Tag: Violin

Out Now! Hoshiko Yamane – Reflections

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Our next release is ‘Reflections‘ by Hoshiko Yamane who is based in Berlin, Germany and who performs violin as part of Tangerine Dream and this record is a special collaboration between Whitelabrecs and 1631 Recordings. This album features Hoshiko’s violin performances, alongside a group of musicians and the album looks back to the period in which it was created, during and shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic. This album will be available officially in a run of 100 CDrs in our signature gatefold vinyl-effect sleeves and in a limited run of vinyl copies, created and supplied by 1631. The CDs have all sold out however, you can still check out the digital version. If you follow us on Bandcamp (Click HERE) we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

press release
“Hoshiko Yamane is a Japanese composer who has been based in Berlin, Germany since 2006.
She has released collaborative music with Mikael Lind and Eraldo Bernocchi on Time Released Sound and Denovali respectively, as well as solo material on 1631 Recordings who have facilitated this latest album, a split release with Whitelabrecs.

Hoshiko has toured for many years as a violinist with Tangerine Dream and also working with Jane Birkin, before she began to write electronic music as Tukico. Around five years ago, she began to compose music which returned to a musical upbringing which began with learning the violin at the age of four. She has studied classical music for many years and this was the reason for moving to Berlin, drawn to the city through a love of Bach and Brahms.

Whilst her work develops to incorporate many layers of instrumentation and other canvas-filling sonic details, Hoshiko’s music typically starts life as an improvised violin sketch. The sketches that formed the spine of this new album ‘Reflections’ emerged from the otherworldly backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, back in the early stages around March and April 2020. People were losing their lives every day and the world was praying in hope, whilst each day revisiting the quiet, apocalyptic reality of the world at that time. This album is not about the pandemic specifically. Instead, it was born from it. During that time Hoshiko was able to reflect upon herself, seeing inside her own being including the thoughts of hope she held for others. Like many around her, she was able to see life’s necessities; what is needed to get by, what is important and what life is all about. She was able to reconnect with the things that had previously been lost to the routine of daily life. These reflections urged for the inner-peace of everyday life never to be taken for granted again.

At that strange time, the violin sketches had been developed into full sheet music, waiting to one day be performed by a real ensemble. This was the first time that Hoshiko had put her ability to produce sheet music into practice and fittingly, as time progressed, she was able to assemble a string quartet to perform her music in person. Dreams of physical performance became a reality, as the ribbons of the players’ violin, viola and cello performances filled the room, intertwining triumphantly with one another, as if the pressure of isolation had built into a forcefield of musical energy. The album is cemented by the cover artwork, in which Hoshiko walks freely forward, with her own reflections now available for the world to experience, overlayed with our own.“

credits

Hoshiko Yamane – 1st Violin, Voice, Electronics
Cecilia Ferron – 2nd Violin
So Fukushima – Viola
Sebastian Selke – Cello

All tracks composed and mixed by Hoshiko Yamane
Mastered by Wil Bolton
Recorded 2022 at UFO Sound Studios in Berlin
Recording engineer Fabian G. Knof

Cover photo by Kei Sugimoto
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Coming soon… Hoshiko Yamane – Reflections

Our next release is ‘Reflections‘ by Hoshiko Yamane who is based in Berlin, Germany and who performs violin as part of Tangerine Dream and this record is a special collaboration between Whitelabrecs and 1631 Recordings. This album features Hoshiko’s violin performances, alongside a group of musicians and the album looks back to the period in which it was created, during and shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic. This album will be available officially in a run of 100 CDrs in our signature gatefold vinyl-effect sleeves and in a limited run of vinyl copies, created and supplied by 1631. The album will be out officially on Saturday the 3rd of March after a pre-order on the 25th of February. If you follow us on Bandcamp (Click HERE) we’ll make sure you’re the first to hear.

press release
“Hoshiko Yamane is a Japanese composer who has been based in Berlin, Germany since 2006.
She has released collaborative music with Mikael Lind and Eraldo Bernocchi on Time Released Sound and Denovali respectively, as well as solo material on 1631 Recordings who have facilitated this latest album, a split release with Whitelabrecs.

