Today we have a new edition in our digital-only series, eRecords! ‘manichees and madmen’ is an album from Malmö, Sweden based artist John Reidar Holmes with a record which blends electronic ambience with guitar-led electro acoustics.
eRecords is a digital record series created by Whitelabrecs, to run alongside our physical releases. These editions aim to transform the digital format into something that can be experienced in a similar way to a listener’s interaction with a real, white label vinyl record. Each edition includes a special PDF scrapbook including polaroids and liner notes.
We do not publish details about the concepts or production methods of a release so that the liner notes and content in each scrapbook will reveal the background of each edition in the series.
catalog: eR011 artist: john reidar holmes release title: manichees and madmen release type: album location: malmö, sweden
released september 24, 2022
Written and produced by John Reidar Holmes Mastered by John Reidar Holmes Cover artwork by Philip Elvin Holmes Art and design by Harry Towell
You can find out more information about eRecords in our landing page link, below:
Here’s the second of two releases out now on Whitelabrecs, fresh for September. ‘Cloud Anthems‘ is a set of misty piano and synth vignettes, combining moody compositions with vintage synth abstractions. It’s out now in a run of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrsafter a short pre-order on Bandcamp Friday. The best way to keep informed about our low-run releases, is to join ourmailing list, and we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear!
press release “Once again, we’re excited to unveil another Polaroid Notes release, the fourth album by this Germany based artist in our discography. Alongside his side-project as Kraut Sounds, editions have also appeared on labels such as Büro Für Erdrotation, Weber & Alcantu and his own label Drone Works International.
In this latest edition ‘Cloud Anthems’, the music takes influence from the packaging photography, which was taken by the artist one sunny January at the Riegsee, a small lake in front of the Bavarian Alps. The entire lake had frozen over due to low temperatures in the weeks before. Later that afternoon fog rolled in and together with the sun, the frozen lake and leafless trees made a wonderful contrast. The whole scenario lasted only a few minutes before everything disappeared into the clouds of dense fog. As beautiful as the whole day was, those few moments were something very special to behold.
Polaroid Notes enjoys these contrasts, both in nature and in music too. ‘Cloud Anthems’ is a series of unique contrasts that harmonise perfectly, remaining in mind for a while after they have passed. Piano sounds and loops interact with flashes of harsh energy and strange experimental sounds from old analog synthesizers. A particular focus for this record is the VCS3 synthesiser, a portable synth from the late 60s; whilst a digital replica was used here, the artist found this to be the perfect way to express the themes for this record. Sounds and melodies flow into each other spontaneously like colours of an abstract painting, layer by layer.“
credits Written and produced by Polaroid Notes Mastered by James Edward Armstrong Photography by Polaroid Notes Art and design by Andrew Heath
Here’s one of two releases out now on Whitelabrecs, fresh for September. ‘A Is For Autumn‘ will soundtrack your ascent into the colder months (although not all parts of the world) and is out now in a run of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs after a short pre-order on Bandcamp Friday. The best way to keep informed about our low-run releases, is to join ourmailing list, and we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear!
press release “This record combines the work of two artists who have previously released solo and collaborative albums for Whitelabrecs. Andrew Heath is renowned for quiet, lowercase Ambient music, with his music appearing on labels such as Giraffe Tapes, Shimmering Moods, Rusted Tone, not to mention regular contributions for Disco Gecko and Whitelabrecs. Simon McCorry is a cellist and composer, who has been working for theatre, dance and film for over 15 years. His work in the contemporary Ambient sphere has seen releases on the likes of Naviar Records, Polar Seas, Shimmering Moods and Hidden Vibes.
Both artists are also keen collaborators, with discographies listing co-production work with the likes of Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Anne Chris Bakker, Anthéne, James Osland, Mi Cosa de Resistance and Toby Marks between them. For the first time, these two Stroud, UK based artists have worked together to create a soundtrack themed around the onset of Autumn, clocking in at almost an hour.
Andrew and Simon bring together their love of improvisation to create ‘A Is For Autumn’ which sits between tonal, electronic minimalism and neo-classical restraint – a warm balm for cold autumn days. Using a different palette of sounds for each of the recording sessions from instruments such as cello and modular, to piano and guitar, they engender a constantly shifting tone to these soundscape pieces, all influenced and informed by the time of year – a rich mellowing of landscape and of a withdrawing into a more intimate space as the year slows and the light levels fall away.
