Rusted Tone Recordings

01/08/2023

Things have been very quiet over here since winding down operations. there is a 50% off everything offer running throughout August to help create some space at home. Simply use the code 'summer50' at checkout when making a purchase. Please try to buy from the artists directly if possible, especially with digital downloads. Things will be shipped throughout the month around work.

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com

26/02/2023

Thanks for your patience! All international orders for Darren Harper - 'Autumn Loops' were shipped yesterday following a delay that was out of everyone's control. Tapes should be arriving during the week.

Thank you all for the kind words on this album so far. It's heart-warming to see this release being received so well as it has been a long time in the making.

Artwork by James Osland
Tapes by the Audio Tape People
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/autumn-loops

13/02/2023

In case you missed it, Darren Harper - 'Autumn Loops' is available now on tape and digital. Delicate synths, samplers, and modular processing; guitars, tapes, and field recordings. The album encompasses a lot of sonic territory.

More than half of the tapes have gone already. UK orders will be shipping soon, although international orders are still currently unable to be sent via the Post Office. A note has been added on each international Bandcamp order and shipping will begin as soon as the lost PO can process them.

Artwork by
Tapes by the Audio Tape People
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/autumn-loops

12/02/2023

OUT NOW: Darren Harper - 'Autumn Loops' (RTR061).

The album features eight tracks of meandering ambience, loops, piano, guitar, tape hiss and firld recordings with all the warmth we expect in Darren's music. There's also a longer live recording of 'Horizons' before the closing track.

As the last tape on the label for the foreseeable future, it needed to be a special one. For many, Darren's sounds were the first impression of RTR, opening the first sampler compilation in 2018 with 'A Thousand Tiny Heartbreaks'. The track was revisited last year and is the album closer, bringing us back to the very beginning.

'Autumn Loops' is available on tape and digital, with artwork provided by James Osland, another artist and friend who has been a part of the label since the beginning.

Tapes made with care by the Audio Tape People
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/autumn-loops

06/02/2023

Continuing the game of catch up for Maker features, #43 brings the conversation to Heavy Cloud following the release of ‘How to Find My Way Home’ (RTR058). Under the name Heavy Cloud, Cornwall-based Ryan Hooper creates music inspired by memory and landscapes, often in tandem with collage-based artworks and textual explorations. Their debut album was released by James A. McDermid's Mailbox label in 2021. Ryan has followed this up with a number of self-releases on Bandcamp, several of which included small runs of bespoke physical keepsakes. 2022 has seen Heavy Cloud release new music on Anticipating Nowhere Records, Wormhole Records, Histamine Tapes and Falt. Since Ryan responded to these questions, ‘scree’ has also been released via Brachliegen Tapes. Alongside music, Ryan enjoys creating collage artwork (which includes the cover art for ‘How to Find My Way Home’) as well writing across a number of styles.

In this feature, Ryan discusses the noisy experiments in indie rock that led to the discovery of ambient music, unconventional starting points, and the validity of cassettes in today’s music making and listening practices. Ryan also gives a list of listening recommendations (once you’re through will the Heavy Cloud back catalogue!).

Continuing the game of catch up for Maker features, #43 brings the conversation to Heavy Cloud following the release of ‘How to Find My Way Home’ (RTR058). Under the name Heavy …

05/02/2023

A very delayed return to posting blog features with artists releasing their wonderful music on RTR The Maker #42 with Yggdrasil. Based in Essex, south east of England, Yggdrasil is the solo project of Paul Blackburn. Combining eurorack, synths, bit-crushed keys, and field recordings, Yggdrasil focuses on representation of the relationship – and often conflict – between humans and nature. Released towards the end of Summer 2022, Yggdrasil released ‘9Worlds’ (RTR056) via the label; and album of two long-form pieces collaging lo-fi keys with natural field recordings and captured voices.

In this feature, Paul discusses his early discoveries in ambient music, sources of inspiration evolving over time, writing to a synopsis, and the cassette as a tactile object worth embracing. Paul also recommends an album by two musicians RTR readers and listeners will be very family with!

