From The Archives #3 Francisco Meirino

 

Whilst waiting for the restart of MuhMur Radio broadcasting and building playlists I have taken the time to sort out some old boxes of tapes and CDs and re-arrange some of the records and listen to some releases I have not heard in years ... 

One of the boxes of tapes is of tapes released in boxes (if that makes any sense?). I have a couple of tape releases from the label Research Laboratories that came in little black boxes. Leif Elggren's 'Only Criminals In Crowns Find Sanctuary' and Francisco Meirino's 'Something Always Remains'. Both releases are from 2021. The Meirino release also comes with an A5 booklet of Francisco's collage art, postcard, sticker and badge. An impressive release.

'Something Always Remains' begins with the sound of the zither played percussively alongside a build of radio static and found percussion. Throughout the piece there is always the radio, creating space. The use of roaches and or other insects and running water turns the piece mesmeric, fixated and waiting for the next sound. A return to the zither, single string, acoustic and treated with delays. The toll of the bell. After the event something always remains either physical or in memory.

'There Is Nothing For Us Here' is a search for life. Not necessarily post-apocalyptic but very much in the here and now. A desolate sound of unconnected electricity, radio silence and a bed of insects, at times this sound out nurses the wound. The 15 minute piece ends in a drone,  harmonious harmonium drone and a cacophony of bicycle bells and worn cowbells. Beautiful. Both pieces have been 're-edited' and paper on the latest Francisco Meirino album "A Perpetual Host" on the American Misanthropic Agenda label. https://www.misanthropicagenda.com. After playing this tape I dug out the only Francisco Meirino 7" I have, 'Visible/Invisible' and the sound is very similar.

Francisco can be found at ... http://www.franciscomeirino.com. And if you are in Lausanne pop in to the Librarie Humus ... you might bump in to him there.