Basement Tapes

September Update

2011-09-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

Just returned from a short three-day tour with Civilized. We played with some great bands like Sucked Dry, Meat Mist, Much Worse, Brain Tumors, Cardiac Arrest, and Raw Nerve. If you haven't been to the City Museum in St. Louis, do yourself a favor and stop in there the next chance you get. Its magic! We finished our second demo tape. the first edition of 20 is sold out, and we are pressing another 80 of them this fall. We also have a t-shirt designed by the incredible Meatdog, the singer of Melbourne, Australia's Reckless Aggression. Demo tapes are $5 and shirts are $8. Please get in touch if you're interested.
Sterile Garden played a benefit show this past Saturday for the Silent Barn, which is a DIY experimental venue in NYC that was robbed several months ago. Our next show won't be for several months. I'm working on some newer material that will be a bit of a surprise for those who've been following this project. Some newer personnel will be added.
We're still looking for advertisers for the new issue of Swan Lake. It will be printed on newsprint, in an edition of 800 to 1000 copies. I'm also hoping to finish up some artwork for a Sterile Garden release on Dumpster Score Recordings as well this next month. Thanks to those who support. Keep your head above water. Don't hit your head on the debt ceiling.

PS: here's a video of Sterile Garden at the Titwrench Surfacing show a couple of months ago. Thanks to Kyle Warfield for taking the video!

August Update

2011-08-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

My attention has shifted towards Civilized for the time being. The show last week with Ice Age was very rewarding, and the Danish lads were very much into our cover of Iron Cross' "Psycho Skin". Negative Degree and Tollund Men played solid sets as well. In a week we'll be sharing the stage with The Men and Religous Girls at Rhinoceropolis. Later on this month, we're playing with Punch and Loma Pieta(also at Rhino). At the beginning of September, there will be a weekend jaunt(not a tour, per se) with our friends Negative Degree(Denver). The cities of St. Louis, Kansas City, and Chicago will be covered.

Sterile Garden is still a concern, but we're taking time to set up some time to record two compositions that we've been performing recently, as well as writing some new material that is decidedly more 'song-like'. This will involve an expanded line-up of SG. Thanks to everyone that has supported this project over the years. Its been an interesting journey.

update

2011-07-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

the show with Sisisters and Concrete Shiva was wonderful last night. It's an honor to play an event associated with the Titwrench Fest, as they are doing something that is refreshing and interesting. Poppy Red played her first set and it was a real treat. The last few shows with Sterile Garden have been very successful, though we are taking a break to finish some recordings and work on artwork for some upcoming releases. Our next show will be in November or December.

here's the Sterile Garden set from Denver Noise Fest a few months ago: video

INTERNAL LIGHT

2011-04-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

Denver Noise Fest 2011

2011-04-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

Sterile Garden performs on Saturday night at the outdoor stage. Thanks for everyone that came out to the Hedia/Luperci show last Friday.
There is a new Sterile Garden release, "Process" C-10, edition of 22. This tape is some material that we've performed in the past, and its been edited for brevity's sake. Also, there are some Sterile Garden releases in the works: 1) a 3"cdr on Dumpster Score Recordings. 2) a tape on Lazer Palace. 3) a tape on Bleak Environment
There are also plans to release the compositions 'Acreage' and 'False Digital' in some form in the next year. We're going to take a break from playing shows after this summer for a bit and focus on releasing old material and writing new compositions.

Sterile Garden performances

2011-03-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

read about it HERE

another recent Abbreviated Glossalia show HERE

other upcoming shows:

April 22-24 @ Old Curtis Street Bar: Denver Noise Fest

Noise starts at 7:00PM each night
An +18 event
Ages 21+: $10/night or $25 Three Day Pass
Ages 18-20: $15/night or $30 Three Day Pass

April 15 @Rhinoceropolis(3553 Brighton Blvd.) :

Hedia(NM)

Luperci

Sterile Garden

May 19 @Rhinoceropolis(3553 Brighton Blvd.):

Slut Dungeon

Weak Sisters

Polyurethane

Chaperone

Sterile Garden

July 15: Denver Surfacing Showcase with Concrete Shiva/ SisSisters/Wrong Hole/Tarr/Baronic Wall/Trash Pop, Married In Berdichev

- Denver Surfacing Showcase w/ Married in Berdichev & Sterile Garden

taking a break

2011-01-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

hey everyone, i'm still taking orders and trades. trades more than orders, please.

but there will be a lapse of me posting on this while i focus on school, a new band(ego complex), and finding work in Denver.

it was interesting to note the differences between the Rhinoceropolis and Astroland shows. People were actually paying attention to the sounds and moving around the "oh, so stinky" room at Rhino while i listened to people talk through almost every act in Boulder. No one in Boulder payed attention to any of the video art presented that night, and i distinctly overheard someone muttering, "when is it gonna get more dancey?"

REally? Boulder. pay some respect to Architect's Office, already and have a show for him. stop being into rave music and hipster garage rock. Rhino, you can keep on stinking of cat piss as long as the shows are quality like last time. Big up to MMC3 for manning the video for most of the acts that performed that night.

RECENT RELEASES:

VOYEUR JOURNALS 2XC60 $4 PPD

LAVAS/MAGMAS: AMERICAN DNA C30 $5 PPD

STERILE GARDEN: HEADPHONE MUZAK CDR $4 PPD

LINDSAY NICHOLS: IN LIMBO ART ZINE $5 PPD

FOR TRADES/ORDERS EMAIL ME AT: JCBDERAADT173 AT G MAIL DOT COM

OR WRITE:

BASEMENT TAPES

2555 17TH STREET

DENVER, CO 80211

Two December Shows

2010-12-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

Lavas/Magmas tape

2010-11-27T08:37:00.001-08:00

Available now. $5 PPD in the United States, $7 rest of the world. Color covers on thick glossy card stock, stereo-dubbed on type 2 cassettes. Edition of 50.

