ATA EBTEKAR "Dear Iran, Miniature Engines Throb In Time For Your Beating Heart"

I recently had the extreme pleasure of working together with wonderfully curated label, MERZBILD, and respected Iranian composer ATA EBTEKAR on his new release. 

The process of the layout/packaging directly reflects Ata's approach in electronic composition for this very focused release. Respecting the medium, and constructing from the source. 

We started out with beautiful tapestries that Ata's wife, Leila hand-painted, had them digitized, and then I further re-worked the original source images, to present them in an abstract, distinctive, yet complimentary manner, respecting the finalized work as a multi faceted approach in sonic/visual practice. In short the visual-information flow went something like this: original source >> digital >> deconstruct >> re-compose source >> result. You can preview the layout below, please click to enlarge.

The packaging and disc will be presented in quality Stumptown mini-gatefolds, and printed in rich black and metallic gold (Pantone 871). Pre-orders and excerpts from said release can be heard at the links above.


Further details from Merzbild:

"MB17: ATA EBTEKAR Dear Iran, Miniature Engines Throb In Time For Your Beating Heart [CD]

Ata Ebtekar (b. 1972 in Hamburg, DE) is an Iranian composer primarily concerned with the electronic manipulation of the Radif ( ردیف), a series of discrete scalar patterns structuring the Persian modal system. Programming synthesis languages, Ebtekar recasts these modes - known colloquially as the Dastgāh (دستگاه‎) - by fracturing form from content. Ebtekar's compositions are syntactic reworkings of the semantic structures of sound. Being, time, place and origin are compounded. Dear Iran, Miniature Engines Throb In Time For Your Beating Heart advances Ebtekar's unfettered electronic sensibilities, making apparent the distinction in style this project has from his work as Sote. Time and again, Dear Iran communicates a narrative of displacement, of the disjunction of culture and the migrating of identity in twentieth-century Iran. Precise in emotional tone, his narrative achieves cohesion by giving birth to machinic assemblages of synthesis.
The imprinting on the face of the replicated compact disc is in silkscreened in full colour. The disc is dressed in a 385 g/m² folding four-panel jacket with graphic elements printed in Pantone 871 C and Pantone Black 5 U. The disc insert includes Persian text and a motif from the cover art and is printed on transparency film. English-German parallel texts appear on the inner left panel of the jacket. The compact disc and accompanying literature reside in 118 g/m² protective black inner sleeves in the right panel pocket. Disc packaging prepared by Stumptown Printers in Portland, US. The total duration of this recording is 39:23. Limited to 300 copies.

Pictured below is a high-resolution mockup of the album cover including on-disc graphics designated for this publication.

Artist: Ata Ebtekar
Title: Dear Iran, Miniature Engines Throb In Time For Your Beating Heart [CD]
Label: MerzbildPublication Date: July 2013Catalog No.: MB17Program Length: 39:23Price: 15.50 USD / 20.60 USD / 24.90 USDAvailability: PRE_ORDER (SHIPS 1 JULY  2013)"

SUTEKH HEXEN textiles

2013 NW Tour and Behind the Throne remainders are still available for sale HERE. Thanks again to our buddies @ Shirts & Destroy for the excellent work and Brent @Magic Bullet Records for coordinating this. Extra special thanks to the illustrator pals who contributed (please check them out): Brian VDP (NL), Steve Wilson (USA), and Si Clarke (UK). The design on the left (pictured below), will be available shortly in tshirt and hoody forms, through the Magic Bullet shop on Shirts & Destroys online shop. Thanks for supporting!

LYCUS "Tempest" LP + CD

Two distinctive LP/CD layouts for local doom quartet, Lycus and their first full-length "Tempest", that will be released by 20 Buck Spin. First of all, it was a great honor to be working with Dave of the absolutely fantastic 20 BUCK SPIN, an unquestionable master of the paint-brush in the classical techniques: PAOLO GIRARDI. It is always a great feeling to work with professionals of the highest calibre. Both aforementioned parties have been at this for a LONG time, so to be asked to be involved was pretty awesome. 

