1st February 2010 Releases

UNKNOWN ARTIST
Impairment / Reagent
1XA 12"
(1XA 002)






'Mastered by Rashad at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin. Track and mastering info etched in run-out groove. Hand stamped new '1xa'. Housed in black paper disco sleeve with poly-lining, individually sealed with blue perforated banner vinyl. Limited edition.'

JANEK SCHAEFER
Alone At Last
Sirr CD
(SIRR 031)





'Alone At Last is a studio album, written over the first decade of Janek's career as a composer, sound artist, and musician. Each of the eight tracks is a response to an invitation to write a piece of music for either a compilation or installation. The original sound sources are produced using location recordings and manipulated vinyl, which are then processed through a combination of foot pedals & mixing desk, and then assembled on screen. Anamnesis refers to the ability of sound to trigger mental images in our mind's eye. Each new series of images is specific to each of us - and they are all uniquely generated and framed in turn by these supremely evocative compositions. The CD arrives housed in an elegant 100% black jewelcase with an 8 page black & white booklet of Janek's photography.'

MARC BEHRENS
Sleppet
Cronica CD
(CRON 046-2009)





'Sleppet originated from a sound art project in 2007, when six renowned artists — Natasha Barrett, Bjarne Kvinnsland, Steve Roden, Chris Watson, Jana Winderen and Marc Behrens — recorded sounds on a 10-day trip through the Norwegian Westlandet region and used the nature experience for a couple of sound installations and music pieces. Composed and produced by Marc Behrens in 2007-2008 in Bergen, Oslo and Frankfurt am Main. Basic material recorded in Gloppen, Bergen, on Utvær island, at Brenndalsbreen glacier and close to Røsskleivvatnet lake, Norway.'

25th January 2010 Releases

CONFORCE
Love and Hate EP:
A1. Love Hate
B1. The Land Of The Highway
B2. Stop Hold
meanwhile. 12"
(MEAN 018)



'After four singles for some of Europe's A-list techno labels, Meanwhile welcome this inspired 22 year old Dutchman - Leeuwarden-based Boris Bunnik. As Conforce, he prefaces a stunning double album incoming soon, one of profound electronic depth representing classic techno's next wave with this melodic, stunning and need we say highly limited three tracker. The album is named 'Machine Conspiracy', ready compiled and set for release in February 2010, and shows the rude good health of the rising Friesland province sound, especially when set next to contemporaries like Delta Funktionen, Damian Keane and Mohlao. If you can't stand the deepness, get the hell out of the way.

'Conforce arrives then with rolling form and great anticipation after dropping a couple of killer limited twelve inch vinyls, 'Our Concern' and 'Junction' for the excellent Rush Hour : big spins for Derrick May, Josh Wink, Rolando, Laurent Garnier, Reggie Dokes, and many more ensued. Lately, heavyweight output has continued across an ep each for Modelisme 'CCCP' and 'Cruising' for Curle - both again very well received. 'Cruising' itself charted at No. 2 in Philip Sherburne's Best of 2009 Critical Beats end of year round up for The Wire magazine. Word's out on Conforce, that he is melodic and thoroughly excellent.

'Love Hate' for us pretty well defines what's best in futuristik Motor City techno-soul- house music - the sheer drama of this track as it ripples and swells all shapes it for those who care: dense and modern, pressed deep in a new era for the physical medium. Generations of fans from Model 500 and Shakir right the way through should be involved, and note: Heady stuff that comes highly recommended!'