Video of Sterile Garden performing at Albuquerque Experimental Fest

2010-11-27T08:14:00.000-08:00

video here: VIDEO

Also, another Sterile Garden performance in December:

DECEMBER 17

AT: RHINOCEROPOLIS, 3553 BRIGHTON BLVD.

Voices Of - Tape Release
with Sara Century and nervesandgel
(split tape release)
Thug Life - Zine Release Party

pictures from the art show

2010-11-22T00:40:00.000-08:00

2010-11-04T16:39:00.001-07:00

2010-11-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

review of Sterile Garden youtube performance

2010-11-03T14:58:00.001-07:00

There are two more copies left of Lindsay Nichols' photograph zine, "In Limbo". Here's a few preview pictures: $6 with postage, $5 in person

check it out here:

http://www.foxydigitalis.com/foxyd/?p=1909

also here's some other reviews:

http://existest.org/ee_v3/?p=1875

http://www.arma.lt/introspect/texts/introspect-review%20STERILE%20GARDEN-NOVASAK.htm

2 more reasons why I don't wanna be in the 'noise' ghetto. Let me out. Just to let you know, full discrepancy and all, I know Crawford Phileo, who wrote the piece for Foxy Digitalis.

Anyways, there's a lot going on around the Basement Tapes compound lately. There's a new project afloat called RECOMBINANTS. Pop music remixes in differing collaborative settings. The first to reach fruition is the S/T C20 which is with Matt Sage of M. Pyes/Patient Sounds Tapes/Castles. The first side is completed and we are starting the second side in the next couple weeks as time allows.

There's a new Sterile Garden composition in the works. It should be completed in the next two weeks, and we're going to try to perform it a few times here in Fort Collins and Denver before I go back to school in January. A few weekends ago with the help of my roommate Jared(Rad Vibes), Sterile Garden also recorded four versions of a piece that we've performed three times live, titled "False Digital". There will be two versions of the release; one being a 2 CDR(4-channel)/poster set, and the other being a stereo tape with art propaganda. We're very excited about this release as it has taken Sterile Garden in a different direction than many have heard at this point in our existence. We still have another 3-member composition for yet another SG piece that we've also performed three times in the past year.

Guest Mix Installment #2: Zach Reini

2010-11-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Zach said about the mix:

I think its a very common occurrence for people to get into daily situations that they wish they could get out of on

account of complete frustration or a sense of marginalization. Discontent is a normal feeling that is often clouded with happy-go-lucky positive outlooks, which are great in the right context, but there also exists the whole opposing spectrum that shouldn't be repressed. It's just unhealthy. These tracks help me, and I assume the musicians, cope with these mundane feelings and angst that still prevail from your teens into your 40's. Hate your job, hate your coworkers/colleagues, etc. A lot of cliches could come out of this, but frustration in all its aspects is at the bottom of my draw to this mix, so I hope this helps people find some music that aids the venting process.

Tracklisting:

1. Twin Stumps: Landlord

2. Drunkdriver: Quality of My Life

3. Fresh Meat: Bad Mask

4. Vile: I'm a Punk

5. No Trend: Killing Me

6. Slavescene: Fuck Off Away From Me

7. YDI: Not Shit

8. Swans: Time is Money (Bastard)

9. Dead Times: Christ Mourners I

10. Deep Jew: Virgin

11. Offerings: 11-Offerings-1

12. SNUFF: Male Supremacy

Contact info:

myspace.com/crawlhc
zachreini.blogspot.com

Zach's Mix

3 live sets download

2010-11-01T15:15:00.000-07:00

here's some live performances from the past few years for your perusal:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/jmptp1

Headphone Muzak download

2010-11-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

here's the link for the newly released "Headphone Muzak" by Sterile Garden:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/8s9xe7

Guest Mix Installment #1: Ryan McRyhew

2010-09-13T10:32:00.000-07:00

This is the first in a series of mixtapes by friends and fellow creative minds. First, a little bit of background on the author of the mix. Ryan McRyhew is one half of the electronic dance duo Hideous Men, who seem to be spearheading a fresh direction in the arena of DIY music. For some reason I haven't been able to catch them live although they reside in Denver and play out on a regular basis. Their equipment was stolen at the recent Titwrench Festival a couple of months ago, but they are bouncing back and working on material for a new cassette and a split 7". Ryan also runs the Laserpalace label which has been releasing like-minded DIY dance-troniks for the past few years.

I asked Ryan to do a mix for the blog because I knew he was into early electronic music as well as newer synth-based bands. Its nice when someone makes you a mix and there's artists on there that you know(in this case Demons, Raymond Scott, Mort Garson, Morton Subotnick), as well as digging deeper into realms unknown. Its a well-balanced mix of past and present musics, and well-worth your time if you have any interest in synth/electronic based sound. He offered this explanation of the mix:

"Regarding my endeavors, i'm very much interested in the concepts of music and art existing in other dimensions, humans being the contact points for translating those dimensions. Especially within the synth/electronic realm, sort of a ghost in the machine idea. I'm also into building electronic music devices to communicate with those ideas, and very interested in modular synthesis. I've been recording a release based on these ideas for a while now, looking to release it on cassette in october. It's a cross between the paranormal and synthetic realm. Outside of the more esoteric, i just love meeting people and trying to experience what they experience through music, i love mixes. DIY and community keeps it altogether for me. Hope that gives you a little more insight. Really the mix was just synth music that inspired me, with a little bit of flow, but mostly just songs that I think people should listen to."

Tracklisting:

1. John Pfeiffer: Reflection of a String

2. Jean-Piere Decerf & Myriam Chadcar: Aquatic

3. Mort Garson: Black Mass

4. Altocumulus: My

5. Jean-Jacques Perrey & Gershon Kingsley: Stranger in the Night

6. Demons: Self Possession

7. Oneohtrix Point Never: Betrayed in the Octagon

8. Charles Dodge: Speech Songs - He Destroyed Her Image

9. Yip-Yip: High Heel To Mammal IV

10.Axxess: Kissing The Desert Ghost

11. Nik Tyndall: Strassen Der Nacht

12. Baby Sloth Spirit: Astromythics

13. Raymond Scott: The Rhythm Modulator

14. Morton Subotnick: Touch A

15. Survive: Glass Knives

download this mix here

KRAUT-MIX

2010-07-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

get it HERE

recent performance pics

2010-07-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

LIVE AT RHINOCEROPOLIS JUNE 18 2010

Maximal set-up with four speakers. Minus the other two members. Things fell apart with the tape delay, so I had to switch to something else. It worked out all right. Four more Sterile Garden albums to surface later this year.