Lycus, play what can be described as melodic, slow, and heavy music.. with influences ranging from black/death/funeral doom genres, but is ultimately heavy metal, fuck the jargon, really.. it is a great album, and I recommend it.

Due to this particular painting taking a while to dry (some of us who have worked with this medium, can attest to how long it actually takes for oil-paints to dry.. sometimes never), it finally arrived in Olympia, WA, and was professionally photographed by a buddy of Dave/20 Buck Spin, and once that was completed, he sent the source files to me.

Below: the LP edition with a more straight-forward layout/insert design:

Once it came together, it came together quick! The full-resolution image was so large, that I was able to take portions of it, smaller than 1/4 to create the insert and CD inner panels with multi-layered and re-colored versions of Paolo's painting. I also layered several "cuts" of the original painting to achieve some darker, more sinister textures, it worked out GREAT, and I actually ended up using select cuts of the inner panels of the CD digipak for the center labels of the LP edition.

Below: the CD edition with greatly revision interior panels and much more abstract typographic/layout treatment: 

It has been sent into production by the label and should be available via 20 Buck Spin AND the band shortly. It should probably be noted that ALL text/logo elements will be printed in metallic copper, so will definitely pop. It is always tough to convey how awesome the packaging will look digitally..

Hopefully you will get to check this album out soon, the band will be touring the US in support of it this June, so try to pick-up a copy.

Thanks for reading. 

08MAY2013_LCM_OAKLAND_CA

VHOL

Under heavy influence of French comic artist, Philippe Druillet and cold/dark outer-space.  Design and layout for the debut CD from VHOL, the LP edition will be in-progress shortly through Profound Lore as well. The cover art  is by the talented John Cobbett, along with the design and layout handled by myself. 

Above: the original sketch that John had worked on --once he completed the illustration, I scanned it, touched it up, and contributed my own details to the piece.. the interior of the digipak is the same form, deconstructed. We really wanted a cold/sterile/hostile presentation, so went with a high-gloss board, Pantone metallic silver printing on black to emphasize this. Below: the digital mock-up

From Profound Lore: 
"VHOL, the new group comprised of vocalist Mike Scheidt, guitarist John Cobbett, drummer Aesop Dekker, and bassist Sigrid Sheie, have completed work on their self-titled debut album.  One that has been deemed as one of the most anticipated metal albums of the year.  Anticipated out of the curiosity of what VHOL is going to sound like and the pedigree at the band’s disposal with the members’ respective repertoires already at hand.

Initially formed by Cobbett and Dekker to create music together again post-LUDICRA fallout, VHOL would take shape quickly.  When Cobbett and Dekker were thinking of a vocalist, their first choice was easily Mike Scheidt of YOB and Scheidt immediately accepted to join the contingent without even hearing a note of music. Rounding off the lineup on bass would be HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE/AMBER ASYLUM keyboardist/bassist Sigrid Sheie respectively.

When the initial idea of VHOL surfaced, one of the initial intentions was to write music of a faster nature.  Not to necessarily continue where LUDICRA left off, but VHOL would eventually become a vehicle for the respective musicians to further explore their musical roots a bit more.  By combining elements of old-school punk, dbeat hardcore, classic old-school metal (a good combination of traditional classic metal ala Judas Priest and speed metal in the “Kill ‘Em All”/”Show No Mercy” vein), and a touch of outsider black metal, VHOL have created a sound unlike anyone in metal today. One that is raw, primal, fierce, triumphant, and ultimately face melting. This fact solidified even more by Scheidt’s distinct vocal delivery where he expands his vocal capabilities into the beyond.

Recorded by Greg Wilkinson in conspiracy with Cobbett at Earhammer Studios in Oakland and mixed by respected engineer/producer Randall Dunn in Seattle, tracklisting for VHOL goes as follows:

1. The Wall
2. Insane With Faith
3. Plastic Shaman
4. Grace
5. Illuminate
6. Arising
7. Set To Await Forever

VHOL will officially be released April 16."