A very delayed return to posting blog features with artists releasing their wonderful music on RTR The Maker #42 with Yggdrasil. Based in Essex, south east of England, Yggdrasil is the solo project…

22/01/2023

RTR turns 5 today. A day to celebrate sixty tapes, five compilations, a fundraiser album, a gig, and a zine. A monumental thank you to all the artists who've trusted the label with their music and imagery, and to all the listeners who've supported RTR along the way. Special shout out to the Audio Tape People who have provided tapes from 003 to the present.

This is somewhat of a sombre celebration knowing the label will be going on hiatus. However, there is one more tape to come; an incredibly special release from Darren Harper with artwork by James Osland - two artists who have been with RTR since the first sampler compilation was released.

28/11/2022

It's release day! All three albums from the Autumn 2022 batch cycle are available in full:

Heavy Cloud - 'How to Find My Way Home' (RTR058)

Bananafish - 'Snowblind' (RTR059)

Rusted Drones Vol. 2 (RTR060), featuring Möbius , Arvik Torrenssen, Akira Sileas, Lucy Adlington, and Slow Clinic.

A handful of three-tape batches remain alongside a few copies each for the Heavy Cloud and Bananafish albums.

Tapes by the Audio Tape People
Mastered by James Edward Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/merch/rtr-autumn-2022-batch

27/11/2022

Available to pre-order ahead of tomorrow's full release: Rusted Drones Vol. 2 (RTR060).

The 60th tape for the label and the second instalment in the ongoing Rusted Drones compilation series. Artists from the RTR network are invited to submit tracks with no instruction other than to celebrate drone.

Vol. 2 features Möbius, Arvik Torrenssen, Akira Sileas, Lucy Adlington, and .

Rusted Drones Vol. 2 is available to pre-order as a digital download and as part of the Autumn 2022 batch alongside Heavy Cloud and Bananafish. Individual tapes for this release have now sold out.

Tapes by the Audio tape People
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/rusted-drones-vol-2

25/11/2022

Available to pre-order ahead of the full release on Monday: Bananafish – ‘Snowblind’ (RTR059).

The album follows previous live recordings of the same name via the artist’s own page, shifting the focus away from performed music and toward creative manipulation of archived field recordings James R.G. Wright has gathered over the years. ‘Snowblind’ captures a white-out of sonic atmospheres; field recordings, distorted textures, and a selection of instrumental contributions from a range of guest musicians including Rael Koiv (who's music everyone reading will dig!).

Bananafish is the musical alias of Northern Irish sound designer and educator James Wright. A blend of electronic textures, rhythms and organic field recordings, his music ranges from ambient-glitch architecture to desolate-arctic environments. He aims to take the listener through a vast sonic landscape, inviting listeners to close their eyes and join him on these journeys through sound and space.

Bananafish – ‘Snowblind’ is available to pre-order on tape, digital, and as part of the Autumn 2022 batch alongside and the Rusted Drones Vol. 2 compilation.

Music & sound by James R.G. Wright
Tapes by the Audio Tape People
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/snowblind

24/11/2022

Available to pre-order on tape and digital, releasing in full on Monday: Heavy Cloud - 'How to Find My Way Home' (RTR058).

'How to Find My Way Home' is a personal sonic journey exploring the four different types of memory, via drones and electronics, field recordings, found sounds and audio collage.

When we record a memory, and attempt to revisit it, our minds go through a process: receive > encode > store > retrieve. Difficulties in memory can be caused by something going wrong at any of these stages.

This project is interested in how these types of memory can begin to fade, erode and become mistrustful over time.

The album download includes three memory collages from Heavy Cloud, revealing some of the expansive artwork used across the cassette J-cards for the tape release.

Artwork by Heavy Cloud
Tapes by the Audio Tape People
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/how-to-find-my-way-home

16/11/2022

Available to pre-order: Rusted Drones Vol. 2 (RTR060).

The 60th tape for the label and the second instalment in the ongoing Rusted Drones compilation series. Artists from the RTR network are invited to submit tracks with no instruction other than to celebrate drone.

Vol. 2 features Möbius, Arvik Torrenssen, Akira Sileas, Lucy Adlington, and Slow Clinic.

Rusted Drones Vol. 2 is available to pre-order on tape, digital, and as part of the Autumn 2022 batch alongside Heavy Cloud and Bananafish.

Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/rusted-drones-vol-2

15/11/2022

Available to pre-order: Banananfish – ‘Snowblind’ (RTR059).