Sterile Garden: "Bind Them" download

2010-06-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

http://www.sendspace.com/file/lbcjwc

review of Sterile Garden/ Drowner split CDR

2010-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

here:

http://tometotheweathermachine.blogspot.com/2010/06/drowner-sterile-garden.html

The shows with Lavas/Magmas and Behavior(new title for Drowner) went great. We played at an outdoor park in Fort Collins, a coffee shop, and Rhinoceropolis in Denver last night. Midwest, look out! I wish i could go on tour with these guys but I have to work while the jobs are there. The new Lavas/Magmas: "American DNA" cassette on Basement Tapes is now available for $5 in person, $6 PPD. Full-color, 2-panel prints on cardstock with stereo-dubbed C31s. Edition of 50.

http://lavasmagmas.net/

Basement Tapes Discography

2010-06-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

BT01

Christian Meth

Christian Meth (CDr, Album, Ltd)

2006

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BT02

Thomas Kinkaid Foundation

Sands Over Empire (CDr, tape, Ltd 40)

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BT03

Nova-Sak

Whine Box (tape, Ltd. 25)

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BT04

Oubliette

Bruised Members (Cass)

2006

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BT05

Weak Sisters

Subterfuge (Cass)

2006

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BT06

Dude War

Iron Curtain (Cass, Ltd.)

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BT07

Imaginary Flavors

Emma's (Cass, Ltd, C15)

2006

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BT08 Gullwing

S/T (Cass, Ltd. C20)

2006

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BT09

Man/Beast

A.L.O.T.W. (Cass, Ltd. 25, C20)

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BT10

Swan Lake #2

art zine and tape

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BT11

Blue Sabbath Black Cheer

Bourtanger Moor (CDr, Album)

2007

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BT12

Entropic Pregnancy

S/T (Cass, Ltd. 20, C15)

2007

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BT13

Golen Dawn

S/T (Cass, Ltd. 15, C15)

2007

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BT14

Torturing Nurse

In C Ice Age (Cass, c20)

2007

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BT15

Frozen Body

Buried By Beasts (Cass, Ltd, C15)

2007

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BT16

Ax Jexxee Rixxee*

Music From The 13th Maldoror (Cass, Ltd, C20)

2007

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BT17

Sterile Garden

Monoculture (Cass, Ltd, C15)

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BT19

Tetrototoxin

Live! And Unliving (Cass, Ltd)

2007

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BT20

Green Mist

You Can't Hit Pain Much Harder (Cass, Ltd, C30)

2008

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BT21

Christian Meth

Second Sermon (Cass, Ltd)

2007

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BT22

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 1 (Cass, Ltd. 15, C20)

2007

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BT23

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 2 (Cass, Ltd. 20, C20)

2007

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BT24

Christina the Hunn and Her Magical Drum

S/T (CDr, Ltd. 150)

2008

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BT25

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 3 (Cass, Ltd. 20, C20)

2007

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BT26

Ratface

Early Signs of Interest, Lacking (CDr, Ltd. 20)

2007

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BT27

Thomas Kinkiad Foundation/Entropic Pregnancy

split tape (Cass, Ltd. 25, C20)

--------------------------------------------------

BT28

Diseased Visions

untitled (Cass, Ltd. 35, C20)

2006

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BT30

Sterile Garden / Algiers

Alaskan Stand_Off (CDr, Album, Ltd)

2008

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BT31

Sterile Garden

Bad Toasting For Concrete (CDr, Album, Ltd)

2007

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BT32

Sterile Garden

Bind Them (CDr, Album, Ltd)

2007

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BT34

Sterile Garden/Householed

Collaborative Works CDr Ltd. 45

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BT36

Plethora / At Jennie Richie

Mickey Mouse Is Dead (Cass, Ltd, C10)

2008

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BT37

Sterile Garden

Sheets of Horns (Cass, Ltd. 24, C10)

2007

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BT38

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 5 (Cass, Ltd. 24, C20)

2007

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BT39

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 6 (Cass, Ltd. 30, C30)

2007

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BT40

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 7 (Cass, Ltd. 30, C30)

2007

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BT41

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 8 (Cass, Ltd. 30, C30)

2007

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BT42

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 9 (Cass, Ltd. 30, C30)

2007

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BT43

Ratface

The Salton Sea Volume 10 (Cass, Ltd. 35, C30)

2007

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BT44

Crank Sturgeon/Idm Theft Table

Which Witch? (Cass, Ltd. 100, C46)

2008

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BT45

Cochise (6) / Sterile Garden

"Our Stories" (CDr, Ltd)

2008

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BT46

Drowner / Sterile Garden

Split (CDr, Ltd. 50)

2009

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BT47

Sterile Garden

"Headphone Music"

(CDR, Ltd. 35, C30)

2010

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BT48

Wrecked tape

2010

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BT49

Automobile, Swift tape

(Cass, Ltd. 50, C30)

2010

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BT50

Witches/Behavior split tape

2010

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BT51

Lavas/Magmas

American DNA

(Cass, Ltd. 65, C30)

2010

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BT52

Regosphere/Sterile Garden

Collaborative Works CDr

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BT53

Voyeur Journals

(Cass, Ltd. 22, 2xC60)

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2 June Shows

2010-06-10T18:08:00.001-07:00

1/2/10 update

2010-01-02T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Sterile Garden/ Drowner split CDR is now available. $5 PPD or $4 in person. Orders can be made through Basement Tapes or What We Do Is Secret.

