Out of a small label in the UK, run by fabulous Miss Alice and Andrew Hargreaves, comes a beautifully crafted release from The Archivist. This is only the second release for the label, but okay, it’s got my attention! At first, I was a bit surprised at the intricate production behind the album, The Keeper Of The Library, but once I realised who was behind it, I had that sigh of relief that comes with familiarity of the sound. The Archivist is none other than Craig Tattersall, whose name should already be familiar if you have ever subscribed to his releases as a member of The Boats, The Sea, Famous Boyfriend and of course, The Remote Viewer.
As the alias and the title hint, the recordings on the album are compiled from an extensive archive of Tattersall’s unreleased material. Some pieces have been scraped from crackling hard drives and hissing cassette tapes, accumulating to over 45 minutes in length. The first lucky 150 collectors were able to secure an additional 3″ CDr that came within the handmade package. And the music… well, it speaks for itself. Tattersall uses lo-fi processed scratches and airy filtered percussion which he turns into beats with sparse melodies. Simplicity and elegance are at the core of this recording, bringing lightweight electronica back to the home listening experience.
Relying on repetition, the tracks roll over in beat with my morning train, glitching on chords, micro programmed rhythms and gentle strums of guitars. Using a coarse brush, the sounds are blotted around the audio canvas with plenty of space in between, leaving just enough room for the mind to rest, and fill in the gaps. This destitute pattern creates music full of fragile memories, elaborate design, and delicate beauty.
If you’re a fan, make sure to grab Tattersall’s release as The Humble Bee, A Miscellany For The Quiet Hours (Cotton Goods, 2009) made from cassette tape-loops, as well as his offshoots and collaborations appearing on the Moteer label. See for example his collaboration with Andrew Hargreaves, where the duo take on the aliases Kibbee Theodore and Bernd Hamblin, to deliver The Scientific Contrast (Moteer, 2007). I also recommend you pick up Lacies’ third release by Danny Norbury, Light In August. This album is highly recommended if you enjoy Pole, Arovane, and Yasume.
