Vital Weekly review of Sub Loam - Excavated Relics

Thanks to Frans de Waard for reviewing Sub Loam's Excavated Relics cassette:

'Back in 2016, Thomas Shrubsole released 'The Portable archive' under his Sub Loam name (see Vital Weekly 1051), which was culled from material he already recorded in 2009 and 2010. It is something I enjoyed very much, as Sub Loam is something along the lines of lo-fi electronics, drones, ambience, and field recordings. Now there is a tape with "two recently rediscovered examples" from the same period, which Sub Loam feels they should be heard out there as well, and, sure, why not? This is something that could have also been surely been on the original release. On the first side, there is 'Soil Surface', a slow rhythm piece. Or perhaps something that is on a loop device but slowed down quite a bit. In sync we have a mild synth sound burping away. It is a very moody piece and almost a dub-like one at that; all bass but no dance riddim. This is a particularly great piece by Sub Loam. The B-side contains 'Stone Fragment', in which the guitar plays quite a big role, strummed in a really odd way, and set against a set of misty electronic backing, with an odd flanging effect on the strings. It seems like he's playing the guitar with a stick, creating odd timbres. Buried in the background there is a bit of percussion. It is a totally different kind of piece and a most enjoyable one at that as well. I sure can believe that if you found this after ten years you would want to release it.' (FdW)

Review from Vital Weekly issue number 1208

Buy a copy by emailing direct or from Boomkat

Sub Loam re-issues and unreleased archival material announced

Ohr (originally released Cotton Goods, 2009), 2 (Originally released Dissolving, 2010) and Earthern Circle (orginally released Cotton Goods 2010)

+ 2 extra previously unreleased albums from the same era issued to be issued together and available soon in one package, The Portable Archive.

Announced here: http://subloam.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/the-portable-archive-sub-loam-re-issues.html

New Department

For those who may or may not have picked up Thomas Shrubsole (Dissolving, Sub Loam) & Craig Tattersall's (Humble Bee, Cotton Goods) first release who might or may or may not have or perhaps will or will not or may in the future enjoy it or consider doing so and even those who haven't, please direct your attention additionally to a new, tripartite report from a new department initiated by the pair...

cast your browsers to the shelves in this direction - https://soundcloud.com/local-studies/thomas-shrubsole-craig-tattersall-new-album-preview

Additional details will surface no doubt, and will be photostatted here for the curious.

Botanical Reflections

Stuart Marshall in The Sound Projector about Sub Loam's Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses:

"Again and again I return to this intriguing mini CD from Sub Loam (i.e. saxophonist and SP reviewer Thomas Shrubsole), as if it would yield to me its mysteries, but alas! Swiftly am I ensnared and borne upon its pulsating airways, yet just as swiftly it’s over! Where fled those rogue minutes? In this wise, concise designates more than botanical taxonomy, though both here are central concerns: manifest in the splicing of Shrubsole’s pithy breath work and the bloom and swirl of spectral electronic backdrops. Most distinct is this in the first of the three untitled pieces: multiple rows of delicate, trowel-headed honks slowly summoning wispy, electroacoustic spirits, while at the same time suggesting an attitude of horticultural preparation that inspires me to chop carrots in concert. Tracks two and tree are (even) giddier: a tiny sax twittering like butterfly wings caught in swerving currents of pure colour; and finally a slow kaleidoscopic reimagining of all that has preceded. It’s an unearthing of unearthly sensations that could well uproot your mental stability. 39 further copies of the CDR are in existence, all of which are accompanied by a hand-numbered A4-sized abstract print by the artist."

 http://www.thesoundprojector.com/2014/09/24/natural-kingdoms/

Limited copies still available direct from Dissolving. As always, email for availability for this, any other Dissolving and related releases and for any other enquiries.

Related Release

T Shrubsole & C Tattersall, 

Collaboration between Thomas Shrubsole (Dissolving Records, Sub Loam, Jesus on Mars, Dissolving Orchestra etc.) and Craig Tattersall (Other Ideas, Cotton Goods, The Humble Bee, The Boats, The Remote Viewer, Dissolving Orchestra etc.)

new cassette out on Other Ideas.

Copies available at Boomkat, Other Ideas and through Dissolving. Email For availability.

 http://boomkat.com/cassettes/1081172-t-shrubsole-c-tattershall-untitled

 http://ourotherideas.tumblr.com/post/93894610334/otr-c-002-thomas-shrubsole-craig-tattersall

Dissolving back catalogue items also available.

