The Squid's Ear
Recently @ Squidco:

Rempis / Karayorgis / Heinemann / Harris:
Truss (Driff Records)

Three label leaders come together for this extraordinary 2023 concert at Elastic Arts in Chicago--Aerophonic's Dave Rempis on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones; Driff Records' Pandelis Karayorgis on piano; Amalgam Records' Bill Harris on drums--along with bassist Jakob Heinmann, this exceptional free jazz performance cementing the bond between Boston and Chicago with a hope for more! ... Click to View


Ensemble SuperMusique :
Musiques Emeraude (Ambiances Magnetiques)

An overview of Montreal's Ensemble Supermusique celebrating their 40th anniversary, drawing on works from founders Joane Hétu, Diane Labrosse, and Danielle Palardy Roger and their projects including Wondeur Brass, Les Poules, Justine, &c., realized by 40 instrumentalists in 8 groups of 3 to 8 players; masterful sophistication with a sense of humor and wonder — exceptionnelle! ... Click to View


Paul Paccione:
Distant Musics (Another Timbre)

Influenced by the New York School of composers (Cage, Feldman, &c.), composer Paul Paccione revisits and revises five of his compositions written 40 years prior, performed by a 10-piece configuration of London's Apartment House; beautifully contemplative pieces linked together through common threads, the momentum of individual moments absorbed by the presence of the larger work. ... Click to View


Birgit Ulher / Carol Genetti / Eric Leonardson:
Horizontal Shift (Amalgam)

An international electroacoustic improvising trio of German trumpet player Birgit Ulher, also on radio, speaker & objects, and two Chicago outside improvisers--Carol Genetti on voice & objects, and Eric Leonardson on his unique self-built instrument the springboard, objects & electronics-- heard in a live performance at Elastic Arts, in Chicago, Illinois in 2018. ... Click to View


Peter Evans Being & Becoming (Evans / Ross / Jozwiak / Ode):
Ars Memoria (More Is More)

The second album from New York trumpeter Peter Evan's band Being and Becoming stretches out his concepts in five extended works that dovetails superb contemporary jazz — integrating extended techniques and solid vibraphone work — with beautifully rich and explorative passages, masterfully performed with Joel Ross (vibes), Nick Jozwiak (bass) and Michael Shekwoaga (drums). ... Click to View


Peter Evans Being & Becoming (Evans / Ross / Jozwiak / Ode):
Ars Memoria [VINYL 180gm + DOWNLOAD] (More Is More)

The second album from New York trumpeter Peter Evan's band Being and Becoming stretches out his concepts in five extended works that dovetails superb contemporary jazz — integrating extended techniques and solid vibraphone work — with beautifully rich and explorative passages, masterfully performed with Joel Ross (vibes), Nick Jozwiak (bass) and Michael Shekwoaga (drums). ... Click to View


Ivo Perelman (Fowler / Workman / Cyrille):
Embracing the Unknown (Mahakala Music)

Recording with the legendary rhythm section of bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrew Cyrille, tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman and stritch & saxello player Chad Fowler perfectly complement each other as they play off and complete each other's lines and phrases under the support of astute foundational support, an exemplary album of collective, cross-generational free improvisation. ... Click to View


Gregorio / Smith / Bryerton:
The Cold Arrow (Balance Point Acoustics)

The second trio release from clarinetist Guillermo Gregorio, double bassist Damon Smith and Jerome Bryerton on gongs, selected metal & cymbals (but no drums), in a sophisticated album of eight collective improvisations numbered as "The Planar Effect" and two Gregorio compositions, an absolutely impressive set that obscures the line between "spontaneous" and "composition". ... Click to View


Andre Duchesne:
Ch'val (Ambiances Magnetiques)

Montreal composer, guitarist and arranger Andre Duchesne developed the pieces on this solo album as a tribute to his sister Carole, "the one who dreamed of horses," who passed in 2010, his pieces incorporating elements of rock, improvisation and compositional forms, a sincere tribute developed by recording daily over a month as a virtual rock band of guitar, bass and drum programming. ... Click to View


