Sonic Oyster Records was set up in April 2006 by Andrew Paine.
Recent Discography
2009
OUT NOW
Sky Station: Z4 - First Contact (SOR30) Andrew Paine
“Sky Station: Z4 - First Contact” is the first chapter in what Sonic Oyster Records have called a ‘progressive odyssey’ – a concept album of sorts in four parts - and Andrew Paine has set a very high bar on this initial sliver. Paine’s love for progressive rock is a major strand in both his solo work and as a member of other high profile projects (Ilk, Space Weather and his duo work with Richard Youngs), and its no surprise that its referred to here as well. The extent of Prog’s influence here though has been reduced to glittered fingerprints in “First Contact”s sound. That genre’s palette and the ideas of a larger concepts, most specifically on the deftly dripping notes through the seas of “The Controller Peers Through The Darkness”. But the disc is removed from the possibility of the overblown into something much more unique and puzzlingly pretty. Coasting through horizon cloud cover, “Sky Station Z4” is a monastic opener; darkly Spartan sounds cover the aforementioned spoken word. This is the disc’s quietest moment, elsewhere Paine nimbly slips between catchy synthrock riffs with a faltering bass (“Sub Space Divisions”) and achingly short musical underwater sculptures made of some celestial body version of underwater fluorescent clay (that’ll be “The Mercurians Have Come” then). Probably most unexpected though is the almost rakish charm exhibited on the concluding “Queen Of The Skies”, the Les Claypool rhythms playing a central part in the track.
Being a 3” CD-r with the longest of the five tracks coming in at just under 3 ½ minutes, this release definitely feels like a small riddle as a part of a larger tale. Though if Paine is laying out a set-in-stone plot in this first part, the tale he’s introducing is unclear at this juncture. The spare and FXed narration vocals seem mixed to fly in just under the easily comprehensible and the disc’s titles aren’t deliberately explicit either. Paine has packed this with enough mystery to keep listeners invested in the series, and enough left-turns and thick atmospheric moments to make “First Contact” an unreserved success – and a tease. 10/10 -- Scott McKeating"
Tokyo Garden Suite (SOR29) Richard Youngs & Andrew Paine
"Tokyo Garden Suite is one of the most beautiful, stately and oddly melancholic releases in the Sonic Oyster catalogue. As well as Paine and Youngs, the disc sees the return to the fold of Steve Todd, who the No Fans hardcore will immediately recognise as the duo partner Youngs cut the great Georgians CD with for VHF back in 1996. Todd opens the 30 minute piece with a sombre, atmospheric reading of a text which introduces a slow, single note piano motif behind which Paine and Youngs’ spoken vocals create a feeling of a post-apocalyptic Albion, with lyrics that reference the buzz of Geiger counters double by overblown shakuhachi. In many ways Tokyo Garden Suite is an extension – or perhaps more accurately a dilation - of the minimal logic of earlier Youngs pieces like Advent while factoring in the later more Prog-tinged aspects of the best Ilk recordings. Outside of Ultrahits, this has probably been the most played Sonic Oyster disc in the office. Highly recommended." (Volcanic Tongue)
Learning to Draw (SOR28) Alistair Crosbie
"I have always written songs but it didn't really occur to me to make an album of them until earlier this year - sent home from work due to a heavy snowfall (which was causing intermittent power shortages), I blew the distinctly non-metaphorical dust from my acoustic guitar and wrote "Count Your Quiet Homes". Over the next week or so, this and a further 4 songs were recorded, two newly written and two from the pile I had accumulated. I mentioned this in passing to Andrew Paine and he expressed an interest in hearing the results. So, over the following three or four months, "Learning To Draw" was created with my usual succession of rejects, re-recordings, re-workings, remixes, remasters and the like - the change in musical format certainly didn't change my recording habits...There are 17 songs and they pass in a little under 39 minutes. In a way, this is the most experimental album I've made.” – AC.
