Altar Of Flies - Förruttnelsen LP

[Matthias]

Out now on RTB:


ALTAR OF FLIES - FÖRRUTTNELSEN LP (RTB#57)
First vinyl fullength from Mattias Gustafsson aka Altar Of Flies. Since the start in 2006, this prolific artist from Mjölby, Sweden, has done releases on Cipher, Husk, Hästen & Korset, Nil By Mouth and 905, just to name a few. Förruttnelsen is the first new release on RTB since the split LP with Sewer Election which was released early 2008. More organic and mostly recorded live to tape, Förruttnelsen shows a side of Altar Of Flies more reminiscent to the sounds of his live shows. This is more minimalistic in it's approach, weaving together tapeloops, field recordings, junk abuse and raw disciplined electronics creating an claustrophobic and bleak soundscape. Everything slowly builds up towards the abrasive 14 minute long title track closer, making this an monumental journey in all it's gloomy glory. Recorded between April and December 2009. 5 tracks, 41 minutes. Mastered by Viktor Ottosson (Ättestupa). Full colour artwork by Daniel Fagerström. 270 copies.

www.releasethebats.com

[Ritual]

I really enjoy some of the latest output I've heard by Altar Of Flies, so I'm really looking forward to hearing this LP. First thing I bought was a tape called "The Creeping Unknown". Haven't listened to it in a while, but I remember liking it quite a bit. I think the releases I've bought since have gotten better and better. Best things so far have been the split LP with Sewer Election and the A side of the Eremiten tape.

[Matthias]

Eremiten is my favorite as well. Looking forward to get some reponse on this LP, i may be biased but it is definitely the best stuff Mattias has done so far. There is a new CD out on iDEAL now as well, pretty good. More in the vein of the earlier AOF stuff, but sparse with an almost "clinical" vibe in sound.

[alpharmania]

I gave the first side a spin today but wasn't able to play it loud enough. Sounds good but what really blew me away was the music to some AOF video I saw on youtube recently. Maybe this track is on the LP even....
I heard the CD on Ideal last week but must say the LP sounds much better.

[Ritual]

Listened to this LP and also the CD on iDEAL today. I really like both releases. The LP might reach slightly higher than the CD for me, but it's difficult to say after just one listen each. The B side of the LP is definitely top notch! First the abrasive track "Trikiner" followed by the lengthy "Förruttnelsen" with its restrained power slowly getting more and more freedom to break through. Both releases display the width and skill of Mattias's sound composing very effectively. Highly recommended releases!

[tiny_tove]

they are playing tomorrow evening in Milan but nobody knew.

[Matthias]

Rest of the tourdates:

Mar 8 Hundebiss Basement Party - Milan
Mar 9 Le Sonic - Lyon
Mar 10 KTS - Freiburg
Mar 11 West Germany - Berlin
Mar 12 WORM - Rotterdam
Mar 13 Rote Flora - Hamburg

[tiny_tove]

wish I was there :(

[ARKHE]

have only listened to it half-arsed while occupied, will give it more attention soon enough, but what I heard was enjoyable. well constructed, thought-through, balanced and dynamic. the cover artwork is magnificent; close-ups of skin, hair and genitalia and microscopic things (membranes? blood?) made into a warm and vivid collage on thick paper - what could have remained sleazy gore and porn turned into sth beautiful. very tasteful release, top notch quality.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

At first I wasn't 100% sure. I was thinking if the somewhat "loosely arranged" synth throbs of A-side wasn't totally matching the overall sound. But to me it just got better all the time. Like slightly confusing warm-up building into something more. Or you just got used to it. Even if it is different, one could throw it into same category of Kristian Olsson LP. Both approach whole thing differently, with different style of composition etc. but overall it is noisy, but not really noise. Dirty and low-tech sounding, but still innovative & interesting.
This release most definitely recommended!

[bitewerksMTB]

Any US distros with this LP? Sounds very interesting compared to the Olsson LP which I like more with each listen.

[Mattias G]

Any US distros with this LP? Sounds very interesting compared to the Olsson LP which I like more with each listen.

I know that RRR have it, but maybe Matthias/RTB can answer this better.

[Matthias]

Very few US distributors has ordered the AOF LP.. So far, only RRR and Time Lag.

[bitewerksMTB]

I checked RRR & found "Fornuthelgen", not "Forruttnelsen"... Guess it's Ron's mistake? I emailed for availability...

Never heard of Time Lag.

[Mattias G]

Yes that is wrong, by the way "Förruttnelsen" means "decomposition, putrefaction" in english.