Hoshiko has toured for many years as a violinist with Tangerine Dream and also working with Jane Birkin, before she began to write electronic music as Tukico. Around five years ago, she began to compose music which returned to a musical upbringing which began with learning the violin at the age of four. She has studied classical music for many years and this was the reason for moving to Berlin, drawn to the city through a love of Bach and Brahms.

Whilst her work develops to incorporate many layers of instrumentation and other canvas-filling sonic details, Hoshiko’s music typically starts life as an improvised violin sketch. The sketches that formed the spine of this new album ‘Reflections’ emerged from the otherworldly backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, back in the early stages around March and April 2020. People were losing their lives every day and the world was praying in hope, whilst each day revisiting the quiet, apocalyptic reality of the world at that time. This album is not about the pandemic specifically. Instead, it was born from it. During that time Hoshiko was able to reflect upon herself, seeing inside her own being including the thoughts of hope she held for others. Like many around her, she was able to see life’s necessities; what is needed to get by, what is important and what life is all about. She was able to reconnect with the things that had previously been lost to the routine of daily life. These reflections urged for the inner-peace of everyday life never to be taken for granted again.

At that strange time, the violin sketches had been developed into full sheet music, waiting to one day be performed by a real ensemble. This was the first time that Hoshiko had put her ability to produce sheet music into practice and fittingly, as time progressed, she was able to assemble a string quartet to perform her music in person. Dreams of physical performance became a reality, as the ribbons of the players’ violin, viola and cello performances filled the room, intertwining triumphantly with one another, as if the pressure of isolation had built into a forcefield of musical energy. The album is cemented by the cover artwork, in which Hoshiko walks freely forward, with her own reflections now available for the world to experience, overlayed with our own.“

credits

Hoshiko Yamane – 1st Violin, Voice, Electronics
Cecilia Ferron – 2nd Violin
So Fukushima – Viola
Sebastian Selke – Cello

All tracks composed and mixed by Hoshiko Yamane
Mastered by Wil Bolton
Recorded 2022 at UFO Sound Studios in Berlin
Recording engineer Fabian G. Knof

Cover photo by Kei Sugimoto
Art and design by Andrew Heath

Out Now! Spring Quintet – Raven, Raven, Raven

The summer schedule continues, as we welcome a collaboration between Montreal, Canada based artist Stefan Christoff and Milan, Italy based sound artist Matteo Uggeri. The record sees a live recording between Stefan and his fellow musicians at Casa Del Popolo, a music venue  in Montreal passed to Matteo who provided further processing, samples and field recordings. Raven, Raven, Raven is a modern classical micro-symphony, featuring piano, cello, violin, double bass and tabla and the packaging includes the paintings of Chris Day. This will be available in 2019’s signature gatefold-LP style CD, in a run of 100 copies  and we’ll release this officially on or around the 27th of July 2019. This has wide influences so is difficult to classify but should appeal to you if you like Peter Broderick and Machinefabriek, Andrea Ferraris and Matteo Uggeri or Guy Gelem.

Raven, Raven, Raven is available now after having been released to subscribers of our mailing list last weekend, who had the first opportunity to grab a copy. These have been going well but we still have some copies left at the time of writing and you can buy one of these or grab a digital copy by clicking the link below or image above. To avoid missing out on future releases, you can join our mailing list HERE

https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/raven-raven-raven

 

 

press release
“We’re pleased to announce our sixtieth release, which is a collaborative project between renowned musician and Montreal, Canada activist Stefan Christoff and Italian sound artist Matteo Uggeri, as well as musicians Claire Abraham (Cello), Fern O’Dactyl (Violin), Peter Burton (Double Bass) and Will Eizlini (Tabla).