Each to Each... Exclaims (SOR27) AP/AP
"Collaboration album between two different guys with the same name, one an artist based in the USA and the other the CEO of Sonic Oyster and frequent Richard Youngs collaborator. One 31 minute track, recorded in a series of back-and-forth mail shots. The guitar has some of the Japanese amp worshipping form of Paine’s Mekonium Reaktor, albeit processed through the bedroom fuzz-monster style of UK units like Spacemen 3 and Flying Saucer Attack. Electric guitar, bass, keyboard, radios and subliminal vocals." (Volcanic Tongue)
Earth Rod (SOR26) Richard Youngs & Andrew Paine
"Limited new collaboration from Richard Youngs and fellow Ilk member Andrew Paine. Going by the titles alone – “Back To Santos”, “Collodion Neptune” – this one feels like an overview of alla the various moods that the duo’s previous collaborations have investigated and the sonics certainly bear that out. There are weird prog-styled monologues that reflect on the more portentous Ilk work (“Tokyo Garden”), searing acid rock guitar (“Gabriel”), weird songs with bastardised world music rhythms (“Mariachi Woman)…. but the overall feel is dark and claustrophobic, with the more self-consciously experimental nature of early Youngs sides like LAKE given a progressive update and at points an atmosphere that almost sounds like The Fall circa Bend Sinister. An oddly affecting release from these too, though I’m still trying to get my head around it. Guest appearance from Sorley Youngs on percussion and vocals is the gravy." (Volcanic Tongue)
Beyond the Valley of Ultrahits (SOR25) Richard Youngs - OUT OF PRINT
The Great Level (SOR24) Richard Youngs & Andrew Paine
New limited collaborative album from Youngs and Paine, on Paine’s own Sonic Oyster imprint. This set is a little more subtle than previous installments, with two short tracks based around flickering vocals, delicate electronic melodies and puffs of flute giving way to a long piano/fuzz guitar instrumental that would reconcile Mazzacane-style overdriven string action with lugubrious single note melodies. (Volcanic Tongue)."
Panegyric Territories: Volume 1 (SOR23) ILK
"Hand-numbered edition of 100 copies: new album from the psych/prog rock project of Richard Youngs and Andrew Paine. This one blasts into life with an incredible noise guitar solo from Richard that explodes the whole Sharrock/Haino school of electric satori before fading into a beautiful, acoustic arpeggio-led acid folk hymn illuminated by keyboard drones and penny whistle that would have sat perfectly on the second Ghost album. Second track features oracular spoken word over bass dooms and chaos percussion before fading into a droning, dead-air broadcast with more disembodied vox. I still rate “The Point Of Heaven” as the single greatest Ilk performance but this might be their most fully realized album. Highly recommended (Volcanic Tongue)."
2008
Third Day of Ragg (SOR22) Andrew Paine - OUT OF PRINT
Collodion Positives: Volume 4 (SOR21) Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
"New limited CD-R on Sonic Oyster from Youngs and Paine, the fourth instalment in their on-going Collodion Positives series. This one forsakes the whole electrified 70s Miles feel of the earlier instalments for a tougher, heavier more overtly ‘progressive’ stance. Each track is named after one of the players’ ‘favourite’ prog/rock groups while attempting to tie the particular vibration to the mode of the dedicatee’s music. That the dedications run through Utopia, Journey, UFO, Dire Straits, REO Speedwagon, Mountain, Focus and Heart is as terrifying as it is confusing. Features a guest appearance by synth wunderkind Sorley Youngs. (Volcanic Tongue)"
English Channel (SOR20) Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
"Brand new pitch-black live séance style from the duo of Richard Youngs and Andrew Paine. Recorded with an armoury of unknown instrumentation sprawled around a room in the dark and then overdubbed with vocals without reference to the first recordings, this one combines the logic of the classic Durian Durian side with a much creepier, low-level ritualistic atmosphere featuring Paine and Youngs gargling wordless chants like electrified monks while bells, small instruments and thick, hovering silence builds to a crescendo of black-on-black. Very psychedelic. (Volcanic Tongue)"
Snapshots of Rural England (SOR19) Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
"Bizarre new limited release from the duo of Richard Youngs and Andrew Paine: Snapshots… has little to do with English traditional music, as the title might suggest, but rather follows on from the weird dystopian/Industrial sci-fi environs of the previous Roman Concrete, with vocals like numbers stations, Nurse With Wound-style barren drone environs, submerged environmental recordings and concrete sine wave hypnosis. Features voice, electric guitar, harmonica, ring modulator, sine and square waves. One of the most disturbed and disturbing releases in the Youngs catalogue for sure. (Volcanic Tongue)"
Hot Canyon Butter (SOR18) Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
"New limited collaboration CD on Paine’s own imprint from Richard Youngs and Andrew Paine. Nothing like anything these two have done before, this one crosses drum machines, wah-bass, stylophone, harmonica, percussion, guitar and keyboards to birth an odd electro-punk upstart, with aspects of UK DIY outfits like Storm Bugs et al alongside punk takes on 70s Miles, skewed auto-destructive keyboard shuffles and insistent minimalist motifs. (Volcanic Tongue)"
Language of the Court (SOR17) Ilk - OUT OF PRINT
Collodion Positives: Volume 3 (SOR16) Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
"New 2008 third volume of this on-going collaboration series between Youngs and fellow Ilk member Andrew Paine, released in a limited run on Paine’s own Sonic Oyster Records. The sound here seems focussed more towards late-60s/early-70s electric jazz, with keyboards pushed to the fore and basslines rendered with the kind of squonk quotient that sounds most like On The Corner-era Miles Davis or some of the wiggier, plugged in Sun Ra material. Richard plays shakuhachi, electric bass guitar, percussion and keyboards. Andrew plays electric guitar, electric bass guitar and keyboards. (VT)."
