Releases

…There Is No Need For A Subject Recorded one year after the international trio of Keiji Haino, Jim O’Rourke and Oren Ambarchi’s first release (Tima Formosa [BT 004CD]), In A Flash Everything Comes Together As One There Is No Need For A Subject presents the entirety of a live performance that took place at SuperDeluxe, Tokyo on January 24th 2010. For their second performance together, the trio opted for an entirely different instrumental configuration. Here they form a classic power trio: Ambarchi on drums, O’Rourke on bass and Haino on guitar, vocals, electronics and, in one amazing passage, lap steel. While the instrumentation has changed, the mysterious atmosphere of their first collaboration remains: far from a rock genre exercise, this performance is steeped in the dark ritualistic mood that characterizes all of Haino’s best work. Haino is in truly phenomenal form herein, foregoing the single-instrument explorations of much of his recent solo work and his more peripheral role on the trio’s first release for a virtuosic and wide-ranging performance that takes in piercing leads, delicate strumming, jarring lap-steel interjections and his inimitable vocal caresses and howls. O’Rourke’s bass sometimes merges with Haino’s guitar to form crumbling walls of noise; at other times his dark ostinatos and runs add melodic weight. Ambarchi’s drumming moves from delicate, propulsive cymbal work to endless thundering streams of free-pulse pounding. The title of the release is appropriate: from the spacious and unpredictable slow-mo interactions of the first piece (reminiscent of some of the greatest Fushitsusha moments) to the wild free-riffing that concludes the performance, the trio seems uncannily attuned to one-another’s movements, and everything truly “comes together as one.” Released as a limited edition double LP in a lavish gatefold with printed inner sleeves, designed by Stephen O’Malley with high quality live shots by Ujin Matsuo and a stunning cover-image by noise-guitar blaster and internationally renowned visual artist Marco Fusinato.

Vinyl cut made by Rashad Becker at Dubplates & Mastering.

This release can be obtained from Forced Exposure in the USA

CD in Digipak
Artwork & design: Jon Wozencroft

Track listing:

1. Intimidator
2. Iron Waves
3. Moving Violation
4. The Strouhal Number
5. A Final Kiss On Poisoned Cheeks

Intermission brings together a range of material Oren Ambarchi has contributed to compilations and limited edition vinyl releases between the years 2000 and 2008. Highlights include two live recordings – an early, fragile solo guitar recording taken from a radio broadcast in 2000 and A Final Kiss On Poisoned Cheeks, his powerful 12″ recorded live in Vancouver in 2007 and originally released on Table Of The Elements. Additional tracks include Iron Waves an exclusive track in collaboration with vocalist Paul Duncan and Intimidator featuring Australian pianist/composer Anthony Pateras originally released on Southern Lord.

These are special anomalies in the Ambarchi canon but nonetheless feature the hallmarks of his unique soundworld, all underpinned by his trademark deep guitar tones and meticulous attention to detail. All tracks are newly remastered, many of which are available on CD for first time.

Track notes:

Intimidator Guitars and prepared piano recorded at Jerker House and Enormodome, Melbourne in 2006 Anthony Pateras: Prepared Piano. Originally released on the 2LP version of ‘In The Pendulum’s Embrace’ Southern Lord, USA.
Iron Waves Remix of Paul Duncan’s ‘Parasail’ from the ‘Above The Trees’ CD, Hometapes, USA Guitars, Bells, Cymbals recorded at Jerker House, Melbourne and BJB, Sydney in 2008. Previously unreleased.

Moving Violation Guitars recorded at Jerker House, Melbourne November 2005. A version was originally released on Touch’s 25th anniversary CD, Touch 25, UK.
The Strouhal Number Guitar recorded live at 2SER FM Sydney in 2000 by Tony Dupe’. Originally released on ‘Live & Direct’ CD Spunk/Preservation records, Australia.
A Final Kiss On Poisoned Cheeks Guitar recorded live at Vancouver New Music Festival Oct 17, 2007 by Gary Morgan Bells and motorised cymbal recorded at BJB, Sydney. Originally released as a limited 12″ on Table Of The Elements, USA.
All tracks remastered by Lachlan Carrick at Moose, Melbourne August 2009.

