Rafael Toral - Search and Destroy

er...

Yeah, the cover image is a total MBV ripoff. But don't hold that against it. From 1995 originally, then rereleased on Grubbs/O'Rourke's Dexter's Cigar thing.

The wind power one came out on Ecstatic Peace .. also quite good.

they're both great.

I'm partial to Engine as well.

I really don't hear much in common between Toral and Fennesz. I think they both inhabit their own unique sound worlds.

Not much love for Toral on ILM it seems?

Wondering what people thought of his Space thing? It's so conceptual and thought out I want to check it out, but then again it just might not be any fun...

I liked Chasing Sonic Booms when it came out. Looks like I oughta buy Wave Field...

yeah, I have Aeriola Frequency and like it, also LOVE the "Lullabies" single which I think was extended into a longer CD. Sonic Booms gets a bit noisy for me although it is impressive. I have been wanting to get Wave Field and Sound Mind for a while also.

My friend brought the Space release to play on the air when he guest hosted my radio show and the track I heard was good. Improv analog stuff, I think.

Toral has a GoFundMe up due to losses in the recent fires in Portugal

https://www.gofundme.com/fire-loss-relief-in-portugal

After a two-decade interlude, Jim O’Rourke’s Moikai imprint returns with Spectral Evolution, a major new work by Rafael Toral.

Making his name in the mid-1990s with influential guitar drone platters, Toral later laid the guitar aside and began his ‘Space Program’ in the early 21st century, which began a thirteen-year investigation of an ever-expanding set of custom electronic instruments, played with a fluid phrasing and rhythmic flexibility inspired by jazz. Since 2017, Toral’s work has entered into a new phase, developed in the 'Space Program', but returning the textural approach based in his electric guitar style.

The first cut from Spectral Evolution is "Intro + Changes (excerpt)", where jazzy guitar chords establish perfect languor, augmented and undercut by choice tones from Toral’s self-made “space” instruments.

Spectral Evolution is out on February 23rd on LP, CD and digital. Pre-order yours today, link in bio!

European Live Dates:
Sat. Nov. 11 - Leiria, Portugal @ Igreja da Misericórdia
Sun. Nov. 26 - Geneva, Switzerland @ Cave 12
Fri. Dec. 1 - Calheta, Madeira, Portugal @ Casa das Mudas
Thu. Dec. 7 - Porto, Portugal @ Sonoscopia
Fri. Dec. 8 - Porto, Portugal @ Sonoscopia

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzbsK7WgZOI/

European Live Dates:
Sat. Nov. 11 - Leiria, Portugal @ Igreja da Misericórdia

Sun. Nov. 26 - Geneva, Switzerland @ Cave 12

Fri. Dec. 1 - Calheta, Madeira, Portugal @ Casa das Mudas

Thu. Dec. 7 - Porto, Portugal @ Sonoscopia

Fri. Dec. 8 - Porto, Portugal @ Sonoscopia

this reminded me I hadn't seen anything from Taiga records in a number of years. checked out their Bandcamp and they have the Toral records they put out (all "space" themed) selling for $10 each.

New album sounds beautiful--reminds me in spirit of my regional guitar hero Eric Chenaux and his own respective relationship to jazz tradition and how to playfully yet respectfully bend it; v informative Tone Glow interview here:
https://toneglow.substack.com/p/tone-glow-125-rafael-toral

Agreed, I was transfixed on the livestream premiere, in fact I came here to post about it but got sadly distracted.

jeez spectral evolution is incredible

I'm reminded of 'Old to 'Begin' by Pavement every time I put this on. It's just the opening chord (it's uncanny)

oh wow

eh, they're really close (the opening chord on each) but the Pavement song sounds like a minor (?) step down. more resolved, somehow. Bo don't know music theory

AOTY so far

sorry LNB, i was wow'ing the new record rather than your post

I had just A/B'd the two for the first time.. I phrased my post to appear as a response to yours, 'cos it was a bit vague. No foulin'

I don't know how I only got to this album yesterday. Love it.

yes it's fantastic

new single

https://rafaeltoral.bandcamp.com/track/layers-single