Rope Swing Cities

Solquest – Full Ashtray (RSC041)

joshua. — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:25:50 +0000

The 41st release on Rope Swing Cities comes to us from the long suffering Italian artist, Solquest. I say long suffering because this release came into our hands before RSC’s hiatus, and waited, and waited, and remastered, and waited until things finally started up again, and now, Full Ashtray is getting to see the light of day… or the dark of night, which is more appropriate for this release.

Full Ashtray is a meditation. For twenty minutes Solquest is your guide for this exploration of inner thought. droning and rhythmic, but overall, disquieting, Full Ashtray describes perfectly the urban, industrial backdrop which provides inspiration for Solquest’s work.

The two parts of Full Ashtray work best when paired together as the ambience and intensity waxes and wanes through its entirety. By the end, the morning has come, but not much has been solved, relief comes, not because of solutions, but because another night has been survived, and the mistakes of the previous day can be made again anew. Dark and brooding, I know, but sometimes a piece of music is crafted not to bring an easy experience, somtimes what we all truly need is a good psychological scrubbing, and for that Full Ashtray delivers.

Enjoy!

For more on Solquest go here.

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Full Ashtray Pt. 1

Full Ashtray Pt. 2

Able – Migrations [RSC040]

joshua. — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:27:42 +0000

It’s been a long hiatus for Rope Swing Cities while we dealt with life’s ever changing tapestry of challenges and decisions, but in 2010 we return with a year’s worth of releases from old friends and new faces alike. With this in mind, we would like to offer up for your perusal Migrations, the newest album from long time confederate, Able.

Over the last several years, Able has crisscrossed America, hitting both coasts and all points in between collecting impressions of the lives lived in our big, strange land. These memories have been given life in the form of the fifteen songs comprising this release.

Migrations is ambient music made for winter listening; dark, moody, longing, often confused, but ultimately hopeful. Able crafts stark, emotional soundscapes geared toward the searcher. Long, penetrating drones give way to crackles and pops; moments of urgent, driving percussion, the strum of guitar and the trample of feet. Other times, the drone conquers all else, melting away into cool meditation. Listening music in its purest form, Migrations is a headphones on, eyes down listening experience.

Enjoy!

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01. Makeshift Cartographer

02. No Countering

03. Planetary Fire

04. Sleeps On The Downfall

05. Sandstorms In Sirocco

06. The Conch Republic

07. Dreamstate Vessels

08. East Pacific Rise

09. Everything Through The Eyes

10. Narrow Footpath

11. Field Of Random Flux

12. Forest In Motion

13. Francisco Rush

14. Mid Atlantic Range

15. The Circumpolar North

Electricwest – Moth3r [RSC039]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:15:41 +0000

Electricwest comes to Rope Swing Cities with the haunting and beautiful album *Moth3r*.

Eleven tracks of meticulously composed IDM music, *Moth3r* is a perfect example of an artist’s synthesis of influences into an original whole. Pat Benolkin has crafted an album filled with lush tones, deep rumbling bass and skittering, dissonant percussion. At times moody and dark, the tone is balanced with pieces of calm, hope and contemplation. All throughout, Electricwest has created an immersive listening environment for both new and old fans of this emerging artist’s work.

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01. Goddess

02. Down We Go

03. Choke

04. Scarlet

05. Light Lesson

06. Foxfire

07. Never Enough

08. Locus Ceruleus

09. Vicious Cycle

10. At This Depth

11. The Earth Mother

Eleven Steps – One Week Early [RSC038]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:58:25 +0000

Steve Scherrelies returns to Rope Swing Cities with One Week Early his second release of beautifully nostalgic guitar based soundscapes. We’ve been waiting for more since the debut of A View of the River last summer, and we couldn’t be happier with the eleven well-crafted songs that comprise this album.

Eleven Steps always features his manipulations of the guitar at the center of his pieces, weaving a tapestry of field recordings and other sound creations around the focus of each track. With almost no percussion to speak of, the rhythm of each piece is communicated in the motion of the tones and washes of sound, creating an atmosphere of the peaceful swish-swaying of leaves in the breeze. Inspired by travel and the exploration of the world and oneself, Scherrelies presents a contemplative train ride through the country side, or a hushed wander through the anonymous bustle of the city streets.

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01. Airport:Early Arrival

02. Fall Into The City

03. Fountains

04. Pedestrian Bridge

05. Outside Garden Memories

06. Statues And Architecture

07. Riding Fireflies

08. Language Know All

09. Immersed In The Morning Quiet

10. Absolute Silence

11. Departure: One Week Early

Ian Hawgood – Soundtrack To A Film In My Head Which Will Never Get Made [RSC037]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:41:27 +0000

Ian Hawgood comes to Rope Swing Cities with a recent string of releases on such labels as Resting Bell, Best Kept Secret, and Experimedia. With this release Ian offers exactly what the title suggests: an emotional collection of cinematic sounds.

