Arrange : Plantation

Awash with delicate textures, 18 year-old South Florida musician Arrange releases his debut album 'Plantation'. Arrange is self-releasing the LP on limited vinyl LP on 12th July and download via Bandcamp, whilst its also being released on cassette via Alchemist Records.



More at arrange.bandcamp.com.

The Leaf Library : Summer Mix 2011

Not-very-indie summer mixtape by The Leaf Library. The band are currently working on new songs for what'll probably be an late 2011/early 2012 album release.

SIGNAL SIGNAL : Starcrossed

SIGNALSIGNAL is a solo project by Lewis Young from London whose sound is bred from a love of distortion, minimalism and lo-fi signal processing. This is his score to short film 'Starcrossed'.

Seven Saturdays : Au Revoir (Memoryhouse Remix)

Los Angeles-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Seven Saturdays is releasing a remix EP of six songs from previous releases entitled 'Secret Things'. The first remix is Memoryhouse's take on 'Au Revoir', available for free download.





More at sevensaturdaysmusic.com.

Geotic : Mend

Easing gently into 2011, 'Mend' is a free download album by Geotic, the ambient/drone/soundscape side project of Baths aka Will Wiesenfeld.

MP3:
'Unwind'

1. Unwind
2. Beaming Husband
3. Find Your Peace
4. Time Passes In a Slow Sundown
5. Disrobe and Come to Bed
6. Get Held
7. Sleep and We'll Transition
8. Into Some Spirit World
9. Our Awe
10. The Sprawling, Glorious Newness
11. I'll Have Come and Gone With You
12. Through the Lush and Undiscovered
13. And Upon Awakening
14. We've Mended

Download the album (and more) here.

Hong Kong In The 60s : Places

Hong Kong In The 60s are offering a free download-only EP: a ramble through an electronic dreamscape of soundtrack and library music-inspired tunes and an exclusive remix by The Advisory Circle.



Hong Kong In The 60s' debut album 'My Fantoms' is scheduled for release in Spring 2011 on Proper Songs. Preview some tracks at the band's Soundcloud.

They can be next see live on 24th November supporting Hype Williams at The Portland Arms in Cambridge and heard live on 20th November on the Exotic Pylon radio show on Resonance 104.4 FM.

More at hongkonginthe60s.com.

"Space Rocker Mistaken For Secret Agent By Papuan Rebel Fighters"

Best space-rock referencing story ever!

Greg Jarvis, leader of transatlantic space-rock orchestra The Flowers Of Hell, was nearly killed when he stumbled across a political demonstration in Papua New Guinea recently, after being mistaken for an MI5 man.

While holidaying in the country Jarvis walked past a demonstration by the outlawed OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka) with his camera out, unaware that membership of the organisation is punished as treason, and was promptly chased by a large number of protesters. He ran back to his hotel, which was nearby, but the angry mob was soon banging on the doors and windows. Hiding in the kitchen and not seeing any suitable weapons, he decided to face his attackers "Gandhi-style", with hotel staff acting as translators.

"I just kept feeding them Elvis' old Vietnam War-era line: 'Look, I'm just a musician; I don't know anything about politics.' The atmosphere was supercharged as they tried to decide if I really was a musician or if I was a foreign intelligence operative," recalls Jarvis from the safety of his home in Toronto. "I knew the OPM has a history of kidnapping and in some cases killing foreigners, so I asked if I could go to my room at get an instrument – I had a travel ukulele that I'd picked up on Denmark Street. In that moment I just wanted to play, for it didn't look like I'd ever get to play again. I started playing a version of 'Opt Out', our usual set closer, and I played good, like my life depended on it - because it did! Almost immediately the tense atmosphere dissipated. After a couple minutes one of them stood up and yelled and they all left abruptly!

"The hotel manager, receptionist and I all hugged each other with relief. The manager said to me, 'For your safety, Mr Greg, it is best you leave town at sunrise.'"

Following such a tale, the least you can do is check out The Flowers Of Hell's third album, 'O', via Optical Sounds on 15th November. It comes on a double-sided CD/DVD, with a regular stereo mix on the CD side and a 5.1 surround sound mix on the DVD, along with a live concert film and various special features.

MP3:
'O' (edit)



More at myspace.com/opticalsounds.

