xPhin - takahashi [2024AL]

 

xPhin - takahashi, album cover by Azalia Imamutdinova

It brings us much joy to inform you about the next release!
xPhin's "takahashi" is a unique delight, and every single track on this concept album is a certified banger.

It's a wonderful type of minimalistic ambient music, originating in noise, but existing as melodic synth drones with a certain punch to them. That is until you get to the parts of the album where it's a full-blown, face-melting, HNW assault. This album has intricate layers, subtle motifs, and well-thought-out complexity.
In "takahashi", xPhin is a skilled storyteller, taking you on a journey. 

Speaking of tales and journeys, the nine tracks on this album might or might not correspond with the nine panels of the album cover. It's up to the listener to decipher and establish the connection. Tell us if you do, please; as the abstract might (and should) resonate differently with each listener. 

xPhin is a name you might recall from RZRecords 6 WAY SPLIT, Vol.2  to which he contributed the track Dark Macadamia. It's a huge pleasure for us to have him back in our ranks; especially for such a wonderful album. 

What perhaps makes takahashi especially rewarding is the way it holds on to its sense of momentum even at its most subdued. The album never feels static; instead, it keeps unfolding in small, deliberate shifts, revealing new colors, new pressure points, and new emotional contours each time you return to it. That is a rare quality, and one that makes repeated listening feel less like revisiting a release and more like entering its world again.

We are very happy to share this one with you, and even happier to see xPhin continue developing such a distinctive voice. If takahashi is any indication of what is ahead, then there is a great deal more to look forward to, and we will be listening closely. If you're wondering where to start, we'd suggest letting the whole thing breathe from front to back. "takahashi" rewards deep listening, headphones recommended, late night or early morning, when the world is quiet enough to let those drones settle into your bones. The shifts from meditative hum to raw, wall‑like noise hit harder when you've been lulled into that fragile calm.

We're genuinely excited to see how listeners interpret the connection between the nine panels and the nine tracks. Drop a comment or send us a message if certain patterns or meanings jump out at you. And if you're new to xPhin's world, this is the perfect entry point, just be ready for the volume spikes. They're part of the story.


Here's to many more releases such as this one, and peace on earth, obviously.

Honey & Cream by Les Carnages Possibles, NishMa & gaop

 

Honey & Cream offers an intriguing take on the original track, "Honey Hunting" by Les Carnages Possibles and NishMa, now reimagined by gaop. Like the original, this release features the same mesmerizing drones and captivating female vocals enveloped in dark ambient sounds, but it adds to it.

This edited and overdubbed version takes the emotionally charged original, adding delicate layers of synth drones, subtle hiss noises, and woodwinds, resulting in a beautiful and poignant tribute with a unique character of its own.

This remix isn't just a cover; it’s a true deconstructed club-inspired metamorphosis. Where the original "Honey Hunting" felt like a drift through a vast, dark cavern, gaop’s version builds intimate, claustrophobic chambers within that space. By isolating the ethereal female vocals and threading them through gauzy layers of hiss and woodwind, the artist transforms the emotional core from one of searching to one of lingering memory. It’s a masterclass in how dark ambient music can be both deeply personal and universally resonant, proving that restraint often yields the most profound impact.

Listen closely with your top quality headphones, and you’ll discover gaop’s subtle genius in the negative space. The added synthesizer drones don’t compete with the original drone work; instead, they act as a warm, melancholic shadow, bending the pitch ever so slightly to create gentle, microtonal dissonances. This technique, paired with the deliberate inclusion of crackle and hiss, bridges the gap between pristine digital production and the warmth of worn-out vinyl. It makes "Honey & Cream" feel less like a digital file and more like a cherished, physical artifact, a fleeting moment captured beautifully on dusty tape.

"3" by cÆNINEZ, Haggari Nakashe & gaop, and SMEGMASMOG is finally out on all platforms!

"3" is a split release by cÆNINEZ, Haggari Nakashe & gaop, and SMEGMASMOG, showcasing just how interesting, layered, dynamic, and complex noise music can be.

This release is a standing proof of the greatness of a genre, which is often blamed for being diluted by an infinite number of artists on their home computers. 

With only three tracks, and clocking just under half an hour, this release brings forth a potpourri of haunting sounds, the darkest of ambients, drones, shrieks, and beeps. 

With the sheer amount of music released every second, this testament to the remarkable side of noise might get lost to time, only to be occasionally remembered by the participants themselves. But such is always the nature and risk of music. This is especially true for noise music genres. The constant fate of extreme, independent, and experimental releases that have little to no mass appeal to begin with.

