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01. Airport: Early Arrival
02. Fall Into the City
03. Fountains
04. Pedestrian Bridge
05. Outside Garden Memories
06. Statues and Architecture
07. Riding Fireflies
08. Language All Know
09. Immersed in the Morning Quiet
10. Absolute Silence
11. Departure: One Week Early

Front cover. Back cover.

Download the entire release as a .zip file.

Steve Scherrelies returns to Rope Swing Cities with One Week Early his second release of beautifully nostalgic guitar based soundscapes. We've been waiting for more since the debut of A View of the River last summer, and we couldn't be happier with the eleven well-crafted songs that comprise this album.

Eleven Steps always features his manipulations of the guitar at the center of his pieces, weaving a tapestry of field recordings and other sound creations around the focus of each track. With almost no percussion to speak of, the rhythm of each piece is communicated in the motion of the tones and washes of sound, creating an atmosphere of the peaceful swish-swaying of leaves in the breeze. Inspired by travel and the exploration of the world and oneself, Scherrelies presents a contemplative train ride through the country side, or a hushed wander through the anonymous bustle of the city streets.

Please enjoy our newest release, and look out for the limited edition handmade CD +remixes coming soon! Steve has a website you can check out. He is a great guy, so you probably should click here to see more about him.

(Artwork and animation by joshua twentythree)

(genre: idm)

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01. Hotslash
02. Ashtonfield
03. Station 0I0II0
04. Sunday
05. Moonlight
06. Flower and Reappear
07. Snake Rolls

Download the entire release as a .zip file.

Front cover. Back cover.

French artist Lexithimie debuts on Rope Swing Cities with The Poems of Longfellow a stunning EP of emotionally engaging IDM music, perfect for the end of summer and the encroaching winter.

Lexithimie's production is peppered with Snow flake pitter patters of percussion which gently guide us through the snow fields of tone and melody. Soft and thoughtful songs filled with a hopeful longing for what comes next. The opening track, Hotslash, opens the release in perfect style; inviting washes of sound give way to a gently pulsing four four, ushering the listener on to explore the further landscapes contained in The Poems of Longfellow. And likewise, Snake Rolls, releases the listener at the end, a comforting sleepy ending to a marvelous musical journey.

With these ever so charming words in mind, please join us in welcoming a new member to the Rope Swing Cities family, Lexithimie, with the thoughtful and cuddly EP The Poems of Longfellow. For more about Lexithimie, you can check out his myspace page, here.

Continuing our week of new releases in celebration of the Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts we are proud to present Ed Colmar's debut on RSC, along with a new release by RSC collaborator Brian Grainger, with his talented partner David Tagg. enjoy!

(Design by nodeOne)

(Ed Colmar - Everything Has Another Meaning)
(Genre: IDM)

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01. Christopher Willits - Colors Shifting (Ed Colmar Remix)
02. Cultivate/Demolish
03. Embrace/Withdraw
04. Avoidance
05. Nourish/Crisis

Download the entire release as .zip file.

Front Cover. Back Cover.

Continuing our week of new releases in celebration of the Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts we are proud to present Ed Colmar's debut on Rope Swing Cities, Everything Has Another Meaning.

Ed Colmar is an adherent to the continual cycle of creation and destruction, and this preoccupation shows itself in his music. Everything Has Another Meaning is a collection of atmospheric soundscapes, dissonant at times, soothing at others. Rhythmic but erratic drum programming, gives way to hissing waves of sound and aggressive synth stabs.

Ed Colmar brings an exciting new sound to the RSC roster, bringing a more hard, and driving sound to the table. We hope you enjoy this excursion into the darker, more industrial realms of electronic music, at once dissolution and coalesence.

For more on Ed, go here. And don't forget to check out Ed and the Trust Collective family camp out this summer in Stanislaus Forest, California.

(Photo by Brian Grainger, Animation by Joshua Twentythree)

(Brian Grainger and David Tagg - Sawdust Aromatics)
(Genre: IDM)

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01. Summer's Parting Ways
02. Autumn Harmonic Mirage
03. Brittle Harvest Memory
04. Vision Through Cloth

Download the entire release as .zip file.

Cover

For day three of our Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts extravaganza Brian Grainger (Milieu, Coppice Halifax and on and on :)) returns to Rope Swing Cities with partner David Tagg to present us with a beautiful, warm EP of ambient sounds and subtle layers of strings and guitar.

With nary a concrete rhythm in sight, the sounds that make up the four tracks on this EP create an internal cyclic rhythm, building on spontaniety to create a cohesive whole. Sawdust Aromatics represents a place of safety and comfort that exists inside all of us. The nostalgic magic of childhood can most always be felt in Brian's music, and he has found a perfect partner in David Tagg. Flowing timeless music, perfect for exploration of the inner core; we recommend headphones and darkness and a little bit of empty time to fully take in the lovely Sawdust Aromatics ep.