Early Analogue available @ Boomkat

  

LISTEN/READ/BUY

"Dissolving Records' Thomas Shrubsole - aka Sub Loam, In The Field, Jesus On Mars - presents early, archival recordings, using his birth name for the first name. It's a personal and far-reaching suite of disparate sounds tripping from Decimus-like astral chaos thru vivid synth wormholes to surprising Detroit techno deviations , gamelan-like percussive meditations and extended passages of atonal noise, all free as you like and unhindered by anything but his own wild imagination."
 

Early Analogue

LISTEN HERE 

Order by emailing Dissolving

New Release

Limited Art Edition C40 on Dissolving.

Listen here: Preview

Available Soon.

Hisvoice review A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses

Thanks are due to Tomáš Procházka who has listened to and pondered Sub Loam's latest and has written a thoughtful and sympathetic review in the excellent Czech magazine hisvoice: Jedná se v podstatě o EP o třech skladbách se shouhrnnou délkou necelých šestnáct minut, tak aby se pohodlně vešly na třípalcové CDr, na kterém vychází spolu s autorskou grafikou Thomase Shrubsola v počtu čtyřiceti kusů. Hudba byla nahrána na čtyřstopý kazetový magnetofon a jde, jak ostatně název napovídá, o poctu rostlinnému světu a životu. Jednotlivé skladby označené pouze čísly, jsou věnovány půdě, slunci a rostlinným vláknům. Pokud si nepřečte legendu, která se k nahrávce váže, může být leckterý posluchač zklamán, hudba zní jako jaksi divně úporný minimalismus, saxofon má škytavku a štěká na jednom místě jako opuštěný pták v polích, zajímavé elektronické zvuky za ním nejsou pro změnu téměř slyšet. V druhém tracku má zase šum pásku téměř stejnou důležitost jako užitečný hudební záznam a v pozadí diktuje nějaký lunatický varhaník do kláves náhodná data. Ani třetí track nevysvobodí posluchače z chaotických chuchvalců mimozemského jazzu, bloumavé melodie saxofonu se proplétají s vyťukávanýmy klávesovými zvuky a trochu archaicky znějící elektronikou. Pokud ale posloucháme A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses s vědomím, že jde o umělecký obraz “chlorocentrického” světa, nalézáme zajímavý amorfní hudební tvar, poměrně výstižně přibližující představu rostlinných světů, klíčení, rašení, rhizomatické spoje, tlení, vznik i zánik probíhající v jediný moment. V tomto vesmíru nic nemá přednost, vše pracuje v součinnosti s ostatními elementy, tomuto světu je efektní čištění za účelem přehlednosti či ušlechtilosti. Toto je hudba permakultury - cenný pokus připomenout pyšné lidské kultuře existenci i jiných vesmírů, než toho, ve kterém aktuálně žijeme. Přál bych si aby takových pokusů bylo víc. Link here: http://www.hisvoice.cz/clanek_1763_sub-loam-a-concise-dictionary-of-plants-and-their-uses.html

Reed Streams

A track from Sub Loam's Concise Dictionary of Plants kicks off the latest mix from our friends over at the Kosmiche Club... There's Conrad Schnitzler, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Palais Schaumberg and more in there, too. Listen here: http://www.mixcloud.com/Kosmische/the-kosmische-club-kosmik-elektronik-part-1/

Airplay for Today

Friend of the label Richard Cunliffe played track three from Sub Loam's A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses on last Thursday's 'It's Just Music Baby' show on Sound Art Radio in Devon. The whole show is available on Soundcloud to listen to for your delectation and enjoyment https://soundcloud.com/its-just-music-baby/its-just-music-baby-on

Three of a Perfect Pair

A Trio of Recent Reviews...

As a reminder that Space Capsule is still orbiting sound systems in living rooms across Europe (and also that there are a couple of foil-fresh copies still available from here and from Boomkat) here are two lovely reviews, the first from hisvoice magazine in the Czech Republic and the second from Bad Alchemy in Germany, both of whom have also reviewed previous Dissolving albums favourably.   

