Leaf Newsletter #32
July 10th 2000
NEW RELEASE
Invisible Soundtracks: Macro 3
formats: CD only (REEL 4CD)
release date: Monday July 17th 2000
mail order price: 10.00 GBP (+p&p) - available from us now!!
barcode: UPC 0666017010427
Over two years since the release of the last instalment, the third CD volume in Leaf's renowned Invisible Soundtracks series is launched in July. These days every electronic label worth its salt has released an 'imaginary' film soundtrack, though when the series began back in 1995, inspired by the work of musicians such as Brian Eno and Barry Adamson, Leaf was moving in relatively uncharted territory.
Returning with what is without doubt the best in the series to date, Invisible Soundtracks: Macro 3 brings together some of the most talented new producers from around the world. Linked by a common conceptual theme that draws individual pieces together, it is a satisfying, though musically diverse, whole.
All tracks are exclusive and specially commissioned for the project; as ever, the brief was to produce an evocative piece of music for an film that doesn't exist. The results are always fascinating, often startling, and demand close listening attention. The album includes the four tracks on the current limited edition 12", plus a further 12 tracks not to be found anywhere else.
Leaf's global instincts have harvested work from every corner of the world, with cuts from Japan, the USA, Finland, Canada, Germany, Austria and the UK.
Work has already begun on the next volume, which will see another, all-new 12" EP in the autumn, with another CD to follow early next year.
1. MANITOBA - Anna And Nina
2. DRUCKWELLE - Unteracherting
3. NACHT PLANK - Run With The Haunted
4. SUSUMU YOKOTA - Fancy Flavour
5. ROB ELLIS - Two Movements From 'Symphonies For Wind Up Instruments'
6. 310 - St Mesa Substation
7. ROTHKO - Suddenly Becomes Light
8. BEIGE - Neckermann Dub
9. FREEFORM - Spandoe
10. KEIRON PHELAN & DAVID SHEPPARD - Theme From Cardinal Menthol
11. OP:L BASTARDS - Telephone
12. SORE AND STEAL - Staying Home, April 73
13. BROADWAY PROJECT - Roman Bones
14. BASS COMMUNION - Quantico
15. B. FLEISCHMANN - The Rise And Fall Of A Drinker
16. OSKAR - Air Conditioning
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
MANITOBA
'Anna And Nina' is Manitoba's first ever release, an epic and ambitious track that falls somewhere between the adventurous forays of Kieran Hebden's Four Tet project and the lush harmonies of Zero 7. Manitoba is a young jazz pianist from Toronto by the name of Dan Snaith. The Leaf Label recently signed him and you can expect an EP later this year and album early in 2001.
DRUCKWELLE
From Rosenheim (the same German town that is home to Funkstörung), Klaus Naitana and Vinko Vrabec came to our attention with the first release on their own tiny Molar imprint, the incredible Montreal '76 EP, and we've been wanting to work with them ever since. This slice of fluid deep house more than fulfils their early promise. "Music for brain and soul," they call it.
NACHT PLANK
'Run With The Haunted' is the work of the prolific Lee Norris, who releases a wide variety of music under the names Norken (deep electronic house music on Beau Monde) and Metamatics (funktronica on Hydrogen Dukebox, Dot, Skam, Clear and his own fledgling Neo Ouija label). Previous Nacht Plank releases have been through the experimental Staalplaat label.
SUSUMU YOKOTA
An exclusive and predictably gorgeous piece from Yokota, whose recent Magic Thread album on Leaf is already one of the label's best sellers. His current Mix EP brings together house remixes of his own previous work for Leaf, and he has another two albums released in September: Zero (Sublime) and Sakura (The Leaf Label).
ROB ELLIS
Better known for his work with PJ Harvey, Laika and his own band Spleen, Ellis has been recording what is essentially contemporary classical music for himself for several years. The fruits of these labours will be released by The Leaf Label in October on an album entitled Music For The Home, from which these two pieces are taken.
310
Joseph Dierker and Tim Donovan work on opposite sides of the States (Seattle and New York respectively), relaying tapes of their work across the continent. This lush track was culled from the sessions for their recent album (The Dirty Rope) on Leaf. They are currently working on the follow-up, as well as their live show.
ROTHKO
Triple bass wielding soundscapers Rothko, aka Mark, Crawford and Jon have just released their second album through London's Lo Recordings. This track is actually one of their earliest recordings.
BEIGE
Cologne resident Oli Braun's debut album, I Don't Either, is released on The Leaf Label in June, with the storming 'The Rhythm! The Message?' single to follow in September. Composed of compulsive, playful electronica and skeletal house music - and influenced as much by P-Funk and the clipped R&B of Timbaland as it is by the fractured Cologne sound - this is the real future funk.
FREEFORM
Freeform is one of the better known names here, with releases on Warp, Skam, Sub Rosa, Sprawl, Headphone and more to his name, though Londoner Simon Pyke's recent work has been largely overlooked. This new track is arguably his best ever release, alien funk of incredible dexterity and depth, and quite unlike anything we've ever heard before. He recently embarked on a three month world tour, gathering sounds for a new Sub Rosa 'travel' album, and we expect him to deliver a full album for The Leaf Label in 2001.
KEIRON PHELAN & DAVID SHEPPARD
Phelan and Sheppard really worked the soundtrack vibe with this track: in fact they recently completed a soundtrack to a 'real' short film. Their debut EP on Rocket Girl garnered widespread acclaim when it was released earlier this year, and the follow-up is released in September. David Sheppard is also a member of State River Widening, Ellis Island Sound and Wisdom Of Harry, while Keiron Phelan is currently recording a solo avant-jazz album. The pair also record as And (with Pete Astor).
OP:L BASTARDS
TA Kaukolampi, Vilunki 3000 and Tuomo Puranen hail from Helsinki, Finland. Since their debut EP in 1998 on Bootsound America/Säkhö, their unique electro-rock-disco-dub-funk project has gained respect within the global underground. London's Rex Records released their Spraybeat 10", and their Sagittarius EP is legendary.
SORE AND STEAL
Sore And Steal is a collaboration between former Pale Saint Ian Masters (on musical saw) and pedal steel guitarist David Rothon, hence the name. An album of solo saw material by Masters (as I'm Sore) has already been released by Michigan's finest time STEREO label and can also be heard on the forthcoming Tim Buckley tribute album under the guise of Friendly Science Orchestra.
BROADWAY PROJECT
Dan Berridge has released three Broadway Project EPs to date on London's Memphis Industries label and his debut album will be released in October. 'Roman Bones' is a much darker affair than most of his previous work, but we've heard some of his new material, and this is the direction he's headed...
BASS COMMUNION
Bass Communion is one of the many projects of musician and producer Steven Wilson (others include rock band Porcupine Tree, avant rock ensemble The IEM and experimental songscapers No-Man). "Quantico" is an exclusive track recorded during the sessions for BC's last album. As with most Bass Communion tracks the music is generated entirely from non-synthetic sound sources, in this case the principal element is the saxophone performance of acclaimed UK jazz musician Theo Travis.
B. FLEISCHMANN
Bernhard Fleischmann is an unassuming chap from Vienna, whose beautiful 1999 releases Pop Loops For Breakfast and the Sidonie EP (Morr Music / Charhizma) exhibited a remarkable ear for melody - a midget gem of a record that has sold in significant quantities on word of mouth alone. A new album is forthcoming.
OSKAR
Based in the City of London, Oskar is a collaboration between hip-hopper & general left-fielder Jonny Dawe & post-rocker, soundtrack & theatre composer Nick Powell. Developed through live performance, Air Conditioning is their first ever release. Juxtaposing electronica & guitars with found sound, it's a stunning way to close the album.
other forthcoming releases:
BEIGE - I Don't Either
LP/CD BAY 5V/CD June 5
Timbaland meets Mouse On Mars - the future of funk is here
INVISIBLE SOUNDTRACKS Volume IV
1,000 x 12" only REEL 4 June 12
long awaited (by us at least) fourth 12" in the acclaimed series. Exclusive imaginary soundtracks by Freeform (UK), Druckwelle (Germany), B Fleishmann (Austria) and new Leaf signing Manitoba (Canada).
SUSUMU YOKOTA - Mix EP
12" only DOCK 23 June 19
superb deep house remixes of tracks from Image 1983-1998 and Sakura by Yokota himself.
FOUR TET v POLE - Pole v Four Tet EP
12" split single DOCK 20 June 26
Original tracks from Stefan Betke and Kieran Hebden, plus remixes of each other¹s tracks. Already Leaf's biggest selling single ever!
