Southern Records’ Latitudes series continues with session recordings by Gang Gang Dance and Nadja, following a murderer’s row of releases by William Elliott Whitmore, Grails, Sir Richard Bishop, Bohren Und Der Club of Gore, Miasma and the Carousel of Headless Horses, White Magic, Mount Eerie, and others.
Recorded at Southern Studios, the Latitudes series reaffirms the bond between studio, label, and individual artists with the opportunity to record spontaneous, collaborative, or experimental work in the studio in a one-day session. The result is truly unique, offering a more personal and relaxed experience from bands to their fans.
The packaging itself is complementary of this, distributed in limited runs primarily through small independent distributors, mail orders, web shops, and retailers. The artwork for each cardboard CD case is personally embellished by the bands and framed within a template by cult musician/designer Stephen O’Malley (Sunn O)))). In addition, an artisan sleeve motif is designed by each band with an insert bearing the details of the session, along with a photograph from the tour or session.
Gang Gang Dance’s Kamakura consists of one 15-minute track, recorded in August of 2007. The group blends genres from indigenous to familiar Western forms, celebrating organic sound with non-verbal communications.
Sky Burial, by Nadja, is a 38-minute, two-track instrumental CD recorded in September of 2009. Appealing to fans of Sunn O))) and Pyramids, the two lengthy tracks are crushing yet ethereal, in the habit of the group’s usual doom-infused “dream sludge.”
Distribution for both recordings is limited to 1,000 hand-numbered, rubber-stamped CDs and 1,000 vinyls. Previous releases in the series, as well as upcoming recordings, can be found here.