Tag: Guy Gelem

new mix show! vervine003

It seems like ages since we last made a Vervine mix show and this is largely down to having moved house. These shows are great fun to make, but we’ve seen why it would have been difficult to commit to a monthly show. So after a bit of a new year pause, here’s the next Vervine show, as usual, hosted by our label owner Harry Towell.

This third show features recent Whitelabrecs pieces from the likes of Guy Gelem, Peter Kvidera, Wodwo, Glåsbird, thisfloatingworld and a piece from Hoshiko Yamane’s forthcoming album. It also features jazz, shoegaze, folk, indie, chillout and ambient music and then this show is rounded off with a Deep House mix.

The cover artwork for this new show was created from a photo of a painting from Harry’s daughter Emily, who was learning one day last year about paint, colour and art, with the help of her Mummy. Harry was struck by its abstract shapes, colours and texture and knew he’d use it in a musical project sometime.

Already we’re planning the next show and we hope it won’t be too long a wait next time. But for now, here’s Vervine003:



Tracklist:
01 Masako Ohta/Matthias Lindermayr – La
02 Guy Gelem – Relocations
03 Joel Vandroogenbroeck – Mutation
04 Ballake Sissoko & Patrick Messina & Vincent Segal – Jeu Sur La Symphonie Fantastique
05 Tokyo Bloodworm – Pale The Clerics Pass
06 Wodwo – Veils
07 Peter Kvidera – Obsaženo
08 Afterlife – Dust
09 TLF Trio – Suite X
10 Hoshiko Yamane – Patiently
11 Harry Towell & Sven Laux – Ground Moraine
12 Tone – Dawn
13 Glåsbird – Tired Seams
14 Efterklang – The Living Layer
15 thisfloatingworld – airs
16 Alan Licht – Raw Deal
17 Telly Quin – My Funny Side Up
18 Pender Street Slippers – The Glass City
19 Jonas Palzer – Friendssection
20 Hamatsuki – Kandzaia
21 Izmo – Echoes
22 Jump Source – S Recovery
23 Nacho Riveros – Moment Of My Life
24 Yadava – Heart Strings
25 Edward White – Cool Water
26 Fantastic Man – St. Elmo’s Theme
27 Intr0beatz – Trees Breez
28 Tour-Maubourg – Might Groove
29 D’Arabia – Key Lime (Harry Wolfman Remix)
30 Zoo Look – I Can’t Deny

Out Now! Guy Gelem – Passing by and Through

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Here’s the second of our two new releases for February, with this one being from Israel’s Guy Gelem. We’ve been working with Guy Gelem for years now; in fact, ever since 2016 when his album ‘Entirety’ helped kick-off the label in its inaugural year. His latest album ‘Passing by and Through‘ blends cello and guitar with casio keyboard sounds and field recordings, rounded off by the specially painted cover artwork from Amit. The album is out today in a run of 100 gold edition vinyl-effect CDrs. If you follow us on Bandcamp (Click HERE) we’ll keep you updated when we have new releases.

press release
“Guy Gelem is a composer from Israel, who returns to the Whitelabrecs discography following digital release ‘Scenario’ and 2016’s ‘Entirety’. Guy has also created music for labels including Rural Colours, Split Femur, Quiet Design, Mini 50 ,Time Released Sound and Polar Seas. With the latter, he collaborated alongside Whitelabrecs owner Harry Towell, in an album called ‘Restful Spaces’.

Guy performs cello as part of ensembles and also comes from a background of playing electric guitar in bands. Since focusing on his own solo compositions, he typically combines both of these instruments together in his work, influenced by many styles including neo classical, jazz, electronic, post rock, Arabic and North African music.

