The latest in Lost Map Records’ limited-edition series of Lost Cat cassette releases comes from architect of ambient-industrial electronic noise O/S/E ... aka ... Opalescent Shades of Excellence, the alter-ego of Somerset- based Richard Anderson – who has formerly made music under names including Amino People, Rich Amino, Clock and Black Palace. A series of “revised presentations for analogue tape” cryptically titled FEBRUARY 2017 =*mix2.3116a/b, it threads together hypnotic, trippy and harsh blasts of output from synthesisers, sequencers and other electronic devices with distant voice and birdsong samples.

A video for an excerpt of one of the recordings is available to watch, here ...

It’s a strange, disquieting and immersive listen, offering a sense of Richard’s deep interest in electronic music which has seen him curate Cherry Red Records’ acclaimed Close To The Noise Floor compilation series, chronicling the formative years of British and European electronica.

LOST CAT 009 - O/S/E (TAPE)

£6.00

This debut O/S/E release is limited to just 100 cassettes (with download codes), available to order exclusively from the Lost Map webshop. Previous releases in the Lost Cat cassette series – a platform for fringe, niche and unusual lo-fi audio curio by label artists and friends of the label – have come from Pictish Trail, Devonanon, Josie Long and Kid Canaveral.

By way of an introduction to himself and to FEBRUARY 2017 =*mix2.3116a/b, Richard offers the following, suitably mysterious list of facts:

O/S/E is no longer London-based.
O/S/E has, in the past, been associated with a number of other projects and recordings.
O/S/E may, on occasion, stand for Opalescent Shades of Excellence.
O/S/E is no longer Brighton-based.
O/S/E currently curates the Close to the Noise Floor compact disc brand.
O/S/E uses equipment manufactured by Korg, Alesis, Roland, Edirol, Behringer, Logitech, Apple, Boss, Sony, Vic Firth, Akai and Burnt Weenie.
O/S/E is no longer Kent-based.
O/S/E is the oldest of two children.
O/S/E maintains an interest in psychoanalysis, microscopy and Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
O/S/E has visited many countries and plans to visit many more.
O/S/E is currently Somerset-based.