TELE.S.THERION - a Paradigms micro edition coming this September

TELE.S.THERION
Limited Micro Edition of 100 copies only, manufactured cdr presented in screenprinted arigato box available exclusively from Paradigms Recordings in September 2011. www.paradigms-recordings.com

File Under : Hermetic / Ritual / Drone / Musique Concrète / Metal / Avantgarde

TELE.S.THERION is the collaborative work of Italian sound artists Pietro Riparbelli / K11 and Sandro Gronchi. Releasing past works on such formidable underground labels as Touch, Aurora Borealis, 20 Buck Spin and Cold Spring, as well as their own Radical Matters imprint whilst also working with larger ensembles including Astral Lueur and Mortuary Drape, this TELE.S.THERION incarnation is set to release this colossal edition via Paradigms.

Almost 80 minutes in length, "Tele.s.therion" collects three monolithic pieces into a seven track album, featuring recordings from "The Chapel" - conceived as an acoustic audio installation for the Rothko Chapel, "Nature Unveiled" - based on the Current 93 album of the same name and "HINTHV.RITVVM" - based on Etruscan occult ritual texts.

TELE.S.THERION is an esoteric sigil based on the name of the temple of Eleusis. The symbolic current of TELE.S.THERION can be expressed in the "Rule of Silence" (Echemythia): the Law of the Cult of the Mystêryon, perceived through the Hermetic Laws of speculative Freemasonry. The double dotted "S" is the hidden sigil of the silenced form of Horus / Hor Pa Khered (Harpocrates) / Sigelion.

TELETH . SIGELION . THERION

Self proclaimed as "Acousmatic Black Metal", TELE.S.THERION is a powerful academic work, with the aim of developing a multi-dimensional sound diffusion system, arranged to promote a polyphonic, channelled state for the immersion into sound as ritual. Instrumental trans-communications via short-wave radio receivers, exploring high range distortion dimensions, medianic chanting, channelling, Ars Echemythia, phono-medianic recording sessions for prepared bass with metal coils through 13 speakers and 13 microphones, Hermetic sigil narrations and electro-acoustic field recordings are all brought together here as part of the TELE.S.THERION ceremony.

Paradigms vs Screenprinting

With the release of Paradigms #50 from Boston's OWLFOOD, we have set a new precedent in print design and visual presentation for the label into the future.

Having sourced a variety of heavyweight recycled boards to compliment a bold range of inks and metallic varnishes, we've begun to develop our own screen-printing studio, the first results of which being the OWLFOOD digi-pak; a two colour halftone design in silver and white. Each package is then hand folded, glued and packaged in a sealed presentation sleeve.

A delicate process of trial and error that has really captured the true creative essence of a Paradigms release, unlocking all kinds of new aesthetic possibilities and a most rewarding baptism of fire...

PARADIGMS RECORDINGS turns 50

Dear internet folks,

This month Paradigms Recordings will issue it's 50th release and with this approaching landmark, it's been a time of excitement, reflection and forward thinking in equal measure.

Paradigms #50 is a rather wonderful collection of recordings from a spectral trio from Boston going by the name of OWLFOOD; and their hazy, psyched outsider folk and delicate lo-fi songcraft pretty much sums up everything that the label has come to embody, in our humble opinion.

From our beginnings on New Year's Day 2006 with the release of Amber Asylum's "Garden Of Love", Paradigms has taken the path less traveled. Never content to limit ourselves by genre or style, rather following underlying moods and passions that drive exciting leftfield music; we've (hopefully) brought together an eclectic range of disciplines ranging from modern classical, krautrock, death ambient, indie slo-core, neo-folk, blackened noise, drone metal, avantgarde black metal and much more besides into a coherent series that, for us anyway, is not simply a catalogue of releases, but also very much a soundtrack to the way we live our lives and view the world. And it is that ever present idealism that makes this all so special for us.

