Splayfeet - live August 11th, 1988

Back in the 80's I was a founding member of Splayfeet. I came up with the name and pretended that I would be able to play bass and guitar. They wisely kicked me out after the 2nd rehearsal and then became one of my favorite bands. This is a video of a concert at the same venue, The Corbett Center Pit, where A.O.S. was playing in this video. The band name and the bass line from the second track are the only evidence of my involvement in the project. Splayfeet features Mark Earnest (of Dirt Communion, Mr. Vague, The Young Pros), David Liso (from Choke), Rodney Cupp (of Waltz Bop Shop, Cranky), and Jon Nicholls. Also, watch for Dave Chavez from The Jonny Cats and his bitchin' pimp hat taking care of sound. Thanks to David Liso for posting this over at the internet archive(click on the link if the embedded player doesn't work...it's been acting kinda wonky).

dustdevil & crow .​.​.​and chuang tzu dreamed that he was me

The newest release from dustdevil & crow is up at bendle's bandcamp page. For this one, .​.​.​and chuang tzu dreamed that he was me, aboombong collaborated with the boys on Blue Mountain and I am quite proud of how it turned out. Physical copies of this one will also be available. Stay tuned.



Watch for a special bonus release related to this album soon.

aboombong - noir mix

An excellent (and long) mix over on soundcloud that includes Ritualistique off of asynchronic. Nice to be included. New aboombong is in the works. Stay tuned.

Nayf presents noir by nayf

Dynamo Stairs - His Antique Thoughts

An old one from the Choke front man David Liso putting himself out there as Dynamo Stairs. Circa 1988. Enjoy.

Waltz Bop Shop

A bilingual interview with the smart-ass drummer from Waltz Bop Shop over at Daily Music - Cup of Sound. Also includes a video so you can look at a picture while you listen to the album "The Quartet."

azwarm - shelter

A new drone piece from azwarm is up over at bandcamp. Not much to say about this one. Like the last azwarm, the piece is the result of an experiment that went both wrong and right at the same time...didn't work for the intended purpose (i.e., as part of a song I am working on for the next aboombong release), but I liked it enough that I thought it was worth sharing. 30 minutes of sonic anesthesia for your morning commute. Enjoy.




Artist: azwarm
Album: shelter
Style: ambient, drone, musique concrète, minimalism, noise
Release: May 16th, 2011
Players: me - steel pan, manipulation.
Available in a variety of formats from http://azwarm.bandcamp.com (set your own price)

MSOTT Podcast

A new podcast from Rachel Evans, AKA Motion Sickness of Time Travel and the stellar blog Her Beats , a blog focusing on women in electronic music. Well worth checking out.



In aboombong news, the new album is in the works and should be out by summer. Going to be quite different than the previous works, but I am excited about the way it is sounding. Also have contributed a little to the next dustdevil & crow release. I think it is going to be bendle and Michael's best yet. Should be out sometime this year, methinks. Even some talk about live shows here in the Northwest if we can pull it all together. Stay tuned.

Madrotter & Swerte: The Bandung Dubai Connection

Ya'll probably remember my post about Madrotter awhile back. Well, he's got a new one out. MADROTTER and rapper/producer SWERTE have been working on this album for a few years. All the tracks were made by MADROTTER and all the raps are done by SWERTE who is a Swiss/Indonesian living and working in Dubai.



The Bandung Dubai Connection

More on SWERTE at: SWERTE: http://www.myspace.com/swertemc
And : http://www.therecipedxb.com/

More MADROTTER music: http://www.myspace.com/madrotterindonesia
http://www.myspace.com/madrotteroutofindonesia

Mark Earnest: 25 years of Anxiety

25 years ago The Young Pros. did a cover of the A.O.S. song 667. The Young Pros were the band that launched the career of one of America's best kept secrets, Mark Earnest. Readers here at Pen & Mallet have met Mark before through his work with Dirt Communion, but Mark has had a long and active career fronting a variety of great bands and since 2003 has really come into his own releasing solo albums well deserving of their critical acclaim (available from the indie labels Slothrop and Unsmashable as "Mister Vague"). If you don't believe me, ask Alan Sparkhawk of Low who recorded and co-produced the album “Allergic To Everything” in 2007.

Today we have a special treat. Mark is just about due to release a new album called Beautiful Somewhere on Unsmashable Records (look for it in mid-April) and he has included his version of the A.O.S. song "Katchina," a song that has been part of his live set forever. I have put together a special Pen & Mallet ep. release that includes Mark's version of Katchina, as well as that The Young Pros. version of 667 from 25 years ago. It is hosted by the great Free Music Archive. Check it out.



Beautiful Somewhere features a great line up of collaborators including members of the Reno bands Cranium, Blunderbusst and Nancy Plays Nurse, as well as Mister Vague alumnus Marcus Mayhall. Mark will be collaborating with aboombong on a new release in the next year for something that should be quite different for both artists. Stay tuned.

You can hear more of Mark's music at Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/markearnest

Keep up with Mark on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Earnest-Music/157249844333406

Here is a video of Mark doing Katchina at a recent gig.

For Nihon

I don't have anything to do with this one, but I wanted you to know about it.

Unseen records is putting together a benefit CD for victims of the recent tragedy in Japan. Contributors to the project include some of the best and greatest ambient and experimental musicians working today: Ametsub (JP); Amman Abbasi (US); Alva Noto (DE); Arms and Sleepers (US); Aus (JP); Balmorhea (US); Bexar Bexar (US); Biosphere (NOR); The American Dollar (US); Clem Leek (UK); Christina Vantzou (US); Cokiyu (JP); Colin Kenniff (US); Dustin O'Halloran (US); Ex-Confusion (JP); Goldmund (US); Hammock (US); Harold Budd (UK); Helios (US); Hollie Kenniff (US); Jon Hopkins (UK); Joe Minadeo (US); Jonsi and Alex (IS); Last Days (UK); Little Phrase (JP); Max Richter (UK); Near The Parenthesis (US); Nils Frahm (DE); Olafur Arnalds (IS); Peter Broderick (US); Rafael Anton Irisarri (US); Rhian Sheehan (NZ); Rob Simonsen (US); Robin Guthrie (UK); Ryan Teague (UK); Ryuichi Sakamoto (JP); Sawako (JP); Taylor Deupree (US); Ulrich Schnauss (DE).

"For Nihon" features some of the premier names in ambient / experimental music and 100% of the profits from the sale of this album will be donated to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund set up by New York's Japan Society.

Looks to be a great collection. Check it out and support the effort.

Here's a preview:For Nihon - compilation sampler to benefit the Japan earthquake by Keith Kenniff