I Heart Lung is experimental but still methodic, process music akin to watching the fluffy fractals of storm clouds shift and transform across the sky, or the tide rolling fresh waves in from who knows where, like clockwork but still different every single time. It's no coincidence, then, that I Heart Lung have called their latest opus Interoceans. A four-song suite, of sorts, each long piece boasts an appropriately aquatic subtitle of "Upwelling", "Overturning", "Undercurrent", and "Outspreading" . Interoceans I (Upwelling)," for example, begins with a wash of feedback and rolling drums before shifting to folky acoustic strums embellished by what may be nature sounds- rain, chirping bugs. Interoceans III (Undercurrent)" nods to Asia, a theme continued in "Interoceans III (Outspreading)", at least until the feedback returns to redirect the music closer to where the suite started
INTEROCEANS is a seemingly oxymoronic slab of massive minimalism. Except for a couple of outbursts, the drones are on the lighter side, precise in detail but exploratory in structure. The LA-based twosome of Chris Schlarb (guitars) and Tom Steck (percussion) recorded the original improvisations in only two days, but stretched the post-production and tweaking stage out over three years. The result has both the unpredictability of free jazz and the immersiveness of a Fripp & Eno drone piece. In addition to guitar and drums, INTEROCEANS features pedal steel, field recordings, and guests Kris.
I Heart Lung: Interoceans by Ian Patterson, published on August 27, 2008. Track Listing: Interoceans I (Upwelling); Interoceans II (Overturning); Interoceans III (Undercurrent); Interoceans IV (Outspreading). Personnel: Chris Schlarb: electric guitar, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitar, electronics and percussion; Tom Steck: acoustic drums, cymbals and percussion; Nels Cline: electric guitar, sitar and percussion; Dave Easley: pedal steel guitar; Lynn Johnston: clarinet, bass clarinet; Andrew Pompey: percussion; Anthony Shadduck: acoustic bass; Kris Tiner: flugelhorn, trumpet; Aaron Ximm: field recordings.
I Heart Lung - Interoceans II (Overturning) 12:10. I Heart Lung - Interoceans III (Undercurrent) 09:57. I Heart Lung - Interoceans IV (Outspreading) 13:26.
Listen free to I Heart Lung – Interoceans Remixed (Interoceans I (Self Says Remix with Express Fresh), Interoceans II (Jel Remix with Awol One and Serengeti) and more). As Interoceans neared completion, producer Chris Schlarb put together two lists. The other was an index of his top experimental electronic and ambient artists. The concept was simple; each list would reimagine Interoceans' four tracks, with Schlarb serving as executive producer. Portland, Oregon based Strategy (aka Paul Dickow) worked.
I Heart Lung is the musical gestalt of guitarist Chris Schlarb and drummer Tom Steck. Formed in 2004, the group’s first live performance was alongside true-school rockers The Pink Mountaintops at Koo’s in Long Beach, CA. In 2005 they toured the . on the Oort Cloud BBQ/Sainthood Now! bill with Castanets and Wooden Wand & The Vanishing Voice. The duo celebrated with a marbled-vinyl split 12″ featuring three new compositions on one side and two extended improvisations by Castanets on the other
Information on I Heart Lung.
I Heart Lung is an . based drone/free-jazz project started by Chris Schlarb and Tim Steck formed in 2004. With several low-radar releases under their belt, the duo has been picked up by the Lander, Wyoming, label Asthmatic Kitty (Sufjan Stevens, Castanets) for Interoceans - a sincere, minimalist bit of free jazz/drone. Over 4 tracks and 44 minutes, Schlarb creates the reverb-laden drones surrounded by Steck’s Interstellar Space-era Coltrane/Rashied Ali aesthetic
