RFM on SLI at RECON

A write up of Saturday's SLI / Recon festivities, from Radio Free Midwich...

"As life is short and the review pile large I generally only write about gigs where I performed or that I had a hand in organizing. However, I feel compelled to comment on the event above because it was such a beautiful, enjoyable and life-affirming afternoon."

Click on the quote to read on...

Midwich Bandcamp

Pip-pip... Just a quickie to alert you good folk to the fact that Lord Robert of Hayler of Midwich Mansions has seen fit to start up a Bandcamp page.

http://midwich.bandcamp.com/

A mere month after its inception, there's delights aplenty to feast on. Including this gem (below), previously only available as part of a super limited edition box set on Striate Cortex. Enjoy...

RFM: Thoughts and Whimsy on the Last SLI Trio

Some lovely words about the last three SLI releases - Tuluum Shimmering, Daniel Thomas & Kevin Sanders and Plurals - from the equally lovely Radio Free Midwich...

"It is like being told a tale in a foreign language and trying to figure it out from the tone of voice and body language of the storyteller. Fascinating, inscrutable."

Click on the quote for the full post...

Ap Martlet (and others) on RFM

Some lovely words from Midwich Mansions, about the latest lovely Ap Martlet track, care of Radio Free Midwich.

"This one is an entire Summer’s day spent fried on acid – getting sunburnt, eating ice cream, laughing at bees – squashed down to a delirious ten minute summary."

Click on the quote for the full review...

RFM Reviews Sindre Bjerga

Rob reviews a couple of new Sindre Bjerga discs, via the medium of a sci-fi short story, over at the ever wondrous Radio Free Midwich.

"Playful, unafraid to meander, yet always attentive, thought through and sharp when it needs to be."

Click on the quote for the full review...

RFM : The Zellaby Awards

And so, as one year ends and another begins, Radio Free Midwich takes a look back at the last year, with The Zellaby Awards. I'm pleased and honoured that SLI makes a few appearances in some very prestigious company...

There's awards for Aqua Dentata, Petals, Striate Cortex and even some chap named Daniel Thomas. And, if such honours weren't enough, three SLI discs (and my solo release on Striate Cortex) make the top twenty releases list. Wonderful!

"From watching Mel O’Dubhslaine reinventing music in Kieron Piercy’s basement through to laughing out loud on the bus as I listened to BBBlood’s breaking glass tape, the year in music has been remarkable."

Click on the quote for the full list of honours...

I guess this is as good a spot to say thank you for all the support that I've received since starting SLI. Thanks...

RFM Reviews of New SLI Discs

Another great write up from the always great Radio Free Midwich. Super stuff...

"Launched mere months ago, its collector-attracting homogeneous packaging has led to fistfights in the overnight queue that forms outside SLIHQ whenever new releases are announced. Its ruthless quality control has guaranteed plaudits from all the commentators that matter."

Click on the quote for the full post...

SLI.WC.24112012 - The RFM Report

A full run down, including behind the scenes tomfoolery, of Saturday's shenanigans from Rob, via the one and only Radio Free Midwich...

"The night had been a huge success."

Click on the quote for the full review...


(Photo c/o Andrew Jarvis)

New Ap Martlet Track

So, the David Thomas half of Hagman has uploaded his latest solo work and it is well worth a listen. A tasty treat, for sure...



And it's already garnered praise from the equally tasty Radio Free Midwich;

"Really, this is essential listening and that it can be downloaded for free two clicks from here is a life-affirming thought."

Click on the quote for the full review...

RFM on SLI.007 through SLI.009

Some lovely words, about lovely people and the last three lovely SLI releases, from the lovely Radio Free Midwich. Lovely.

"All three of these discs/downloads are marvellous and will enormously enrich your day should you let them. SLI marches on: Dan works fast, keeps the product cheap and the design functional so he can expend all remaining effort on quality control. It shows."

Click on the quote for the full post...

RFM on Transit Timing Observations From Kepler

A super review from the super Radio Free Midwich, looking at the Daniel Thomas & Kevin Sanders disc; Transit Timing Observations From Kepler, released on Hairdryer Excommunication.

"There are (at least) two ways to listen to this. One is to let the dominant roars and throbs act as a welcome ego suppressant, the other is to concentrate, brow furrowed. The rewards of the former are the mental equivalent of a hot bath, the latter is the approach for industrial archeologists (sic). Taking a trowel and brush to this reveals rusted gears with glinting diamond teeth, motionless but still suggesting strange grinding epicycles."

Click on the quote for the full review...