The rhythms of the world’s internal clock appear ever more skewed in these times, and the timing of the seasons are becoming more unpredictable. For some, Autumn may fall at a different time to the rest of the world and for some, not at all. This album is a homage to Autumn, as interpreted by the artists. For the listener, this might tap into your own memories of this colourful season. Or, it may transport you into the environment that has been created.“
credits Written and produced by Andrew Heath & Simon McCorry Mastered by Ian Hawgood Photography by Rita Kuklenko Art and design by Andrew Heath
Our new release ‘Cloud Anthems‘ will be available officially in one of our typically low runs of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrson Saturday the 10th of Septemberafter a pre-order on the 1st of September, on Bandcamp Friday. If you click here: mailing list, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.
press release “Once again, we’re excited to unveil another Polaroid Notes release, the fourth album by this Germany based artist in our discography. Alongside his side-project as Kraut Sounds, editions have also appeared on labels such as Büro Für Erdrotation, Weber & Alcantu and his own label Drone Works International.
In this latest edition ‘Cloud Anthems’, the music takes influence from the packaging photography, which was taken by the artist one sunny January at the Riegsee, a small lake in front of the Bavarian Alps. The entire lake had frozen over due to low temperatures in the weeks before. Later that afternoon fog rolled in and together with the sun, the frozen lake and leafless trees made a wonderful contrast. The whole scenario lasted only a few minutes before everything disappeared into the clouds of dense fog. As beautiful as the whole day was, those few moments were something very special to behold.
Polaroid Notes enjoys these contrasts, both in nature and in music too. ‘Cloud Anthems’ is a series of unique contrasts that harmonise perfectly, remaining in mind for a while after they have passed. Piano sounds and loops interact with flashes of harsh energy and strange experimental sounds from old analog synthesizers. A particular focus for this record is the VCS3 synthesiser, a portable synth from the late 60s; whilst a digital replica was used here, the artist found this to be the perfect way to express the themes for this record. Sounds and melodies flow into each other spontaneously like colours of an abstract painting, layer by layer.“
credits Written and produced by Polaroid Notes Mastered by James Edward Armstrong Photography by Polaroid Notes Art and design by Andrew Heath
Our new release ‘A Is For Autumn‘ will be available officially in one of our typically low runs of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs on Saturday the 10th of Septemberafter a pre-order on the 1st of September, on Bandcamp Friday. If you click here: mailing list, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.
press release “This record combines the work of two artists who have previously released solo and collaborative albums for Whitelabrecs. Andrew Heath is renowned for quiet, lowercase Ambient music, with his music appearing on labels such as Giraffe Tapes, Shimmering Moods, Rusted Tone, not to mention regular contributions for Disco Gecko and Whitelabrecs. Simon McCorry is a cellist and composer, who has been working for theatre, dance and film for over 15 years. His work in the contemporary Ambient sphere has seen releases on the likes of Naviar Records, Polar Seas, Shimmering Moods and Hidden Vibes.
Both artists are also keen collaborators, with discographies listing co-production work with the likes of Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Anne Chris Bakker, Anthéne, James Osland, Mi Cosa de Resistance and Toby Marks between them. For the first time, these two Stroud, UK based artists have worked together to create a soundtrack themed around the onset of Autumn, clocking in at almost an hour.
Andrew and Simon bring together their love of improvisation to create ‘A Is For Autumn’ which sits between tonal, electronic minimalism and neo-classical restraint – a warm balm for cold autumn days. Using a different palette of sounds for each of the recording sessions from instruments such as cello and modular, to piano and guitar, they engender a constantly shifting tone to these soundscape pieces, all influenced and informed by the time of year – a rich mellowing of landscape and of a withdrawing into a more intimate space as the year slows and the light levels fall away.
The rhythms of the world’s internal clock appear ever more skewed in these times, and the timing of the seasons are becoming more unpredictable. For some, Autumn may fall at a different time to the rest of the world and for some, not at all. This album is a homage to Autumn, as interpreted by the artists. For the listener, this might tap into your own memories of this colourful season. Or, it may transport you into the environment that has been created.“
credits Written and produced by Andrew Heath & Simon McCorry Mastered by Ian Hawgood Photography by Rita Kuklenko Art and design by Andrew Heath
Here’s the second of two new editions out today, in our August releases. This one’s by Guelph, Canada-based artist Fossil Hunting Collective and it’s entitled Cyanotype, based around the cover artwork, provided by the artist’s wife Richelle Forsey. The sound is a blend of Ambient, electro-acoustics with hints of Post Rock, riding a bed of tape-eroded textures.
