Aquarius Records New Arrivals #327
aQuarius recOrds


One of two new records this list from the always kick ass Utech label, the other is from Vagusnerve, a tripped out bit of guitar and laptop sonic alchemy, and this dark gem right here, the first release from the mysterious Blood Fountains, which counts as a member artist Stephen Kasner, responsible for much of the amazing Utech artwork (and has an amazing book of his art, we have one or two in stock if you want one, and you should!), and counts as a guest, dooooom chanteuse Yoshiko Ohara, from avant doom merchants Bloody Panda.

And the sound? Well if you're familiar with Kasner's artwork, it's hard to imagine that this isn't exactly what his paintings would sound like. Creeping fluttery ambience, flecked with ethereal vocals, spidery tendrils of Eastern buzz, draped over soft shards of muted crumbling thrum, deep swells of Godspeed like rumble, all beneath soaring string like shimmers, while a dense Lustmordian buzz sprawls into a sea of whirring blackness, and deep resonant hum. A slow motion, ultra delicate soft focus dreamdoom, rendered in flickers of wistful flute, processed guitar feedback, and glistening slabs of synth, wrapped in ephemeral flurries of reflective tones and overlapping layered vocal harmonies. A grim blackened new age drift, dark and mysterious and quite lovely. Like all Utech releases, gorgeous packaging, a lush full color fold out sleeve, featuring original artwork by Kasner himself (of course).

Blood Fountains, FLOODS

There is no beginning, there is no end, only perpetual oscillation between experience, memory and gravity. Emotion propels our lives, connected to one another and all things through infinity. Floods reaches inward, to the icy depths of the heart to touch and to return with ancient elements unfolding in spectral bliss and horror. Reality of pain and agony is equally married with yearning, dreaming and joyous exaltation. Stephen Kasner evokes a fully-realized painting-to-music translation, with collaborations by David Beaver, Mat Woods, Cheryl Pyle and the vexing vocals of Yoshiko Ohara (Bloody Panda). Floods calls forth a remarkable section of time and feeling, simultaneously compressed and unfurling. A frozen monster of memories, hope and love, and a constant reminder of death's door. Seamless, endless, connected energy. These are fragments of hauntings within us all. We must always remember.



Now available at THEBLOODFOUNTAINS.com

On Utech Records

UR/SK Series09
Limited Edition of 750
Recorded and mixed by Stephen Kasner, 2008-2009.
Music: Stephen Kasner, David Beaver, Yoshiko Ohara, Mat Woods and Cheryl Pyle.

1.Cold Flood/In
2.Head Found in Aptos
3.Spiritless
4.White Wax Blood
5.Hemming
6.Picture of Time and Space/Out
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Floods marks the final chapter of the URSK series, a sound/art collaboration marrying the dark aural palette of nine Utech Records releases with the supernal imagery of visionary painter Stephen Kasner. Kasner’s imagery has reacted to and synthesized each of the soundscapes it inhabited in the course of this collaboration — paired with Aluk Todolo’s opus Finsternis, it became a totem on charred ritual ground, a bleached human torso protruding through darkness as a memory of corporeal death; Kasner’s imagery helped Runhild Gammelsæter conjure the smallest of microorganisms from primordial space in her solo record Amplicon; it successfully evoked a blackened visage for the maniacal, buzzing guitar drones of Skullflower’s outstanding Desire for a Holy War; and it re-cast RST’s electric vibrations in a universe of contrasting contingencies. It is fitting that Kasner’s own Blood Fountains would bring fruition to the URSK project, which by now has become a vital part of the new dark-psych musical landscape as well as one of the best examples of creative symbiosis that I can remember.

Floods is a truly magnificent record, offering such a complete representation of Kasner’s cosmic vision that it could serve as a travel-guide through URSK’s entire spectral universe. Here, Kasner’s painting depicts a faintly glowing halo against an infinity of unfathomable blackness. The halo beckons as far-away galaxies might, luring us out from earthly existence and into the initial dread, eventual terror and ultimate apotheosis of the unknown. This image, more than any other image in the series, captures the sublime essence found at the limits of human consciousness, the transcendence we may attempt to experience through ritual, meditation, magickal or religious practice, rigorous self-discipline, etc. In a universe like URSK’s, the violence, darkness and apparent chaos of any challenging artwork is entirely consistent with our responsibility as sentient beings; here, such a work represents an attempt to utter the ineffable, to grasp at the unreachable, and to extend experience beyond that which is already known to man.

