Merchants Of Air
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Albums
    • Concerts
  • Interviews

Premiere: Hemlock Smith & les Poissons Autistes – Necrophone Sessions

25/2/2021

Comments

 
Picture
Roman Numeral
bandcamp
facebook
Picture
Collaborative effort by several artists from Switzerland turns into a fascinating voyage somewhere between Aphex Twin, the Cardiacs, Algiers and The Jesus Lizard. 

Avantgarde is a term that can denominate basically everything as it nearly has no real definition when it comes to music – anything from Erika Stucky to the Kronos Quartet but also Aphex Twin or Merzbow can be called Avantgarde. Thus one must be careful with not over-using the term too much or one should clearly define it. 
When thinking in historical terms, the avantgarde was a term the Russian socialists around Lenin and Trotzki used to point out that they were the ones fighting one the front lines in order to create a new system for all of mankind. Musically speaking, the only thing that somehow seems relevant here might be the idea of creating something new to advance the whole musical landscape as we know it. Some artists that can come to mind here would be very different from each other but let’s drop the first few of the tip of the author’s head: Aphex Twin, the Cardiacs, Erika Stucky, the Kronos Quartet, the Jesus Lizard, Merzbow. Those artists each in their own way really re-defined and re-shaped of music over the course of the last 30 or 40 years, even though most of mankind might never have taken notice of them. 

In order to prevent Hemlock Smith & les Poissons Autistes from suffering the same fate, Merchants Of Air is proud to present the latest album from these artists that have once again collaborated to expand the realms of what music can be. Now mind you, we are not talking about a revolution like Gil-Scott Heron’s “The Revolution Will Be Televised” back in the 70s or the ascent of Kraftwerk, but we are talking about a collaboration that can help us redefine what music is to us. This record is clear and beautiful in certain moments while in others it can be twisted and dark. When listening to it, you will recognize the drone and ambient elements developed by guys like Merzbow or you will recognize some wonderful vocal melodies that Erika Stucky could have thrown at us. One might have the feeling of discovering soothing string arrangements like the Kronos Quartet might have in store for their audience; or noisy side-notes like the gritty Lizard had back in the day. But the one avantgarde band that these guys might best be compared to would probably be The Cardiacs, who also didn’t care about conventions and only wanted to capture the best mood for their highly intense storytelling that concentrated on the vocals. The two acts also share a love for post-punk elements which “The Necrophone Sessions” offer in songs like “Nowhere” where the grinding and distorted click-beats are pumping like an industrial heart. 

The most interesting thing about this record is its eclecticism that makes it quite hard to follow the concept of the record. However, after four spins by now (in a span of 24 hours) “The Necrophone Sessions” make sense to me: the seven songs and 42 minutes are devoted to showing which genres can be combined and how, and on the same page they also explain how these combinations can be utterly senseless and that music should be felt, not analyzed or understood. An interesting idea for a record by a project that takes its time in order to create something totally new that shall transport meaning without meaning to. 

Comments

Song premiere: Endlings – Fragil (from Human Form)

19/1/2021

Comments

 
Picture
There are opportunities one should simply has to take. When we were approached by Whited Sepulchre Records if we wanted to do the song premiere by Endlings we were flabbergasted. The contributors that form this project are so well-known and well-respected in the underground community that we simply could not but in a flash agree to do it. 

Endlings is a project by John Feinberg, who is one of the guys behind avantgarde-noise-institution Deerhof, and Raven Chacon, a Native American artist of Diné ancestry who has been contributing his works to famous projects like the Kronos Quartet. For their record Human Forms they collaborated with percussionist Marshall Trammell, the artwork has been created by Iranian artist Babak Shahsiah. 

When listening to their record, it is clear from the very first moment that the contributors are all highly-skilled musicians who are masters at creating sound installations that are equally based on noise and avantgarde and then result in modern neo-classical music. You will find long compositions of wonderful free-form flows that alternate with short bursts of energy and cacophony. The atmosphere changes between sheer devastation to radiant elegance, even though it is not relying on grand instrumentation or simple three chord structures. Both extremes – crunching and uplifting moments – are often created through micro-tonal activities that one should neither try to replay nor understand. 