Cyanotypeis out now in a run of 100 copies! The best way to keep informed about our low-run releases, is to join ourmailing list, and we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear!
press release “Fossil Hunting Collective is musician and sound artist Jamie Jones, from Guelph in Canada who has been active under this artist name since 2019. He has previously released music on labels such as Ambientologist, ROHS, Polar Seas and Rusted Tone Recordings across this project name and as (ph)authers (alongside Hymns57) and Still Harbours (with Brad Deschamps). Followers of our discography may also recall 2020’s contribution to our Home Diaries series, entitled ‘Aperture’.
‘Cyanotype’ was made primarily, via the beautiful surprises thrown out of various guitar pedals along with re-amped loops played back through old cassette recorders. Whilst virtual plugins are also used throughout the process, Jones places an emphasis on the physical too, with his small body acoustic guitar strung with nylons, a Jazzmaster guitar, a baritone ukulele and reel to reel tape. The sound is a heady blend of melancholy, nostalgic and life-affirming movements, using droning texture, tape decay and loosely performed instrumentation to tell dreamy stories.
The theme for this album was born out of the emotions that Jones pours into his music, as he contemplates the day-to-day struggles of his daughter Hunter, who has been Type 1 Diabetic for the last two years of their life. This autoimmune disease can be life-threatening if not managed correctly and around 95% of Jones’ headspace is occupied with worry, as follows strict procedures to count carbohydrates, weigh out food and monitor blood sugar metrics to ensure that his daughter does not become hypoglycaemic, which could lead to a coma. Controlling this disease is a full-time job and one which Jones carries the weight of at all times. The worry, care and withered energy levels mean that these emotions surface their way into the music, when he sits down in his studio late at night.
The album is a homage to what Hunter must go through each day of their life, living with Type 1 Diabetes. No child or parent should have to go through this. No child should need to understand how it all works, but they are forced to wonder ‘why me’. On top of the weight of the emotional trauma, there is a physical trauma that comes with being injected with devices and life-saving medication numerous times a day, until a cure can be found. Jones and his family are keen to remind themselves when they can, that the disease does not define the being, and they still celebrate all the positive splendour life can offer. These tracks are an emotional journey of the day-to-day; there is the good and the bad, days of hope and wonder, days of melancholy and sadness. Above all, they are not alone in this fight, and they all work together as a unit, protecting their family bond fiercely, like bees.
At an age of around 18 months, Hunter adopted the nickname ‘B’, after being so enthralled with their bee costume for Halloween that they continued to wear on many occasions afterwards. The track titles for this album are all influenced by bee related terminology but also, in some cases there are double meanings, such as ‘Apiary’ (meaning home), ‘Castes’ (members of the family) ‘Mellitus Propolis’ combines Mellitus (Latin for sweet)) used in describing Diabetes Mellitus and Propolis (the resin that bees use to hold hives together).
The album package makes use of the artist’s wife Richelle Forsey, who is a visual artist. Richelle often employs a process using the energy of the sun (ultra violet) to expose a camera-less image on paper coated with iron salts. This is called a cyanotype and the paper undergoes a chemical reaction which fixes the image, thus creating an imprinted monochrome ‘blueprint’.
Cyanotype is the culmination and the idea of embracing your everyday surroundings despite individual struggles. This artist believes that everyone has an innate desire to feel the warmth of the sun, a close bond with those they hold dearly and an aspiration to create their own everlasting blueprint whilst on earth. The sun produces the light and heat source required for the existence and propagation of all things. Without bees for pollination or the sun we do not flourish. Without the sun, there is no Cyanotype.“
credits Written and produced by Jamie Jones Mastered by James Edward Armstrong Cyanotype artwork by Richelle Forsey Art and design by Andrew Heath
We have two new releases out today for August and the first sees the return of Krakow, Poland based artist Pruski, who has previously released the albums Playgroundand Whispersas well as Home Diaries 005. ‘Moments of Immersion‘ is an album of further Ambient explorations, combining field recordings, processed tape sounds and modular synth into 8 electro-acoustic compositions.
