We always enjoy finding cool new sound-sculptors out in the cyber world, especially when we can use this blog forum to turn other people on to some under-the-radar artists. We love it even more when those artists’ musical ventures make progress beyond their own self-run webpages.
Earlier this year, we featured Ukrainian drone-doomers Nonsun as they crept out of utter darkness with their Good Old Evil demo. Now they’ve found a pair of small label ventures, net-based Drowning and cassette fiends Breathe Plastic, interested in supporting the slo-mo duo. To celebrate, Nonsun worked up a new two-part piece to include on their official release, Sun Blind Me. Decibel caught up with Goatooth again to find out more about the band’s recent work and opportunities.
How did you get hooked up with Drowning and Breathe Plastic?
We started sending out emails and looking for a label at the end of 2012 when we put online our demo Good Old Evil. Drowning (net-label from Denmark) and Breathe Plastic (cassette label from the Netherlands) both were interested in releasing our demo but they had busy schedule with other releases until summer 2013. As the time passed and Good Old Evil was doing quite well as a self-release (we were keeping it available for free download on our Bandcamp), it became apparent that the summer release would need something new, since Good Old Evil already got quite not bad exposure. So we decided to do [an] alternate version of the first record and add some new stuff to a half of old material. It looked more attractive for both sides – us and the labels. And, of course, for the people who already loved our first demo and were expecting to hear something else.
Why the choice to release Nonsun tracks on cassette tape?
We would be happy to release them in every format possible and had no preferences when looking for a label. It’s turned out so just because Armand from Breathe Plastic liked our music and agreed to do the release. Though I personally have some nostalgic feelings towards cassettes, being introduced to heavy music through this format. There’s some specific more vital feel to the tape sound, compared to CD.
Why did you choose to pair your new work with a couple old pieces for this release? Was there a reason you didn’t record other new material before releasing this on tape and digitally?
It was kinda opposite. As I mentioned, our initial plan was to release songs from Good Old Evil demo and on that we agreed with Drowning and Breathe Plastic. So the idea to add some new material came a bit later. We had some recorded improvised stuff left out of the “Forgotten Is What Never Was” song recording session. From those recordings “Alphomega I & II” have been eventually created. We didn’t have any other new material recorded before releasing Sun Blind Me because we just didn’t have any entire song completed and prepared for recording. But hey, we don’t write template-structured 3-4 min tracks. Though we did work on new ideas at rehearsals.
How much input did you have in the artwork for the release? What’s your opinion of it?
The artwork has been made by Tobias Holmbeck. Danny from Drowning suggested that Tobias, with whom they collaborate, would make both a booklet for tape edition and a poster for Drowning free digital release. It’s turned out great, I really like how Tobias felt and reflected our music in the artwork. They fit each other very good, and the whole output seems very organic.
Was your partner, Alpha, involved in the new tracks?
Yes, there are drums in “Alphomega Part I”. Actually, this song was born out of some Alpha’s improvisations during the recording of “Forgotten…” He kinda suggested an idea which has eventually been developed into a nearly 20-minute “Alphomega” split in two parts. The title of the song pays reference to its originator, haha.
Anything else you want to talk about?
I would like to add that Sun Blind Me is more focused and organic in its entirety album compared to Good Old Evil. Some reviewers have already noted that “Rain Have Mercy” and “Forgotten Is What Never Was” kinda belong here more. They fit well with the two new ones. As I mentioned, these two new tracks, titled “Alphomega I & II”, were born out of some our improvisations made during the recording session of “Forgotten Is What Never Was”. And it was natural to place “Alphomega I & II” just after “Forgotten Is What Never Was”.
