Marcus Fischer

Marcus Fischer’s Monocoastal is one of the most defining moments in the arc of 12k’s evolution. Released over 10 years ago (CD, 12k1063) and long-since out of print, Monocoastal shaped the sound to come for the label for a decade and beyond. It was also Marcus Fischer’s debut release and he would go on to become one of the staple roster members of 12k as a tour partner and collaborator.

12k is very excited to release Monocoastal for the first time on vinyl in celebration of its 10th anniversary. It is packaged in a gatefold jacket with an essay by writer Marc Weidenbaum and a stunning re-interpreation of its cover painted by award-winning visual artist Gregory Euclide.

[ THE ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE FROM MONOCOASTAL, 12K1063)

Monocoastal was inspired by Fischer’s movements up and down the West Coast of America over the last two decades. Washes of tape hiss play homage to the Pacific Ocean, while multiple layers of details reveal themselves differently upon each listen. Tiny sounds originate from field recordings and are given the same attention as conventional instrumentation. Found instruments–such as a piano discovered in the corner of a salvage warehouse and a xylophone made of metal wrenches–create sounds captured through both analog and digital recording. Detail is removed rather than added, and harmonic tones are discovered in natural resonances. The compositions on Monocoastal are built upon a bed of low fidelity textures, an exercise in restraint and tension. Space between notes plays an important compositional role to create this balance and tape loops provide organic repetition that wavers subtly with warmth and imperfection. There is a fractured and naturally worn sense to Fischer’s compositions, each one an object itself summed from carefully selected instruments and tones used in their making.

Monocoastal is another 12k release alongside Taylor Deupree’s Shoals, Solo Andata’s self-titled release and the latest CD from Seaworthy + Matt Rösner that represents the current aesthetic of the label:  a  passion for acoustic and found sounds, a minimal of obvious DSP and synthesis, and a natural warmth created by analog recordings and the use of physical space. Fischer’s instruments include a variety of guitars, both acoustic and electric, lap harps, melodicas, ukelele, home-made instruments, field recordings, and the use of manually manipulated cassette recorders to create stop-and-start compositions. Much like Fischer’s creative blog DustBreeding, Monocoastal finds beauty in everyday objects and surroundings and portrays a hazy, personal narrative, like the cover photography taken by Fischer himself on expired Polaroid film.