I, Absentee

Free Things

Jan. 04, 2009

We have a massive update to start 2009, featuring loads of free music. First, we officially launch our debut series at the label, entitled The Twilight Fires. The idea behind it is primarily to present remixes. We wanted to create an outlet to branch out and work with artists we liked, as well as allow the roster to occasionally collaborate, or present a new track. All volumes will be released on 3" format, highlighting a different artist each round.

The first artist for Volume One is Mall Security. Last year, he released the fantastic Things I Thought Of And Made. Here we feature several remixes from the album. Mrs Jynx kicks things off with an incredible take on 'Reverror' (check out her excellent album for Planet Mu, The Standoffish Cat). Koen Park, who released a fine album on Experimedia last year, follows with a remix of 'Overlapping Pixelated Hearts'. Finally, Phasen of U-Cover does his own take on 'Revererror'. Phasen's is just kicking off his own label with [Unnamed Label]. Their upcoming compilation, Friendly Strangers (featuring Phasen, Milieu, Koen Park and many others) is a great collection freshly up for pre-order at their site.

To round out the 3", Mall Security appears with his own remix, marking the I, Absentee debut of his alter-ego Kontyx. He provides a reinterpretation of roster-mate D.D. NewMole's 'You're My Cure', from his recently released album here at the label. There's even a brand new Mall Security song, entitled 'Useless', serving as a fifth (hidden) track.

The Twilight Fires: Volume One will ship free with all orders of Things I Thought Of And Made. We encourage you check the album out if you missed it, and get both discs for one. To everyone who's ordered the Mall Security album in the past, we'll ship you the 3" free. Just write us and let us know your name and address (and the name the original order was placed under, if different from your own name), and we'll get a copy out shortly to you (while supplies last). For the next 2 weeks only, we'll ship the 3" with ALL label orders as well.

Today we're also officially launching a free MP3 section of the site, which finds it's home as IA013 in our catalog. 24/7 Bermuda Triangle is not really a release, rather a black hole in the oeuvre of I, Absentee. We'll use it to present new tracks and old, raw demos, remixes, etc. We kick it off with 13 unreleased tracks, all directly related back to the roster. There's new tracks from Mall Security (as well as his alter-ego of Kontyx mentioned above), an ambient piece from Lunar Testing Lab and an infectious track from 21 Jumpsuit. Warren Kroll (Dorosoto, Forrest) presents some early pieces, from way back. There's also a pair from Boozhownd Doggonit, along with the instant classic Kontyx remix of the Boozhownd (check it out, you'll see why). We also have a couple friends returning from our Birth Certificate compilation; Audience Of One and Baloo. Then there's a few artists shrouded in mystery amidst the songs. We'll leave you to figure out who they might be. We've collected an album's worth of unreleased content to start. The section with continue to grow, presenting more free content as time goes on. We'll keep you updated whenever there's future additions.

Dorosoto's Hypnotic Gyre has sold out and is now out of print. This was our first release and we're thrilled to have shipped them all. For anyone scrounging for some final copies, there's a few still left at Infraction (US) and U-Cover (Europe). Here at I, Absentee, in it's place, we have an altogether different piece from Dorosoto. For a limited time, we're stocking is the ear-shattering Power Pill Fist / Dorosoto collaboration, White Noise Fury. It's limited to just 100 copies. Get one while it's here!

The first ever Forrest remix has been completed, for the one and only Milieu. The remix falls alongside a great line-up, including acts such as Ten And Tracer, Mrs Jynx and more. The remix disc, Suntanned Melodies, is only available with the first 25(!) pre-orders of Milieu's long-awaited Colortone album, which itself is limited to only 100 copies.

If all the above wasn't enough free content for you, head over to the Actual Archives page. They're operated nearby us and their newest round of 2-track download singles features music from our own D.D. NewMole and Talons'. D.D. NewMole offers up two brand new tracks, with Auto Know / Social Polish. Talons' takes a sharp turn from past sounds, providing a hint toward the direction of his eventual I, Absentee album (later in 2009), with iBrows & Smiles. Both are free of charge and there's plenty more free content at Actual Archives, so check it out.

We'll be back shortly with our next full-length I, Absentee release, the debut album of Hvoya.

