ABOUT THE ALBUM

Astroturf Noise exists at the intersection of free improvisation, effects-heavy noise music, and American roots music.

The group’s sound marries the propulsive rhythmic drive of bluegrass with the snarl of Downtown agitators such as the Lounge Lizards, Arto Lindsay, and James Chance along with textural flavors touching on glitch music, dub, doom metal, and Ornette Coleman. A broad melange to be sure, but one anchored by the group’s energetic drive and idiosyncratic improvisational language. This is the synthetic counterpoint to Bill Monroe’s “Bluegrass Boys”.

Astroturf Noise was formed by Sam Day Harmet (mandolin/fx) and Sana Nagano (violin/fx) in 2016 after meeting at Karl Berger’s Creative Music Studio and discovering a shared affinity for high-energy free improv and American folk traditions. After a period of developing as a duo, they added versatile bassist Zach Swanson in 2018. Their debut self-titled album features guest contributions from genre-defying artists Billy Martin (percussion) and Sarah Bernstein (violin).

Listen to this album to hear the New York avant-garde in conversation with rural America.

ASTROTURF NOISE

Sam Day Harmet - Mandolin/fx
Sana Nagano - Violin/fx
Zach Swanson - Bass

guests:
Billy Martin - Percussion (tracks 1, 5)
Sarah Bernstein - Violin/fx (track 2)

Recorded in Brooklyn, NY
Release: March 2020
Total LP time - 37:00
Catalogue number 5839

Photo by Reuben Radding
Graphic design by Sergio Vezzali

TRACKS:

1- Orange Blossom Bullet Train (ft. Billy Martin)
2- Black Berry (ft. Sarah Bernstein)
3- Morning Zephyr Waltz
4- Metropolitan Special
5- Blue Comet Bankruptcy (ft. Billy Martin)
6- Liberty
7- Cluck

Beautifully designed vinyl LP with printed inner sleeve
Download card included

100% of profit from the sale of most of these albums
goes to the musicians