Moments of Immersionis out now in a run of 100 copies, as well as some highly highly limited vinyl editions, which will be available directly from Pruski in a run of 10 copies. The best way to keep informed about our low-run releases, is to join ourmailing list, and we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear!
press release “Pruski is a Polish electronic artist, also known for producing music under the name of Minoo. Previous albums have appeared on labels including Asfalt, Mad-Hop and Post Label, as well as ‘Whisper’ and ‘Playground’ featuring within our Whitelabrecs discography. Active since 2007, Paweł Pruski has also performed live at festivals such as Freedom Festival, Tauron Nowa Muzyka and WRO with visits to several countries including Germany, Italy and China. In recent times, he has recorded under his surname, focusing on the more experimental variants of electronic music to express his ideas in an ambient and electro-acoustic aesthetic.
‘Moments of Immersion’ is Pruski’s sixth album. The album is a development of earlier ambient experiments and techniques and there is a balance of three elements: field recordings, processed tape sounds and modular synthesizer. The title of the album alludes to the immersion in several moments. It is not a reflection of some space or time but rather, of experienced moments. Interpretation of subjective experiences from which individual elements have been removed, leaves only a hazy outline of a background. It is a development of the main idea of ambient, in which the music harmonises with a specific space. In this case, the space is changed with the feelings of the moment, for whoever is listening.“
credits Written and Produced by Paweł Pruski Mastered by Miniature Records Art and Design by Andrew Heath and Paweł Pruski
Our new release ‘Cyanotype‘ will be available officially in one of our typically low runs of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs on Saturday the 13th of Augustafter a pre-order the week before. If you click here: mailing list, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.
press release “Fossil Hunting Collective is musician and sound artist Jamie Jones, from Guelph in Canada who has been active under this artist name since 2019. He has previously released music on labels such as Ambientologist, ROHS, Polar Seas and Rusted Tone Recordings across this project name and as (ph)authers (alongside Hymns57) and Still Harbours (with Brad Deschamps). Followers of our discography may also recall 2020’s contribution to our Home Diaries series, entitled ‘Aperture’.
‘Cyanotype’ was made primarily, via the beautiful surprises thrown out of various guitar pedals along with re-amped loops played back through old cassette recorders. Whilst virtual plugins are also used throughout the process, Jones places an emphasis on the physical too, with his small body acoustic guitar strung with nylons, a Jazzmaster guitar, a baritone ukulele and reel to reel tape. The sound is a heady blend of melancholy, nostalgic and life-affirming movements, using droning texture, tape decay and loosely performed instrumentation to tell dreamy stories.
The theme for this album was born out of the emotions that Jones pours into his music, as he contemplates the day-to-day struggles of his daughter Hunter, who has been Type 1 Diabetic for the last two years of their life. This autoimmune disease can be life-threatening if not managed correctly and around 95% of Jones’ headspace is occupied with worry, as follows strict procedures to count carbohydrates, weigh out food and monitor blood sugar metrics to ensure that his daughter does not become hypoglycaemic, which could lead to a coma. Controlling this disease is a full-time job and one which Jones carries the weight of at all times. The worry, care and withered energy levels mean that these emotions surface their way into the music, when he sits down in his studio late at night.
The album is a homage to what Hunter must go through each day of their life, living with Type 1 Diabetes. No child or parent should have to go through this. No child should need to understand how it all works, but they are forced to wonder ‘why me’. On top of the weight of the emotional trauma, there is a physical trauma that comes with being injected with devices and life-saving medication numerous times a day, until a cure can be found. Jones and his family are keen to remind themselves when they can, that the disease does not define the being, and they still celebrate all the positive splendour life can offer. These tracks are an emotional journey of the day-to-day; there is the good and the bad, days of hope and wonder, days of melancholy and sadness. Above all, they are not alone in this fight, and they all work together as a unit, protecting their family bond fiercely, like bees.
At an age of around 18 months, Hunter adopted the nickname ‘B’, after being so enthralled with their bee costume for Halloween that they continued to wear on many occasions afterwards. The track titles for this album are all influenced by bee related terminology but also, in some cases there are double meanings, such as ‘Apiary’ (meaning home), ‘Castes’ (members of the family) ‘Mellitus Propolis’ combines Mellitus (Latin for sweet)) used in describing Diabetes Mellitus and Propolis (the resin that bees use to hold hives together).