Leap of Faith:
Resonance Energy (Evil Clown)

Joining the Boston duo Leap of Faith, the core duet of David Peck on reeds, percussion, the kitchen sink and everything in between, and Glynis Lomon on cello, aquasonic & voice, is bassist Scott Samenfeld from Turbulence Orchestra, drummer Jared Seabrook, and brass player John Fugarino, with Joel Simches capturing the recording and manipulating the stream in real time. ... Click to View


Neurodivergent:
Cosmic Collisions (Evil Clown)

A new ensemble emerging out of the Boston collective band Expanse with David Peck on reeds, percussion and innumerable instruments, Count Robot on voice & tapes, DNA Girl on guitars & mandolin, Tim Mungenast on guitar, and Michael Caglianone on reeds & winds, all adding percussion and electronics from the Evil Clown arsenal, exploring aspects of group improvisation. ... Click to View


Bill Harris:
MACRODOSE (Amalgam)

Combining acoustic drums, percussion and electronics, the third solo album from Chicago drummer Bill Harris delves deeper into the sonic aspects of his improvisations while providing them in discrete segments through eleven succinct recordings, a diverse set demonstrating unique approaches to rhythm and sound, enhanced on some pieces through studio techniques. ... Click to View


Dante Boon (Beuger / Boon / Elina / Holtkamp / Schuppe / Van der Ster):
Duos (Edition Wandelweiser Records)

A collection of works from pianist & composer Dante Boon in diverse duos and virtual duo compositions that reflect on John Cage's "inner clock" concept from "Two2", each of Boon's compositions directing the players through systems of notation and counting unique to each player, varying the rules of how the two players eventually synchronize their performances. ... Click to View


Joane Hetu / Ensemble SuperMusique:
Monnomest (Ambiances Jazz)

A fascinating work dedicated to improvising cellist Remy Belanger de Beauport written by Montreal composer Joane Hétu and performed by the large Ensemble SuperMusique with Jean Derome, Lori Freedman, Scott Thomson, Diane Labrosse, Danielle Palardy Roger, Pierre Tanguay, &c., commissioned and performed for the Ensemble's 40th anniversary and expanded for this studio edition. ... Click to View


Joelle Leandre / Pascal Contet:
Miniatures (Trost Records)

A collaboration that goes back 30 years, French improvising bassist Joëlle Léandre and avant accordionist Pascal Contet in their fifth album together, turning from their more typically extended conversations to a series of 10 "Miniatures", shorter and diverse dialogs recorded live in 2022 at the beautiful Arsenal Concert Hall in Metz, France. ... Click to View


Chad Fowler / Shanyse Strickland / Sana Nagano / Melanie Dyer / Ken Filiano / Anders Griffen:
Birdsong (Mahakala Music)

Highlighting the parallel to changes in birdsong in urban areas because of anthropogenic ambient noise, this diverse ensemble demonstrates the evolution of improv approaches through unique origins and backgrounds; with Chad Fowler (stritch, flute), Shanyse Strickland (French Horn), Sana Nagano (violin), Melanie Dyer (viola), Ken Filiano (bass) and Anders Griffen (drums). ... Click to View


Hal Russell NRG Ensemble:
The Hal Russell Story (ECM Records)

This 1996 recording of the Hal Russell NRG Ensemble of Mars Williams (reeds), Brian Sandstrom (bass, guitars, trumpets), Kent Kessler (bass, trombone) and Steve Hunt (drums & percussion) was recorded five week before Russell's passing, a wild parting gift of twenty succinct improvisations covering an incredible amount of territory with power, humor and amazing musical skill. ... Click to View


Ernesto Rodrigues / Dirk Serries / Joao Madeira / Jose Oliveira :
Dripping (Creative Sources)

