It’s been a busy time at RoR Cybertowers, for largely non-RoR related reasons. But with PhDs out of the way, house moves completed and much more besides we’re delighted to announce an exciting run of releases for you over the next few months.

This will begin on Wednesday 9th November with the much-anticipated release of Return, the third (and final) release from All The Empires of the World. It’s a monstrous record that amplifies the Jodorowsky desert vibes of Blessings with Godflesh menace and their most extreme sonic explorations yet.

All The Empires of the World's Return, out on Nov 9th

Following that we’ll be releasing England Without Rain by Talk Less, Say More. This is Jell’s poppiest album to date, and perhaps also his most experimental: the restrictive form of the pop song giving rise to all sorts of playful brilliance which will appeal to fans of Hot Chip, Junior Boys and WhoMadeWho, as well as his earlier work for us.

In the more distant future we’ve got releases from a fantastic slew of new ‘signings’. Expect insurrectionary no-wave pop from L.H.O.O.Q., haunted noise from Ghostly Porters, dissonantly beautiful modern composition from Syuzhet and broken kraut from The Exploits of Elaine. We also hope to release a recording of Surfacing‘s commission for Nottingham Contemporary art gallery. Entitled What Is This That Stands Before Me it’s a piece exploring dissonance and hope and is inspired by Klaus Weber’s sculpture Large Dark Windchime (Arab Tritone). You can book to see it performed (for free) here– there will also be a talk on dissonance, political organisation and hope (full abstract on the link).

We also hope to be able to announce a new release from EL Heath soon, but in the meantime we advise you to purchase his excellent new album on Wayside and Woodland- Haunted Woodland Vol. 2, which you can (and should) buy from Norman Records. It’s the second in a series of limited edition albums in which Wayside and Woodland artists explore the darkness and decay of the Staffordshire and Shropshire woodland and is inspired by Longnor woods in Shropshire (not to mention The White Lady of Longnor): it’s quite the ghostly treat and will appeal to fans of Ghost Box and Miasmah Records, as well as Eric’s releases for us. But be quick, there are only 50 and they won’t last long!

You might also like to check out a set from EL Heath recorded for IKON gallery’s Slow Boat Festival back in September, which is streaming here. This was recorded on a narrow boat as it trundled around Birmingham’s canals and finds Heath backed by members of epic45 and Rob Dunsford.

The marvellous grandeur of Blessings by All The Empires of The World is now out. Enjoy! Another wonderful record, entirely for free.

We are also pleased to announce another addition to our roster – Blue Ducks. Blue Ducks is the project of one Justin Colley, ex-of our marvelous gabba-pop artists Gay Death Probe who are now on “permanent hiatus”. Blue Ducks make electronic hip-hop with inflections of aqua-crunk and wonky, “music for people too cool to dance”, well within the lines of the post-Dilla, Stones Throw Records swagger. The EP ‘Six’ will be with us shortly.

Here is a the opening track for your delight – Floss Suffers From Gamma Radiation.

And heck, for contrast, here is the quite special closer…Farewell To Floss.

Newness imminent from Records on Ribs!

All The Empires of the World

Yes! After their critically acclaimed ‘Last Rites EP’, All The Empires of the World will (very) shortly be releasing their full length debut Blessings with us. It sees them moving in a slightly more progressive direction, but without toning down any of their trademark stargazing sludge. A second version- featuring contributions from members of Astrohenge, The Exploits of Elaine, …And Stars Collide and others will be out sometime in the new year too. Bonus!

Spiral Jacobs

Mr Dominic Fox has just published an excellent book. It is worth quoting the blurb in full:

To live well in the world one must be able to enjoy it: to love, Freud says, and work. Dejection is the state of being in which such enjoyment is no longer possible. There is an aesthetic dimension to dejection, in which the world appears in a new light. In this book, the dark serenity of dejection is examined through a study of the poetry of Hopkins and Coleridge, and the music of ‘depressive’ black metal artists such as Burzum and Xasthur. The author then develops a theory of ‘militant dysphoria’ via an analysis of the writings of the Red Army Fraction’s activist-theoretician, Ulrike Meinhof. The book argues that the ‘cold world’ of dejection is one in which new creative and political possibilities, as well as dangers, can arise. It is not enough to live well in the world: one must also be able to affirm that another world is possible.

