Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce the release of ‘Cluttered Room’, the new freely downloadable single by Australian experimental/ambient duo Gilded, taken from their debut album Terrane, to be released on 8 October (CD pre-orders on 25 September). Buoyant and sun-dappled, ‘Cluttered Room’ takes a handful of gleaming musical elements – ride cymbal, banjo, bass, melodica, acoustic guitar – and builds them into a wonderfully considered and thoroughly melodic structure. Akin to the most accessible tracks by acclaimed Swedish trio Tape, Gilded’s debut single is an inviting entry point into their detailed and emotionally resonant soundworld.

The title of Gilded’s debut album Terrane comes from a geological formation that has become dislocated from its original position and sutured onto a new landscape. It retains its own distinctive form and contrasts against those around it, whilst also finding a new place, a new home. The compositions that make up this record strike at the heart of how it feels to be in a period of transition, of watching a subtle change, a shift in texture. There are moments of quietude and reflection – held together by the austere and alternately punctuated by shifts toward the uplifting and revelatory. Terrane deftly operates around the intersections of melody and texture, movement and pause.

Gilded will be supporting the release of Terrane with a national tour in October:

Perth – Sunday October 7 @ the Bird w/Benoit Pioulard, Chris and Stina & Cycle~440 + Kynan Tan
Canberra – Saturday October 20 @ The Street Theatre w/Mornings
Melbourne – Sunday October 21 @ The Gasometer w/Regional Curse & Infinite Decimals
Sydney – Friday October 26 @ 107 Projects w/Seaworthy, Pimmon & Raven
Brisbane – Saturday October 27 @ Brisbane Powerhouse for Restrung: Sounds Unbound

Grab the single from the Hidden Shoal Store and read a full press release here.

Gilded – ‘Cluttered Room’

Hidden Shoal is excited to announce the availability of CD pre-orders for the new Slow Dancing Society album Laterna Magica. CD pre-orders include an immediate digital download of the album in MP3 or FLAC formats.

Slow Dancing Society’s fifth album Laterna Magica demonstrates another key progression in the Slow Dancing Society discography, which is becoming one of the essential bodies of work in contemporary ambient music. The tracks are underpinned by gorgeous guitar drift and warm synth wash, sparingly propelled by throbbing electronic undercurrents. From the soft-focus exhalation of ‘A Few Moments’, via the gleaming musical universe of recently released single ‘I’ll Leave A Light On’, through to the hypnotic pulse and drifting melancholic piano of finale ‘Tomorrow’s Another Day’, Laterna Magica is a definitive Slow Dancing Society release.

“Like the glow of sunlight filtered through the slowly undulating waves of blue crystalline water, Under The Sodium Lights is less an auditory adventure and more a rich and imaginative musical daydream.” – Delusions of Adequacy on Under The Sodium Lights

“a complexity of sound that allows it to stand out from traditionally ambient music… It is easy to get dissolved in this album, to let yourself fall into meditation as the music plays… an aural delight” – The Silent Ballet on Priest Lake Circa ’88

Laterna Magica is available now for CD pre-order (inc. immediate MP3 or FLAC download). The CD comes as a beautiful 4 panel wallet with stunning artwork by Stuart Medley. Pre-order shipping and official release (inc digital)  is set for 18th September. Head to the Hidden Shoal Store for all orders, release details and a free track download.

Slow Dancing Society – ‘There’s A Place For Us’

Excerpt (translated from the German): “After In, the impressive start to the trilogy, On, the middle section, has appeared, composed of slight dissonance, breathtaking drones and diverse field recordings, together creating a brilliant soundtrack to the listener’s own cinema of the imagination… Based in Augsburg, Markus invites the listener on a journey through his own emotional world, vividly rendered in experimental sound art… The majority of the compositions comprise distorted guitar drones, synthesizer, effects and field recordings. Overall, this is a very entertaining work, veering between comforting and bewildering… After the pure exhilaration of In, On is an inspiring middle part to the trilogy, which receives my highest recommendation!”

Kulturterrorismus

If you’re lucky enough to be in the beautiful city of Stockholm this weekend, then you must get along to the Stoff (Fringe) Festival. Markus Mehr is playing on Friday night, with Stefanie Sixt on visuals. This will be Markus and Stefanie’s third time playing there – it’s going to be tremendous!