Humbug

NEW HUMBUG RELEASES 2008 - MARCH UPDATE
****Humbug077: THE TEMPLE DEFECTORS / CLAYPIPE - Split 10" lathe cut - EUR 17,00
The Temple Defectors is James Ferraro & Spencer Clark, presenting here a fine slab of vintage violence (from around the time they did "Dark Rye Bread" and "Gambling in Ohpa’s Shadow" (as the Skaters)) - essential. On the flip is some fine itinerant heavy lidded psych by Claypipe - that’s Antony Milton and Clayton Noone from New Zealand. Limited lathe cut 10" to 120 copies in proper hand assembled covers, with a poster insert and resealable sleeve.
:::::::::& TWO NEW CD’S RELEASE DATE 07.03.08 - OUT NOW!:::::::::
****Humbug070: EDWARD RUCHALSKI "WaterTrain" CD - EUR 12,50
The ideal introduction to the world of one of the most under- appreciated contemporary sound artists, in our humble opinion. For the last ten years he has been creating sound installations, motorized string and percussion instruments and playable percussive sculptures, resulting in a soundworld that is personal, intuitive, mystical, and wholly uncategorizable. This special release is Ruchalski’s response to our proposition of releasing a remastered single-disc collection of tracks form his two albums “Moveable Sites” (2002) and “Radio Journal” (2004), and we are exceptionally happy with the results! More people NEED to hear Ruchalski’s music! "WaterTrain" also contain two brand-new tracks and one from “Refined Localities parts 2-4” (Firstperson, 3” CD-R). The CD comes with a booklet of photography of some of his instruments, and liner notes by Ed Pinsent of the excellent Sound Projector Magazine. Digipack, edition of 500.
****Humbug069: 1/3 OCTAVE BAND "I Will Pass By Here" CD - EUR 12,00
Finally "I Will Pass By Here" sees the light of day - this album completes an imagined ’trilogy’ of 1/3 Octave Band CD’s on Humbug following "Sublumina" (2006) and "Icarus" (2007), and might just be their most definitive statement yet.
"Deep space gloomp and wind-tortured drone-silence from the duo of Bill Wood and Jules Desmond. Huge lungs of void cut up with diamonds of percussion and lone metal tone in classic globe-gobbling style."
Aided by the Octavers’ first all-digital recording (in the wake of gradual decline of Wood’s analogue gear during recording sessions for "Icarus") and a superb mastering job, "I Will Pass By Here" draws out the minutiae of their playing with great patience & purpose, as the album progresses in an almost subliminal trajectory from the wispy and brittle introduction, to the leaden bass gushes and overbearing sense of miasmic burnt-out closure toward the ending. Inspired! One of our favourite releases we’ve put out so far. Digipack, edition of 500.
:::::::::STILL FRESH (2007 RELEASES):::::::::::
****Humbug067: MOHA! “Rock/Off!” 7” – EUR 5,00
"Heavy/free improv duo of guitar and drums get uptight on white vinyl. “Mekke Tid” brings a vocalist into the mix for a spirited and surprisingly straightforward, if aggressive version of the Creation’s “Making Time.” The timbre of Paal Jackman’s voice meshes with the instruments in a strident way that forces structure into the cover as the runtime rolls on, actually recalling Fugazi in more than a few places. On the flip are two party-crashin’ noise sketches featuring Jazkamer’s John Hegre, reveling in audio abuse and sharp, pinging noise. A fun time, and with the proper sense of levity that’s fitting of the kind of material more bands ought to be putting forth on singles." -Doug Mosurak, Dusted Magazine (“Still Single” column) limited to 520 copies.
