“This collaborative release presents three immersive movements of avant-electronics full of unexpected tonal contrasts and shifts in intensity. Powered by modular synthesis, “concrete” assemblage technique and a pervasive desire to work with the full spectrum of sound. Tokokawa is the product of its two producers’ commitment to a dynamic, ever-renewing sense of aesthetics.” (Thomas Bey William Bailey)

Composed from 2023 to 2024, these three pieces present a deep dive into the murky and turbulent world where analogue electronic sound sources are driven hard and without mercy into an entirely contemporary setting that’s at once commanding and convoluted. Vast torrents of apparently untamed noise are reshaped alongside iridescent whirrs, metallic scrapes, shimmering tones, space flotsam, deep well chimes, front line pulses and heaving hums over the course of three magnificent pieces that pull confrontational music inside-out to expose a kind of ravaged beauty. Tokokawa is the result of two very unique artists pulling together to share a vision mercilessly singular yet possessed of an ability to communicate far beyond as it stakes its claim to its own place on the map of sonic abstraction.

Malaysia’s Reverse Image also released the excellent debut The Silence That Does Not Exist CD in mid-2023, plus founder Siew Y’ng-Yin used to operate the renowned Mirror Tapes imprint (which ran during 2010 and 2011 and released albums by The New Blockaders, Maurizio Bianchi, Conrad Schnitzler and others). Early 2024 also saw the release of the debut Beyond the Flat Earth CD by her fiery and intense electronics project Fallen Sun. Thomas Bey William Bailey, meanwhile, has released numerous cassettes and CDs since his debut Strangelet album in 2009 and has collaborated with many artists since, including Susana Lopez, Rick Reed, Leif Elggren and others. His most recent album, Metaphysics of Autonomous Shadows, appeared in 2023. He is also known for having had books published, including the recent Sonic Phantoms co-authored with Barbara Ellison on Bloomsbury.

'Tokokawa' is limited to 300 and is shipping from 5 July 2024.

Available to purchase now. Please note that the first 20 direct orders will also receive a bonus copy of Reverse Image's debut 'The Silence That Does Not Exist' CD or a copy of Thomas Bey William Bailey's 'Metaphysics of Autonomous Shadows' CD. The slightly higher postage allows for this.

The CD can also be included in the ongoing 7 x CD deal found elsewhere in the shop (or the 3 x CD extension also in the shop).

Listen to 'Ama-No-Gawa' from the CD here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJVlm8vfnZM