“(…) And 45 minutes later I took a deep breath and realised that the world was suddenly quiet and empty and promptly cued the sucker up again and enveloped myself in the world of Engine 7’s newborn. This is absolutely bloody wonderful. (…)” - Alan’s new label Herb Recordings is pretty euphoric about his new album. And indeed, the wait was worthwhile.
—
It was about three years back we published the CDr-version of “Hope Street” in close collaboration with Legoego Netlabel. The EP was a huge success for both 12rec. and Legoego these days, and Alan came up with some small EPs at Microhertz and Pre|Post not much later in 2005. Then things became quiet around Glasgow melancholica McNeill and his Engine7-moniker…

Exactly one year ago, Zymogen Netlabel releases a remix album from Crepusculum’s “Sky Diaries EP” out on 12rec. in December 2006. Engine7 is featured with a cine scope rework of  “Anachronism” and wins the hearts of both knob tweakers and broken-hearted girls. At this time, his full-length “Me, But Perfect” is already ready to go but had to suffer some delay until now. Several live gigs, two awesome tracks on different Netaudio compilations (“Phantom Channel I” and “Drifting Skywards” as posted on this blog) and a baby daugther later, the CD is finally available.

The album consists of 11 huge songs, somewhere between IDM, Postrock and New Romantics-style Pop. You can listen to the album at last.fm, but make sure to order the fine CD over at Herb Rec if you dig “Me, But Perfect”. Well done mate!

Engine7 Website:
www.engine7music.com | www.myspace.com/engineseven

In concert with Simon Trottier, Nicolas Bernier provided one of the most astonishing, most beautiful, most adventurous 12rec.-releases. Probably many of you remember “Objet Abandonne En Mer” . The guys were quite active during the last year, working hard to bring “Objet” to stages around Montreal. But Bernier’s musical output is far more versatile. In close cooperation with his own Ekumen collective and No Type Netlabel, several records had been published before. Now, two new records are available for download and CD-purchase.
—

First of all, there’s a fine EP of collective improvisation music to fetch at No Type. Alongside Alexis Bellavance and Érick d’Orion, Nicolas Bernier provides expanded electro-acoustic collages, field-recordings and subtle ambient textures. Especially the first two tracks “Le Duel” and “Paysage” made me listen up. The art of this Montreal triple is to bring their academic sonic research to musical forms. Fresh!

Release: “Il Buono Il Brutto Il Cattivo: Études”
Download: “Il Buono Il Brutto Il Cattivo: Études” (ZIP)
Netlabel: www.notype.com

Second -and here we need a drum roll!- Nicolas Bernier published his first real solo record. The album is entitled “Les Arbres” and comes off as a CD with six fine poster cards by graphic designer Urban9 (who also did the art for “Objet“). Six exquisite songs of crackling textures, harmonic drones and ambient extravaganza. “Les Arbres” is released at No Type but NO free download. This is what the label says about it:

“Sonic landscapes and slow textures meet with precise articulations, all this resting on a minimal orchestration made of guitars, brass instruments, vibes, accordions and strings. In short: a stimulating record, a remarkable attention to detail and excellent production quality, making for an unfailingly rewarding listening experience.”

Purchase, baby!

As 12rec. will celebrate it’s fourth birthday this year, approximately four generations of musicians released their works with us. Hermelin, this wonderful Rock band from Hanover, Germany, came across your way as a 2nd wave 12rec.-act. Remember their “Split LP” (12rec.030) with Cologne Noiserockers Junique Fois Pi? It’s the kids, hell yeah. In 2008, Hermelin show up with their full-length debut album. We’re happy to support the band and bring forth their new album for free download and CD purchase.
—
Hermelin didn’t change their style too much. The music on the actually self-titled LP is a dense mixture of Post- and Indierock, instrumental end to end, with shining melodies and a good amount of fuzz. Appropriate in production, “Hermelin” enables you to enjoy the full range of the band’s interplay, their dendritic guitar melodies over warm Postpunk bass-lines and straightforward drums.

In direct comparison to the second true bred Postrock-act at 12rec., Milhaven, Hermelin are less dreamy or ethereal. Hermelin rock harder. And their composition might need a second try to reveal all secrets. But if you check ‘Pliant Fur’, ‘May 91313′, the sonic re-make of ‘Nova Police’ or the sluggish fuzz-monster ‘Mellow F. S.’, you’ll probably agree that Hermelin are worth every second of (repeated) listen.

The “Hermelin” LP is online for free download and available on CD. The band pressed 300 copies and crafted the sleeves on their own. Hurry to the shop and order your copy! Or check the Hermelin website for live dates and buy the album directly from the band.

Maybe you know London-born Tokyo resident Ian D. Hawgood by his releases at Resting Bell or Dog Eared Records. Eventually you read about him at Phlow Magazine. Herein, initiates don’t need Sven Swift to bring the news. In case you’re new to this man of taste and gentle manners, clear some megabytes on your harddisc for two new Hawgood releases: “Tent & Hills” and “Grey Night Clouds”.
—
The first released at the excellent Luvsound Netlabel brings forth four rather short pieces of Ambient. Warm and intimate, handmade and rich, subtle Avantgarde Muzak for those who know. Striking art by Kati Meden of goYippi from the Resting Bell-crew!