One of the core Creative Sources trios of Ernesto Rodrigues on viola & crackle box, João Madeira on double bass and Jose Oliveira on percussion, is extended to a quartet with Netherland's New Wave of Jazz/Vidna Obmama archtop guitarist Dirk Serries, presenting the 9-part "Dripping" series of free chamber-oriented lowercase improvisation. ... Click to View


Friedl / Siewert:
Lichtung (KARLRECORDS)

Zeitkratzer director and pianist Reinhold Friedl meets with Martin Siewert (Radian, Fake the Facts, Dry Thrust) for three improvised explorations on piano, guitar and electronics, through the course of powerful transitions building from deep introspection into prickly, bellicose interaction, yielding to a brooding finale of subtle electronics and punctuation; profound. ... Click to View


Niels Lokkegaard Lyhne / Quatuor Bozzini:
Colliding Bubbles (Important Records)

Copenhagen composer Niels Lyhne Løkkegaard's long form work refers to units of compositional structure in systems of instruments, each a "bubble" that interacts and collides creating fluctuations, ruptures and tension release in an hypnotic sonic tapestry, performed by Montreal's Quatuor Bozzini on violins, viola, cellos and harmonica; mesmerizing. ... Click to View


Merzbow:
Cafe OTO [2 CDs] (Cold Spring Records)

A live and extended performance of brutal but shifting sonic assault performed before an appreciative audience at London's Cafe OTO in 2016, a solo performance from Japanese noise legend Masami Akita, AKA Merzbow, each of the 2 CDs in this set more than 50 minutes of tightly controlled electronic mayhem from the unremitting determination of one of the globe's masters of noise. ... Click to View


Charles Mingus:
Presents Charles Mingus To Pre Bird, Revisited (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Three sides of Charles Mingus in this remastered reissue set: the 1961 Candid album Mingus Presents Mingus with the classic quartet of Eric Dolphy, Ted Curson and Dannie Richmond; then the Mercury release Pre-Bird from the same year, in ensembles performing the music of or influenced by Duke Ellington, along with the ambitious and brilliant through-composed work, "Half Mast Inhibition". ... Click to View


Franz Koglmann:
Near Blue - A Taste of Melancholy (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Presented in two versions--a stereo mix and a binaural mix for headphones--flugelhorn improviser and composer Franz Koglmann leads his septet of exceptional players through 10 original Koglmann compositions, sophisticated works that show influences from Ellington to Franz Joseph Haydn or Johann Strauss, in pieces influenced by or tipping the hat to modern artists, musicians and writers. ... Click to View


Nikolaus Gerszewski :
3 Works For Strings, Giusto Chamber Orchestra (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)

Giusto Chamber Orchestra performs three works for twelve strings by German composer and visual artist Nikolaus Gerszewski, whose music of shifting pitches, vibrations and volumes--compared with experimental sound & noise work--is influenced by composers Radulescu and Dumitrescu's spectral music, James Tenney's "swell form" and Cornelius Cardew's graphic scores. ... Click to View


Void Patrol (Sharp / Stetson / Martin / MacDonald):
Live @ Victo (Victo)

A wild and adventurous concert and one of the highlights of the 39th Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville from the electric improvising quartet of Elliott Sharp on electric guitar & electronics, Colin Stetson on bass, alto & tenor saxophones, Billy Martin on drums & percussion and Payton Macdonald on marimba, vibraphone & African xylophone. ... Click to View


Federico Ughi (w / Leo Genovese / Brandon Lopez):
Infinite Cosmos Calling You You You, Vol. 1 (577 Records)

The first album under 577 label leader and drummer Federico Ughi's name in five years brings together the incredible bass skills of Brandon Lopez and expansive Argentinean keyboard sonics of Leo Genovese, the first of two planned volumes recorded in the studio for a boundary-less album of acoustic and electric improv influenced by the music and philosophy of Sun Ra. ... Click to View


Federico Ughi (w / Leo Genovese / Brandon Lopez):
Infinite Cosmos Calling You You You, Vol. 1 [VINYL] (577 Records)

