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Yeah I think diary approach sums it up pretty well. Can certainly be interesting, but also means that one has to consider what is exactly “mandatory” if anything. Actually just listened to an interview with Olson where he describes one of those one-sided 12 inches that American released that was recorded without headphones and sent off to get pressed without listening to it, ha! Perhaps that’s not totally analogous as I could see such an approach having a variety of motivations or interpretations. But certainly there is a “jam” or “set it and forget it” vibe to this corner of things. I think the aesthetics and approach of it is a bit contrary to what I would imagine myself gravitating towards, and I would prefer not everyone release things in this manner, but there is an appeal.

Fag tapes is just a diary label essentially, the audio equivalent to buying a zine where someone doodles a page each day of the month and releases it. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, but it’s certainly not consistent (or maybe it is crudely so) and definitely not for everyone. I get the vibe a lot of it is set it and forget it approach, not all tapes are great quality, poor dubs, weird mixes and some occasional brilliance. If you consider Heath is a painter/artist and are collecting in that kind of mindset then the risk reward is changed and you have a more realistic view of what your getting. These definitely aren’t grand statements or mandatory releases.

I think that’s part of the reason it isn’t widely considered, other things are various drama around the label/artist in regards to stuff not being shipped (I’ve ordered from Heath, never had an issue, but it was a problem expressed at one point on the old chondritic forum), other stories of questionable behavior, and general burned bridges. Add that to party and crew vibes (Wolf Eyes association, and in the bad Olson sense) in a distinctly American way and it’s not hard to see why it doesn’t get talked about here.

I own a decent amount of Fag Tapes stuff, it is widely available here and cheap (5 bucks a tape) so when you walk into a record store and can’t find anything remotely interesting but feel bad for aimless browsing you can just grip one or two and leave.

Favorite releases on it are probably the Final Seed ones (dude from Maths Balance Volumes) and the recent Evil Moisture was a good release (though Andy is always excellent and Royal Sperm is a much more interesting Diary Style/Art label), Sindre Bjerga, Dylan Nyoukis, and I like some of the other stuff for various reasons.

If you want heaths stuff just pick up Born to Die again LP or the other LP, I think his tapes aren’t bad, there just sorta sick llama.

Best release on FT is Dilloways - Since He’s Been Gone hands down.

[Distro update:]

Distro update:
: Death as Counsellor :

https://www.skuggsidan.net
https://www.skuggsidan.net
https://www.skuggsidan.net

The new rlw CD "Satanic Inventions" is now out. Not to be missed if you love his previous releases. Available in Europe direct from Drone Records and in the UK and elsewhere via blackroserecordings@yahoo.co.uk
Here's a great review of the CD in Vital.

RLW - SATANIC INVENTIONS (CD by Black Rose Recordings)
Seeing such a political statement on an RLW CD is something I don't recall seeing before. It is about the pandemic and the conspiracy theories that spawned, which I (too) believe is the true disease of our times. "I can read", usually means, "I like to cherry-pick popular notions", and "science is an opinion" is usually said by someone who has no clue as to what science is. Or, as I challenged someone: "How do you prove that all swans are white" to which I got the answer ", by killing all black ones", which seemed proof that not all swans are white. RLW says that all misery end one day, and something will grow. In the 14th century, Ars subtiloir (subtler art) became a musical style. It was rhythmic and notional, more complex. The end of the plague (well..) ended in something new. RLW uses music recordings from that time and short extracts from documentary recordings. Not that you easily recognize any of this in the fifteen pieces of music. Sure, some of this finds origins in voice material, and a word here or there is recognized, but who or what remains a mystery. The abstraction level is very high, as with much of RLW's music. He applies a collage-like approach to his music. A surprising element is the use of turntable/vinyl, which I haven't heard from him in some time. RLW's music is of a different complexity than the original Ars subtiloir, so I assume (not being an expert here), that he applies his musique concrète techniques to the music. Editing, stretching, granular synthesis and whatever else there is are as strong as any other RLW record. One thought I had with hearing these voices bending and twisting; maybe they sound like shapeshifting alien reptiles? Having read most of David Icke's books (to be found in a folder on my hard drive labelled 'humour'), there must be a place here for the sounds of reptiles. Throughout, there is some excellent, imaginative music here. I would say that even without the backstory, this is still a great release; it can be enjoyed equally. (FdW)

