open recordhomenewsreviewsgallerylinksupcomingcataloguesubscribeemail

LATEST RELEASE

REVIEWS

CATALOGUE


cat #: open 06
artist: felix laband
title: dark days exit

following on from his two previous critically acclaimed albums, 'dark days exit' reflects felix’s forays into classical instrumentation whilst still audibly remaining true to his unique style, walking a thin line between lush and disconcerting beat scapes. felix describes it as his first “true album”, where he feels the music represents his vision alone. the result is a truly beautiful electronica album, mixed and arranged with absolute genius – each track has distinct character, never slipping into the wallpaper monotony of current lounge fodder.

TRACKS:
1. whistling in tongues - mp3
2. miss teardrop - mp3
3. dirty nightgown
4. falling off a horse - mp3
5. sleeping household - mp3
6. crooked breath
7. red handed - mp3
8. black shoes
9. radio right now - mp3
10. minka (and the notes after)

dark days exit is available on itunes worldwide (compost records release)

PRESS QUOTES:
"putting it as plain and simple as possible, this album is a work of electronic art." - david poole / thunda.com

"an inspired and deep album of esoteric kindness and warm technology" - peter kruder / g-stone

"miss teardrop is a sublime brill supertune.. sneaking carefully into your ears and remaining there for a long long time... excellent" - richard dorfmeister

"stunning album" - laurent garnier

"dark days exit’s all-round unabashed loveliness could possibly convert even the most misanthropic marilyn manson fan" – bbc collective’s paul clarke

"it has the dark sparkle of air`s `moon safari`, random trippy flashes of pink floyd´s earlier sounds, and if david lynch had based `twin peaks` in cape town´s city bowl, then this would work as the soundtrack." - sa / rockdigest

"he's clearly an architect, a visionary, and his ongoing musical creations bear testament to this. his tunes — a collection of collages, textures interwoven with lucid melodies and twisted, yet simple, beats — stand tall in an industry which all too often rewards the followers rather than the innovators." - stephen timm / iafrica.com

"laband's music reminds one of modern classical composers like reich and glass, leftfield electronica artists like boards of canada, aphex twin and the audio pranksters at ninja tune. it is head music which makes your foot tap. it is delicate, yet earthily funky.." xxxxx charles leonard 48 hours

"the latest offering from mr laband is a real alice in wonderland soundtrack; surreal but wonderful. ..a melodic overture of good sounds with an off-beat melancholy which reminds me of autumn." - cape etc

"though both laband's previous albums were superb in every respect, they pale in comparison to his new masterpiece - an album so far removed from the usual electronic fodder that it is impossible to categorise. most great albums are." - jon craig canavan / SL magazine

"the soundtrack for sensitive people's lives - very recommendable." - martin gretschmann / the notwist / console

“sometimes dark and sinister, always a little melancholy, infused with a retro hipness that is entirely cocktail inspiring. felix´s greatest quality must be his use of space – the music breathes with space around the beats, fresh fresh fresh. infinitely listenable, especially outdoors.“ - world online

“an insane swirling ambient dub glitch freak show.“ - dazed & confused magazine

“the album is a warm space of melody and rhythm that lets you move through colours of nostalgia and déjá vu with endless possibilities of hearing something new.“ - philippa cameron

“laband´s superbly-layerd, multi-tiered soundscapes are tantalizingly tranquil and intriguingly unique – they amble like ambient and slip into the bloodstream like liquid lsd.“ - rage.co.za

“...if you have too less money to travel to south africa, no problem, just listen to “dark days exit“ and close your eyes...“ - nat queen cool / sounds good inc.