2007
A Glasgow Wassail (SOR15) - Various Artists - OUT of PRINT
Treenails (SOR14) - Andrew Paine & Alistair Crosbie
"Very beautiful limited release from two of Glasgow’s premier bedroom avantists, the best of their collaborations to date. Sounding quite unlike anything these two have done before, Treenails is a beautiful, lugubrious setting of melancholy piano works that sounds somewhere between the lost-afternoon feel of solo Matt Krefting and Christina Carter and the lonesome atmospherics of the Vikki Jackman/Andrew Chalk material. There are glissing single notes so irradiated with subtle F/X that they almost sound transparent and little honeyed, awkward Feldman/Partch-esque melodies that appear to hang suspended in mid-air somewhere deep within the most subliminal aspects of the mix. It’s a very beautiful creation and a landmark UK primitive/drone record in much the same way that John Clyde Evans’s [For: ht/rp/j&s] was all those years ago." (VT)
Collodion Positives: Volume 2 (SOR13) - Richard Youngs & Andrew Paine
"This one picks up on the more abstract fourth world free jazz and improvisation style of volume one, with Paine on acoustic guitar, electric bass, piano and keyboards and Youngs on shakuhachi, percussion, harmonica and glockenspiel. There’s still a touch of The Sea Ensemble to the way breath and small single tones are combined in subtly psychedelic patterns and some of Youngs’ shakuhachi work touches on the exploratory moves of Sabu Orimo but it’s all pretty singular, with stately, slow moving pieces that have a nicely stoned/hallucinatory Gamelan feel." (VT)
Mekonium Reaktor(SOR12) - Andrew Paine
"Excellent new solo guitar album from frequent Richard Youngs collaborator Andrew Paine. This is one huge laminal guitar construct that takes off on a vaguely Keith Rowe-esque tangent of bowed/e-bowed guitar strings before the sizzle of lead guitar and the gravity of overloaded pick-ups fixes the whole thing to the ceiling in a mass of competing fuzz architectures. Definitely a touch of Matthew Bower to the delirious high-end shots at heaven feel of the more rock-informed passages but there are also hints of Keiji Haino, Mazzacane Connors and even the flashing Industrial stasis of MEV." (VT)
Rock Traveller(SOR11) - Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
"Electrocuting bass/guitar psych monoliths that are as fuzz-fixated as Sound Of Confusion-era Spacemen 3, Skullflower-esque hurricane rhythms and extended trance-inducing feedback/electronic hoverings."(VT)
The Starling Post (SOR10) - Andrew Paine
"Looks back to his first ever release with a set of traditional folk songs given a psychedelic overhaul using shortwave radio, harmonica, singing bowl, kazoo and electric guitar. Features deep, tranced takes on material like "God Bless The Master", "The Unquiet Grave", "The Whitby Lad", "Bonny Cuckoo" and more."(VT)
Blue Fires(SOR09) - Andrew Paine - OUT of PRINT
Roman Concrete: Volume I (SOR08) - Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
"Here the duo use vocals, guitar, keyboards and programming to launch a series of eight intensely detailed paranoiac sci-fi fantasies that sound somewhere between early Nurse With Wound (with the combination of cut-up malevolent vocals and deep-field drones evoking work circa Homotopy To Marie in particular), the more electronic prog stylings of Ilk, early Youngs vocal pieces like the Train Tickets/Postage Stamps series, Creel Pone-esque experiments in concrete sound, Steve Reich’s Different Trains, Throbbing Gristle, harsh power tone and nightmarish, almost Disinformation-styled electronic hypnosis. Easily one of the darkest, evocative and plain weird releases from Youngs and Paine to date."(VT)
After Solstice Days (SOR07) - Andrew Paine
"Some very heavy proto-Japanese string fluxing here, from stinging acid-peak leads through watery, sub-aqueous tones and full-on amp humping, this is a thrilling ride from start to finish."(VT)
2006
The Memory Plain (SORO6) – Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs - OUT of PRINT
Forest of Swords (SOR05) – Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs - OUT OF PRINT
Phosphorous (SOR04) – Andrew Paine & Alistair Crosbie - OUT of PRINT
1958 (SOR03) – Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs - OUT OF PRINT
Santos (SOR02) – Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs - OUT OF PRINT
Collodion Positives: Volume 1 (SOR01) – Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs - OUT OF PRINT
All titles available from Volcanic Tongue (volcanictongue.com), Fusetron Records (fustronsound.com),Monorail Music(www.monorailmusic.com), Time-Lag Records (www.time-lagrecords.com) and eclipse-records(www.eclipse-records.com)
Zenith - ILK (NO FANS)
First ILK album, released in 1998 on Richard Youngs No Fans label. Available through SOR for £5.00.
