Markus Mehr’s mesmerising new album In has just scooped a lovely review at the excellent new site A Closer Listen. Check the review out here and the album out here.

Hidden Shoal Recordings is proud to announce the release of new album In by German experimental ambient artist Markus Mehr, the first of a triptych that also includes the forthcoming releases On and Off, all released over the next 12 months.

Markus Mehr follows up his stunning debut album Lava with three new releases. In is the first part of the triptych, comprising two monumental tracks, ‘Komo’ and ‘Ostinato’, each of which clocks in at around 25 minutes, circling around and building upon hypnotic instrumental motifs. ‘Komo’ gradually emerges from silence, its distant, filtered throb reluctantly revealing its source material – a heartbreaking string part whose emotional impact intensifies as the loop clarifies. ‘Ostinato’ is an altogether darker, gnarlier experience, its string loops chewed into distorted knots which are highlighted by treated guitars and crafted electronics.

“In this blissful wanderlust Mehr succeeds in spades creating a completely engrossing, engaging and all together reliable album full of the most powerful ambient-drone tracks this year.” – Tome to the Weather Machine on Lava

“They’re ‘big’ compositions, the sheer scale of the sonic work is rather awe inspiring, but they never sound antagonistic or uncomfortable… it sounds like the ebb and flow of space itself – individual snippets of a grand, repeating, organic process that keeps the universe in balance…” – No Ripcord on Lava

In is  available for purchase  now in digital format and for CD pre-order. The CD version of the album comes as a limited edition two panel CD cardboard sleeve of 100 numbered units with artwork by Stuart Medley. Head to the Hidden Shoal Store for all availability details and read a full press release here.

Markus Mehr – In (excerpt)

2011 is almost over and 2012 is knocking on the door like a life insurance salesman at the apocalypse (I’ll work on that one). To end the year with some lovin and fantastic music we are having a huge sale over at the Hidden Shoal Store. Over 20 CD & digital releases are on sale from artists such as Slow Dancing Society, Sankt Otten, Markus Mehr, City Of Satellites, Apricot Rail, Umpire, Wes Willenbring, Hotels, Rich Bennett, Liam Singer and Salli Lunn to name but a few. All CD purchases include free shipping and an immediate mp3 album download and as special bonus for our wonderful fans, every CD purchase will recieve a free bonus copy of the Hidden Shoal various artists CD A Million Square Miles.

It’s a total win-win so head to the Hidden Shoal Store and check the specials on the front page. The sale ends on the 1st of Jan 2012 and some CD stock is very limited so do be quick.

Hidden Shoal Recordings is excited to anounce the release of album A Frame of Reference by Danish spectral noise-rock quartet Salli Lunn, which comprises remixes of songs from their stunning debut album Heresy and Rite, plus all-new songs. The album kicks off in fine style with Scott Solter’s remix of ‘Mirror Girl’, on which the in-demand producer, musician and remixer pares back the original’s spidery postpunk guitars to bring a lurching industrial rhythm section to the fore. Markus Mehr’s dizzying take on single ‘Parachutes Forever’ brings sizzling amp hum into juxtaposition against a double-speed guitar loop, snatches of the main groove, and Lasse Skjold Bertelsen’s vocal, while City Of Satellites transform ‘Fast Cars, Clean Bodies’ into a dreamy electro-rock night cruise.

Heresy and Rite producer Jonas Munk (Manual) takes on ‘The Invention of Steel’, rendering the song a brilliant, cascading and hypnotic krautrock jam. Previously unreleased track ‘50 Kisses’ is reworked by TV Baby as a driving, lo-fi chase scene, while ‘White Sight’, also previously unreleased, rounds out the album in fine style, with its main riff simultaneously drunken and laser-guided in intensity.

“… Salli Lunn persistently avoid any repetition or similar themes – and take every opportunity to push their music into new territories and expand on their own musicianship… on Heresy & Rite, this act of innovation and unpredictability delivers with extreme accuracy.” – No Ripcord

A Frame of Reference is available as an exclusive digital release through the Hidden Shoal Store and all good third party online stores. Album Heresy and Rite is also available worldwide in CD and digital formats and for the first time is now available through Hidden Shoal on vinyl. Be sure to check out the awesome music video for Scott Solter’s remix of ‘Mirror Girl’.

Salli Lunn – ‘The Invention of Steel (Manual Remix)’