Enjoy Fragil, whose name is nothing but pure irony as the song is anything but fragile, it is one of the most powerful moments on the whole record!

White Sepulchre Records
bandcamp
Comments

Exclusive track premiere: Aesthesys - "Replicant Party"

7/5/2020

Comments

 
Picture
bandcamp
facebook
We are excited to premiere the third and final single from 'Alignments', the upcoming album by Russian progressive/post-rock/post-metal band Aesthesys. The song, titled "Replicant Party" combines the in-your-face approach of metal with the theatrical atmosphere of progressive rock and the emotional overtones of post rock. A must-listen for fans of all these genres.

The band performed live across many European countries, including at the biggest post-rock festivals of Europe like dunk!festival (Belgium) and Astral (Russia), and shared the stage with such bands as God is an Astronaut,65daysofstatic, Maybeshewill, And So I Watch You From Afar, Ef, sleepmakeswaves and many others. In 2016 they did a solo tour throuch China.

In recent years Aesthesys have worked with Jamie Ward (Maybeshewill, Dark Dark Horse), Ian Shepherd (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Deep Purple, King Crimson, Keane) and Rocky O’Reilly (And So I Watch You From Afar).

​Their new album "Alignments" will be released on May 28th but is already available for pre-order on their bandcamp page. It is their third LP as a full band, but it is founding member Nik Koniwzski's tenth release under this moniker since 2008.  The current lineup consists of Sasha Coudray (bass guitar, keys), Artem Taganov (drums), Victor Krabovich (guitar, keys) and Nik Koniwzski (violin, keys, guitar).
Comments

Premiere: Minor Movements // Coastlands - Migrations

12/3/2020

Comments

 
Picture
We are proud to present you the video to the one-off video single by Minor Movements who did a collaboration with Coastlands in order to celebrate the first birthday of their seminal 2019 release "Bloom". We are proud to present this awesome ambient drone track first and hope you like it as much as we do.
​
Below the video you find Minor Movements' statement about how this b-side was conceived. And now - enjoy "Migration" by two awesome American post-rock protagonists

"Bloom was a special release for us. In celebration of the one year anniversary of the album, I wanted to do something special. During the recording process, Jeremy and I spent some extra time creating ambient sounds and improvisations. Some of them made the album and some did not, but I still really enjoyed them. I contacted my friend, Jason Sissoyev of the band Coastlands, who I met while we were in the final stages of Bloom, to see if he would be interested collaborating on the ambient track. What started out as simple drone track took a new shape and I fell in love with it immediately. Jason truly transformed the song. So in celebration of the one year anniversary of Bloom, I hope that you will enjoy this b side collaboration with our friends in Coastlands."

Comments

Premiere: VONNIS unleash intense video for 'Bikini Season'

19/4/2019

Comments

 
Picture
Belgian noise bringers VONNIS have unleashed their scathing video for the track 'Bikini Season'. The song is their first single of their eponymous  debut album, which will be released May 17th through Hypertension Records.
'Bikini Season' will be released on vinyl (100 white, 200 black) and digital. Pre-orders are now available at Hypertension Records (here).

THESE SCABS WILL HAVE HEALED
JUST IN TIME FOR
B I K I N I S E A S O N


Picture
"VONNIS are a typical product of the wretched age we live in. Their first album, Bikini Season, will suck the disoriented listener into a vortex of dread and malignancy, placing him or her stark naked in a desolate sonic landscape full of white noise, buzz saw black metal riffing and fierce hardcore attitude."

​With a fierce blend of gut wrenching riffs and pounding drums, combined with brutal screams, VONNIS easily break down walls and barriers between the harshest of musical styles. Black metal, sludge, noise and grindcore come together in a destructive frenzy, you do not want to miss (Serge)


- Bikini Season was recorded with Chuck at House of Rottchild (Wiegedood).
- Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege.
- Despite their revolting young age, VONNIS have already played Ieperfest and are scheduled to perform at Dour Festival, alongside Neurosis, Electric Wizard and Full of Hell.
- So far they’ve shared the stage with the likes of Converge, Merauder, Misery Index, Monnik, Wiegedood and Pig Destroyer.