EARDRUM - Last Light Remixes Volume I
12" single DOCK 19 July 3
stunning remixes by Ashley Beedle, Freeform, Monolake and Sofa Surfers
SUSUMU YOKOTA - Sakura
CD BAY 13CD September
LP BAY 13V September
the third (and best?) installment...
BEIGE - 'The Rhythm! The Message?'
12" only DOCK 18 September
the choice Beige cut finally on vinyl. Housequake!
Noodles Part II / The Complete Death Of Cool
CD BAY 14CD September
dLP BAY 14V September
the second installment from Noodles, Si Begg's self-styled 'Stupidest Recording Organisation In The World', plus a compilation CD to bring you up to date with all the strangeness so far
ROB ELLIS - Music For The Home
CD only BAY 15CD October
PJ Harvey/Spleen/Laika man. Amazing modern classical record. Say no more
MANITOBA - title tbc
12" only DOCK 24 October
debut EP from our latest signing from Canada - as heard on Invisible Soundtracks...
more details of all these to come...
LIVE LEAVES
310 (live)
Brownies, NYC, July 10. showtime is 9pm EST sharp!
also - there will be a live webcast (subsequently archived) at 9:15pm EST on
http://www.digitalclubnetwork.com/
we are looking to put together a series of European dates in September/October, featuring any or all of Eardrum, 310, Beige, Susumu Yokota and DJ Tony Morley. If you can help, get in touch! Also, many of our artists are available for remixes - let us know if you're interested.
MAXIMUM ROTATIONS
chart compiled by Tony Morley - 10/7/00
position. artist - title - label (country)
1. Luomo - Carter - Force Trax (Ger)
2. Charlie Watts Jim Keltner Project - The Elvin Suite (Coldcut Remix) - Cyber Octave (UK)
3. Recloose - Can't Take It - Planet E (US)
4. Mika - Target - Klein (Os)
5. Moodymann - Forevernevermore (LP) - Peacefrog (UK)
6. Burnt Friedman - Con Ritmo (LP) - Nonplace (Ger)
7. The Kingsbury Manx - The Kingsbury Manx (LP) - City Slang (UK)
8. Borneo & Sporenburg - Gold - Italic (Ger)
9. Mapstation - Sleep, Engine Sleep - Staubgold (Ger)
10. Farben - Raw Macro - Klang (Ger)
11. Shirley Bassey - Where Do I Begin (awayTEAM Mix) - EMI (UK)
12. Charles Webster - Your Life - Peacefrog (UK)
13. Seelenluft - The Rise And Fall Of Silvercity-Bob (LP) - Klein (Os)
14. Max Brennan - Strange Sightings - Sublime (Jap)
15. Broadcast - Drums On Fire - Warp (UK)
16. 2 Banks Of 4 - Four Tet remix (Sirkus)
17. Markus Nikolai - Back (LP) - Perlon (Ger)
18. A Guy Called Gerald - Humanity (Ashley Beedle's Dub & Compassion) - Stud!o K7 (UK)
19. various - The Winner Is The Loser - Friendly Science v. time STEREO (UK)
20. Op:l Bastards - Scorpius - Rex Records (UK)
21. Blue States - Nothing Changes Under The Sun (LP) - Memphis (UK)
22. blir - 002 - Premium Leisure (UK)
23. Peace Orchestra - Shining (Trüby Trio Treatment) - G-STone (Os)
24. Souldrummers - Racer - Afro Art (UK)
25. Avril - The Matter With You - F Communications (Fr)
chart compiled by Susumu Yokota - 7/00
position. artist - title - label
1. Susumu Yokota - Sakura - Skintone/The Leaf Label
2. Vincent Gallo & Christina Ricci - Buffalo 66 - Meldac
3. various - People Make The World Go Round - People
4. various - Invisible Soundtracks Volume IV - The Leaf Label
5. Blak Action Commitee Pt.3 - DNH
6. Susumu Yokota - Zero - Sublime
7. Markus Nikolai - Bushes - Classic
8. Audiosoul Project - Diagonalism EP - Gourmet
9. Tom Chasteen - Together - Exist Dance
10. Hesohi - Say I Love You - Dub Imperial
Thanks for listening. Get in touch!
The Leaf Label
Suite 209, Bon Marche Building, 241 Ferndale Road, LONDON, SW9 8BJ, UK
Fax: +44 (0)20 7733 5818
leaf@posteverything.com (please update your address books!)
Leaf is a Posteverything label
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