MONKS OF MALASPINA: Volume One (LP)
COLOR RABBIT / TRETETAM: split TAPE (c-60)
CLAYPIPE / PONY PAYROLL BONES / BALDER-: 3-way split TAPE (c-90) RENATO CIUNFRINI & BOB MARSH: Rosa (CDR)
BOOK OF SHADOWS: Prayer Wheel (CDR)

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MONKS OF MALASPINA: Volume One

The MONKS OF MALASPINA debut release is a phantastical psychedelicmystery musical filled with dark woods wonder and honey comb cloudsover sparkling fjords from deep within the mountains of Canada'sBritish Columbia. Highway 101 ends here, or like this new record,begins. Members of the band call up roots from First Nation relationswith Jesuit missionaries co-mingled with a diverse offspring from afree love commune started in the 1970's. Most of the music on thisrecord is gloriously strange with a capella outbursts both finelytuned and guttural. Decomposing abstract rock anthems stretch outalongside primitive beat-boxing. There are more familiar soundingsongs as well giving the whole album an aura of storytelling magic,like it is all based on some fabulous old book. M.O.M. was producedand arranged by Theo Angell who lead the group into some prettytripped out improvisations. Quotes Theo: "The film, I mean the album,is like an abstract musical of sorts. There are some lyric-less'soungs' where Raven meets Hanuman for instance and they tangle in anepic battle in the sky. Or the one where they try to conjure up thefeeling of a month of rain in their mind. The world of the Monks ispopulated by a drinking man-beast who is missing a foot and a bear whoravishes the garden and fruit trees of the Cryptic Master and theKinetic Gardener of Ronanda. Some of the songs address particularmembers of the band, "Forthwith Lorraine" for instance. "Taking OffYour Feet" is a re-occuring theme, by which they mean trippin' the wayout or getting seriously unsettled. They've really come up with theirown syntax and insider myths where even the humor is mystical innature. They're an odd group of C.O.P. s (children of hippies) withvery little outside references. I played this for someone and theysaid it reminded them of the Holy Modal Rounder's 'Moray Eel' album.Besides using their voices they also play the autoharp and guitars, aswell as "the staff". I tried to get them to play a live show but theyinsist on recording the sequel first. We'll see. I told them they wereFjord Folk." The Monks of Malaspina are Sofar Lorraine, PourntFalster, Freel Bequelle, Frist Clupps and Thlowlth Fissure. The albumwas engineered by Dreetmont Accel with mastering by Josh Stevenson. http://www.myspace.com/monksofmalaspina


COLOR RABBIT / TRETETAM: split TAPE

Color Rabbit: More improvised sounds coming through the channeling of Color Rabbit.These rabbit tracks are a more simple and minimilist approach than hispast releases, but will still take you on colorful rides.
http://www.myspace.com/colorrabbit

Tretetam: You are invited to take the door marked ‘Unknown’ into the layeredhazed of Tretetam’s second release on Ikuisuus. All denominations havecongregated underneath a slate gray ocean to discuss the cause of theuniverse and the purpose of ones self. Gentle days drift by whiledusty memories and vague dreams release the sounds of brokenconversations and lost childhood. Tretetam’s side of this split is ablend of found sounds, home field recordings, and a strange eelorchestra attempting a de-accompaniment.
http://www.myspace.com/tretetam


CLAYPIPE / PONY PAYROLL BONES / BALDER-: 3-way split TAPE

CLAYPIPE: "claypipe are 2 dudes who sit in a circle with theirinstruments in front of them, after a few puffs on a claypipe & acouple swigs of whisky they close their eyes & get into the groove ofthe universe & sway & hum & pluck & saw. sometimes the recordings areoutside, sometimes the recordings are inside, inside/outside, outsidein, inside out, reformed hippies, remembering a lost new zealand fromthe 70s/80s, sigh." CJAhttp://www.last.fm/music/Claypipe

PONY PAYROLL BONES: PonY PayRoLL Bones is about being alone and beinggone. Anybody can be a haunted house. Your body is a shelter for aghost/or ghosts.
http://www.myspace.com/ponybones

BALDER- : Collection of home recordings based around nostalgia,sci-fi/fantasy felt as a kid.
http://www.myspace.com/balderdashproject


RENATO CIUNFRINI & BOB MARSH: Rosa - CDR

Rose bloomed by a long distance collaboration between Bob Marsh andRenato Ciunfrini who first virtually met on the web in 2007 and thenphysically in 2008 for a tour in Italy. This is their first release asa duo. Renato Ciunfrini : bass clarinet, clarinet, sopranino sax, alto sax,electric bass, theremin, electronics Bob Marsh : voice, electronics
http://www.myspace.com/renatociunfrini
http://www.myspace.com/bobisadoctor


BOOK OF SHADOWS: Prayer Wheel CDR

The Prayer Wheel, like this CDR, spins prayers into the ether. Book ofShadows combines psychedelia, experimental music, and the pursuit ofspiritual understanding, all performed together in the eternal present. For the Prayer Wheel release Sharon and Carlton Crutcher are joined bylongtime guitarists Aaron Bennack, Jonathan Horne (Plutonium Farmers),and Douglas Ferguson. Also appearing on this release are percussionistJohnny McCollom of the Primordial Undermind, theremin player and filmprojectionist for the Butthole Surfers, Lori Varga, Ralph White of theBad Livers on Kalimba, Eric Archer and Matt Thies from Numbers on theMast, on guitars and electronics, and Jason Travis and AmandaBoutourline, multi-instrumentalists from The Ghost and Swift Moths.

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http://www.ikuisuus.net