This album was conceived whilst journeying through and across the West Coast of Scotland, Summer 1997.
All titles written by Paine / Youngs.
Richard plays bass guitars, classical guitar, flute, keyboard, sleighbells, violin and voice.
No mellotrons were harmed during the recording of this album.
In Coming
Functions of Hedgerow - Andrew Paine
Project 5 - Andrew Paine & Richard Youngs
PAYPAL
The CDR releases cost 5GBP each.
IMPORTANT - as CDRs can be copied very easily, SOR does not offer a money-back guarantee but we will, of course, replace faulty product. NEW POSTAGE & PAYPAL INFORMATION - CDRS - In the UK, please add 50p towards p&p for one disc, £1 for 2 or more. Outside the UK, please add £1 towards p&p for one disc, £2 for 2 or more.
I always get proof of posting for my parcels but I cannot be held responsible for anything that goes missing in the mail - UK customers can add 85p onto the total cost for recorded delivery if they wish. Overseas customer’s who want insurance etc on their parcels, contact me in advance to arrange this. If you require a quantity of any title(s), please contact me.
Paypal is preferred - the address is sonicoysterrecords (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) uk. This is also the address if you wish to make contact for any other reason or you can message me here.
The Zero Map "Found on the Streets" comes in an edition of 50 individually hand painted and numbered copies on cdr. The Zero Map "Found on the Streets" out now on apollolaan
I'm setting up my tent in the Valley of Ultrahits.... Wonderful stuff... Hope this finds ye well. I too have been playing plenty of The Blue Nile.... Take care D
Click link above to listen to samples and order - $9.95 + s&h
Tampa Taiko is a professional drumming duo that has performed their unique style for a vast array of audiences, performing at festivals, concert halls, schools, workshops, summer camps, corporate and VIP events. Using a collection of taiko drums made by themselves from discarded wine barrels, Tampa Taiko has developed a dynamic fusion of old and new styles of drumming, bringing a contemporary vibrance to an ancient martial artform.
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
Hi from Fruits de Mer Hope you're enjoying our new versions of Caravan's 'Love Song With Flute' plus The Zombies' 'Care of Cell 44' - out now on ludicrously-limited psychedelically-swirly colour vinyl...
THE FIVE ACES ROCKIN’ DANCE PARTY. This Sunday 28th June at Oran Mor a night of rockin’ soul, rock n’ roll and rhythm & blues featuring live music from The Five Aces, The Bottleneckers and The Privates Hammond Orchestra. Mikey Collins will be DJing which makes this an unofficial pre club to the last night of the mod weekender. Tickets £5. Doors at 7pm, 1st band onstage at 7.45pm sharp Last band offstage by 10pm latest.
fool that I am, I'm giving away my new live EP for absolutely NOWT.
'tis known as TOTAL DISINTEGRATION THERAPY – get it for nothing by clicking on the cover below and heading to megaupload.
this is the first guanoman release to feature guest musicians - my good friends jaquinho and stewbeard provide lashings of noisy and erotic guitar action on the last tune. the rest is real-time live-in-the-living room stuff. three new tunes, one old.