‘Raven, Raven, Raven’ is a longform piece which originates from a live performance at Casa Del Popolo in Montreal, between Christoff and the aforementioned musicians. The ensemble performance was for a benefit show at the Native Friendship Centre and at a later date this was subsequently passed to Milan-based artist Matteo Uggeri, who had previously collaborated with Stefan through their mutual contact Vasco Viviani, owner of Old Bicycle Records. Matteo was tasked with the opportunity to deconstruct, rearrange and rebuild this raw recording as well as to adorn it with additional layers of sounds. Matteo’s own take on the original work took up a new approach to something that was originally live and flowing and once each artist had their own space in which to bring their own separate ideas, they then spent a slow period of regular communication via email during which the project gathered the momentum to eventually achieve the final results which have been beautifully mastered by Ian Hawgood.

‘Raven, Raven, Raven’ still flows like a live record, as if Matteo was there, present at this intimate live music venue, playing to the small crowd. Field recordings, samples and radio static blend through the individual movements of this modern classical micro-symphony in a seamless way. The album is intended to be gapless, playing continually both as the single track on the CD or as the split 5 movements within the stream or digital version.

The title to this body of work reflects back to how the original concert performance was set up to help support indigenous programs for people struggling with homelessness and poverty, with birds not only being particularly important in poetics, but also in different indigenous cultures too. It is often a symbol and this motif repeats itself within the recurring themes throughout this recording both within the music and the beautiful packaging, which features paintings by Chris Day and graphic design which Matteo also contributed to. Both Stefan and Matteo care deeply about human rights and the playful composition they have produced alongside this group of musicians represent this, with characterful glints of hope and freedom.”

credits
Originally recorded live at Casa del Popolo, Montreal 2017
Written and produced by Stefan Christoff and Matteo Uggeri
Claire Abraham (Cello)
Fern O’Dactyl (Violin)
Stefan Christoff (Piano)
Will Eizlini (Tabla)
Peter Burton (Double Bass)
Matteo Uggeri (Field Recordings, Effects, Samples)
Assembled and mixed by Matteo Uggeri between 2017 and 2018
Mastered by Ian Hawgood in 2019
Artwork by Chris Day
Packaging design Matteo Uggeri

Coming soon…Spring Quintet – Raven, Raven, Raven

The summer schedule continues, as we welcome a collaboration between Montreal, Canada based artist Stefan Christoff and Milan, Italy based sound artist Matteo Uggeri. The record sees a live recording between Stefan and his fellow musicians at Casa Del Popolo, a music venue  in Montreal passed to Matteo who provided further processing, samples and field recordings. Raven, Raven, Raven is a modern classical micro-symphony, featuring piano, cello, violin, double bass and tabla and the packaging includes the paintings of Chris Day. This will be available in 2019’s signature gatefold-LP style CD, in a run of 100 copies  and we’ll release this officially on or around the 27th of July 2019. This has wide influences so is difficult to classify but should appeal to you if you like Peter Broderick and Machinefabriek, Andrea Ferraris and Matteo Uggeri or Guy Gelem.

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 or you can click HERE

press release
“We’re pleased to announce our sixtieth release, which is a collaborative project between renowned musician and Montreal, Canada activist Stefan Christoff and Italian sound artist Matteo Uggeri, as well as musicians Claire Abraham (Cello), Fern O’Dactyl (Violin), Peter Burton (Double Bass) and Will Eizlini (Tabla).

‘Raven, Raven, Raven’ is a longform piece which originates from a live performance at Casa Del Popolo in Montreal, between Christoff and the aforementioned musicians. The ensemble performance was for a benefit show at the Native Friendship Centre and at a later date this was subsequently passed to Milan-based artist Matteo Uggeri, who had previously collaborated with Stefan through their mutual contact Vasco Viviani, owner of Old Bicycle Records. Matteo was tasked with the opportunity to deconstruct, rearrange and rebuild this raw recording as well as to adorn it with additional layers of sounds. Matteo’s own take on the original work took up a new approach to something that was originally live and flowing and once each artist had their own space in which to bring their own separate ideas, they then spent a slow period of regular communication via email during which the project gathered the momentum to eventually achieve the final results which have been beautifully mastered by Ian Hawgood.

‘Raven, Raven, Raven’ still flows like a live record, as if Matteo was there, present at this intimate live music venue, playing to the small crowd. Field recordings, samples and radio static blend through the individual movements of this modern classical micro-symphony in a seamless way. The album is intended to be gapless, playing continually both as the single track on the CD or as the split 5 movements within the stream or digital version.