7″ vinyl only

Side A: Highway of Diamonds 5:55
Side B: Bleeding Shadow 6:38

Cut by Jason @ Transition
Artwork and photography by Jon Wozencroft

Electric guitars, organ, samples, bells, percussion and motorised cymbal recorded at BJB Studios, Sydney with additional overdubs made at home 2005-2007. Gratitude to Fairport Convention and Boris D Hegenbart.

Oren Ambarchi is a composer and multi-instrumentalist with longstanding interests in transcending conventional instrumental approaches. His work focuses mainly on the exploration of the guitar, “re-routing the instrument into a zone of alien abstraction where it’s no longer easily identifiable as itself. Instead, it’s a laboratory for extended sonic investigation”. (The Wire, UK).

This is the next in a new series of 7″ vinyl-only releases, ‘Touch Sevens’.

7″ vinyl was the quintessential format for popular music. Today, it is an undervalued and mostly promotional medium, used as a fetishistic signpost to a time of musical authenticity and a “healthy” popular culture. It might seem like another retrograde step to launch a vinyl series just as the download format threatens to dominate, and indeed there is an element of “the rear view mirror”… the generation of Touch artists who grew up with vinyl [and cassette] still feeling a strong emotional attachment to it. This series is more than that… an overtly critical, non-digital statement is supported by treatments of audio work which cannot be applied to digital formats – the sonic texture, the use of a locked groove, the A & the B and the additional dimension of the visual counterpoint. As for the aspect of audience participation, we choose not to specify the RPM on the label, encouraging the listener to experiment with playback options and personal preferences. An attempt to make music that works at both speeds. The front cover might actually be the back cover…

New album out now:

In The Pendulum’s Embrace
Oren Ambarchi
[Touch # TO:78, 2007]
CD – 3 tracks

Oren Ambarchi continues his otherworldly investigations with “In The Pendulum’s Embrace”, a dark twin to his landmark 2004 album “Grapes From The Estate” [Touch # TO:61]. Returning again to the hallowed halls of BJB Studios in Sydney, Ambarchi expands the scope and range of his unique musical language, incorporating an even broader pallette of instrumentsand sensibilities. Despite the use of glass harmonica, strings, bells, piano, percussion and guitars, it’s startling that the world created is still unmistakably his own, and that there is such a cohesion of vision throughout the albums’s three lengthy pieces. With this record there’s an even more tenuous coexistence of fragility and density; sounds as light as air mingling with wall shaking low-end. The converted already know the kind of trance-inducing euphoria of Ambarchi’s music. Newcomers will be scouting the back catalogue…

You can hear an extract from the album here and an info sheet (pdf) can be downloaded here

with Merzbow:
Cat’s Squirrel
Released on Black Truffle LP (2013) & Hospital Hill, Australia CD (2013)

with Keiji Haino & Jim O’Rourke:
Now While It Is Still Warm Let Us Pour In All The Mystery
Released on Black Truffle LP & CD (2013)

with Robin Fox:
Connected
Released on Kranky USA (CD + LP 2012)

with James Rushford:
Wreckage
Released on Prisma Recordings (LP 2012)

with Fire!:
In The Mouth A Hand
Released on Rune Grammofon, Norway (2LP + CD 2012)

with Alan Lamb, Garry Bradbury, Dave Burraston & Robin Fox
Wired Open Day 2009
Released on Taiga Records, USA (2LP 2012)

with crys cole and Keith Rowe
Black Plume
Released on Bocian Records, Poland (LP 2012)

with Keiji Haino and Stephen O’Malley
Nazoranai (CD + 2LP 2012)
Released on Ideologic Organ/Editions Mego, Austria

with Thomas Brinkmann:
The Mortimer Trap
Released on Black Truffle, Australia (CD 2012)