Here's a nice review of the new Contrastate 10" in Vital Weekly.
CONTRASTATE - 35 PROJECT (10" by Black Rose Recordings)
For a minute I thought Contrastate were celebrating thirty-five years of existence with this 10", but it seems a bit too premature. I am not sure what '35 Project' stands for, and with the four pieces all being untitled, I have no idea. In the first there is a voice about war, which, in the current climate, seems spot on, but its lyrical content is not entirely clear. I think it's a song protesting wars in general. The voice is robotic and the music droning and threatening. A pretty strong on, and very much a Contrastate song. This trio have developped a sound of their own over the years, in which drones play a role, but also voice, singing, talking, dramatic and forceful, but not always. That's, for someone like me who is not too fond of vocals, a great thing. Contrastate applies a more collage-like approach in their music. Not too rapid cuts but layering various elements and find a dialogue there. Electronics, drones, the rattling of percussion, studio techniques, a bit of voice. All of that delivers some dramatic music as that is the strng power of this group. It's dark and dramatic, music for the big stage. It's that odd pairing (well, perhaps) that makes that Contrastate's music is different from many other groups. It is never on the all too abstract. It all culminates in 'Untitled IV', with a strong rhythm, and a song slowly falling apart, returning, it seems to the lyrics of the first. Only the fact that they use the word untitled as song titles, is a sign of abstraction, I think. These four songs are all very much four minutes, plus a few seconds I am sure there is a hiden meaning there as well. The only thing that slightly bothered me was the fact that this is a 10", sixteen minutes of music. I wished it was a full album, and more twice this length. (FdW)

I like that Sperm (fin) is mentioned straight off the bat

I don't think you have to be "good" just confident in your noise. Know what you're doing, and how you're doing it. The basics of volume, mixing, etc are the only thing I can see as being relevant.

Use the code "CLEARINGS" to get 30% off all items in the "distro" category...ends April 1st...

https://bentwindowrecords.bigcartel.com/category/distro

[PRIMITIVE WINGS - MORPHOSIS CD]

3 new CD's out now!

PRIMITIVE WINGS - MORPHOSIS CD (SATATUHATTA-56)

https://satatuhatta.bandcamp.com/album/morphosis

Satatuhatta is honoured to present the debut album of Primitive Wings, a new project by Jaakko Vanhala. ’Morphosis’ is a highly evocative album, bringing into mind vivid flashes of something primal, perhaps from the prehistoric past. At the same time it’s very raw, but without being utterly harsh. It can be seen as a sum of the artist's previous projects Zoät-Aon, Secret Apex and Vanhala, but it still presents something new.

Listening to the album, you can imagine insects digging their way through the forest floor, big dragonflies propelling amongst the ferns in the twilight, reptiles roaming in the verdant undergrowth, and prehistoric roars rising amongst the tropical trees. But it’s not a nature documentary. It feels more like an atavistic memory, an intuitive transformation taking you inside an alien consciousness. This could be felt as just undefinable chills or perhaps as a vision of an event on this planet, which happened under the same stars but billions of years ago. Something from the beginning, of growth, sentience and flesh, finding its expression in strange transformations.

VIOLENT SHOGUN - BREATH AND STEAM CD (SATATUHATTA-57)

https://satatuhatta.bandcamp.com/album/breath-and-steam

’Breath and Steam’ is the latest CD album by Rémi Dazet, the mastermind behind Violent Shogun. He's been active lately also with other projects like Hattifnattar, Cryptofascisme and Mold, which are swimming in the similar experimental noisy waters. All those projects stand on their own feet, and the releases have been well thought out and nothing less than brilliant. Nevertheless, Violent Shogun can be seen as his main project, and it's always exciting to see which directions the sound is progressing to next. Sound palette on ’Breath and Steam’ is hard to describe with usual genre definitions like ”harsh noise” or ”industrial”, as the overall atmosphere is very unique. Remi has developed his tools further and uses them skillfully for scanning the depths of his own sonic ocean. This album is very focused. It's minimal and breathtaking at the same time and not least of all, it carries a strong message. CD in silkscreen printed cardboard sleeve with insert

THE NEW BOYFRIENDS - 1 & 2 2CD (SATATUHATTA-58)

https://satatuhatta.bandcamp.com/album/the-new-boyfriends-1-2

2CD reissue of the two first The New Boyfriends cassettes released in 2020.
The New Boyfriends is collaboration of Mogao and Aprapat. Harsh junk abuse and hot steam!

CD's available mailing satatuhatta.tapes@gmail.com or bandcamp or http://satatuhatta.limitedrun.com/ distro where also bundle option for all all 3 cd's.

Soon from usual distros, wholesale/trade welcome

Looking forward to listening. Fuck yeah