Stefan Christoff / Post Mortem "Waasland" Old Bicycle Records OBR 031

Another split tape, this time from Stefan Christoff and Post Mortem. Though unmarked as to A/B, the tape was wound to play Christoff's side first so in it went. The first cut, "fenetres sonores" immediately garnered my interest. Nice effects and a near melody made this somber piece deserving of the premier track status it received. It was followed by a organ dominated piece appropriately titled "organ rhythms under the rain" which flows nicely coming out of the initial selection. Church organ sounds with just a touch of abstractness, and again, a hint of a melody.

The remaining four selections were more of the same, though not to imply this all sounds alike. Christoff knows structure or feels it inherently and is conscious of not overdoing anything while still allowing for enough of a theme to provide a glimpse at his aural vision. Sadly, there was no contact information for this artist, but the credits indicate it was recorded between 2013-2015 in Montreal.

Post Mortem is the brainchild of Jan Kees Helms, and was recorded in 2015. This side initiates with what could be a river flowing albeit rapidly, then quickly you hear garbled voices and a repetitive squeaky sound (crickets?) which again is layered with a number of natural sounds, all the while building toward something.

Like the previous side, the composer has a great feel for not taking a good idea too far. The piece keeps moving with a vast array of abstractions and is further textured by a softly played piano adding to the intrigue. The interesting use of a nature soundscape intertwined with minimal electronica makes for an enjoyable sonic journey and though the track, entitled "Soundsources",  is lengthy, it never sounds dull or monotonous.

The experimental path is a difficult one to follow successfully. With little or no restrictions, artists can-and often do-throw in way too much baggage. I'm happy to say that this tape is a splendid exception. Everything here seems necessary and the music created by these two artists is both challenging and comfortable to listen to. Extra marks for a very creative housing for the cassette itself. Good stuff here.

www.jankeeshelms.nl

-Bob Zilli

ALDO BECCA "D’Ora Stella" C30 (Old Bicycle Records)

Yeah, sure, we all still miss Elliott Smith, but, hey…would you be willing to trade in his penchant for earworms for an uncanny mastery in ambient, noise-tinged lo-fi recording dynamics; would you accept never again hearing strummed chords with a guitar pick, but rather only nimble fingertips expertly plucking out meditative, lulling patterns on that very same acoustic steel string tone…oh, and, by the way, you wouldn’t have to consider killing yourself over depressing lyrics because you likely won’t understand them anyway, unless you know Italian.

Well, unless you’ve worked out the kinks in that pet cemetery of yours, Aldo Becca is your best bet for future dynamic rides along the heartbreaking work of staggering beauty that is melancholic singer-songwritery that still manages to be authentic in a world of pap and pulp, pumping out ditties by any and everyone who’s ever even considered learning three chords or less. Thanks, AB (ES?) for keeping it real, and thank you Old Bicycle Records (of Switzerland) for sending this across the pond to us.

http://aldobecca.bandcamp.com/
and/or
https://oldbicyclerecords.bandcamp.com/album/dora-stella

-- Jacob An Kittenplan

MELAMPUS “Hexagon Garden” C36 (Old Bicycle Records)

I have zero working knowledge of what Switzerland’s musical evolution has been like, but, listening to this, all I can think about is USA’s Delerium, pre-Y2K. Something about this makes it weird for me to listen to this as an independently released tape label. Maybe bands sounding exactly like the Gin Blossoms will be popping up all over in the next decade? I dunno. All I know is that this kind of music was really popular two decades ago in the US and I wonder what kind of audience it garners today, here and abroad. Have a listen for yourself via the link below.

           

https://oldbicyclerecords.bandcamp.com/album/hexagon-garden

- - Jacob An Kittenplan

SIMON BALESTRAZZI / UNCODIFIED “Split” C45 (Crash Tape #10 / Old Bicycle Records)

A devastating split between two “Italian pioneers of electronic-industrial-noise,” according to the bandcamp page, this split brings together two bleak studies in communication. Framed as “Eine Ballade,” Balestrazzi’s side is a haunting, creeping triptych — pensive, slow-moving drones, with twisted piano samples slipping under the more consistent drones. Time seems to be deconstructed, placing the listener somewhere inside of a piano, and between notes. Eventually, a looped vocal sample emerges, providing the momentum to end the piece. The dynamics of listening are played with on this side, setting the graspability of sounds against each other.

The Uncodified side begins on a similar note, with low rumbling and high-pitched mechanical hissing. The sense of doom on this side is more active, and sonically it is reminiscent of Merzbow. Rhythmic bass pulses emerge frequently, only to fade out of view in the shadow of distorted screeching and clattering. Near the middle of this side, a multilayered drone is formed, with the mid-level crackling and giving way to an intermittent oceanic whisper. This side ends with a sense of rippling not dissimilar to the first side, but with a harder cutoff.

Bandcamp: http://undermybedrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/crash-tape-10

- - Bryan Counter

STEFANO DE PONTI "Like Lamps On By Day" (Old Bicycle Records)

The work of a singular intelligence. The artist is conductor and engineer of his own bedroom symphony. He is patiently jamming away in his private, mystical world and presenting the fruits to the listener with classical forthrightness. It is a precious album, beautifully formatted for the cassette. The artist is dreaming honest. A private phantasmagoria for the attentive initiate. It is symphonic, but with great electronic sounds, including analog crack crack. Tasteful, careful variety. No voice to put a face to, but the psychedelic noir cover art can suffice for the heaven-bound earth-child element, along with the breathy flute that ends side B. The music is true and kind of sad. “Like Lamps on by Day” turns out to be a good title. The artist’s website says he is creating primarily in a theatrical/sound installation context. Italian theater. That sounds good and right to me. Recommended.

https://oldbicyclerecords.bandcamp.com/album/stefano-de-ponti-like-lamps-on-by-day

-- Kevin Oliver

Harshcore and Der Einzige - "Live Bujun Dokument, Graz, Jun. 11, 2009" (Old Bicycle Records)

This live split cassette is great for you static noise trippers/both abstract and fundamental....

weird
wonderful
trumpet blasts (gone in a blink)
snow, beep, muffled screams
tap
tap
tap them bones

Buy and Listen HERE.


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