Bandcamp Reviews: Natural Information Society and Bitchin Bajas, Darren Tate, and William Tyler
Every Friday, I plan to buy one or two "new to me" releases on Bandcamp. ”New to me” is something I just now discovered or finally bought. Whether it be from 1972 of 2025. I will then listen to these releases for a couple of days and then post my unfiltered thoughts*. So, at the very least there should be a post a week (with some exceptions of course).
*there is no such thing as bad music – just music you dislike. So you won't ever see me saying something is bad etc – just why it didn't work for me.
Totality by Natural Information Society and Bitchin Bajas
I have been a fan of Natural Information Society / Josh Abrams since I lived in Chicago in the early 2000s. But I must admit, I did not fully get his work until very recently. One day it just made sense.
First and foremost, Josh Abrams is a Jazz composer and musician but like any great Jazz artist, he bends and stretches the genre. His work can be straight forward, improvisational/out there and what I can only call ambient Jazz (not to be confused with Acid Jazz). Where Josh Abrams ends and Natural Information Society begins isn't clear – as it is an improvisational group in its own right that takes direction from Abrams.
So what is ambient Jazz? In this context, it is droney, slow, shimmering sound/melodies, jazz instrumentation/playing and fourth world influence. What you are left with a highly hypnotic and sometimes groovy journey through newly constructed worlds.
Bithin Bajas is essentially the indie/lofi/experimental rock equivalent of Natural Information society. Their collaboration makes sense and enhances the output from both artists. It is hard to determine who is doing what on this release but in my mind, Bitchin Bajas brings the drone/psychedelia while Natural Information Society merges these forays into Jazz based Fourth World creations.
As for the album, it is a reminder that ambient can utilize beats and incorporate many different styles. While the music is active, it never feels aggressive or in your face. Instead the music flows and takes the listener through a journey that begins in an ambient shimmer and ends in jazz redefined.
Essential
No Longer Here by Darren Tate
My first forays into drone were through the English Drone Lords, Darren Tate, Colin Potter and Jonathan Coleclough. It must been around 1998 that I was introduced by Dan@33 degrees to the drone super group, Monos. Which for that release, was all three of the folks mentioned above. Which of course led me to pursuing their solo endeavors except for Darren Tate. The reason for this was simple, his releases were near impossible to find and when you did, they were expensive (especially for someone only a couple years out of college). However, the glory of the digital revolution has remedied that. Many, if not all, of these rarities are available on bandcamp and other places. Which of course brings me to this release – which also happens to be the first Darren Tate I have ever bought/owned.
So what did I mean about English Drone Lords? Why does the country of origin matter? And why lords? To answer this, I am going to assume that the reader is familiar with the England's Hidden Reverse. As that answers all those questions. That is, this music is rooted in the esoteric and there is a darkness here that cannot be found in other drone compositions. As if the artist's are channeling forbidden knowledge into their drones. As Coil has said, this is moon musick.
"No Longer Here" is a masterclass in dronology. It is a composition of darkness, time, light and enigmatic drones. Though dark in nature, the sounds emitted are soothing and organic. As beneath the decay are sparkles and subtleties of hope - all wrapped in what feels like a journey. True cinema for your mind. This will not be my last Darren Tate purchase.
Essential
Time Indefinite by William Tyler
Every since I discovered the genre, Ambient Country, I have heard/seen the name William Tyler over and over. In all instances, it was clear that there was a lot of respect for William Tyler and that he was foundational to this genre. For whatever reason, I slept on this until I stumbled across his latest, Time Indefinite. What caught my attention was this quote by William Tyler:
“This is a mental illness record...It’s music about losing your mind but not wanting to, about trying to come back.”
This sounded like my current struggles and I wanted to hear a sonic interpretation of the experience - in search of connectivity with others I suppose.
I was blown away by this record – just amazed that I have not heard of this before. This is a seminal release - it sounds like nothing else. It is noise, country, ambient, prog, krautrock and so much more. I have read elsewhere that this is what William Tyler has always wanted to create and that the focus is not on technique but the emotional purity of the sound. Which I cannot I agree with more. As for the struggles, I definitely hear it but I also find solace in the compositions.
Essential
Photo by Daniel De Los Santos, “The Manor” Round Rock Texas