For his latest album ‘Passing by and Through’, Guy began by recording layers of organic sounds, such as field recordings and some experiments on a Casio Earl 90 keyboard, as well as cello and guitar performances. Improvisation and an experimental approach was central to the creation of this music, focusing on a central nostalgic theme as the creative force. This album is dedicated to Guy’s personal journey in life so far, a fusion of periods, places, chapters, situations and other sentimental motifs. Each track title gives the listener clues about the detail that inspired the music. Nostalgia often brings about melancholy feelings but Guy wanted this record to glance optimistically towards the future too.“

credits

Written and produced by Guy Gelem
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Amit
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Coming soon… Guy Gelem – Passing by and Through

Our next release is ‘Passing by and Through‘ by Guy Gelem from Israel, who returns to Whitelabrecs following 2016’s Entirety and 2021’s Scenario. This album features cello and guitar as the main focal points, along with Casio keyboard sounds and field recordings. This album will be available officially in a run of 100 CDrs in our signature gatefold vinyl-effect sleeves and will be out officially on Saturday the 18th of February after a pre-order on the 3rd of February. If you follow us on Bandcamp (Click HERE) we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

press release
“Guy Gelem is a composer from Israel, who returns to the Whitelabrecs discography following digital release ‘Scenario’ and 2016’s ‘Entirety’. Guy has also created music for labels including Rural Colours, Split Femur, Quiet Design, Mini 50 ,Time Released Sound and Polar Seas. With the latter, he collaborated alongside Whitelabrecs owner Harry Towell, in an album called ‘Restful Spaces’.

Guy performs cello as part of ensembles and also comes from a background of playing electric guitar in bands. Since focusing on his own solo compositions, he typically combines both of these instruments together in his work, influenced by many styles including neo classical, jazz, electronic, post rock, Arabic and North African music.

For his latest album ‘Passing by and Through’, Guy began by recording layers of organic sounds, such as field recordings and some experiments on a Casio Earl 90 keyboard, as well as cello and guitar performances. Improvisation and an experimental approach was central to the creation of this music, focusing on a central nostalgic theme as the creative force. This album is dedicated to Guy’s personal journey in life so far, a fusion of periods, places, chapters, situations and other sentimental motifs. Each track title gives the listener clues about the detail that inspired the music. Nostalgia often brings about melancholy feelings but Guy wanted this record to glance optimistically towards the future too.“

credits

Written and produced by Guy Gelem
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Amit
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Out Now! Harry Towell & Friends – Petrologist’s Lens

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Here’s our first release of 2023 which is called ‘Petrologist’s Lens‘ by our label owner Harry Towell as Harry Towell & Friends. It was made in collaboration with 12 artists who have had 2 or more releases on Whitelabrecs over the years. This album is out today in two runs of 100 CDrs; a standard gold edition, and a special marble-effect version. Both packaging versions include a 16 page booklet in our gatefold vinyl-effect. If you follow us on Bandcamp (Click HERE) we’ll keep you updated when we have new releases.

press release
“Whitelabrecs label owner Harry Towell is perhaps best renowned for his long-standing Spheruleus project, with a discography listing releases on Lost Tribe Sound, Home Normal, Time Released Sound, Hibernate and Eilean, as well as his collaborations alongside Sven Laux, Guy Gelem, Ekca Liena and more. Harry returns to his own label, following 2021’s ‘Canvas Homes + Supplémentaires’ and EPs ‘Absent Frames’ and ‘Inaugurate’, in this special collaborative album called ‘Petrologist’s Lens’.

January is a month we usually reserve for a compilation album, such as our Sleeplaboratory series. This year Harry decided to invite 12 artists who had contributed more than 2 releases on Whitelabrecs to submit a short sketch or sample, and then he developed these into the tracks that make up this album. As with some of his more recent work, this album is created under his own name, but with ‘& friends’ added to credit the label artists and good friends which he has worked alongside.

The title ‘Petrologist’s Lens’ nods to the concept of this body of work, which is rooted in the ancient geological history of the earth. Harry studied the land history of the areas where his collaborators reside, to help form a title for each piece. Tracks are named after particular fragments of rock or sediments, land regions or fossils for example, and the compositions were developed in a way which mimics the layering of these. The layers tell a story, giving clues of how they came to be. Sonically, filigree details and eroded tape textures ride waves of modern classical orchestration, ambient drones and electronics.

