Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce the release of Triangulating Nature , volume 7 in their free sampler album series, released as part of the label's sixth birthday celebrations. The album is available for free download from the Hidden Shoal Store . Triangulating Nature brings together 12 singles from the last 12 months of Hidden Shoal releases – plus an excerpt from 'Komo', one of the two epic tracks on Markus Mehr 's In . There's the dreamy garage pop [...]
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce the release of ' Flaming Youth ', the new single by German experimental ambient artist Markus Mehr , taken from his forthcoming album On . 'Flaming Youth' tentatively fizzes into life as though fragments of static are being received from the heavens. As the static begins to clear, a gorgeous sleepy-eyed loop surfaces, bleeding through like a blissful, mesmerising surge of mangled lounge-jazz. 'Flaming Youth' continues Mehr's ongoing exploration of texture versus melody, taken from his new album On , the second album in an ambitious triptych that [...]
Markus Mehr 's new album On is coming next month - and it's a blinder. To whet your appetite, video artist Stefanie Sixt has created a sublime trailer featuring excerpts of several of On 's tracks, including upcoming single 'Flaming Youth'. On is the second album in a triptych that began with the acclaimed recent release In , and ends with next January's Off . On is released on 21 June, preceded by 'Flaming Youth' on [...]
Throughout the month of May 2012, Hidden Shoal Recordings is celebrating its sixth birthday. Later in the month will be the release of the latest free sampler album, Triangulating Nature , which compiles 12 singles released over the last 12 months. Other delicious surprises will be revealed in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more info. Since starting up in Perth, Western Australia in 2006, Hidden Shoal has developed an enviable roster of genre-defying global and local recording artists. With 40+ acts from 10+ different countries, ranging from British ambient artist Antonymes through to American [...]
Markus Mehr 's latest album In , the first of a triptych, has been receiving glowing reviews left, right and centre. To keep track of the lovin', pop along to Markus's reviews section , or visit any of the following wonderful music review sites to find out why everyone's been getting juiced up: Luna Kafe , Ambient Blog , A Closer Listen , Igloo magazine , Absolute Punk , The Silent Ballet , Reviewed Music , Petal , Textura , and Leonard's Lair . [...]
The first of a trilogy of albums to come from German ambient experimentalist Markus Mehr over the next 12 months (via Hidden Shoal Recordings), In , despite its 50-minute running time houses only two tracks. Opener 'Komo' begins as a vast, uncluttered soundscape consisting primarily of several looping string sections which emerge and entwine. From around half-way, less organic elements begin to creep in, by way of thick chords of near-pure distortion and skidding beats. The final element to be introduced is a sample of a Terence McKenna quote, which repeats [...]
"When a musician stretches just two tracks over the course of fifty minutes, the most likely barrier to success is the ability to hold the listener's interest for such a long period of time. As is often the case with such a concept, the tracks that make up Markus Mehr 's In (save a few snatches of dialogue) are entirely instrumental too. 'Komo' is the first offering and for the initial minute or so it's so quiet, it would be forgivable to check the volume control to know that it's playing. However, [...]
"When done right, a build up that starts from next to nothing and turns into an all encompassing monolith of sound and texture is one of the best musical experiences one can go through. Gladly, the music we cover here on The Silent Ballet is brimming with all sorts of build ups using all different kinds of instrumentation from guitars and drums to synths and electronics or just layers of ambience and drones, with all yielding brilliant results. They suck the audience in and make them feel like they're part of what's happening - a living, breathing component witnessing the [...]
" Markus Mehr is certainly leading with his chin by announcing a full-blown trilogy with only one full-length release under his belt. In is the first part, to be followed by On and Off within the year. The German experimental ambient artist marshals the same array of computer, synthesizers, guitars and distortion pedals used on his 2010 debut, Lava , and opens with a muffled grumble that might well be churning magma deep in the volcano. As 'Komo' slowly clarifies in the air, a ravishing string-ensemble [...]
Markus Mehr's latest opus In has been written up over at AbsolutePunk , "Mehr has a steady hand as he defrosts the ice around the core of the track as it melts into warmer shades, other voices waking from their hibernation and calling out to each other. The progression never feels as tightly constructed as it really is, though; the way the layers of the track burrow in and out of each other feels so organic that even when it shifts into a more malevolent gear and machinery takes [...]
