Tag: Electric Guitar

Out Now! Mardit B. Lleshi – Bledi Boraku – Saggio

Our next release is ‘Saggio‘ by Mardit B. Lleshi and Bledi Boraku which is a collaborative album from these two Albanian musicians. The album combines Bledi’s electric guitar tones with the timbres of Mardit’s cello compositions. The minimalist artwork of a dimly lit church shot from outside at night, reflects the imposing yet inviting nature of the music. This album is out now in a run of 100 CDrs, in our signature gatefold vinyl-effect packaging. If you follow us on Bandcamp (Click HERE) we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear about future releases. Or you can become a subscriber and receive our monthly newsletters by clicking HERE

press release
“In this album we welcome Albanian musicians and artists Bledi Boraku and Mardit B. Lleshi, with their album called ‘Saggio’. Their work together combines Bledi’s electric guitar tones with Mardit’s textured cello timbres. Whilst they work together regularly in live performances, this album is their official debut release.

The album was performed and recorded live, capturing the acoustics of the room as a key component of this record. This gives the album another dimension from contemporary classical music, which tends to be produced pristinely, with high-end mixing equipment. There is a balance of darkness and warmth throughout these pieces, which play through seamlessly as one continuous listen.

The impression is given of a live concert, perhaps inside a dimly-lit church as depicted by Benet Nelku’s cover artwork. The grandeur of the church from the outside dark alongside the power of the music is imposing, yet inviting. Inside, a charm and character unravels; Peter Nejedly’s photo in the CD sleeve shows a tired old roof with its dusty beams. Tales from the centuries would be told, if these beams could speak. Instead, the music beams through in the detailed layers of Saggio, a word which translates to ‘wise’.“

credits

Composed, performed & recorded by
Bledi Boraku (electric guitar) – Mardit B. Lleshi (cello)
Tirana, Albania
Mixed by Dritëro Nikqi – Studio C (Prishtinë)
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Front image – photo by Benet Nelku
Inner image – photo by Peter Nejedly
Design by Andrew Heath

Packaging photos

Here’s a glimpse of the packaging files, which you can see via the slideshow below:

out now! matt atkins & slow clinic – earthtides I

Here’s the first of our two new releases for April. For this one, we welcome British label owners Matt Atkins (MRM) and James Edward Armstrong as Slow Clinic (Rusted Tone). They collaborated here in the album ‘Earthtides I‘, in which Matt provided his studio-recorded piano compositions for James’ additional processing, in which electric guitar and field recordings were added.

Earthtides I is out now in a run of 100 copies! The best way to keep informed about our low-run releases, is to join our mailing list, and we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear!

press release
“Matt Atkins is a London based sound and visual artist who uses various sources create sound collages. He runs the Minimal Resource Manipulation label and his music has appeared on labels such as Rusted Tone Recordings, Tone Burst and Anticipating Nowhere.

Slow Clinic is the solo performance and recording project of James Edward Armstrong. James has released music on labels including Archives, Assembly Field and Champion Version, as well as his own label Rusted Tone. In 2018 we released ‘Discarded Things Once Loved’ in a limited edition run of 50 CDrs, followed by 2019’s ‘Green Echo’, a collaboration with Jazzdefector.

Both of these artists are regular collaborators and ‘Earthtides I’ is the second album to come from a collaboration between Matt and James, following the release of ‘Enfolding’ via Rusted Tone Recordings in November 2020. Recorded between March and May 2021, this album began with a selection of piano loops recorded by Matt at OneCat Studio in Brixton, London. The piano loops were sent to James to layer heavily processed guitar, textural sounds, and field recordings gathered around the UK.“

credits

Music by Matt Atkins & James Edward Armstrong

Piano recorded by John Clayton at OneCat Studio
Layout and design by Andrew Heath
Cover art by Harry Towell
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong