-¢‚Ǩ-ìClose/Far Recordings is positively elated to publish an unreleased version of Schlingen-Blängen, from Charlemagne Palestines personal archives, recorded in 1977. Palestine considers it to be the first official recorded version of Schlingen-Blängen that pre-dates the only other published version, recorded in 1988, by eleven years. Both pieces were performed on the same church pipe organ in Delfzijl, Holland by the North Sea. Because the master was recorded on cassette, informing the character and atmosphere of the piece, and since this new edition is once again on cassette, Charlemagne has named it SchlingenCassettenBlängen. This analog magnetic tape captured version from 1977 is exquisitely dark and humid in comparison to the wonderfully bright and crisp digitally recorded version from 1988. It will also be the first full-length solo Charlemagne Palestine work ever released on cassette.
SchlingenCassettenBlängen is colored by the nuances and flaws of being a decades-old cassette tape which Charlemagne feels embellishes the recording, making it a special new work. Or as he says "Itsssss Casssettennnn magiccccc!!!" The intermittent speed warping and out of tune tape sliding invites a rich dialogue with the mechanics of the cassette itself and fundamentally with time. Clocking in at 90 minutes long it stretches out in an ethereal fashion that is simultaneously ruminative and tempestuous documenting Charlemagnes organ playing in a particularly elegiac, painterly, and ultimately sublime mode. Fortunately, this important but hidden early document is now preserved enabling us to experience a very special chapter in Palestines recorded oeuvre highlighted by a truly ecstatic final passage that stands amongst his most emotive, mystical, and powerful moments.-¢‚Ǩ¬ù-¢‚Ǩ‚ÄùN.N.N. Cook, 10/14
Comes in a special printed outer sleeve wrapped around the Norelco case Featuring new and archival artwork by Charlemagne Palestine With color and b+w double-sided, 4-panel j-cards In an edition of 369 (at Charlemagnes request) Color imprinting on clear shells w/clear liners 90 minutes, Chrome Type II, High-bias tape Professionally duplicated and printed Digital download link included Mastered by Jonathan James
After nearly a decade of false starts, multiple game plans veering off the rails, and a handful of shattered hopes and/or dreams, the odyssey is finally complete—the new Fusetron site is here.
This is the first phase of a multipart rollout that will span the next few months: the currently browsable stock includes miscellaneous new releases from the past 8+ months (we have a lot of catching up to do), plus approximately a third of our backstock. Note that we’ve reduced/slashed prices on many titles and will continue to do so in order to make room for new stock. We’ll also be expanding / tweaking / improving / debugging the site itself (for example, we still have work to do on the automated international postage system, not to mention the inevitable inventory discrepancies that come with transferring an ancient and massive database to a new system).
Over the next few months, as we take inventory, clean house, and delve into our storage, we will be uploading thousands of additional items, gradually, on a near-daily basis. This will include the majority of the LPs, as well as many titles, in all formats, once thought long-gone. Many currently “sold out” items are likely to resurface.
Finally, once our general backstock is up (probably in the next two or three months) we’ll begin making our extensive stockpile of rarities available online for the first time: tons of random out-of-print titles, "deadstock," warehouse finds, secondhand collectibles, etc., accumulated over the past few decades.
Frequent/returning customers will be getting early access to these items. Details to follow on how this will work (a priority mailing list? a 'frequent flyer'-like program?), but it will not be based on dollars spent. We want to reward those who consistently support us, especially in the discogs marketplace era (to those who show up trying to poach five copies of a one-off rarity, and nothing else, ever… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ).
So—we suggest you take some time to dig through the site—even we’ve been surprised by what’s been turning up, and there’s much more to come.
