Cat #: 147TZM
Split label release with Muzai Records, Genjing Records and Bomb Shop.
Tag: vinyl
Seahorse Divorce – 13th September 2013
Cat #: 142TZM
All life on Earth began innocently in the primordial, prenatal waters of creation, and so too it was that love drew its first delicate and vulnerable breath. If you have known love you will be aware of the terrible pounding and crushing pressure pushing all oxygen from your chest, leaving you gasping for air and looking to take up the nearest sharp object and carve gills into your neck. This is the spirit of the ocean calling to your most ancient protozoan ancestral memory, speaking its most primal intuition and evoking a near implacable yearning to drown yourself in the nearest body of water.
Consider this, then, the conceptual crux of the debut LP from regenerate Brisbane dandies Seahorse Divorce; 11 tracks of unfettered, unapologetic and organic affection prevailing in the face of the invariable estrangement and painful separation of life. Lacking ulterior motive or any concept of predestination, the songs are offered in homage to the other, the oft-ignored remainder after opposing and dominating forces of creative or emotional obviousness wear themselves thin.
Left, then, to wander through an ever-shifting landscape of light and darkness in search of hearth and hospice, as street urchins Seahorse Divorce simultaneously abandon and are abandoned by the bygone progenitors that first gave them life, and yet are clearly distinguished and inescapably marked by their genetic and cultural heritage.
Recorded live, Sun Distorted, punk in intent but never in form, it is unlikely that Seahorse Divorce is the proselytizing litany of a new age but have stranger things not happened?
Bone – For Want of Feeling – 16th August 2013
Cat #: 141TZM
Bone’s debut album, For Want of Feeling is an unrelenting 42-minute march into the abyss. The band have cited depression as the major influence in the writing process, it’s not hard to hear the black dog barking in the ultra-grumpy guitar riffs and death row drum beats. it’s a cold, disturbing recording, but it’s undeniably powerful stuff.
Dear Eloise – The Winter That Disappeared – 17th May 2013
Cat #: 136TZM
Since their inception in 2008, Beijing alchemists Dear Eloise have issued a steady stream of releases from their home studio that have been well-received by fans and critics alike despite shying away from performing live (they do not) and courting the media (they do not do that, either), instead quietly giving flight to their indelible fuzz-soaked concoctions and letting them speak for themselves.
“The Winter That Disappeared,” the duo’s fourth 7” on tenzenmen (and seventh release overall), is a departure from the playful shoegaze-influenced pop purity of their earlier work, tacking down a darker path with two self-produced cuts pressed on emerald-green vinyl.
“Vanishing Winter,” the A-side, forcefully announces itself with multi-instrumentalist Yang Haisong’s rhythmic ice-brittle guitar anchored by a trotting bass. In the background, a second unleashed guitar taps out bright arpeggios and Sun Xia’s disembodied ethereal voice rises and falls—nowhere and everywhere. And that ever-present fuzz glows like banked coals.
Behind the omniscient crackling and hissing like crossed wires from a supernatural radio transmission, the simple chord progressions and ghostlike vocals of the B-side, “The Place in White Light,” attempt to penetrate the dissonant wall like green springtime shoots. But they don’t—the static thickens and grows increasingly anxious before the rhythm section, a dirgelike bassline and percussive fills, are abruptly swallowed and extinguished like a candle snuffed by an unworldly presence.
Sete Star Sept/Umbilical Tentacle – 14th April 2013
Cat #: 137TZM
Splatter vinyl release for SSS visit to Australia for Obscene Extreme Festival in Melbourne.
Michael Crafter/Clowns – 1st April 2013
Cat #: 139TZM
Split 7″ vinyl for April Fools.
Keeping up with tenzenmen – 16th February 2013
Why are you receiving this email? Probably because you downloaded something free from the tenzenmen bandcamp! Feel free to unsubscribe but please don’t register complaints indicating you were never asked to join this list 🙂
Tough Life
After a six week break around October last year it’s been really tough to get back into the swing of things and it’s only now I’m starting to get back on top of it all. There is a LOT in the pipeline for this year (and as you can see below there’s been quite a few releases already!) so I think this newsletter will probably be quarterly this year to save me a little more time! Keep up with the latest news in all the usual ways – at the website, facebook etc.
