Ottawa-based recording label Low Noise Productions celebrated the release of its first vinyl featuring various electronic artists on Nov 18.
The release party took place at Possible Worlds, a record shop and gallery on Somerset Street.
Founded in 2013, the label has slowly built a roster of underground talent in electronic, techno, noise and synth music from Canada and around the world.
Jason Pelletier is the founder of Low Noise Productions and co-owner of Possible Worlds. He said this release is exciting because it marks a shift from the label’s previous digital and limited edition cassette releases.
“I have a collection of over 7,000 records myself, so having a release of my label on vinyl is a nice addition to my collection,” said Pelletier. “It’s also a collector’s item and it’s useful to DJs who like to play vinyl.”
The vinyl is a sampler of tracks from Compilation 1 — a digital album available on the publishing platform Bandcamp.
It features four tracks in total by three Canadian artists: Andrew Duke and Bic from Halifax and Ottawa-based producer Transmit.
The record features ambient sounds made using an electronic synthesizer, industrial noise that fuses rock and electronic music, and techno dance tracks.
The red translucent vinyl is limited to 200 copies and includes an art booklet and magazine put together by Melanie Yugo, also a co-owner of Possible Worlds.
It’s available for sale on the label’s Bandcamp page for $15.
Local DJs Andrew O’Malley and Michael Glenwright of André et Michèle specialize in a genre of electronic music that converges indie rock, techno and ambient music.
The pair has been signed under Low Noise Productions since February and they played a live set at the release party.
“The Possible Worlds shop is a really fun venue to play,” said Michèle.
“They get great local people to play together and you just pack the storefront. The energy is right there.”
They said the electronic music scene in Ottawa is small but strong and they have more than enough opportunity to play shows around the city.
Pelletier said another compilation is set for release online in December. He added that he hopes to do more vinyl releases in the near future.
Popular spots to see live electronic shows are House of Targ on Bank Street, Mercury Lounge in the Byward Market and Pressed Café at 750 Gladstone Ave. Low Noise Productions also co-hosts a monthly experimental night called Not Normal at Pressed Café with local label Bruised Tongue.
Connor Sherman is a 22-year-old student and attends many electronic shows around the city. He said Sunday Sessions at Mercury Lounge are a great opportunity to see high quality local talent.
“It’s a really mellow Sunday night. Everyone is there for the music. It’s a very good atmosphere and everyone is respectful of each other,” said Sherman. However, he acknowledged that Ottawa has some catching up to do in order to establish a scene on par with other major Canadian cities. “If I’m going to go to shows, I’ll go to Montreal. But then again if you know where to look there are some really good things going on in the city.”
Alex Maltby, the events coordinator at Pressed Café, said comparing Ottawa’s music scene to that of cities like Montreal and Toronto may not be productive.
“I think we have an opportunity to carve Ottawa’s identity as an exciting music city across many genres,” said Maltby. “But I do think we face many challenges in rallying folks to get out and attend events and explore the amazing things Ottawa has to offer.”
Low Noise Productions is now on its fourth compilation, featuring artists from the U.K., the U.S., Ireland, Sweden and Canada.