F
Energy Distortion Part 1:
A. Energy Distortion
B. Energy Distortion (Untold RMX)
7EVEN 12"
(7EVEN 012)




'January 2010 sees the release of this 12" sampler, including the eponymous track 'Energy Distortion', backed by an incredible remix by the man on fire right now, Untold. F gives a taste of his forthcoming LP, and what a tune!!! With 'Energy Distortion', F takes his own level higher. Supported by SKREAM ('This one’s sexy! BIG!!!'), JOE NICE ('Fire in the hole!!! Tunes are heavyweight!'), PINCH, HEADHUNTER, MARY ANNE HOBBS, SCUBA, UNTOLD, 2562 and the 7EVEN Gang, this sampler is only one track of the 15 forthcoming on the 'Energy Distortion' album! '

18th January 2010 Releases

SULLY
A. The Loot (Sully RMX)
AA. In Some Pattern
Keysound 12"
(LDN 015)





'Massive new twelve from Sully - big one for all the all night bubblers crew! Another impeccable selection from the Keysound camp, Sully's tracks here set a high standard indeed for the new decade. Following an acclaimed twelve late in 2009 for Frijsfo Beats. that was defined by a genuine sense of jittery urban tension - these tracks are fuller, more composed and even better produced, whilst retaining a taut flex for the dancefloor massive. Sully's version of J-Treole joins the dots between El-B and Herbie Hancock, splintered vocal fragments pay due respect to UKG originators, luxurious keys cause reminiscence of some classic MJ Cole remixes, the low end is one for all pirates, killer. 'In Some Pattern' offers some premium future rollage: harder edged rydim cracks usher in rude hypercoloured synth splashes - all displayed upon a bassline with fearsome dancefloor potential. As with the now universal Hyph Mango from 2009, the simplicity of the elements used really defines the tune and helps guarantee surefire wreckage on the floor - especially when the drop hits with an infectious break - stealth attack ! Big tune for followers of Untold, 2562, Pearson Sound, Synkro etc.'


IDO GOVRIN
Moraine
Interval CD
(IL 04)






'Moraine by Ido Govrin is composed of exquisite sound qualities consisting of restrained gestures of simultaneous assembling and disassembling processes, slow though diligent creation holds a promise for total collapse, destruction, and as such, fills the listener with sweet sadness and longing. The album's name, 'Moraine', indicates the working process but not just that. Moraine is a geological phenomenon created when the bedrock underneath is scoured and crushed by the movement and extreme pressure of a glacier eventually to the size of dust grains. It is being transported beneath the glacier's infrastructure as a thick stratum of solid substance and creates various forms throughout the plateau. In 'Moraine', Ido Govrin investigates the micro level of sound process where vast amount of sound partials are being generated and manipulated; blocs of sonic substance creates morphed sound strata. Continuous forms and entities of sound collide into each other, crushed and woven into one another; the acoustic gale seems to briefly appear as a spatial object, dwelling in space. Promptly afterwards, the stratification and deterritorialization continues simultaneously. The six electro-acoustic pieces exhibited in 'Moraine' were partly created by the analysis-re-synthesis process of acoustic instruments (Cello and Violin) and partly by a pure computer generated process of sound.'

11th January 2010 Releases

CHRIS ROBISON
Chris Robison and His
Many Hand Band
Chapter Music CD
(CH 067)





'Chris Robison And His Many Hand Band, released privately in 1973 and reissued now on CD for the first time, was one of the world's first records by an openly gay songwriter. Coming just a few years after the Stonewall Riots of 1969, Many Hand Band is a dazzling feat of musical daring. But Chris Robison is not just a pioneering gay musician, he has been an all-pervasive presence in New York rock from the late-'60s onwards, having played with everyone from Elephant's Memory and Steam to Kiss, the New York Dolls, John Phillips and Bob Dylan. Not only that, Many Hand Band is a totally freewheeling and unique album, coalescing all the sensory overload of downtown New York City life in the early-'70s. It touches on folk, psychedelic rock, Latin funk and more, all filtered through Robison's sly and cheeky personality. There is no "woe is me" self-pity here, just an uplifting sense of fun and natural self-expression.

'Recorded almost totally by Chris himself late at night in a cut-rate studio, Many Hand Band is one of the few remaining undiscovered classics from the period, gay or otherwise. It's difficult to appreciate now, more than 35 years later, how daring and how groundbreaking songs like "Looking For A Boy Tonight" and "Italian Boy" were upon their release. In the album's comprehensive liner notes, filled with rare photos and a frank interview with Chris, he talks of RCA records turning him down because they didn't want another "faggot" on their roster (aside from Lou Reed and David Bowie).