Skip Skip Ben Ben – Sacrifice Mountain Hills CD
Out now!
Ben Ben (Boyz & Girl) heads out with her new band, release and familiar dreamy fuzz-pop.
Cartavetro – Here It Comes, Tramontane! LP+CD
Out now!
Italian DIY indie rockers recruited Mike Watt for help on this great slab of vinyl.
Fun – 1/3 7″
Out now!
First of 3 7″s from our fiendish noise rock drinking buddies in Finland.
The Gar – The City of Burning Identities CD
Out now!
The Gar are legends in Beijing and finally produce a new 6 track EP for your listening pleasure.
Chui Wan – White Night CD
Out now!
Experimental psyche rockers from Beijing with their debut release.
Nick Van Breda/zzzounds – Split 7″
Out now!
Two super famous Sydney rockers go acoustic for a clear seven inches. Also available in black.
Noise from China- 2xCD
Out now!
Only the 2nd ever collection of experimental noise from China, compiled by legendary organiser Yan Jun from Subjam.
Dear Eloise – I’ll Be Your Mirror wood backed 7″
This sold out on the day of release but you can still listen and download digital
Daighila/Grinding Halt – Split 7″
Out now!
Malaysian screamo legends Daighila team up with the Netherlands noise monsters Grinding Halt
Birdstriking – CD
Out now!
Debut album from Beijing Indie punks Birdstriking – vinyl soon available thru Anton Newcombe’s A label.
Mr Graceless – The Tree Ever Green CD
Out now!
Dynamic Beijing indie that sold out quickly – now back in stock.
White+ – CD
Out now!
Beijing experimentalists with one of the most appreciated CD releases of 2012 – easily the biggest seller so far!
X is Y – Never Sever/LP CD
Out now!
Double disc from this mathy Shanghai trio – brings to mind Pinback and other Rob Crow genius.
Bamodi – Smell Heaven LP
Out now!
Crazy Japanese influenced Perth punks. FFO: Rudimentary Peni
Quiet Steps – Dying Livers/Secular LP+CD
Out now!
Brisbane’s Quiet Steps come from a long line of Brisbane indie bands wowing Aussie ears over the last 5 years.
Michael Crafter/SMG – split 7″
Out now!
Malaysian grindcore legends meet Aussie semi-legends! Mad thrashing!
Stellarium – CD
Out now!
Debut album from Singapore freak out psychedelic fuzzlords!
Eurpides Berserker – digital discography
Out now!
Made when Dave Drayton (Milhouse, zzzounds etc) was just a baby, banging out ideas quick smart!
Fat City/LuXinPei – Super Split CD
Available now!
Two exciting Chinese experimental groups across 2 discs. FFO: xNOBBQx, Breakdance the Dawn
New photographs
Ted Danson With Wolves at Black Wire
My pictures are pretty much up to date these days!
Check them out and post some comments to let me know what you think.
You can find all my pix here.
Packaging options
Maybe you didn’t know that tenzenmen also stocks Stumptown Arigato packs for CD, tape and 7″!
Plenty of stock available again now!
This month’s special
Hinterlandt – Migration Motion Movement
Get yourself 50% off Hinterlandt’s beautiful CD Migration, Motion, Movement. 3 long pieces that never sit still taking you on the journey of the artist moving from Germany to Australia. Enter the code ‘mmm’ at check out!
Offer valid til 1st April 2013.
Nick Van Breda/zzzounds – 1st January 2013
Cat #: 127TZM
Since a teenage Nick van Breda taught a ten-year old Dave Drayton sax at the local primary school, their musical paths have continued to cross. Whether it was their previous bands and other projects (Animal Shapes, Lights Out, Between The Devil & The Deep, Milhouse) sharing bills, or playing together in the sadly too short-lived North Shore HC act Rich Kid$ the two haven’t been far apart.
