New Arrivals to the Archives—Part 2: Noise Music, Improvisations, and Atmospheres

The Holmes Archive of Electronic Music

Episode 93

Playlist for Part 2

Noise and Improvisations

I found a mother lode of noise and experimental music hiding in the crates of my local New York record store.

1. Corum, “Effigy Mounds: Ceremonial Music For Spore Alter” side a from Effigy Mounds: Ceremonial Music For Spore Alter” (2014 Psychic Sounds). Effigy Mounds is the second album of the Beguiling Isles Trilogy (Born of Earth's Torments / Effigy Mounds / Magic Mirror). This LP is about spore modification, the rise of the puffs, and juice modification. All with tabletop electronics and found sounds. Played and recorded 2012/2013. 20:07
2. Crumer-Franco, “Agony In The Zodiac” from Agony In The Zodiac (2008 Ahaziah). Vinyl, 12", Single Sided, Limited Edition. Droning, beautiful noise, hums, and crackling. Collaborative recording by Jason Crumer and Matt Franco made during the "American Band" sessions. Limited to 100 copies. 13:17
3. Noise Nomads, “Side B” from Ernest Thrasher (2013 Feeding Tube Records). Vinyl, 12", Album, Limited Edition. Noise and rhythmic noise by Jeff Hartford. Using Tascam 424 With Greenwood Electronics 2012 - 2013. 14:07
4. Jojo Hiroshige, Pika, Paal Nilssen-Love, Lasse Marhaug, Osaka Fortune (2013 Premier Sang). French release of noise/jazz improvisation. More Drums, Paal Nilssen-Love; Drums, Pika; Guitar, Jojo Hiroshige; Noises, Lasse Marhaug. Recorded at Osaka Chika-Ikkai, February 10th 2011. This noise romp is side two of this record. It begins with a supplementary drum track that sounds like mono to which Pika adds her own crashing, continual rhythms in stereo. 14:58
5. Pod Blotz, The Swamp Command (2006 Fish Pies). Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition. Pod Blotz is the electronic, experimental noise project of Suzy Poling, started in 2002. Limited to 320 numbered copies. 7:00
6. Rodger Stella, Kites, “Untitled” (side 1). from Interior Moon (2011 Mutter Wild). Both sides of the LP end in a locked groove. Rhythmic noise that is modulated in real time to gradually shift the timbres of the piece from beginning to end. 17:56
7. UW OWL, “Black Flag” from Thorn Elemental (2006 Phaserphone). Vinyl, LP, Limited Edition Recorded in 2003 on a broken, dust-filled concrete basement floor in Bushwick, NY. Die-cut record sleeve with letter-pressed inner tip-on. Copy 118 of edition of 333. Electronics and drum machines. Reminiscent of early Cabaret Voltaire. 3:13

Atmospheres

Among the new arrival finds were several tracks that I categorize as atmospheric or ambient.

1. Skanfrom, “A Fax” from Split 12" (2000 A.D.S.R.). Now defunct electro synthpop label from Germany run by Skanfrom. Limited to 800 hand numbered copies. Mine is number 676. Skanfrom is Roger Semsroth. 3:15
2. AGE, “Landscape” and “Electronics” from Landscapes (1980 Gamm Records). Emmanuel D'haeyere and Guy Vachaudez, a Belgian EM duo with an affinity for ominous electronics. 9:12
3. AGE, “Hymalaya” from Landscapes (1980 Gamm Records). Emmanuel D'haeyere and Guy Vachaudez, a Belgian EM duo. I wanted contrast this soothing electronic sound with the previous tracks from this group. 2:34
4. Tangerine Dream, “Ride on the Ray” from Underwater Sunlight (1986 Relativity). Composed, Performed, Produced by Chris Franke, Edgar Froese, Paul Haslinger. Recorded April 1986, Berlin, West Germany. Another entry into the TG catalog. This album has some sounds and textures quite like Le Parc from 1985. 5:31
5. Nobuyoshi Koshibe (越部信義), Takashi Kokubo (小久保隆), “Midnight Submarine” (ミッドナイト・サブマリ) from Urashiman Synthesizer Fantasy (未来警察ウラシマン シンセサイザー・ファンタジー) (1983 Columbia). Continuing the water theme, some nicely produced Japanese synth music. 5:44

Opening background music: Thom Holmes, “Blader-WW1” (2019 no label). 16:36

Opening and closing sequences voiced by Anne Benkovitz.

Additional opening, closing, and other incidental music by Thom Holmes.

See my companion blog that I write for the Bob Moog Foundation:

For additional notes, please see my blog, Noise and Notations.