If you've not already discovered the Hidden Shoal blog we've been running right next door to this very site then come on over and check it out ! Interviews with the likes of Scott Solter, track by track album expositions by Salli Lunn and Jonas Munk, top 5 lists from The Caseworker, featured tracks, cd giveaways and general good times all around. Enjoy!
Fans of Markus Mehr's new work will enjoy the glowing reviews over at Ambientblog and Luna Kafe . If you've not yet pre-ordered your limited edition CD copy of In then you're still in luck with a small amount of copies still available for pre-order . Alternatively you can download the album now and soak in its expansive splendour.
"One's enjoyment of this album will likely hinge on one's regard for repetition. When a loop changes timbre yet repeats for 25 minutes, is this a good thing or bad? Is the intricate process behind such tweaking fascinating to the ear, or tedious? A curious beauty can arise from the cyclical nature of a morphing sample, a transcendent, trancelike nudge; or the repetition can fall flat and alienate the listener. Fortunately the loops on Markus Mehr 's In trail lovely threads, like [...]
Markus Mehr's mesmerising new album In has just scooped a lovely review at the excellent new site A Closer Listen . Check the review out here and the album out here .
Salli Lunn 's awesome A Frame of Reference has made a sweet dent in the latest KJHK (Kansas) top 30 , sitting pretty at number 8! A Frame of Reference by Danish spectral noise-rock quartet Salli Lunn comprises remixes of songs from their stunning debut album Heresy and Rite , plus previously unreleased tracks. Stream it and grab it here .
Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce the release of new album In by German experimental ambient artist Markus Mehr , the first of a triptych that also includes the forthcoming releases On and Off , all released over the next 12 months. Markus Mehr follows up his stunning debut album Lava with three new releases. In is the first part of the triptych, comprising two monumental tracks, 'Komo' and 'Ostinato', each of [...]
2011 is almost over and 2012 is knocking on the door like a life insurance salesman at the apocalypse (I'll work on that one). To end the year with some lovin and fantastic music we are having a huge sale over at the Hidden Shoal Store. Over 20 CD & digital releases have been reduced from artists such as Slow Dancing Society, Sankt Otten, City of Satellites, Apricot Rail, Umpire, Wes Willenbring, Hotels, Rich Bennett, Liam Singer and Salli Lunn to name but a few. All CD purchases include free shipping and an immediate mp3 album download and [...]
German ambient drone maestro Markus Mehr will be following up his stunning debut album Lava with not one, not two, but three Hidden Shoal releases across 2012 and 2013. The first part of the triptych, In , will be released on 26 January 2012. It comprises two monumental tracks, 'Komo' and 'Ostinato', each of which clocks in at around 25 minutes, circling around and building upon hypnotic instrumental motifs. You can take a sneak peek at what's in store by viewing some live footage of Mehr's performing ' Komo [...]
Salli Lunn's remix album A Frame of Reference - which includes remixes by Scott Solter, Manual, and Hidden Shoal's very own Markus Mehr and City of Satellites - has received a lot of delicious coverage of late, including Brisbane's Rave Magazine and 4ZZZ radio station , the Delusions of Adequacy review site, and the German blog Schallgrenzen . Head along to the Hidden Shoal Store to stream the album in full, along with the band's debut album Heresy and Rite , [...]
Hidden Shoal Recordings is excited to anounce the release of album A Frame of Reference by Danish spectral noise-rock quartet Salli Lunn, which comprises remixes of songs from their stunning debut album Heresy and Rite , plus all-new songs. The album kicks off in fine style with Scott Solter's remix of 'Mirror Girl', on which the in-demand producer, musician and remixer pares back the original's spidery postpunk guitars to bring a lurching industrial rhythm section to the fore. Markus Mehr's dizzying take on single 'Parachutes Forever' brings sizzling amp [...]
Hidden Shoal Recordings
I’ll Just Leave This Here #161
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K-Holes - "Frozen Stiff"
Taste And Try Before You Buy
Angger Dimas – Ribon Dooh (Preview)