Release Site: Ian D. Hawgood - “Tents And Hills”
Direct Download: Ian D. Hawgood - “Tents And Hills” (ZIP)
Netlabel: www.luvsound.org

The latter is published by US Netlabel Experimedia and shows the man approaching Ambient from an slightly more song-orientated point of view. Under the disguise of “Koen Park”, Ian D. Hawgood whisks fresh Electronica-beats, sweet melancholy melodies and Ambient textures. An eclectic album.

Release Site: Koen Park - “Grey Night Clouds”
Direct Download: Koen Park - “Grey Night Clouds” (ZIP)
Netlabel: www.experimedia.net

—
In times where some settled and influential first-wave Netlabels are closing their doors, it’s good to see that fresh new voices are popping up on the scene. For different reasons, one of them deserves a special mention Curtain fall for aaahh-records!
—
aaahh-records is placed in the notorious “conspiratorial city” of Bielefeld and therefore some kind of local neighbour to us. In the group of six people working on aaahh-records we also find a name that is well known to the Netaudio scene: Christian Grasse. Christian is writing about free culture issues at the Metawelle weblog and hosts the radioshows “Popmoderne” for Campusradio Bielefeld and the Netaudio-only show FreeQuency at awesome Byte.fm.

aaahh starts with a full-length release from the Canadian duo “The Wind Whistles” . The twelve-track LP “Window Sills” is filled with beautiful Country-flavored Indie Pop and gives us a glimpse on what to expect at aaahh-records in the future: independent Popmusic in all its shiny facets.

Release Site: Window Sills
Direct Download: Window Sills ZIP (.mp3)

Welcome aaahh-Records to the netlabel world, we are curious what will come next!

It’s time for Boring Music, once again! To all those who are new to this, let me give you a brief explanation: at RUBored.org, I’m writing about music that’s free for download and about some hardcopy records released by tiny labels that have certain connections to the Netaudio-scene. Every 15 reviews, I take the songs I liked best from each featured record and put them in a splendid mix. As there are 75 reviews online up to now, it’s time for the fifth round of the Boring Music Series.
—
Here’s the playlist:

01 - Processing… Gone But Not Forgotten [#67]
02 - Ian D. Hawgood The Fires Rush Across The Mountain [#72]
03 - The Mandelbrot Set Constellation Of Rings [#64]
04 - Svenfn Etereal Dunes [#73]
05 - Inlets Decks, Up And Above [#71]
06 - Br’er Lapin [#74]
07 - Institut Für Feinmotorik Live @ Detali Zvuku [#65]
08 - Tarkatak Foerfaeder (Excerpt) [#061]
09 - Daisuke Miyatani Summer Child [#62]
10 - Pompey Feet Miniature [#066]
11 - Marihiko Hara Konstellation [#69]
12 - Plaistow Mairie Des Lilas [#063]
13 - GoGooo Les Nuages Flottent [#075]
14 - Entia Non A Winter Plateau [#068]
15 - Endlos Renne Durch Dein Leben [#070]

Thanks to all artists & labels!
Special thanks to 020200 @ SCNCLR for the artwork.

Download all-in-one:
Boring Music Volume V .zip (178MB)

Individual download:
Boring Music Volume V .mp3
Printable Artwork (inlay) .pdf
Printable Artwork (back) .pdf
Printable Artwork (CD) .pdf
Artwork Thumb .jpg
Playlist & Info .txt

Sven Swift @ Last.fm
Sven Swift @ myspace

Looking for organic Ambient music, Neuf Meuf’s “It’s Cold In Space“, released back in 2006 as a cooperation project with Serein Netlabel, is one of the finest records you can get. Short after, Neuf Meuf aka Rok Vrbancic told me about the new band project he just joined: Automassage. Vrbancic teamed up with his Slovenian buddy Samo Ismajlovic and Gottfried Krienzer from Graz (active in Code Inconnu and under the name of Kauders). Accomplished by Markus “Maex” Sworcik of Hella Comet on drums soon after, the band recorded their debut “The Ambience Between Your Ears Is Noise”. At 12rec., you can download an exclusive EP-selection from their full-length CD. The digipak CD is published by God Bless This Mess (SLO) and Chamfu Nocords (AT).

The “Ambience EP” is a furry little beast. Automassage fuse abrasive instrumental Rock music with elements of Ambient and Avant-Garde. The crackling guitar sound of Code Inconnu ain’t far, still Automassage add a their two cents of Psychedelica. Opening track ‘Vortex Diva’ sounds a bit like Jazzrockers Slon for the middle part but develops in noisy guitars towards the end. The loop-like guitars at ‘Alice’ bring forth an idea of Folklore, slighty permutated and processed. Here, Vrbancic’s synth textures are unmistakeable (the vocals are his, too). Another consuming tune is ‘Ert’. The song is based on a simple bass pulse played in the back of diffuse field recordings. Layers of aquatic guitars, synthesizer and trumpet make ‘Ert’ swell with gloomy noise. Last track ‘Crepinje’ is a slow motion waltz with Ismajlovic’s shy violin, a Hawaiian guitar interlude and blissful distortion in the end. Beautiful fall of curtain, indeed.