SPRING BATCH:

-Automobile, Swift: TBA Cdr/Cassette

-Wrecked: TBA Cdr/Cassette

-Abbreviated Glossalia: Esophagus/Asparagus cdr

-Swan Lake 2 art zine/tape compilation featuring sounds from: DJ Yo-Yo Dieting, Budweiser Sprite, Algiers, Drowner, Suicidal Tendons, Skozey Fetisch, Argumentix, Red Squirrels, Crank Sturgeon, Moke Grotton, Pulse Emitter, Weak Sisters, Fletcher Pratt, Heat Wilson, Nova-Sak, Dreamcatcher, Amphibious Gestures, Doug Theriault, Jeff Jerman, Squim, and more...

LISTENING:

Cold Sweat demo

John Foxx: Metamatic

Priests demo

I'm doing a sound installation for an exhibition entitled "The Riddle of Ritual".

Gallery info and directions here: http://www.emmanuelgallery.org/

from the gallery website:

Riddle of Ritual
featuring work by Sterling Crispin, Justin Beard, Alicia Ordal, Michael Schuessler, Owleyes, and sound-artist Jacob DeRaadt.
January 5, 2010 – January 12, 2010
Exhibition Reception – Saturday, January 9 from 7pm – 10pm

We are pleased to announce the group exhibition Riddle of Ritual at Emmanuel Gallery. The exhibition will feature work by Sterling Crispin, Justin Beard, Alicia Ordal, Michael Schuessler, Owleyes, and sound-artist Jacob DeRaadt. The exhibition will run January 5, 2010 – January 12, 2010. Please join us for a reception on Saturday, January 9 from 7pm – 10pm with a site-specific performance by Bongo Fury.

Riddle of Ritual is an exhibition that showcases artists who are working around the theme of ritual. Human behavior is laden with ritual, from everyday life to spiritual practice.

Many of the artists in Riddle of Ritual are approaching ritual from the perspective of mysticism, in ways that build upon the tradition of mysticism’s inherent relationship with religious and/or spiritual ceremony. Sterling Crispin and Alicia Ordal use installation to summon the supernatural, while Denver painter Michael Schuessler and LA-based collage artist Owleyes create two-dimensional work that is saturated with symbolism, light, and consciousness. Artist Jacob DeRaadt manipulates sound in ways that mesmerize his listeners. Ritual can also exist in our daily activities, from waking-up and getting dressed to preparing food. Artist Justin Beard visualizes this in his video pieces.

This is the second annual exhibition curated by the staff of Emmanuel Gallery, with the support of Director/Curator Shannon Corrigan. The staff is made up of students from the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College, and the University of Colorado. Emmanuel gallery is a non-profit art space located on the Auraria Campus in Denver. Built in 1876, the Gallery is Denver’s oldest standing church structure. Originally an Episcopalian Chapel, later a synagogue, and now an art gallery, Emmanuel Gallery has been a destination for spirituality for over 130 years. Riddle of Ritual is responding to this site as a specific source of sacredness, ritual, and symbolism.

Gallery hours for this exhibition will be 12pm – 5pm, January 5 through January 12. Please note that we will be open on both Sunday and Monday.

Sterile Garden/Algiers/Lavas Magmas/Drowner tour

2009-12-06T11:42:00.000-08:00

12/14 at the Wail (PDX) w/Glom
12/16 at Adobe Books (S.F.) w/Swanox
12/17 at Women of Crenshaw (L.A.)
12/18 at the Terminal (Oakland)

2009-06-02T14:37:00.001-07:00

This is what the United States government doesn't want the world to see. This is the true face of American faith and empire. This is what happens when we let the war hawks have their way. People should be able to see the true face of the American military machine. We have a reason to be angry.

New Sterile Garden releases

2009-05-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Agharta Tapes(Lithuania) www.arma.lt/perineum will be releasing a Somalia/Sterile Garden split cassette here in the next few weeks. You can order copies here: http://www.arma.lt/agharta/

Somalia

Zuiveringleideren(Philadelphia) just released Sterile Garden splits with Crank Sturgeon and Women in Tragedy www.myspace.com/zuiveringliederen

Zen Enthusiasts(Seattle/PDX) released a cassette as well a few months ago. great artwork on this one.

Zenenthusia.com

http://www.myspace.com/zenenthusia

The Sterile Garden/Drowner split CDR has all been recorded by both parties, and will be released in an edition of 50 sometime this winter on Basement Tapes once artwork is finished.

I'll be on tour with Christina the Hun in late June, so if you live in Phoenix, Sacramento, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Flagstaff, SLC, or southern colorado, come hang out and say, "hey."

I've started a new blog for my artworks, please check it out: http://thomaskinkaidfoundation.blogspot.com/

Stahblau: Die Macht Der Reichen

2009-05-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

download: Side A Side B

Again, i couldn't find anything about Stahblau other than this has a propulsive rhythmic industrial feel throughout both sides. Another early 80's gem from Randy's collection.

What is a Dadarotator?

2009-05-18T21:50:00.000-07:00

download: here

Side B was too mangled to bother uploading, so here is the first side of a killer industrial synth propulsive blur of early 80's ???? instrumentation that was acquired from the collection of Randy Yeates of Mnemonists/Biota. He does a gonzo muzak show on a community radio station in Fort Collins, KRFC 88.9 FM every Saturday night appropriately titled Excursions, which you can stream here. Everything from Don Ho to sci-fi soundtracks to acid prog and beyond is played on that show.

Little is known about this release. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Baiju Sketches Parts 3-5

2009-05-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

Part three

Part four

Part five

Enjoy. These are cut-ups of recordings that Caitlin Philp graciously provided, at my personal request, of street musicians around the town in her small city of Qingyang in north-central China. I won't try to advertise this for the most part, these recordings exist as an online archive for an indefinite period.

Previous problems with the other two parts has been fixed. Sorry about the Rapidshare, but that's how it goes for now...

show this weekend!

2009-04-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

Mitchell Brown: www.myspace.com/magneticbrown

Soup Purse: www.belowpdx.com/store for some of his fine tapes and cdrs. www.discogs.com/artist/Soup+Purse

Doug Theriault: www.last.fm/music/Doug+Theriault -

Online Album: "Baiju Sketches" Parts 1 and 2

2009-04-12T21:31:00.000-07:00

download the first two parts here:

Part one

Part two

Net Release out soon/ relocation

2009-04-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

wuvvwvy. weewy.

