It’s always easier to form a band when it’s not your first. Painting By Numbers has been a recurring project in the head of its architects long before it actually took shape in autumn 2008.

Antoine Ollivier (Dawnshape) and Gregory Hoepffner (Radius System, Time To Burn, Template) always felt their belonging groups didn’t let them experiment as much as they wanted. Soon joined by bandmate Axel Dallou (Radius System), the trio didn’t ask too many questions and quickly started making noise, in a language they didn’t even speak : improvisation.

Drums, Guitar, Bass, Synth, Samplers, and endless possibilities : Painting By Numbers are devoted to pushing the standards further, fight against their own musical habits, and try to find the right balance between sonic experimentation and pure groove pleasure.

In result of this first year of endless recordings, the parisian trio will is now releasing this “Live Demo”, available for free download

1. Conceal Confine Tentative
2. Matthew Barney’s Imperious Needs
3. Volcano
4. BGM 03
5. Secret Foam Island
6. 85′ Parallel Evidence

Download from Archive.org / Torrent

It’s been a while, but good things come to those who wait. Hailing from opposite ends of Australia, Perth’s Tangled Thoughts of Leaving and Sydney’s sleepmakeswaves are proud to present you with a shiny new split LP. It’s a record from two bands that are very different yet one that finds an equilibrium between the seemingly disparate tendencies of the two groups. Although both bands find common ground in their latent electronic influences, sleepmakeswaves marry these ideas to their characteristic brand of energetic and uplifting instrumental rock while Tangled Thoughts of Leaving pursue a relentlessly improvisatory, innovative path. The results are more foreboding yet no less spectacular, and are all the more reason to watch for their debut full lengths, slated for 2010.

Tracklisting :

1. Sleepmakeswaves – Keep Your Splendid Silent Sun
2. Sleepmakeswaves – We Sing The Body Electric
3. Sleepmakeswaves – This Is How We Remember (Secret Robot)
4. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving – A Vexing Predicament
5. Tangled Thoughts of Leaving – The World Is A Deaf Machine

Download from archive.org / torrent

This Is My Normal State is a post-rock/ambient band from Bristol, South West England. Formed in October 2008, the band has just finished recording its debut EP: Angel Falls ++ (October 2009).

Taking influences from bands such as Sigur Ros, Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, Mono, Mogwai and Joy Wants Eternity to name a few, the band create a sound-scape of interlocking melodies, typified by the use of reverb drenched guitar loops, and fragile, ethereal vocals.

Tracklisting :

1. Number 3
2. Angel Falls
3. Phineas Gage

Download from Archive.org / Torrent

Fugue presents an arduous journey through a quagmire of genre confusion and deceivingly orchestrated pieces of music. Love, time and a soft spot for over-complication gave birth to their first effort that is full of everything they think makes music great. There’s something for everyone on this splendid 17 and a half minute adventure through a veritable sonic paradise.

Tracklisting :

1. How the Grass and Trees Became Enlightened
2. The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters
3. Telemachus
4. What the Tortoise Said to Achilles

Download from archive.org / torrent

Summer 2009

Volume 13 marks the beginning of the fourth year of The Silent Ballet’s compilation series. Three years ago the first volume was sent out to the world via the Internet, and today we’re still dedicated to bringing our readers exciting, innovative compilations filled with the best and brightest artists from around the globe.

We’ve come a long way since Poetry Without Words, but hopefully the series has shown that the website is unrestrained by genre and is willing to travel to any corner of the world to unearth up-and-coming musicians. Volume 13 feels particularly international, featuring artists from four continents and nine countries, yet also demonstrates that there is something that connects all of us nonetheless.

We’re committed to our goal of providing quality music in a respectable format without charge. As one of life’s greatest pleasures, music should be freely available to all and resistent to commodification. A big thanks goes out to all the artists and labels who made this project possible. Relevant links can be found below; any support is greatly appreciated.