The first album under 577 label leader and drummer Federico Ughi's name in five years brings together the incredible bass skills of Brandon Lopez and expansive Argentinean keyboard sonics of Leo Genovese, the first of two planned volumes recorded in the studio for a boundary-less album of acoustic and electric improv influenced by the music and philosophy of Sun Ra. ... Click to View


Sven-Ake Johansson / Alexander Von Schlippenbach:
uber Ursache und Wirkung der Meinungsverschiedenheiten beim Turmbau zu Babel [VINYL 2 LPs & PAL DVD] (Trost Records)

Documenting the 1994 avant music drama composed by pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and accordionist Sven-Ake Johansson, uber Ursache und Wirkung der Meinungsverschiedenheiten beim Turmbau zu Babel (on the cause and effect of the disagreements over the building of the Tower of Babel) through a double LP, DVD, libretto and 16-page booklet in a solid box set. ... Click to View


Musicworks:
#147 Winter 2024 [MAGAZINE + CD] (Musicworks)

Winter 2024 issue of Canada's premiere new music magazine, with Saxophonist Andrew MacKelvie on the cover; plus features on Indonesia's Music Subculture; Sonny-Ray Day Ride; Solidaridad Tango; A History of the Canadian Electronic Ensemble; plus album reviews, essays and a CD of tracks from artists covered in the magazine. ... Click to View


Witches & Devils (Williams / Vandermark / Lonberg-Holm):
At the Empty Bottle (Knitting Factory Works)

Before his ecstatic Xmas series, An Ayler Xmas, Chicago saxophonist Mars Williams led the Witches & Devils quintet of Mars Williams on reeds, Ken Vandermark on reeds, Jim Baker on keyboards, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello and Kent Kessler on bass, an incredible and passionate free jazz group paying tribute to the music of Albert Ayler, heard live at The Empty Bottle in 1997. ... Click to View



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The Squid's Ear
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Op-Ed (Opinions and Editorials)
philz Squidco Blog
  • March 22, 2024:

    Here in the middle of the coast our colors are blooming, pollen is falling from the pines, and the weather is warming. It's Spring! So what better time than to share some great music at better than average prices? This weekend we're offering a discount of 10% on all new items in the store, or 15% if you pick up 5 ore more. Sales weeks like this give us a breather from our typical publishing schedule, cleaning up work that might have been dangling over us or working on special projects. And it gives our customers a chance to pick up albums they might have been on the fence about, and helps us to bring in sales that fuel our next set of purchases.

    All that means that our publishing schedule was very light this week, and there will be no "proper" mailing list. We have been working on a number of purchases though, especially new titles on Another Timbre, Euphorium, RogueArt, and ACT Music. Once we're through filling the Spring Sale orders, and finished ogling the beautiful colors outside our windows, we'll have a number of new releases that we'll catch you up on next week. But for now have a good look through our catalog and pick up some new music to accompany your own lighter, brighter season!



    (with apologies to those in the lower Southern hemisphere, though you might want to pick up some new music for your impending colder season...)




    Springing into Sprung Music:

    While thinking about the season I noticed that the new trio album on Chicago's Amalgam label, Horizontal Shift, included Eric Leonardson on springboard. We know Leonardson from his performances on Evil Clown bands Axioms, Expanse, and Leap of Faith. The other players are the great German lowercase improvising trumpeter Birgit Ulher, and vocalist Carol Genetti; all play objects, with Uhler playing radio, speaker and Leondardo also adding electronics.

    The springboard in particular is a self-built instrument that does indeed include springs, along with a number of other sound and percussive generators. I've included a YouTube video from Leondarson that demonstrated the instrument in a solo performance - a video is worth a thousand words with this unusual sonic creature.





    This coincidental spring-fueled addition to our catalog at springtime set me thinking about other albums that might include springs in their instrumentation. In a search of our database I found 69 active albums that included springs or this same springboard. On a whimsical, spring-sical moment I decided to list them for you, making a very unusual collection of albums from outside thinkers, improvisers and composers. I trimmed the list to about 18 albums, each unique, impressive, possibly idiosyncratic, and absolutely springy.