'Meanwhile, he became a poster boy for the burgeoning gay lib movement, playing Washington Square Park with Bette Midler in front of thousands in 1973. Chris would go on to play with pre-Kiss group Wicked Lester, as well as join the New York Dolls for their Japanese tour of 1975. His later band Stumblebunny toured Europe supporting the Hollies and wrote their later hit "Stormy Waters." Bonus tracks come from a rare single released in 1974 on Buddah Records, featuring the all-time shoulda-beena classic "I'm Gonna Stay With My Baby Tonight," subsequently covered by Ronnie Spector and George McCrae. It's a wild and fascinating story, but Many Hand Band contains the seeds of it all -- all the hedonism, passion and beauty of Chris Robison's life condensed into one incredible record.'


ORIGAMI PRODUCTIONS
Laidbook 03: The Cosmic Issue
Origami CD/10x Art Cards
(OPCA 1004)





New instalment in this excellent monthly series from Japan:

4th January 2010 Releases

DISTANCE
A: Distance 'Clockwork'
AA: Pinch ft Rudey Lee
'One Blood, One Source'
(Distance Remix)
Tectonic 12"
(TEC 033)



'Tectonic is very pleased to present a particularly heavyweight slate from one of the masters of bass, the legendary DJ Distance. As a foundational pioneer to dubstep with many system rattling classics under his belt - either on his own faultless imprint Chestplate, on his albums for Planet Mu, or even his early Hotflush releases - Distance always makes an impression by means of impeccable production skills, earthquake subs and a refined thirst for darkside power chords! Following on from his last outing on Tectonic in 2006 as part of Tectonic Plates Vol 1, with 'Temptation', Greg Sanders delivers the excellent 'Clockwork' and the now anthemic 'One Blood, One Source' (Distance Remix).

'A: 'Clockwork' : Leading in with a fairly minimal 16 bar intro, 'Clockwork' tears through at the drop - unleashing a barrage of heavily weighted brutal bass, carefully ordered but chaotic drum programing which is simultaneously disorientating and driving - it's as if you are being sucked into miniature time holes in between the crack of the regulated snare pattern. As the track builds it shines full of the characteristics that make Distance stand out as a producer - each layer is carefully put together and meticulously treated resulting in a rhythm that fits the Tectonic style - unique, heavy, rolling, infallible and reserved for after hours, when the lights are down low. Pedigree.

'AA: Pinch ft Rudey Lee 'One Blood, One Source' (Distance Remix) : Take a Bristol dubstep classic and give it to an original South London dubstep master to relick the parts - and what you end up with is a bone fide anthem. Distance reworks 'One Blood, One Source' featuring the legendary Rudey Lee (Smith & Mighty), originally taken from Pinch's 2007 'Underwater Dancehall' LP as part of a remix swap (Pinch takes on the mighty 'V' for Chest Plates in return, also due out soon). The maths are simple here and it all correctly adds up to be a huge tune - not to be missed.'

DUBKASM FEATURING RAS ADDIS
A1: City Walls featuring RAS ADDIS
A2: Shofar Dub
B1: Hail Jah featuring RAS ADDIS
B2: Four Hands To The Board
(DIGISTEP & DJ STRYDA
Dubplate Mix)
Sufferah's Choice 12" (DUBK 10)


'Special request !! The people's choice has decreed that Ras Addis' City Walls become the next vinyl single from the acclaimed Dubkasm double album set 'Transform I' that blessed summer 2009 with its innovative incorporation of Brazilian sounds and deepest UK roots. So step up -this twelve is a generous package of City Walls cut nice and deep, horns sounding mellifluous and inflected with dread, and it is this impending mood the Shofar dub develops - allowing the militant rhythm to dominate centre stage - sound system ready and ultimately deadly. Backing it up is the equal devotional anthem Hail Jah with another exclusive dubplate special dug deep from the Dubkasm crew's killer selection - version like rain. Already huge favourites with the champion Iration Steppas sound system and big on plate with venerable systems such as Jah Shaka and Aba Shanti I - this is a big one for the steppers crew of all persuasions - please make sure to get on this early.