Jordan Volz
The Silent Ballet

Barry Rogers
Lost Children Net Label

Tracklisting :

1. Ben Frost – The Carpathians
2. Amman/Josh – Lukka
3. Panoptique Electrical – Some Rooms Become Us
4. flica – In Dreams
5. Port-Royal – HVA (Failed Revolutions)
6. French Teen Idol – I Want George Soros
7. Manual – Marbella (Live from the Troubadour)
8. Aspidistrafly – Moonlight Shadow
9. Fredricson – Eyeme (Album Edit)
10. Orange Crush: – Last Dawn
11. Elemental Gaze – Love Your Love, Love Your Death
12. Amberhaze – 1994

Download from archive.org / torrent

Fall 2008 – Spring 2009

We’ve experienced a bit of a lag time between compilations 9 and 12, as our tri-monthly series has stalled out over the past half of a year. To remedy this situation, volumes 10 through 12 will be released in close proximity to one another. That’s right, three great compilations for the price of, well, nothing!

No sacrifice in quality has been made to make this possible. We continue to pull from the best and brightest artists we know to offer something fresh and provocative. Listeners will notice a contrast of styles between the three volumes; as always, we attempt to introduce something new in every volume. We believe readers of The Silent Ballet will find plenty to celebrate over the four hours of music.

A big thanks goes out to all the artists and labels who made this project possible. Relevant links can be found below where your support for their music can be demonstrated.

Jordan Volz
The Silent Ballet

Barry Rogers
Lost Children Net Label

Tracklisting :

1. Stephane Horeczko – Fugaces
2. Jasper TX – Sky
3. thisquietarmy – Orchestral Dots Under Static
4. Anduin – Lovers in Transit
5. Light Under Water – Awake
6. Cobra-Matic – Braille
7. Autistici – Curet Must be Protected (Little Murmurs Grow into Big Shouts Mix)
8. CJ Boyd – Pensive Pez
9. Sickoakes – Live Demo

Download from archive.org / torrent

Tangled Thoughts of Leaving’s music is progressive by nature. The inclusion of sparse influences, guided by concept and fused together, is the conception of their own sound, as each musicians respective inspirations force the collective into unchartered territory.

After several years of existence and growth, mid 2007 saw Tangled Thoughts of Leaving construct themselves a purpose built, make shift creative space.

A medium sized room, dedicated to forward thinking; the birth of new sound. In that very room, what was previously theory, became reality, and so began the Process of four people leaving mediocrity behind them.

In the months of January, February and March of 2008, TToL used their creative space to record a concept, aptly titled ‘Tiny Fragments’. This EP was to represent their current thought process. They gave themselves a series of themes, ideas from a previously recorded improvisation and a set amount of time. What followed was roughly 3 months of sporadic sessions, in which the 18 minute, 3 part title track was written and recorded.

With the creation of Tiny Fragments the band have demonstrated that they would rather risk potential failure than never pursue the invention of interesting art. Tiny Fragments was an experiment and is the final step before they put a short lived emphasis on live performance, then return to the studio to record their debut album.

If you would like a CD version of ‘Tiny Fragments’, you can order one from here.

Tracklisting :
1. Tiny Fragments Part One
2. Tiny Fragments Part Two
3. Tiny Fragments Part Three
4. The Banshee

Download from archive.org / torrent

Fall 2008 – Spring 2009

We’ve experienced a bit of a lag time between compilations 9 and 12, as our tri-monthly series has stalled out over the past half of a year. To remedy this situation, volumes 10 through 12 will be released in close proximity to one another. That’s right, three great compilations for the price of, well, zero!

No sacrifice in quality has been made to make this possible. We continue to pull from the best and brightest artists we know to offer something fresh and provocative. Listeners will notice a contrast of styles between the three volumes; as always, we attempt to introduce something new in every volume. We believe readers of The Silent Ballet will find plenty to celebrate over the four hours of music.

A big thanks goes out to all the artists and labels who made this project possible. Relevant links can be found below where your support for their music can be demonstrated.

