Castle Broadway-
Formed in Chicago by Jason Wietlispach in 1996 with Karim Mccall and Pete Gianakopoulos, Castle Broadway soon moved itself to Milwaukee In 1997. Castle Broadway has always been a loose collaborative between many of Milwaukee’s best improvisers. The use of many different musicians and styles allows for the band’s music to constantly evolve and change, with each Individual offering their own personal dynamic.
The current live line up consists of Pete Gianakopoulos piano, Joshua Phillip Lesniak drums, Don Mahlmeister guitar/electronics, John McCoy guitar/advanced sound manipulation, and Jason Wietlispach bass, reeds, etc.
Castle broadway’s sound draws freely from the past and is constantly looking forward. Ambient meets electronica, hangs out with 60′s jazz, relaxes with art rock, associates with post rock, and washes itself in the third stream.
mp3s:
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, from “Live 1967 Oakland”
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, from the self titled “Castle Broadway” album
Field of Sound-
Formed by Mr. McCoy and Mr. Wietlispach as an offshoot of Castle Broadway in 1998, the band explores the more electronic and ambient world of sound collaboration.
Utilizing modern equipment such as samplers, groove boxes, midi equipment, etc., and combining them with treated acoustics and old school instruments, field of sound’s palate is quite large and is quickly becoming soutranes most popular release.
Live F.O.S. creates dense but very textural music that is very immediate ambient.
mp3s:
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Mobile Sound Unit-
John McCoy’s solo project, Mobile Sound Unit, is the culmination of years of tinkering and experimentation. Mobile Sound Unit employs everything from guitars and synthesizers to treated beats, found sounds, tape loops, and the intimate manipulation of effects and sound processors.
Mobile Sound Unit works within its own eratic logic– but it works. There is a lo-fi, grainy quality that is inherent in john’s music. However, as disjointed as it may become, there is an underlying cohesiveness that holds the songs together and makes them all the more interesting.
mp3s:
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links:
www.mobilesoundunit.com
sophrosyne-
jason van pelt, a long-time “silent” contributor to Soutrane, is the label’s only artist to work solely with electronic equipment: synthesizers, drum machines, analog modeling, effects racks, and the occasional PC. Yet sophrosyne maintains a sense of life through a narrative, upbeat and invovled style.
sophrosyne’s long-in-the-works debut album is constructed of syncopated melodies, insistent beats, and constant, varied movement. The tracks balance between the somber emotion of Wei Flux, the spaciness of Bubblegumshoepolisher and the playful joy of Happiness In Yellow.
mp3s:
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links:
www.sophrosyne.net
Byard Lancaster Trio-
Byard Lancaster has played/recorded with virtually everybody in the world of modern jazz. From Sonny Murray, Sonny Sharrock, Bill Laswell, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Bill Dixon, to Fela and beyond. He was one of The first to record for seminal free music label esp disc. Here he is joined by Two long time castle broadway associates: Pele’s drummer Jon Mueller and the Dangler’s double bass player Dave Gelting. This is free jazz at its best. More music by Dave Gelting can be found at Giant Sponge.
Mahogany Throttle-
Formed in October, 1999 the Mahogany Throttle is a 3 piece instrumental group made up of Brent Budsberg on bass, John Gleisner on drums, and David White on guitar. Drawing from a wide range of influences, Mahogany Throttle fuses punk rock abandon with unexpected shifts of meter and tone more suited to early 70′s prog.
The music is at once chaotic and syncopated, blending muscular grooves with beauty in melody and a free-form improvisational ethic. Visual narratives take the place of standard structures, and there is emphasis on joyful, melodic experimentation. It is music that defies description, is fluid and jagged at once, and cannot be ignored.
mp3s:
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, from “Traverse”
links:
www.mahoganythrottle.com
The Stark Jehova Ensemble-
Cellos, harmoniums, reeds, subdued percussion, vintage keyboards etc. combine for a soundtrack to a solemn film that exists only in imagination. Dark and delicate moods draw you in until they gently stimulate your mind into the next hazy dream. Not quite jazz, not quite ambient, just quiet and forward.
Rammel McCoy Wietlispach-
Legendary improviser Hal Rammel joins Castle Broadway’s Wietlispach and McCoy for eight improvisations that explore the dark textures and murky barriers of the world of sound. Experimental instruments meet electronics, samplers, turntables, lap steel and reeds to serve up a harrowing vision of the future now.
As a composer and improviser based in southeastern Wisconsin, HAL RAMMEL performs in the groups Audiotrope (with Steve Nelson-Raney and Thomas Gaudynski), and Raccoons (with Jon Mueller and Chris Rosenau). As an author and visual artist, Hal Rammel’s work has appeared in the pages of the improviser, Experimental Musical Instruments, and Rubberneck (England). In addition to numerous recordings on Penumbra Music, he has released solo and ensemble music on Crouton and E.K.Records.
Chora Ensemble-
In the spirit of the greatest ESP, FMP, and BYG releases, the Chora Ensembles blows a fierce free fire. Three reeds, drums and bass combine for a sonic emotive onslaught that will keep your home warm when the heat is out. This band includes Chicagoans Chris Warland of the math rock band Ancient Greeks, Jim Stamison of the jazz band Q-Blue, and Milwaukee’s Jason Wietlispach from Castle Broadway and Field of Sound.
Mildew-
The project of two brothers (Mike & Eric Schauwitzer) from West Allis, Wisconsin, Mildew exhilarates in the analog process of expanding and manipulating new sounds. These new sounds range from ambient loops & drones to harsh ear splicing stabs, creating a web of sounds that throw the senses off. Sort of a music concrete with a punk edge to it, this is one amazing debut release that definitely has that “wow!” factor to it.
Heuristics Inc.
Heuristics Inc. is the solo project of bill maciejewski, who currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland. He uses both software and hardware, composition and improvisation to produce his slightly off kilter sonic escapades. Heuristics Inc. is a musical chameleon, uplifting you with wry observations on society and technology one minute, and drowning you in an unrelenting gloomfest moments later.
Cricket(s)
The Cricket(s) is David White (of MahogonyThrottle) and Adam Passow (of Tuba Juba and Nectarphonic). These two were orbiting the Milwaukee music scene for many years before fate brought them together. When the music got laid down it naturally expressed itself as ambient, theta brain-wave inducing movements. Built with live improvisation, samples, loops, digital and analog effects, acoustic guitar and piano, and electric guitar this duo seeks to relax the world into itself. Not too far removed from John Fahey’s more eclectic moments.
I-Beam
Improvised music of the finest order. Two upright bass players, upright piano, drums, amplified pallet and reeds bring music that at times is darkly quiet and at other times brightly furious. Members of I-Beam have played/recorded with the likes of Fred Anderson, Byard Lancaster, David Boykin, and Gino Robair. Features legenday instrument maker Hal Rammel, and members of Castle Broadway and the Danglers. This may be one of the best free jazz releases of the year.
