The UK music collective Gnod makes deeply psychedelic music, recording hours of long-form jams, while self-releasing some of them on limited edition cd-rs with hand screened art work and other printed ephemera. For their label Tesla Tapes, Gnodheads past and present explore their techno-pagan interests by applying psychedelic strategies to electronic music for some outstanding results. For instance, take a listen to the cut “Alternate Vision” from Run Dust‘s up-coming release Decency Rally. Here, electric drones and menacing, repetitive drum patterns build slowly evolving beat structures that begin to radiate in all kinds of directions under such close scrutiny and extended use!
Tesla Tapes currently has a handful of very interesting releases from earlier this year that are also definitely worthy of a listen. Gnod’s “electronic brain” Chris Haslam‘s solo project Dwellings takes a funkier, techno-oriented approach on his four song EP called Don’t Say Nothing. Using a Vermona DRM analog drum machine and noxious synth scrapings, the artist manipulates a wild, sci-fi array of beats to create a deeply rhythmic work from the future of the urban jungle.
Also out this year is a sick, two song cassette from Druss that includes the 19 minute cuts “91 Outside” and “Rain/inside 92“. Using an MFB-Synth, Yamaha keyboard and drum machine, Druss lets the machines do the talking so he can zone out of the way into robotic dub bliss for these two killer tracks!
Gnod’s Marlene Ribeiro explores more overtly psychedelic territory on her release as Negra Branca, creating four bizarre, beat driven musical spaces full of surreal sonic twists and her hazy vocal meanderings.
Raikes kicked things off earlier this year for Tesla Tapes with his Raikes Parade release Crossing Paths To Find New Footprints. When not making his own music he can be found running with the Gnod collective, handling sound at Islington Mill Studios, or hanging with the Herbal Sessions and Dub Smugglers Soundsystems. For his Tesla Tapes release, Raikes rolls up a narcotic blend of instrumental hip-hop, zany vocal samples, and dubbed out head zones for, “tokers ‘n all”.
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