Alex Albrecht / Violet Visionary (ASIPV043)

We are in full release mode as we close down the second half of the year and get caught up on some releases after a big switch in Plants and Distro early on in ‘23. Next up is a beautifully pointed and succinct portrait of the wonderful work to come from Australian producer Alex Albrecht. Alex has been slowly winning over every ear his music seems to touch and this record will undoubtedly do the very same if you’re new to his lush mixture of Jazz-infused deep house and field recordings.

We’re leading the announcement with the mesmerizing, perfectly matched video for the last track of the album, ‘June’, created by Jessica Grilli.

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Australian artist Alex Albrecht debuts on A Strangely Isolated Place with Violet Visionary, a perfectly honed evolution of picturesque downtempo and hazy, percussive Deep House. 

Alex Albrecht has refined his unique triangulation of ambient, house, and instrumental influences over the years, either as one-half of Albrecht La’Brooy (Apollo) or under his Melquíades alias (Analogue Attic). Combining rich field recordings and hypnotic instrumentation, Alex’s productions are often recognizable thanks to this instantly warm and welcoming combination. Percussive elements and powerful drum patterns sit amongst perfectly executed melodies and dusky atmospheres; Alex’s music is just as suited for the orange hues of dawn as the purple tints of sundown. 

A notably shorter album than we may hope, but sequenced as one complete experience, Alex is purposeful and precise in his approach, with every element completely additive to the last. Violet Visionary echoes a moment of organic evolution that disappears as quickly as it came into existence; peaking to a glowing embrace that will undoubtedly leave an impression. 

Featuring original artwork by Evie Cahir and mastered by Corey Kikos, Violet Visionary is available on Transparent Orange Smoke 12” and digital, from September 29th 2023.

Visit the release page for more info and links to buy

Viul & Benoît Pioulard's 'Konec' limited Art Print Edition

Viul & Benoît Pioulard’s ‘Konec’ turns one year old today, and to celebrate we have a small set of LPs featuring a limited edition 12x12” art print by Liz Harris and a 1x1 original Polaroid from Benoît.

Now available on Bandcamp and shipping from label HQ.

These are the same record from the original run, but without the original 2LP gatefold sleeve (due to damage) and limited to just 33 copies with the additional print and Polaroid. Artwork printed on heavyweight Canson Arches BFK Rives white.

Mary Yalex / Fantasy Zone (ASIPV042)

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German musician Mary Yalex debuts here on A Strangely Isolated Place depicting a storied transition from our recognizable surroundings, into a vision of the future. 

With releases and music styles across a variety of labels over the years, it has been Yalex’s more experimental ambient work that has stood out amongst her catalog, and in Fantasy Zone, we find Mary fine-tuning this sound to reflect the work of a true architect of storytelling, mood and atmosphere. 

Drawing influences from her day-to-day surroundings, Fantasy Zone begins with more vivid pieces; softer melodies and clearer instrumentation, represented as much in song titles such as Air, After Rain Comes Sun, and Half Light of Dawn. The second half of the album transitions into a future state, as Yalex draws on darker manifestations - perhaps intrinsically influenced by the state of the world, and in particular her love of nature, we play witness to more storied, haunting atmospheres, distant voices and slowly shifting gravitational chord movements. Dystopian-bound or pure fantasy, Yalex depicts a future that mirrors some of the more poignant, thought-provoking work of great synthesizer soundtracks of the past. 

Mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri, and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding, Fantasy Zone will be available on Purple Smoke 12” and digital.

Preorder now available with full release following on August 28th 2023.

Listen and links to buy via the release page

Quiet Places / Volume 2 (ASIPV040)

You don’t get any trippier or spaced out than Quiet Places, so following their mind-bending debut, I’m very excited to announce Volume 2 is now available.
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Dennis White, Charlie May, and Dave Gardner return with their second outing as Quiet Places, expanding upon their deep and suitably hypnotic long-form compositions across four continuous sides of wax.

Minimal in context and retaining the untitled track approach, the trio of producers, well versed in a variety of music styles between them, leave the music and the subliminal messages contained within as the descriptor.

Finding moments of melody amongst the wide landscape of abstract sounds and samples is the only glimpse of reality you’ll find down here. 

Quiet Places, Volume 2 is available on limited edition gatefold 2LP pressed on marbled vinyl, mastered and lacquer cut by Andreas Lupo Lubich and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding. 

Listen and links to buy via the release page

Stream the full Digital Bonus track in full over on Headphone Commute.

Gunnar Jónsson Collider / S.W.I.M. (ASIPV041)

Icelandic musician Gunnar Jónsson Collider debuts on A Strangely Isolated Place with an expansive trip through six fictional environments, brought further to life through an accompanying video by artist Arna Beth.

Inviting escapism through detailed, glacial textures, S.W.I.M. elevates a traditional beatless spectrum into a first-person narrative, moving across burning wastelands, miles-high sundown, a dizzying night sky, subterranean exploration, and more beautiful, natural phenomena. Subtle changes in tone and texture across each of the six environments provide a signal of the destination’s energy and the intended perception of the traveler. At times, elated and dwarfed by nature’s surrounding grandeur. Other times, bestowing a sense of apprehension and unknowing.

Best absorbed through the accompanying visual album by fellow Icelandic digital artist Arna Beth, S.W.I.M. is an immersive jump into a majestic sci-fi world, placing you front and center in both sound and visual. After appearing on numerous well-respected electronic labels in recent years such as Móatún, Moller and Vertex, S.W.I.M represents Gunnar’s most horizontal output to date.

Mastered by Franceso Fabris, and featuring artwork by Noah M / Keep Adding, based on Arna Beth's visuals, S.W.I.M., will be available on limited edition Blue Smoke 12” and digital.

View the release page for full links to listen and buy

Join us for a full album AV experience on Bandcamp, May 21st.