Molten Strings, Train Wrecks and Birdsong

Almost two years in the making, "Molten Strings, Train Wrecks and Birdsong" is an expansive compilation loosely centered around sound made by stringed instruments. Strings are the primary sources of sound on all of these recordings, and the majority of the works are generated solely from them. The record offers a wealth of different approaches to these instruments. From the scathing, feedback blasts yielded by Fred Lonberg-Holm's cello and mini-amplifiers, to the dexterous blur of C. Spencer Yeh's violin fretwork, from the pastoral vistas of Peter Wright's Danelectro 12 string, to the billowy dirges of Birchville Cat Motel, Zaimph, Family Underground, and Taiga Remains Lending the record even further diversity are joyous bouzouki renderings from The North Sea, and damaged, eerie and beautiful contributions from Robert Horton and Brothers of the Occult Sisterhood. Presented together, the record is cohesive in the same way that the best compilations are, flowing effortlessly from track to track and, in the process, demonstrating the diversity and immense capability of all things stringed.

"A commendable, cohesive collection from this young Cincinnati imprint, specializing for the most part in limited edition CD-R's. The ten artists it collects - half with Students of Decay releases to their names, half without - accurately reflect the label's aesthetic, as implied in the title: a winning mixture of free noise, drone, freak folk, and unclassifiable post-everything improvisation. Robert Horton, Taiga Remains and Family Underground acquit themselves handsomely; Birchville Cat Motel, Brothers of the Occult Sisterhood, Peter Wright and The North Sea chime in handily. Standout contributions are a wincingly scratchy violin piece from Burning Star Core's C. Spencer Yeh, and Zaimph's 'Flying in Dark,' which echoes heavily with muffled overtones. Fred Lonberg-Holm's invigoratingly abrupt string wrangling improvisation caps a confident statement of intent from a promising label" - Nick Cain The Wire