And we will be releasing his excellent companion album, Prolegomenon. Eight dysphoric tracks of hopeful alienation: International Socialist Ambient Black Metal for a cold world and for a better world. Cover art from Toby Price.

EL Heath

Fresh from touring Europe with epic45, EL Heath is putting the finishing touches to an album about the long clsoed Snailbeach Lead Mines, which are near his Shropshire home. Tracks evoke the eerieness of desolation whilst purveying a sense of the clatter that once must have filled these mines. Three tracks can be heard on his myspace, including Heath’s first venture into ‘conventional’ songwriting with the heartbreaking ‘Tragedy at George’s Shaft’. We will be actively seeking donations for this release, with all proceeds going to the Shropshire Mines Trust. The new year will also see Heath release his mini-album Shropshire Hill Country via Wayside and Woodland.

Ga’an

We’re just a little bit excited about this one. Ga’an are a Chicago band who blend the aesthetics of prog, kraut, ambient, post-punk and black metal to create something compellingly otherworldly. They’ve self-released two tapes thus far and we’re mind-blowingly excited to be able to re-release them. Vultures of the Horn II: Living Tribunal is one of my absolute favourite pieces of music right now.

Earth Defence Force

Last but by no means least, purveyors of the finest hardcore/punk/metal Earth Defence Force will be gracing Records On Ribs with their debut album once we sort album artwork out. Recorded by production genius Ian Boult at the marvellous Stuck On A Name Recordings, Nottingham. Imminent riffs.

All The Empires of the World Announce New Album

We’re delighted to announce that AtEotW are continuing in the classic heavy metal tradition of announcing your retirement only to come back with new material. Thus spake main man Mark Thomas:

Finally! An album! We’ve decided to stop faffing around with EPs – they’re for squares: OFFICI. The provisional title is TITAN OF LIGHT

Yes. Exxxtreme slvdge kvlt epvic mvtvl. Provisional (again, because commitment is an unreliable frame of reference) track listing is as follows:

1. The Sands Of Saturn
2. Of The Father/Ghosts Of The Sargasso
3. [I Perceive Your Resonance]
4. ???? ?????
5. Titan Of Light
6. The Prophet I
7. The Prophet II: Soleil

If you’ve seen us live, you might have heard the first track – the rest are all BRAND FUCKIN NEW HOLMES. All tracks are, of course, 700 billion years long. Expect guest appearances from BARE MANS.

So now you know.

Meanwhile, the now inaccurately titled Last Rites continues to impress, making Sputnik Music’s recommended ‘Under the Radar’ releases of ’09 so far.

Leaving its Mark

Les Étoiles’ forthcoming album To Leave A Mark is more accurately titled though: a quite wonderful essay on its themes here (which we’re going to print as liner notes for physical copies) and a lovely review here. Both pieces really add worthwhile readings to this stunning album.

It is, of course, out on Friday the 18th September (as free download from here and a ltd.edition CD with photographs and lyric sheets from here and Norman Records), and we’re having a very special launch party at Jam Cafe in Nottingham to celebrate, with EL Heath and Les Étoiles playing live sets.

The new record Last Rites from All The Empires Of The World has been released (also as a torrent – mp3, flac and ogg files). Apologies for the slight delay on this one. It’s a really wonderful record, so please download it.

Just to note, you can follow us over at Twitter, or at the open source alternative Identi.ca. All the various happenings on this site are recorded there, so you’ll never miss an update.

Pop-pickers rejoice! Another new record is announced. And a new act for us too! This’ll be out before you can say Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

Because we don’t really deal in proper release dates or owt we’re not sure quite when it’ll be out: but it won’t be more than a week or so.

All The Empires of the World- Last Rites EP
Prepare to be bludgeoned to delirium! Two tracks of ecstatic doom from Nottingham’s finest, which operate on that strange threshold between ambient music and Very Loud Metal Music. Yet where others of the genre deal in darkness and death, AtEotW blast you with light and ask you to wallow in glory. A top release.

