[Teaser of the day] Children of the Drone - COTD v. ECC

Archive

• New Weird Britain 
• Free folk
• Avant-folk
• Improvised music 
• Dream folk 
• Experimental folk
• Weird folk

Artist: Children of the Drone

Release: Falling Together (compilation no. 5)

Label: Archive

Year: 2005

Jeff Gburek + Eryk Nowacki -- Small Fires (2026)

Mahorka/Bandcamp/Ramble

• American Primitive Guitar 
• Psychedelic
• New Weird 
• Dream folk 
• Drone folk 
• Improvised music
• Free folk 
• Raga music

Kui kuulan seda mahukat 16-loolist ning 93-minutilist taiest, siis võiks öelda, et ühelt poolt olen säherdust muusikat palju kuulanud, ent teisalt taolise meditatiivse muusika kuulamise iga kuulamine on eripärane ja kordumatu. Nagu jalutamisel iga samm on ühelt poolt samasugune, aga erinev ses mõttes, et omab erinevaid aja- ja ruumikoordinaate. Jeff Gburek (akustiline kitarr, mandoliin, modulaarsüntesaatorid ning muud instrumendid) ning Eryk Nowacki (India keelpillid) pühitsevad siin Ameerika põliselanike väikese lõkke tegemise traditsiooni, vastandudes kolonistide agressiivsele viisile, andmaks teada oma eravaldustest. Lõkke ääres istumine ja leekide silmitsemine on maagiline toiming, ning seda veelgi võimendada on näiteks muusikat seal mängida. Konkreetne muusika on tuttav seetõttu, et seesugust India hõngudega muusikat on teinud ka üks Ameerika kitarriprimitivismi käilakujusid Robbie Basho, aga siin on niikuinii seda India klassikalise muusika raaga narratiivi, kuvõrd sitari, tanpura ning sazi akordid toovad Ida Läänesse. (Või siis vastupidi). Igal juhul need instrumendid kõlavad ka praegusel hetkel eurooplasele müstiliselt -- isegi kui tutvus nendega on põhjalikumalt leidnud aset juba rohkem kui pool sajandit -- kõike tuntavamalt biitlite 60ndate teise poole ning elektrilise perioodi Miles Davise albumitel. (Kuigi see oli vaid üks helilistest komponentidest tollal teiste kõrval albumitel "Bitches Brew" ning "On The Corner"). Nullindatel ja kümnendatel sai palju kuulatud Children Of The Drone'i, Exeteris resideeruvat eksperimentaalfolkaritest koosnevat punti, mis alatihti andis endast maailmale teada maagiliste folgipõhiste jämmimisülesvõtetega. (Sageli tehes seda õues). Kuigi mainitud 93 minutit võivad paberil tunduda hirmutava pikkusena, näikse Bulgaaria plaadifirma Mahorka ning Austraalia Ramble'i all kahasse üllitatud taies voogavat pigem ühe pika voona kui kuueteistkümne eraldiseisva palana. Tandemi loodud voo lummavus läheb teisele poole -- olgu selleks unenäolisus, kõrgeimate ideede või ehtsa olemise kompimine. Improvisatsioon ei mõju siin virtuooslikkuse demonstratsioonina, vaid tähelepaneliku kuulamise praktikana, kus iga uus motiiv sünnib eelmisest loomuliku jätkuna. Seetõttu ei nõua "Small Fires" mitte niivõrd analüüsimist kui kohalolekut -- see on plaat, mis avaneb kõige paremini siis, kui sukelduda aeglaselt selle kihtidesse ja kihtide vahele. 8.0 (8.0-8.5)

[Teaser of the day] Children Of Ishizuke Tree - Strawberry Drone

Archive

• Experimentalism
• Ambient drone
• Microtonal
• Reductionism 
• Drone
• Avant-garde 
• Drone doom metal 
• Microsound 

Artist: Children Of Ishizuke Tree

Release: Entering The Ocean

Label: Archive

Year: 2009

[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - untitled 3

Archive.org

• New Weird England
• Free folk
• Improvised music 
• Avant-folk 
• Live session
• Weird folk
• Psych-folk 
• Experimental folk

