Danielle Boutet’s Pièces is a mysterious artifact of Quebecois marginalia, self-released in 1985. Moving from languid ennui to high drama, Pièces is a dreamy gestalt, an album that borders Chanson, spoken-word, jazz noir, and minimalism, conjured from the chasm between acoustic and electronic realms. Pièces allows us a window into the highly intimate songcraft and compositional skill of an artist who longed to linger not in the public eye, but in relation with others and the world around her.

Danielle Boutet’s Pièces arrives February 16, 2024 as part of uncommon¢ (“uncommon sense”), an open-ended, serialized endeavor from Freedom to Spend that provides new meaning for rarefied recordings from music’s outermost fringe.
credits
released February 16, 2024

All music by Danielle Boutet except “Le Rideau” and “14e siécle”, by Sylvie Gagnon & Danielle Boutet
All lyrics by Danielle Boutet except “P. 216”, an extract from Le Tao de la Physique (The Tao of Physics), by Fritjof Capra, Tchou Edition P. 216-217
All instruments performed by Danielle Boutet except “Images” (Guitar and Bass), “En Attendant L’Aube” (Voice), “Hivers 2: Sol-Six D'Hiver” (Guitar), and “14e siécle” (Voice), by Sylvie Gagnon.

Four track recording by Sylvie Gagnon
Mastered by Carl Saff
Design by WWFG
Photo by Lorraine Carpentier

Originally self-released by Danielle Boutet in 1985, Montreal, Quebec

© 2023 Freedom To Spend. + ℗ 1985 Danielle Boutet. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting is strictly prohibited. freedomtospend.org

Neil S. Kvern’s Doctor Dancing Mask: Pianoisms is a near mythical marker on the map of late 20th century experimentalism transpiring in America’s Pacific Northwest. A sublime, spacious effort of left field DIY minimalism constructed from recurring piano pieces, hypnotic percussion, and a peppering of diverse instrumentation, vocals, and invisible effects, Doctor Dancing Mask illuminates a hidden but remarkable legacy of a young composer at the height of his creativity and consciousness.

Originally released in 1983 as a small cassette edition largely distributed to friends and via word of mouth, Neil S. Kvern’s Doctor Dancing Mask: Pianoisms arrives again January 27, 2023 on vinyl and digitally as part of uncommon¢ (“uncommon sense”), an open-ended, serialized endeavor from Freedom to Spend that provides new meaning for rarefied recordings from music’s outermost fringe.
credits
released January 27, 2023

Mastered by Carl Saff
Design by WWFG

NSK: piano, tambour, marimba, recorder, desk lamp, metal fish, voice, effects
Constance Maytum: second voice on “Some Travelers Said to a Peasant Girl”
Charlie Spear: guitar on “Mirror Road”
Glenn McNutt: drums on “I’m Losing It”
Craig Kvern: temple blocks on “I’m Losing It”

Words in “The Conclusion” are from a poem by William Bronk

Original dedication / Thanks:

Thanks to Carl Smool for help with poster design and layout; John Carl for typesetting and conversation; Ole Kvern for final mixdown, tape graphics, layout and other valuable assistance; and Constance Maytum for general advice and specific consultation.

This tape is dedicated to the Haida artist who made the head-dress puppet (collected in 1881) featured on the poster and cover silhouette. In Objects of Bright Pride (published by the Center for Inter-American Relations and the American Federation of the Arts, New York, 1978), it is described as a cannibal spirit, worn during dances.

Originally released September 30th, 1983, Seattle

© + ℗ 2023 Freedom To Spend. All rights reserved. Unauthorized copying, reproduction, hiring, lending, public performa