Early this summer, Michael Kucyk announced that, after 13 years, Noise In My Head will make its final regular broadcast. His fabled radio shows have been highlighting record obsessives long before the “selector” or “digger” occupied such a mythologised space in the underground consciousness. He double-glazed our window into record culture and introduced us to some firm favourites including Lovefingers, the Music From Memory crew, Ruf Dug, Hunee, Andras Fox, Young Marco and Tornado Wallace. His consistency and stamina has been a real inspiration to us and his impact on the online radio and mix series landscape he steps away from, should not be underestimated.
Before this tribute is mistaken for a eulogy, Michael’s sad news is also joined by the prospect of more time to focus on his retrospective label Efficient Space. It’s been a restrained 2018 so far with just one release to account for, but they’ve still pulled out one of the year’s finest reissues in Waak Waak Djungi’s Waak Waak ga Min Min.
Following on is Le Raccourci an introduction to the music of French modern classical composer Sebastian Gandera. The 15-track anthology is compiled by Julien Dechery, who returns to the label after co-curating the art music, new wave comp Sky Girl. It collects recordings from 1988 to 1994, previously confined to Gandera’s extensive cassette discography and discarded DAT and only shared through intimate circles in the DIY scene. Constructed on a rudimentary set up of piano, field recorder, sampler and four track, there’s a clarity and sincerity to these recordings, penned by a humble, self-reflective songwriter. ‘Chienne De Vie’ is our album highlight, with the galvanising spirit of Chariots of Fire, ethereal poise of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and one part melancholic dignity of Ludovico Einaudi.
Le Raccourci is out 28th September and comes with original artwork from Perks and Mini’s Misha Hollenbach. Buy from Bandcamp.
