Zoharum is a Polish label founded in 2007, specialising in experimental music. Their catalogue, close to 100 releases, is often dedicated to the promotion of Polish artists, new as well as renowned, but they are also releasing works from other artists. New albums as well as re-releases: a wealth of albums to explore if you’re into ambient, industrial, experimental, electroacoustic, IDM, or all other kinds of music adventurous and unpredictable.
FORRRESTDRONES – NAJA FLEXILIS EXEQUIAE
A 60 minute drone piece, or (better maybe) a collection of drones glued together by the comforting familiar sound of crackling vinyl (or a burning fireplace, if you insist).
“Is the melody you hear soothing or sinister?” I’d say: it is both – it is as enigmatic as the owl on the cover.
ForrrestDrones (mind the third R!), is Robert Skrzynski, also known as Micromelancolie.
DAG ROSENQVIST & RUTGER ZUYDERVELT – VINTERMUSIK
Re-issue of two collaboration projects by Dag Rosenqvist (Jasper TX) and Rutger Zuydervelt (Machinefabriek). The original releases from 2007 were easy to miss: “Vintermusik” was limited CDR self-release, and the 24-minute auditive fever dream “Feberdrøm” was released as (also limited) 3″ CDR on Odradek.
Seven years later, this music still sounds remarkably fresh: “contemplative music full of shimmering guitar drones, delicate piano melodies and a bit of field recordings. They sound cold, yet warm at the same time.” A well-deserved re-release!
JARL | ENVENOMIST – TUNGUSKA EVENT
The Tunguska Event was “a large explosion which occurred near the Podkamennaya Tunguska River at 07:14 on June 30, 1908. It flattened 2.000 km2 of the forest and caused glowing sunsets on the horizon. Some scientists claim it was connected with an asteroid or comet that burst into the air above the region, others claim that it might have been a small black hole passing the earth. The mystery is still unsolved.”
Erik Jarl and David Reed (Envenomist) create a ‘sonic reenactment’ of this event, “full of oily drones and industrial blasts intertwined with unsettling ambient textures”, yet avoid trying to re-create the sound of the explosion itself (which obviously cannot be recreated at all). What remains is the mystery that still surrounds the Tunguska Event.
RAPOON & PROMUTE – MACHINE RIVER
One of the most prolific artists on the Zoharum label, Robin “Rapoon” Storey, teams up with Shaun Sandor a.k.a. Promute. Inspired by “the swirling mist of sound conjured by Rapoon” on his 2011 tour, Promute started creating tracks with various homemade instruments, prepared guitar, bass and sitar, and sent this to Rapoon to manipulate further. Des Kashyap contributed some vocal improvisations and the result is some out-of this world weirdness which is definitely not meant for the faint of heart.