The packaging for this release features cover artwork by Soraya Kornblum, an art student in Adrian Lane’s class, submitted to Whitelabrecs as part of a school project. Each of the 200 editions include a 16 page booklet with words provided by Neil McRoberts, who transcribed his thoughts after listening to the music and reflecting on the concept. Physical copies are split into two runs; a standard gold disc version and a special marble print deluxe edition.“

credits

Written and produced by Harry Towell
Additional production and inspiration provided by Adrian Lane, Andrew Heath, Blochemy, Edu Comelles, Glåsbird, Guy Gelem, James Edward Armstrong, Paweł Pruski, Phil Tomsett, Polaroid Notes, Simon McCorry, Sven Laux

Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Cover Art by Soraya Kornblum
Booklet Notes by Neil McRoberts
Art and Design by Andrew Heath

Coming soon… Harry Towell & Friends – Petrologist’s Lens

Our first release of 2023 is ‘Petrologist’s Lens‘ by our label owner Harry Towell as Harry Towell & Friends, in collaboration with 12 artists who have had 2 or more releases on Whitelabrecs over the years. This album will be available officially in two runs of 100 CDrs; a standard gold edition, and a special marble-effect version. Both packaging versions include a 16 page booklet in our gatefold vinyl-effect sleeves and will be out officially on Saturday the 14th of January after a pre-order on the 7th of January. If you follow us on Bandcamp (Click HERE) we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

press release
“Whitelabrecs label owner Harry Towell is perhaps best renowned for his long-standing Spheruleus project, with a discography listing releases on Lost Tribe Sound, Home Normal, Time Released Sound, Hibernate and Eilean, as well as his collaborations alongside Sven Laux, Guy Gelem, Ekca Liena and more. Harry returns to his own label, following 2021’s ‘Canvas Homes + Supplémentaires’ and EPs ‘Absent Frames’ and ‘Inaugurate’, in this special collaborative album called ‘Petrologist’s Lens’.

January is a month we usually reserve for a compilation album, such as our Sleeplaboratory series. This year Harry decided to invite 12 artists who had contributed more than 2 releases on Whitelabrecs to submit a short sketch or sample, and then he developed these into the tracks that make up this album. As with some of his more recent work, this album is created under his own name, but with ‘& friends’ added to credit the label artists and good friends which he has worked alongside.

The title ‘Petrologist’s Lens’ nods to the concept of this body of work, which is rooted in the ancient geological history of the earth. Harry studied the land history of the areas where his collaborators reside, to help form a title for each piece. Tracks are named after particular fragments of rock or sediments, land regions or fossils for example, and the compositions were developed in a way which mimics the layering of these. The layers tell a story, giving clues of how they came to be. Sonically, filigree details and eroded tape textures ride waves of modern classical orchestration, ambient drones and electronics.

The packaging for this release features cover artwork by Soraya Kornblum, an art student in Adrian Lane’s class, submitted to Whitelabrecs as part of a school project. Each of the 200 editions include a 16 page booklet with words provided by Neil McRoberts, who transcribed his thoughts after listening to the music and reflecting on the concept. Physical copies are split into two runs; a standard gold disc version and a special marble print deluxe edition.“

credits

Written and produced by Harry Towell
Additional production and inspiration provided by Adrian Lane, Andrew Heath, Blochemy, Edu Comelles, Glåsbird, Guy Gelem, James Edward Armstrong, Paweł Pruski, Phil Tomsett, Polaroid Notes, Simon McCorry, Sven Laux

Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Cover Art by Soraya Kornblum
Booklet Notes by Neil McRoberts
Art and Design by Andrew Heath

out now! various artists – sleeplaboratory3.0

Released today is a various artists compilation album called sleeplaboratory3.0. This is the third in the series, after a two year break and the concept for these albums is for the curated artists to produce their interpretation of sleep music. The result is CDr packed full of tracks designed to help induce the listener to sleep and this edition features work by the likes of Federico Mosconi, The Lifted Index, Stijn Hüwels, Tapes and Topographies, Andrew Heath and Ian Hawgood, who also mastered the album.

