Damian Valles

Guitar and Drums.

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:42:00 -0400

I am very happy to announce the release of a split cassette with my good friend Alex Durlak. Full album stream and detailed information below.

Official press release:

Guitar and Drums is a split cassette from long-time collaborators Alex Durlak and Damian Valles. Each has created a series of experimental compositions using solely samples of the instruments they were best known for playing in their previous bands, as the title implies, guitar and drums respectively.

Durlak’s side contains three variations for “Strings”. Here he takes guitar and bass recordings and renders them into abstract tonal passages. Strings I opens up the side with phasing textures; notes slide and scrape, ebb and flow. By contrast, Strings II might be Durlak’s most melodic piece yet, a slow-paced suite with almost synth-like harmonics and organ drones which are hard to imagine as originating from electric guitars. However, any doubts that may have crept in to the listener are quashed by the last variation on the side. More scraping sounds and electrical buzzing crawl from the abyss only to decay back in on themselves. Complete with evolving arpeggiated patterns and epic sound arcs, the closer brings the trio full circle.

Valles’ side is comprised of two tracks using drum beds taken from recordings of bands he used to play in. A Drums starts with a rhythm that sounds as if it originates from heavy machinery. A dark hum creeps beneath, as if the mechanism is just starting to warm up. Halfway through, the piece starts to crumble and all tone disappears leaving only thunderous bangs and clangs, slowly churning to a stop. The second pieces begins with an extended, hazy drone that lumbers along until a heavy drum loop emerges then fades and disappears again. This is possibly Valles’ darkest material to date.

Limited edition of 100 copies now available here.

Sequence 4.

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 11:30:08 -0400

I am honoured, once again, to have contributed a track to the latest compilation put out by the wonderful futuresequence label/webzine. Check out my track, ‘Night Visions’, below and please don’t hesitate to download the entire, 42-track album, SEQUENCE4, which features many great artists!

PREORDER 'Nonparallel (In Four Movements)'.

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:18:52 -0400

‘Nonparallel (In Four Movements)’ is now available for preorder from Experimedia.

Complete Bundle Edition includes the LP, CD, poster, and instant download. Also available: Vinyl Edition, CD Edition, and Digital Download.

Mastered by Taylor Deupree
Design by Chris Koelle

Nonparallel (In Four Movements), is composed and arranged entirely from samples from the recordings of avant-garde Western classical composers and computer music released by the Nonesuch label in the 60s and 70s. In working with the material, Valles wanted to enter into its very lineage, to forge a dialogue with it, to both extrapolate something essential from it and contribute to its legacy by using it to create an original work some three decades later. Divided into four movements, it is a nuanced album of subtle complexities that took roughly three years to complete. The process started with recording small sections, randomly selected from pieces written and performed by the likes of Elliot Carter, William Bolcom, Charles Ives, Charles Wuorinen, Stefan Wolpe, et al. The source material was then carefully cut up, rearranged, stretched & heavily manipulated. In addition, the decision to sample directly from the original vinyl editions was important in order to capture the crackles and noises generated from the records themselves. In using them to create a backdrop for the new pieces, the intent is for the old sounds to mix with those generated from the newly pressed work to create another aspect to the overall soundscape. A striking departure from Damian’s previous recorded output, “Nonparallel” is equal parts anthropology and alchemy, at once documenting the prescience, relevance and richness of his chosen source material and creating something bracingly new from it.

Monuments and Ruins.

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:21:00 -0400

So, after months of keeping it somewhat of a secret, I am very pleased to announce the release of ‘Monuments and Ruins’ (cover photo by Jürgen Heckel shown above). Released by Textura, it is a split CD with the wonderful artist Ben Chatwin, aka Talvihorros and was mastered by James Plotkin. A more detailed description and pre-order info regarding the release can be found here.

Nonpreview.

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:42:00 -0500

Jeremy Bible has compiled this wonderful mix for Headphone Commute. Included is a track from my upcoming release, Nonparallel (In Four Movements). It will be released on LP and CD via Experimedia later this year and is currently being mastered by Taylor Deupree. As well, Chis Koelle will be designing the artwork. More info on this and other exciting release info soon!