Ian Hawgood creates music with an effortless flow and intelligent, minimalist programming aesthetic that lends itself to the art of the movie soundtrack.With each piece contained in Soundtrack To A Film In My Head Which Will Never Get Made Ian constructs a visual picture in the mind, making use of everything from moaning violins to ethereal, synthesized drones. Ranging from ambient contemplations to subtly beat driven melancholy, this EP offers the most complete experience when taken in as a whole. From the eerie scratchy synth of A Man and His Lover… to the mesmerizing tonal play of End Credits To a Movie…, Ian crafts one beautiful tune after another.

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01. A Man And His Lover Wander Into A Cafe.

02. Belgium In Black And White

03. Various Conclusions From Various Points Of View

04. Winter Time In A British Seaside Town

05. These Days Are Spent In Ruin

06. Super 8 Films Of Youth

07. End Credits To A Movie About The Abscence Of Human Contact

Lexithimie – The Poems of Longfellow [RSC036]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:40:11 +0000

French artist Lexithimie debuts on Rope Swing Cities with The Poems of Longfellow a stunning EP of emotionally engaging IDM music, perfect for the end of summer and the encroaching winter. Lexithimie’s production is peppered with Snow flake pitter patters of percussion which gently guide us through the snow fields of tone and melody. Soft and thoughtful songs filled with a hopeful longing for what comes next.

The opening track, Hotslash, opens the release in perfect style; inviting washes of sound give way to a gently pulsing four four, ushering the listener on to explore the further landscapes contained in The Poems of Longfellow. And likewise, Snake Rolls, releases the listener at the end, a comforting sleepy ending to a marvelous musical journey.

With these ever so charming words in mind, please join us in welcoming a new member to the Rope Swing Cities family, Lexithimie, with the thoughtful and cuddly EP The Poems of Longfellow. For more about Lexithimie, you can check out his myspace page, here.

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01. Hotslash

02. Ashtonfield

03. Station 0I0II0

04. Sunday

05. Moonlight

06. Flower and Reappear

07. Snake Rolls

OffTheSky – Subtle Trees [RSC035]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:30:30 +0000

Available soon from Home Normal

Track53 – We Were Warm [RSC034]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:19:50 +0000

Welcome to summer time at Rope Swing Cities! To start off our favorite time of year, we offer you a wonderful EP of beautiful, cool, IDM from Track53. We Were Warm is a perfect compliment to the rising temperatures and growth of summer.

The sound of Track53 is of wavering mirages in the distance; hypnotic percussion surrounding itself with dream like pads and synths, granting each track a unique hold on the listener. At once enchanting and compelling; a languid walk through the swaying trees, filtered light dancing around.

So, join us in celebrating the times of our lives by taking a listen to Track53. We Were Warm is an invigorating taste of what’s to come, rejuvenating and lively without ever being overwhelming. Enjoy!

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01. Ueve

02. Omura

03. We Were Warm (Sun Showers)

04. 2802

05. Ancord Point

Jamie Drouin – Sonambulo [RSC033]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:02:11 +0000

Jamie Drouin debuts on Rope Swing Cities with an amazingly beautiful and haunting composition, Sonambulo A thirty-three minute ambient masterpiece, Sonambulo is a stunning piece of art.

Jamie Drouin first came to our attention at 2007’s Mutek, where he performed with Yann Novak. It was such a beautiful performance that we not only arranged for his recent appearance with Karl Kliem at the inaugural Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts in Boulder, Colorado, we now have one of his wonderful compositions in the Rope Swing Cities family.

The first in a series of pieces concerning sleepwalking, Sonambulo is composed entirely of field recordings taken in the rain forests of Costa Rica during a recent trip. Sonambulo is a meandering journey through jungle dreamscapes that we hope you enjoy as much as we have.

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Sonambulo

Brian Grainger & David Tagg – Sawdust Aromatics [RSC032]

joshua. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:40:59 +0000

With nary a concrete rhythm in sight, the sounds that make up the four tracks on this EP create an internal cyclic rhythm, building on spontaniety to create a cohesive whole. Sawdust Aromatics represents a place of safety and comfort that exists inside all of us. The nostalgic magic of childhood can most always be felt in Brian’s music, and he has found a perfect partner in David Tagg. Flowing timeless music, perfect for exploration of the inner core; we recommend headphones and darkness and a little bit of empty time to fully take in the lovely Sawdust Aromatics ep.

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01. Summer’s Parting Ways

02. Autumn Harmonic Mirage

03. Brittle Harvest Memory

04. A Vision Through Cloth