Tag: kraut sounds

Out Now! Polaroid Notes – Cloud Anthems

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 CDrs after a short pre-order on Bandcamp Friday. 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
“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

Coming soon… Polaroid Notes – Cloud Anthems

Our new release ‘Cloud Anthems‘ will be available officially in one of our typically low runs of 100 gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs on Saturday the 10th of September after 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

 

Out Now! Kraut Sounds – Silence

Silence by Kraut Sounds is released today for Bandcamp Friday in digital only formats. The best way to keep informed about our releases is to join our mailing list which can be located through our website menu or you can click HERE

press release
“Kraut Sounds is sort alias for an artist that followers of Whitelabrecs will recognise; South Germany’s Polaroid Notes. This project is reserved for more electronic, purer ambient explorations having been initiated in 2012. Previous releases have featured on Büro für Erdrotation, Stellar Transitions, Diametral and Drone Works International.

This digital-only edition is a debut under this name, for Whitelabrecs and clocks in at just over 35 minutes of audio. Silence is a peaceful journey through quiet and meditative soundscapes, based on personal studies about sleep, subconsciousness and higher awareness, in combination with a deep interest in old electronic sounds from the past century.
It is an attempt to play less, in order to gain more. Like minimal music with repeating and shifting multi-layered soundscapes. Like slow motion sound painting, with a curious view of how things evolve naturally.

All five tracks are based on improvisations, following no specific rules or schemes. Everything flows in way that works uniquely for you, as you drift along in sound and time.”

credits
Written and produced by Kraut Sounds (while the cat gently slept beside)
Recorded February/April 2021
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Photography by Kraut Sounds

links
krautsounds.bandcamp.com
soundcloud.com/kraut-sounds
www.facebook.com/krautsounds/

Coming soon…Polaroid Notes – Unsung Memories

The next release in our ever-growing catalog sees us welcome Polaroid Notes, who some may recall from our sister labels Tessellate and Audio Gourmet. Polaroid Notes is an artist named Andreas who resides in the Bavarian Alps, not far from Munich. His Ambient work is very much inspired by film and TV series, as he strives to carve out sketches for his own unreleased movie score. Unsung Memories plays out with each track as an episode with brooding piano and electronic drone texture. We suspect fans of Willits+Sakamoto, Robert Scott Thompson or Christof Dejean may enjoy this record – you can listen to a preview of the album by using the Soundcloud player below or keep a check on our Facebook or Instagram pages to preview the packaging when we share it.

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
“Polaroid Notes is a German artist named Andreas residing in the countryside between Munich and The Alps and also records as Kraut Sounds. His work as Polaroid Notes has seen releases through our sister labels Tessellate Recordings and most recently, a free netlabel EP called ‘Days Of Our Lives’ on Audio Gourmet. He has also released on Büro für Erdrotation as well as a string of dub-techno geared records as Kraut Sounds on the likes of Terra Rossa, Spiel:feld and Adept Label.

Andreas’ long-standing involvement with music began in the 80s with him performing in bands as well as DJing. His musical journey absorbed 70s Kraut electronica, dub techno and modern Ambient sounds and in Polaroid Notes, he’s settled on a deeply reflective and cinematic sound that plays out like a film score. The work begins with a few simple piano lines before being developed into a soundtrack with analogue and digital equipment, electronics and drone texture.

Against a chilling backdrop of mountains, trees and inspirational landscapes, Andreas’ ambition is to compose a film soundtrack with his piano movements as Polaroid Notes. With every note, Unsung Memories yearns to be the score for an unfilmed movie or TV series, as the matters of dark characters play out across the frames. Each track could represent a single episode or scene. It’s like a journey through deserted and desolate landscapes, cities, hearts and minds, provoking pictures of fate and despair, always with tension. Maybe there is a chance for relief, somewhere, sometimes? But nothing is ever over…”

credits
Catalog number WLR029
Written, produced and mastered by Polaroid Notes
Photography by Polaroid Notes
Artwork by Harry Towell