sleeplaboratory3.0 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
“Sleeplaboratory3.0 is the third edition of Whitelabrecs’ long-standing concept compilation, a series that aims to induce the listener into a peaceful sleep. The series began in 2019 to mark the 50th release in the label’s catalog and was followed up with a second edition in 2020. It has seen contributions from the likes of Offthesky, Janek Schaefer, M.grig, The Green Kingdom, Warmth and Halftribe as well as artists from the label, including Mikael Lind, Gray Acres, Sven Laux, Glåsbird and Valotihkuu.

Sleeplaboratory compilations are typically released in January and after a two year break, 3.0 continues the themes established in the previous two records. Each artist in the line-up takes the brief of creating ‘sleep music’ and paints the sonic field with their own ideas. Some artists develop restful electro-acoustic compositions, whilst others sketch out soothing drones or vacant ambient textures. With a varied spectrum of warmth and cold, light and floaty, weighted and deep, this new collection features label-regulars such as Andrew Heath, blochemy and Pruski alongside the likes of Ian Hawgood, The Lifted Index, Federico Mosconi and Stijn Huwels. The track titles tend to tie back to the central album theme with words synonymous with rest, phases of sleep or calm places. This album can be experienced in many ways, such as at low volume with headphones, or streamed through hi-fi in a dimly lit room, consciously, or subconsciously.“

credits
All rights reserved with the artists
Mastered by Ian Hawgood
Curated by Harry Towell
Art and design by Tom Tebby

Coming soon… various artists – sleeplaboratory3.0

 

We kick off what is sure to be another exciting year of releases, with the long-awaited return of our Sleeplaboratory compilation series. We’ve had a two year break since the last edition, and we welcome 3.0 to the series, and a line-up including label artists such as Andrew Heath, Tapes and Topographies, Lauge and Simon McCorry as well as artists that are new to the label, such as Ian Hawgood, The Lifted Index, Federico Mosconi and Stijn Hüwels. This compilation album will be available for pre-order on Friday the 7th of January and if the previous two releases are anything to go by, this will be quick to sell-out.

‘sleeplaboratory3.0‘ will be available in one of our typically low runs of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs, complete with art and design by Tom Tebby.

It will be released officially on Saturday the 15th of January. If you join our mailing list using the link below, we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

press release
“Sleeplaboratory3.0 is the third edition of Whitelabrecs’ long-standing concept compilation, a series that aims to induce the listener into a peaceful sleep. The series began in 2019 to mark the 50th release in the label’s catalog and was followed up with a second edition in 2020. It has seen contributions from the likes of Offthesky, Janek Schaefer, M.grig, The Green Kingdom, Warmth and Halftribe as well as artists from the label, including Mikael Lind, Gray Acres, Sven Laux, Glåsbird and Valotihkuu.

Sleeplaboratory compilations are typically released in January and after a two year break, 3.0 continues the themes established in the previous two records. Each artist in the line-up takes the brief of creating ‘sleep music’ and paints the sonic field with their own ideas. Some artists develop restful electro-acoustic compositions, whilst others sketch out soothing drones or vacant ambient textures. With a varied spectrum of warmth and cold, light and floaty, weighted and deep, this new collection features label-regulars such as Andrew Heath, blochemy and Pruski alongside the likes of Ian Hawgood, The Lifted Index, Federico Mosconi and Stijn Huwels. The track titles tend to tie back to the central album theme with words synonymous with rest, phases of sleep or calm places. This album can be experienced in many ways, such as at low volume with headphones, or streamed through hi-fi in a dimly lit room, consciously, or subconsciously.“

credits
All rights reserved with the artists
Mastered by Ian Hawgood
Curated by Harry Towell
Art and design by Tom Tebby

Out Now! Guy Gelem – Scenario

For our next digital EP, we welcome back Guy Gelem from Jerusalem, Israel. ‘Scenario‘ combines the sound of guitar and cello along with additional subtle textures.

