Gutta Percha (LND010)
Tube Overtures began with a series of voicemail messages containing pocket trumpet improvisations on eighties-era television themes. Around these resolutely slow, melancholy performances a rich atmosphere of domestic drone and melodic fragments was constructed. A few trumpet-less tunes that fit the project’s general concept and mood were also added to the mix. The desired effect is not just a nostalgic listening experience, but a kind of meta- listening, in which familiar themes are positioned within the audible context of the home— itself a symphony of rhythmic appliances, tinkling pipes and vents, backyard insect choirs, side-street traffic, and, of course, the trebly murmur of the television. In the end we found that many opposite sound-worlds came together on the recording: acoustic and electronic, natural and mechanical, amateur and professional, minimal and orchestral, gritty and smooth, lyrical and ambient. These binaries, we hope, hold together well enough to deliver something both unique and pleasurable.
CDR Edition of 200
1st 100 in handmade wooden case by Bernard Hall
2nd 100 in soft cover case
Available now in The Shop
Design by Kimberly Hall
You can also now order the release via text on your mobile
CD by texting LND010GUTTACD to 767825 $10.00
Gutta Percha is the musical project of brothers Brent and Ryan Hibbett of Illinois. Their music blends ambient textures with “lost” melodies, inviting the listener to hear the distantly familiar in an unfamiliar way. Their debut, Tube Overtures, features jazz-oriented trumpet in its wistful deconstruction of television themes.
As debut albums go this really is an absolute beauty. Land Of once again delivers a deliciously low-key work that features a series of brilliantly titled tracks that are mainly constructed out of recordings of voicemail messages containing fragments of trumpet improvisations of eighties television themes. A strange concept to be sure, but the way these tracks have been put together is nothing short of marvellous. Taking those melodic snippets as the base brothers Ryan and Brent Hibbett have added in layers of melancholy atmosphere, drone textures and nostalgic musical components. The end result is a gorgeously deep and varied collection of pieces that transcend simply being conceptual or ambient. The sheer density of what’s going on in each track, yet the refined and understated way they’re structured gives it a gentle simplicity and life that’s incredibly pleasing. There are field recordings here as well - simple elements that give an even more human feeling to it. Muted and distant, they blend with the overtly melodic nature of several of the tracks. This album is full of personality and is one of those releases that is quite unlike anything else you’re liable to hear in the near future, regardless of the fact that it could be labelled drone, if you really wanted to push it. Truly a shining example of individuality in the electronic sphere and a wonderful first release for these artists. Comes packaged in a rather lovely and very limited wooden box. First class. - Smallfish
Joy...more cyclic, hollow scraping making the inside of my head go funny. The first track on here has that rolling industrial ambience thing happening with heart wrenchingly sad bursts of cold, melancholic synth. This CD also features some of that post-Caretaker blues; hazy, muffled evocations from another dimension parading themselves as weirdly fluffy hauntological snippets . Apparently the core aim of this project by two brothers from Illinois was to showcase some pocket trumpet interpretations of TV themes. Obviously realising the curious, almost alien sonic landscape that was revealed after messing around with voicemail messaging facilities, they've extended this project into spacious textural realms incorporating plenty of eerie ambient drone moods. I like the way one "movement" is dressed up with creepy disembodied vocal gurning and then later there's some thoroughly epic cinematic soundsapery to contend with! Quite an impressive journey. Norman Records
1. Little House on the Restored Prairie
2. In the Kangaroo's Pouch
3. It's depressing seeing pipes, but they are there (which makes it more depressing)
4. Parking Lot Island
5. Garage Door Eclipses Another Day
6. An Unauthorized Survey of Gargamel's Hovel
7. The Homesick Caddie
8. Detoured Highway to Heaven
Mastered by Bill Demkov