21 Jumpsuit To Open For Nightmares On Wax!

Dec. 11, 2008

To celebrate the release of our newest album, I Heard You Were Away, I, Absentee is pleased to present 21 Jumpsuit live in Cleveland, Ohio, as special guest opener for the one and only Nightmares On Wax! These are the first EVER Nightmares shows in the USA! For the Cleveland stop only, I, Absentee will be in tow at the Grog Shop. Come down if you're anywhere in the surrounding area. Much of the roster should be in town that night, hanging out for the evening. It's going to be a memorable night!

Nightmares On Wax - LIVE (first EVER US shows)
I, Absentee presents special guest: 21 Jumpsuit
Grog Shop - Cleveland, Ohio - 8PM
$10 ADV / $12 DOS

More details to come!

21 Jumpsuit - Out Now

Dec. 08, 2008

Since our beginning as I, Absentee, there's been 21 Jumpsuit. One of the original artists the label was built around, 21 Jumpsuit (Carl States) began music in the late 1990s. His earliest recordings were alongside Dorosoto, which became the Alpha Aesar album. From there, he moved on to create an album's worth of electronica as Speed Control Head. After years of work in these projects, his musical sights focused toward live instrumentation, yet still maintained a heavy mixture of electronics woven throughout. The material became known as 21 Jumpsuit, with which he challenged himself to compose some of his most complex pieces ever. Writing every note and honing every sound, he sometimes spent months on a single track. The end results became the new album, I Heard You Were Away. The songs carry a large post-rock influence, yet still feature his signature electronics doused over the entire album. This particular material became one of the driving forces behind our creation, so we hope you'll take a deeper look. It's a fitting close to our first year and we sincerely hope you enjoy it. Consider it by us a quintessential release. Hit the catalog page for clips.

Our debut release, Dorosoto's highly acclaimed Hypnotic Gyre, is nearly gone. There will be no further represses. We're down to our last few before the EP goes out of print. On a similar note, Lunar Testing Lab's Space Debris, the companion disc to our last month's Space Program album just sold out and is no longer available from us. However, the disc is still readily available directly from Lunar Testing Lab, at just the cost of shipping. So we encorage you to pick it up from him while he still has it. Thanks to everyone who's picked up both these releases and made them such successes!

This month will see the last of our label-commissioned reviews. As of 2009, we will begin to steer away into new territories. We will no longer be sending our releases to any traditional outlets for write-ups. It's possible we'll have special guests give reviews from time to time, here at the site. However, we wish to generally keep our music in the hands of artists, friends and fans only from here forward. Thanks to all who reviewed us in the past!

As a glimpse toward 2009, we have two new additions to our roster! Both of them are different directions from our past sounds so we hope you can take the leap; Talons' and Hvoya. Talons' is the indie-rock outfit of our own Moustache Mountain. Hvoya is our first female to join the roster, as well as the first international act. We will soon be launching a 3" series as well, featuring Mall Security, Mrs. Jynx (Planet Mu), D.D. NewMole, Koen Park (Experimedia, October Man) and Phasen (U-Cover). More info on that soon.

As we close our first year, I would like to thank everyone who has helped and taken an interest in what we're doing. As a thanks back, we are currently preparing a LOT of free material for everyone soon. 2009 will be more sinister, in every way. Until then, enjoy the Jumpsuit!

21 Jumpsuit - I Heard You Were Away

IA010

Tracklist:
1. Snook
2. LHoomis
3. Christine C.
4. Wetwind
5. WHY
6. hangar
7. Untitled
8. wreckage
9. Phone Line
10. Level 5
11. The Beeplive
12. seeds hoe
13. the business shifter
14. I Heard You Were Away

Power Pill Fist Vs. Dorosoto - Order Now

Nov. 12, 2008

The one and only Power Pill Fist recently collaborated with our own Dorosoto, for a new installment in PPF's "Vs" 3" series (past participants: Black Moth Super Rainbow, Bony Legs). The collaboration is fresh up for pre-order, with a release date of December 2nd via the 70 Gymnastics Recording Co. These tracks are definitely a drastic, sinister turn from Dorosoto's previous works, and even go beyond Power Pill's previous assaults. Head to the PPF site now and check out a clip of the brutality of White Noise Fury (warning: stand at least 450 feet from speakers).