(Photo c/o Radio Free Midwich)

Copies are still available (I think?) from Mr Kevin Sanders himself, over at Hairdryer Excommunication

RFM Talks SLI

Some lovely words on the three latest Sheepscar Light Industrial releases from the lovely Radio Free Midwich.

"Dan’s releases are irresistible both for their cheapness and for the elegant generic packaging (which seems to be awakening the football sticker collector that lurks within most noise enthusiasts)."

Click on the quote for the full review...

MuhMur Review Victorian Electronics

Nice review of Victorian Electronics on the MuhMur blog, even if he doesn't seem to be a fan of my disc. The swine.

"All in all a great release, worthy for the Ashtray Navigations disc alone....ASC + Midwich tracks are bonus."

Click on the quote for the full review...



(Photo by Andy Robinson)

SLI.WC.28072012

So, I guess the first thing to do is to thank all the lovely folks who came along and gave the night such a great atmosphere.

Thanks to all at Wharf Chambers for hosting us and Andy (from Striate Cortex) for making the journey over and bringing lots of wonderful stuff; including the simply delicious Victorian Electronics box set - order your copy now!!!

And, of course, many, many thanks to Neil & Seth (Astral Social Club), Mel, Phil & Mark (Ashtray Navigations and Mel O'Dubhslaine), Rob (Radio Free Midwich), Dave & *ahem* me (Hagman) and Paul (Foldhead) for amazing performances.

You can listen to the first four minutes of each set (using the fancy little gizmo below) or download the full recordings of all six performances by visiting the Downloads page...

Delighted in Isolation - Review

(Scan by Rob Hayler)

So, having been privy to an advance copy of the album, the delightful Rob (or, is that rob?) at the equally delightful Radio Free Midwich (or, is that radiofreemidwich?) has unleashed his thoughts on Delighted in Isolation in to the world...

"there is a dinosaur eating landfill"
Click on the quote for the full review...

(Scan by Rob Hayler)

Striate Cortex: Rob's Favourite Label

Morning all, here's a lovely article by Rob Hayler (of Radio Free Midwich fame and friend of S.L.I.) for the collective driven webzine Amour & Discipline, focussing on the wonderful Striate Cortex label.

“Why Striate Cortex Is My Favourite Label And Why It Could Become Yours Too”

(Scan by Rob Hayler)

Review

I could suggest scrolling halfway down the Pyongyang Plastics blog, to the section labelled 'PYONGYANG PLASTICS' WEBSITE OF THE WEEKEND # 1 + MUSIC', but I shall not do such a thing. You should visit, read and enjoy, before arriving at their nice words about midwich's running repairs.

(Photograph thanks to Pyongyang Plastics)

Review

There's a lovely review of running repairs, and the split midwich / The Skull Mask release, over at Idwal Fisher...

(scan from Idwal Fisher)

I'll say, for the record, that bosky (track c. of running repairs) is a current favourite for cardio workouts at the gym. Highly recommended, both for the surreal nature which it lends my exercise regiment and for the driving, hypnotic drone. Yummy.

Product and Performance

Morning all (he says, implying that there are readers other than the author),

Just a quick post to say that the new midwich release - running repairs - from Striate Cortex (which ensures both beauty and quality) is now available and yours truly features on the opening track, in a super-special "midwich as power duo" experiment.

(Scan by Rob Hayler)

I'd say more about it, but Rob says everything and more, over at the excellent radio free midwich.

As for Hagman - the other power duo that I'm a founder and full-time member of - we have a gig next Tuesday, that's April 17th, at the lovely Wharf Chambers, in the sunshine city of Leeds. This is with friends of Sheepscar Light Industrial, Galaxians (you may spot my re-edit of one of their tracks over at their SoundCloud) and Clara Clara, who I am currently unfamiliar with. Facebook event thingy (with no mention of Hagman) here...

There's also another Hagman gig on May 5th, at the Kirkgate Centre, Shipley, as part of the Ante exhibition and bookfair, quoting from the Kirkgate Centre website;

"Celebrating May Day in Shipley, Ante takes the idea of art and scrapes off the dogma, the commercialism and the elitism. Ante explores and celebrates the use of art as an expression of free will and a megaphone for those whose collective voices struggle to be heard."

Sounds good to me...

I'll also be over in Warrington next Thursday (April 19th), supplying some sounds before and during ALLONE.

ALLONE is presented by Pyramid & Parr Hall and Kate Jackson Projects, featuring five solo performances from Genevieve Say, Jen Hale, Jo Ashbridge, Gavin Coward and Kate Jackson, performing Solo. Solo was the second project I'd collaborated with Kate on, composing and designing the sound.