with Keiji Haino & Jim O’Rourke:
Imikuzushi
Released on Black Truffle, Australia (2LP + CD 2012)

with Angel:
26000
Released on Editions Mego, Austria (CD + LP 2011)

with Menstruation Sisters:
Puppet Island
Released on Planam, Italy (2LP 2011)

with Keiji Haino & Jim O’Rourke:
Tima Formosa
Released on Black Truffle, Australia (CD 2010)
In A Flash Everything Comes Together As One There Is No Need For A Subject
Released on Black Truffle, Australia (2LP 2011)

with Jim O’Rourke:
Indeed
Released on Editions Mego, Austria (LP 2011)

with Mani Neumeier:
Smoking The Contracts
Released on Atavistic, USA (CD 2011)

with Matt Skitz Sanders:
Double Helix
(Split with Flaherty/Corsano/Yeh)
Released on Krayon Recordings, UK (7″ 2010)

with Lasse Marhaug:
Wolf Devil Men
Released on Pica Disk, Norway (7″ 2009)
Worried Friends/Nervous Enemies
Released on Pica Disk, Norway (7″ 2007)

with Sunn 0))):
Monoliths & Dimensions
Released on Southern Lord, USA (CD & 2LP 2009)
Flight Of The Behemoth – Japanese Edition with bonus live collab. with Merzbow
Released on Daymare, Japan (2CD 2007)
Oracle
Released on Southern Lord USA (2CD 2007)
Black One
Released on Southern Lord USA and Daymare Japan (CD & 2LP 2005)
Solstium Fulminate
Released on Southern Lord USA (CD 2005)

with Burial Chamber Trio (Ambarchi, Anderson & Csihar):
Worm
Released on Southern Lord USA (10″ 2007)
Burial Chamber Trio LP
Released on Southern Lord USA (LP 2007)

with GRAVETEMPLE (Ambarchi, Csihar, O’Malley):
Le Vampire De Paris
Self-released – Edition of 350 (CD 2009)
Ambient Ruin Demo
Self Released – Edition of 350 (CD 2008)
The Holy Down
Released on Southern Lord USA (CD 2007)

with Sun (Ambarchi & Chris Townend):
Sun
Released on Preservation, Australia (CD 2001)
Sun
Released on Staubgold, Germany (CD/2LP 2003) & Headz, Japan (CD 2003)
with remixes from Mapstation, Pluramon, Pimmon, Tom Recchion,bRafael Toral, Hrvatski, Norbert Moslang, Christoph Heemann
Bruise Things
Released on Textile France (12″ 2004)
Split with Hassle Hound
I’ll Be The Same
Released on Preservation Australia, Staubgold Germany & Important USA (CD & LP 2007)

with Martin Ng:
Fateless (with visuals by Tina Frank, Robin Fox)
Released on Asphodel USA (DVD 2007)
Vigil (with visuals by Tina Frank)
Released on Quecksilber Germany (CD 2003)
Reconnaissance
Released on Staubgold Germany (CD/LP 2001)

with Keith Rowe:
Treatise (Cornelius Cardew)
Released on Plana/Alga Marghen, Italy (LP 2009)
Squire
Released on For Four Ears Switzerland (CD 2006)
Flypaper
Released on Staubgold, Germany (CD 2002)

with The Four Gentlemen Of The Guitar (Oren Ambarchi, Christian Fennesz, Toshimaru Nakamura, Keith Rowe):
Cloud
Released on Erstwhile USA (2CD 2006)

with Damo Suzuki:
The Swiftsure Session
Released on Tip Top Australia (2LP 2005)

with Keith Rowe & Robbie Avenaim:
Honey Pie
Released on Grob Germany (CD 2004)

with Keith Rowe, Sachiko M, Otomo Yoshihide & Robbie Avenaim:
Thumb
Released on Grob, Germany (CD 2003)

with Tetuzi Akiyama & Alan Licht:
Willow Weep & Moan For Me
Released on Antiopic USA (3″CD 2006)

