BURIAL HEX - THE TOWER 7"
2-track 7" from Clay Ruby's Burial Hex. The A-side is a gloomy slowburner of horror electronics which slowly builds up to the title track on the more rhythmic B-side. With distinctive beats and a Goblin-esque groove, Burial Hex in some ways here continues to explore the path taken on the recently issued Hunger EP. With the assistance of Nathaniel Ritter (Kinit Her) and Shane Verwey (Jex Thoth/Zola Jesus). 100 copies. Total playtime of about 14 minutes. (RTB60)
SEWER ELECTION - BRISTNING LP
Originally released as a tape in 100 copies on Klorofyll Kassetter in 2008 which sold out immediately, Bristning finally gets the vinyl treatment. For this reissue, Dan Johansson revisited the original masters recorded at Utmarken in 2008 and elaborated it into an extended version, now clocking in on 33 minutes. Bristning shows the progression between the loop-based vocal manipulations on Kassettmusik (iDEAL) and the Vidöppna Sår LP (Pan), weaving together elements from both. A RTB favorite in the big Sewer Election discography. Mastered for vinyl by Viktor Ottosson. 275 copies. (RTB59)
STREET DRINKERS/SKEPPET LP
RTB is proud to present a split LP with two of the most promising new acts currently stirring up the Swedish underground. Street Drinkers is the solo moniker of Viktor Ottosson (Ättestupa). Since 2008, he's been laying down his gloomy patterns to some of the weirdest and most intruiging music we've heard in quite a while. Based around repetitive keyboards, tape loops and chanted vocals, Street Drinkers here delivers 4 tracks with a macabre and sombre mindset. Atmospheric and heavy on the melancholia with some underlying gothic tendencies. Regressive, spiteful and just wrong. Crude recordings with a fidelity not far away from the rotten fuss of mothership Ättestupa. Drums on Clouded Sky by Hannes Norrvide from Lust For Youth/Viking Jews. Previous releases out on Goaty, Utmarken, Kosmisk Väg and Sound Holes. Skeppet from Malmö consists of Andreas Malm and Henrik Wallin (both members of long running project Fria Konstellationen, as well as heads in charge of the great Kosmisk Väg imprint). Their well-recieved debut tape from 2008 was followed by a split tape with Gothenburgs own Viking Jews in 2009. Influences are said to be acts like Cluster, Harmonia and La Düsseldorf, and here they are continuing the relaxed path taken on the split tape with an even more developed and refined sound. A long and mesmerizing trip into the sun, and a truly beautiful take on kraut/kosmische music. The perfect soundtrack for late summer nights. 2 tracks. Total playtime of 40 minutes. Artwork by Dan Johansson (Street Drinkers cover/insert) and Henrik Wallin (Skeppet cover/insert). 275 copies. (RTB58)
ALTAR OF FLIES - FÖRRUTTNELSEN LP
First vinyl fullength from Mattias Gustafsson aka Altar Of Flies. Since the start in 2006, this prolific artist from Mjölby, Sweden, has done releases on Cipher, Husk, Hästen & Korset, Nil By Mouth and 905, just to name a few. Förruttnelsen is the first new release on RTB since the split LP with Sewer Election which was released early 2008. More organic and mostly recorded live to tape, Förruttnelsen shows a side of Altar Of Flies more reminiscent to the sounds of his live shows. This is more minimalistic in it's approach, weaving together tapeloops, field recordings, junk abuse and raw disciplined electronics creating an claustrophobic and bleak soundscape. Everything slowly builds up towards the abrasive 14 minute long title track closer, making this an monumental journey in all it's gloomy glory. Recorded between April and December 2009. 5 tracks, 41 minutes. Mastered by Viktor Ottosson (Ättestupa). Full colour artwork by Daniel Fagerström. 270 copies. (RTB57)
ÄTTESTUPA - BEGRAVEN MOT NORR LP
North of the church, only the worst of mankind was buried. Under the dark soil you could find people who had ended their own lives. Murderers. Thieves. Here in the shadow, the poor souls were gathered for their last rest. Begraven Mot Norr, the second album from Ättestupa, is themed around funeral customs and death processions in the past centuries of rural Sweden. The first LP was described as a mix of folk tones, 70's German prog, noise and black metal, and via the Att Korsa Den Flod Som Kommer Dränka Oss Alla tape (Abisko) and 1867 12" (DNT), that mixture was refined. With Begraven Mot Norr, Ättestupa returns with their most accomplished and complex recording so far, a natural progression from Änglamakerskan (their praised contribution to the Utmarken compilation 10"). Opening with an eerie violin over a rushing river, the bleak tone is immediately set. Set to a backbone of monotonous drumming, guitars and organs take the freezing lead in the sinister arrangements. Abrasive electronics interesects with field recordings and a sparse and elegant use of acoustic instruments. The chant-like vocals lure somewhere in the background, working as an instrument on it's own. Often based on scrap metal junk abuse and tape loops, the droning interludes from their recent live sets are incorporated. The overall atmosphere is more melancholic, paving itself through different shades of grey with a calmer and more distinct sound than before. Recorded between summer 2009 and spring 2010. 2 tracks, 35 minutes. Mastered by Viktor Ottosson. Comes with a A1 poster.