You can listen to a sample track of this ripping album HERE.

SUTEKH HEXEN - "Become" 12"EP

"SUTEKH HEXEN "Become" 12" EP. Originally released on 1/4" tape reel by Auris Apothecary, "Become" centers on vortex, repetition, and inducing trance-like states. This release serves to bridge the gap between "Behind the Throne" LP (2012) and "Monument of Decay" EP (3rd quarter 2013). This release has been remastered for vinyl by James Plotkin and will be presented in HEAVY Stoughton tip-on jackets, featuring lavish metallic gold and black offset printing, and 2 vinyl colorways. Adorned with brand new artwork and layout by Kevin Gan Yuen with source photography by Patricia Cram."

Available soon from KOTM (HERE)

09 APRIL // 10 APRIL

R.I.P. PHIL HERZ

AVAILABLE NOW:

"Shipping first week of March..

This exciting release features two new songs by Sutekh Hexen and remixes of those songs by the prolific Andrew Liles.

We will present this double LP in a gatefold with spot varnishing. 
The B and C sides feature a 7” cut onto a 12” lacquer with etched outer edges.

Standard Edition LP limited to 393 on 200gm Black Vinyl. 
Limited Edition LP limited to 93 on 200gm Royal Haze Vinyl.

Pesanta Urfolk 025

Also available: 
(MERZBILD: cassette edition) 
(AURORA BOREALIS: deluxe CD edition)"

And the sessions have begun...

OGHAM "I"

Photos courtesy of Thorsten Marc Soltau

"Ogham is the collaborative duo of Thomas Martin Ekelund and Kevin Gan Yuen, whose project takes its title from the name for an Early Medieval alphabet known for obscuring runic inscription. Linguistically, the etymology of the word ogham is unknown; its origin may stem from the Irish og-úaim 'point-seam', a seam made by the point of a sharp weapon.  

Ogham, much like the arcane set of letters it derives its inspiration from, fissures at the seams of sound.  Recorded in San Francisco by way of Gothenburg, “I” [C77] discloses two movements in an extended composition and, in doing so, a cathartic exploration of sound within dead language.  “I” [C77] combines electroacoustic impulses with raw tonal permutation en route to sinister drone. This cassette is the first part of a trilogy to be released on Merz.  

Gip e tised in faidche, dia m-ba gascedach, geis fair ar thecht dind faidchi cen chomrac n-oenfhir do fhuacra. ["Whoever comes to this meadow, if he be armed, he is forbidden to leave the meadow, without requesting single combat."]"

SUTEKH HEXEN "LARVAE" LP gatefold design

Finally posting the layout for the revered "Larvae" LP on Handmade Birds. This was a collaboration between Dwid Hellion and myself. We wanted to continue the bleak grayscale theme with our presentation, but pushed the aesthetic a bit and printed the logos, lyrics and some visual elements using spot UV (clear ink); a very striking addition.

HERE is a quick clip of Dwid demonstrating what I mean.

Sutekh Hexen - "Breed in Me the Darkness: the Second Coming mixes by Andrew Liles"

2xLP gatefold + center label + sticker design // inner photography: A.E. Csaky // photography + packaging design utilizes spot varnish (as hinted in this mock-up). 

Visually, the artwork conceptually supports the formless and unforgiving energy of nature, rebirth, and exploring realms within an idealistic world.

Further inspiration: I had an interesting experience several months ago at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, where I silently walked a labyrinth at the base of several rocky slopes under the moon. Let's say that from the start, I was unsettled with the feeling being watched. As I proceeded towards the center of the labyrinth, I heard tiny pebbles descending from above the Eastern slopes; perhaps an acknowledgment of our own vibrations throwing off the sync of the environment. Upon reaching the center of the labyrinth, the wind became still, and a cascade of loud sounds echoed in the valley, only this time: not pebbles, but boulders and entire slabs of the canyon walls came crashing down as I stood there in the center of the labyrinth, perplexed. Fixated towards the source of activity, realization sparked within me that the West was meant to collapse.. 