with Scott Horscroft:
19 Guitars
Released on Textile France (LP 2006) Split with Hado Ho
Eight Guitars
Released on Quecksilber Germany (CD 2003)

with Tetuzi Akiyama, Toshimaru Nakamura, Keith Rowe, Burkhard Stangl, Taku Sugimoto, Otomo Yoshihide:
Amplify
Released on Erstwhile USA (7CD & DVD Box Set 2004)
Compositions For Guitar
Released on A Bruit Secret France (CD 2003)

with Gunter Muller & Philip Samartzis:
Strange Love
Released on For 4 Ears Switzerland (CD 2003)

with Gunter Muller & Voice Crack:
Oystered
Released on Audiosphere Belgium (CD 2003)

with Johan Berthling:
My Days Are Darker Than Your Nights
Released on Hapna Sweden (CD 2003)

with Rand and Holland:
Tommorow Will Be Like Today
Released on Staubgold Germany (CD/LP 2003)

with Matthias Gmachl:
Substantials #1
Released on CCA Japan (Book & CD 2003)

with Christian Fennesz, Pimmon, Peter Rehberg, Keith Rowe:
Afternoon Tea
Released on Ritornell Germany (CD 2000)
Maschinelle Straegeme
Released on Ritornell Germany (CD 2000)

with Robbie Avenaim:
Dream Request
Released on Bo Weavil, UK (LP 2011)
Clockwork
Released on Jerker Australia (3″CD 2000)
Reissued on Room40 Australia (3″CD 2006)
The Alter Rebbe’s Nigun
Released on Tzadik USA (CD 1999)

with Menstruation Sisters:
Should Sisters Suck?
Released on Ultra Eczema, Belgium (LP 2009)
Samantha, My Wack Panther
Released on Ecstatic Peace USA/Menlo Park USA /Saucerlike Australia (LP 2007)
Holy Africa
Released on White Denim USA (7″ 2005)
Goog
Released on Saucerlike Australia (LP 2001)
Dead At Slugs
Released on Menlo Park USA (LP 1999)
Triple Bogey On A Ma Par Hole
Released on Fata Australia (3×7″ 1998)
Ma
Released on Fata Australia (CD 1997)
Reissued on No Fun USA (LP 2007)

with Phlegm:
Poppin’ & Milkin’
Released on Jerker Australia (CD 1997)
Pissa Pissa & The C**t Is Jammed
Released on Swiveldisc Australia (7″ 1996)
Live/Unauthorised
Released on Jerker Australia (CD 1995)
Mu Mesons Split
Released on Dr Jims Australia (7″ 1994)
Mr Hoo Ha Visits The Non Stop Pissing Circus
Released on Dr Jims Australia (CD 1994)
with Pentemple (Ambarchi, Anderson, Csihar, O’Malley, Striborg):
0))) Presents (Southern Lord, USA 2008) CD & LP
0))) Presents (Daymare, Japan 2008) 2xCD version

with z’ev:
Spirit Transform Me (Tzadik, USA 2008) CD

CD (deleted) – 4 tracks

Track listing:

1. Corkscrew
2. Girl With The Silver Eyes
3. Remedios The Beauty
4. Stars Aligned, Webs Spun

Oren Ambarchi’s third solo project for Touch [after Suspension and Insulation] sees him reaching beyond the work for electric guitar that he’s become recognised for, expanding his palette and taking his investigations into another sphere entirely. Grapes from the Estate features new instrumentation (strings, tuned bells, percussion and others that can only be guessed at), but the singular and unmistakable influence that Ambarchi exerts on these new materials is what makes it such an indelible work.

There is a reconciliation of his love of song-based music and his determination to deal in pure sound. The result is a work that truly eludes such arbitrary definitions. Grapes From The Estate is an all consuming experience that draws the listener out of an ordinary sense of time, into a world beyond it.

CD – 6 tracks

Track Listing:

1. wednesday
2. vogler
3. this evening so soon
4. gene
5. suspension
6. as far as the eye can see

CD – 11 tracks