    Auris + Gino (Robair / Leonardson / Miller / Preissing): Rub (Public Eyesore)

    The Electroacoustic improv trio of Eric Leonardson (springboard & electronics), Julia E. Miller (guitar & electronics), and Christopher Preissing (flute & electronics), present 3 collective improvisations and 3 duos between Auris members and percussionist Gino Robair.



    Axioms: Abstract Intensions (Evil Clown)

    Arranged around the core of bassist Albey onBass and poet Jane SpokenWord, who were a part of Cecil Taylor's final trio, this spoken word, drummer-less ensemble from the Boston-based Axiom collective is a live quartet performance with David Peck on reeds, winds, percussion & electronics, and Glynic Lomon on cello and aquasonic, in an extended, eclectic and electric discourse.



    Cammisa, Edoardo: io_u,E (Sublime Retreat)

    Understated and enigmatic, the work of Northern Italian sound artist Edoardo Cammisa, aka Banished Pills, presents a very short work on decay, and then two expanded sound works composed from synthesisers, spring reverb, microphones, field recordings, no-input mixing, organ & sampler; the environments are murky but with movement, and engaging in their dark evening ambiance.



    Derome, Jean: Solo Souffles (Ambiances Magnetiques)

    The remarkably creative flutist & saxophonist Jean Derome often incorporates unusual instruments into his improvisations and compositions, including bird calls, harps, kalimbas, sirens, flower plastic wrappings, bells, &c &c.... on this album Derome focuses on those unique instruments and noise makers through 23 surprising pieces illustrating his incredible collection.



    +DOG+ / Bastard Noise : Desecration Tales [VINYL] (Love Earth Music)

    Two long-standing experimental sound projects join together as Legendary Bastard Noise, aka Eric Wood and +DOG+, aka Steve Davis, combine for two extended and well-paced works of dark sonics and electronics, the first piece "Misery Milestone" a haunting and desolate soundscape with disruptive punctuation; the 2nd "Beneficiary: Earth" adds agonizing voice to a work of global arpeggiation and destruction.



    Expanse: Swathe (Evil Clown)

    After receiving interest in joining the Evil Clown collective from Count Robot and DNA Girl (Deb Angelosanto), and in parallel from guitarist Tim Mungenast, collective director David Peck scheduled a session for this 7th Expanse album, adding drummer Michael Knoblach to complete this quintet configuration of the band's electric-oriented approach to space and restraint.



    Ichiyanagi, Toshi with Eye Music: Sapporo (Edition Wandelweiser Records)

    Written in 1963 for up to 15 peformers plus a conductor who may also make sound, Japanese composer and Fluxus artist Toshi Ichiyanagi's score has 16 pages marked with combinations of lines, dots and letters indicating duration, number of events, and moments of restraint, each player using a different page, with certain options of switching pages with another player during performance.



    Leap Of Faith: The Origin Of Mass (Evil Clown)

    The second album of collective free improvisation from Leap of Faith expanded by Chinese musicians, from the core duo of multi-reedist David Peck and cellist Glynis Lomon, here with Chinese improviser, Boston-based Beijing guzheng player Jiaxin Wan, alongside trumpeter Bob Moores, for two exotic improvisations of patiently evolving global elements.



    Leap Of Faith: Taxonomic Dilemma (Evil Clown)

    Looking to configure The Leap of Faith ensemble with a 3-horn front line, Boston wind & reed player and Evil Clown label leader David Peck recruited John Fugarino to perform on trumpet, slide trumpet & trombone, and surprisingly, Japanese pianist Keiichi Hashimoto, who also performs on trumpet, cornet & flugelhorn, with cellist Gylnis Lomon filling out the band for this dynamic, extended set.