It's limited to just 100 copies. These always sell out, so order it now!

Tracklist:
1. seeeyebegreen
2. Bathtub Crustaceans
3. Pauliesphere
4. Moog Mountain
5. Depths Of A Giant Sloar
6. Fecal Five
7. Metal Mustard Mayhem

Lunar Testing Lab Debut Album - Out Now

Oct. 31, 2008

There's nothing else out there quite like Lunar Testing Lab. Located somewhere in the great, mysterious state of Pennsylvania, LTL creates downtempo beats and space rhythms not quite like anything else happening. LTL's first sighting was for Black Moth Super Rainbow's online remix series. He then resuraced for an exclusive track on our Birth Certificate compilation. Most recently, he completed a remix for Milieu, for his ongoing Dustybox Tracks series. He officially arrives here on I, Absentee with his debut full-length, Space Program.

With a vinyl collection spanning into the thousands, LTLs sounds are greaty influenced by obscure jazz, lounge and other hidden offerings from discount vinyl dustbins and thrift stores . These influences are equally matched by his fascination for outer space. These combined influences helped produce an album truly sprawling and unique. Each song off Space Program is end-capped by ambient interludes, featuring shortwave radio espionage transmissions, vinyl snippets from his massive archives and altogether very unusual themes throughout. Some melodies resurface in alien forms, other patterns reemerge as the album progresses into an overall otherworldly, atmospheric crescendo. The final stretch features guests in the form of Dorosoto, Milieu and The Red Falcon Projects, each offering up brand new remixes.

LTL also very recently self-released the sister disc to this release, entitled Space Debris. For a very limited time, ALL copies of Space Program will currently ship from us with Space Debris included free (we don't have a lot left, so be sure to order soon). It adds up to over 50 tracks between the two discs! Be sure to check out the catalog page for a free download of 'Mock Orange', as well as numerous fine clips.

We have but one more proper release left for 2008, which happens to be our longest in the works. 21 Jumpsuit finally unleashes his album, which has been under preparations since we began (and quite a bit prior, actually). We will also be starting up a 3" series soon, with some friends and artists we like taking on various members of our roster. More on that soon.

Lastly, our own Dorosoto recently recorded a session alongside Black Moth Super Rainbow bassist Power Pill Fist, for his "Vs." 3" series. Look for it soon from Power Pill. We might(?) have a few available for sale here at the site as well. Keep an eye out for it.

Lunar Testing Lab - Space Program

IA011

Tracklist:
1. Lunokhod
2. Majic Melter
3. S-Band
4. Star City
5. Oceax
6. Moon Zero-Two
7. Beam Waveguide
8. Mock Orange
9. Apolune
10. Nutone
11. Geodesy
12. Disastro
13. Orbiting Lunar Observatory
14. Lunik III
15. Re-Entry
16. Astro-B
17. Glacia
18. Magnitogorsk
19. Tier 3 DarkStar
20. Wavemagnet
21. Spacetop
22. Phantom Cosmonaut
23. Aerospike
24. Lunik III (Mare Ingenii Remix) By Dorosoto
25. Inverse Square
26. Majik Melter (Melt Up Mmx) By Milieu
27. ELV
28. Astro-B (Galactic Spectra Remix) By The Red Falcon Projects
29. Apselene

D.D. NewMole

Oct. 01, 2008

Last month, we had mentioned kicking off an impressive string of releases for the final stretch of 2008. That continues with the release of D.D. NewMole's debut album, The Earth Trembled. D.D. is Dan Petrarca of Akron/Fulton, Ohio. While this is Dan's first official release, he's far from a newcomer. Recording tracks for nearly 14 years and regularly playing live, he stands as one of the most accomplished musicians on the label. D.D. first appeared on our Birth Certificate compilation, with the off kilter track 'Anniverse'. After hearing more of his sounds, we invited him to the roster soon thereafter. Dan began in the 1990s, teaching himself how to use various hardware sequencers, samplers and synths, before eventually taking on computers. After years of recording and programming entirely self-taught in the world of jungle/drum'n'bass, he went to a recording workshop and learned "the correct ways" to record, long after the fact... He took on a circuit bending apprenticeship with Mr. Reed Ghazala (the creator of circuit bending). 'D.D. NewMole' became the primary persona for his sounds, mixing acoustic and electronic instruments into a fresh sound that defies any specific genre. The Earth Trembled chronicles through the past eight years(!) of D.D.'s library, all the way up to material just completed right before we pressed the album. These tracks have been some of our favorite spins for awhile now. We hope you'll enjoy it as much as we have. Head to the catalog page for lots of audio.