The title to this body of work reflects back to how the original concert performance was set up to help support indigenous programs for people struggling with homelessness and poverty, with birds not only being particularly important in poetics, but also in different indigenous cultures too. It is often a symbol and this motif repeats itself within the recurring themes throughout this recording both within the music and the beautiful packaging, which features paintings by Chris Day and graphic design which Matteo also contributed to. Both Stefan and Matteo care deeply about human rights and the playful composition they have produced alongside this group of musicians represent this, with characterful glints of hope and freedom.”

credits
Originally recorded live at Casa del Popolo, Montreal 2017
Written and produced by Stefan Christoff and Matteo Uggeri
Claire Abraham (Cello)
Fern O’Dactyl (Violin)
Stefan Christoff (Piano)
Will Eizlini (Tabla)
Peter Burton (Double Bass)
Matteo Uggeri (Field Recordings, Effects, Samples)
Assembled and mixed by Matteo Uggeri between 2017 and 2018
Mastered by Ian Hawgood in 2019
Artwork by Chris Day
Packaging design Matteo Uggeri

Spring Quintet

ARTIST NAME: Spring Quintet
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS: Stefan Christoff, Piano and composition, Montreal, Canada
Matteo Uggeri, Post Production, Field Recordings, Effects and Samples, Milan, Italy
MUSICIANS: Claire Abraham (Cello), Fern O’Dactyl (Violin), Will Eizlini (Tabla), Peter Burton (Double Bass)
FILE UNDER: Modern Classical, Electro-Acoustic
RELEASES: WLR060

Out Now! Glåsbird – Grønland

Our discography for 2019 continues and for the second time in as many releases, we have increased the run count to 100 copies and opted for a special printed gatefold LP style packaging! Last December we privileged to present the debut Glåsbird release, a 2 track digital EP named Drift Stations. We’re very excited to present this anonymous artist’s debut album Grønland which is a cinematic suite of Modern Classical music with dramatic strings, frosty piano and hints of electric guitar. It releases on February 9th 2019 in a run of 100 copies. The album is a sonic expedition around Greenland and fittingly, the sound design feels icy cold, reminiscent of work by artists such as A Winged Victory For The Sullen, The Frozen Vaults and Sven Laux. This one features artwork by photographer Lennart Pagel, who travels the world and shares his images via Instagram.

Grønland is available now after having been released to subscribers of our mailing list last weekend, who had the first opportunity to grab a copy. These have been going well after some reviews, particularly on Stationary Travels but we still have a few left and you can buy one of these or grab a digital copy by clicking the link or image above. To avoid missing out on future releases, you can join our mailing list HERE

https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/gr-nland

press release
“Glåsbird returns following the debut EP ‘Drift Stations’ which was a digital only release on Whitelabrecs just prior to Christmas last year. The eagerly awaited full-length debut album is something that this currently anonymous artist has carefully shaped over a lengthy period of time and it is entitled Grønland. Those looking to the themes of the North Pole and travel through the treacherous Arctic Circle which were contained within Drift Stations, will see a pattern of travel or rather, migration developing. Next stop – Greenland, the world’s largest island as well as one of the most uninhabited landmasses on the planet, which is thanks to stark temperatures and the permanent ice sheet which occupies most of this land.

Glåsbird imagined that they were assigned the task of scoring the soundtrack to a film about Greenland and spent a great deal of time researching the subject. Hours of documentaries, drone helicopter footage, NASA and satellite images, Instagram traveller accounts, 360° photos, web articles and maps were surveyed, to the point where this artist felt sufficiently immersed in this sub-zero but beautiful land. One such traveller/photographer who has physically witnessed the splendour of Greenland is Lennart Pagel, who kindly provided the cover image; the shot not only captures the essence of this country with its iced mountains, freezing lake and primary-coloured cabin but also there is a bold starkness which lends itself to this soundtrack.