    Leap of Faith: Quest for Uncertainty (Evil Clown)

    Joining the Boston free improvising duo of David Peck on clarinets, saxophones, clarinets & flutes, and Glynis Lomon on cello, aquasonic & voice--the core duo of Leap of Faith Orchestra--are Bonnie Kane on tenor sax, flute & electronics, and John Loggia on drums and percussion, capturing the extended title track and a brief, "possible outcome" as a summation.



    Metal Chaos Ensemble: Project Wildfire (Evil Clown)

    A working project of the Boston-based Evil Clown collective, Metal Chaos Ensemble explores chaotic rhythms on metallic instruments, in this live-streamed performance from 2022 as a quintet with strong jazz influences, from David Peck on reeds and percussion, Bob Moores on trumpet & keys, Michael Caglianone on sax, Albey onBass on bass, and Steve Niemitz on drums & percussion.



    Moses, Ra Kalam Bob / Damon Smith Duo: Purecircle (Balance Point Acoustics)

    A superb, inventive duo collusion between percussionist Ra Kalam Bob Moses and double bassist Damon Smith, continuing their collaborations that started with "Astral Plain Crash" with Vinny Golia, Henry Kaiser & Weasel Walter, here in concentrated form, recording and layer in the studio for 14 diverse dialogs using advanced techniques on drums, gongs, spring drums and double bass.



    Perturbations: Deviations Of A System (Evil Clown)

    Leveraging the real time signal processing of Evil Clown house engineer Joel Simches, this project from the Boston free improving collective centers around reedist & multi-instrumentalist David Peck and Simches, who provides the "perturbations" of each player through his processing, making him the 4th in this quartet with bassist Albey onBass and reedist Michael Caglianone.



    Simulacrum: Mechatronics (Evil Clown)

    This ensemble features 3 core Evil Clown members--David Peck on reeds, winds, percussion & electronics; Eric Woods on analog synth; and Bob Moores on space trumpet, guitar & electronics--with guests Michael Caglianone on reeds & percussion, Robin Amos on electric zither and keyboards; Faruq Hassan on samplers & keys; Albey OnBass on bass; and Michael Knoblach on military devices.



    Turbulence Orchestra: Trapped In A Whorl (Evil Clown)

    Turbulence is the extended horn section for the Boston collective Leap of Faith Orchestra, along with guests on other instruments, here in a large ensemble performance with Bonnie Kane (sax), Dennis Livingston (flute & winds), John Fugarino, Bob Moores & Eric Dahlman (trumpets), Duane Reed (double bell euphonium), with the rhythm section of John Loggia (drums) and Scott Samenfeld (bass).



    Ulher, Birgit / Carol Genetti / Eric Leonardson: Horizontal Shift (Amalgam)

    An international electroacoustic improvising trio of German trumpet player Birgit Ulher, also on radio, speaker & objects, and two Chicago outside improvisers--Carol Genetti on voice & objects, and Eric Leonardson on his unique self-built instrument the springboard, objects & electronics-- heard in a live performance at Elastic Arts, in Chicago, Illinois in 2018.








    Squidco Publishing Roundup:

    As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

    You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

    You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

    You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

    March 20, 2024: New @ Squidco:
    Joane Hetu/Ensemble SuperMusique -Monnomest [CD] (Ambiances Jazz)
    Joelle Leandre/Pascal Contet -Miniatures [CD] (Trost Records)
    Chad Fowler/Shanyse Strickland/Sana Nagano/Melanie Dyer/Ken Filiano/Anders Griffen -Birdsong [CD] (Mahakala Music)
    Hal Russell NRG Ensemble -The Hal Russell Story [CD] (ECM Records)
    Ernesto Rodrigues/Dirk Serries/Joao Madeira/Jose Oliveira -Dripping [CD] (Creative Sources)
    Friedl/Siewert -Lichtung [CD] (KARLRECORDS)
    Niels Lokkegaard Lyhne/Quatuor Bozzini -Colliding Bubbles [CD] (Important Records)
    Merzbow -Cafe OTO [2 CDs] (Cold Spring Records)

    March 18, 2024: New Review @ The Squid's Ear: Tani Tabbal Quartet - Intentional (Mahakala Music) by Ken Waxman.




