elsie and jack

Hey there – it’s about time we used this internet thing for some promotion of elsieandjack wares!
[ + before we forget, yup, there’s an elsieandjack myspace now… with sample tunes from our latest releases ::: http://www.myspace.com/elsieandjack + ]

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june 30, 2008
DEBUT OF THE NEW AND OFFICIAL
C.RENOU / BRUME SITE

elsie and jack are proud to announce
BRUME EST MORT. VIVE BRUME !

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november 11, 2007
CHRISTIAN RENOU ‘EX-VOTO’ cd
It’s one of our favourite pieces that we’ve heard in the past couple of years – yes, that good! go here for an instant fix – listen while you read this.

This music follows a definite narrative structure that rewards repeated listening [try it with headphones!]. Intricate layers of wondrous sound develop the narrative of this recording.
Yes, it is incredibly melodic, hauntingly so, though at times this is broken by shards of noise and implacable clicks. Half-remembered voices babble incoherent noise which battle against the sweet, sweet cracked melodies which pitter-patter and dance around your head.

The cd is packaged in the usual high standard expected of elsieandjack – spot varnish and silver ink over beautiful photography and simple layout, printed on thick cardstock - plus Renou’s liner notes printed on a vellum overlay.
Remember, there is a hand-numbered edition of 100 with laser-etched jewelcases only available direct from Christian Renou and elsieandjack.
The remainder of the 500 edition are also available from ourselves and fine distributors such as Carbon, CarrotTop, Drone, Eclipse, MelodyBar and ToneVendor.

Barry G. Nichols [Spekk recording artist] has given ‘Ex-Voto’ an exemplary review in words that fully echo our thoughts –
‘…there are very few upon whom I would bestow the status of “genius”, but Renou has to be one…’
‘This is more of a journey of discovery than a musical work, with microscopic sampled fragments being fused with conventional instrumentation, at times creating a tense, unsettling atmosphere that has come to characterise Renou’s signature techniques..creating moments of sublime beauty, that are suddenly severed by stark, almost frightening moments, that appear to breach all notions of reality, and transport the listener into an alien netherworld peopled by disembodied voices, and frenzied rhythms.’
Read more HERE

John [Phosphene / Radio Six presenter http://www.radiosix.com] Cavanagh’s review of the cd for Foxy Digitalis, awarding the cd a mighty 8/10!!! Full review can be found HERE

Gayle Brogan / MelodyBar had this to say:
‘Brand new album from Christian Renou, formerly Brume. This really is a delight, with the focus often firmly on the melodic rather than textural.
On the second track the trebly chime of acoustic steel-string becomes manipulated into a baroque improvisation that sounds like it is played on a harpsichord. Later a recording of "Amazing Grace" sung by a solo voice initially, later by a full choir, finds itself manipulated into a fogged reverie, in a similar way to Felix Kubin's assault on Jane Birkin a few years ago. Later the same bell-like guitar finds itself soundtracking disturbed dreams, like a faintly remembered degraded version of the theme to "Get Carter". The kind of music that makes you hear things that aren't really there. Interspersed with enough clicks and cuts, subliminal drones and bursts of abrasive noise to make you jump out of the sweet torpor.
Superb photography and packaging from E&J as always.’

and and and believe it or not, we have a limited number of Christian’s final recording under his Brume nome de plume – the masterpiece of musique concrète that is, ‘Zona Ventille’ – go HERE for more details

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october 23, 2007
TABATA ‘La Vie Electrique : Last Exit to Brainsville’ [eaj013]

Remember Tabata? That’s right, the very same avant guitarist with such sweet noisemakers as Zeni Geva, Acid Mothers Temple, the first incantation of the Boredoms etcetcetc.
What about his debut cd, ‘Brainsville’?
Described thus, like drinking moonshine on mars / like an eastern Loren Mazzacane Connors… well, now we can proudly announce the release of his second solo cd, ‘La Vie Electrique / Last Exit to Brainsville’.

Exotic, contemporary, inventive, melodious = La Vie Electrique, mitsuru tabata’s long-awaited follow-up to his ‘Brainsville’ cd from 1998.
These recordings conjure up the varied recollections Tabata had of his youth – from the glaring kapow of Ultraman to the sounds of Kyoto city.

Yes, there are minor elements of blippitybleepbleepskreenoise yet Tabata keeps it melodic in intent, free-flowing yet structured, vivid yet strangely soothing, bold yet with numerous untold hidden depths, making this a more than welcome addition to his catalogue.

As always, there’s a limited edition of 100/500 with a laser-etched jewelcase, but this time there’s an additional treat for you early birds – a beautiful handmade book containing Mitsuru Tabata’s original Japanese text describing his thoughts on the recordings.

Please visit the e+j website for mp3’s, photos and ordering guff.
http://www.elsieandjack.com

John Cavanagh [Phosphene / Radio Six presenter http://www.radiosix.com] has already reviewed the cd for foxy digitalis, awarding it 8/10!!! full review can be found HERE

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p.s. This also slipped out – you may have had the pleasure of seeing them on tour recently… Actually, they’re always on tour!!!

THESE ARE POWERS – who? Well, there’s an ex-Liar, an ex-Knife Skills, and Ted on the drums, all contributing to a primal Plastic Band skree, filtered through a Brooklyn haze… It’s their + our first foray into the lair of lacquer.
Heavy white vinyl, lovingly wrapped up in a black on black artstockcard sleeve with laser-etched logo and vellum inserts. [plus there’s a limited version with an accompanying cdr of the music as we first heard it direct from the vinyl – the cdr has been tattooed – another first for elsieandjack]
These Are Powers ‘Silver Lung’ 7”ep [eaj701]

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