After a huge break, we are back with the 19th installment of our sporadic newsletter. When we started planning 2022 we were hoping for an exciting and promising year. Instead, we got another crisis taking place just a couple of hundred kilometers from Bulgaria’s borders. Releasing music or booking shows in times like these remain our only way to remain sane and offer us a much-needed escape from a world that has gone to shit. Remain humble, support those in need, and stay safe.
Comfort Club #3
The third issue of our annual zine is the most varied yet. Apart from interviews with some of the artists we booked last year, such as Maltash and Vanity Productions, it also contains conversations with the owner of experimental music store Tobira Records, our friends Valiska & Zenjungle, and Zhe Pechorin among many others.
This issue also contains columns by broadcasting overlord Tsvetan Tsvetanov (on podcasts) and Maxim Mokdad (on 90s nostalgia), a photo report of Sofia Дrone Day 2021 as well as an in-depth interview with artist and music collector Steve Cammack.
50 random copies of the zine come with a 90s-inspired OOHS! sticker set designed by Maxim Mokdad.
Get yours here.
Releases
Shrine & Mytrip “Descent” 7”
Released in January in alliance with Corvus Records, “Descent” is a two-track collaborative 7” vinyl between key Bulgarian ambient acts Shrine and Mytrip. Sharing a passion for loud and textural ambient sound, they delved deeper into organic sounds and looping tonal layers, which are intertwined with sparse industrial soundscapes.
“Descend” is available on digital and 7” here.
Jordan Christoff “Residues” CS (pre-order)
In Residues, the first solo full-length of Jordan Christoff for Amek, he succeeds in painting four monumental drone ambient pieces through subterranean bass drones, vast synths, and tamed abrasive noisescapes. Exploring the harsher and heavier drone ambient territories, he gives his typically dreamy and multi-layered music just the right amount of rawness and grit to allow the listener to remain not too detached from reality, while comfortably nestled in and breathing the sandy air of the pieces nestled within Residues.
Pre-order on tape and digital here. The full album drops on March 22.
Radio
In case you’ve missed the episodes of шумна неделя on Kanal 103 (Skopje) and Comfort Club on Black Rhino Radio (Bucharest) from the past few months, you can find them both here. The next episodes are airing on March 17 (Black Rhino Radio) and April 3 (Kanal 103).
Concerts
Things are slowly getting back to normal here in Sofia, and for the first time in we don’t know how long we have not one, but two concerts lined up!
Demetrio Cecchitelli, Dayin & Dwaal
As is our custom, we are going to have a show on March 16 at 20:00. The place is Fabrika Avtonomia and our special guest this year is the Italian multi-instrumentalist Demetrio Cecchitelli. It’s a prix libre show so don’t miss it.
Hiro Kone, Evitceles, Ivan Shopov & Vague Voices
On April 27 at 20:00 we will hold the release event for the new album by Evitceles. Before him, we will hear live sets by Ivan Shopov and Vague Voices. Special guest for the night will be New York-based musician Nicky Mao performing as Hiro Kone. It’ll be a very special night, so don’t miss it.
Get your advance tickets here.