New Slaapwel! Sonmi451’s Ruis on CD. Comes with a Louis Reith print.

Dear Sleepyheads, 
I’m very happy to announce a new and essential addition to your bedroom (aka the room where the magic happens if you’re an mtv cribs dude). Slaapwel Records newest item is Sonmi451’s RUIS. It contains a cd, digital download and a Louis Reith print. Pricetag is 8 euro (+ shipping). It is also made in an edition of 500 copies. Sooo… if you want to have it, … (yes the pretty thing below), … then you should … 

BUY NOW
seriously, don’t sleep on it! 
(hahaha, you won’t believe how long i waited to make this joke!) 

But in all honesty, why I believe you should consider a purchase: Because it simply works! Put the cd on and drift off… The 32 minute piece is a wonderful walk along slowly pulsating sine waves, lingering piano loops, cradling strings and the solar warmth of little cracks, pops and soft hisses. At first it seems to be nothing more but a lovely track, “ordinary” prettiness, though once you are well in your bed, it becomes as essential as your pillow or your favorite blanket. It is probably the most efficient piece we’ve had the chance to release. A lush, soft and hypnotic path into unconsciousness. Also, the CD comes with artwork by dutch designer louis reith, because if you have to look for this cd on a daily basis, it’d better look good. Also, as a side note be sure to visit or ‘like’ our fancy facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/slaapwel. It’s good for our web 2.0 score.

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adding a little sun bleach to the new slaapwel (only a week or two away)

Slaapliedjes by Wixel (finished)

Music to fall asleep by has always been one of my favourite working areas. I’m intrigued by making music sounding timeless, soothing and disappearing. Slaapliedjes is my second experiment with sleeping music. 10 songs that are very different yet very similar (a bit like constellations or stars) and always very humble. The only thing they differ in is pace and density. It is entirely built with an electric guitar played slowly and randomly and a lovely tube amp. While the idea of that may not seem very interesting, you might be surprised by the outcome if you accept to listen to it while you’re going to bed, playing this record each evening repeatedly. Maybe you should think of this cd more as something you’d want to keep close to your toothbrush, favourite pillow and pajamas rather than your record collection.

Artwork was made by Jo again who did an amazing job sewing the blanket to the packaging.

wolf 359 / hat-p-9 / sher 25 / gliese 229 / wr 102ka / ae aquarii / lbv 1806-20 / r 126 / 6 lyncis / messier 40

Cd is limited to 30 copies. I still have a few left, but e-mail me to find out. It’s 12 euro shipping included. You can download it for free (or whatever you want to pay) at http://2009.bandcamp.com

…and now it’s onto may. It never stops. :)

Slaapwel Four

Finally! The fourth installment in the slaapwel records series is out! It’s made by Steinbrüchel and it’s called “Home”. It’s awesome! Without any doubt “Home” is the most accomplished release I had the chance to release. I got in touch with Ralph Steinbrüchel when he asked me about the first slaapwel release. As things usually go one e-mail led to another and eventually Steinbrüchel seemed the perfect artist to compose a piece that would be excellent at inviting sleep. He accepted my invitation and confirmed my assumption by sending me the excellent “Home” a few months after the invitation. As with all releases I have to “test” it before I can release it as a proper slaapwel record. For this one I remember receiving the disc, deciding not to wait until it was bedtime, but rather play it on my home stereo, while lying in that big comfy sofa in my apartment. The sun was just right at that spot where its warmth spreads all over the sofa and was shining through my eyelids. That natural warmth - electrical heating cannot be compared to the generous warmth of the sun, no doubt - combined with the hissy guitarswirls of Steinbrüchel turned out to be a perfect match. It sounds like a guitar that wanders through the forest without any goal or destination. Just floating, aimlessly. It’s melodic yet there’s no melody to be found. As far as comparisons go I would say Fennesz during his Venice days, or maybe like Mountains or other 12K artists. Also; Pup by Fenton might be a good comparision. But ofcourse, the best thing you should do is simply put this record on, maybe on a winter day when the sun is able to break through the clouds. And just drift off..

In case you’d be interested to order it, you need to click this. You’ll find a “buy now” button. It’s 10 euro postpaid to anywhere in the world.

Goodnight.