A Compendium Of Experimental Music Made In Portugal Vol.3

Inland Empire (Império Interior), or the last brushstroke in a triptych that gazed at the stars, sowed winds and, finally, sought the geographical limits of a country.

Going over the obvious lynchian reference, the last of Wasser Bassin‘s compendiums dedicated to experimental music produced in Portugal brings to light the electronic abstractions of Caranguejos, a somewhat obscure and certainly esoteric duo, formed by Tam and Miguel Sá, with roots firmly established in Almeida’s fortress. The disturbing howls of “Alcateia” culminate, strangely, in the languor of “Rua do Marvão”.

From the confines of Douro or, if you prefer, from the beginnings of Beira, come the irreverent drones of Ehxispê, creative alter-ego of Rodrigo Vieira, a Mêda’s native, but an universal citizen of the sound spectrum. Both “Melo, É Tudo Mentira” and “Zé Elves” are tracks imbued with the same austerity as Andrew Mackenzie or the rigorous precision of Chris Watson’s field recordings.

From the banks of the Côa, instead of rock engravings, one can distinguish the Warpian nostalgia of Folclore Impressionista, a trio of veteran collectors of sounds and landscapes, comprised of João Paulo Daniel, Sérgio Silva and António Caramelo. The trail proposed by “Walk IV” oscillates between the memories of Boards of Canada and the delicate timelessness of Broadcast.

WB 017 – V/A – Inland Empire (Império Interior): A Compendium Of Experimental Music Made In Portugal Vol.3 – LP

A1 – Caranguejos – Alcateia

A2 – Caranguejos – Rua do Marvão

B1 – Ehxispê – Melo, É Tudo Mentira

B2 – Ehxispê – Zé Elves

B3 – Folclore Impressionista – Walk IV

Release Date: 24/11/2023

Wasser Bassin

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