Scenario is released today, Monday the 21st of June. If you join our mailing list , we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear about future editions.

press release
“In our next digital release we welcome back Guy Gelem from from Jerusalem, Israel. Guy has released music with labels including Quiet Design, Mini50, Time Release Sound and Rural Colours. He also contributed the album ‘Entirety’ back in 2016, our inaugural year. ‘Scenario’ is an EP created using his signature instruments, cello and guitar, with which he has woven a collection of tracks reflecting on themes of creation. The concept considers the world and its processes; how everything is organised, and as one gigantic scenario.“

credits

Written and produced by Guy Gelem
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Peter Nejedly

Whitelabrecs Box Set

We’re busy working behind the scenes on our next release which is imminent, however we’ve had the idea for a long time of putting together a Box Set of our first 20 releases so that there is at least some way of people new to the label being able to get a copy of our many sold out/out of print items.

We’ve made it clear that we won’t re-press any albums as we want to keep things small and collectable but for those looking to either preserve the collection or play ‘catch-up’ if they’ve only recently discovered us we think it’d be cool to make things available as a box set.

The package itself is simple and ‘DIY‘, very much like each of the CDr releases we put out with a card board box being the perfect size to comfortably house the 20 discs. The box will be hand-stamped in an ink colour of your choosing and the vinyl-style CDrs will be contained with a polaroid of the cover artwork and inside card sleeves. Again, you can choose the colour of the sleeves.
You’ll be contacted following your purchase and we’ll consult on your options and then we’ll order the materials, burn the discs and deliver to you securely!

You can visit our dedicated page on the Whitelabrecs Bandcamp site where an order can be placed by clicking below or HERE

https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/merch/whitelabrecs-cdr-box-set-1-20

Coming soon…Guy Gelem | Entirety

As hinted on our Facebook page recently, we’ve another highly limited released lined up. This time, it’s in the form of ‘Entirety‘ by Israel based cellist/artist Guy Gelem. Entirety will be available to order within the next week or so and will appeal to fans of the modern classical and eastern sub genres of Ambient music. You can listen to a preview of the album using the Soundcloud player below or keep an eye on our Facebook page to see a preview of the packaging.

Whitelabrecs low-run releases will be made available suddenly without official release dates, meaning they’re likely to sell out fast. The best way to keep informed is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu.

press release
“Guy Gelem is a well travelled cellist and experimental artist from Israel with previous work made available through labels such as Quiet Design, Time Released Sound, Rural Colours and Mini50.
Guy’s sound is underpinned by the unique sound of his cello which is accompanied by recordings of other instruments such as guitars and an old Casio keyboard and typically his approach to composition is to layer the recordings, adding subtle passages of drone and textured field recordings.
His distinctive sound is striking so it’s no wonder that his musical influences are wide; these range from Radiohead, John Cage and Thelonius Monk, onto North African and traditional Jewish composers as well as taking in influences from nature, film and philosophy.

In ‘Entirety’ we are proud to present Guy Gelem’s first body of work since 2014, mastered by Tim Diagram (Maps & Diagrams, Hessien). The record is a brooding listen from start to finish as the cello takes centre stage, weaving through hints of the oriental and Arabic music that Guy has been reunited with over the last couple of years. Followers of his work will find enough familiarity within the record to recognise his extraordinary style, although the added eastern charm gives a whole new dimension. It is this sound that provides the main theme within ‘Entirety’ as Guy strives to reflect his roots having returned to his homeland after living overseas.
Another key element to this record are the track titles, which subtly reference themes from Jewish philosophy and belief.

‘Entirety’ will be the third release on Whitelabrecs and will be made available in a highly limited run of 50 handmade white label vinyl effect CDrs. Each copy is burnt, hand-stamped and shipped directly from the label along with a polaroid print of the cover artwork inside a circular vinyl style sleeve.“