Jordan Volz
The Silent Ballet

Barry Rogers
Lost Children Net Label

Volume 10 Tracklisting :

1. Saxon Shore – Nothing Changes
2. The Autumn Project – This We Take With Us (Pre-Release Mix)
3. Codes in the Clouds – We Anchor in Hope
4. Gifts from Enola – Aves
5. If These Trees Could Talk – What’s in the Ground Belongs to You
6. Motion Turns it On – Lo Pido Con Piedad
7. Bluebridge Quartet – Untitled
8. Anduin + Jasper TX – A Beam of Light Bends Back Upon Itself
9. Paucity – Kingsley
10. From Monument to Masses – Beyond God and Elvis
11. Absent Sound – Before the Knight is Through

Volume 11 Tracklisting :

1. Rhian Sheehan – Standing in Silence Pt. III
2. Danny Norbury – Entrelacs
3. Sunwrae – Chinook Winds
4. Victory and Good Hunting – Mule Comes Home
5. Lawrence English – Watching it Unfold
6. Alexander Turnquist – We Are Magnets
7. FJORDNE – Vivid Memories
8. Startle the Heavens – Pearl
9. The Soul’s Release – Awake Among the Sleeping
10. Milieu – Amb7 v2
11. ::thinkstandard:: – If You are the One to Take Me Home
12. Library Tapes – Slow-Wave Sleep
13. Rameses III – No Water, No Moon
14. Shoeb Ahmad – Belladonna (Starlight Mix)
15. We All Inherit the Moon – Our Hearts Forever Like the Sun Pt. 1

Download Volume 10 from archive.org / torrent.
Download Volume 11 from archive.org / torrent.

After two years, we welcome the return of Part Rocket with their third release ‘In Limine’, following on from their ‘Kneel Before the Throne and Drink the Blood of your Own’ EP, also available on Lost Children, and the ‘Good Bye Morning Satellite’ EP available at www.partrocket.com.

Continuing along the leftfield-path-less-trod, Part Rocket’s instrumental music takes influence from the tight and rhythmic structures of math rock and incorporates the delicacy, emotion and melody of latter day post-rock overlaying varying ideas and dynamics to produce another unique alternative release.

Tracklisting :
1. Cut Short by the Whip
2. Have Bullet, Will Bury
3. Tambora Blankets the Earth
4. Rocket Party
5. How We Roll

Download from here.

Two years ago The Silent Ballet magazine and the Lost Children Net Label joined forces with the goal of providing a quarterly compilation that operated outside the boundaries of genre stereotypes, consistently promoted new and emerging artists, and released exclusive tracks into the public. Nine compilations later, we’d like to think that this venture has been a success; over one hundred artists have graciously lent a track to a compilation, the series has been downloaded over 70,000 times, and we’ve received great feedback from readers and musicians alike about discovering a new favorite band thanks to the series.

The future looks just as bright as ever. We’re currently planning the tenth volume of the series and we do hear the demands to make these compilations available in physical form. While on one hand we do enjoy the fact that the series is 100% free and does no harm to the environment, we are currently exploring a few projects that may result in a physical CD being created at some point in the future. If there’s one thing you can count on us for, it’s being spontaneous.

As always, a big thanks goes out to all the artists and labels who made this project possible. Relevant links can be found below where your support for their music can be demonstrated. Until next time…

Tracklisting :
1. The Dead Sea – Nulla Desiderata
2. Olafur Arnalds – Fok
3. Anoice – Glitch
4. Bersarin Quartett – Mehr Als Alles Andere
5. Emanuele Errante – Fecunda
6. Peter Broderick – Atlantic
7. The Abbasi Brothers – The Social Evening (In 1992)
8. Sumner McKane – Doris
9. Cam Butler – I Surrender
10. Redhooker – Telling Time
11. Bosques de mi Mente – Nubes Apiladas en Forma de Montaas
12. Rudi Arapahoe – Conversation Piece
13. Joe Frawley – Sketches from Memory

Download from here.