'Heralding a big 2010 looking ahead for the Dubkasm crew, watch out for the full length 'Transformed In Dub' versions package - already in the can and primed to drop very soon. Afterwards and almost too exciting too exciting to speak of - a further series of very special versions is slated for release through the summer of 2010 from straight out of the heart of Bristol's ascendant dubstep community. Names such as Pinch, Gemmy, RSD, Forsaken, Peverelist, Joker & Ginz, Gatekeeper & Appleblim, Guido, Hyetal, Jakes and Headhunter will all represent.'

ECHO_TM FT ECHO RANKS / BIODUB
A: Skylarking
B: Skylarking (Biodub's Poor Man Version)
Kanu Kanu 12"
limited edition
300 copies on blue vinyl
(KANU 001)


'Killer dubs - the debut single released by Kanu Kanu. The aim of this new vinyl imprint is to promote interesting and original artists from the Bass world - showing an emphasis apparent on all strands from reggae to dub-techno, minimal dubstep swung back right out to future garage. It's all run from Cairo, Egypt with overall conception and production by Polish producer Hatti Vatti - last sighted in 2009 on Indigo and Synkro's Manchester based Mindset Recordings, with his awesome 'Different Music'.

'The material for the single was created by musicians from three countries: Echo_TM from Poland, Echo Ranks from Great Britain and Biodub from Germany. Echo TM's production and Biodub's epic skanked poor man version both hug the sensual throbbed vibe of Rhythm&Sound at their highest grade.'

14th December 2009 Releases

JOKER
A. City Hopper
AA. Output 1-2
Tectonic 12"
(TEC 036)





'It's been an incredible year for the 20 year old Bristolian, responsible for igniting a worldwide passion in what's become known as the 'Purple Wow' mutation of dubstep. If you've yet to hear Joker's unique take on things - his melodic synth-funk lines, grimey basslines and all round sense of fun-injected-back-into-music... Then get out from under your stone and check it out!

With releases on his own Kapsize imprint earlier this year - tracks like 'Do It' and 'Purple City' (w/ Ginz), Joker has sent shock waves from the underground that has rippled from Skream or Kode 9's record box to the likes of Scratch Perverts, Zane Lowe - to major label record companies even, hounding for Joker remixes... Just over the last 6 months he's handed in killer remixes for Simian Mobile Disco, Basement Jaxx, Sean Paul and many more - he's taken Sonar by storm single handedly and is now booked up with gigs every weekend until 2017. Well maybe not quite on the last bit, but it fits with the momentum building here.

In an inspired follow up to 'Untitled_rsn' released by Tectonic earlier this year as part three of the Tectonic Plates Volume 2 vinyl series (backed with Flying Lotus's 'Glendale Galleria'), Tectonic is very proud to welcome his return to the label, rounding off a heavy year of releases in fine style with 2 excellent cuts. 'City Hopper' once again shows us Joker's unequalled ability to make party flavoured melodies that keep well away from the Stinking Bishop territory of some of his jump-up peers. It'll make you want to dance but you won't feel guilty the morning after. Match his luminous, catchy melodies with bass weight grimey b-lines and his Timbaland quality crunked production skills - you really have here, a heavy piece of kit to smash up any dancefloor. Flip too for 'Output 1-2' - a personal favourite with label boss Pinch as Joker goes for a more stripped down affair that steams ahead with mangled synth production lines that will bend your brain to snapping point!'


PCB
The Deft EP :
a1: Delay Offset
a2: Wallflower
b1: Jewel In The Crown
Meanwhile 12"
(MEAN 016)



'The culmination of a stellar year for Miles Whittaker. Now a happy father and central catalytic figure in a pivotal crew out of frontline Burnley, Lancashire. Beginning the year with a long awaited Pendle Coven debut album in collaboration with Gary Howell, continuing still at album level on Demdike Stare's 'Symbiosis' in congress with local disco don DJ and all round record hound Sean Canty. Miles has been shredding music this year - check last month's smouldering remix for Kevin Gorman on Mikrowave, 'One Cycle' for Modern Love + various Hate and Daphne twelves - more besides we don't even suspect yet - ferocious live and DJ sets across many different styles - all somehow still indisputably Miles.

