Arvesynd by Jonas Torstensen

 

Molt Fluid is an interesting little label based in Edinburgh, Scotland and run by Michał Fundowicz. It has been regularly releasing artists from different corners of Europe and has an easily recognizable profile in terms of the musical modal as well as design of the cassettes: Cover inserts are thermal prints. That means they'll be disappearing with time. The process depends on how you're storing your cassettes. If they're exposed to direct sun, the process of fading away might accelerate. When stored for the most of the time in shadow or dark, they should survive intact for a longer time.

New album by Jonas Torstensen is no exception from keeping the high quality of releases and also fitting perfectly into label's profile. Compositions are divided by two sides of the cassette: A and B, each below 15 minutes when it comes to the time. 

It is a lo fi abrasive narrative where you can definitely feel the presence of tape manipulations and many other techniques which I feel is secondary to the effect that Jonas has achieved.  Every single sound is a meditation of sorts on the nature of the sound - each of the movements, modulations and preparations is done in a scale that a listener feels as something familiar, close to home, something you feel you know - even in those moments when the noise created through adding up the textures and structures is happening at the level of volume that is aggressive - still it is something that you feel as not invasive and it can get very close to the harsh noise formula - please check second half of the first track - anspændte forventninger. 

Second track is an insightful journey into a completely different landscape - melancholic, introspective with a distant piano sounds but still operating on the lo fi level of cassette hiss. Followed by minimalistic droning. Takes you to the places where beauty is never obvious, yet always present. 

An excellent album - with cassettes still available at the bandcamp page - please check the link below:

                                                               Bandcamp Link