Two releases in and whilst we’re no clearer as to who is behind this project, it is clear that Glåsbird is becoming synonymous with storytelling and specifically travel or migration, if you prefer.
The music itself adopts a Modern Classical approach with icy piano shards shimmering alongside glacial violin and cello drones as well as the occasional hint of grounding electric guitar. We’re told that the artist even recorded some sections of sounds to cassette before placing the tape in the freezer to give an added chill factor.

We’ve decided that such an impactful concept would suit a special ‘gatefold LP’ style packaging that we’ve run a couple of times as well as an increased run of 100 copies. Where will the Glåsbird land next?”

credits
Written and produced by
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong
Artwork by Lennart Pagel (instagram.com/Lennart)

Out now! WLR010 Ben McElroy – Bird-stone

We’re back from holiday and without wasting any further time, we’re excited to present our tenth release, in the form of Ben McElroy’s ‘Bird-stone‘ which sees us veer down a rural folk route, perfect for the summer. The spine of this five track record fuses painstakingly arranged strings including cello, viola and violin with additional sounds of guitar, voice and not to mention some subtly-captured home improvements courtesy of Ben’s next door neighbour! Ben has also performed as part of more traditional folk bands but his work for us sees this woven into slightly more ‘Ambient’ territory, appealing to fans of Plinth, Richard Skelton and Padang Food Tigers. The album is available now on Whitelabrecs in a very low run of just 50 CDrs.

The album went out to our mailing list subscribers last weekend and we have a few remaining copies left at the time of writing. To find out more or secure your copy, you can click the link below or on the player above to listen. To avoid missing out on future releases, you can join our mailing list HERE

Take a look through this email to find out more or click the link below, or image above.

https://whitelabrecs.bandcamp.com/album/bird-stone

 

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Press release
“Ben McElroy is a musician originally from The Wirral, near Liverpool (UK) who moved to Nottingham to do a music course around a decade ago and has lived there ever since. Ben’s sound is typically based around acoustic instruments such as guitar, strings and voice with a little additional computer based processing and his work is influenced by artists as diverse as Nick Drake, Gavin Bryars and Neu! as well as literary figures such as Virginia Woolf, David Mitchell and Philip K. Dick.

Ben’s previous material to date has seen various EPs released either under his own name or other moniker The Four Fishermen, one of which emerged on Dirty Demos back in 2008. He has also performed in various bands including folk-influenced Apples For Faces and Mucus Mules, electronica trio Howling Buddha and 8 piece pirate band Seas of Mirth. He also works writing and performing with theatre company Handmade Theatre.

For Whitelabrecs, Ben has produced ‘Bird-Stone’ which features pieces that are based mostly around his long and improvised recordings of cello, viola and violin set into a five track album that tells a story. The story isn’t clearly defined, however a warm and muted essence of traditional folk music portrays something that is rustic, of the outdoors and reminiscent of the British countryside. At times, voice and guitar join the strings with the recordings also capturing a neighbours home improvement projects which is fitting, given the title: ‘Bird-stone’ sets about drawing the lines between structures, inanimate objects and man-made buildings with nature, animals and mankind. It is pleasant and enveloping but a sadness can be detected, as Ben’s love for the natural world turns to fear of what humans are doing to the planet, nature and our future generations.”



credits
Catalog number: WLR010
Written and produced by Ben McElroy
Mastered by Tim Diagram
Photography by Bethany Towell
Artwork by Harry Towell

Coming soon…Ben McElroy | Bird-stone

We’re back from holiday and without wasting any further time, we’re exited to present our tenth release, in the form of Ben McElroy’s ‘Bird-stone‘ which sees us veer down a rural folk route, perfect for the summer. The spine of this five track record fuses painstakingly arranged strings including cello, viola and violin with additional sounds of guitar, voice and not to mention some subtly-captured home improvements courtesy of Ben’s next door neighbour. Ben has also performed as part of more traditional folk bands but his work for us sees this woven into slightly more ‘Ambient’ territory, appealing to fans of Plinth, Richard Skelton and Padang Food Tigers. You can listen to a preview of the album by using the Soundcloud player below or keep a check on our Facebook page 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
“Ben McElroy is a musician originally from The Wirral, near Liverpool (UK) who moved to Nottingham to do a music course around a decade ago and has lived there ever since. Ben’s sound is typically based around acoustic instruments such as guitar, strings and voice with a little additional computer based processing and his work is influenced by artists as diverse as Nick Drake, Gavin Bryars and Neu! as well as literary figures such as Virginia Woolf, David Mitchell and Philip K. Dick.

