Electronic Sadism
Turntabling Records is quite possibly Chicago's strangest micro-label. In the hands of a PR-geek from the suburbs, Turntabling would be defined as a "boutique label" catering to people who enjoy mid-period Eno, Throbbing Gristle, Coil, Current 93, Boards of Canada, and other musical trouble makers. Suffice it to say that while such a description isn't wrong per se, the Turntabling story is a lot stranger than that. This compilation, Electronic Sadism, is proof. Turntabling Records is about taking the left-hand path, sonically speaking. One or two of the projects on this Chicago indie label could be accused of sounding almost conventional, but what's represented on Electronic Sadism, the Turntabling Records compilation featuring Paisley Babylon, Thelema USA, AUDITORTURE and many others, is really focused on creating soundtracks to make mundane moments in life seem more interesting than they are. "Ever notice how sinister the nighttime city streets seem after you've watched a horror movie?" That's what Paisley Babylon's Joe Wallace asks in reference to this notion. "Nothing has changed, nothing at all. But you've got the memory of all that scary music in your head and hearing 'ch-ch-ch-ch-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah' for two hours straight has colored your perceptions of an otherwise fairly boring setting." That's what Paisley Babylon and the other Turntabling Records projects represented on Electronic Sadism are trying to do, too. Electronic Sadism features a cross-section of electronic music, experimentation, and soundtracks to situations that haven't happened yet, and not without potential controversey. One of the final tracks on the Electronic Sadism album, according to the album's liner notes, should not be played under any circumstances ever, "unless you wish to replace your speakers." Track 19, Paisley Babylon's "Watching The Golden Girls on Ketamine" features bass and sub-bass so low and harsh that it **may** damage typical home stereo speakers while playing. Turntabling Records urges people not to play the last track and the label refuses to be held responsible in cases where the track is played with negative consequences. Is this a marketing gimmick? A careless disregard for home stereo systems? A challenge to listeners? Paisley Babylon isn't saying. Samples of Electronic Sadism can be heard at TurntablingRecords.com, and a "safer" version of track 19, "Watching The Golden Girls On Ketamine" by Paisley Babylon (with **many** of the potentially damaging frequencies removed) is available at http://paisleybabylon.net/2011/02/20/paisley-babylon-free-mp3-2/ Electronic Sadism will be made available for sale at iTunes, Amazon.com, and elsewhere. The album is currently available for review on CD with digital distribution expected to be finalized in June. For more information about Turntabling Records, the album Electronic Sadism, or any of the projects represented on the release, please contact: Joe Wallace Turntabling Records jwallace@turntabling.net