I've finished the first installment in a remix/sampling series under my own name. Chants into tape hiss nirvana, infinite saturation. A series of pictures and writings will accompany the five compositions. Influences include: Baiju and Coca-Cola, chinese markets, and cell phone promotions.

A CDR compilation is in the works to accompany a collection of drawings for Swan Lake 2. They will be available separately, and as a discounted package deal.

Sounds from Sharkiface, We, Budweiser Sprite, Eric Ostrowski, Frozen Body, Weak Sisters, Drowner, Moke Grotton, Red Squirrels, Spark Applied to Powder, Soup Purse, Regosphere, REDNECK(formerly Suicidal Tendons), Fletcher Pratt, Heat Wilson, Argumentix, Pulse Emitter, Householed, Toilet Humor, Tusco Terror, A Story of Rats, Dreamcatcher, Nova-Sak, and others to be announced.

Also, the job fell through, so I'm heading back to Colorado to work for the summer before returning for school in Portland this fall. Shows in Seattle this fall. Rumors are surfacing of a Christina the Hunn tour this summer on the west coast. Details to be announced in the next month.

- chinese cut ups

Pictures from this week

2009-03-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

If you can name the movie that this scene is taken from, you get a free Basement Tapes release.

Just started a new job in my new home of Portland. This week's job site was a 3 hour commute round-trip. Settling into my new home in the NE, and learning the neighborhood's nooks and crannies. Next post will feature more photos from around Portland.

2009-03-22T15:29:00.000-07:00

this weeks photos...

2009-03-22T15:25:00.000-07:00

flyer

2009-03-13T14:25:00.001-07:00

march 20 flyer

2009-03-13T14:23:00.001-07:00

Basement Tapes March update

2009-03-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

After travels abroad, I'm back in the States and playing shows again. The next Sterile Garden performance is at Dunes in NE Portland with I Died, Hobby Knife, and Redneck(Suicidal Tendons) on April 2nd.

I'm also starting to work on the covers for some new Basement Tapes releases, including:

a split C10 between Fletcher Pratt www.myspace.com/midorirec and Heat Wilson www.myspace.com/heatwilsonny

The masters are finished for the Drowner/Sterile Garden split CDR as well, and will appear in an edition of 50 with screenprinted covers.

other releases down the line include a Skozey Fetisch/ Pigs in the Ground split, Swan Lake issue #2, and a CDR compilation.

Accidentals 2

2009-03-07T15:29:00.000-08:00

A Steady Diet of MSG 10

2009-02-23T11:06:00.000-08:00

Baozi in the Muslim Quarter, Xi'an

Baozi is essentially steamed dumplings containing ground meat(usually pork) or vegetables. You dip them in a vinegar/ la jao sauce that is very spicy. They're served on the wicker baskets that they were steamed on. This was perhaps my favorite Chinese snack. Cheap, tasty and filling, they were the perfect complement to nights of swilling cheap 3.2 beers outside on a street corner, watching groups of men play dice games and shout things I didn't understand while dogs ran around looking for scraps to eat.

Hashbrowns at the Market in Lijiang

A Steady Diet of MSG 9

2009-02-23T10:51:00.000-08:00

Pig Ears

So our group of friends had a day in Jinghong where we drank a beer at one convenience store every block on our way back to our dingy hotels. China has convenient stores everywhere, usually at least 4-5 on a typical city block. Needless to say, within a few hours we were fairly trashed on Dali beers and starting to get hungry. We devised a system for scoring points in a game: smoking weed in front of a police officer was 100 points, taking a swim in the drainage ditch was 70, stealing a Chinese child was 120, eating pigs ears was 40, and so on... Being afraid of going to prison for smoking dirty Naxi ganja or getting a staff infection seemed too daunting for myself, and i don't want kids at this point in my life, so I chose pig ears. We went to the night market and found this stand that sold them roasted and flavored oh so delicately. They even sliced it up thin and put some cilantro on it. I got about a third of the way through eating mine when I began to feel sick. Perhaps the combination of cheap Chinese beers and swine cartilage isn't the best on a near-empty stomach. Parts of the ear were actually very tasty and not too tough. I can see why dogs enjoy these so much. Only in China!

A Steady Diet of MSG 8

2009-02-23T10:47:00.000-08:00

Publish Post Blue Cow Beer

I bought a can of this at the supermarket in Qingyang, thinking it might taste like PBR given the blue-ribbon and working-man's appeal of the farmer hoisting a cold one after working all day in the fields. Boy, was I wrong. This is the worst tasting-beer I've ever had.

a Steady Diet of MSG 7

2009-02-23T10:38:00.001-08:00

Beef Noodles

These are one of the specialties of Qingyuang City, where my girlfriend teaches English at Long Dong University(Chinese men aren't well endowed, so this is a bit of a misnomer). A hearty dish of thick noodles surrounded by a delectable broth covered in heaps of cilantro and basil, with little chunks or thinly-sliced pieces of beef depending on which restaurant you get it at. Throw in a couple spoonfuls of lajiao(a Chinese spice that's in almost everything), and you have a party in your mouth. Yum.

a Steady Diet of MSG 6

2009-02-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

The Perfect Mixed Drink: Coca-Cola and Spiced Baijiu

So over the course of this trip I developed a habit of drinking Coke everyday. I know, they're an awful multi-national corporation that gobbles up precious water reserves around the world, and its supposed to be really bad for you. Well, when you're in a country where all of the drinks are over-sweetened or flavored like corn or peas, you learn to appreciate a little corporate gut-rot. Baijiu is usually clear, about 58% alcohol content, and tastes like vodka mixed with floor cleaner. But its also really cheap, the equivalent of a dollar for a bottle that will get you soused in no time. I found that spiced baijiu is a lot more palatable, existing in the honorable family tree of brandy, whiskey, and scotch. It goes perfect with some Coca-Cola to take off the edge. I will miss you, spiced baijiu...

a Steady Diet of MSG 5

2009-02-23T10:22:00.000-08:00

Sushi- Flavored Bugles

Just as tasty as regular Bugles, which for some reason I never see around in the States anymore. They don't really have the flavor of raw fish as much as seaweed. Chinese folks are huge fans of potato chips in general.