Space Capsule: Space Capsule

Thomas Shrubsole se na debutovém albu svého projektu Space Capsule pouští zostra na území free jazzu a kosmické elektroniky. Domácí produkce pomocí dvojkazeťáku není prezentována jako znouzectnost, ale jako záměrné vyznání neutuchajícího páskového futurismu. Pod nánosy páskového šumu zní prolínání mírně hysterického saxofonu, klavíru a zklidněné elektroniky tak nějak zaobleněji, bez ostrých hran, a i když je hudba dosti energická a nespoutaná, tak celkové vyznění alba má zvláštně meditativní charakter. Občasné zavytí syntezátoru, zvuková mračna a prapodivné atmosféry dotváří silně kosmické ladění a třeba dodat, že se nejedná o žádnou levnou, podbízivou psychedelii, ale o řádně mimozemský úlet.
Postupné opakování spojené s pomalou destrukcí klavírního motivu v první skladbě 1 může sloužit jako chvilková jistota, ale o náhlé změny na albu vůbec není nouze. Repetice se náhle odebéře kamsi, aby se meditativní nálady ještě více rozvinuly ve zpomalených zvukových mlhách zaechovaného saxofonu, občasného úderu do klaviatury a ztišených syntezátorových efektech. Shrubsole se nebojí vedle sebe stavět melodické a disonantní linky z útrob saxofonu, ale výsledek nezní nikdy zmateně a Shrubsole se suverenitou sobě vlastní vytváří neobydlené zvukové světy. Strhující závěr první skladby v taylorovské kadenci je nepochybně vrcholem alba, zatímco druhá skladba se posouvá spíš dále do vod zklidněného meditativního zvuku, nikdy však neupadá do určitého druhu podbízivosti, kterou lze najít v žánrové škatulce "ambient". Podivně rezonující klavírní úvod skladby 2 může krátce připomenout Basinskiho páskové orgie, nicméně dlouho se nezastaví na místě, a po chvíli zamíří zpět do oblasti free improvizace. Syntezátor se prolíná s klavírem a pod vrstvou efektů může posluchač nacházet stále nové zvukové nuance.

Nazývat tuto muziku jako kosmický jazz, či po anglicku "space jazz" může znít jako stokrát omleté klišé, ale svádí k tomu jak název projektu, celkové mimozemské vyznění desky. Pokud plánujete v brzké době opuštění sluneční soustavy, toto album může být na cestě velmi příjemným společníkem.

Jan Sůsa


SPACE CAPSULE Space Capsule (Dissolving Records, Henge 009, CD-R w/ A3 poster): Thomas Shrubsole ist einer, der im Himmel wie auf Erden zugange ist, unten als Sub Loam und In the Field, oben als Jesus on Mars oder Space Capsule. Wobei sein Oben Kopfsache ist, nicht eine Frage von Hightech oder Weltabkehr. Drei Instrumentalstimmen mischen sich, umgarnen sich: Das schreitende und repetierte Klimpern eines Pianos, die Klangspuren eines Keyboards, die träumerischen und kaskadierenden Tonfolgen eines Sopransaxophons, bisweilen gefolgt von seinem Echo oder Doubles. Das mischt sich vielschichtig, um nicht zu sagen mehr und mehr chaotisch. Klingt aber dann doch nicht so (so chaotisch), weil alle Stimmen dezent, luftig, versponnen weder unter sich um die Oberhand ringen, noch auf Aufmerksamkeit pochen. Es geht da eher eine schleichende Eindringlichkeit von diesem Klanggeflecht aus. Eine ätherische, liquide, psychedelische Suggestivität, wie sie für gewisse weltoffene und luftige Formen von Jazz der Hippiejahre nicht untypisch gewesen ist. Erst als crescendierendes Finale wühlt sich das Piano cecil-tayloresk in sämliche Gehirnwindungen. 'Space Capsule 2' beginnt mit einem prickelnden Geräusch und von feinsten Keyboardsounds umschweiftem Einfingerpiano. Ein hubschrauberndes Wummern mischt sich leise ein und überträgt dem Keyboard sein Wummermotiv. Die Finger klopfen dazu erratische und dissonante Noten, in zunehmender Häufung, raunend, trillernd kaskadierend. In der 10. Min. setzt auch das Soprano ein, mit wieder träumerischen und kaskadierenden Wellen. In einer Wellenlänge, nicht weit von denen auch Evan Parkers elektroakustische Abenteuer schwingen. Und fällt der Blick nach oben, ziehen da Wolken, faszinierender als jedes Ufo.

[BA 79 rbd]

Plenty more great reviews in that issue of Bad Alchemy, as always, I can thoroughly recommend picking up a copy.