Records On Ribs Present Elapse-O and guests…

First and foremost, our gig beavers have been busy sorting out the following evening of spectacular entertainment in Nottingham to celebrate the impending release of Elapse-O’s self-titled EP- which is already getting some positive press.

recordsonribs.com presents..
@ The Arts Organisation, Station Street, Nottingham,
Friday 27th june @ 8.30pm

Elapse-O

Repetition and texture combine to bludgeon the listener into a state of sublime ecstasy. Guitars spew out waves of feedback- like a less studied Fennesz, and strident vocals power ever onwards.

Bloodcurdlingly intense, there’s a real temptation to call Elapse-O a noise band- but that would miss a lot of what they’re about. Noise is a factor, for sure, but there’s just as much in common with more restrained artists. Like Swans at their prime, they use pummelling noise as a means to an end rather than as an end in itself, and there’s a little hint of 60s psych-rock, Suicide and Big Black in their sound.

You know that painting – The Wanderer – by Caspar David Friedrich? Listening to Elapse-O taps into those same emotions: feeling alive in the face of the eternal.

“There’s feedback and noise, sure, but it’s controlled so tightly that there’s substance, warmth and in places real beauty to be had. The whole affair is underpinned by simple, subtle beats, lending them the urgency of Sunroof!’s explosive improv alongside the clinical majesty of ‘Zuckerzeit’-era Cluster.” – Nightshift Magazine

‘Elapse-O are part of a noise niche, but importantly stay clear of nihilistic musical dead-ends. The subtle percussion timbre put out by the drum-machine on ‘Island’ stood in beautiful contrast to the crunching guitars. It was gloriously confused, the humans were trying to be machines and the machines were trying to be human.’- Gigwise

‘Elapse-O live is like a time-warp back to your childhood, back when you were attempting to make sense of all the sonic clutter around you, except that there is nothing immature about this band. It’s exhilarating – big bright lights exciting.‘- www.drownedinsound.com

www.myspace.com/elapseo

All the Empires of the World
Nottingham ambient doom-metallers with a fine ear for riff, melody and texture. What makes them so great is that they’re not afraid to break out of the slooow shackles for a spot of shredding. Fans of Nadja, Pelican and Jesu will find much to enjoy here.

www.myspace.com/alltheempiresoftheworldwillbelaidtowaste

Human Hair
Jack – Human Hair’s singer – was on my girlfriend’s course at uni. He was pretty quiet apparently- sipping tea and speaking of his love of Byron’s poetry. When she saw Human Hair play she couldn’t quite believe her eyes. He was a man transformed- a rampaging, whirling beast of a man laying his humanity (and inhumanity) bare for the audience.

Featuring Mr Henry Withers of Lovvers fame on guitar, Human Hair stretch the foundations of rock music to their very limit and plumb the depths of the human psyche to make exhilirating, personal rock music. Jesus Lizard, Wipers and Pavement perhaps serve as launchpads, but these guys have long left ’em behind…

…And Stars Collide
Post-rock is 99% tedium. A thousand boys with too many pedals and too few ideas; a million fuckwitted threads on drownedinsound. But …And Stars Collide recognise that guitars played loud are still brutally effective and- when done well- there are still thrills aplenty to be had by doing just that.

Over the course of a few shows they’ve admirably prove their point. Their music is direct, urgent and triumphantly cathartic, connecting with the audience on the most primal level. There’s still plenty to be done with that 1%..

The gig’s free to get into, but we will be taking collections to cover our costs. Rather than just donate money though, we suggest you buy a lil something from our merch desk- we’ll have CD-R copies of the new Elapse-O EP plus the first releases on Tapes on Ribs, which will include some EL Heath, The Last King of Punt and hopefully a split tape from Human Hair/All The Empires of the World.
www.myspace.com/theskyweeps

Two New Release In The Tubes

Monday 21st July will see three new releases available for download/purchase on CD-R from Records on Ribs. As well as Elapse-O’s EP, we’ll be releasing The Butterfly’s Time Spent in Reconnaisance Is Never Time Wasted EP. A full length electro-pop album from Talk Less, Say More entitled Go Lucky will follow sooner than you think. More on these soon.

How People Find Records On Ribs

Some search terms which have led people to Records on Ribs…

“sexy web sides”
“sexy web”
“how many ribs do humans have?”
“how many ribs do horses have?”
“do fish have ribs”
“how can I record my ribs?”
“virginia ambient”
“www.weshow.com”
“do we show up on radar?”

Marvellous.