Experimedia - Headphone Commute Mix by Headphone Commute on Mixcloud

2011/2012...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:56:00 -0500

So, I thought I would attempt to recap 2011 as I feel it was a banner year for me on so many different levels:

First and foremost, the highlight of the year (by a landslide) was the birth of my son, Archer Brian Valles. My beautiful wife, Heidi, gave birth to this wonder on the morning of November 24th and it’s already hard to imagine what life was like without him. I do make a point to keep this site dedicated, primarily, to artistic endeavours without revealing anything too personal; however, I couldn’t start without mentioning one of the greatest achievements I could ever strive toward.

Secondly, as I am going over what 2011 meant to me as an artist, I am completely blown away by all of the opportunities that allowed me to create and release so much music. It was, without a doubt, my most prolific year so far - two full length’s (Fixtures & Skeleton Taxa), two EP’s (The Waves That Destroy & Old Tin Will Cry), five compilation appearances (Hidden Landscapes, Just A Moment, Kanshin, Sequence 1, & Sequence 2), and a couple of collaborations (The Clyde Parker Project Session 4 & A Silent Swaying Breath). In addition, I was able to produce my first musical score for the short documentary, Three Walls.

I owe a huge amount of gratitude to these fine people who facilitated such output and have shown great support to my music, without them the aforementioned would not have been possible: Gabriel Carazo (Leftfield Recordings), Jonathan Thompson (Drifting Falling), Jonathan Lees (Hibernate Recordings), Timo David Brice (Twisted Treeline/Somehow Recordings), Harry Towell (Audio Gourmet), Michael Waring (futuresequence), Daniel Crossley (Fluid Radio/Stashed Goods), Jeremy Bible (Experimedia), Ron Schepper (Textura), Alex Durlak (Standard Form), Zaheed Mawani and Heidi Hazelton.

Furthermore, it looks like 2012 is already shaping up to be another great year with many projects starting to take form. Unfortunately, it’s still too early to divulge any details, but I am particularly excited about a split release with an artist I really respect. Also, there are a few solo releases in the works, including vinyl, as well as a couple of collaborative efforts. 2012 will also see the emergence of Boars (a group consisting of myself, Alex Durlak, and Jeff McMurrich) and Komino Records (an experimental label founded by Standard Form alumni).

Lastly, I will end this post with my favourite releases of the year. I found it extremely difficult to choose a “top ten” so I decided to make it a “top twenty” and that wasn’t any easier, but I had to stop somewhere. I also made a separate “top ten” for hip hop releases. I’ve always been an avid listener of hip hop and this year there seemed to be a ton of really great records. Anyway, thanks for reading and happy new year!

20 favourite releases of 2011:
01. The Necks - Mindset
02. Chris Watson - El Tren Fantasma
03. Loren Connors - Red Mars
04. James Blackshaw - Holly EP
05. Demdike Stare -Elemental Pt. 1 & 2
06. Bill Callahan - Apocolypse
07. Talvihorros - Descent Into Delta
08. Sandro Perri - Impossible Spaces
09. Fire! w/ Jim O’Rourke - Unreleased?
10. Æthenor - En Form For Blå
11. Roly Porter - Aftertime
12. Simon Scott - Bunny
13. Locrian - The Clearing
14. Lawrence English - The Peregrine
15. Picastro & Nadja - Fool, Redeemer
16. Andy Stott - Passed Me By/We Stay Together
17. The Haxan Cloak - S/T
18. Mika Vaino - Life…(It Eats You Up)
19. Sphereleus - Voyage
20. Hummingbird - Our Fearful Symmetry Remixes

10 favourite hip hop releases of 2011:
01. Oddisee - Rock Creek Park
02. R.E.K.S. - Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme
03. Random Axe - S/T
04. Action Bronson - Dr. Lector
05. Action Bronson & Statik Selekteh - Well Done
06. MED - Classic
07. Roc Marciano + Gangrene - Greneberg EP
08. The Dopplegangaz - Lone Sharks
09. Torae - For The Record
10. Danny Brown & Black Milk - Black & Brown

December 31, 2011.

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:59:23 -0500

December 31, 2011.