The album package makes use of the artist’s wife Richelle Forsey, who is a visual artist. Richelle often employs a process using the energy of the sun (ultra violet) to expose a camera-less image on paper coated with iron salts. This is called a cyanotype and the paper undergoes a chemical reaction which fixes the image, thus creating an imprinted monochrome ‘blueprint’.
Cyanotype is the culmination and the idea of embracing your everyday surroundings despite individual struggles. This artist believes that everyone has an innate desire to feel the warmth of the sun, a close bond with those they hold dearly and an aspiration to create their own everlasting blueprint whilst on earth. The sun produces the light and heat source required for the existence and propagation of all things. Without bees for pollination or the sun we do not flourish. Without the sun, there is no Cyanotype.“
credits Written and produced by Jamie Jones Mastered by James Edward Armstrong Cyanotype artwork by Richelle Forsey Art and design by Andrew Heath
Our new release ‘Moments of Immersion‘ will be available officially in one of our typically low runs of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs on Saturday the 13th of August after a pre-order the week before. If you click here: mailing list, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.
press release “Pruski is a Polish electronic artist, also known for producing music under the name of Minoo. Previous albums have appeared on labels including Asfalt, Mad-Hop and Post Label, as well as ‘Whisper’ and ‘Playground’ featuring within our Whitelabrecs discography. Active since 2007, Paweł Pruski has also performed live at festivals such as Freedom Festival, Tauron Nowa Muzyka and WRO with visits to several countries including Germany, Italy and China. In recent times, he has recorded under his surname, focusing on the more experimental variants of electronic music to express his ideas in an ambient and electro-acoustic aesthetic.
‘Moments of Immersion’ is Pruski’s sixth album. The album is a development of earlier ambient experiments and techniques and there is a balance of three elements: field recordings, processed tape sounds and modular synthesizer. The title of the album alludes to the immersion in several moments. It is not a reflection of some space or time but rather, of experienced moments. Interpretation of subjective experiences from which individual elements have been removed, leaves only a hazy outline of a background. It is a development of the main idea of ambient, in which the music harmonises with a specific space. In this case, the space is changed with the feelings of the moment, for whoever is listening.“
credits Written and Produced by Paweł Pruski Mastered by Miniature Records Art and Design by Andrew Heath and Paweł Pruski
We have two new releases out today for July and in this one, we have a collaboration between Logic Moon and Henrik Meierkord, with an album of deep modern classical drones, created using Meierkord’s cello, viola and double bass recordings and guitar soundscapes by Logic Moon.
Inseln is out now in a run of 100 copies! The best way to keep informed about our low-run releases, is to join ourmailing list, and we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear!
press release “In this collaborative record called ‘Inseln’, we welcome back Logic Moon, who contributed 2019’s ‘I See Planets’ to our discography, alongside cellist, musician and composer Henrik Meierkord. Logic Moon is Mainz, Germany based artist Tobias Lorsbach, who has also released music on labels such as Archives, Ambientologist and Faint. Henrik Meierkord is based in Stockholm, Sweden and he has numerous self-released records in his discography, alongside work for Ambientologist, Subcontinental Records and Hibernate.
‘Inseln’ translates to mean islands and this record is intended to be a journey to beautiful imaginary paradise islands, far far away, in a time set way back in ancient history. Whilst cliché would have us think of exotic sun-soaked lands, full of vibrant colour and a thick, palpable heat, on listening to this record it will become apparent that the journey to paradise is not so simple. Tobias’ droning synthesizer soundscapes combined with Meierkord’s meditative strings, transport us to a medieval world, perhaps in times before we had discovered the existence of paradise, and when travel was an enormous challenge.
This album plays through the struggles of a journey to paradise, escaping the known present in search of an unknown, unpromising utopia. As we discover each new island, we can see another one on the horizon, lying undiscovered; an endless paradise only another struggle-filled journey away.“
credits Written and Produced by Tobias Lorsbach & Henrik Meierkord Mixed and Mastered by Tobias Lorsbach, Mainz/Stockholm Painting by Maliana Wang Art and Design by Andrew Heath
Tobias Lorsbach : Synthesizers, Piano and Soundscapes Henrik Meierkord : Cello, Viola, Doublebass
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