Brian and David have been running a label of their own these days, if you aren't checking it out, you most definitely should be, you can do that by going here.

(Art and Animation by Joshua Twentythree)

(Loafeye - A Valid Life)
(Genre: ambient, idm, lo-fi)

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01. Dark Hours Turn To Sounds
02. Red Fox Walks
03. Dashes
04. A Valid Life
05. Familiar Pain
06. Small Sacrifice
07. Rest, You Are Home
08. Grayshade
09. Different Hopes Of Voice
10. Still Water Town
11. Trinimazeroeight
12. Broken Shed
13. Here Today
14. Don't Lose Time
15. Rest, You Are Home (Coppice Halifax Remix)
16. Red Fox Walks (Ten and Tracer's Red Fox Rests Remix)

Download the entire release as a zip file.

front cover back cover

Rope Swing Cities kicks off its Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts Super Duper release extravaganza in fine style with the newest album from longstanding RSC cohort, Loafeye.

A Valid Life, Loafeye's third full length for RSC, continues the artists exploration of the darker, more bleak side of electronic music. Fusing supressed hissing and mournful synth pads with subtly jarring drums, Loafeye has carved out a particular sound to call his own. In his compositions, the mysterious Loafster draws on many influences while staying true to his own musical aesthetics.

The music of Loafeye calls to waking up from the dream world, feeling confused and lost, unsure of oneself. IDM music for those darker moments, not of anger, but of longing and frustration. With Loafeye though, there is always the lingering feeling in the back of ones mind that the world can still be a wondrous place, bathed in the warmth of the sun. Loafeye fans will not be disappointed, while new listeners may discover a new love. Enjoy!

Form more on Loafeye, as always, poke your head over here.

And, hey, take some time to look at the Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts featuring a relaxing afternoon showcase of all Rope Swing Cities artists at the wonderful Trilogy Wine Bar. Maybe we'll see you there!

Stay tuned all week for new releases!

(art by: the madking design and animation: joshua twentythree)

(Eric McIntyre- Exercises Vol.1)
(Genre: dub, idm, techno)

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01. Amatory Cathexis
02. Daedal Glyptograph
03. Ecdysis of Exuviae
04. Subfusc Caryatid
05. Noetic Portcullis
06. Loxodromic Ipse Dixit
07. Oneiric Madeleine
08. Sanguinolent Mammatocumulus
09. Callipygian Ecdysiast
10. Crepuscular Esplanade

download the entire release as a .zip file.

cover one. cover two. cover three. back cover.

Eric McIntyre is a young music producer from Boulder, Colorado, and Rope Swing Cities is proud to present this prodigy's first album, Exercises Vol.1 for your listening pleasure. An intelligent mixture of dub, techno and idm influences, the release presents an immensely satisfying confluence of sounds and textures.

Deep and hypnotic, Exercises Vol. 1 is a prime example of the craftsmanship one can find in the burgeoning electronic music underground in Colorado. With his first full length album, Eric marks himself as one of the shining stars of this movement, crafting delicate and emotional tunes with an ear turned towards meditative atmospheres.  

If this release leaves you wanting more, Eric will be appearing alongside techno elder statesmen Deepchord at the Communikey Festival of Electronic Arts to take place this April in Boulder, Colorado. If you'd like to speak to young Eric, well, go on ahead and email him here. 

(artwork by joshua twentythree)

(gabriel - sum of parts 2006-2007)
(genre: idm)

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01. Sleep Shop
02. Morning Glory
03. Neural
04. Tune Out
05. Tomorrow's Promise
06. Our Love
07. Holding Hands At The End
08. Dusk
09. Astral Recorder (Track53 remix)
10. Sunrise Reef (Coppice Halifax remix)

front cover back cover

Download the entire release as a .zip file.

Gabriel makes his debut on Rope Swing Cities with a beautiful album of nostalgic IDM, Sum Of Parts 2006-2007.

Complete with vintage synths and simple, effective drum programming, Gabriel creates a refreshing new take on a familiar sound. Melodic and soothing, the tracks contained on Sum Of Parts 2006-2007 are wonderful accompaniment to sunday morning cups of tea on the porch. Gabriel's music is emotional, yet reserved; washes of meditative sound mesh together with wistful, pensive synth lines to create a thoughtful and inviting auditory landscape.

Ending the album are two tasteful remixes; Track 53's hauntingly beautiful mix of "Astral Recorder", and Coppice Halifax's triumphant and happily teary-eyed remix of "Sunrise Reef". The additional work of these two artists rounds out the release giving a fuller range to the music contained on the album while remaining aesthetically faithful to Gabriel's sound.

