko Jr. (“We Are Not All Monsters”). But nothing you can really dance to. Which is totally fine if your Halloween consists of sitting at home, by yourself, sad that you’re not a kid anymore, and slowly peeling and eating every piece of candy you bought for trick-or-treaters, none of which seem to want to ring your bell.

Is that sad, or do you just live in the country?

*Sorry, Tabs Out references just slip in subconsciously now.

https://chthonicrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://almosthalloweentimerecords.bandcamp.com/

--Ryan

RAKE KASH "Exile" C36 (Chthonic Records)

All eye-lids, ye shall hoist at half-mast, for “Exile”, easily Rake Kash’s ever stoniest & spaciest free-jazz chill-out sesh recorded to date, Methe (Gertrude Tapes fountainhead!) assuming the fore of this recording endeavor (amongst ringers/pals) to wrench out sultry sax riffage, myriad keys, slick double-bass grooves, dialed-in live drum kit textures, tasteful pedal-work (post mix?!), & an all-pervasive 55mph drive across the Great Plains of lock-step certainty & adventurously jazzy titillation. 

Tracks 1-3, listenable via bandcamp, prove a great set-up for the crowning achievement*, side B’s beyond-lost-in-Joshua-Tree denouement, an untitled 17 minute track that ambles with so much certainty, maps are setting themselves on fire, just like even considering listening to it. 

I’ve loved the vast majority of Gertrude Tapes' output, over the years, but it’s truly revelatory to hear where the mind of such a solid label is, production-wise, on their own creative trajectory, and I feel daaaaamn lucky to have gotten to listen to this.

TL;DR?

Bohren & Der Club of Gore meets GSY!BE’s spaciest off-shoots meets Louisville, KY’s jazziest post-rock explorations. YEAH. Rock fuckin’ solid!

https://chthonicrecords.bandcamp.com/album/exile

and/or

https://thegertrudetapes.bandcamp.com/

—Jacob An Kittenplan

*available only via physically playing this stellar tape! ha!

MARIJEAN "Shades of Green" C90 (Chthonic Records)



Marijean fades in like a dream carried by a muffled, almost timid, voice. Shades of Green is overall downtempo and is often led by what sound like a synthesizer and a guitar. Though these electronics are prevalent, Marijean doesn't rely on over-the-top mixing to convey their somber passion and allows the listener to become engulfed in its warm tones. Shades of Green, in my opinion, is a lullaby that is heard from another room; if not another mode of thought altogether.  Even though this release is about an hour and a half long, I can't help but wish it were longer.

https://marijean.bandcamp.com/
https://chthonicrecords.bandcamp.com/

-- Julian Alvarez

HOOPS “Honeysuckles” (Chthonic Records)

Honeysuckles is a structure of field recordings and airy instruments with HOOPS voice dead center guiding you through this world they have created in the style of musique concrète. "Honeysuckles" opens with softly wobbling electronics and an acoustic guitar being plucked into an open abyss. Here we are introduced to our narrator and the theme for the rest of the album. The title track is the story of an old man who is trying to protect his garden from children eating his flowers. A fairly straightforward story which ends in his ascension. Throughout my entire listening I could not help feeling tangled in every soundscape. "Show Me the way to that Old Oyster Bar" is definitely the most driving of the album in regards to a 'traditional' take on music. My two favorite tracks are the closers, "No Shelter for a Kitty Cat", which follows the protagonist waking up to a beautiful day. The story quickly changes when a cat greets our narrator at their window. Our narrator never gets out of bed and transcends into the body of a cat with no where to rest and no where to hide. Again, this track features various field recordings and electronics as its lead and an electric guitar guiding the melody in the background. The closing track "On the Sleepy Side of Things" is a great conclusion to this surreal experience, calmly portraying the end to these adventures for today. The album finally closes with our narrator yawning and snoring away to a drum machine as if to say goodnight.



https://hoops23.bandcamp.com/

https://chthonicrecords.bandcamp.com/

- - Julienne Pasta

HOOPS “What Do You Get When You Fall in Love?” C36 (Chthonic Records)

I really got into “Masterpieces” following this review – it was really interesting and a surprising find. And I’m not going to speak for the vast majority of people who this is clearly aimed at – you know who you are, mom! – but I don’t get it. Why is that? Hoops recorded a bunch of live takes of Burt Bacharach and Hal David songs all on his lonesome with an acoustic guitar. These are good songs. But Hoops, dude, we can’t hear you. You’re too mumbly. The fidelity’s a mess. Is that the point? Am I missing something? Why does this exist in a format where I have to pay for the physical artifact? I was excited, now I’m just bummed. Probably a one-time fuckup. Oh well – better luck next time, Hoops, and you people reading, don’t give up on checking him out!

Please note: Tracks were recorded in 2007 and released in 2017. There’s part of the reason.

And you’re right, nagging conscience – my mom wouldn’t be able to get past the poor recording.

https://hoops23.bandcamp.com/

https://chthonicrecords.bandcamp.com/music

--Michael “Hoops 23” Jordan

SAM BURTON "Until Returning" (Chthonic Records)

Burton's own Bandcamp page tags his style as alternative but to my ancient ears this is singer-songwriter. Think Tim Buckley and Nick Drake. I must confess I'm not the first reviewer to peg him in that light. Another threw in Leonard Cohen. All great references in any event.

The tape offers ten selections-if you count the brief "Prelude" that welcomes the listener. None of the songs drag on and are swift and direct in their subtleness. His voice, while not outstanding, is more than adequate for these songs. He is accompanied by acoustic guitar and makes the most of the sparseness of the arrangements.

The meat here is the songwriting which is outstanding. Burton uses just enough familiarity to hook you in while vocally flowing over the edges of the melody. There is not a mediocre song in the bunch and stylistically he keeps it interesting enough given the variation of each track.

While there are ten tracks, they are short and hence this is an e.p. worth of Burton. Available only on tape, as it was recorded, this is a talent to reckon with. Sam Burton is my favorite singer-songwriter thus far in 2016- and the year is nearly over. Get this my all means.

https://chthonicrecords.bandcamp.com/album/until-returning

-- Bob Zilli

HOOPS “A Whiff of Spirits” C41 (Chthonic Records)

Here’s a collection of musique concrete pieces, prepared/distorted piano/guitar amblings and harsh noises out of Salt Lake City. Tracks 3 & 7 stood out as great textural explorations, and 8 was otherworldly, making me constantly question whether the tuba(?) notes were being slowed down, the field recording was in an abandoned Olympic indoor swimming pool (next to a construction site and a dog park?), or a mix of the two. Those three tracks, in my absolutely pious opinion, are worth repeated listens, but not so much the rest. The download on bandcamp is free, though, so, if you’re into this kinda thing, happy fucking birthday.

http://hoops23.bandcamp.com

and/or

www.chthonicrecords.bandcamp.com

- - Jacob An Kittenplan