  • March 1, 2024:

    A relatively brief entry this week as staff vacation time for the start of spring pushed us slightly back in schedule. That didn't stop us from getting the mailing list out, and filling our Just In Stock Section section with 24 new albums that we'll be working on in the coming week, from labels including Mahakala, Ambiances Magnetiques, Edition Wandelweiser, Amalgam, Trost, Cold Spring Records, Important Records, KARLRECORDS, and Balance Point Acoustics. All of the aforementioned are in stock and ready to ship now.

    The rest of this entry is a bit of self-promotion for my own new album: CHANGES TO blind: Volume Eight: Before Birth to Expiration (Squidco Records), of interest to listeners of experimental sound.






    Where to Find a Squid Off Hours:

    When I'm not running our record store and distribution service you can often find me in my music studio working on sound art under my project name CHANGES TO blind. I started composing music in the early 1980's, inspired by the DIY tape and 'zine culture. The "group" name is a give-away for the era, when abstract band names were more of the norm than taking one's own name. In fact, my "band" was a fictional trio, somewhat inspired by the then-opaque configuration of The Residents. My group was described as Mortimer DeSquid (keyboards), Heraldo DeSquid (percussion) and Phil Zampino (voice, treatments, &c). At the time I was writing and singing electronic songs, which included plundered elements from records and field recordings.

    By the 90s the songs stopped, Mortimer and Heraldo "quit" the band, and the experimentation and composition using the studio took over. After moving myself and Squidco to Wilmington, NC I fell in with other adventurous experimenters and began performing live regularly, developing systems to create layers of sound from unusual electronic sources, and drawing on a collection of thousands of samples that I had modified and mutilated in the studio.

    Squidco takes up most of my time, but this month I finally completed the production on my 8th volume, collecting what I hope are the most interesting of my work over the last eight years. Many of the pieces started as live improvisations recorded to multi-track and then augmented and manipulated in the studio. Others, like the title track "Before Birth to Expiration" are studio compositions from the start, larger works that were developed over months.

    I list three albums below, the latest; the 7th volume which summarizes a number of years of work; and a very early project with Chester Hawkins when he was still known as Blue Sausage Infant (another very 80's project name). For those who prefer their music in bits, the new and 7th album can also be purchased on Bandcamp.



    CHANGES TO blind: Volume Eight: Before Birth to Expiration (Squidco Records)

    The eighth album from the long-running CHANGES TO blind project of Phil Zampino, eight works drawing on compositions & improvisations, acoustic & synthetic instruments, field recordings & samples, with guests Levi Erik providing field recordings & voice and Wilmington, NC's 910 Noise Members of Carl Kruger, subterrene, John Bishop, Authorless and Ryan Lewis.



    CHANGES TO blind: evolvensume (Squidco Records)

    Collecting works from 2010-2017, Squidco's own Phil Zampino presents 10 tracks of electroacoustic composition sourced from studio work, live improvisation, field recordings, plunderphonics, and other indescribable approaches, a diverse set of recordings sharing a similar foreboding aesthetic and curious sonic desire.



    CHANGES TO blind + Blue Sausage Infant: (Intangible Arts)

    Blue Sausage Infant and CHANGES TO blind met in 1992 for these improvised studio recordings, and to perform CTb's sonic tour of a house live at Troy, NY's Last Exit.








    Squidco Publishing Roundup:

    As is typical, I end with updates to Squidco and The Squid's Ear over the last week. You can see our latest fully cataloged albums in our Recently Section.

    You can see new albums as they enter our Just In Stock Section, meaning that we physically have an album and are able to ship it with an order, but that we're not satisfied that we've added all the information we can about that release.

    You can also see recent restocks of previously listed items at our Recently Restocked page.

    You can ask us to inform you via email of any upcoming release that you're interested in, with no obligation.