Artist: Children Of The Drone 

Release: Prospect Park, 14/03/06

Label: Archive.org

Year: 2006

[Teaser of the day] Children of the Drone - 12. untitled

Archive.org

• New Weird England
• Improvised music 
• Free folk
• Psych-folk 
• Freak folk 
• Avant-folk 

Artist: Children of the Drone

Release: Compilation no, 2

Label: Archive.org 

Year: 2005

[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - Versenden Prognostiziert

Archive.org

• New Weird England 
• Electro-acoustic
• Live session 
• Free folk
• Spoken word
• Improvised music 
• Avant-folk
• Ambient

Artist: Children Of The Drone

Release: Falling Together (Compilation No. 5) 

Label: Free Music Archive/Archive.org 

Year: 2006

[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - untitled 1 (20/05/09)

Archive.org

• Experimental folk 
• Psych-folk
• Free folk 
• Improvised music
• Avant-folk 
• Live session 
• New Weird England 

Artist: Children Of The Drone

Release: Sherwood Cottage, 20/05/09

Label: Archive.org/Self-released

Year: 2009

[Teaser of the day] Children of the Drone - untitled 4 (23/08/18)

Archive.org

• New Weird England 
• Free folk
• Psych-folk
• Free jazz
• Space folk
• Improvised music 
• Avant-folk 
• Weird folk

Artist: Children of the Drone

Release: St. Petrocks, 23/08/18

Label: Archive.org 

Year: 2018

Mikołaj Janeczko – Planowo Ciszej (2019)

Crunchy Human Children

• Ambient drone 
• Experimentalism 
• Avant-rock 
• Electro-acoustic 
• Experimental rock 
• Guitar ambient 
• Abstract 
• Avant-garde 
• Post-rock 
• Psychedelic

Comment: It has always been great pleasure to put own hand upon a release of Crunchy Human Children though I personally have done it at a criminal rate. Mikołaj Janeczko, also Polish, invokes such sort of music which may seem to get lost on the fog. More profoundly, languid guitar drones are wrapped up in a grayish, mild cyclone which face to face create a hypnotic state of mind through different patterns of this sparse yet fertile kaleidoscope. One can hear elegant, ellipse-shaped iterations with a proper psychedelic hint or a bit more abrasive electro-acoustic brushes. Otherwise the first three compositions could be described as a Glenn Branca under the waterfall. In any cases it adds enchanting power to contribute to one`s better way of life. At the final track, Drzwi balkonowe, the course of 4-track loses some gravity and power to succumb to a more loose improvisation set with the assistance of flute playing by Przemysław Wojtaszek. All in all, it is a nearby perfect outing due to being ultimately uplifted to ceaseless feel of a continuum.

Obasquiat – #Drops (2019)

Sunyatha

• Drone 
• Avant-garde 
• Experimentalism 
• Improvised music 
• World fusion 
• Field recording 
• Musique concrète

Comment: it may be the easiest way to describe this album through the examples of other artists' music, through such examples as Ashtray Navigations, Uton, Kemialliset Ystävät, Six Organs Of Admittance, Charalambides, Tont, Sam Shalabi, Natural Snow Buildings, Children Of The Drone, Vibracathedral Orchestra. More profoundly, the common thread of the aforementioned artists is droning. Droning through different aspects and accents, through ethnic and folk music of Asia (from Middle East to Hindustani peninsula), through modern day folk, through post-industrial and psychedelic angles and patches. Another common thread is improvisation. To put together drone and improvised music it can be summoned as experimental. One can see droning as the hard core of this 15-notch issue yet improvisation can be considered as the intention and thought of the whole. One can hear volatile clouds as experiments with concrete sounds and open spaces, voices and vowels which used to rotate inseparably around the hard core. The marvellous outing (the Brazilian Marco Antonio with his guest musicians) is a part of the discography of Sunyatha.