Sonic fibers are slowly unfurled into an ever-shifting canvas of textured drones. You may discern the sources of some of these sounds — a guitar quietly buzzes, a Rhodes churns, Bloody Panda’s Yoshiko Ohara utters a ritual incantation from a far-away place — but together the voices strike a profoundly unified and otherworldly tone. The pacing of these compositions is methodical and perfect, both organic and esoteric, like a slow accumulation of magickal power. There is a definite structure to every track, but it’s as if their formative elements have been blown apart by a breeze, gently torn into a silken skein that may momentarily vanish into ether, forever lost to our worldly souls.

The Blood Fountains is a musical component/outlet created by, and connected to Stephen Kasner and his artworks. Blood Fountains is an aetherial Mutual Admiration Society of artists and musicians to collaborate on ideas and images translated into musical concepts. There are no rules here. Much of the recordings are free-form improvisation, fueled by pure emotional exploration, and initiated in the idea of transforming images into sound -a soundtrack extension of painting.

These collaborations will be continuous, ongoing, and ever-evolving in the simple and kind effort to reach outward, upward, and in many cases, downward.

Blood Fountains, Moving Mountain
Filmed in Belgium by Dwid Hellion, Tine Guns, Ture and SVH, 2008/9.



THEBLOODFOUNTAINS.com

Blood Fountains on Myspace.

UR/SK 6, RST & UR/SK 7, Final, now available.



RST, "Tomorrow's Void"
New Zealand’s Andrew Moon has spent the past decade plus as RST, finding the one thing the electric guitar was truly meant to do - make a holy noise. Somewhere between the hum of the amplifier and the vibration of untouched strings lies electricity's nervous system. Sound reduced to its cold essentials. Unsettled waves sluiced through luxuriant effects and delays. The gristle of the electrical grid harnessed and reconfigured as exquisite ostinato.
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Final, "Dead Air"
Justin K Broadrick (Godflesh, Ice, Painkiller, God, Jesu) is an iconoclast, a destroyer. Whether by scourge or more subtle measure he is unafraid to loose the blood of infidels. Final is the apotheosized nomad. Shifting, flowing, ascending. A life’s work. Dead Air takes hold and abducts the last of your breath with cruel ceremony. The most austere Final recording yet.

Stephen Kasner interview by Runhild Gammelsæter, Catalyst, September 2008.

RG: The introduction to your personal profile on Wikipedia states:
”Stephen Kasner (born 1970) is a painter, illustrator, musician, photographer, graphic artist, and magician.”
Which of the mentioned crafts do you regard as your major or preferred line of work? What choices or sacrifices did you make to develop and hone your major art form when you master so many?

SK: I don't really feel a differentiation between between any of these elements. All these forms are mediums utilized to accomplish many of the same goals. I do primarily consider myself a painter, first and foremost. Painting is the medium that I feel comes most naturally to me in my efforts to exorcise and transfer emotion and ideas.

RG: You master most trades in art – visuals and auditory. Is there a red line, a common denominator, for your expression in various mediums?

SK: Strange, odd, loving memory recall, including conscious experiences as well as lucid and sleep-induced dream states.

RG: Your art – paintings, photos and music – often decipher the expressions of nature, from frail beauty to dark horror. What emotional elements of nature inspire you?

SK: The entire Phenological order of nature inspires me, from resounding elements to the most delicate. The most succinct collision in nature that inspires me are moments of death and rebirth, and the activities in between.

RG: From nature, you seem to depict larger scenarios (universal collisions) or details (leaves, flowers) more often than the scaled perception most people have of the world (what we see in our field of vision or through the 50 mm lens: persons and things in their environment at a proportional size to ourselves). Considering the elements you choose to pull forth and depict, can you describe what your artistic perspective on the visual world is? And what elements of the visual world appeal most strongly to you?

SK: Most intensely, things which cannot be readily seen. I find most appealing things which are filtered through various lenses of dream and hallucination crossed with reality. I firmly believe in altered states of consciousness; I believe there is an infinite possible parallel-universal combinations beyond that which we consider our tangible, logical reality. Dream states are a perfect example of this thought. How many of us have had dreams whose sensations resonate much more intensely than our waking consciousness. Often, for me, I am able to recall minute details of dreams because of their sheer intensity. They are often like looking at life through a microscope, with sensations so magnificently enhanced. I liken intense hallucinogenic drug experiences to inspire the same type of magnification.

RG: Seeing your art, I often think of the cycles of life and death. Creation and destruction, rebirth. Could you tell more about your reflection on life cycles?

SK: These cycles are, after all, what we are made of, what the universe is composed of. I am often perplexed by tangible sensations of cycles. It is interesting to note that we can sense ourselves changing as we grow older. Sometimes this can be true on a day to day basis, if we pause long enough to allow awareness to seep in.

RG: Joy and horror. Light and darkness. Expansion and collapse. Your art often contain such pulsating, strong contrasts – and the results are stunning and beautiful. What, for you, is most beautiful about the contrasts of nature?

