Third Man Records – 7th Level Music

Out now from Third Man Books, Monolithic Undertow alights a crooked path across musical, religious and subcultural frontiers. It traces the line from ancient traditions to the modern underground, navigating archaeoacoustics, ringing feedback, chest plate sub-bass, avant-garde eccentricity, sound weaponry and fervent spiritualism.

From Neolithic beginnings to bawdy medieval troubadours, Sufi mystics to Indian raga masters, cone-shattering dubwise bass, Hawkwind‘s Ladbroke Grove to the outer reaches of Faust and Ash Ra Temple; the hash-fueled fug of The Theatre of Eternal Music to the cough syrup reverse hardcore of Melvins, seedy VHS hinterland of Electric Wizard, ritual amp worship of Earth and Sunn O))) and the many touch points in between, Monolithic Undertow explores the power of the drone – an audio carrier vessel capable of evoking womb like warmth or cavernous dread alike.

Watch (+ share) the trailer for Monolithic Undertow: In Search of Sonic Oblivion on YouTube.

In 1977, Sniffin’ Glue verbalized the musical zeitgeist with their infamous ‘this is a chord; this is another; now form a band’ illustration. The drone requires neither chord nor band, representing – via its infinite pliability and accessibility – the ultimate folk music: a potent audio tool of personal liberation.

Immersion in hypnotic and repetitive sounds allows us to step outside of ourselves, be it chant, a 120dB beasting from Sunn O))), standing front of the system as Jah Shaka drops a fresh dub or going full headphone immersion with Hawkwind. These experiences are akin to an audio portal – a sound Tardis to silence the hum and fizz of the unceasing inner voice. The drone exists outside of us, but also – paradoxically – within us all; an aural expression of a universal hum we can only hope to fleetingly channel…

Monolithic Undertow: In Search of Sonic Oblivion is out now and is available for purchase here. The North American edition of the book features an exclusive cover and a new foreword by author Harry Sword.

Distributed Exclusively in North America by Consortium Books/Ingram Content Group.

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Stephanie at Indie Publicity.]

I was in Nashville, Tennessee in early September and swung by Third Man Records – a record store (623 7th Avenue South) and production studio run by and owned by Jack White. The place is a small White Stripes and Raconteurs museum, not to mention all the special edition records and singles released by Third Man Records for other artists over the years.

It turned out that there was a record fair happening in the parking lot on the day I arrived. My wife, knowing I’d be a while, took a nap in our car while I plunged into bins of CDs.

Yep, all CDs were just five bucks each. That included box CD sets. I scored box sets from Scientists, Hüsker Dü, tropical lounge music, and a CD of Indian disco for dirt cheap.

Inside, of course, is a ton of stuff ranging from vinyl records to books, shirts, and postcards.

It’s a nifty place, and a must-stop location if you’re a fan of Jack White’s work or a serious record hound.

Keep your mind open.

[Don’t forget to subscribe before you go.]

Tag: Third Man Records

Third Man Records releases a book about the history of drone music – Harry Sword’s “Monolithic Undertow: In Search of Sonic Oblivion.”

Wrecka Stow: Third Man Records – Nashville, TN