Bathetic Has Created A Monster
5.13.14 by Ian Franklin
Bathetic Records’ newest release exists in a strange form of personal exposition alongside a thread of continuity and singularity. “Dynasty at Ghost Town” is the name of the staggeringly large collection of 11 different pro dubbed Type II Chrome confessionals from 11 different musicians/bands, known here collectively as “Various Artists”. Featured in this collection is a grouping of Bathetic favorites and all around experimental sound gurus including Aquarelle, William Cody Watson, Ekin Fil, Lee Noble, Planning for Burial, Scott Tuma, M. Geddes Gengras, Zac Nelson, High Aura’d, Padang Food Tigers, and Panabrite. The sounds therein run through the gamut of experimental styles and instrumentation including but not limited to: electro-acoustic melodics, drifting ambient arenas, solo synth explorations, complex digital gardens, subterranean rhythmic movements, hazy afternoon reflections, music box memories, repetitive structural procedures, industrial park white noise, and more than a healthy dose of soothing aural wave patterns.
The biggest common thread running through these 11 distinct releases is the artwork done by Simon Fowler. Beautifully minimalist in execution but complex in design, the covers for all the tapes link together top to bottom to form a long continuous and evolving piece taking inspiration from underwater reefs to geometrical and crystalline structures. Sometimes evoking a nebulous gas and other times twisting into piercing spires, the piece transforms to encompass all of the different, yet connected sounds from the artists within.
This is a unique type of release, of which Bathetic is no stranger to pulling off. They put out the simultaneous split/collaboration between Rale and Lolly Gesserit over two different cassettes with alternating artist sides released a few months back. These types of collaborative releases are genuinely interesting and fresh to me, hopefully encouraging others to explore “extended” release structures and experiment with different forms of presentation.
Check out Bathetic’s website to see track info, artwork, and sound samples for each tape. Not for sale individually, the whole batch will put you back only $50 which is an absolute steal considering the artistic talent of all involved.