On to newer pastures Frans de Waard has reviewd Sub Loam's Concise Dictionary of Plants in the latest Vital Weekly http://www.vitalweekly.net/915.html


SUBLOAM - A CONCISE DICTIONARY OF PLANTS AND THEIR USES (3"CDR by Dissolving Records)
Thomas Shrubsole is an active person, working with such guises as Jesus On Mars and Space Capsule (the latter reviewed in Vital Weekly 902) and Sub Loam. His releases are in a small edition, but recently also started to look better. Here with a larger print on cardboard and the CDR packed in another print, folded around the CDR itself. There are three pieces on this release, with a total length of sixteen minutes. That's not much, I was thinking, when playing this. The website learns me this is "Composed and played by Sub Loam using organic, acoustic and electro-mechanical instruments and means, composted direct to 4-track tape." Nice; composted. However, when I first played this, I was thinking that the opening piece, the longest of the three, was made with the use of a saxophone, multi tracked and processed using computer means. A bit like Lol Coxhill once did, on his split release with Eyeless In Gaza, but less jazzy. Maybe another point of reference would be Nurse With Wound with a more sparse use of resources. A tape collage of saxophone sounds. But then perhaps I am all wrong, and I happen not to know what these organic, acoustic and electro-mechanical instruments are. Of course you could as easily argue it is not really interesting to know these things. Do I like what I hear? Yes I do. Do I care what how it was made? Not really (and when I wrote this before someone said "so you also don't care your shoes are made in a third world sweatshop?" - it seems something different to me, entirely). Like Space Capsule this is vaguely rooted in the world of jazz, but then, perhaps, also connected to the world of musique concrete - more that than jazz, I was musing. Excellent small release, great package, but way too short, I'd say.  (FdW)

It is included on the podcast, too, here: http://www.vitalweekly.net/915.mp3

Many thanks to Jan, Rigo and Frans for taking the time to listen and write such lovely things about Dissolving music...

As ever, to order any Dissolving releases simply drop an email to dissolving (dot) records (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk 

A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses - Available to order now.

Sub Loam's A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses is now available from

Boomkat: http://boomkat.com/cds/904978-sub-loam-a-concise-dictionary-of-plants-their-uses

Norman Records: http://www.normanrecords.com/records/144883-sub-loam-a-concise-dictionary-of-plants

And direct from Dissolving by contacting the usual email address.

Remember, as ever, whether you are new to Dissolving or have been enjoying our music for a while, you can stay up to date with releases, special editions, exclusives etc. by joining the Dissolving Mailing list. Send an email with 'Mailing List' as the subject or in the body of the mail and you will be added to the list.

New Sub Loam Available from Friday (10/01/14) in Shops

Sub Loam's latest, A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses will be available to purchase from the end of this week at http://www.normanrecords.com/ and http://boomkat.com/
Keep an eye on the weekly mailouts!
As always you are also always welcome to order direct from the label, mail for prices.

SUB LOAM - A CONCISE DICTIONARY OF PLANTS AND THEIR USES - OUT NOW

New Release January 2014

Sub Loam - A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses

Sub Loam returns with a new release for 2014, a limited art edition 3" CDr containing three herbal vignettes dedicated to the soil, the sun and the foliate filaments linking them. Composed and played by Sub Loam using organic, acoustic and electro-mechanical instruments and means, composted direct to 4-track tape.

Three chlorocentric worlds in miniature.

 This edition is packed in folded paper sleeve of one of 5 designs printed both sides with unique artwork by Sub Loam. Each copy also contains a hand-numbered art print suitable for framing also designed by the artist. Hand-numbered edition of 40.

 Sub Loam - A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses (Henge 010)

Released: 10/01/14

Tracklisting: 

1 - 7.21

2 - 4.43

3 - 3.32

https://soundcloud.com/dissolvingrecords/sub-loam-a-concise-dictionary

 Copies are £13 each, P&P in the UK is £1.50, Europe £3.50, Americas £4.70, R.O.W. £5.00

 Email dissolving (dot) records (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk to order or to add yourself to the mailing list

Frans de Waard observes Space Capsule

SPACE CAPSULE (CDR by Dissolving Records)
This is, I believe, the first time that Dissolving Records sends information along with the release, and it puts a few things in perspective. Dissolving Records is run by Thomas Shrubsole, who also works as Sub Loam, Jesus On Mars (both of them reviewed before), In The Field and 'various other pseudonyms, sometimes anonymously'. Here he acts as Space Capsule, an odd project of free jazz music. He plays 'acoustic and electro-mechanical instruments (soprano saxophone, piano, electric piano) aided by rudimentary electronics', and I assume not all at the same time, but taped to a form of multi-track recordings (analogue or digital) and that leads, I think, to some intentional randomness in the music. In an odd way it sounds very jazz like, even when it's all a bit more electronic, such as in 'Space Capsule 2'. Shrubsole plays loosely connected notes and improvises along with that and then on the next track he throws some other, similar and dissimilar notes, and then mixes them together, perhaps adding a bit more electronics in the process. Of the two pieces I liked the second better, but also to be honest, I think both pieces were a bit long and could have been edited down a bit, even when I understand that the length of this is necessary for this kind of spacious free jazz. Not yet entirely Sun Ra like I think. Great package! (FdW)