For this artist debut on Meanwhile Pendle Coven Breakers have made a three tracker shaking off any opaque guises - revelling in a deep intimacy with the music of early Prescription or original Harmony Park vibrations. Long term mutual admiration and artistic relations with pioneers such as Anthony Shake Shakir, Mike Huckaby, David Moufang / Move D and contemporaries DJ Woody, Andy Stott, Claro Intelecto have all bounced off and resonated with this guy's boundless invention and spirit of generosity. PCB we salute you - respect always.'

7th December 2009 Releases

PINCH
Get Up :
A1. Original Vocal Mix
A2. Guido Mix
AA1. RSD Mix
Tectonic 12"
(TEC 035)



PETER BRODERICK
& MACHINEFABRIEK
Blank Grey Canvas Sky
Fang Bomb CD
(FB 012)




PETER BRODERICK
& MACHINEFABRIEK
Blank Grey Canvas Sky
Limited White Vinyl LP
(FB 012LP)





'This beautiful collaboration features two of the most prolific talents from the current experimental scene, both with reputations of leviathan proportions. For this release, Machinefabriek, based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and Peter Broderick, based in Berlin, Germany (although constantly on the road) set out to push each others limits, and to explore new areas within their own creativity.

'The resulting album is a delicately crafted one, with Machinefabriek and Broderick virtuosically combining instrumental compositions, drone, and heartfelt soundscapes with song structures and vocals. Or as Peter Broderick himself put it: "We tried a lot of different things on this album, pushing ourselves to explore new areas... And for me the result is the collection of music I feel most proud of so far."'

ORIGAMI PRODUCTIONS
Laidbook 02: Transit
Origami CD/10x Art Cards
(OPCA 1003)







OLD TIME RADIO
Sketches For Another Christmas Songbook
Gusstaff CD
(GRAM 0907)





'Old Time Radio is a polish band, formed in Gdansk in 2001, their line-up is Tomasz Garstkowiak (vocals, guitars), Magda Szkudlarek (vocals, synthesizers) and Piotr Salewski (bass guitar). Combining lo-fi songwriting with discrete electronica Old Time Radio released their critically acclaimed debut album in 2004 on Sissy Records (an independent division of BMG Poland). Follow-ups came in the shape of "Downtown" on Kafe Delfin in 2006 which contained a number of electro-pop tunes with the sounds of analogue synthesisers and drum machines and "Just Because We Were Wrong" on Gusstaff Records in 2008 - a set of beautifully crafted songs with a touch of folk, avant-pop and bossa nova. The latest "Sketches For Another Christmas Songbook" is a collection of eleven Christmas songs written by the band. It's their most intimate and quiet record so far. Based on the sounds of acoustic guitars and piano, full of vocal harmonies and catchy tunes. Sometimes sentimental and melancholic, sometimes humorous and ironic "Sketches…" sounds unlike any other Christmas album, but ultimately it's more filled with Christmas spirit than the whole wall of holiday hits. The single "Christmas With You" features guest vocals from a singer-songwriter Julia Marcell.'


PAUL BARAN
Panoptic
Fang Bomb CD (FB 013CD)






'Partially inspired by the writings of the theorist Jeremy Bentham and the concept of globalization, and assisted by Werner Dafeldecker, Ekkehard Ehlers, Keith Rowe, Andrea Belfi and a list of other fine collaborators, Paul Baran has created "Panoptic" - an attempt to soundtrack the lives of creative people affected by such concepts as underclass, surveillance and the dangers of mass consensus. Baran intends "Panoptic" to be a collection of electro-acoustic atmospheres that underscore these concepts, without resorting to blind polemic. And as for the sound of it all - think electro-acoustic, minimalist, idea based, experimental fusion, conceptual improvisation with contemporary song structures.