TOURDATES:

​APRIL
Fri 19: De Verlichte Geest, Roeselare (Support Her Fault)
Fri 19: De Vetten Os, Brugge (Headline)
Sat 20: De Smoutpot, Zwijndrecht (Knalpot 4.20)
Sun 21: Muziekodroom, Hasselt (Support Cocaine Piss)
Fri 26: Kabaal, Hasselt

MAY
Fri 17: JH Klinker, Aarschot 
Sat 18: JK Zomaar, Itterbeek 
Fri 24: Oemtata, Ertevelde (support Inhuman Nature)

JUNE
Fri 21: Jugendcafe Zwiesel, Zwiesel DE (Support C.P)
Sat 22: Bar Pod Hodinama, Kolín CZ (Headline)

JULy
Fri 12: Rock Herk, Herk-De-Stad
Sat 13: Dour Festival, Dour
Thu 18: Venue Hitchin, Hitchin UK (Headline)
Sat 20: House show, Lincoln UK (Headline)
Sun 21: t.b.c, Bristol UK

AUGUST 
Sat 31: Kreekrock, Westordpe (NL)
Comments

Premiere: Exit Empire reveals new video

31/7/2018

Comments

 
Picture
Czech post hardcore actExit Empire have revealed a video for the track 'Forging My Crown'. The song comes of their self titled album, which is available on bandcamp and all major music services. Read our review for that album here. The deluxe edition contains two acoustic bonuses. For these song, two other videos have been released (see below).

Frontman Rafael Eimut shares his thoughts: "With this song, we wanted to express the duality of emotions you experience when creating something. Whether it's art, music or starting a business. You must be strong to follow your passion and vision, but at the same time, you are extremely vulnerable and basically hard to live with."

"So we wanted to give something back to our friends and fans who support us in our own journey of creating music," says the director, Exit Empire's own guitarist Timmy Ruzicka. "We invited them to a party in our rehearsal room, grabbed a camera and just shot the whole thing unscripted. The result is a very authentic video with a positive vibe, the one we've been gaining strength from because of these people. Now we hope it will give strength back to our listeners and viewers."
The Deluxe Edition of the debut album is out now.
FREE DOWNLOAD:
https://exitempire.com/download
Buy a signed hard copy:
https://exitempire.com/shop
iTunes, Apple Music:
http://smarturl.it/ExitEmpire-iTunes
Spotify:
http://smarturl.it/ExitEmpire-Spotify
Google Play:
http://smarturl.it/ExitEmpire-GooglePla
Amazon:
http://smarturl.it/ExitEmpire-AmznDelux
BandCamp:
https://exitempire.bandcamp.com

Audio & Video Production by Exit Empire Studios:
https://exitempire.com/studios
Directed & Edited by Timmy Ruzicka Camera: Timmy Ruzicka, Bronislav Novak


​
Comments

Exclusive: Synchyse reveals first track

22/7/2018

Comments

 
Picture
After the highly acclaimed 'Collaborations 1' album by Stratosphere (read all about that one here), Ronald Mariën invited two collaborators to form a brand new band. Ronald (Stratosphere) takes care of the guitar drones, Gert De Meester (Distant Fires Burning) handles the bass and Serge Timmers (Misantronics) is responsible for the electronics and percussion. 
The trio, named Synchyse, experiments with drone, ambient, trip hop and post rock. This first track, titled 'Aldo', is the result of the first few  improvisations and rehearsals, recorded in July 2018 and mastered by Ronald. The band is currently working on a debut album and practicing for a concert at JazzBlazzt in Neeritter (NL) on 20 October (info)

