Whatcom Weird Vol. 1, by Various Artists

Whatcom Weird Vol. 1

by Various Artists

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1.	Plums/Pizza, What a Shame - Christopher Stainback 02:04	info
2.	Gazzam Lake - Brendan LaBotz 05:08	info
3.	@minifest - Bellingham Improvisatory Ensemble 05:01	info
4.	pate - Skiks 02:08	info
5.	cheerier - Shawn Collins 01:09	info
6.	Nightly Apparition - Alex Wolf 04:17	info
7.	@minifest - Kat Bula & Zach Zinn 03:30	info
8.	SETI - heatsink 04:07	info
9.	ringing out the room - Mindmeld 03:58	info
10.	Sars Ballerina - Falling Up Stairs 07:44	info
11.	Pixels - Todd Francis Smith 05:05	info
12.	Graveyard Poop - Face Police 04:04	info
13.	New Frontiers - Spencer Thun 03:34	info
14.	How we say - Pan Pan 04:56	info

about

Whatcom Weird Vol. 1 is a small sampling of adventurous music from artists in Whatcom County (Washington, USA). Improvisation, both free and structured, plays a heavy part in this collection, from the mournful drones of Bula/Zinn, to the twangy musings of Chris Stainback, and the subtle interplay of the B'ham Improvisatory Ensemble. Mindmeld pits a metallic improvisation against the room in which it was recorded, with both forces processed into a sonic ritual. Electronica is also well represented: heatsink's glitchy “SETI” is a single-tracked live recording with circuit bending; Skiks' “pate” is a microtonally-informed exploration of a chord progression over a scurrying beat; and Brendan LaBotz' “Gazzam Lake” is a funky, spacey romp with a bucket of ear candy. Well-respected live band Falling Up Stairs provides a quietly menacing noisescape that gives way to pulsing tones and eventually an energetic rock-infused 'murder jazz' track. Shawn Collins delves playfully into found sound (and there's a video, see the link below); while Alex Wolf brings a cinematic touch to the noise art for which he is known. Composer Todd Smith crafts improvisations with Western Washington University's vintage analog synthesizers into a compelling piece that evokes early video games. Face Police displays an endearing experimental pop aesthetic, and with “New Frontiers” composer and experimental folk artist Spencer Thun presents a kind of electronic-classical-country soundtrack music. Pan Pan's Sarah Jerns closes the album with a soaring and contemplative keyboard-centered piece. Somehow these diverse tracks fit together comfortably, much like the rich music scene in Bellingham, where experimental, outsider art rubs shoulders with mainstream forms every day. Given the abundance of talent hinted at here, Whatcom Weird Vol. 2 can't be too far away.

"...I didn’t really know what to expect when I first heard of this album, but once I actually heard it, I totally understood: it’s just about making weird music with no rules attached and no ego in the way..."
- What's Up! Magazine

credits

released October 31, 2012

Christopher Stainback
chrisstainback.bandcamp.com/album/uw7se-e-p

Brendan LaBotz
soundcloud.com/blabotz

Bellingham Improvisatory Ensemble
Grace Harder, Evan Ingalls, Ian McCunn, Todd Smith,
Christopher Stainback, Spencer Thun, Jordan Watson

Skiks
brucehamilton.info

Shawn Collins
A video for cheerier can be viewed at: vimeo.com/30423040

Alex Wolf
soundcloud.com/brevrkor

Kat Bula
bellinghamfiddle.com
Zach Zinn
www.myspace.com/zacharymichaelzinn

heatsink
heatsink.bandcamp.com

Mindmeld is an improvisatory collective organized by Bellingham artist Bruce Hamilton. ringing out the room features Jon Bash and Kramer Elwell on percussion; and Bruce Hamilton on keyboard, computer & post-processing.

Falling Up Stairs
www.facebook.com/pages/Falling-Up-Stairs/185651601468287
Ryan Patrick Wapnowski – sax Edwin Ramsay Grove IIII - guitar
Brendan Richard LaBotz – bass Jonathan Sherman - battery

Todd Francis Smith
composertoddsmith.bandcamp.com

Face Police
Andy Katsikapes and Helios Wilson Levick
facepolice.bandcamp.com

Spencer Thun
www.myspace.com/spencerthun

Pan Pan
panpan.bandcamp.com

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about

spectropolrecords Bellingham, Washington

Spectropol Records is a friendly netlabel devoted to excellent music unbound by venue and commerce; it’s a destination for adventurous music beyond journalistic and commercial style/genre classifications.

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