'Born in 1975, Paul Baran is a composer, electro-acoustic sound designer and improviser based in Glasgow, Scotland. Baran will undertake an artistic residency at the prestigeous STEIM facility in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2009.'


LAWRENCE ENGLISH
It's Up To Us To Live
Sirr CD
(SIRR 0032)






'It's Up To Us To Live has seen a prolonged birth. It's commencement in 2004 began around the same moments as the final touches were being put to the album Happiness Will Befall (issued originally by Cronica). In some ways these two records pair one another - they form a spiraling coil of echo location and feedback. Whereas 'Happiness...' might be considered a lush and evocatively melodic affair, It's Up To Us To Live is profoundly more dense and compressed, only offering the occasionally moment to surface for air. Much of this LPs sound textures emanate from distant calls of guitar, sharply cracked electronics, alien field recordings and a variety of other less identifiable sources. The cover art by renowned Australian photographer Marian Drew, from her 'Still Lives' series is a telling indication of exactly where this album draws breath. Following time spent in Tasmania and other locations within Australia where human habitation often breeds a bleak graveyard for native inhabitants along many highways (and also via increasingly intrusive housing projects), as well as the concerning demise of the Baiji (amongst so many others), It's Up To Us To Live is a distorted sonic distress beacon. It suggests a possible mapping of the increasingly cluttered sound spaces that find themselves associated with human habitation and expansion.'


THE BEAUTIFUL SCHIZOPHONIC
Erotikon
Cronica CD
(CRONICA 044)

30th November 2009 Releases

HELIXIR
A: Convultions
B: Let Me Drive Now
7EVEN 12"
(7EVEN 011)





'Second release on the bounce by HELIXIR on 7even Recordings after his last digital dubby experience ‘XP Dub / Peace Dub’ in June! Recognized as one of the most versatile of the new breed of French electronic music producers, the man from Strasbourg is back this time with two bass-heavy productions in his own percussive style. ‘CONVULTIONS’ is a real dancefloor weapon, the robotic riddim subtly brings a deep sub-bass becoming more and more insistent, the beats never stop evolving along the journey, the breaks hit your senses, pure badness from this ultra precise producer! ‘LET ME DRIVE NOW’ brings you to a beautifully produced track through magical percussion, galactic synths and smoky atmospheres, somewhat akin to 2562's latest directions . A beautiful piece of music, tightly produced by HELIXIR, who shows again his mastery of the studio and modern bass music.'

CRAYON FIELDS
All The Pleasures Of The World
Chapter Music CD
(CH 066)






'This is the long-awaited second album by Melbourne's minor-key pop magicians, The Crayon Fields. In 2006, their airy, chiming debut Animal Bells (CH 056CD) was one of the year's most acclaimed releases, earning a 7.8 review on Pitchfork and voted #2 in Australia's Mess+Noise end-of-year critics poll (#4 in the general readers poll). They released a sneak preview of the new album in the form of a limited edition vinyl single, featuring the majestic pop ballad "Mirror Ball," which sold out immediately. "All The Pleasures Of The World" was also released as a single, earning another Pitchfork rave and "Single Of The Week" in magazines around Australia. The album is delirious, UK rainy-day melancholy psychedelic indie, with some Blue Oyster Cult, Stone Roses, Belle and Sebastian and Zombies thrown in for good measure, with its loping bass lines, swooning strings and eerie, hypnotic harmonies. Basic tracks were recorded at Head Gap studios in Melbourne with Neil Thomason (The Slits, My Disco, Ned Collette), and the album was then finished at home. Mixing and mastering was done with Lachlan Carrick (The Necks, Gotye, Architecture In Helsinki) at Moose Mastering. The album is a beyond-stunning development on Animal Bells, both poised and precocious. There's a newfound confidence and lyrical openness from vocalist Geoff O'Connor, and some of the most luscious backing ever heard on an Australian pop record from bassist Brett Hudson, guitarist Chris Hung and drummer Neil Erenstrom. Strings come courtesy of rising pop star Jessica Venables, aka Jessica Says, on cello, and her brother Nick on viola and violin. Crayon Fields have toured basically everywhere and have become a favored support band of choice in Australia, playing with the likes of Cornelius, Stereolab, Built To Spill, New Pornographers, Deerhoof, Mount Eerie, Electrelane, Unicorns and many more.'