“kraftwerks´s autobahn might have been a prelude but this is the omega! fur sure!” - helene ramos galagarza

“the new album takes felix's music deeper than before. 'whistling in tongues' is a hypnotic tune perfect for late-night driving.“ - ennio styles

kaapse etiket mik 'links van sentrum'
die burger 11/03 from faan herholdt's 'byklanke'

na eeue van musiek is die opdrag om kreatief te wees 'n steeds groter uitdaging. met geimproviseerde musiek kan kunstenaars tap uit die kollektiewe onderbewuste en die innerlike lewe, wat vloeibaar is. impulsiewe musiek oortref ook bestaande kategoriee en vertroude style.
in kaapstad wil die nuwe platemaatskappy open record sulke "sentrum-linkse" musiek aan 'n wyer gehoor bekend stel. die groot gees agter die projek is ross campbell van die groep benguela. open record het weggespring met vier albums deur gesoute, maar minder bekende, musikante.
ses jaar gelede het benguela toevallig ontstaan, toe drie maats, sonder dat hulle geoefen het, in 'n folk-klub moes speel. met los idees en skeppings op die ingewing van die oomblik het hulle magiese oomblikke belewe.

sui is benguela se derde album, en 'n dubbel-album daarby. die eerste cd bevat oorspronklike klanke wat voor 'n gehoor van dertig vriende opgeneem is. die musiek begin sag en subtiel, maar raak algaande meer lewendig en direk. dis dinamiese instrumentale musiek, waarin die perspektiewe steeds verander. op die tweede cd interpreteer bekende en opkomende mengmeesters benguela se musiek.

brendon bussy is as kassieke musikant opgelei, maar het hom na 'n besering op die rekenaar en elektroniese musiek toegespits. diesel geiger is sy debuut, waarop hy sensitiewe stemmingsmusiek speel. hy gebruik opnames van stemme en klassieke instrumente, wat hy digitaal behandel.
die album beskryf die kulture van durban en kaapstad met musiek wat nie opdringerig is nie. behalwe die gesproke woord is diesel geiger ook instrumentaal. aanhangers van brian eno behoort bussy te waardeer. sy akoesties-elektroniese benadering is vars en vloeibaar.

in januarie verlede jaar het alex van heerden en derek gripper op die plaas sagtevlei buite tulbagh musikale idees uitgeruil. hulle wou onderbeklemtoonde musiek maak, wat die landskap om hulle weerspieel, terwyl dit introspeksie in 'n soort beswyming word.
sagtevlei is by die sauk in seepunt opgeneem en klink so sag, maar so deurdringend soos reen. veral mense wat van moderne eksperimentele klassieke musiek hou, kan sagtevlei geniet. die viool, trek-klavier en trompet kry nuwe lewe deur die oorspronklike maniere waarop van heerden en gripper dit speel.

van die albums is die strekste een waarskynlik ek is legio deur enkeleen. ian watson van blackmilk-faam het twee jaar lank instrumente en vriende opgeneem om wat hy noem "vrye orgaanika" te skep. dis akoestiese elektronika, wat gewoonlik uit tromme , 'n baskitaar en uitheemse elektroniese geluide bestaan. ek is legio behals ongewone ritmes en klanke wat stry teen alles wat gewoon is. dit klink soms na oosterse musiek en soms na iets van 'n verafgelee planeet.

hoewel open record trots kan wees op die vasberade en oorspronklike musikante in sy stal, sal hierdie albums waarskynlik net 'n beperkte, maar tevrede, gehoor lok. dit is nie vir saamsing of dans bedoel nie, maar kan goed werk as klankbane vir video's, advertensies en rolprente. avontuurlus en 'n oop gemoed is nodig. asook die hunkering na iets wat werklik nuut is.

back to reviews

open 01
enkeleen
ek is legio
full details
buy online
open 02
alex van heerden
& derek gripper
sagtevlei
full details
buy online
open 03
brendon bussy
diesel geiger
full details
buy online
open 04
benguela
sui
full details
buy online
open 05
derek gripper
blomdoorns
full details
buy online
ARTISTS

alex van heerden
benguela
brendon bussy
enkeleen
derek gripper
felix laband

sir name
james webb
adam lieber
blackmilk


all content © open record cc.
all rights reserved.

CONTACT
ross campbell
iliketea@iafrica.com

cape town
south africa

distributed in south africa by
kurse music distribution

contact alastair
tel: +27 21 424 1959
fax: +27 21 424 4051 alastair@kursemusic.co.za

 

hosted by