BEAK> - 0898 / Welcome To The Machine

2013, Invada Records, INV120LP

A: 0898
B: Welcome To The Machine

This is another Record Store Day 2013 release, and comes relatively hot on the heels of BEAK>'s previous single release, "Mono"/"Kenn". BEAK> are an underground supergroup of sorts, comprising of Geoff Barrow (Portishead), Billy Fuller (Fuzz Against Junk), and Matt Williams (Team Brick). Their working method in the recording studio is unusual, recording everything as it happens live in one take without resorting to any overdubs or repair.

"0898"/"Welcome To The Machine" is a single record released on 10" white vinyl. (What is it about white vinyl these days? There seams to be an over-abundance of the stuff. I seem to have bought more records recently pressed onto white vinyl than I have on traditional black vinyl.) The timings of the two tracks would have allowed them to have fitted onto a 7" single, although I guess 10" appeals more to the collectors, and also considering that "Welcome To The Machine" clocks in at nearly 6 minutes sound quality may have been compromised on a 7" disc.

"0898" is driven by the bassline carrying the main melody over a simple 4/4 motorik drum beat, whilst an almost out-of-tune sounding synthesiser contributes a sense of unease to the proceedings. The vocals are low-key and have a mumbled quality to them, almost as if the singer would really rather be doing something else, anything else other than do the vocals. This might sound as if I'm criticising, but I'm not because strangely it all works. I guess it's all part of the BEAK> trademark sound.

The b-side, "Welcome To The Machine" is a cover version of a song from Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album, and is arguably the better of the two songs on this release. It features an appropriately machine-like bass and drums, with more of the "unsettling" synths sprinkled over the top. Again the vocals are low in the mix and "mumbled" - I don't think BEAK> really want us to be able to hear each and every word, it's more like they are using the human voice as yet another instrument in their arsenal. It's all a part of their experimental/kraut-like approach to making music.

This release was limited to 1,000 copies. I believe that Invada Records still have some left over from Record Store Day for sale on their website if you'd like to snap up a copy.

Wind - Sleep 10" EP

2012, Jansen plateproducksjon, JANSEN 020

A: Throwing Stones
B: Cathedral

I took a chance on this record after having read a review by Julian Cope on his website in November 2012. I love reading Cope's reviews, if I can understand them with his various obscure references, although on a few occasions I have searched online for music he has reviewed and found it to be, quite frankly, unlistenable. But I was intrigued enough by his review of this record by Norwegian trio Wind to track down a copy, which I ended up ordering online from Shiny Beast. It was a little costly, but when I received the record and was first able to listen to it properly on 10" white vinyl (record label Jansen plateproduksjon seem to favour white vinyl for some reason) I decided it was such a good record that it was worth the price.

The EP contains just two pieces - one extended track on each side - having a total playing time of around 20 minutes (which is why I am referring to it as an EP rather than a single). The songs are two slices of melancholy psychedelia, perhaps mixed in with a dose of ambience. These are very atmospheric recordings, at times it seems hard to believe it's just three guys creating this gorgeous blanket of sounds with a standard set of instruments: drums, bass, guitar and synth. The music is never over-stated or in your face, rather it is mesmerizing and sensitive.

Without wanting to sound patronising, I was quite surprised to find out how young these guys are (check out their photo here to see what I mean) because their music is so mature and thoughtful.

The cover, by the way, features a photograph of one of Dutch artist Theo Jansen's incredible wind machines, or Strandbeests, as he calls them.