091107 Documentation

Scratchplate


Mitchell Brennan & Lachlan Gale


James Rushford & Joe Talia


Abela/Baxter/Grabowsky Trio


Lucas Abela


Paul Grabowsky

Sabbatical presents: Abela/Baxter/Grabowsky

Sabbatical presents another 'evening of excellence'. Globe-trotting glass abuser Lucas Abela is making a brief stop-off in Melbourne for a collaboration with percussionist Sean Baxter and feted pianist and composer Paul Grabowsky. The set brings the three disparate musicians together for a one-time meeting of their musical minds.

Rounding out the night will be performances from the incredible James Rushford & Joe Talia, the dream-like tones of Scratchplate and the interwoven duo of Mitchell Brennan & Lachlan Gale.

Seven dollars gets you in. Show starts at 8.30pm, sharp.

Reviews for PIVIXKI and James Rushford & Joe Talia

A couple of new reviews have surfaced recently for our last two releases.

Firstly, PIVIXKI's explosive self-title debut gets a rave write-up from Bob Baker Fish in Cyclic Defrost:

"fascinating, frenetic, and really something unique. The duo fuses together effortlessly, constantly moving, not afraid to startle and get a little musical alongside their naughty beds of atonal discordance." - Bob Baker Fish, Cyclic Defrost

Read the full interview here.

Secondly, James Rushford & Joe Talia's stunning release, Palisades, gets some love from Foxy Digitalis:

"This is a solid release, but I feel the last track makes this essential. 8/10" - Andrew Murdock Livingston, Foxy Digitalis

Read the full review here.

Vital Weekly review 'Palisades'

The European-based review staple, Vital Weekly, has reviewed Sabbatical's latest release, Palisades, from James Rushford & Joe Talia.

JAMES RUSHFORD & JOE TALIA - PALISADES
(CDR by Sabbatical Records)

From downunder, Melbourne to be precise are James Rushford and Joe Talia. Together they play prepared viola (Rushford) and spring tank, beatsink, cymbals, woodblock, floor tom (Talia). That I would have never guessed. The four pieces here are highly drone based and work extensively in the field of overtones. Lengthy sustaining music of long held tones, and with a strict minimum of changing the menu of sounds. Only in the third track things are stretched apart and we can note the scraping of viola. The fourth piece (all untitled) sees them exploring this further with sounds that swirl loosely in a mass of natural reverb. The music below sounds like it has been made with sine waves, but I guess it isn't. Highly refined music this is. No doubt created through improvisation, but then I guess this is not their first result in doing so. I think after hefty experimentation they came to these results. An excellent release at that. Great music at work here. (FdW)

Sign up to Vital Weekly here.

Palisades is available from Australian independent record stores or direct from us here.

Documentation: James Rushford & Joe Talia launch

Witness Girl


Fourth Impact


Anthea Caddy & Thembi Soddell


Jame Rushford & Joe Talia

Sabbatical presents: James Rushford & Joe Talia 'Palisades' launch

Thursday, 21 May Sabbatical presents the launch of our thirteenth series release, Palisades by Melbourne based duo James Rushford & Joe Talia (SBB013). This cavernous electroacoustic fabrication finds its heart in exploration of the unforeseen voices of their selected instrumentation and devices. These include prepared violas, autoharp, spring reverb tank, and various metal objects. The ensuing extended compositions incorporate elements of ethereal drone and instrumental concrète, with stasis as a recurring theme. James and Joe will be joined on this occasion by a series of duo performances from Thembi Soddell & Anthea Caddy, Forth Impact! and Witness Girl. Hosted by the Old Bar (74-76 Johnston Street Fitzroy Victoria), with doors opening at 8:30pm, action from 9pm, and six dollars in.

Palisades is released through Sabbatical on Monday, 18 May 2009 and will be available through the webstore on that day and in Australian independent record stores shortly thereafter.

Documentation: Juarez launch

Better late than never, here are some shots from the awesome Juarez Revontulet show at Gulag Projects last month. It was fantastic show with excellent performances from artists representing the past, present and future of the label.

Thanks to Jess for finding the time to launch her record during her brief return to Australia, thanks to all the artists for performing, and finally, thanks to the folk at Gulag Projects for hosting the show and continuing to run one of Melbourne's best performance spaces.


Dead Boomers - the Marco Fusinato curated 'Grappa Shots Set'

James Rushford & Joe Talia - their debut release Palisades is coming out next week on Sabbatical



Aux Assembly - a truly engaging performance from a group that were with us at the start



Juarez - Ms Pinney performed the kind of set that had the audience both on edge and completely in the palm of her hand



For a better understanding of the inspiration and processes behind her work as Juarez, read an interview with Jess on Mess + Noise.

Revontulet is available now through the webstore or at your local independent record store.