OtherSide : boutique label launches in the UK/Europe with releases featuring legendary French guitarist and electronic musician RICHARD PINHAS out 02.08.24

OtherSide
US label announces European launch with releases featuring Richard Pinhas

A boutique US imprint founded by two life-long friends and music lovers, OtherSide is defined by the quality of both its music and packaging. With a commitment to using original masters for the best sound quality and creating strictly limited edition collectible packages of 500 numbered copies for every release, the label is set to be a haven for music enthusiasts and physical collectors worldwide.

Having debuted in early 2024 with elaborate CD packages (including die-cut sleeves) for albums by Australian electronic artist Matt Goodluck and Swedish prog quintet Twin Age, OtherSide have just inked a UK/Europe distribution deal with Burning Shed for these and future releases. This includes two upcoming EPs due out on 2nd August that are the work of legendary French musician Richard Pinhas.

‘Le Plan’ consists of tracks recorded in 2000 by a reformed line-up of Pinhas’ ‘70s progressive electronic rock band Heldon, while ‘Winter Music’ is a rare solo work originally recorded in 1979. Manufactured on 180 gram vinyl, both EPs have been thoroughly remixed by Pinhas and remastered by Robert Rich, while each has brand new artwork and its own OBI strip.

Discussing their modus operandi, the label state: “We are small but have big ideas. We remember what it was like to sit down and go over the packaging line by line as you put the album on and listened via your headphones, letting the music take you to a journey not seen on your iPhones, TikToks or SnapChats.”

HELDON
LE PLAN
EP | digital
pre-order
Burning Shed [vinyl] | Bandcamp [digital + vinyl]

includes
NEXT LEVEL
Bandcamp stream

The French progressive electronic rock act Heldon originally existed from 1974-79. The constant in the band was guitarist and synthesist Richard Pinhas, who became known as the father of French electronic music between his solo releases and his work with Heldon.

‘Only Chaos Is Real’ (2000) was the first release of new material by Heldon since ‘Stand By’ over two decades earlier and showcased a darker, more industrial sound that took full throttle ’80s King Crimson and crossed it with the vocal energy of PiL stretched across riffs of searing Jazz-Rock fusion, all performed by crack French musicians. It also included vocals from sci-fi writers and philosophers who Pinhas had been working with on his solo releases during the interim.

‘Le Plan’ consists of four tracks from that album given new life after being remixed by Pinhas in 2023. The very first time that this music has been made available on LP format, it has been somewhat overlooked in the Heldon oeuvre, yet more than ever it predicted and reflects the world as it is now. Welcome to the next level!

TRACKLISTING
1 Le Plan
2 Next Level
3 Ubik
4 Last Level

RICHARD PINHAS
WINTER MUSIC
EP | digital
pre-order
Burning Shed [vinyl] | Bandcamp [digital + vinyl]

includes
WINTER MUSIC PART 2
Bandcamp stream

As a guitarist, synthesist and composer, Pinhas has been a pioneer of the French music scene for over five decades. From his work in the ’70s with Heldon to his latest releases with experimental artists from around the world, he is a true artist who can both play a bad-ass guitar and explore its sonic boundaries.

‘Winter Music’ is a 22 minute piece originally recorded for Pinhas’ 1979 album ‘Iceland’, his third solo effort and the first after Heldon initially split. However, it ended up being shelved at the time due to its length, belatedly receiving a release on an expanded CD reissue in 1997.

Using the original looping procedures introduced to ‘70s rock by the likes of Fripp & Eno, he had performed the track by hand-playing a PolyMoog directly into two Revox A700 tape recorders. Although displaying the calm minimalism of much ambient music of the time, Pinhas’ 2023 remix brings previously unheard colour, full of depth and reflection for what is a piece of essential listening in the genre. This is its debut on vinyl.

TRACKLISTING
1 Winter Music Part 1
2 Winter Music Part 2