****Humbug066: FREDRIK NESS SEVENDAL “No Foly Bow” CD – EUR 11,00
“…Equally gorgeous, but in a more fragile and Terrascopic fashion is “No Foly Bow”, the first full-length album from experimental Norwegian artist Fredrik Ness Sevendal. With a glacial quality in it timbre, the album has some exquisite guitar playing, and fragile melodies inspired by the folk music of Norway. Repetitive without becoming stale, the music moves slowly, thoughtfully constructed so that not a note is wasted, the sounds delicately poised on the edge of perfection. One listen to the title track will demonstrate how good this album is, whilst tracks such as “Gamle gudbrand” have a rougher, hewn property, as if torn from the very forest.” - Simon Lewis, August 2007, terrascope.co.uk
****Humbug062 – 1/3 Octave Band "Icarus” CD – EUR 11,00
Bill Wood & Jules Desmond seem to be perfectly “tuned in” to whatever cosmic frequencies they are tapping these days....as one reviewer put it, theirs is an “enormously evocative power”....this is perfect late night music. Hazy and shimmering and slowly unravelling, visceral and deep. "Icarus" is the second 1/3 Octave Band CD on Humbug, following last year’s "Sub Lumina" and preceding a new album called "I Will Pass By Here". Why yes, we’re big fans of this great New Zealand duo around here! Bill and Jules are our modern day WARRIORS ON THE EDGE OF TIME!!!!
“…The music starts ringing in your ears, creating wonderful overtones and carry the listener away. I was playing this on a particular rainy day and the somber, dark and highly atmospheric music worked quite well.” -- Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly
****Humbug052 – JOHN HEGRE / HOWARD STELZER “The Boring Leading the Bored” CD-R – EUR 7,00
Another massively delayed release, but this kinda peanut butter soul feedback tweeter music tend to age rather well?? Stelzer’s makeshift tapework unleashed for a filthy hoedown against Hegre’s manly electronics. Can you stand it??!!
“...The noise element is of course present here too, but on a totally different level. Stelzer is in full form here with carefull playing of his tapes, with the head tapes scanning the tapes, lots of hiss like sounds and an occasional burst into the world of noise. This piece has a better structure, with outbursts of noise coming in, but sounding creepy and mean.” -- Vital Weekly
****Humbug047: ORIGAMI SKANDINAVIA “Furet Værbitt” CD-R – EUR 7,00
Tagged as “Sensible SkandiNoise & national-romantic Invertions”, meet the latest sensation in the thriving genre of "extremely gay noise" (formerly known as "norwegian noise"). Meet the mighty ORIGMI SKANDINAVIA. Queen Bjorn (a.k.a. Maskinanlegg) and Princess Boe (a.k.a. Origami Boe) bestow upon us a marvel for the eyes & ears, all gay colours and no holds barred neo-norwegian (um, make that gay) noise assault.
"A delicate work, at times nostalgic and at others a commentary opposing a proposed oil terminal, short tracks of a few minutes, a longer 22 + minute noise piece and found sound, metallic, always seeming polite and civilized with perhaps not humor but a whimsicality within the strange genre of "extremely gay noise"..." - Jliat, Vital Weekly
****Humbug044 - THE SKATERS "Dark Rye Bread" LP -- EUR 15,00
Much requested second edition of 500, with full-colour pro printed sleeves, original artwork by Michael Hutchins, black inner bags and a stamped & numbered insert. Here is what Second Layer had to say (about the 1st edition):
Gorgeous LP from San Francisco ecstatic noise duo, The Skaters. Dark Rye Bread was originally released as a limited CDR on the Nature Tape Limb label but here Humbug are treating us to an even more glorious version pressed on high quality vinyl with some beautiful Brion Gysin-esque cover artwork and hand-screened insert. Enough about the packaging though because more importantly The Skaters are hands down one of the best groups working within the newly fashionable means of making music from manipulated broken electronic equipment, analog effects and generally any instruments or objects at their disposal. On Dark Rye Bread they create walls of pure colourful drone, processed feedback and tribal percussion that bears heavy with raw emotion errupting through the surface, an important factor that seperates The Skaters from their peers. Amongst this density of noise there are some amazing riffs and other rhythmic elements that surface with repeated listens. Highly, highly recommended for anyone into Double Leopards, Skullflower, Hotogisu, etc.
Coming Soon......
ANDRÉ BORGEN "Staying Old" CD
PHÔ - live CD
GASTRIC FEMALE REFLEX / ID M THEFT ABLE "t.b.a." (Collab) CD
UNITED BIBLE STUDIES "Annwn Observatory" LP lathe cut
BJERGA / IVERSEN "t.b.a." CD (split-release w/ other labels)
VARIOUS ARTISTS "t.b.a." 2xCD compilation
Humbug email is tchartan {at} gmail {dot} com. yes!