Ben’s previous material to date has seen various EPs released either under his own name or other moniker The Four Fishermen, one of which emerged on Dirty Demos back in 2008. He has also performed in various bands including folk-influenced Apples For Faces and Mucus Mules, electronica trio Howling Buddha and 8 piece pirate band Seas of Mirth. He also works writing and performing with theatre company Handmade Theatre.

For Whitelabrecs, Ben has produced ‘Bird-Stone’ which features pieces that are based mostly around his long and improvised recordings of cello, viola and violin set into a five track album that tells a story. The story isn’t clearly defined, however a warm and muted essence of traditional folk music portrays something that is rustic, of the outdoors and reminiscent of the British countryside. At times, voice and guitar join the strings with the recordings also capturing a neighbours home improvement projects which is fitting, given the title: ‘Bird-stone’ sets about drawing the lines between structures, inanimate objects and man-made buildings with nature, animals and mankind. It is pleasant and enveloping but a sadness can be detected, as Ben’s love for the natural world turns to fear of what humans are doing to the planet, nature and our future generations.”

Out now! WLR008 Russell Glynn – Examples Of

Today we can announce the official release date of our next highly limited physical edition. WLR008 is Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA) based artist Russell Glynn. In ‘Examples Of‘ Russell presents an album of guitar and violin drones that will appeal to fans of William Basinski, Stars Of The Lid and Kyle Bobby Dunn. The cover artwork is provided by the artist and the album sees the return of Maps and Diagrams on mastering duty.

The album went out to the Whitelabrecs mailing list last weekend and at time of writing, just 9 physical copies remain! To grab one of these remaining copies simply click HERE or on the Bandcamp player above. Once it’s all sold out, you’ll still be able to purchase a digital version – to avoid missing out in the future, why not join our mailing list?

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Press release
“Russell Glynn is a Cambridge, MA, US-based musician. ‘Examples Of’ is Russell’s first album to be released for label distribution, the homespun result of freewheeling experimentation and careful tinkering.

Russell picked up a violin at age nine, with guitar and keyboard following shortly thereafter. True to his lineage in makeshift home recording, Russell’s work is driven by improvisation and sonic spontaneity. Russell starts by building a barebones structure from a loop, then hits record and allows layers to crystallise naturally. As the inspiration to improvise wanes, Russell digs up previously recorded sessions, eventually committing to a found idea or theme. Russell then takes stock of his experiments and decides what is best to include as part of an album or other body of work.

‘Examples Of’ is one such body of work with the nine tracks that comprise the album being derived from three key elements: guitar, violin, and tape-loops. Each track began as a loop crafted from one of these three elements, then joined with the other two. Russell also incorporated noise elements to allow the sounds natural space. He recorded about half of the songs to tape then re-recorded them into Logic, carefully setting microphones around an old tape deck to capture the crackles and warmth of analog cassettes in combination with electro-acoustic drones. Experimentation with household objects also features; ‘Measured’ includes a clever loop of a metal tape measure cast around Russell’s bedroom. Field recordings further expand the aural atmosphere, with snippets suggesting the sound of distant winds, muddled conversation, and far-off chimes.

‘Examples Of’ is a remarkably cohesive body of work grounded in Russell’s experimental approach to sound. Whilst there is no overall concept, Russell cites nostalgia as a point of reference for the album, striving to convey an optimism tempered by the unsettling quality of drone noise.

The beautifully textured drones found within ‘Examples Of’ will appeal to fans of Stars Of The Lid, William Basinski, and Kyle Bobby Dunn.”

credits
Catalog number: WLR008
Written and produced by Russell Glynn
Mastered by Tim Diagram
Artwork by Russell Glynn