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terre thaemlitz a/vm 8
a/vm 8 (1999)

 

Terre Thaemlitz: A/VM 8 | Microcassette | Released 1999/5/4 | Spain: Alku, A/VM8

A lost rarity uncovered while attempting to re-organize my book shelves: my anonymous contribution to the 1999 Alku microcassette series "AV/M." This microcassette contains a single, exclusive, untitled track made in an ambient/collage/plunderphonic style, with a duration of 4'14" (four minutes, fourteen seconds). I believe it was an edition of 20 - of which I have 10! In terms of quantity produced, this is beyond a doubt the rarest of all my releases - hence the stupid price. Limit one per customer. Available here & now at the Comatonse Shop.

Alku's process for this release was very peculiar. Here are the old emails they sent me in 1999, which is basically everything I know about this project:

    Message 1 (99/04/21): a/vm

    hi, terre
    1.you don't know us
    we don't know you>>except for yr music
    two barcelona kids>small home anti-profit label (stuff is not sold, just
    given away) called alku.

    2.new alku project: a/vm unsual format, unsual way of working, unsual
    unsualness. wanna be a part of it?
    just send a/some track/s. unfinished stuff is wellcome.
    in exchange we give you no control of the artwork, no publicity of yr name,
    no money, no time enough to work, no info about what's it about, and no
    nothing in general. like it? hope so.

    3.let us know if you are interested, then.

    a+r

    Message 2 (99/04/22): a/vm instructions

    in exchange we give you no control of the artwork, NO PUBLICITY OF YR NAME,
    no money, no time enough to work, no info about what's it about, and no
    nothing in general. like it? hope so.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------
    ............................................................................
    .....................................

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    -------------------------------------
    the game has started then. follow the instructions.

    1.you've got number 8

    2.delivery deadline: 4th may.... that means that packages posted after this
    date won't be used. not a joke.

    3.formats allowed: cd/md

    4.you should post it to:
    [details deleted]
    barcelona 08041
    spain

    tht's all by now

    beware of murphy
    alku

        :--)

    Message 3 (99/05/07): alku, dpto. de comunicación

    Alku se enorgullece de presentar A/VM, una nueva serie de ediciones que
    serán enviadas puntualmente cada miércoles durante un tiempo
    pre-establecido. Evidentemente, si Murphy nos lo permite, cosa que no
    podemos asegurar. Esperamos disfruten de su mala suerte tanto como nosotros.
    Encarecidamente suyo,
    alku, departamento de comunicación

    Alku s'enorgulleix de presentar A/VM, una nova sèrie d'edicions que seran
    enviades puntualment cada dimecres durant un temps pre-establert.
    Evidentment, si Murphy ens ho permet, cosa que no podem assegurar. Esperem
    que gaudiu de la seva mala sort tant com nosaltres.
    Atentament,
    alku, departament de comunicació

    Alku is proud to present A/VM, a new series of releases which will be post
    punctually every wednesday during some preestablished time. Of course, that
    will happen if Murphy allows us to do so, which is quite unsure. We hope you
    enjoy your bad luck as much as we do.
    Yrs sincerely,
    alku, comunication department

    Alku praesentiert A/VM, eine neue Reihe von Veroeffentlichungen, die
    rechtzeitig jeden Mittwoch, innerhalb eines noch festzulegenden Zeitpunktes,
    erscheinen. Natuerlich wird das nur geschehen solang das Murphy's Gesetz
    zulaesst, was sich noch zeigen wird. Wir hoffen Sie lieben Ihr Pech genauso
    sehr wie wir.
    MfG,
    alku, Kommunikations Abteilung

    Message 4 (99/06/11): a/vm is back

    hi there terre. a/vm is pleased to announce you that alku has got an
    installation in sonar. the installation is called "sitio", which means
    "place" and some a/vms will be played there (no credits of course). it's a
    small room where the listener is kept locked while a track is being played.
    they can not choose the track and they can not go outside of the room until
    its finished.
    hope you like the idea---- somehowit's close to the a/vm thing----NO
    CONTROL----TAKE RISKS_____.
    this is yr first sonar, then.
    regards
    a+r


 

The black-on-black cover is almost illegible. The image below has been digitally enhanced to show the "a/vm" stamp and number 8 printed in black ink on black paper: