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ONO

It's been a while but the cult DIY label ono - run by Michael Holland and operating initially out of Rawtenstall then Manchester and now Riga is back! The new record is made by an artist called Kaspars Groševs and he is primarily a painter but he also runs a gallery, DJ‘s and is, to all accounts, an active person in the Riga community. He's previously been featured in the Wire.

After hearing the music (originally on tape) played at Bolderaja, a plan to release a vinyl pressing of "Figuras" was put together. Featuring the five initial sketches that make up the "Figuras" theme on side A, all plinky plonk electronics, vintage space age melodies and retro analogue fx, with a bit of what sounds like a Prophet 5 pluming out bass. 

"DCF" opens side B with bit reduced textures and the ghosts of Eski synths morphed into a toybox Kraut groove. "Buer & Andromalius" sees two plucked bass notes tethered to a whole manner of collapsing sonics and reverberated clatters. A mix of tonal harmonies, found sounds and discord which reminds me a little bit of Vladislav Delay. "Untitled" meanwhile returns to suspended, icey planes; a morse code pattern and gently exhaling synths our only company. 
 
As in usual ono fashion - each sleeve is completely unique. Michael uses recycled materials, paints and collage to create individual pieces each with their own character yet instantly recognizable as the ono aesthetic. Also included is a screen printed info sheet.

Fresh from Riga and stupendously limited. You know what to do!   

TRACK LISTING

A1. Fig 11
A2. Fig 4
A3. Fig 32
A4. Fig 18

B1. DCF
B2. Buer & Andromalius
B3. Untitled (feat. Vivienne Griffin)

DR. MYSTERY marks her debut release with Ono. "Far From Home" is an eight-track album that glides across the dreamscape of another world. DR. MYSTERY’s world, set in the future, exploring sounds that excite the mind and body, underpinning an eclectic take on leftfield techno.

DR. MYSTERY’s talent to traverse the intersections between dreams and reality through sonics, positions her as an electric producer who is only just at the beginning of her journey. Ono wishes to capture this moment in a way that feels special, they have handmade 300 sleeves for the "Far From Home" vinyl out of old record sleeves and screen-printed the artwork onto them. Therefore each sleeve is bespoke and one of a kind.

Landing inna indeed exotic and alien dreamscape. The first two, quite classic Detroit / electro influenced tracks quickly morph into a cybernetic-trip-pop masterpiece entitled "Petrichor" which sounds like if Portishead transmitted from Saturn. Peppered drum hits, ethereal vox and wavy synths decorate much of the remaining duration; as DR. MYSTERY drifts between hydroplaning electro and jarring mainframe kinetics. It's a seductive and immersive trip with a great deal of continuity, simplicity and sentiment holding the whole thing together. Like much of Ono's cherished discography, it's a leftfield, DIY epic which belies its underground ethos and aesthetic. Fully endorsed by us all here at Picc HQ it's great to see Ono back in action for 2023!

All tracks written, produced & mixed by DR. MYSTERY
Mastered by Nick Sinna at Hidden Sounds
Artwork by Dr Mystery, Michael Holland
Screen-printed by Luste Silkscreen Studio in Riga


STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: For newcomers to Ono this is a quintessentially great entry point. Custom sleeves, screen printed artwork, featuring a truly underground artist - all aspects that the Michael Holland-directed label has celebrated over its many years of inception.

TRACK LISTING

1. Dialog That Needs Your Attention 04:24
2. Gaia 06:00
3. Petrichor 05:08
4. Zukunft 02:33
5. Opulence 04:22
6. Avalanche 04:24
7. Far From Home 05:11
8. Antares 03:41

Michael Cutting

Stills

North UK-based tape musician Michael Cutting makes his album debut with STILLS on Salford’s beloved imprint Ono. Relish- ing in the lo-fi, analogue textures offered by the pairing of fender rhodes piano and reel to reel tape machines, the album’s seven tracks act as vignettes; tempting with loop-induced isorhythms of warping, disintegrating harmonies. An extended re- working of Cutting’s live set for the same instruments, STILLS heavily retains the sense of live process, evoking precariously balanced loops between tape machines and thermoflasks, with the distinctive clicks and clunks of the reel to reels’ buttons and levers an intrinsic element to the sonic discourse.

Cutting’s use of melody — plaintive, jaunty, occasionally drifting off-key — perfectly suits the nature of his tape-based ‘instruments’, with their inherent flaws, uncertainties, and means of making sound [...] STILLS is full of such attractive contrasts of melody, harmony, and rhythm, made all the more compelling by the ways in which they incorporate the material nature of the machines and processes that produce them

TRACK LISTING

1. Smoke
2. Scorch
3. Skint
4. Slate
5. Silk
6. Salt.
7. Sway

Vitalija Glovackyte

We Are For A While

Another of Ono's expansive and highly creative projects. "We Are For A While" is a fully realized multimedia experience, detailing the working process for Vitalija Glovackyte's sonic and visual tale about recycling. Vitalija first sourced a plethora of broken and salvaged instruments, their acquisition alone worthy of a tale (told in the accompanying booklet). After repairing instruments to a (somewhat) playable state, Glovackyte then set about recording the album you hear now - a collection of electro-folk meanderings, broken ambience and fairytales from industrial sites. It's a heartfelt homage to re-using instead of replacing and is highly evocative in the process. The booklet comes with photos detailing the process as well as a written narrative from Glovoackyte. It's another brilliant addition to the art / music cannon that is Ono records. Highly recommended.

Watch Repair

Sea Shanty Township

The cultishly adored and highly acclaimed Watch Repair return with one of their biggest hits to date. "Sea Shanty Town Ship" sees the act expand on their now trademark work method of tuned grandfather clocks and other found sounds and now includes flurries of guitar, pocket cello, dulcimer, reed organ, accordion and bowl (!!!). Those familiar with the sound know what to expect - the warmest, almost cerebral enveloping ambience, drones and tones, collaged together in sophisticated, sleight-of-hand excellence. Suspense and tension are given new meaning alongside reconceptualizing the natural ambience of the traditional grandfather clock. Now garnering support from the cyberworld, Factmag are counted amongst their fans; and rightfully so. This is gloriously sedate but instantly resonating musique which can instantly transport any listener from the current location to an altered mindstate. Most recommended. 


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