SK: I think it is astoundingly interesting to note that the wolf which can tear at an enemy out of fear or defense, or violently destroy for the sake of survival, is also equally capable of nurturing love. It protects its young with equal, yet opposite strength and demand. This contrast, I feel, can be applied to humans as well. We are all equally destructive yet protective and coveting. Sadly, this human instinct has become increasingly diluted with technology and fashion.

RG: The use of animals and botanical elements in your art speaks of an interest for nature, specifically for biology. I recognize features of species such as the Ibis (Threskiornis) and the Hummingbird (Trochilidae), and you have even depicted the birds along with their diet (nectar from the hibiscus flower). Your human shapes, with attention and detail to anatomical features, also speak of an interest for things biological. Do you have scientific training, or do you read biology and anatomy?

SK: Probably only marginally, or for reference. The closest thing I can attest to serious medical study is figure drawing and anatomical study of bones, muscles and their functions. I did spend time in school strictly studying these elements, and we did have to know and learn technical terminology of bones and muscle groups. Beyond that, in attempts to make connections within my work, I do research and seek out reference for certain things. Usually however, once I digest the information, I discard it from immediate consciousness, and let the memory or impression of the subject rise to the surface. My work is not intended to be a study on specifics within nature, but reflected connections of many things combined.

RG: You often paint birds. Particularly you have painted a study for a self portrait where a human body has a bird head – like Thoth, the Egyptian god with the head of the ibis bird. He was considered the heart and tongue of Ra as well as the means by which Ra's will was translated into speech. He has further been involved in arbitration, magic, writing, science, and the judging of the dead. I am sure there is no coincidence in your choice of symbols – what significance do birds and the man-bird shapes have for you?

SK: Nothing of such specific historical significance necessarily. And more perplexing, I really don't often know. These elements come to me often on an instinctual level, where it often takes a great deal of time and work to fully realize the meaning. I try to work as unconsciously as possible, so when these connections are made, the bird and human for example, I try not to question it or make any sensible corrections. I have painted several self-portraits that have no reference of, or specific representation of myself or what I appear outwardly. Many of these self-portraits were never intended initially to even be self-portraits, so to title them as such while I am working on them, or after the fact, can be a little mysterious even to myself. It does somehow make sense to me, obviously, or I wouldn't do it. These connections, like the bird and man, make sense to me on a spiritual, alchemical and occult level. They are magical workings more than they are paintings. The paint is only a means too exert some kind of mysticism, a lifelong magical work in progress.

RG: To create a painting – what steps do you go through, mentally and physically? Do you have an image of the finished result or motif in your minds eye when you stretch the canvas, or do you simply start and let the result reveal it self? Do you work at night, or in daylight? Do you work in silence or do you listen to music while you paint?

SK: These possibilities often change. I do rarely premeditate imagery, however. I rarely do sketches beforehand, unless the painting is intended to be for a specific purpose from the onset. Even then, if I do create sketches, I typically discard them, or simply do not reference them while I am in the painting process. It is more important that I have worked the idea out mentally, rather than to refer to a sketch specifically. Lately, my work schedule floats rather ridiculously. All time has been seeming to blur together- night and day- it has really become rather superfluous and unimportant. I tend to work extremely long hours, and when I am working on a large painting, or large series of paintings, I can work 20 hours straight for many days. It all depends on how the spirits are engaging. If things are good and the painting is flowing well, I work as long as I have to, until I know I must break from a piece or else cause some catastrophe.

I do very often listen to music while I work. It helps to set a mood and mind frame for the emotions I am intending to work out.

RG: You have worked with musicians, creating cover art for music recordings. How do you transform the music to visual art? What element of the music is important for you to bring out? Do you discuss the meanings of the music with the musicians or get requests for themes, do you listen to the music to find the theme, or do you simply sense instinctually what is going to be right?

SK: I employ all of the above in varying degrees. Sometimes, I will have interaction with musicians about their work, other times I simply follow an emotional dialogue I am having with the music itself. Usually though, it takes ingredients of all these things to achieve the right balance and state of understanding the music enough to flow with confidence. Sometimes these elements work better than others, but if I am not attached to the music and its emotional components, I will have no interest in working with a particular band or musician, and simply won't collaborate. There must be a connection between the music and the artist. This is the sole purpose of the collaboration. If there is no symbiosis between my work and that which I am attempting to connect with, the attempt at conveying the spirit within will be moot.

The core of how I actually transform the music into images is an almost Shamanistic principle. I certainly envelop myself within the music with repeated listening, allowing the center of the music's emotion to rise to the surface. For me, this occurs easily. I latch onto that and begin to see forms and images. From there it is sometimes like connecting the dots. Other times, it is a longer journey of trial and error, until the image or images I am creating resonate with the same emotional vibrations I sense from inside the music.

