A shimmering fog of globally infused psychedelia, a demented whirl in the fog of all oceans, this album is just exploded with strange color, just like tape art (also by Jake)
WAS52
Jake Blanchard – Bryophytes
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Tag Archives: Jake Blanchard
Lo Imp – Nosferatu
We’re trying out the CDR format for a change for this one, the debut release by Lo Imp. It is a trio consisting of Sam McLoughlin (Samandtheplants/N.Racker), Bridget Hayden (Vibracathedral Orchestra) and Jake Blanchard [Tor Press]. This captures their first public performance from Halloween 2014 where they created this unnerving soundtrack to accompany a screening of Murnau’s classic silent film “Nosferatu” in the atmospheric setting of Todmorden’s Unitarian Church. As you would expect, it’s synths, homemade instruments and the other worldly atmosphere of a gothic church in sub zero temperatures. Lights out for this one, please.
Limited edition of 52 with professionally printed insert. Each one has it owns unique custom label art.
WAS27
Various Artists – Noise In The Wood
A fund-raiser for Calder Valley Flood Relief Fund following the Boxing Day floods that affected the towns of Todmorden, Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd, Sowerby Bridge & Brighouse. All music on here recorded live at Was Ist Das? promoted gigs in the Calder Valley except for Aaron Dilloway’s set which was recorded at TUSK Festival 2015 by Sam Grant www.tuskfestival.com and for the Blown Out track which is from their album “Jet Black Hallucinations”.
Download version tracklisting:
1.Dean McPhee – Smoke & Mirrors (live at Hebden Bridge Masonic Hall 3/11/2013)
2.Ashtray Navigations – The Pink Margarine Cubes (live at Hebden Bridge Inkfolk 9/08/2015)
3.Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. – Cometary Orbital Drive (live at Hebden Bridge Trades Club 23/08/2014)
4.Dead Sea Apes – Knowledge And Conversation (live at Hebden Bridge Trades Club 21/10/2012)
5.Bird People – Calder Valley Rockaway (live at Todmorden Unitarian Church 15/08/2015)
6.UK Muzzlers – NoNoNoNo (live at Hebden Bridge Inkfolk 21/08/2014)
7.MV & EE with Mick Flower – Shit’s Creek (live at Cragg Vale Robin Hood 20/09/2012)
8.vert:x – Cube Abuse (live at Todmorden Golden Lion 28/09/2015)
9.Suzuki Junzo – Chi No Mure (live at Hebden Bridge Nutclough Tavern 25/10/2013)
10.Raising Holy Sparks – Everyone Yearns For The Boiling Black Sky (live at Todmorden Unitarian Church 16/08/2015)
11.Wooden Wand – Barstool Blues (live at Hebden Bridge Masonic Hall 27/09/2014)
12.Girl Sweat – Off The Tracks (live at Todmorden Unitarian Church 16/08/2015)
13.Hush Arbors – Gone (live at Hebden Bridge Trades Club (08/05/2012)
14.Chicaloyoh – The Sound of His Tenderness (live at Todmorden Unitarian Church 15/08/2015)
15.Isnaj Dui – The Way They Are (live at Todmorden Unitarian Church 15/08/2015)
16.Woven Skull with Core of the Coalman – Sea Grave (live at Todmordern Unitarian Church 16/08/2015)
17.Richard Dawson – Judas Isacriot (live at Todmorden Unitarian Church 16/08/2015)
18.Bridget Hayden – Non-Linear Chaotic Problem (live at Inkfolk 30/03/2014)
19.Carlton Melton – March of the Cicadas / Out To Sea (live at Hebden Bridge Trades Club 16/04/2014)
20.Blown Out – Transgalactic World Eater
21.Aaron Dilloyway – Live At Tusk
Tape version track listing:
Side A
1.Dean McPhee – Smoke & Mirrors
2.Ashtray Navigations – The Pink Margarine Cubes
3.Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O. – Cometary Orbital Drive
4.Dead Sea Apes – Knowledge And Conversation
5.UK Muzzlers – NoNoNoNo
6.Wooden Wand – Barstool Blues
7.The Lamp – Someone Playing Dulcimer To The Ducks
Side B
1.Raising Holy Sparks – Everyone Yearns For The Boiling Black Sky
2.The Sly And Unseen – Here We Are, Here We Are
3.MV & EE with Mick Flower – Shit’s Creek
4.Chicaloyoh – The Sound of His Tenderness
5.The Lamp – Hebden Dawn Chorus (dub)
Side C
1.Bird People – Calder Valley Rockaway
2.Hush Arbors – Gone
3.Girl Sweat – Off The Tracks
4.Bridget Hayden – Non-Linear Chaotic Problem
5.Richard Dawson – Judas Isacriot
6.Damo Suzuki Network – Bridge Medley
7.The Lamp – Very Heavy Water
Side D
1.Suzuki Junzo – Chi No Mure
2.Woven Skull with Core of the Coalman – Sea Grave
3.Carlton Melton – March of the Cicadas / Out To Sea
CD Tracklist
CD 1
1.Dean McPhee – Smoke & Mirrors
2.Ashtray Navigations – The Pink Margarine Cubes
3.Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO – Cometary Orbital Drive
4.Dead Sea Apes – Knowledge & Conversation
5.Bird People – Calder Valley Rockaway
6.MV & EE with Mick Flower – Shit’s Creek
7.The Sly And Unseen – Here We Are, Here We Are
8.Chicaloyoh – The Sound of his Tenderness
9.The Lamp – Fiddler & The River
CD 2
1.Raising Holy Sparks – Everyone Yearns For The Boiling Black Sky
2.Wooden Wand – Barstool Blues
3.Girl Sweat – Off The Tracks
4.Hush Arbors – Gone
5.UK Muzzlers – NoNoNoNo
6.Suzuki Junzo – Chi No Mure
7.Richard Dawson – Judas Iscariot
8.Bridget Hayden – Non Linear Chaotic Problem
9.Carlton Melton – March of the Cicadas / Out To Sea
10.The Lamp – Hareandhoundsound
Limited edition of 25 double cassettes and 50 double CDRs plus a bandcamp download
WAS19
Jake Blanchard – Shade
A CO-RELEASE WITH TOR PRESS
Our very first foray into vinyl is this wonderful album from Jake Blanchard. Although Jake made his name as an illustrator, he then followed that up with an ever increasingly power run of limited releases for the likes of Feathered Coyote, Ikuisuus and his own label Tor Press.
