Morgan Cuinet's 8 records to entice reverie
Morgan Cuinet is the co-founder of the independent micro-record label, Hands In The Dark. Founded in Besançon in 2010, Hands In The Dark focuses on proposing exciting auditory explorations and singular visions of experimental and psychedelic music. As fans of the label and having a handful of their titles in store, we asked Morgan to put together a mood list for us, and the result is a collection of records that gently whisk the listener into a dreamlike state of mind.
Morgan’s selections represent music that transcends everyday mundanities and transports him to a place of reverie. He notes, “I feel like everything goes much too fast nowadays. It seems like we are reaching the limits of a system that has become very harmful. The ‘reveries,’ or ‘pleasant, dreamlike thoughts,’ have a crucial role, in that they help me escape this bleak context.”
Next to running Hands In The Dark, Morgan is a collage artist with several books already published featuring his creations. He is currently working on the next publication entitled “Reveries,” which will showcase these brief mental projections.
We invite you to take a listen to Morgan’s picks below, along with a selection of Hands In The Dark records we have in store.
Ben Bertrand - Dokkaebi
Ben Bertrand is a Belgian composer and clarinet player. I find his music fascinating. He’s got a new album out this month on Les Ateliers Claus. Highly recommended!
Tara Clerkin Trio - In Spring
Their debut album is one of the most captivating albums I’ve heard in the last few years. They subtly mix jazz, gamelan, electronica, and experimental music with a very “pop” sound. I love the feeling of freedom they convey with their music.
Razen - Blue Rot
I’ve listened to this album a lot in the last year whilst making my collages and I am very happy it’s finally out. The way these improvised songs slowly develop make them really unique. It took me a bit of time to understand this album in its entirety but that’s what made it all the more special.
Blue Chemise - Flower Studies
This is an album composed by the Australian artist Mark Gomes, inspired by a series of photographs by Adolphe Braun. Musically, it reminds me of Erik Satie and Dominique Lawalrée. Simple and sublime.
Ana Roxanne - Because of a Flower
Although I really liked the Californian musician’s debut album, I wasn’t much into this new one until I listened to it very carefully whilst driving to a show in Switzerland. Sometimes it takes a certain mindset and context to enjoy an album as it should be. Sadly it is now very hard to find a copy of this magnificent piece of music.
Brannten Schnüre - Erinnerungen An Gesichter
This album was written by Katie Rich and Christian Schoppik (for whom we will release a solo album in the next few months on Hands In The Dark). The German duo based in Würzburg proposed some sort of haunted album often described as surreal folk collage. A very well kept secret but definitely worth digging into!
Enhet För Fri Musik - Det Finns Ett Hjärta Som För Dig
Another album that revealed itself during a long drive. Apparently the intention was to keep a memory of a certain moment, not to make an album as such. That’s perhaps what makes this imperfect album so fragile and special. I find this experimental folk and ambient music amazing.
Francesco Cavalière & Tomoko Sauvage - Viridescens
This is a meditative album based on the color green. It is composed with an original and inventive palette such as bowls of water, xylophones made of bamboo and synthesisers. The music is really calming and stimulates my imagination.