    March 14, 2024: New @ Squidco:
    Charles Mingus -Presents Charles Mingus To Pre Bird, Revisited [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
    Franz Koglmann -Near Blue - A Taste of Melancholy [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
    Nikolaus Gerszewski -3 Works For Strings, Giusto Chamber Orchestra [CD] (ezz-thetics by Hat Hut Records Ltd)
    Void Patrol (Sharp/Stetson/Martin/MacDonald) -Live @ Victo [CD] (Victo)
    Federico Ughi (w/Leo Genovese/Brandon Lopez) -Infinite Cosmos Calling You You You, Vol. 1 [CDR] (577 Records)
    Federico Ughi (w/Leo Genovese/Brandon Lopez) -Infinite Cosmos Calling You You You, Vol. 1 [VINYL] (577 Records)
    Sven-Ake Johansson/Alexander Von Schlippenbach -uber Ursache und Wirkung der Meinungsverschiedenheiten beim Turmbau zu Babel [VINYL 2 LPs & PAL DVD] (Trost Records)
    Musicworks -#147 Winter 2024 [MAGAZINE + CD] (Musicworks)
    Witches & Devils (Williams/Vandermark/Lonberg-Holm) -At the Empty Bottle [CD] (Knitting Factory Works)
    Simulacrum -Mechatronics [CDR] (Evil Clown)



    continued...




  • The Squid's Ear presents
    reviews about releases
    sold at Squidco.com
    written by
    independent writers.

    Squidco

    Recent Selections @ Squidco:


    Ensemble SuperMusique :
    Musiques Emeraude
    (Ambiances Magnetiques)



    Rempis /
    Karayorgis /
    Heinemann /
    Harris:
    Truss
    (Driff Records)



    Paul Paccione:
    Distant Musics
    (Another Timbre)



    Peter Evans
    Being & Becoming (
    Evans /
    Ross /
    Jozwiak /
    Ode):
    Ars Memoria
    (More Is More)



    Gregorio /
    Smith /
    Bryerton:
    The Cold Arrow
    (Balance Point Acoustics)



    Michel Banabila /
    Stijn Huwels /
    Cok Van Vuuren :
    One Moment
    In Time
    [CASSETTE]
    (Tapu Records)



    Chad Fowler /
    Shanyse Strickland /
    Sana Nagano /
    Melanie Dyer /
    Ken Filiano /
    Anders Griffen:
    Birdsong
    (Mahakala Music)



    Joane Hetu /
    Ensemble SuperMusique:
    Monnomest
    (Ambiances Jazz)



    Niels Lokkegaard Lyhne /
    Quatuor Bozzini:
    Colliding Bubbles
    (Important Records)



    Friedl /
    Siewert:
    Lichtung
    (KARLRECORDS)



    Joelle Leandre /
    Pascal Contet:
    Miniatures
    (Trost Records)



    Federico Ughi (
    w /
    Leo Genovese /
    Brandon Lopez):
    Infinite Cosmos Calling
    You You You,
    Vol. 1
    (577 Records)



    Sven-Ake Johansson /
    Alexander Von Schlippenbach:
    uber Ursache und
    Wirkung der
    Meinungsverschiedenheiten
    beim Turmbau zu Babel
    [VINYL 2 LPs & PAL DVD]
    (Trost Records)



    Charles Mingus:
    Presents Charles Mingus
    To
    Pre Bird,
    Revisited
    (ezz-thetics by
    Hat Hut Records
    Ltd)



    Franz Koglmann:
    Near Blue -
    A Taste of Melancholy
    (ezz-thetics by
    Hat Hut Records
    Ltd)



    Void Patrol (
    Sharp /
    Stetson /
    Martin /
    MacDonald):
    Live @ Victo
    (Victo)



    Peter Brotzmann /
    Paal Nilssen-Love:
    Chicken Shit Bingo
    (Trost Records)



    Jean Derome:
    La Chaleur De La Pensee
    (Ambiances Magnetiques)



    Giuseppe Doronzo /
    Andy Moor /
    Frank Rosaly:
    Futuro Ancestrale
    (Clean Feed)







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