[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - untitled 4 (23/08/18)

Archive.org

• Improvised music
• New Weird Britain
• Avant-folk
• Trance folk
• Space folk
• Free folk
• Psych-folk
• Live session
• Experimental folk
• Post-folk
• Weird folk

Artist: Children Of The Drone

Release: St. Petrocks, 23/08/18

Label: Self-released/Archive.org

Year: 2018

Take Pills – Consumer Drones (2005)

Take Pills Die

• Experimentalism 
• Electronic music 
• Krautrock 
• Motorik 
• Experimental electro 
• Minimal synth 
• Avant-garde

Comment: undoubtedly the US-based Andrew Cauthen was one of the most interesting artists along with Cagey House, Amitron 7, starstarstar, The Japanese Gum, Children Of The Drone and Joxfield ProjeX whom I had discovered while embarking on with my blog 10 years ago. The visual trademark of him used to be a bicycle on the cover print of every issue. Musically his sound is still mind-blowing, for example, the recent one is a convergence of krautrock-driven motorik beats a la Neu, and on the other side it is a mix of ambient plateaus and droning phases. In truth, he does away with guitars. Earlier, I guess, five years ago I would have considered it an example of pure electronic sound, however, today it chimes to my ears at least partly like a solid German experimental rock project from the 70s. Additionally to Neu! as already mentioned above the minimalist influences by Konrad Schnitzler can be heard on this 8-track outing. Of course, one can also draw parallels upon the electro sound from Detroit but the seminal impulse came from Germany. However, the latter point is not the most essential but it is a very fine listening experience. In a word, let's consume it.

The Ears On The Trees – New Beginnings (2017)

Constellation Tatsu

• Drone 
• Ambient 
• Glo-fi 
• Electronic music 
• Musique concrète 
• Dreamwave 
• Organic electronica

Comment: although the issue involves seven different tracks the whole chimes like one lengthy track. More profoundly, you can hear lazily changing yet blissful chords, caressingly ebbing and tiding sea waves and joyous children shrieks from the kitchen garden. At times the chords are deliberately a little bit mutated and used to stumble but it adds an additional value to bring upon a more coherent and organic issue. As I mentioned before it sounds like a lengthy track yet it does not seem to be lengthy in fact because it transcends temporal and space-related dimensions. It is an ennobling experience. There it is, a fabulous issue for a sunny Sunday. The release is a part of the discography of Constellation Tatsu.

[Teaser of the day] Children of the Drone - COTDcomp3-04

Archive.org

• Improvised music
• Avant-folk
• Space folk
• Live session
• New Weird Britain
• Experimental folk
• New Weird England
• Free folk
• Weird folk

Artist: Children of the Drone

Release: Compilation No. 3

Label: Self-released/Archive.org

Year: 2005

Tarred Brigade – HoneyMoon (2008)

Free Music Archive

• Psych-rock 
• Weird folk 
• Americana 
• Free folk 
• DIY 
• Lo-fi 
• New Weird America 
• Psych-folk 
• Drone folk 
• Epic 
• Chamber folk 
• Blues

Comment: it makes no surprise altogether Tarred Brigade comes out from Baltimore, Maryland, USA because of representing either a second or a third wave of the New Weird America movement. For instance, all of us used to recognise the fact Animal Collective came initially out from this city though musically Tarred Brigade is a bit different, a bit more countryfied case. It is recorded on a 4-track recorder being rustic and majestic at the same time, being abrasive and hypnotic at the same time, being bucolic and solemn simultaneously. Its droning earnest halation being frequently mixed up with psychedelic templates may remind more of such combos as Espers, Six Organs Of Admittance, and Children Of The Drone (the last one is an improvisational combo from Exeter, UK). For sure, additionally to the aforementioned folk element there are also up certain indie facets and the downright Americana tradition. On the other side, at I Fear An Eclipse the listener can figure out a combo to be influenced by a British act called Penguin Cafe Orchestra. The only (format-based) problem is about the amount of the tracks represented over there. In my folder there are up 6 tracks in comparison to the amount of 4-tracks at Free Music Heroes (it is devoid of such compositions as Haunting the Majesties!, and My Jewish Blues). It might be these are the hidden ones while one is downloading the release. Outstanding issue in any cases.

