KEVIN HUFNAGEL
Multifaceted guitarist/composer Kevin Hufnagel has been playing, writing, performing, and recording for over 28 years and is perhaps best known for his work in progressive instrumental rock trio Dysrhythmia, avant-death metal act Gorguts, Vaura and occult rock/metal band Sabbath Assembly. Kevin has also collaborated with artists such as Jarboe (Swans), Costanza Francavilla (Tricky), Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (Psychic TV).
Kevin’s solo career began in 1997 when he recorded and self-released his first recording; a cassette EP titled ‘While I Wait’. Twelve years later in 2009, Kevin released his first full-length album ‘Songs for the Disappeared’, on his own Nightfloat Recordings imprint. ‘Songs for the Disappeared’ was an album which unified eclectic and exploratory uses of the acoustic guitar into a cohesive and gripping whole.
With 2012 came two new, more hypnotic offerings. The first, titled ‘Transparencies’, was recorded primarily with electric guitar. Rich with texture, without forsaking melody and detail to composition, it was recognized by The New York Times, Decibel Magazine, Wire, and The Needle Drop among others for it’s strange and haunting sonic landscapes. The digital-only ‘Polar Night’ followed in a similar vein, but instead abstracted 12-string acoustic guitar into the ether.
The Fall of 2013 brought the release of ‘Ashland’, a startling, left-turn of an album. With ‘Ashland’ Kevin chose the baritone ukulele as his canvas of expression, setting aside the guitar entirely. Drawing from his training as a classical guitarist and love of dark, 70’s psychedelic folk music; ‘Ashland’ featured hymn-like melodies within webs of ornate fingerpicking.
Kevin’s newest solo releases ‘Kleines Biest’ and ‘Backwards Through the Maze’ are by far his most experimental and daring. Guitar sounds are sculpted into completely unrecognizable, surreal abstractions; through a mixture of prepared guitar technique, digital processing, and editing. The results are equal parts sound design and modern composition, guided by a dark sense of dream logic.
https://kevinhufnagel.bandcamp.com/
NEW FIRMAMENT
New Firmament is an umbrella institute for recording, composition, listening, writing, and programming maintained by N. Podgurski (Feast of the Epiphany, Extra Life). Living Mithridate (FIRM013), a long-form piece of isochronic music for keyboard, and valuable supplement for meditation/spiritual practice released in 2015; is a logical extension of earlier ambient recordings: Indivinity III, Solitude, and Gift of Mithra. Its profundity lies in its simplicity.
“Consistently explorative, challenging or both.”
– Josh Strawn Talkhouse
Podgurski has worked with a wide range of artists including: Mick Barr, Mario Diaz de Leon, Geryon, Castevet, Azar Swan, Travis Laplante, Charlie Looker, Chris Pitsiokos, Tim Dahl, and Sabbath Assembly. He will perform solo.
http://newfirmament.blogspot.com
http://newfirmament.bandcamp.com