Comments

Wound Collector reveals album details

20/2/2018

Comments

 
Picture
Belgian "Epic Saxophonised Death Metal" act Wound Collector have revealed the details for their upcoming debut album. The band, consisting of Peter Verdonck (vocals, saxophone), Guy Van Campenhout (7-string, backing vocals), Kurt Hermans (bass, backing vocals) and session drummer Ben Van Peteghem deliver some good old fashioned death metal, enhanced with epic saxophone. Yes, saxophone. Big whoop, wanna fight about it? The debut, titled 'Eternal Bloodcult' will be released by Profane Records on ​ May 24th, 2018
Picture
Tracklist:
01.Worship Of The Aton
02. Bloodcult
03. Recapturing The Throne
04. Crucifixion To The Inverted Cross
05. Divine Music, Unholy Flesh
06. History Of Torture
07. Hopelessness
08. Only Corpses Remain

Eternal Bloodcult was recorded between the 27th of  February and the 19th of March 2017 at Blackout Studio in Brussels.
Music and lyrics written by Peter Verdonck.
Produced by Jérémie Bézier.
Mixed by Jérémie Bézier.
Cover and inner artworks by Threadbare Artwork.
Logo design by ModBlackMoon.
Comments

New names for Dunk Festival - Nonsun release debut on CD/vinyl

31/1/2018

Comments

 
Picture
The good people at Dunk Festival have announce another 5 names. Russian Circles, Zhaoze, Soup, Bolt and Lethvm will play the three day festival in May. This, and the earlier revealed names, already makes up a fantastic line-up:

Russian Circles • Caspian • Rosetta • EF • RANGES • Tides of Man • Zhaoze • SOUP • THOT • Cranial • Worriedaboutsatan • Radare • [ B O L T ] • Lethvm • Appalaches • Besides • Huracán • Wyatt E. • Tortuganónima • La Bestia De Gevaudan 

​Get your tickets here

Picture
Two years after the self-release, Ukrainian drone doomers Nonsun will finally release their 'Black Snow Desert' on vinyl and CD. You can read our review for this pulverising piece of work here. The album will be available via Dunk!Records (2LP) & Cimmerian Shade Recordings (CD). The release date is January 25th, 2018.

The album has been edited, remixed, remastered and has a new artwork. The artwork was made by Samantha Muljat (Earth, Goatsnake, Pelican, Today Is The Day, ex-Southern Lord art director).
Mixed by Jannes van Rossom from Deaftone Studio. Mastered by Tobias Stieler.

Comments

Stratosphere reveals album teaser

28/1/2018

Comments

 
PicturePhoto: Stephan Vercaemer
Belgian ambient/post-rock act Stratosphere has released a teaser for his upcoming album, aptly titled 'Collaborations I'. Unlike his previous work, which were solo recordings, this time he collaborated with a number of likeminded people.

Karen Willems, Ashtoreth, Aidan Baker, Jesse Massant (Black Narcissus), Joris De Bolle (Celestial Wolves), Misantronics, N, Distant Fires Burning and Dirk Serries all cooperated on one of the tracks.

'Collaborations I' is scheduled to be released this Spring.

Merchants Of Air will dig deeper into this album closer to the release date. Stay tuned.

Comments

Exclusive: DivA streams EP 'Sol'

16/11/2017

Comments

 
Picture
French trip hop trio DivA share their forthcoming EP 'Sol' The band has been around since 2013, first as a duo but more recently added a third member. With their intriguing blend of trip hop, post rock, shoegaze, jazz and folk, DivA might soon conquer Europe and perhaps the world. Just listen to gems like 'Venus' and 'Lune'.

Pre-order 'Sol' on Division Records.

Picture
Biography:

​The project dIVA is born in 2013 when the guitarist Pierre-Emmanuel and the singer Lisa-Marie first meet. The two musicians soon discover a common desire to express themselves artistically in a formation that can grant total freedom and a true evolutionary vision. The conceptual framework of their first album is immediately apparent. The solar system theme will be exploited to give birth to compositions continuously oscillating between dream-pop, trip-hop and dark-folk. When Marc, producer and sound designer of genius, joined them at the end of 2015, the band is ready to record his first album. But with the addition of a third member, the ideas expand so much that the concept album originally envisaged is divided into two distinct parts, which will be released separately at a distance of one year.