Red Dead Redemption : Soundtrack

A brief huzzah for the incredible game Red Dead Redemption, which I've just finished. The beautifully evocative soundtrack, composed by the critically acclaimed recording artists Bill Elm and Woody Jackson and produced by David Holmes, is available for download from iTunes and includes standalone tracks by Jamie Lidell, Jose Gonzalez, Ashar Command and William Elliot Whitmore.



More at Rockstar.

Long Division with Remainders : 14 Versions Of The Same EP

'14 Versions Of The Same EP' is a collaborative music project between husband and wife duo Long Division With Remainders and experimental artists from around the world including Leyland Kirby, Isnaj Dui, BLK w/BEAR and Sone Institute. Basic electronic fumblings were sent to anyone interested, then added to, remixed and known as Version 1, Version 2 etc - before being offered for free download on the LDWR site. An impressive very limited edition box set of Volume One is now on sale with bespoke packaging by Damian O’Hara.

MP3:
Leyland Kirby '3 (Version 14)'

More at Front & Follow.

Hong Kong In The 60s : Ghost Box 7"

Hong Kong In The 60s have just released a 7" with The Advisory Circle on the excellent Ghost Box label. HK60s are currently finishing tracks for their debut album titled 'My Fantoms'.






More at ghostbox.co.uk | propersongs.net/label

Ólafur Arnalds : and they have escaped the weight of darkness

Here's more from Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds' excellent new album 'and they have escaped the weight of darkness', out now on Erased Tapes.

MP3:
'Þú ert sólin'
'Tunglid'



More at Erased Tapes.

Memories Live Longer Than Dreams

A selection of tracks designed for an afternoon nap.

1. Mazzy Star 'Before I Sleep'
2. The Cardigans 'Laika'
3. The Acorn 'Lullaby (Mountain)'
4. The Bees 'Sky Holds The Sun'
5. Yo La Tengo 'Green Arrow'
6. Benge '1975 Moog Polymoog'
7. Peter Broderick & Machinefabriek 'Homecoming'
8. Sylvain Chauveau 'Ma Contribution Á L'industrie Phonographique'
9. Jóhannsson, Jóhann 'Karen Byr Til Engil'
10. Eric Peters 'Space Service'
11. Helios 'Hollie'
12. Leyland Kirby 'Memories Live Longer Than Dreams'
13. Sharon Van Etten 'Some Dream'
14. North Sea Radio Orchestra 'Guitar Minature #2'
15. Found 'Banjo Tricks'
16. Shocking Pinks 'Wake Up'
17. Broadcast & The Focus Group 'You Must Wake'
18. Miguel Atwood Ferguson & Carlos Nino 'High Heavenly'
19. Remember Remember 'Up In A Blue Light'
20. Daedelus 'Fin De Siéclee'

The Form Group : Four Improvisations

The Form Group is Matt Ashton, guitarist in London 5-piece The Leaf Library and former guitarist in Peel-favourites Saloon. Using guitars, electronics and field recordings he makes experimental and soporific drone music that invokes the looped guitar explorations of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno, the soundtracks of Peter Broderick and the spatial atmospherics of Vladislav Delay and Basic Channel.

‘Four Improvisations’ was recorded direct to minidisc in Reading in 2003 and features delayed guitar, amp hum and the manipulated sounds of a dripping tap. Originally self-released as a CDR this re-release is a fully remastered version with new artwork.

Joined by violinist Alice Lloyd, The Form Group performed an alternative soundtrack to Wim Wenders’ classic ‘Alice in the Cities’ as part of the Reading Experimental Film Festival in October last year.

They are currently working on the next release, a conceptual long form piece tentatively titled ‘Early Morning Songs’.



Buy it here.

The Form Group : Bare Branches Mix

The Form Group is the experimental/improvisational project of The Leaf Library’s guitarist Matthew Ashton. 'Bare Branches' is a mix of favourite artists and influences. 'Four Improvisations' is released on Proper Songs in March.