The album follows previous live recordings of the same name via the artist’s own page, shifting the focus away from performed music and toward creative manipulation of archived field recordings James R.G. Wright has gathered over the years. ‘Snowblind’ captures a white-out of sonic atmospheres, field recordings, distorted textures, and a selection of instrumental contributions from a range of guest musicians.

Bananafish is the musical alias of Northern Irish sound designer and educator James Wright. A blend of electronic textures, rhythms and organic field recordings, his music ranges from ambient-glitch architecture to desolate-arctic environments. He aims to take the listener through a vast sonic landscape, inviting listeners to close their eyes and join him on these journeys through sound and space.

Bananafish – ‘Snowblind’ is available to pre-order on tape, digital, and as part of the Autumn 2022 batch alongside Heavy Cloud and the Rusted Drones Vol. 2 compilation.

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/snowblind

14/11/2022

Available to pre-order: Heavy Cloud - 'How to Find My Way Home' (RTR058).

The first of three albums to go up for pre-order yesterday is Heavy Cloud's 'How to Find My Way Home'. The album is a personal sonic journey exploring the four different types of memory, via drones and electronics, field recordings, found sounds and audio collage.

The album download includes three memory collages from Heavy Cloud, revealing some of the expansive artwork used across the cassette J-cards for the tape release.

Heavy Cloud - 'How to Find My Way Home' is available to pre-order on tape, digital, and as part of the Autumn 2022 Batch alongside Bananafish and Rusted Drones Vol. 2.

Music and artwork by Heavy Cloud
Tapes by the Audio Tape People
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/how-to-find-my-way-home

13/11/2022

The RTR Autumn 2022 batch is now available to pre-order, featuring albums by Heavy Cloud, Bananafish, and the second instalment of the Rusted Drones compilation with music from Möbius, Arvik Torrenssen, Akira Sileas, Lucy Adlington, and Slow Clinic.

All three albums are available to pre-order on tape and digital or together as part of the batch. Individual posts celebrating each release will follow in the coming days.

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/merch/rtr-autumn-2022-batch

06/11/2022

Things have been quiet for RTR as of late. Releasing three tapes every quarter leaves a lengthy pause with once regular features like The Maker series also dropping off. The latest instalment in this series brings the conversation to Demetrio Cecchitelli, a multi-instrumentalist and sound artist from Rimini, Italy. Demetrio’s ‘The Wolf’s Lair’ (RTR057) was released in August as part of the Summer 2022 batch alongside albums by Pangolins and Yggdrasil. Demetrio’s album presents two long-form pieces consisting of slow, reverberating drones, processed soundscapes ad ritual flutes. Prior to releasing via RTR, Demetrio’s work has been featured on labels such as Whitelabrecs, Elan Vital, Midira, Cathedral Transmissions, and Healing Sound Propagandist.

In this feature, Demetrio talks discovering ambient music, imagination and reactive impulses as inspiration, creating from concepts, and riding around town with a Walkman.

Things have been quiet for RTR as of late. Releasing three tapes every quarter leaves a lengthy pause with once regular features like The Maker series also dropping off. The latest instalment in th…

02/09/2022

Now that Demetrio Cecchitelli's 'The Wolf's Lair' (RTR057), everyone can enjoy the transverse flute that really shines through on side B ('The Wolf's Lair B'). I've long been a fan of Demetrio's deep and intense drones, but it's the use of an instrument not often heard in ambient and drone that really grabbed my attention.

The album is out now in full with only 3 tapes remaining. Artwork by Mauro Benzi and mastered by James Armstrong.

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-wolfs-lair

01/09/2022

Tapes may have sold out shortly after pre-orders went live, but there's still a lot to look forward to now Yggdrasil's '9Worlds' (RTR056) is released in full.

The album features 18 tracks, collecting coastal field recordings, captured radio transmissions, and lo-fi keys. Yggdrasil is the project of Essex-based Paul Blackburn, whose work highlights the intersections and oppositions between nature and humanity.

Mastering by James Green
Artwork by Paul Blackburn

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/9worlds

30/08/2022

Out now! Pangolins - 'A Few Short Hours' (RTR055)

The debut album from Stuart Bowditch and Wil Bolton under their Pangolins project brings seven tracks of saturated drones and analogue imperfections. The album was recorded throughout 2019 and 2020, through a series of remote but simultaneous sessions.

