His Name Is Alive - All The Mirrors In The House (Early Recordings 1979 - 1986) - VINYL LP

Vinyl LP pressing. The third and final volume in a trilogy exploring the teenage tape experimentation of Warren Defever aka His Name Is Alive. The beautiful ambient sketches and backwards loops of the first two volumes are still in evidence, but this collection sees the artist moving slowly towards more recognisable song forms. Much of the material contained here was duplicated on the infamous demo tape that caught the ear of Ivo Watts-Russell and led to elements being re-worked into Livonia, the first His Name Is Alive album on 4AD. Having circulated in poor quality form as a bootleg for many years, it's a revelation to hear this music transferred from the original reels and remastered by Defever himself.

EXPERIENCE FRANK OCEAN THROUGH THE EARS AND SOUNDS OF High Pulp, AS THE MUTUAL ATTRACTION SAGA CONTINUES, WITH THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE PROJECT. While the first 2 volumes in the series pay homage to free and experimental jazz legends that have informed the lens of the Seattle, Washington-based band, Volume 3 steps into the R&B/Hip Hop world, as the band performs their fresh takes on 3 Frank Ocean tracks, from the 'Endless' album. Along with digging into a different genre of music and focusing on just one artist to pay tribute to for this volume in the series, MA 3 also has the band performing as their largest ensemble yet. A 15-piece band, including a 5-piece string section, gives no limits to these reimagined versions of Frank Ocean tunes.

The band's second album with 4AD, recorded in Warren Defever's home studio and remixed by Ivo Watts-Russell and John Fryer (as with their debut), sees 23 songs quick-firing through emotions, with moments of soothing calm soon clashing with white noise and visceral chaos. Highlights include InchHer Eyes Were HugeInch, on which lightly strummed acoustic guitar uplift Karin Oliver's swooning, gossamer drawl; the synth-led, inquisitive and prickly InchAre We Still Married?Inch; and pensive instrumental waltz InchSiting Still Moving Still Staring OutlookingInch. A varied yet grounded compilation of new material and old (some dating back to Defever's junior high days), it finds the band entering a confident creative stride, leaving listeners enthralled by both it's beauty and darkness and proving Defever's inspired productions utterly unique. InchDark, disturbing, and beautiful [...] Held together by Warren Defever's artful production, it's 23 songs range from jealous contemplation to spiritual concerns, from gentle folk to white noise guitar outbursts. Karin Oliver's supple voice lends itself to an array of musical and emotional settings.Inch - AllMusic