THE RAAH PROJECT
Score
Summer Dawn CD
(SD 001CD)





"There was a project out of Melbourne called the RAah Project. They gave me a CD, I checked it out on the way home, I couldn't believe how good it was - it was definitely up there and beyond. It was a bit of Matthew Herbert, a little bit of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, but with its own melodic Australian vibe going on" (Gilles Peterson, The Independent)

"It's the best sounding recording I have heard this year. Everything about it screams quality" (Rob, Faze Action)

"A brilliant LP that will definitely be in my top five at the end of the year" (Kevin Beadle, Solar Radio)

'Spawned from an idea by Ryan Ritchie and Tamil Rogeon of True Live, The RAah Project stands out immediately as the most credible alternative to the European sound of Cinematic Orchestra , Matthew Herbert's Big Band or the eccentric dub of Fat Freddy's Drop. RAah take a whole new shot at the established ideas of electronic hip hop, pop, contemporary, dance and soul music. It is an original contemporary music project embracing both traditional and new principles of jazz improvisation and arrangement, 20th century composition, song, verse and flow.

'Ritchie and Rogeon share a love of diverse musical formats and gain equal enjoyment. From pounding modern electronic beats and traditional orchestral music, the two work and tour as part of the critically acclaimed ensemble, True Live, as well as on various individual projects as producers, arrangers and performers. 'Score' was created with a 17 piece string section, a full big band - the Australian Show Band - and a selection of jazz/funk players from Melbourne's multi-faceted vibrant music scenes. The thirteen tracks combine big band vocals and orchestration, soaring cinematic string arrangements, hip hop beats, soul motifs and simple yet entirely catching pop melodies with surprising and absorbing results.'


MOSS PROJECT
Vision
Apsara CD
(APSARA 001)






"Vision is a fascinating and hypnotically satisfying album which demands repeated plays" (All About Jazz)

"There's a freshness, a spaciousness to this band and Freed's essentially lyrical writing, that is very attractive" (Jazzwise)

"Offering something easily understandable to the untrained ear, while never diluting the genuine love of jazz at the music's heart" (Chris Long, BBC)

"A record of endless fascination and immediate accessibility" (Al Brownlee, M.E.N.)

"Freed's phrasing and melodies are at times just achingly beautiful. This is a truly accomplished musician but his skills as a composer are really exceptional" (The Sound of Now)

'Fresh as you like, Manchester jazz sextet The Moss Project explore the more contemporary end of progressive jazz rock, with fiery electric guitar and saxophone led improvisation and compositions. The Moss Project play contemporary jazz but not quite like any jazz you might have heard before. The sextet's debut album 'Vision', is an intense and emotional musical experience. 'Vision' will appeal to listeners from all backgrounds, from diehard jazz fans through to those who have perhaps never even seen or experienced live jazz before.

The music on 'Vision' is testament to bandleader Moss Freed's inspirational and eclectic range of influences. Within the space of a single tune, it's as likely to combine heavy grooves and folk melodies, with group improvisation, classical arrangements and complex counterpoint. The end result is as much The Bad Plus as Stravinsky, in equal measures Pat Metheny, Massive Attack, Bach or Radiohead, all moulded into the Sextet's personal and highly singular version of progressive jazz. Alongside the compositions, the beauty of the group lies in the ability of its musicians to blend their individual styles into a single cohesive entity throughout large sections of free playing, whilst still retaining a precious core of approachability.

After studying composition and performance at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, under Jon Damian - the teacher of Bill Frisell, Moss formed the group to provide a platform for new, progressive and exciting music. Based in Manchester, the sextet features some of the city's top players, each bringing their own distinctive flavour and backgrounds into the mix. With a line-up of guitar, violin, saxophones, drums, bass and keyboards, the Moss Project proves to be essential listening for anyone into innovative new jazz. The Moss Project have already completed a series of very successful dates in Germany and the UK.'