1. Andrew Bird - Unfolding Fans (Bella Union)
2. The Remote Viewer - You're Going To Love Our Defeat (City Centre Offices)
3. Vladislav Delay - Nesso (Huume)
4. Stars of the Lid and John McCafferty - Anchor States Part One (Kranky)
5. Mount Kimbie - Maybes (Hot Flush)
6. Aaron Martin and Part-Timer - Orchard (Scrumped Mix) (Moteer)
7. Celer - Gaited Florets (Low Point)
8. Deepchord presents Echospace - Winter in Seney (Modern Love)
9. Peter Broderick - Part Seven: The Path to Recovery (Erased Tapes)
10. Blue Daisy Feat. LaNote - Space Ex (Black Acre)
11. Fennesz - Perfume for Winter (Touch)
12. Tortoise - DJed (edit) (City Slang)
13. Robert Henke - Mass Transit Railway (Imbalance)
14. Steve Reich - Electric Counterpoint (Slow) (Nonesuch)
15. Mordant Music - Fading Font (Mordant Music)
16. Kontext - Blinkende Stjerne (Immerse)
17. Broadcast and The Focus Group - What I Saw (Warp)
18. ES - Universaali Totuus (Fonal)
19. Atlas Sound with Laetitia Sadier - Quick Canal (4AD)

Dante : Q&A

Proper Songs chats with Australian artist Dante, discovered via No Pain In Pop.

PS: Tell everyone a bit about yourself and what you're up to.
Well, at the moment I'm living in the Adelaide hills working on finishing up an ep that's been in the works for a while now. I'm also a Compositor/Animator, currently working on a music video for one of the songs off the new ep. I've been in a band BrotherSister for the last few years but I'm starting to focus more now on solo stuff.

PS: As photos on your Myspace show, you have a passion for real instruments and vintage equipment. How does this influence your creative process and sound?
Yeah, I try and get my hands on as much nice old gear as i can, new gear as well, I think even with software having something unfamiliar to play around with always helps when writing new material.

PS: Your music has a distinctly cinematic quality to it, which film would you like to soundtrack and why?
Hmm, not sure about that one, I love the Dancer In The Dark soundtrack, I don't think I'd be wanting to do a musical though, maybe redo something like Storm Boy, that'd be fun!

PS: As we're approaching the end of the year, what's been your highlight and what are you looking forward to in 2010?
Highlight would probably be playing at a big festival here 'Parklife' with my other band, that was a lot of fun, got to watch a heap of great bands side of stage. Looking forward to finally getting my next ep out and to start working on new stuff!

PS: Give us a top 5 of something.
Hot weekend essentials!
1. Waterhole
2. Coffee/beer
3. Skateboard/fishing rod
4. Fruit
5. Scooter

MP3s:
Reb ib
Denwens

Peter Broderick & Machinefabriek : Blank Grey Canvas Sky

This collaboration between two leading lights of the experimental scene is a beautiful and understated exploration into soundscapes, with delicate white noise fuzz punctuated by sparse piano chords and ethereal string arrangements. The result is simultaneously disorientating and comforting, evoking a dreamlike state, with only glitch like snatches of radio broadcasts in 'Blank Grey' allowing the real world to intrude upon soporific heaven.

Kites

Buy from Fangbomb.

Where Its At Is Where You Are : Happy Christmas EP

It's an early Merry Christmas from WIAIWYA with the latest in their free download singles club series. December's offering is a four track seasonal EP featuring Proper Songs' very own Hong Kong In The 60s cover of obscure Beach Boys track 'Winter Symphony'.



Grab it here.

Paul White : Sounds From The Skylight

Paul White released a fantastic debut album in June this year with the beautifully packaged (it came in a pillowcase) 'The Strange Dreams of...'. He's just released 'Sounds From The Skylight', named after his attic studio, as a 12" and free download in two parts. The full release features 19 more off centre beats that have as much in common with hip hop as they do with psychedelic rock.

Buy the 12" and download side A here and side B here for free.

Rich Bennett : Music For Underwater Supermarkets

The side project of Rich Bennett from Monocle makes music that brings together the sophisticated pop soundtracks of Burt Bacharach and Ennio Morricone with the electronic detail of Stereolab and Delia Derbyshire. Debut release 'Music For Underwater Supermarkets' features full tracks embellished with horns, vibraphone and flutes divided by minimal soundscape experiments. It works well, providing a respite to either style and keeping ears turned on. If you're a fan of retro-futurist pop such as the High Llamas then this will be up your aisle.

Download 'The Underwater Supermarket'.
Download 'Dreaming In The Lake'.

Buy at Hidden Shoal.

Studio G : G-Spots

While we're gripped by soundtrack fever, Trunk Records have compiled a new CD of the best of the Studio G label of library records. Set up by advertising exec John Gale in the 60s, Studio G tracks featured on children's show Vision On, the darts and top crown bowling. Its an incredible collection of weirdy folk, electro and horror sounds that gravitate far beyond their original purpose.



Buy from Trunk Records.