The multichannel recordings – in a linux environment (AV linux) – are a product of solo improvisation. Their original purpose was that of computer programming of the Mobius loupe as a tool for asymmetric time segmentation in live performance conditions.

These 6 tracks were eventually selected for publication, as they came up with a more concrete structure and would require minimal further processing.

In the recordings there is a constant presence, sometimes dominant sometimes underlying, of a “cloud” of sonic fractures and grains, which led to the pun “Grainular” of the title.

This gave birth to the ideas for the inventive and imaginative track titles provided by Christos Alexopoulos.

The visual artist Spyros Mantzavinos curated the artwork, each copy is hand painted. His patience is remarkable and his friendship is invaluable.

Mix: Sotiris Debonos/Manolis Aggelakis

Mastering: Sweetspot/Yiannis Christodoulatos

The post CD “GRAINULAR” first appeared on Sotiris Debonos.

“Grief” is the sophomore album of Farwest Mandolinistic Orchestra, that with their eclectic instrumentation paint a dark, brutal, unforgiving sonic landscape that could remove the listener from its geographic equation at any single moment’s notice.

The tranquil, aching beauty of the album lingers all over the place and evokes the warm texture of a twisted mandolin ensemble with hints of twentieth century avant-gardism.

The whole atmosphere is breathing a somber air, with moody keys and electric custom mandolin creating a cloud of ambient melancholy that drifts hazily through to the back of your mind while the instruments absorb your attention greedily, and deservingly so.

Strangely beautiful and above all adequately introspective “Grief” is a superb sonic adventure featuring a few threatening passages, made of soft industrial-noise use of electric guitar, with the addition of a prepared piano, live electronics, and insistent sound drones. It is solemn build up from a darker mood into something that could be perceived more tripping, yet it still carries a heavy burden that brings it down once again. Not always a happy experience, but certainly, a mesmerizing one.

Sotiris Debonos – midi mandolin and guitar, loops
Stathis Ioannou – acoustic guitar
Konstantinos Tsiolis – prepared piano, viola, synths
Manolis Aggelakis – electric guitar

Recorded by FA.M.OR.
Mixed by Manolis Aggelakis
Mastered by Giannis Christodoulatos at Sweetspot Mastering

https://samedifferencerecords.bandcamp.com/

On line order for audio CD, digital CD and individual tracks:

https://farwestmandolinisticorchestra.bandcamp.com

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Christos Alexopoulos : Rhodes keyboards
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Antonis Livieratos : piano
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