Official video for the track, ‘Bones Made Out Of...

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:41:00 -0500

Official video for the track, ‘Bones Made Out Of Bone’. (from Skeleton Taxa released on Drifting Falling, 2011)
Directed by Zaheed Mawani.
Cinematography by Igor Drljaca.
Footage courtesy of Andrea Bussmann.

Sequence2.

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:03:00 -0500

Once again, UK based webzine, futuresequence have compiled an impressive 43 track compilation entitled, ‘SEQUENCE2’. Included in the fantastic track list (which includes contributions by wonderful artists like Maps and Diagrams, Seaworthy, Nils Frahm + Anne Muller, Jannick Schou, Felicia Atkinson, Josco etc…) is an exclusive piece by yours truly. Listen to ‘Lake Effect’ (which features vocal accompaniment by Heidi Hazelton) below and download the whole album here. It is FREE after all!

Lake Effect by Damian Valles

Birch/Pasture.

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:30:05 -0400

Birch/Pasture.

Sequence1.

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:02:36 -0400

The webzine Futuresequence recently released a massive compilation celebrating their first year anniversary. With 42 tracks in total, it encompasses a selection of great artists who have been contributing to the experimental/electronic landscape in recent years; while giving props to many independent labels who work so hard putting their albums out into the ether. Also, it’s even more amazing because the whole thing is being given away as a FREE DOWNLOAD! I was graciously asked to be included and submitted an exclusive track. Enjoy!

&amp;lt;a href=”http://futuresequence.bandcamp.com/track/court-whisperings” _mce_href=”http://futuresequence.bandcamp.com/track/court-whisperings”&amp;gt;Court Whisperings by Damian Valles&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Skeleton Taxa.

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:14:00 -0400

My new CD, entitled ‘Skeleton Taxa’, was officially released through the wonderful Drifting Falling imprint yesterday. Listen to samples here and here.

Release info:

Canadian musician, Damian Valles has been performing for more than a decade with bands that run the musical gambit from punk, post-hardcore and math rock to electronic and post-rock. Over the last two years he’s concentrated more on solo work, creating experimental ambient and drone based soundscapes.

With several releases already under his belt (a number of limited CD-R’s, a cassette, two Netlabel releases, and several compilation appearances), Skeleton Taxa, is Valles’ seventh release to date. It’s also his first “proper” full length CD and his first for the Drifting Falling imprint. Mastered by Taylor Deupree (12K), Skeleton Taxa is a return to sounds first explored on his debut release, Count(r)ies (Under the Spire), but with an even stronger emphasis on instrumentation and song structure as opposed to the drawn out drones and ambient pieces he’s explored in his recent work. Most of the tracks fall under five minutes and tend to have clear “parts” and passages, heavily guitar oriented with spatterings of piano, organ, field recordings and a healthy dose of percussive backdrops. The ambience and dronings are still present, but are there to fill out and carry the sound, rather than dominate the piece. Also, a new element is present on this release, the human voice, with samples and recordings of dialogue, manipulated or not, strewn throughout the course of the album. The track, “Bell And Arc”, features vocals by Damian’s wife, Heidi Hazelton.

Says Damian, “I feel like it’s my most accomplished work to date. The concept behind Skeleton Taxa is as a collection of individual pieces that work better as a whole, a patchwork of sorts. Some of the tracks have been sitting dormant for months to years, some are reworked tracks from a previous life, and some are fresh out of the box; hints of traditional song compositions intertwined with sound collage that, somehow, seem to fit together to create a cohesive ‘entity’ or ‘body’.”

This CD can be purchased directly from Drifting Falling or through these fine mailorder sites:
Experimedia
Norman Records
p*dis
Linus Records
n5md
Darla
Ear/Rational

Cape Walk.

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:04:27 -0400

Cape Walk.

August upcoming...

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:45:09 -0400

I am excited to announce that I have two new releases coming out in the month of August. First up is a three-inch “postcard” E.P. for Somehow Recordings sister label, Twisted Treeline. It is called ‘Old Tin Will Cry’ and will be available on August 04/2011 in a limited run of 100 copies only. The CD contains two pieces with a running time of just over 21 minutes.

