Moldflowers

The 1,000,000th release from SF noise scene hero Greg Gorlen (aka Greg Garbage/Black Thread/Vibrating Garbage/Unless/Balloon Journey/Dark Spring/many others) is a collection of decayed loops from old new age tapes. About the album, Gorlen says, “the comforting and meditational focus of the new age music used as source material is brought into conflict with its own mortality.” It’s sad in the sense that gradual decay is sad, but more importantly it’s fundamentally serene and full and swelling and generous. Oh, and immensely beautiful all the way through. Fans of The Caretaker, take note (and care, of course). No words, no FCCs. Favorites: 1, 2, 8 (though really you can’t go wrong).

1. *(8:32)—Good god, this is the sound of tears drifting to the bottom of a death-cold sea. PLAY.
2. *(2:17)—A soft, fuzzed out melody in search of a resolving chord.
3. (6:15)—Darker, watery, halting chord progression. Surface noise.
4. (2:57)—Sputtering drone. Placid, minor key piano.
5. (5:48)—Backmasked, skittering piano. Stars of the Lid feel here.
6. (0:57)—Really short, chiming, woozy, like the Twin Peaks soundtrack run through a dishwasher.
7. (4:18)—Something like a plodding, chugging rhythm. Desolate.
8. *(3:47)—Deep piano chords resolving endlessly.
9. (5:03)—Subaquatic drone. Sinking, haunting ending.