Permanent Draft Vinyl & CDs

Review: Irene Bianco's debut solo album, Kronblade, is a quietly mesmerising exploration of sound that encapsulates the essence of everyday life. Released on the wxmen-led label Permanent Draft, founded by Valentina Magaletti and Fanny Chiarello, the album reflects Bianco's commitment to highlighting the subtle intricacies of sound. Utilising a unique blend of idiophonic instrumentsisuch as metal objects, bells, shakers, and vibraphoneialong with wind-up toys, zither strings, and field recordings, Bianco captures the delicate interplay of ambient soundscapes. Each of the six tracks unfolds like a poetic narrative, weaving through the realms of lo-fi improvisation, ambient textures, and chamber-like classical elements. Standout pieces like 'Sussulti' and 'Hvid' invite listeners on a dreamy auditory journey, while the final track, 'Op, Ned', shows her impressive restraint, merging piano motifs with water sounds and resonant dub elements. Kronblade is a profound example to the beauty of spontaneity and whimsy, reflecting Bianco's artistic vision and her ability to evoke emotions through intricate layers of sound.

Review: Marie Guerin, or maybe you know her as Marie de la Nuit, is a sound artist who has explored field recordings, radio archives and "hertzian ghosts" for almost a quarter of a century since her debut in 2001. Her work blends voices, textures and ambient sounds that examine sound heritage and its preservation. Transportees is an electroacoustic composition that connects archaic and electronic trance and in doing so weaves a musical thread from Brittany to Tunisia. It follows a trance-like journey through recordings and oral traditions, all rooted in Guerin's passion for archives. The album reflects her fascination with capturing and preserving songs and transforming them into a soundscape that bridges past and present.