Part Two (Phase Transition) by Damian Valles

The second release is a full length CD entitled, ‘Skeleton Taxa’, which will be released at the end of August via Drifting Falling. It was beautifully mastered by Taylor Deupree and comes housed in a full-colour digipak. More info regarding this release to come…

Bones Made Out Of Bone by Damian Valles

Sun missed.

Sat, 16 Jul 2011 09:24:54 -0400

Sun missed.

Free range.

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:25:16 -0400

Free range.

Kanshin Compilation.

Fri, 20 May 2011 10:29:15 -0400

Jointly curated by Daniel Crossley (Fluid Radio/Fluid Audio/Facture) and Jonathan Lees (Hibernate/Rural Colours) Kanshin is a two CD compilation album that presents a collection of sound design work from some of the scene’s finest artists from across the globe. It has been put together to raise money for the current recovery in Japan following March’s earthquake.

As the sensationalist media broadcasters find other things to talk about in the news, a huge recovery operation is still on-going as we speak. Many people have lost everything. So we decided to put together Kanshin so that via Ian Hawgood, 100% of profit from compilation sales will go directly towards the Japan recovery and on-going relief efforts. Ian lives in Japan and his wife is currently working with both the Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support organisation (JEARS) in Sendai and surrounding areas, as well as the Direct Help for Victims and Animals Rejected from Shelters in Japan group who are going up to areas which are not receiving government support for food, water, basic supplies, as well as rebuilding and cleaning up. By this means they are able to transport food, clothing and aid directly almost every other weekend and during holidays to areas which are not getting enough or any support. Ian’s wife has also arranged a house as a base in Sendai for volunteers and a temporary home for found animals who are then moved on through JEARS either to foster homes or animal centres. We felt that any funds we can send this way would probably have more of an immediate impact than donating via one of the larger UK charities.

Ian himself has contributed to the compilation in a collaboration with Peter Jørgensen and through 3 hours and some 30 tracks, the line up that comprises this album is surely as exciting as it gets…

This release is made possible by the generosity of all of the artists involved, Ian Hazeldine (Cover art), Wil Bolton (Mastering) and Damian Valles (Digital distribution).

More details Kanshin.co.uk

Pre-order CD

Digital Download via Bandcamp

Digital version will also been available through Standard Form soon…

Tracklist: 1. Clem Leek: Light Passage II (Grief) 2. Hummingbird: Dancing Shadows 3. Relmic Statute: Lopery 4. Scissors and Sellotape: Heal 5. P Jørgensen & Ian Hawgood: Isles 6. Wil Bolton: Lost In Transit 7. Field Rotation: A Pondering Silence 8. Caught In The Wake Forever: LiaFail (At Dawn) 9. Damian Valles: Clime 10. Library Tapes: May (Variation) 11. Yellow6: Repeat 12. Maps and Diagrams with Ylid: Again 13. Felicia Atkinson: Chaleur Vacante 14. Hessien: Flightless And Nocturnal 15. Yann Novak: 3 Surfaces Excerpt 16. Offthesky With Ten And Tracer: Therapy Refuge 17. Orla Wren With Katie English: Swallowtail Yellow 18. The Moving Dawn Orchestra: We’re Here 19. Spheruleus: Residue 20. The Silence Set: So Will Everything We Love 21. Aaron Martin & Machinefabriek: Utsutsu 22. Szymon Kaliski: And Longing 23. Jeremy Bible & Jason Henry: Grainslip 24. Bengalfuel: Gorgon 25. David Newlyn: Landscape (III) 26. Tom White: Bright Rooms 27. Listening Mirror: The Cause Of It All 28. Talvihorros – Perigee 29. Alex Durlak: Bellows 30. Antonymes: Kiotsuketene 31. Kyle Bobby Dunn: Britannia Into Morning

A Morning Missed.

Sun, 08 May 2011 07:38:10 -0400

A Morning Missed.

The Morning Mist.

Sat, 07 May 2011 08:10:59 -0400

The Morning Mist.

Untitled.

Sat, 30 Apr 2011 07:57:33 -0400

Untitled.