Szczepanik, Nicholas

Szczepanik, Nicholas

Not Knowing

Desire Path

Desire Path Recordings is thrilled to introduce Tangents: an ongoing CD series designed with the intention of presenting long-form work not appropriate for the vinyl format. Occasionally veering off from their chosen Pathways, the label hopes these sprawling works buoy hearts and minds on long walks, unfettered reflection, or in the absorption of life. Although the vinyl format remains Desire Path’s focus and passion, these exquisite works deserve to see the light of day, or the dark of night. Originally released as an 18-minute piece for the Ante Algo Azul series, Nicholas Szczepanik’s Not Knowing has been expanded to a 53-minute masterwork. As the track unfolds, the music blossoms and the petals unfurl to reveal a constant and evolving beauty. A slow and steady throb lulls the listener into a soft molasses; a spark is ignited, becomes a glimmer, before turning into an all-encompassing radiant glow. Not Knowning is dedicated to Eliane Radigue.  “[A]n immaculate circular composition.” —Tiny Mix Tapes  “The drones, transcendent in tone, sing of massive stars and pillars of tinted dust.” —Fluid Radio “While the sketch of Not Knowing previously released stood powerfully on its own, Szczepanik expands on it in every way while keeping the emotional core of the piece the same.” —Brainwashed “Glorious in nature and gargantuan in scope, Not Knowing must be heard to be believed.” —Exclaim “The music opens like a flower, offers up just the briefest vision of something personal and momentous, and then closes again.” —Dusted Magazine

Szczepanik, Nicholas

Please Stop Loving Me

Streamline

***Finding direction can be a simple understatement. It's a process that lasts a lifetime, and in the end there's still the question if anything was ever answered. The new work of NICHOLAS SZCZEPANIK, Please Stop Loving Me, is a desire for something more. With torrential energy, this piece filled with raw emotion has a far-reaching expanse and the willingness to disenthrall expectation and requirement. Upended wellings lay within the ambit of the album's sound. Harmony dives forward, undulates behind and catches up again. Nicholas Szczepanik has always been fascinated by music. After acquiring a tape recorder from a thrift store in his native Maryland, Nicholas became enthralled with the sounds around him. He now focuses on creating sound art heavily influenced by emotion and memory. Following his highly praised debut album, The Chiasmus and the mini-epic, Dear Dad, comes this most intimate Szczepanik work to date, Please Stop Loving Me. It offers a true example of passionate instinct, carefree ambition and subtle poise. So seldom does an album unseat restriction, yet retain the virtue of creative purity, without fundamental concern, kindling the calms of fearlessness. This music is presented by Streamline with genuine empathy and sense of purpose. Previous Szczepanik long- and short-play releases have been issued by Unfathomless, Small Doses, Test Tube, Ruralfaune, Sentient Recognition Archive, Goat Eater Arts, and Basses Frequences. Nicholas currently resides and studies sound in Chicago. (STREET DATE - 7/19/2011)