​The 5 songs on this album, which happens to be only the first part of a diptych whose sequel will come out at the end of 2018, are inspired by the rocky planets of the solar system. The music is a faithful reflection of the telluric aspect of these astral bodies, through a music borrowing from smooth dream-pop and throbbing trip-hop. Some incursions into the dark-folk and drone burned territories make the final mixture a formidable composite of efficiency, irremediably causing total fascination and immediate adhesion. The themes dealt with in the lyrics, directly related to the planets from which they are inspired, are depicted as dark & rich metaphors, inviting an introspective journey from which no one will emerge unscathed. One thus gives oneself with pleasure to these original and tortuous compositions, in which the talent and inspiration of their authors shine like a star in the remotest abyss of the galaxy.

Comments

Amenra to stream release show tonight - watch here

31/10/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Today, AMENRA will take the stage in Brussels for their Mass VI (out now from Neurot in North America) record release show, arguably their most ambitious live show to date. For those unable to attend the event, AMENRA will be streaming their set live. AMENRA mastermind Colin H. Van Eeckhout remarks..."It will probably be the longest and physically most intense Amenra show up to date. We’ll extend our live visuals like never before. This show was sold out in a couple of hours, so we feel that this opportunity to stream the show makes it able for those who missed out to be there with us. Together, from a distance." Follow the link below to immerse yourself into their live ritual when the clock strikes 5:00pm EST...

​You can stream the show below. Or click here to watch on the website of AB. 

Mass VI is available now through Neurot Recordings. Orders for the record are available via Neurot Recordings, and in Europe via Consouling Sounds. The EU version has a different mix and master, as well as different artwork and design than the US version, mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Oathbreaker) at the Atomic Garden, San Francisco.  

AMENRA live performances:
​

31/10 - AB, BE - SOLD OUT
7/11 - Werk2, Leipzig DE
8/11 - Scene, Vienna AU
9/11 - la Fabrika, Praha CZ 
17/11 - cc Strombeek Grimbergen BE (acoustic) 
1/12 - cc De Leest Izegem BE (acoustic)
13/01 - Gaité Lyrique, Paris FR 
19/01 - Stevenskerk, Nijmegen NL 
20/01 - Doornroosje, Nijmegen NL 
Comments

And So I Watch You From Afar share new single

2/10/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Northern Irish rock band And So I Watch You From Afar (ASIWYFA) have announced a new single titled 'Dying Giants' from their forthcoming record 'The Endless Shimmering'. This will be the eclectic quartet’s fifth full length album following on from their widely acclaimed album ‘Heirs’. 

In support of their forthcoming album, ASIWYFA have also announced a 42-date EU/UK tour (dates below) to start this autumn covering the UK, and much of Europe. They will be joined by Gallops for all of their UK dates. ASIWYFA have a relentless thirst for touring and over the past 7-years they have tallied up almost 500 shows worldwide - including less common tour stops such as China, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

‘The Endless Shimmering’ is due out on 20th October 2017 and will be released via Sargent House (home to the likes of Russian Circles, Deafheaven, Marriages, Mutoid Man, TTNG, Boris, Chelsea Wolfe, Mylets, Tera Melos and more).

Picture
Tracklist:

​1. Three Triangles
2. A Slow Unfolding Of Wings
3. Terrors Of Pleasure
4. Dying Giants
5. All I Need Is Space
6. The Endless Shimmering
7. Mullally
8. I'll Share A Life
9. Chrysalism
OCT 18 Haarlem, NL // Patronaat 
OCT 19 Utrecht, NL // EKKO
OCT 20 Nijmegen, NL // Doornroosje (Purple Room)
OCT 21 Osnabrück, DE // KI. Freiheit
OCT 22 Karlsruhe, DE // Stadtmitte
OCT 23 Eindhoven, NL // DDWMusic Festival
OCT 24 Rouen, FR // Le 106 Club
OCT 25 Nantes, FR // Le Ferrailleur
OCT 26 Bordeaux, FR // Le Void
OCT 27 Barcelona, ES // AM Fest
OCT 28 Madrid, ES // Sala Caracol
OCT 29 Porto, PT // Hard Club
OCT 30 Lisbon, PT // Musicbox
NOV 02 Milan, IT // Magnolia
NOV 03 Fribourg, CH // Nouveau Monde
NOV 04 Winterthur, CH // Gaswerk
NOV 05 Pratteln, CH // MiniZ7
NOV 06 München, DE // Ampere
NOV 07 Prague, CZ // NoD Teatro
NOV 08 Leipzig, DE // Conne Island
NOV 09 Berlin, DE // Lido
NOV 10 Hannover, DE // Bei Chez Heinz
NOV 12 Cologne, DE // Gebäude 9
NOV 13 Wiesbaden, DE // Schlachthof
NOV 14 Essen, DE // Zeche Carl
NOV 15 Hamburg, DE // Knust
NOV 16 Groningen, NL // Vera
NOV 17 Maastricht, NL // Muziekgieterij
NOV 18 Louvain-La-Neuve, BE // Festival La Ferme
NOV 19 Kortrijk, BE // De Kreun
NOV 21 Paris, FR // Maroquinerie
NOV 22 Luxembourg, LU // Rockhal
NOV 23 London, UK // Koko
NOV 24 Manchester, UK // Academy 2
NOV 25 Glasgow, UK // Oran Mor
NOV 26 Bristol, UK // Thekla
DEC 28 Dublin, Ireland // Academy
DEC 29 Castlebar Co Mayo, Ireland // Garbo’s
DEC 30 Cork, Ireland // Cypress Avenue
DEC 31 Galway, Ireland // Roisin Dubh

Ticket links and info HERE.
Comments

Wolves In The Throne Room have released another track

23/8/2017

Comments

 
Picture
Wolves In The Throne Room have released another track off of their forthcoming masterpiece Thrice Woven; titled “Angrboda,” the song premiered on Adult Swim’s Singles Program to coincide with 'The Great American Eclipse' when the moon passed totally in front of the sun. 'Angrboda' derives from Norse Mythology and was the name attributed to the giantess herald of sorrow and the song honors the memory of Joey Casio and Barrett Clark, members of the record label Katabatik who perished in 2016’s Ghost Ship fire. “Angrboda” dives into the cold, esoteric sounds that WITTR has been returning to.  Listen to the track below.
 
“We release this song to honor our beloved friends in the Katabatik community who died in the Ghost Ship fire,” the band said of the track. “Wolves In The Throne Room was born in the mountains in celebration with these same brothers and sisters.”
 
Since their inception in 2002, Wolves In The Throne Room have accrued over 5 studio albums and hundreds of live performances—reinterpreting black metal through their own Cascadian prism. Their songs explore the hidden world of magic that one accesses through dreams, visions and music and the resulting sounds are intimately linked to the wild lands of the Pacific Northwest. Now, a portal into the dreamworld of Wolves In The Throne Room opens again with their forthcoming sixth LP, Thrice Woven—a glorious return to the blazing and furious Black Metal that they alone can create.  
 
Thrice Woven will be released on September 22nd via Wolves In The Throne Room’s own label, Artemisia Records. 

Comments

Zeit release new video

21/8/2017

Comments

 
Picture
German blackened sludge band Zeit have just released their official music video for the track "Verzerrt" taken from the 2017 "Konvergenz"album. You can purchase the album ontheir bandcamp page.

Comments
<<Previous
    subscribe to our newsletter
    Picture
    Serge's new episodic thriller has launched, a superhuman novel about telekinesis, corruption and civil unrest. Plus an exclusive soundtrack.

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    May 2020
    March 2020
    April 2019
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015

Find us on

facebook
google+
twitter
tumblr
​
minds

About Us

Contact
FAQ
Logos and banners
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.