As you know, I am a very important influencer whose word can sway many people in all kinds of directions. This is starting to be recognised, as recently I was offered review copies of these two records, which are from different labels but share PR. And I think there is an overlap to the aesthetic, so it makes sense to review them together.
Rosa Anschütz is a multimedia artist based in Berlin and Vienna. An intriguing detail in the press release for her record is that each track on the Votive album has an accompanying ceramic sculpture (some of which can be seen on her Bandcamp page). The record is meant to be the product of incantations and ritualistic behaviour; as the title suggests, they are meant to be votive offerings, albeit of a not entirely religious nature. This might not be entirely obvious if you didn't have the press release in front of you, but I think it would sound a bit spooky and mysterious. The nine tracks on the album combine Anschütz's voice with an electronic accompaniment, apparently based on her home-made modular synthesiser. There is also a separate version of the album with no vocals, should you find the human voice distracting. My overall verdict is that this is very much the kind of thing I like. I've already listened to this a lot and will do so more.
Listen for yourself on Bandcamp.
Late Bloøm meanwhile is the nom de guerre of one Simon Spiess, who has played with a number of other outfits who are unfamiliar to me because I live under a stone. I'm not sure where Mr Spiess is from, but the album was recorded in Denmark and Switzerland. Or rather albums - Along a Continuum is conceptually two separate but linked albums, Symphony Of Blooming Fields & Pulsing Planets and One Who Knows; these are available as separate cassettes or as digital items figured separately. Unlike Votive, there are no vocals here, but Late Bloøm also makes use of modular synths, as well as clarinet and saxophone, both I think played by Mr Spiess and both also subjected to a fair bit of treatment. The Late Bloøm records are not so goth-adjacent, but they are also offering ritualistic electronica, good if you are planning some meditative contemplation or entering a relaxed state.
The two sub-albums of Along a Continuum are available separately on Bandcamp:
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