Sub Loam reviewed in The Wire

Sub Loam's latest was given favourable notice in the 2014 Rewind issue of The Wire magazine.

See below for more details:

http://www.subloam.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/ov-wires-and-connections.html

For anyone intrigued in further exploring the tangled sonic undergrowth of the Sub Loam back catalogue the following titles are still available direct from dissolving

Sub Loam - Ruderal Memory (Henge 008)  £9.00

Sub Loam - A Concise Dictionary of Plants and Their Uses (Henge 010)  £9.00

Limited copies of the Unofficial Countryside release that features the Sub Loam piece reviewed in The Wire are also available from dissolving. 

Additionally, for anyone wanting to push on further towards related outer sonic reaches, other projects involving Thomas Shrubsole that are still available from dissolving include:

Space Capsule - Space Capsule (Henge 009) £9.00

T. Shrubsole - C. Tattersall - Cassette (Other Ideas OTC 002) £6.00

Prices do not include postage.

As always, mail for orders, enquiries, trades, etc.

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 

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

Sounds of the Space Capsule

Sound clips now uploaded to Soundcloud from the upcoming Dissolving release 'Space Capsule'

Listen here Space Capsule album preview

Available very soon!

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!