from Vital Weekly number 902

Space Capsule is also included in the podcast: here 

Space Capsule @ Boomkat

"Thomas Shrubsole lends his own name to a slowly expanding constellation of aliases - In The Field, Jesus On Mars, Sub Loam, The Dissolving Orchestra - on his latest for Dissolving Records. Taking cues from Sun Ra and the European avant-garde, 'his 'Space Capsule' is a multi-planar improvisation meshing acoustic afternoon ambience, streaking cosmic jazz and free electric sound with "underground domestic production methods" (read: recorded in his house onto tape). Like much of Thomas' output, these two tracks beautifully capture a sense of space and time and meditative state-of-mind, or, as he poetically puts it, "intuitive thought, multiplied on a vertical time axis". Using Piano, Electric Piano, Soprano Saxophone, Devices, Tape he patiently conducts a fluidly abstract, intra-galactic dialogue of darting sax comtrails, dubbed-out clusters of keys and pinging electronics that feels beautifully unimpeded, free in a manner that only comes with hands-on, physical music, and yet it's instinctively disciplined, organised with a quietly chaotic logic."

click here to buy http://boomkat.com/cds/824934-thomas-shrubsole-space-capsule

SPACE CAPSULE

New Release

SPACE CAPSULE 

Space Capsule is the new work of Thomas Shrubsole on his own Dissolving imprint. Space Capsule sees the initiation of a series which will continue with collaborations and contributions from different friends and colleagues from the UK (and beyond) sub-underground.   

With acoustic and electro-mechanical instruments (soprano saxophone, piano, electric piano) aided by rudimentary electronics Space Capsule holds a diurnal séance montaging the domestic and the cosmic in a surprising and free blend. Meshes of the afternoon diffusing a clear light and cubic languor alert acoustic mediation, free electric sound.

Underground domestic production methods, cosmo-alien meditational multi-planar observation input multiplied with outdated technology and printed to tape. A wooden figure viewed through a prism. The windows of the room open to the afternoon light. Alternate probability paths viewed together from further down the time stream, physical fidelities and hands-on electro-acoustic free playing.

Intuitive thought, multiplied on a vertical time axis. Above, an acoustic spacecraft is suspended, silent, permeable, diaphanous, held up by breath and expansive thought.

Space Capsule is limited to 50 hand numbered copies. It comes with a card booklet and an A3 poster riso-printed with an original artwork by Thomas.

Space Capsule (Henge 009)

Released: 10/10/2013

https://soundcloud.com/dissolvingrecords/space-capsule-henge-009-album

Tracklisting: Space Capsule 1 - 16.13

Space Capsule 2 - 19.11

 Copies are £11 each, P&P in the UK is £2.50, Europe £3.50, R.O.W. £4.50

 Email dissolving (dot) records (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk to order or to add yourself to the mailing list

New Album Due Soon

The latest Dissolving release, entitled SPACE CAPSULE, will be available in the next couple of weeks.
Keep an eye out here for updates, sound clips, release date, purchase info etc.

more soon!

Ruderal Memory now out @ Boomkat.com

Sub Loam's limited edition Ruderal Memory album is now available from Boomkat:

http://boomkat.com/cds/700917-sub-loam-ruderal-memory

" Ghostly, longform electro-acoustic invocation from Sub Loam, the character also known as Thomas Shrubsole and Jesus On Mars. Via soprano saxophone fed through multi-cassette, twin-reel-to-reel set up, 'Ruderal Memory' manifests 45 minutes of seancé-like atmosphere with patiently unfolding arrangement informed by yoga breathing techniques and conducted from an anti-anthropocentric stance in key with Sub Loam's themes of elemental interplay and chlorophyllic consciousness. Aesthetically we're reminded of Robin The Fog's spectral experiments on 'The Ghosts Of Bush' or the quivering microtones yielded in William Basinski's 'Disintegration Loops', yet as with all of Shrubsole's output, there's a deeply individual spirit at work, following his own quiet path to personal enlightenment. "