(RTB55)
BLESSURE GRAVE - JUDGED BY 12, CARRIED BY 6 LP
Founded as a duo by T. Graves and Reyna Kay in September 2008, San Diegos Blessure Grave blurs the lines between the goth, postpunk and neofolk genres. The pair has since developed the project into a full band while building a cult-like following, scattering various vinyl and tape releases on boutique labels around the globe. Citing Killing Joke, Death in June, March Violets and The Cure as influences, Blessure Grave injects a pop sensibility into songs otherwise doomed to dreariness, creating an interesting mix of old and new but dark all around. The music initially appears rather simple, but quickly reveals the fact that the songs are fully fleshed-out and genuinely memorable. The album provides the perfect soundtrack for contemplating today’s troubled times or for simply being swept away with the nostalgic 80’s vibe that permeates much of the recording. The band does not waste a lot a time allowing tracks to drone on: the songs are short and to the point, with the average track approximately three minutes in length. 12 tracks. 525 copies. (RTB53)
THE BITTERS - EAST GENERAL CASSETTE
The Bitters are Aerin Fogel and Ben Cook (Fucked Up, Young Governor). Formed in the east end of Toronto, The Bitters write and record their self-proclaimed Cave Pop from their studio, an artistic cooperative shared with Toronto's most creative musicians. Their debut 12" EP, Wooden Glove, was released last spring on Captured Tracks and sold out shortly after, having been instantly well-received among tough critics and keen listeners alike. The band is a result of Cook and Fogel's prolific efforts and their ability to construct songs ranging from 50's melodies atop dark post-punk instrumentals, to 90's throwback alternative and grunge, which stems from their unique dynamic as friends and partners. Their collaborative work appears live with the help of drummer Jonah Falco (Fucked Up) and a rotation of starry guest bassists. (RTB52)
DOLPHINS INTO THE FUTURE - THE MUSIC OF BELIEF CD
Second album from Belgian artist Lieven Martens, following up 2009's On Sea-Faring Isolation (Not Not Fun). The Voice Of Incorporeality: one long piece based on the radiating work "The Voice Of The Silence" by H.P. Blavatsky. Observations Through The Halocline Of The Worlds: a companion to the 7 stanzas of Dzyan based on shorter segments. Music made to awake the listener's inner-seeing or God-vision. 500 copies. (RTB49)
UTMARKEN 10"
Gothenburg 2009. There's something in the air and something is stirring in the eclectic underground. Brewing magic, movements in every corner and truly exciting times. This is a small document of the first year of Utmarken with four acts contributing one track each. Street Drinkers, the soloproject of Viktor from Ättestupa, uses layers of synths and vocals to create minimal and dreamy music reminiscent of Wet Hair and Peaking Lights, but with a unique Swedish touch. After the feedback-mayhem on the Gothenburg Blood Cult Tape, Källarbarnen is now back with a more subtle and somewhat mellow track, here using synths, drums, bass and vocals. All lights are out and everything is falling apart. White is Dan from Ättestupa/Sewer Election, and the project should be known from the tapes on Harsh Head Rituals and Segerhuva. Hitting it hard with distorted synthbuzz and vocals, it ends up like the bastard child of Suicide via filth, crime and abuse. Ättestupa ends everything with the best song they have done, a haunting and intense piece called Änglamakerskan. Freezing winds evokes the mean spirit of an long forgotten era. Total Swedish coldness and there is no way back. The 10" comes with liner notes by Matthias Andersson as well as a photo collage from Utmarken. All tracks were recorded at Utmarken between fall 2008 and spring 2009. Mastered by Pete Swanson. Front photography by Andy Liffner, mugshots on the back by David Eng. (RTB50)
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