A Steady Diet of MSG 4

2009-02-23T10:16:00.001-08:00

Ultraman Brand Chocolate-Covered Peanuts

Being a huge fan of the tag-team of peanuts and chocolate, I'd have to say these are fucking good. The only drawback is that there are less than a dozen of the little things actually contained within the vacuum-inflated package. Ultraman is huge in China. Kids run around with Ultraman plastic masks on pretending to fight giant mutants that their mothers take the place of in their fertile imaginations.

A Steady Diet of MSG 3

2009-02-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

Sweet Hour: Seaweed Papers

Kind of like eating just the nori wrap from sushi that's been dried out by itself. I had an Asian classmate in 2nd grade who brought this to lunch almost everyday. I didn't like it back then, but i like it now. The texture is a mixture of rice paper and plastic wrap. Somehow, that works for me. There seems to be no added spice or salt, unlike many packaged Chinese snacks I've encountered during this trip. This sort of snack complements a bowl of won ton soup very well.

A Steady Diet of MSG 2

2009-02-23T10:02:00.001-08:00

Yin Qiao Dairy: Walnut and Peanut Milk

I can't rate this product on the same scale as the Mini-Crabs of the previous posting, as there's nothing weird or gag-inducing about this one. Absolutely delicious. I'm not a big fan of milk in a glass, but this reminds me of almond milk more than anything. It would only be better if China could produce a decent cookie to dunk in a glass of this delightful drink.

A Steady Diet of MSG: Chinese Snacks

2009-02-23T09:50:00.001-08:00

Preserved Miniature Crabs

I actually made it through the first serving, or crab if you will, without gagging. With a scale of 1 being barely palatable and 5 inducing a fit of vomiting, I'd give this a 2. Subtle hints of MSG, red coloring, and a not-so-subtle crunch hit me right off. Unfortunately, upon second tasting, I only made through 2-3 seconds of trying to swallow bits of miniature sea-life which had been dead who knows how long before encountering an involuntary gag reflex and spitting the whole thing out into the trash can. So in retrospect, I'd have to give this a 4, since there was no disguising by artificial flavors what I was eating and I felt no will-power to try to force a third serving down my throat.

Accidentals

2009-02-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

next post: Chinese food reviews and Basement Tapes update

SOUND CRUNCH 3

2008-04-10T12:19:00.000-07:00

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LESLIE KEFFER/KIM GORDON/THURSTON MOORE CASS (ECSTATIC PEACE)
This cassette is 2 live recordings of noise maven Leslie improvising with Kim in Massachusetts, and Thurston in her native Ohio. Though all three of these folks are seasoned improvisors that have covered a lot of field, this cassette disappointed me for several reasons: first, the recording quality is so bad that you can't pick out very much out of the excessive low-end, and two, there's not a whole lot going on that would necessitate other people wanting to hear this other than the fact that its got big names going for it. Although this cassette sports a lovely, painting by Kim of Leslie, you're much better off avoiding this one.

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OUBLIETTE: MORE TAPE FUCKERIES CASS(TUSCO EMBASSY)
My personal introduction to Seth Oubliette came in the form of the Tape Fuckeries cassette released on Hanson several years ago. This is the official sequel to that wonderful hand-spliced release. More tape hiss, edits that jump out of uncomfortable silences, and other classic tape manipulation methods of inching, speed-up/slow-down, etc... This cassette doesn't have as much variation in textures or spacing as its predecessor, but for any fan of lo-fi tape gunk, its a welcome treat amidst thousands of serious dudes being as 'harsh' as they can. Oubliette is ridiculously prolific, and has done collaborations with virtually everyone, and uses a minimum of effects, which sets apart him from many others in the "junk-noise" category. This comes in a cruddy 2-color silkscreen case from some Ohio folks.
www.myspace.com/Oubliette

MARRIED IN BERDICHEV! S/T CASS(SELF-RELEASED)
Nice marriage(pun intended) of looped vocals and varied feedback pulses going on over the course of 30 minutes, which is divided up into loose song structures. This tape marks a transition from straight forward song-structures of past releases into more haunted atmospheres that warm vocal choruses weave thick spells. No point here in trying to make comparisons to other female noisicians like Can't or Eva Inca Ore who employ spacious textures and wispy vocal patterns. Some of the songs have a nice upbeat nursery rhyme feel to them which contrasts well with the more ominous pieces. The only minor fault I can find with this is that some of the feedback textures don't always match well with the stretched-out vocal explorations on the second side. However, most of the time it is successful and translates for a blissful escape from reality into inner fantasy worlds. Listening to this evokes meditative dream-states and introspective joy. This lady has stepped up her game a couple of notches with this release, and is finally getting some support with an appearance on this year's Deathbomb Arc Tape Series and upcoming vinyl on Gilgongo. Nice to see more Colorado locals getting in the 'limelight' that exists within the underground...
www.myspace.com/marriedinberdichev
stillsoftrecs.com

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MYSTIFIED: KRELL MUSE C-52(ABANDON SHIP RECORDS)
This project has been another one of those names that I've seen all over the Troniks board. His sounds, however, are a far cry from the 'harsh walls' craze so in vogue at the moment, bringing to mind the dark interior vapors of Nocturnal Emissions or early Coil . Deep dish drone served up with small bits of field recordings peppering the surface and adding subtle, barely-noticeable textures of slow-moving fear and disease. Much of Mystified's output could be termed as being minimal, repetitive, and hypnotic if experienced with headphones at the top of a hill, watching the sun set.
The Krell were natives of the planet Altair IV in the classic science fiction film Forbidden Planet. There's your reference point. Go snap some of this stuff up if you want dark sci-fi soundtracks.

sound crunch 1

2008-04-09T21:09:00.000-07:00

ASTRONAUTALIS: GOLD BONES CDR
nice, smooth hip-hop with dynamic vocals that sing, spit, and harmonize over the course of six tracks, several featuring collaborations with Colorado hip-hoppers Otem Relik, and Com. Pare. The beats are well-executed and the production stands out. Third track makes good sparing use of a Johnny Cash track that I would normally consider over-played right now, but it flows so well with the heavy message of the song that i totally overlook it. I got this EP at a house show by complete accident and fell for it right away. Hey, I can review something other than noise, all right? "The Audience: Skinny Fat Kids spins in a nice brief Wu-Tang sample over a jazzy beat, keeping this out of the usual cliches of white-boy electronic bliss hip-hop. And wow, even some nice sing-alongs as well on "Sea of Grass". See this dude on tour and see the light.

