Tabs Out

C For Comfort: An “I Dream Of Wires” Addendum
2.12.14 by Ian Franklin

Those not already consumed by the ever growing presence and resurgence of modular synthesizers of the past 7 or 8 years may have yet to come across the I Dream Of Wires mega-documentary released this past year. Encompassing an enormous scope (over 4 hours!) of interviews, visual eye-candy, and comprehensive information about the instrument, it’s enough to make any gear head and electronic music fan spiral out into a dizzying comatose of drool and lust. Endless gear shots accompanied by a steady stream of curated modular synth tracks from producer and co-writer Solvent (Jason Amm) brings the viewer on a long distance brain burner, simultaneously leaving you physically drained and yet still hungry for more.

To satisfy some of that insatiable hunger, Solvent (a Ghostly International recording artist and accomplished musician) has released “C for Comfort”, a cassette release on Suction Records comprised of a select grouping of tracks from the documentary made entirely with modular synths. In an edition of 150 copies, C for Comfort is set as an addendum to Solvent’s sixth studio album “New Ways: music from the documentary I Dream of Wires” released in conjunction with the documentary and available on 2×12” LP + 7” and CD, rounding out Solvent’s seemingly modular approach to media consumption and adherence to format equality. (What, no LaserDisc? pssh.)

Stream clips from C for Comfort below (mouse over image) and grip a copy from science-with-synthesizers.com and grab a copy of the IDOW documentary while you’re there. But readers beware, these luscious sounds can leave you fiending like you’ve never felt before until you start looking around your house contemplating what you can sell to grab a Serge panel or fund that 9U which has somehow become essential. Do I really need this couch? What’s all this crap in the corner I never use? I could probably sell that. Somebody’ll buy that, right? Right?

Track Listing
a1. Small and Efficient
a2. Subharmonics
a3. Pattern Recognition (Minimal)
b1. Clustering
b2. Corg
b3. Old Flame (*Cassette Exclusive*)

 

Anthony Janas’ Funny & Pretty Modular Musings
2.11.14 by Mike Haley

Everyone’s been talking about how chill the current Pope is. I think  mainly because the bar has been set so fucking low that if the dude doesn’t drive around, bumping into homosexuals in his bullet proof car, then people are like “Oh, wow! This one is super progressive, right guys?”. If you ask me, and I know you didn’t, but if you did I would say to forget about Vatican City and look about 7,000 miles west to Chicago, IL for the real deal. There you will find Catholic Tapes, a much doper place to offer your faith up. Brett Nauke has been running the label for about seven years now, baking up some heavy duty jams for the world. Things have been quiet lately, but today the white smoke billowed out of CT HQ signaling that new releases were now available.

One of those releases is an insanely delicious six-track cassette from Chicago-based sound artist Anthony Janas. The tape, titled “Funny & Pretty” is just over a half hour of carbonated modular synth structures mingling with clouds of atmospheric and quirky realness. Far from noodling, Janas navigates his way through some Mort Garson inspired space-pop arrangements that are sweetly thought out and executed. Catholic Tapes lays out that Janas busts “An extremely refreshing and new take on modular synthesis and electronic composition for 2014. One of the most exciting people in Chicago’s vast electronic scene and truly unlike anyone else in the game” and that ain’t just a bowl of hyperbole. You can figure that out by streaming the tape below.

When you are done, head over the Catholic Tapes shoppe and BUY THIS sucker before the well runs dry. A new 7″ from Brett Naucke is also available.