At the end of the day, it is up to each and every one of us to make sure that the music we love is not overshadowed by the passage of time. The artists, the labels, the listeners, the people sharing links online, we each do our tiny part in appreciation and preservation. It's a delicate ecosystem, and we hope that our work on bringing forth "3" is nurturing enough for you to keep on flourishing. 

Releases like "3" face constant risk of being lost to algorithmic noise. By writing about, sharing, and archiving these works, listeners become active participants in experimental music preservation. Every stream, download, and blog mention acts as evidence that this corner of the underground exists. If you create avant-jazz, drone, HNW, or noise rock, we want to hear it. Read our guide, then hit us up for a spot on our split series. The ecosystem survives only when we each do our tiny part.

Unlike solo albums, splits foster direct dialogue between artists. They are the most accessible entry point for listeners new to depressive blackened noise or electroacoustic improvisation. They require no expensive studio time, only the willingness to share space with another artist's vision.

Experiments for Two Synths by gaop & Haggari Nakashe

 

Released March 18th, 2024, this is a series of audio experiments.

Nine tracks, clocking just under 19 minutes, featuring layers of synth "music", in the form of various textures.

This EP presents a compelling and innovative approach to audio experimentation. It stands as a significant addition to the collaborative projects of gaop and Haggari Nakashe, showcasing their dedication to pushing creative boundaries and exploring new sonic territories.

At the current stage of audio evolution, achieving true revolutionary innovation in the realms of sound may be quite an arduous task. Nonetheless, this dynamic duo persists in delving into refreshing concepts using their distinctive approach, and it is their unwavering dedication that renders their exploration truly captivating. 
Seems that it's this infant-like amazement that allows one to approach everything with a brand new perspective, even if the subject at hand has indeed been explored by numerous artists and scholars.

This is not the first or last time someone uses layered synth sounds in the name of exploration, but it sure is as good an attempt as any of them. Perhaps these are even slightly better than some.

SMEGMASMOG - RAW POWER

RAW POWER, the brand-new release by SMEGMASMOG is now available on Bandcamp. 

The album consists of 4 tracks with a total runtime of approximately 20 minutes. It is a noise EP characterized by an "industrial" and "electronic" sound, leaning into the darker, experimental aesthetic typical of the SMEGMASMOG discography, somewhat on the harsh side, not quite a wall, with interesting elements popping up through the various layers.

As always, the project’s sound is essentially a visceral blend of industrial, dark ambient, and power electronics, often characterized by high-tension atmospheres and abrasive textures. It  fits the "dark color palette" of their previous output, along with somewhat violent track titles, war themed imagery, and above all,  a dissonant sound that evokes a bleak, uncompromising vibe. Which, as we know, is precisely the desired outcome.

While the output is undeniably on the harsh side, it avoids the monochromatic nature of "pure wall" noise. Instead, there is a constant movement within the various layers; interesting (hidden) rhythmic elements and synthesized textures pop up unexpectedly, creating a sense of forensic detail amidst the chaos.

We'll also be distributing SMEGMASMOG's back catalog soon, along with a few new releases that are currently in the works. Stay tuned for more updates on the physical and digital expansion of the RZRecords roster.

Sabixatzil - A Longing

 A Longing is a release by Sabixatzil, further exploring the (post) classical guitar sound.

Decades ago, it was our friend and colleague TFIM (The Famous Itai Matos) who supposedly invented the "broken" guitar style. Today, it's Sabixatzil that's perfecting it.

Moreover, for this release, it's merged with recording techniques, found sound elements, field recordings, and other layers that elevate this from being a merely solo guitar effort, into an experimental masterclass.

We're thrilled to have Sabixatzil in the studio again after a long hiatus. There are a few more of his releases we'll post about soon, and we're hopeful there will be even more coming our this year!

In Drone We Trust, by NishMa, Haggari Nakashe and gaop

 A while back we told you about an upcoming special release that wasn't only a collaboration between artists, but also a joint effort between RZRecords and Ranger Magazine.

Ranger Magazine was the first platform on which we released IN DRONE WE TRUST, the dreamy, spooky, wonderfully haunting album by NishMa, Haggari Nakashe, and gaop.

This release is interesting as it's almost a meditative trance of sorts, while also being heavy-hitting (bordering on doom metal aesthetics) at times, and ambient-like, droning, and experimental enough to contain elements of noise and free jazz.

We're now glad to announce that this album is available on all streaming platforms, and if not all then surely most of the big ones. 

Please, go on and enjoy this thing of beauty.

One last note: while this year our main focus is releasing and distributing digital albums, we are considering releasing this gem in physical format. This will mostly be up to our listeners, which is based on the play statistics.

Every now and then we toy around with the thought of doing new CDR releases, cassettes, and even vinyl, but as of now, there was no special demand that we noticed. If you feel strongly about owning 

our releases or merch, please let us know!!!