As we begin to pick up speed again at RSC, winter is creeping up to slow the world down. We hope you enjoy filling the spaces in between with Sum of Parts 2006-2007 by Gabriel. For more on Gabriel, you can go over here.

(Photos, Art: Able. Design: Joshua Twentythree)

(able - episodes of bravado)
(genre: idm, ambient, experimental)

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01. Amble
02. Level Register
03. Repose
04. Teeming Kippur
05. Manicured Hamlet
06. Heparin Ribbon

front cover. back cover.

download the entire release as a .zip file.

Able returns to Rope Swing Cities with a beautiful new EP of experimental music, Episodes of Bravado. His second release for the label shows a maturing sense of production, sound composition and personal style. Layered and complex, this EP is a must have for the coming of fall and contemplative gloom of winter.

Composed and initially mixed during stoic train rides from New York to Denver, the collected sounds on Episodes of Bravado range from footsteps in Grand Central Station to gently played piano and guitar. Each piece stands alone as a symphonic whole, but are best enjoyed of course, as an entire experience. Droning, wavering guitars give way to the peaceful chirping of birds and the light chiming of bells. Each sound placed perfectly in concert with the next. Ranging in tone from sullen meditations to innocent-eyed reminiscing, Episodes of Bravado is an ideal accompaniment to your own museful wanderings through a wondrous life.

In addition to the web release, Rope Swing Cities is proud to announce the release of Episodes of Bravado by Able as its third limited addition, handcrafted CD-R release. Lovingly made packaging is accompanied not only by simple mementos and pieces of art, but by an assortment of photographs taken during Able's travels around the country. The EP can be purchased in our store for $8 + $2 shipping and handling, world wide. Show your support for experimental artists by procuring your own one-of-a-kind copy! 

(artwork by Joshua Twentythree)

(eleven steps - a view of the river)
(genre: indie)

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01. Where We Left Off
02. Horizon
03. Picture Down
04. Waiting For The Number 25
05. Tracks
06. Carried To The Ocean
07. In Different Places
08. The Beginning Comes Eventually
09. Final Note

front cover. back cover.

download the entire release as a .zip file

For its twenty-first release, Rope Swing Cities welcomes British Columbia's Eleven Steps, with an EP of personal and emotional homespun indie rock music.

The music of Eleven Steps is friendly and inviting; the feeling of sitting with an old friend over drinks, telling stories and reminiscing about the little days. A View Of The River is comprised of a combination of live instrumentation, all played by Steven Scherrelies (Eleven Steps), and accentuated by loops and drones, giving the music further texture and depth. Though mainly an instrumental release, Steven's heartfelt vocals appear on a few select choices from the EP, such as Picture Down, a hopeful and earnest piece, driving forward into an uncertain future via the interplay of the guitars and drums which act as the focal point, dancing neatly around one another. Carried To The Ocean, another one of the gems of the release is a calming, melancholy combination of tonal washes of sound and hypnotic guitar melody offering up one of the EP's more contemplative moments.

A View Of The River is a tasteful and touching collection of indie rock journal entries, perfect for the summery haze and the inexorable march towards fall. Eleven Steps continues the RSC tradition of ardent and honest music, expanding the library and breadth of sound while maintaining the aesthetic sensibilities of the label. Enjoy!

If you'd like to know more about Eleven Steps, you should head on over to his neat ol' website, and have a look.

(artwork by Brian Grainger)

(milieu - a dusty box of old memories)
(genre: ambient, experimental)

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01. Airplane Song
02. Singing Stones
03. Orange Peel Downers
04. Daisy
05. The Buried Ship
06. The Box Chime
07. Broadcast in Rays of Sunshine
08. Oak Feather Panels
09. Dry L.S.F. Station
10. Seashell Breeze
11. Slumber Notes
12. Xanadu

front cover. back cover.

download the entire release as a .zip.

Longstanding Rope Swing Cities contributor, Milieu, returns with A Dusty Box of Old Memories, yet another album of emotional and heartfelt music. Beautiful and simple melodies come together with hissing atmospheres and calming washes of sound to form a peaceful and reflective listening environment in which to interact with each piece.

Running the gamut from the ghostly, distant moaning guitar of Daisy, to the dreamy wistfulness of Broadcast in Rays of Sunlight, A Dusty Box of Old Memories represents a thoroughly engaging   musical experience, offering up many small gems of nostalgia for the listener to enjoy. The release is rounded out by the slowly building warm tones and crackly ambience of Xanadu, an almost twenty-seven minute exploration of minimal soundscapes,  which grows toward a glowing crescendo of sound, before gently bringing the listener back down on a comforting airy pillow of texture, ending the album on a serene restful note.

As an added feature of this release, Milieu is offering beautifully packaged CD-R copies of A Dusty Box of Old Memories for $5 each in his shop. If you enjoy the release, please help support independent artists by purchasing a lovingly made copy of the album here.