After an excursion to Berlin-based Resting Bell Netlabel, Latvian Paleopsychedlic Ambient-duo Astrowind returns with an album for Moscow’s finest Netaudio-collective Musica Excentrica. The full-length release features an artwork by illustrator Grigory Kochenov and comes with eleven songs of huge synthesizer Ambient like it’s 1974.
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If you dug “The Night The Stars Flew” (@ElectroSound) or Astrowind’s epic “Into Vernadsky” (@12rec.) you’ll probably get along with their new album. I’m a sucker for their wonderful behind-the-times themes of philosophical esoterism and retro science-fiction extravaganca. Musically, I think that “Fresh Wind In The Valley Of Dreams” is Kriipis Tulo and Mahi Bukimi’s best work up to date. Well done, Astroboys!

Release Site: Astrowind - “Fresh Wind In The Valley Of Dreams”
Direct Download: “Fresh Wind In The Valley Of Dreams” ZIP
Netlabel: www.netaudio.ru/musica-excentrica
Artist Website: www.myspace.com/astrowind

A few weeks ago, I told you about the marvellous Phantom Chanel-compilation. Now, just recently, I found out about another cool various artists-album featuring an exclusive tune from our man from Northern UK Engine7.
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The compilation is quite epic with 26 artists delivering tunes from Ambient to IDM, from experimental electroacoustics to heart break-Indietronica. A lot of big names there including Kriipis Tulo (of Astrowind-fame), Daisuke Miyatani, Iambic², Milieu and many more. Cold Room, the responsible Netlabel, seems to be offline at the moment, but you can access the files via Archive.org. Bring some time and download this massive album!

Playlist

01 - FLOTEL - Pivot Knoll
02 - BENEVA vs CLARK NOVA - Tickets Arise And Bend Over
03 - DUST EATER - Skulls Never Cry
04 - KRIIPIS TULO - Golden Hair Edit
05 - MOONLIGHT NAGARA - Plume
06 - DAISUKE MIYATANI - Tameshidori
07 - CRISOPA - North Left
08 - IAMBIC² - Breathe, For One Last Time
09 - ABSENT WITHOUT LEAVE - Postcard
10 - MIGLOJE - Forest Simulation
11 - PJE - Restore
12 - ENGINE7 - Me, But Perfect (7:48am)
13 - MILIEU - Airbus
14 - SILENT BELLS - A Pretty Mess
15 - BAURI - Vinkelvolten II
16 - PRESTON - Padroy
17 - 0 > 1 - Drawbacktoleap
18 - MPHM - Dramamine
19 - HURON - A Little Mistake
20 - DNN - Am Pion
21 - SYL KOUGAI - R.Daneel
22 - ZAINETICA - Ed-Re
23 - SOMATICAE - Acid Cave
24 - BURDEOS - Pequeño Concierto Para Un Mosquito
25 - MACROECONOMICS - Alice In Fractaland (Feat. SPUTNIK)
26 - TOMMI BASS - Jaide Green Rmx

V.A. - “Drifting Skywards” @ Archive.org
Hit this link for DIRECT DOWNLOAD

For their program “Zimmer 4 36″, Kevin Hamann and Ruben Jonas Schnell produced an one-hour 12rec.-special, featuring a best-of playlist from three years of 12rec.net and an interview with chef de cuisine Sven Swift (German language). Learn about the label, the music and Netlabelism in general. Wowee Zowee!
—
Here’s the playlist

Yokölast - Lachette (from “Plays Marx/ MOSP“)
Rob Steady - Sculpture de Freins (from “Ask No Lies“)
Giraffe - Smoke and Mirrors (from “Giraffe LP“)
Jasmin - Köln (from “EP02“)
Raflesia - Daedalus (from “Logenplatz im Pantheon“)
Rob Hunter - Spill (from “Rob Hunter EP“)
Alexandr Vatagin - End of the Community (from “Sky Diary Edits“)
Bluermutt - #FFCC33 (from “Sky Diary Edits“)
Heezen - Crashed Cars (from “Sky Diary Edits“)
Slon - Jelenka (from “Jelenka EP“)
Protestant Work Ethic - Walk the Plank
___(from “Turned, and Turning EP“)
David Schweighart - Prager Lovesong 1
___(from “Thank You for Listening to this Record“)
Tupolev - Nothing’s Gonna Happen (unreleased!)
___(from “Memories of Björn Bolssen”)
All That Fall - Miranda July (unreleased!)
___(from “Through the Mirror: adcBicycle Revisioned”)

Download the Show (51MB, 128kbit)
Stream @ 12rec.net

Zimmer 4 36 @ Byte.fm - Thanks a lot, guys!

Note:
Talking about Kevin Hamann, the April edition of his Herz Statt Kommerz-compilation features David Schweighart’s “Prager Lovesong I”, too. Awesome track, cool listen in a whole.