DIRTY LORDS: DEMO '05 (TUSCO EMBASSY)
Members of Ohio's Tusco Terror do nasty start and stop thrash with guitar feedback filling in the odd spaces between the blastbeats. The cover features a traditional metal-style gritty red and black photo of the guilty parties. Not straightforward at all, getting into some kind of proggy Lightning Bolt style jams for a few seconds before disintegrating into backwards tape and hollow, raw yelling. True insistence on this here lo-fi document that is for the fans of all things overblown, heavy and rotten despair. They get into these weird grooves that actually rock out a little bit before disintegrating into feedback buzz. Very nasty in that Cadaver in Drag/early Hair Police sort of fashion. Apparently there is supposed to be a new cassette from Tusco Embassy in the works for the future. This should still be available as well, so get it while its hot.
http://www.tuscoembassy.com/

SOUND CRUNCH 2

2008-04-06T14:35:00.000-07:00

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FROZEN BODY: SKIN TROUBLE ONE-SIDED C-24(I JUST LIVE HERE)
More scummy rattling pulses from Mike Zorman, who runs Vile Bile Tapes out of Portland, Oregon. I guess I'm a bit biased about this, seeing how the dude is my friend and I've released his work. But damn, there is some good stuff going on here. Weird shifts going on between low-end throbbing and high-end scree throughout this very precise piece. Somehow this reminds me of some aspects of Aaron Dilloway's tapes, but that is not to say that its a rip-off by any means. The whole piece has this organic feel to it, and the way the tones work in layers, building upon one another is very satisfying.

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BDRMPPL: S/T CDEP (STILL SOFT RECORDINGS)
strictly clubb jammmz from ex-Transistor Radio dude getting down with the progressive house Euro-fall out. Very nice soft rhythms on track 2 that have me feeling mellow. When Nick handed this to me, i was dazzled by the neon strobes flashing BDRMPPL on the cover and Carl Sagan chillin' with some cosmonauts and a space ape on the back. This makes me think that there is cosmic white-boy dub going on here with a nice light psychedelic feel. The 2 members made this record by collaboration over the internet, which isn't really apparent since the sound is very unified around some nice casio flourishes and sick 80's sounding high hat action. This record screams, "Take ecstasy with me!" and though I don't do that stuff, i might have to reconsider if BDRMPPL come to town. Definitely worth tracking down if you dig the blissed-out stuff.
stillsoftrecs.com/BDRMPPL.htm

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BUDWEISER SPRITE: MOUTHBREATHER C-30(IATROGENESIS)
low slurping tones criss-crossing your nerve impulses tinged with static plenty of distortion abuse on this one, but filtered through hovering fluttering strainers. gross-out edits with incredibly hypnotic tape delay sections. a true brain-fucker. with the way he builds monotonouse layers and then pulls then plug on the whole thing.... one of my favorite discoveries of 2007. New tape out now on Deathbomb Arc as well. All sounds courtesy of Dan Rizer of Shitty Vibe Smasher/Moisturizer/Together Tapes.

DAMNO TE: SERIAL KILLER SERIES CDR (SNAPPED IN HALF)
dynamic harsh noise utilizing pedals with rapid movement, although somtimes the movement gets a little bogged down in the one-two rhythm that pedal noise can have for me sometimes. although there are no vocals on any of the tracks, the sound is very reminiscent of early industrial/PE like SPK but more monotonously mind-numbing brain-suck of feedback bounce. i guess the theme of this is serial killers. i could care less about that honestly, as that theme only works for me most of the time when there are more extensive lyrics or art that suck me in. This CDR was preciously released as three 3-inch cdrs in 2005. i could care less about that honestly. "32 For Bela Kiss" has breakbeat-y drumbeat stuff going on that i could do without, sounds kind of cheeseball 'tuff' like goth-rave, if ya ask me. that is not to say that all of this album is not worth your time listening, its just that volume-saturated white static played through five distortion pedals won't get you far with me, especially if there's any "wall-riding" going on at all. The last track is pretty much redeems the previous six, with its heavy synth tones and scree tone clusters making constant shifts. i probably woud've liked this whole album if the drum machine patters were erased. five of ten.
www.snappedinhalf.blogspot.com

2008-01-22T11:35:00.001-08:00

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POLLY SHANG KUAN BAND: HOWL CDR (SELF-RELEASED)
One of my favorite groups of weirdoes deploying warped banshee vocals and lurching tape atmospheres that have a real organic sense of ominous, bent terror behind them. PSKB has existed for the better part of a decade now, with a shifting line-up of various participants getting dirty with principal member Karen Constance of Smack Music 7 and Blood Stereo. The line-up has solidified lately around Constance and 2 members of deceased bone-shakers Leopard Leg, which has seen the group up recording and live shows in the past couple of years. And we get to reap the wonderful results, like this offering of chain gang moaning that stays true to the distinct way that these three ladies meld their sound cauldrons. The second track is kind of a surprise for me, sounding way close to Spacemen 3 jamming keys with various members of Vibracathedral Orchestra. Deep transcendent drone drift that will hypnotize your ears. Full-color cover artwork by Karen Constance is a definite treat as well.
http://www.myspace.com/thepollyshangkuanband