Three formats available: 
Pesanta Urfolk (2xLP) 
Aurora Borealis (deluxe CD) 
Merzbild (CS)

"It is with great honor and privilege for Sutekh Hexen to announce a very special EP, featuring four new tracks. Two original tracks by the band and the source-material of said tracks, remixed by multi-instrumentalist Andrew Liles (UK). With an extensive catalog of solo-works and as a key-contributor to such sonic luminaries as Nurse With Wound and Current 93, we knew that we were in good hands.

We could not be happier with the final results: absolutely stunning compositions, navigating multi-faceted territories, based on the eternal themes of darkness and the light, to be experienced in three distinctive packaging-presentations: All LP/CD/CS editions feature the haunting photography of photographer A.E. Csaky (Vancouver, BC), and the design of Kevin Gan Yuen."

Thanks for reading.

SUTEKHHEXEN.ORG

SUTEKHHEXEN.ORG is now live. 
Thank you for your support! 

Ai Weiwei

 

Katabatik Winter Solstice 2012 set w/AC Way

creep out by R. Jobes

§

SUTEKH HEXEN

"There are in the abyss architects building great temples - spaces accessible to those who have the mind and fortitude to transgress the seen and pass into the unseen. There are those who know foundations, and those who further know adornment, where the subtle and the profound gnash their teeth. Amid splinter and nail, among cavern and spire, we find the black temples of Sutekh Hexen.

Here, finely woven shrouds of static hang from clattering bones. On blinding pyres, offerings convulse, open into screams. The labyrinth collapses as soon as its center is found, and when you are offered this chance to catch your breath - take it. You will soon find yourself blindfolded, fingering crossroads, filthy with the marks of shadows older than the sun.

But savage territories yield, ultimately, to a grace of their own, discernible to the eye refined. Herein lie the guts of Sutekh Hexen's power. These are ruins reimagined, anarchic entities restrained -- though they twitch in their bindings and blister beneath our gaze. A way has been cut, yet we see that it is faceted, that it will never betray anything so evident as a single path. As bottomless as the abyss is, neither does it have a crown. The empyrean here is severe, the pits heaving and rich. The greatest subversion affected, then, by Sutekh Hexen, is the making unknown of the known, of offering a body upon which you may scratch and scratch until your nailbeds bleed and still believe you're digging at something holy.

And for all that is here profane, dead sacred are the rites of each of these offerings. These are no self-referential mirrors intended to seduce the ego. Instead, each demonstrates, unflinchingly, an encounter with those rare entities that have the power to haunt the haunted. Slippery are these altars, like honeyed knives to bone.

Grind that ear upon the temple door, and hold your teeth in your head. This exorcism's going to find its way back in. Receive it. Let it leave a mark."

- Patricia Cram 


TWITTER: https://twitter.com/patriciacram

WEBSITE: http://patriciacram.com

"7:10:12"

"First ever for a 7" on a 12" so I've been told! It's been done with 10"/12" I believe"

Preview of the etched sides (B and C) of the forthcoming (xMass release) SUTEKH HEXEN "Breed in Me the Darkness: the Second Coming mixes by Andrew Liles" 2xLP on Pesanta Urfolk. Completely insane. Each LP has the 15m-19m remixed track on on

e side by Mr. Liles and a 6m track on the other by us.. which allotted the outer LP matrix-space for audio grooves and the etching on the outside. Apparently, our idea for this release is a first ever. Cool! 

TWELVETWELVETWELVE

Ϟ

SUTEKH HEXEN // 14 August @Hemlock // Captured by Doug Kaplan 

"He was in ww2 and came back with that post war syndrome and died young. We were told he also was a very strong dragon dancer"