Finally, after years of plugging away at their solo endeavours – Nick under his own name, and Dave under the zzzounds moniker – the two team up for a split release on 7” vinyl via Tenzenmen Records.
Each contributing one track, both inspired by Dave’s move into the basement of Nick’s house, and recorded by Nick over a weekend in a beach house on the New South Wales south coast, this split shows two unique approaches to the solo songwriter mode with a guitar, a voice, and little more.
Pressing limited to 100 black (with black stamped cover), 100 clear (with red stamp cover), and 5 test presses.
All hand numbered and assembled.
Dave & Nick thank Dylan Adams, Jono Barwick, Annie Walter, Carlc, and Shaun Tenzenmen.
zzzounds.bandcamp.com
nickvanbreda.bandcamp.com
Recorded at Potato Point over a weekend in 2011 by Nick van Breda.
Mixing & mastering by Dylan Adams at Free Energy Device Studios.
Label and stamp design by Annie Walter.
Keeping up with tenzenmen – 15th August 2012
New titles
Snapline – Future Eyes CD
Out now!
Martin Atkins (PiL/Pigface) produced sophomore album for Snapline
Snapline – Phenomena CD/LP
CD out now!
Snapline’s darker re-imagining of their sophomore recording. Vinyl coming soon.
Make More – Less Deaths digital single
Available now!
Precursor to a full-length vinyl release from these Brisbane favourites.
Automating/Torturing Nurse – Contest to Kill 100 People tape
Out now!
Australia’s Automating offers up drone whilst China’s Torturing Nurse bursts forth with harsh noise in a contest to kill everyone!
Jagernaut/Terlarang – split 7″
Out now!
Two crusty thrashers from Greece and Malaysia and available on 3 different coloured vinyls!
New photographs
IDYLLS at Hamilton Station Hotel
I actually managed to get quite a few new sets up last month!
Check them out and post some comments to let me know what you think.
You can find all my pix here.
Packaging options
Maybe you didn’t know that tenzenmen also stocks Stumptown Arigato packs for CD, tape and 7″!
Stock is getting low so get in quick!
This month’s special
V/A – Give and Take
Get yourself a whopping 80% off the Give & Take compilation from Malaysia – a great and varied mix of alternative music from the heart of South East Asia – I really wish I was going there again this year! Enter the code ‘givetake’ at check out!
Offer valid til 1st September.
Your feedback is always appreciated.
Nikko – Gold and Red – 3rd July 2012
Cat #: 106TZM
‘Gold & Red’ is an album characterised as much by its melodic grace as by its pervasive sense of doom – recorded in the cavernous orchestral hall of Brisbane’s historic Old Museum with Cameron Smith (Velociraptor, No Anchor), mixed by Aaron Cupples (The Drones, Paul & Dan Kelly, SNOWMAN) and mastered by Nao Anzai (Laura, Because Of Ghosts, These Hands). The nine songs here recognise a growing maturity and depth that has been brought to life by the considered approach to the compositions.
NIKKO:
Ryan Potter – vocals, electric & acoustic guitars
Sam Whiting – bass
Jackson Briggs – electric guitar, slide
Blair Westbrook – drums, percussion
Piano by Daniel Kassulke
Violin by Adam Cadell
Cello by Elanor Khan
Recorded by Cameron Smith at The Old Museum & Browning Street Studios in Brisbane, June/July 2011
Mixed by Aaron Cupples
Mastered by Naomune Anzai at Reel 2 Real Mix Master
Photography by Archie Moore
Layout & Design by Sam Whiting & Bronte Coates, with thanks to Trent Evans
Special thanks to Daniel Kassulke, Cam Smith, Nao Anzai, Adam Cadell, Elanor Khan, Jacinta Walker, Trent “Big Dog” Evans, Shaun Tenzenmen, Bronte Coates, Luke Smith, Tom Noakes & all of our wonderful friends & family, anyone who’s ever bought a recording, come to a show or let us sleep on their floor, and the Brisbane & Australian independent music community. Cheers!
1994ever 