Paradigms has often been mistaken for a "metal" label but in our eyes that is only a small fragment of the overall vision. Our love of the classic 4AD label history is no secret and these days we spend more time investigating exciting works on Rune Grammofon, sound library tapes, long lost exotica soundtracks, ritual ambient recordings or the rich lineage of acid folk than we do trawling the crypt for the latest black metal grimness. But we were lucky enough to have been entraptured by the potent purity and sheer otherworldliness of the death metal and black metal underground way back in the late 80's and that period still remains one of the most important of our lives. Oh, the tales we could tell...

But with all things in life, you've got to move forwards and revivalism has never been a part of the Paradigms agenda. We've also been very honoured to work with a vast array of talented artists over the past five years, including the wonderful Jarboe and Kris Force on selected releases as well as introducing pioneering works from Gnaw Their Tongues, The Angelic Process, Titan, Murmuüre and many more besides. In contrast, some of our most urgent and boundary pushing editions have remained under the radar but we hope that one day the works of Heart In Mouth or Book Of Sand for example will be revisited with renewed curiosity and zeal as they remain important cornerstones in our musical universe.

The last few years have obviously also seen distinct changes in the way music (and information in general) has been communicated. In the age of shortening attention spans and blogspot music sharing, we still remain dedicated to presenting our releases in physical form, with diligent attention to presentation, design, aesthetics and ecological packaging. We still believe in an all encompassing musical experience and currently sourcing innovative packaging, beautiful inks and new printing techniques to further heighten the visual parallel to the musical. We still love the joy of buying new records (most often way too many records, but oh what a joy it is!) and assume that as you are reading this, you do too, which is glorious.

In reflection, each of the fifty releases now on Paradigms are all intrinsically linked to what has made it all very Paradigms. It's most difficult to look back and perhaps pick a few personal favourites that stand out over time to us, however some of our boldest achievements of which we are most proud still remain the glorious chamber music of Hallvardur Asgeirsson, the delicately curated "Death Aesthetics" compilation, the sheer lush beauty of Fog In The Shell's "Private South" and our recent voyages into astral jazz / electronica with Höhlenmusik Ensemble.

So, where does all this take us into the future? We already have a vast array of plans for the Autumn and beyond, with a selection of more limited, micro editions on cassette and cdr, alongside the more traditional Paradigms releases. Expect some rather wonderful explorations into drone folk, esoteric exotica and some rather harrowing occultist ritual drone over the coming months and where this will take us next, who can tell...

In conclusion, we're most thankful and grateful to everyone who has supported Paradigms and become a part of what we do. Without the small niche of listeners who understand and appreciate vibrant, eclectic leftfield music our endeavours would be fruitless. And special thanks to my good friend Andrew at Aurora Borealis, Jonathan Selzer, Mat "Kvohst" McNerney and Andee at Aquarius Records who are all constant sources of inspiration.

May we all drink and feast valiantly in the meadhalls together.

Paradigms Recording / August 2011
www.paradigms-recordings.com

CHELSEA WOLFE - American Gothic

One artist who is currently bewitching our turntable and haunting our evening playlists is LA songwriter, CHELSEA WOLFE, who's 2010 debut "The Grime & The Glow" quite literally chilled our souls with it's dirging resonance of somber doom-folk. Limited to a mere 500 copies and now long sold out, we're very pleased to have this masterpiece in our hands and her follow-up album "Ἀποκάλυψις" which is set for released next month is eagerly anticipated around these parts.

Interestingly, she just completed a west coast tour of the US only yesterday with a full band; in support of Thrill Jockey Records' NYC black metal artists, Liturgy, before she embarks on a selection of the finest Scandinavian festivals next month as a solo performer. And her cover version of Burzum's "Black Spell Of Destruction" is perfection. Delicate, introspective songwriting at it's heart, with a dark, brooding gothic fog throughout. Quite marvelous.

