southern records

This split release is part of a series of records from Upset The Rhythm documenting the fertile and often overlooked experimental / underground scene in the UK. CHOPS marry up their love of fidgety drum patterns, effect-drenched saxophone and synthesiser showdowns in such a way that every broken sound that swelled forth is caked in euphoria and creeped-out gravity. Helhesten's Dithyramb is a collision of energies, stretching and distorting the inherited sounds and shapes of records full of yowl and lo-fi discord with the zeal of the gutter-punk, free music underground making ecstatic noises across the globe right now. A dissonant clatter of precariously structured outer-rock pieces is bound fast by revolving guitar and viola drone, piano clonk, and crumbling tape loops. From these uncertain foundations the clarinet and vocal squall attack, build, and finally fall out completely, only for the beat up three-stringed Fender to lurch forward again for the final flare-up. Both sides were recorded by John Hannon at No Studios, a man as committed as Upset The Rhythm to helping document this new wave of talent so close to home.

Arise and awaken! All who thirst for the sweet nectar of discontent. Let the light of a thousand paper lanterns shine upon furrowed brows of the angst-ridden, the nervous and the artistically repressed and light the causeway as to venture forward towards a new nation. Hear the buzzing of animals far away through the rushes on the riverside. March forward to a great, new leap. Explode into a youthful movement not seen since the decade following the Great War, the War to End All Wars, it's chaos and decadence littering the fields and valleys with gore, emptiness and cold emotions. Against this! We are. For Death Sentence: PANDA! offers a bold statement; HARMONY, LIFE, STRENGTH and REVENGE!!!!!!! This document, recorded by the band Death Sentence: PANDA! itself in a house with many books, is finally declared!!! Mixed with Philip Manley (Trans Am, Oneida, Golden) in a clandestine location not far from the previously mentioned library. Inspired by and dedicated to Champions far and near, friends and foes alike, Insects Awaken is, in fact, the sound of a wasp's sting to the tongues rewarded with the delicious gift of coconut ice cream.

Dream Island Laughing Language is the eighteenth release by Lucky Dragons. This is world music for a world that doesn't care about "music" as we have packaged it for the last 100 years. You could call it post-noise, or post-anything you like, but we would prefer to call it pre-something. With a constantly shifting group of participants, each recording is a record of a specific time and place, and of those present and active as a community in the creation of the recording. For this recording, the time is 2007-2008, the place is California. The name of the record refers to the landfill-island in Tokyo harbour where the original lucky dragon now lives - "dream island", and to the creation of imaginary languages - "laughing language", that can be used to express things our own languages can't. As with Lucky Dragons' remarkable live performances, these recordings strive to create a space where community, memory and ritual all come together as a crystal which vibrates and shatters. The LP version of Dream Island Laughing Language is accompanied with a book of illustrations by Luke Fischbeck. The CD version also boasts five extra bonus tracks.