The album also brings the nut brown cassette shells to RTR for the first time, providing an earthy contrast to the fold-out artwork by Stuart Bowditch. Only 3 copies left!

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/a-few-short-hours

29/08/2022

Out today in all their glory: albums from Pangolins (Stuart Bowditch & Wil Bolton), Yggdrasil, and Demetrio Cecchitelli.

Artwork contributions from Stuart Bowditch, Paul Blackburn, and Mauro Benzi. Mastering by James Green and James Armstrong.

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/

25/08/2022

Available to pre-order on tape and digital with only a handful of copues left: Demetrio Cecchitelli - 'The Wolf's Lair' (RTR057).

The album consists of two long-form drones; rumbling, reverberated lows, looped soundscapes, and transverse flute.

Artwork by Benzi
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-wolfs-lair

24/08/2022

Tapes sold out super fast, but there's still a lot to look forward to with the full release of '9Worlds' (RTR056) by Yggdrasil.

The album presents two long-form pieces, 'Wood Folk' and 'Marin Lore', collecting organic field recordings, captured transmissions, and lo-fi keys.

Mastered by James Green

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/9worlds

23/08/2022

Available to pre-order on tape and digital with only a handful of copies left: Pangolins - 'A Few Short Hours' (RTR055).

The debut release from Stuart Bowditch & Wil Bolton under the Pangolins project brings warm, fuzzy drones and layered synth progressions.

Artwork by Stuart Bowditch
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/a-few-short-hours

17/08/2022

Available to pre-order on tape and digital: Demetrio Cecchitelli - 'The Wolf's Lair' (RTR057).

The album features two long-form, brooding drones, taking influence from an imaginary and abstract location. Field recordings, reverberated lows, and transverse flute contribute toward a state of impermanence, uncertainty and desire.

The tapes are house in recycled black shells with striking artwork by Mauro Benzi, mastered by James Armstrong.

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-wolfs-lair

16/08/2022

Pre-orders for Yggdrasil's '9Worlds' (RTR056) went live on Sunday evening, with tapes selling out in advance last night. The album can still be pre-ordered and enjoyed on digital.

The album blends gentle and organic fields recordings with captured voices, bit-crushed keys and synths. '9Worlds' presents the intersections and oppositions between nature and humanity.

Artwork by Paul Blackburn
Mastered by James Green

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/9worlds

15/08/2022

Available to pre-order on tape and digital: Pangolins - A Few Short Hours (RTR055).

Pangolins is the duo of Stuart Bowditch and Wil Bolton. Having appeared on RTR under their eponymous projects in 2020 and 2019 respectively, the pair return with an album of saturated drones and analogue imperfections.

This release see the nut brown cassette shell on the label for the first time. Definitely an underrated colour!

Artwork by Stuart Bowditch
Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/a-few-short-hours

14/08/2022

The RTR Summer 2022 Batch is now available to pre-order, featuring albums by Pangolins (Stuart Bowditch & Wil Bolton), Yggdrasil, and Demetrio Cecchitelli. All three albums are also available to pre-order individually on tape and digital.

Artwork by Stuart Bowditch, Paul Blackburn, and Mauro Benzi respectively. Mastering by James Green and James Armstrong.

Posts focusing on each album to follow over the coming days.

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/merch/rtr-summer-2022-batch

11/08/2022

Artwork previews ahead of pre-orders this Sunday: Pangolins (Stuart Bowditch & Wil Bolton), Yggdrasil (Paul Blackburn), and Demetrio Cecchitelli all have albums coming to the label this month.

All three releases will be available to pre-order on tape, digital, and together as the RTR Summer 2022 Batch this Sunday.

07/06/2022

Down to the last 3 tapes of Requiem's 'Universal; Language'!

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/universal-language

02/06/2022

Tapes may have sold out, but the album can still be enjoyed in full: Quiet Clapping - 'Arletty'.

Two long-form drones evolving through waves of distortion and rumbling lows, brass tones and hypnotic percussion. Artwork by Corine Raymond, complimented by perfectly imperfect recycled shells.

Mastered by James Armstrong

https://rustedtonerecordings.bandcamp.com/album/arletty