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koren

@korendian.bsky.social

82 followers 73 following 990 posts

we like music & strafe jumping up north 🐘 cyberdemon.co.uk

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koren @korendian.bsky.social · 7h

A nice day for a walk on the beach I think.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 7h

It's kind of mad to think that these pieces are in most cases the result or two or three singers. There are moments where it's easy to forget that voices are involved at all. I think you could isolate these and play them to people and they'd assume it was some synth-driven new age recording.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 7h

Overtone singing is fascinating in itself and there are multiple techniques utilised here, but the space in which it is recorded is transformative. The water tower is a resonant space where sounds take an extremely long time to decay, creating these layered drones & otherworldly choral arrangements.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 7h

#albumshuffle Day 325: Jim Cole & Spectral Voices - Coalescence [Spectral Spiral Music, 1997]

Harmonic overtone singing recorded inside an empty water tower. No overdubs, no instrumentation beyond a tamboura on one track and some clapping on another - just human voices and it's remarkable.

Album Cover: Jim Cole & Spectral Voices - Coalescence [Spectral Spiral Music, 1997]

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 1d

While some songs are driven by psychedelic riffs or have loose tribal structure, there's a lot more going on. The polyphonic singing on Myth of Klüna, ritual chants on Mavya at The Lacus Yom or Kuuminyo which features Ainu vocalist Rekpo accompanied by chants, claps and traditional percussion.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 1d

#albumshuffle Day 324: Kuunatic - Wheels Of Ömon [Glitterbeat, 2025]

Interesting female trio blending psych rock with gagaku instruments with science fiction lyrics describing of the natural history and mythology another planet. All three sing creating harmonies and ritual chants. Pretty decent.

Album Cover: Kuunatic - Wheels Of Ömon [Glitterbeat, 2025]

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 1d

if i had to pick, it has to be the chiffons.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 1d

It's restless and needs more space to breathe. Especially compared to the fully cohesive and confident Do, which they released just three years later on erstwhile.

That certain something you can't get anywhere else is present nonetheless. Uninvited 1, Unpaged 1 and moments of Unlisted 1 hit on it.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 1d

Surprisingly playful, starting with some call and response on untitled 1, the fluttering birdsong on unadvised 1 and even the bizarrely out of place simple bloopy melodies bookending unplaced 1. Feels like there's a lot of enthusiasm and new ideas at play on terrain is yet to be established.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 1d

#albumshuffle Day 323: Toshimaru Nakamura & Sachiko M - un [meme, 1998]

Early onkyo effort from Sachiko M with her empty sampler & sine waves and Toshimaru Nakamura's no-input mixing board. Despite the ultra-minimal palette of sounds, this is a surprisingly dense and varied listen.

Album Cover: Toshimaru Nakamura & Sachiko M - un [meme, 1998]

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 2d

that's fab!

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 2d

It's not without it's flaws - the repeating passages of music build tension and keep ratcheting up yet there's never that moment where it resolves. The vocal gymnastics devolving into screeching and trills on Nebëhr Gudahtt make it all worth while. So silly and yet delivered with such gravity.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 2d

#albumshuffle Day 322: Magma - Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh [Vertigo, 1973]

I remember getting this album as a 13 year old exploring prog and being bewildered & repelled by it. The folly of youth!

Masterpiece of weird operatic Zeuhl. The chant on Kobaïa is de Hündïn is always foremost in my mind.

Album Cover: Magma - Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh [Vertigo, 1973]

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 3d

That said, i'm getting a bit hacked off with the career mode making me clean 4-5 rusty vehicles in a row. Give me a fucked up industrial unit to clean out or something.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 3d

Powerwash simulator is a game people claim is ideal to play while listening to a podcast, watching a stream or an interminable three hour long youtube video essay. Wrong, it's a game that demands total focus. The only sounds I need are varying jets of water hitting metal, plastic and stone. Ding.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 4d

Jazzy almost veering into easy listening territory with the electric piano and vibraphone combo. There's a lot going on from track to track & stylistic variation that prevents it from becoming background listening. It's lovely relaxing stuff, look at the cute album cover too.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 4d

#albumshuffle Day 321: John Zorn - O'o [Tzadik, 2009]

Mellow zorn album, typical fusion of interests - jazz, exotica, surf, prog and soundtrack work. Zorn composed & arranged these pieces but is not a performer. Band is made up of usual collaborators - Joey Baron, Marc Ribot, Cyro Baptista et al.

Album Cover: John Zorn - O'o [Tzadik, 2009]

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 5d

Was Oval supposed to be referencing forever young or is my brain just unconsciously rebellling against me. I think I liked it best anyway.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 5d

Playful in attitude and lyrical content, the arrangements are simple and very low key - guitar, a bit of synth, often double tracked vocals. The guitar phrases and melodies on Brain Today and Make A List are striking and gesture toward her more complex compositions/improvisations.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 5d

#albumshuffle Day 320: Wendy Eisenberg - Time Machine [HEC, 2017]

I was introduced to Wendy Eisenberg through Its Shape Is Your Touch, an album of acoustic guitar compositions oscilating between folk, american primitive and Derek Bailey. Listening to album was a suprise as it's odd bedroom pop.

Album Cover: Wendy Eisenberg - Time Machine [HEC Tapes, 2017]

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 6d

When they are in full swing the sound is really heavy, mostly due to Pupillo's rich bass work and Nilssen-Love driving the band hard on the drums. A strong rock edge to it all. The quieter moments of duo/trio interplay just make those next sonic assaults all the better.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 6d

#albumshuffle Day 319: Hairy Bones - At Fresnes [not on label, 2010]

Free jazz quartet consisting of Peter Brötzmann on reeds, Paal Nilssen-Love on drums, Toshinori Kondo on electric trumpet and Massimo Pupillo on electric bass. Explodes right out of the gate with the intensity expected from them.

Album Cover: Hairy Bones - At Fresnes [not on label, 2010]

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 6d

I think a small child robbed me at the supermarket. Whoops.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 6d

quite enjoy that peak game. many japes to be had.

koren @korendian.bsky.social · 7d

A recurring issue I have when listening to Romanian folk music is just how fatiguing it can be to listen to - this compilation clocking in at almost 80 minutes is no exception.

That said, I love the contrast when the slow and expressive segments suddenly take flight, as demonstrated here:

Toni Iordache - Picături de untdelemn

YouTube video by OAMP

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