RG: You have had numerous solo exhibitions, published two books with your art, are soon to release a solo CD, and you sell paintings to collectors internationally – all this while being a young artist in your thirties. How did you accomplish so much in your adult years? What has been your drive to work so intensively and be so creative?

SK: Oddly, I often feel intensely behind in my goals! You put it very nicely, but when you are inside the growth, living with it on a daily basis, the sensation is that things happen very slowly. It is kind of like watching a child grow; the parents who raise the child do not notice the growth as intensely as the grandparent that sees the child less frequently. If you step back and look at the growth from a distance, it appears fantastic. From the inside, however, in perpetual examination of it, it seems less than phenomenal.

I do work very long hours every day, usually seven days a week. I rarely take days off. If I relax too much, all I tend to think about is what I would be able to achieve if I got back to work. I have always had the sensation that life is grossly, horrifyingly short. I love life a great, tremendous deal, and am often concerned that I will not have enough time and youth and energy to execute all that I have challenged against myself. It is this love of life and aversion of death that is often the focus and dichotomy within my work.

Now available, Khlyst I is a 10-color silkscreen, hand-printed by Andy Crawshaw at Broken Press.
32 x 12 inches, signed and numbered in an edition of 100, this print was created to commemorate the San Francisco exhibition, Catalyst.

$125 + shipping. See the P R O O F section for full details.

***Note: All orders for this print placed by midnight Wednesday night/Thursday morning, December 11th, are guaranteed to be delivered before XMas inside the US.



Detail:

Now available: Darsombra - Nymphaea remix compilation cdr

"Nymphaea" has been a staple of the darsombra set for 2+ years. Always a crowd favorite, the track was only released on the "untitled" 55 artist, 3CD compilation that Public Guilt co-curated in 2007. Now, darsombra has decided to retire the song from the live set. In lieu of a memorial, PG asked 12 remixers to have a crack at reinterpreting the track. What better way to lay something to rest than to rip it apart and let other people put it back together? From children's toys-based pop songs to blissed-out ambience, throbbing electronica to vocal interpretations sung in Latin, the resulting tracks on Nymphaea are an eclectic and varied bunch. CD includes original darsombra version.



Remixers include:
Japanese Noise Terrorist, Guilty Connector
Blood Fountains (solo project of visual artist Stephen Kasner)
London, UK artists, Max Bondi & Bleeding Heart Narrative
Swiss experimental turntablist, Strotter Inst. (who cut dubplates for his remix)
NYC drone guitarist, Destructo Swarmbots
Heirs of Rockefeller (side project of Dark Water Transit's Paul Joyce)
France's Le Knell (with releases on Utech Records)
Perfekt Teeth (which features Crucial Blast Records head honcho, Adam Wright)
Astoria, NY female experimental songwriter, Ala Muerte
Baltimore electronica artist, Pulsoc
Decimation Blvd. (Cream Abdul Babar member, Tradd Sanderson) & Darla Hood
Magicicada (aka Atlanta based musician/photographer, Christopher White)

This limited release for Public Guilt is a one time pressing of 250 copies and features artwork by Chase Middaugh (Suishou No Fune, Aidan Baker & Beta Cloud, Heavy Winged, etc.).

Check out the Nymphaea myspace page where you can listen to the CD, plus an exclusive remix by Jon Smulyan not available on the CD.

Available through Public Guilt Records.

New Stephen Kasner LIMITED EDITON T-shirt.
Shirts and Destroy are proud to bring you our first Stephen Kasner artist shirt. Both the solid GRAY and BLACK premium quality 100% cotton shirts are printed 2 color with solvent reduced light gray and black ink giving them a subtle color shift from the garment. Limited edition of 66 per color.
Available Now at Shirts and Destroy

UR/SK4, Stargazer's Assistant and UR/SK5, Klangmutationen, now available in P R O O F.




David J. Smith (Guapo, Miasma & The Carousel Of Dead Horses) releases a second set of recordings as The Stargazer's Assistant. Following The Other Side of the Island on Aurora Borealis, Shivers and Voids is a union of instrument, voice and tape. A soundtrack left waiting for the right film to accompany it through the dark. Sweeping, intricate, sometimes ominous, yet always exuding a warmth of emotion. Ancient forests, vast plains, billowing clouds, rusted metal hulks, wet rock walls, lights flickering in darkness. The Stargazer's Assistant reveals all this to us.
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Klangmutationen are an mystery. More could be said about what their music isn't than what it is. Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the underground experimentalists pierce the veils of Eastern and Western music. Recalling early sets on FMP as well as the Takayanagi/Abe axis of Japanese free music, Schwarzhagel is the sound of a spirit falling past its own life after death, forever.