NOVA-SAK: ALPHA CD (TRIPLE BATH)
This newest full-length from Denver noise veteran Nova-Sak brings a change in direction from the last few split cdrs that i received from Todd. Crud heave of mud synths scraping ugly buzzing overtones throughout the first track, more slower modular movement. Although some elements are too digital for my particular taste, it comes across as a forceful, metamorphic statement. Cold, industrial drone in bleak forms. Squeaks and ticks punctuating long, undulating plasma waves of dead signal, long downer jouneys on the way to oblivion. Part 2 is my favorite track, a slow-moving jammer of intense proportions kind of reminding me of one of the slowest-mudslides I've heard in a while. Three long tracks of signal decay from a Colorado mainstay that is finally getting his due with an appearance on this year's Deathbomb Arc Tape Series, which you can subscribe to here:
http://deathbombarc.com/releases/dba085.htm
Swamp of Pus:http://www.swampofpus.com

TABLES AND CHAIRS: THE NORTH AND SOUTH PULL CDR (FIR TRADERS UNION)
Ambient drippings from my hometown of Fort Collins, Colorado. Tables and Chairs play minimal, spaced electronic music, drenching every note in echo and reverb, this is good sounds for drinking tea in the sunlight and other such life-affirming activities.
Those into the pixellated soundscapes of Fennesz or newer Growing will enjoy this one. All of these are slow-movers, so this works well as background sound for me more than something I could listen to repeatedly. Not bad though, for the currently very saturated 'genre' of electro-acoustic minimalism. They played at an art show here recently, accompanied by manipulated footage of outer space voyages, which relates very well to how this album sounds: patient and meditative. www.myspace.com/firtradersunion

Green Mist and PLETHORA/ At Jennie Richie

2008-01-07T17:55:00.000-08:00

here ya got 2 new tapes from the basement... Green Mist is the inventive nom de plume of Dallas, resident of Brighton, who has released cdrs and cassettes on labels such as Chocolate Monk, Curor, Sick Head Tapes, RundownSun, and Turgid Animal. This one's a slice of live destruction of walkmen with the crowd drunkenly cheering along. As far as you're going to get from academic noise. C-30's with hand-printed labels and B and W cover art. $5 each. Edition of 66.
Other new tape comes from Seattle's PLETHORA and At Jennie Richie, who each contribute a track to the first side and a collaboration on the B-Side. Heavy looming drones and sound collage from the outer realms. AJR has been creeping around corners anonymously for a few years now via an extensive back catalogue on labels such as Enterruption, What We Do Is Secret, Stentorian Tapes, and Psychform. 10 minutes total. Edition of 54 with pro-printed full-color glossy covers courtesy of Stan Reed. $5 each.

NU MESS

2007-11-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

NEW COLLAGES FROM THOMAS KINKAID

things are quiet here at Basement Tapes... there is talk of a change of location. New Ratface tapes surfacing shortly with the long-awaited Green Mist cassette. Too much recording and playing shows rather than working on label stuff. Also absorbing a wonderful book by Jeremy Scahill on Blackwater, which you should all read more about. terrifying in a very real way. and you thought Pat Robertson was scary...

On November 10th, I will be performing a soundtrack at Naropa University in Boulder, for a film by Todd Novosad of Denver... all analog-to-shit processing involved. A document of this will be released as well on Todd's label, Swamp of Pus, as a 3" Dvdr encased in sheet metal. Pictures are up on the Swamp of Pus website:http://www.swampofpus.com/sop-main.html Copies should be available at the show and Swamp of Pus. I should also be getting a few artist copies as well, so get in touch SOON, as i think Todd only made 30 or so of these. Thanks Todd!

2007-10-07T12:03:00.000-07:00

here's some pictures of the new RATFACE cassettes and the TORTURING NURSE cassette!!!
NEXT UP: DISEASED VISIONS
GREEN MIST

OTHER ITEMS STILL AVAILABLE.

2007-09-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

------------BASEMENT TAPE ITEMS-----------------

BT06 DUDE WAR: IRON CURTAIN C-20 Two Denver dudes provide the soundtrack to the neo-fascist future. Evil synth burps and motor(ik) hummm into the eardrum with vocal weirdness. edition of 40, 10 left. $4 each.

BT31 STERILE GARDEN: BAD TOASTING FOR CONCRETE CDR Collaborative version of SG with Travis Egedy and Justin Kinnett, recorded live to tape on a dim saturday morning in spring 2007. edition of 50 with spraypainted covers on pro cardstock. $3 each,.

BT O1 CHRISTIAN METH S/T CDR U don't want this, trust me... new album out later this year... edition of 55, 1 left! $4 each.

BT14 TORTURING NURSE: IN C ICE AGE C-20 Juny and Youki hail from Shanghai, China and have gained notoriety throughout the international noise community for their prolific output and raw live shows and collaborations with gonkos like Mutant Ape, Fecalove, Oubliette, and many others. "IN C ICE AGE" finds the duo utilizing turntables, vocals, and pedals to psychedellic harsh zones previously unheard. Edition of 50 on cardstock with spray-painted cassettes and full liner notes. $5 each.

RATFACE SURFACES, NEW STERILE GARDEN CDR

2007-09-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

New tapes from the basement!!! Hopefully as things progress in the future, this will be the main website for Basement Tapes and my associated sound projects instead of the Myspace profile which is here: www.myspace.com/boilerroomemissions

RATFACE: THE SALTON SEA VOLUME ONE C-47 $4 each or trade. edition of 20. Awful, what is this??? Not gonna tell you what the equipment was to make this wreckage of a tape, but its scuzz all the way through, kids. Hand-printed covers... no information. no future. What happens when you get to the bottom of the toxic lake? New mutant forms...

RATFACE: THE SALTON SEA VOLUME TWO C-30 $4 each or trade. edition of 22. More of the same, just worse recording quality...

STERILE GARDEN: BAD TOASTING FOR CONCRETE CDR collaborative version of SG with Travis Egedy(Pictureplane) and Justin Kinnett(Man//Beast). Very heavy and monotonous. Edition of 50.