There’s a new esc.rec. release out! And it’s special. For this release esc.rec. teamed up with MobileVideoNet, an artist initiative that focuses on the possibilities of art, mass media and public distribution. It operates at the frontier of mobile phone art productions and alternative public distribution. In a joined effort we created the first interactive audiovisual release for mobile phones ever!

The works respond to changes in battery level, signal strength and time, which effects both audio and image.

The selection of interactive audiovisuals can now be previewed and, during 2010, ordered via our SMS text message service 2211 (only available in The Netherlands). The interactive audiovisuals will be internationally available for download soon.

Pioneering audiovisual works were created for this release by Garçon Taupe, Radboud Mens, Monofoob, Robert Witt and AvoidAudio.

You can download one of the works for free to check if your mobile phone supports our content. Tip: use headphones when possible, some of the sounds are delicate.

Title: Phonica (Interactive audiovisuals for mobile phones)
Artist: Various Artists
Format: interactive files intended for mobile phones
Catalog#: esc.rec.28
Available by SMS (3,00 euro per ‘track’, only available in The Netherlands)
Or download (2,50 euro per ‘track’ or 10,00 euro for the whole ‘album’)*
Download a free file to check if your mobile phone supports our content**

This release is a collaboration with MobileVideoNet.com.

*Coming soon
** Your mobile phone has to support Flash Lite content. If you don’t know, go to the your phone manufacturer’s website to find out. Symbian and Windows Mobile users can download a Flash Lite player here.

01 Robert Witt - Fase (preview at MobileVideoNet)
SMS: e-art 17 -> 2211 (3,00 euro, only available in The Netherlands)
Description: As time passes, soundscapes drift along.

02 AvoidAudio – Space Left Forgotten (preview at MobileVideoNet)
SMS: e-art 18 -> 2211 (3,00 euro, only available in The Netherlands)
Description: Strange noises and minimal art echo in a void of emptyness.

03 Garçon Taupe – Taupe Soundcloud (preview at MobileVideoNet)
SMS: e-art 19 -> 2211 (3,00 euro, only available in The Netherlands)
Description: Weather conditions and 8bit sounds respond to different battery levels. Depending on the weather, sounds differ from relaxing to nervous.

04 MONOFOOB – grphs (preview at MobileVideoNet)
SMS: e-art 20 -> 2211 (3,00 euro, only available in The Netherlands)
Description: Your phone’s signal and battery values are represented in graphs passing by. Depending on these values, the numbers become more and more unreadable and form an ever changing moving composition.  Panning of sound is controlled by time.

05 Radboud Mens – Moiréclock (preview at MobileVideoNet)
SMS: e-art 21 -> 2211 (3,00 euro, only available in The Netherlands)
Description: An interactive clock. Minutes and hours are represented in sound and image. Depending on time, line patterns overlap and form a moiré-effect.

06 MONOFOOB – Clouded Views *Free Bonus*
Download this track for free to test if your phone supports our content (or just because it’s free).

Please note that since these works are all interactive by nature, the previews offered by MobileVideoNet are no more than representations of the real thing.

For this release esc.rec. teamed up with MobileVideoNet, an artist initiative that focuses on the possibilities of art, mass media and public distribution. It operates at the frontier of mobile phone art productions and alternative public distribution. In a joined effort we created the first interactive audiovisual release for mobile phones ever!

The works respond to changes in battery level, signal strength and time, which effects both audio and image.

The selection of interactive audiovisuals can now be previewed and, during 2010, ordered via our sms text message service 2211 (only available in The Netherlands). The interactive audiovisuals will be internationally available for download soon.

Pioneering audiovisual works were created by Garçon Taupe, Radboud Mens, Monofoob, Robert Witt and AvoidAudio.

Tip: use headphones when possible.

If you feel compelled to share your opinion after listening to this release, please feel free to leave your review in the comments below.

Piiptsjilling is releasing two new albums shortly, following their debut in 2008, with which they appeared on stage in Havenkwartier Deventer at ass-crack stage-hack #4. First is Wurdskrieme, both on cd and lp by the American label Experimedia. Wurdskrieme is mastered by Taylor Deupree and already proclaimed album of the week at Fluid Radio (with a good photo of their live performance at ass-crack stage-hack #4 by the way!). Wurdskrieme is followed by Molkedrippen, which is said to be beautifully packaged by the Japanese label Spekk.

Good to hear Piiptsjilling is taking the world by storm. Which is kind of exceptional for Frisian poetry soundscapes I guess. Maybe it’s time to invite them back for another live performance. Or maybe not just yet, because in March 2011 we already have half of Piiptsjilling (Kleefstra & Kleefstra) playing with bass-clarinettist Gareth Davis and cellist Bela Emerson in Havenkwartier. Looking forward to that!

Yoshimi! is playing the Into The Great Wide Open festival this year! And that’s just great (and wide, and open)! One more reason to go there. Other reasons are a.o. Caribou, DAAU, Gonjasufi, Hauschka, Isbells, Palmbomen, The Q4 and the island itself of course.

Download a free Yoshimi! esc.rec. release here. It’s all good!

The second edition of Slowlands festival is coming up. Super location in Havenkwartier Deventer. And the line-up is well worth it again. So go get your tickets here!

Frans de Waard at Korm Plastics (check the catalogue!) just came up with this grand idea:

“A friend of mine is working as a butcher, and he suggested me to sell 1 kilo of CDs. I like the idea, so it’s a deal. This deal to be precise: one kilogram of CDs, 500 gram of cds in jewel cases, 500 without jewel cases, probably it’ll be around 15-18 CDs. You can ask for 2 cds, cdrs, dvds up to 15 euros to be part of it and state what kind of music you prefer (noise, improvisation, microsound, field recordings etc) and I’ll make a nice selection for you. Your opportunity to get a real surprise, a dip into the unknown and try out a few things, you wouldn’t think of. It’s 50 euros, excluding postage. An offer you can’t resist, I’m sure.”

Kind of sounds like my esc.rec. subscription offer, in the sense that you never know what you get exactly… I love surprises! Especially the ones I’m pretty sure to enjoy.

In general CD-r releases are faced with some persistent prejudices regarding quality and legality by distributors, resulting in the unavailability of regular music distribution networks for these releases. After a passionate plea by Peter van Cooten, I’m very happy to say that the Herfsttonen release is now available in Plato record stores across the land (if it hasn’t arrived yet in a Plato store near you, just ask for it there). Thanks to Peter van Cooten (for defending good cd-r releases in general and Herfsttonen in particular) and Ad Zwaga at Plato (for approval).

I also shot some pictures. You can view them here and here.

Saturday the 22nd is the first day and it features a lecture on independent art & music by Wouter Jaspers, live performances by Transfolmer, Staplerfahrer, Jacq Palinckx, Pierre Bastien and label presentations by the good folks of Lomechanik, Korm Plastics, Vatican Analog, Tonefloat and Esc.rec. of course… A good line-up with a lot of familiar faces for all you esc.rec. connaisseurs.

Some more esc.rec. artists perform the next day in an electronic jamsession: Frans de Waard and Roel Meelkop.

Check the full line-up and more info overhere.