BJORK - Biophilia

The recent internet preview of "Crystalline" from Bjork's sprawling "Biophilia" album has been a long time coming and a cause of much excitement here in the Paradigms bunker. So we immediately delved into the interactive elements as they were launched this week and the whole presentation is one of the most beautifully conceived, organic and rich musical experiences that we have had the pleasure of marveling over...With a digital app for iPhone / iPad as it's central point of focus, this is quite simply spellbinding; unraveling Bjork's upcoming "Biophilia" album as it goes. We eagerly anticipate it's updates and the full release in the Autumn. The Sir David Attenborough introductionary narration is inspired and really sets the tone for the whole project and 'Crystalline' is the perfect first installment to this universal tapestry of sound, spectacularly captured to video by Michel Gondry.

THE SLAVES - New Noise Magazine France

The latest issue of the rather fine NEW NOISE Magazine in France arrived this morning; and all the finer as it features a splendid interview with our very own Portland ethereal duo, THE SLAVES.

THE SLAVES are Barbara Kinzle and Birch Cooper. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, this compelling duo craft a luscious haze of droning, psychedelic and haunting ambient pop soundscapes. Waves of warm, spectral synth, processed guitars and electronics perfectly layered with Barbara's pure, ethereal tones to almost spiritual effect. Pure and beautiful yet somber and melancholic, "Grey Angel" is a monumental release for Paradigms and reminds us personally of those rich 4AD atmospheres, the misty lakeside mornings of Twin Peaks and a contemporary ambience like a totally blissed out Zola Jesus or a celestial Grouper, perhaps.

Check out "Grey Angel" at www.paradigms-recordings.com

This month's essential reading : LUCIFER BOX and HARRY FLASHMAN

We love books almost as much as we love music here in the Paradigms coven and it was with perverse joy that earlier this year we were introduced to the three decadently witty and wickedly depraved Lucifer Box novels by one Mark Gatiss, who you are probably aware of as a member of The League Of Gentlemen and writer for Doctor Who.

The first book being "The Vesuvius Club", each tome charts the wanton career of said Lucifer Box Esq; portraitist, dandy, wit, rake and his majesty's most dashing secret agent. From the Imperial grandeur of Edwardian London to the underground vice dens of the Mediterranean, Box reduces and seduces his way across graveyards and opium establishments in search of answers to the deaths of leading scientific minds of the day. And all paths lead to the rather risqué "Vesuvius Club".

His legacy continues throughout two further novels, "The Devil In Amber" and "Black Butterfly"; "The Devil In Amber" being our favourite of the three, wherein Box graces the Art Deco sophistication of 1920's Manhattan, the bleak Norfolk coastal convent of St Bede and the snow-capped alpine mountains of Switzerland in pursuit of Olympus Mons, fascist leader of the brutish 'Amber Shirts', hellbent on world domination through occult powers, sacrifice of the illusive 'lamb' and ready to summon Satan himself to fulfill a devilish prophecy. Quite literally all boxes ticked then.

"Black Butterfly" concludes the series, as an elderly Lucifer is sent on his final mission. Now in the 1950's under the new reign of a young Queen Elizabeth II, Box's twilight adventure starts on the seedy streets of London's Soho unraveling the mystery of several suspicious deaths of leading pillars of the Establishment which takes him to the souks of Istanbul and the sun-soaked beaches of Jamaica to finally confront his heinous arch-enemy of yesteryear.

Gatiss' writing is fiendishly clever, inventive and macabre with a way with words that is quite simply unparalleled. Think Oscar Wilde, think Sherlock Holmes, Flashman and H.P. Lovecraft. Gentlemanly deviant reading.

Many reviews of these essential novels have drawn reference to the similarly fiendish Flashman books, so our curiosity got the better of us, and thank god it did. Written by George MacDonald Fraser in 1969, the first in the "Flashman Papers" series, simply entitled "Flashman", begins with the expulsion of Harry Flashman from Rugby School in the 1830's and his gravitation to service in the British army on the frontiers of the Empire. Based upon the caddish bully of 'Tom Brown's School Days', Flashman lies, cheats and romps his way through the boudoirs of Victorian Britain to the erotic frontiers of Afghanistan and India, with luck on his side and buxom ladies on his mind. Hero, coward and always the true nobleman with no honour, the first installment is un-put-down-able and we can't wait to plough into the further exploits of Master Flashman.