[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - untitled 4

Children Of The Drone

• Improvised music
• New Weird England
• Free folk
• Live session
• Trance folk
• Raga folk
• Psych-folk
• Avant-folk
• Weird folk

Artist: Children Of The Drone

Release: Sherwood Cottage, 14/07/05

Label: Children Of The Drone

Year: 2005 

[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - 31/05/04 ->14/01/04

Archive.org

• Improvised music
• Psych-folk
• Ambient folk
• Drone folk
• Trance folk
• Electro-acoustic
• New Weird Britain
• Free folk
• Space folk
• Live session
• Avant-folk
• Experimental folk
• Weird folk

Artist: Children Of The Drone

Release: Compilation no. 3  

Label: Children Of The Drone

Year: 2005

Massimo Ruberti - Granchite Yumtruso PT. 1 (2016)

Nostress

Free Music Archive

Archive.org

• Ambient pop 
• Post-classical 
• Avant-pop 
• Indietronica 
• Art pop 
• Free jazz 
• Electronic music
• Post-pop 
• Alternative pop 
• Electro-acoustic 
• Space pop 
• Drone pop

Comment: Massimo Ruberti`s previous issue Armstrong (which was also a Nostress` issue) made me fairly psyched and excited because it was a beatific instance of spaced-out electronica. It was dedicated to Neil Armstrong and was an exemplary of how the music must be accomplished. The Italian musician continues to plough through the same field though there are up some differences too. For instance, the opening track Snorri/Hollow Earth chimes as an instance of indie electronica/drone pop/post-classical, having similarities with such artists as Spacemen 3, Tortoise, Penguin Café Orchestra, Efterklang. Welcome, to the indie music world, Massimo! The following track is as exhilarating as the previous one because gentle field recording templates, dribbly piano keys and a minor key motif are mixed up with majestic singing of alien-alike children, all of which later turns into the saxophone-led progression. Believe me, that’s very astounding. Once again, there can be drawn comparisons with another Jason Pierce-related project, Spiritualized. At Metal Talking Artifact Box Ruberti demonstrates again that he has entered into the indie music field because contemporary indie artists have jettisoned the guitars to replace them with other instruments, notably with the electronic keyboards. It could be admitted about the more mainstream-related artists and underground artists. More profoundly, the track is a tight mix of free jazz, and dub and electro-inflected electronic music (one could perceive more and less implicit nods toward Kraftwerk in the latter branch). This excellent issue will be finished off with Spider Guardian Machine in a space pop/ hypnotic electronic/shoegaze vein being provided with high intensity and dynamic impulses. It is one of the best issues in 2016. 

Sunburned Hand of the Man - Three Lobed/WXDU Day Show, Hopscotch Music Festival, King's, Raleigh, NC (2014)

Nyctaper

/New Weird America, Live session, Drone rock, Krautrock, Space rock, Avant-rock, Psychedelic rock, Experimental rock, Improvised music/

Comment: it is a great, 27-minute live session by the cult Massachusetts combo Sunburned Hand of the Man whose music reflects upon the interplay between noise and silence, between “natural” instrumentation and processed electronic sounds. It is a perfect sort of relaxation music due to outstretched droning, spaced-out guitar drenched trajectories, motorik rhythm engines and delayed crescendos and resigned incantations made up by Greta Svalberg. The result is a spellbinding trip through sonic magic. In addition to it I recommend listen to the likes of Vibracathedral Orchestra, Natural Snow Buildings, Ashtray Navigations, Kemialliset Ystävät, and Children Of The Drone.                

Spacegoats – Live at the Rainbow Church '94 (1994)

Archive.org

/Psych-folk, New Weird Britain, Free folk, Live session, Exprimental folk, Improvised music, World fusion, Raga folk/

Comment: I guess everyone who has listened to music produced by Children Of The Drone and its satellite projects can recognise immediately the link between these projects. However, these crews are not being directly related to each other (Spacegoats started off in 1991 and lasted for approximately 10 years). This 10-track issue is a fabulous set of gushing energy and good feeling invoked by powerful singing and chanting and mystical string based progressions and ethnic music/tribal propulsions (there are represented such rarefied instruments as bouzouki, djembe, dulcimer, didgeridoo, mandolin). It sounds like carnival music uniting mundane dimension with divine perspective. It is a very proper issue worthy of historical legacy. Highly recommended (pf course).