Now comes his greatest release yet, “Shade”. An ambitious drone work, densely layered and hypnotic. It felt like the time for a vinyl release.
Hand cut lathes created by The Bricoleur and hand made sleeves by Jake himself. Limited edition of 30.
WAS16
Various Artists – Mistletoe & Cold Winter Skies
Not quite the Was Ist Das? Christmas album, this is none the less, a mid-Winter themed compilation which can include Christmas…and for some of the songs, it does.
Side A
1.The Lamp – intro
just a brief scene-setter with the voice of Stuart Davison and some synth
2.Magpahi – Winter Solstice Night
Magpahi is the solo project of Alison Cooper [Samandtheplants, N.Racker] who has recorded for such fine labels as Twisted Nerve, Bird Records and Library Tapes. She has contributed a beautiful instrumental piece which makes me want to go to an Elizabethan frost fair.
3.Sophie Cooper – Rack Up The Bintang, it’s Christmas Day sleigh bells by Dale Cornish
The Queen of Stoke has played many a fine gig for us and this year raised the bar very high with her spell-binding album “Our Aquarius”. For us, she’s gone all wild and anti-folk and deviously catchy.
4.Bewilderness – The Muffled King
Bewilderness is a new collaboration between Jeff Stonehouse and Sanja Ivkov. Crawley resident Jeff started out making experimental music in Organs of Battle but went on to make techno in the 90s under the name Spiralhead. Since then he has made deep pastoral ambience as Listening Mirror (Hibernate Recordings) and more experimental electronics as jffstnhs. His recent collaborations include Le Moors with Wil Bolton and Snoqualmie Falls with Alicia Merz (aka Birds Of Passage). Sanja Ivkov is a singer, painter & tattoo artist from Sombor, Serbia. She is the lead singer in Mesta and was previously in Syphil.
5.Nick Hudson – A Dogbed’s View of Christmas
L’enfant terrible of the Brighton music scene, Nick’s beautiful voice and arrangements at first sound like they are crying out for prominent playlisting on daytime Radio 2 and 6 until you actually stop and listen to the lyrics. Witty but exceedingly dark it is no surprise he has earnt high praise from David Tibet and a cold shoulder from Broadcasting House but its their loss. His Christmas song is every bit as lovely, funny and horrifying as you would expect.
Side B
1.The Psychogeographical Commission – Antenociticus Awakens
Antenociticus, spelt wrongly on the tape sleeve just like the band are, is a mysterious Roman god who seems to have only been worshipped up by Hadrian’s Wall. The remains of his temple are now found on a housing estate in Tyne and Wear. This powerful and mysterious music really does suggest him awakening and being a very bad neighbour. I know many things about The Psychogeographical Commission but if I told you, I’d have to kill you. All of you.
2.Jake Blanchard – Erithacus Rubecula
Jake Blanchard first made his name with his remarkable illustration work and his label Tor Press (you MUST check out their Menagerie compilations which are all amazing). However, in recent years he has been releasing a steady stream of exotic drone releases, each one completely unlike the previous ones. Here, he lays on some extraordinary electronics in honour of our Winter friend, the Robin.
3.Gena Netherwood – Life Is A Bug You Step On
Although she has collaborated with Andrew Liles (Nurse With Wound, Current 93), this is Gena’s first ever official solo release. Its actually over ten years old and has been shared around the internet. She’s picked it up, given it a digital dusting off and kindly donated it to this compilation. Thanks
4.Bird People – The Holly King and The Oak King
Bird People is the musical project of Mr.Feathered Coyote himself, Vienna’s leading light Ulrich Rois. This epic ritualistic psychedelic folk track will make you want to dance in the snowy woods wearing nothing but berries. Please don’t, though, as this is illegal except in Sweden.
5.The Lamp – outro
the end.
A very limited edition of 50 on yellow tapes and, for the first time, comes with a download. Cover picture by me. Tape is sold out but download only for pay what you can from https://wasistdas.bandcamp.com/album/mistletoe-cold-winter-skies
WAS7