"It side steps the regular, dance floor oriented and adds sounds to the genre which I think are pretty extraordinary." - Vital Weekly

D.D. NewMole - The Earth Trembled

IA009

Tracklist:
1. D.D.'s Coming
2. Misty Eyes Crystalize
3. Don't Go Away
4. Me Oh Me Stylez
5. Trizoux
6. You're My Cure
7. Lamp Post Glow
8. Tendracopia
9. Bass Nagual
10. Composite F
11. Field Day
12. Rare White Albino
13. The Earth Trembled
14. Weak Wind

Lunar Testing Lab - Free Album With All Orders

Sept. 10, 2008

Space Debris is the brand new, self-released CDr from Lunar Testing Lab, out now and being included free of charge with all orders from us. Space Debris runs 22 tracks long and essentially amounts to an entire bonus album worth of material from Lunar Testing Lab. This CD is the companion piece to his forthcoming album for us, entitled Space Program. The CD features many exclusive outtakes, shortwave recordings and alternate versions of works from his forthcoming album. This bonus album will be included with all orders indefinitely, so pick one up along with anything from our catalog. Lunar Testing Lab is even offering copies directly if you contact him on his myspace. One way or the other, we encourage you to check it out.

Alpha Aesar - Out Now

Sept. 05, 2008

The Alpha Aesar album is now in stock and shipping. This self-titled collection contains 20 tracks and runs over 70 minutes in length. The album features every track ever recorded by the duo (Dorosoto + 21 Jumpsuit), 14 in all. These tracks are supplemented with 6 new remixes, each a very unique take on AA. Dorosoto returns to his AA output, bringing a fresh, ambient wash over 'Puppy', while Mall Security brings his signature sound to 'Glimpse Of Fashion'. The two team up as The Red Falcon Projects, for a fantastic remix of 'Milk And Honey'. Coppice Halifax, alter-ego of Milieu, delivers a vast, droned-out take on 'Synthetic Sun', while Lowfish gives a very different take on the same track. The remix is signature Lowfish and sure to please his fans, while still holding true to the original compostion. Rounding out the remixes is the other half of Alpha Aesar, 21 Jumpsuit. He returns with a drastic reinterpretation of '#674', taking the piece into a darker, gritty direction. The remix is streaming now on his freshly revamped myspace page. Check out several tracks from his upcoming I, Absentee full-length while you're there (including 'WHY', a song composed entirely via a gameboy).

All copies of the album come packaged on white digipak. It's taken nearly a decade for Alpha Aesar to have it's day in the sun, but that day has finally come. We hope you enjoy this collection, we've spent quite a long time assembling this particular release. Head to the catalog page for full artwork, plenty of clips and a free, high-quality download of 'Synthetic Sun'.

Alpha Aesar - Alpha Aesar

IA008

Tracklist:
1. White Shirts
2. Synthetic Sun
3. #674
4. Shallow Colors
5. Kitten With A Gold Watch
6. Milk And Honey
7. Puppy
8. Running Through A Stream
9. Red Eyed Love
10. Genie
11. Spinning Wheel
12. Sharp Cut
13. Glimpse Of Fashion
14. Tension Modulator
15. Puppy (Reprise) By Dorosoto
16. Glimpse Of Fashion (Magnum Hat On The Runway Remix) By Mall Security
17. Synthetic Sun (Nuclear Winter Remix) By Lowfish
18. #674 (Ninja Suit Remix) By 21 Jumpsuit
19. Synthetic Sun (Sun Dub Edit) By Coppice Halifax
20. Milk And Honey (Binary Nectar Remix) By The Red Falcon Projects