Stunned no. 30

Super Minerals — Clusters c47 (Stunned no. 30) — out of stock —

Finally breaching the surface of the sea after a 3-year deep dive, Super Minerals now gulp in lungfuls of oxygen only to notice its quality has changed quite a bit in the time they’ve been submerged. Fins and gills are sloughed — wings are needed now. Perched high on coastal cliffs in the fog of a polygon sunrise, ‘Clusters’ celebrates with upright piano & bells that spirit which commingles prepared herbs with the purity of raw Pacific light. For fans of Charlemagne Palestine, early Keith Jarrett, Vangelis dipped in vaseline, or John Tesh in flames. Hand numbered edition of 111 pro-dubbed & gold ink imprinted c47 tapes w/ double-sided color jcard; designed in energy of AIR.
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reviews:

"...an astonishing cassette of moody piano emanations... 'Clusters' is a great little tape that showcases Super Minerals stretching themselves in an impressive manner." - Auxiliary Out
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"Clusters provides two anthems for those of you looking to bridge the gap between the precision of classical works and the boundless freedom of modern avant composition. “Oxygen Bombs” occupies the width of Side A. For much of its runtime, the track takes on a “Chariots of Fire” attitude: prideful, bombastic piano fills as much space as allowed by the low-end production, while fingers transform into the pitter-patter of feet racing to an uncertain goal. The track’s final three minutes transition the thrill of the race into the heated pants of tired runners clumsily looking to catch their breath, as syncopated bells and twisted strings replace the twinkle of ivory. The B-side is filled by the cassette’s namesake, which dazzles with raindrops of piano keys that often blend to mimic the tone of a harp. Around the 14-minute mark, the track begins to strip away the layers, first unveiling a whirling dervish of buzzes and bends. It never finishes its second thought before leaping into a lo-fi music box, melding together the first half with the middle interruption." - Tiny Mix Tapes
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"The whole thing lilts beautifully in a yellow haze of sun-drenched clairvoyance. I'm not sure who's playing here but it's wonderful. Fragments of minute and lush melodies present themselves before dissolving once more into the overtone swell of the work... Soon enough though, the whole thing fades out and is replaced by tape loops that seep across some skeleton gamelan moves. Total bleak situation in some Cambodian forest, Skaters-style even but with way less momentum. Just sit back and sip the spiked cocoa water... "Clusters" makes up side two and is as filled out and spacious as the first side. Piano trickles out of some small forest spring while tape loops and bells tingle outward, careening in and around each falling note. The duo's really on point with this one, and builds up to hold it, restful, exactly where it's gotta be... upwards but not all there. The tension is ridiculous before it slips away into another haze of piano drift. Absolutely gorgeous, they really took it up and out on this one. Absurd that this is the same group that put out 'The Piss', but their ability to do each with such confident poise blows me away. One of the best of the year so far for sure..." - Foxy Digitalis