Glass-mastered, silkscreen printed CD housed in a 4-panel, 300g satin cardstock Digipak. Clear cd tray. Numbered. Shrinkwrapped. Pressed and printed in the Canada. Edition of 200.
T.R. JORDAN – DWELL TIME II (Past Inside The Present, 2024)
"Dwell Time II, the second installment in a trilogy of tape loop experiments from T.R. Jordan, begins fittingly with “Dynamics”, as a grainy, fluttering howl opens into voluminous spatial tones, while dulcet synthesizers swell between the stereo channels with melancholy, crystalline sweetness.
Guiding his delicate world of sound through various technical and tactile manipulations, Jordan unearths sounds and textures that are otherwise not found in a natural state. Part of the fascination in working with physical formats is the ability to alter and interrupt – in this case, wrapping the plastic film of the cassette in foil, or bending and distending it with a fingertip, creating what the artist proudly calls “gorgeous imperfection”.
Suffused with soft warbles and fragile, insect-like clicks, “Swapped” trains a macro lens on the inner workings of loam and undergrowth, evoking a verdant air of renewal that always emerges from the chrysalis of natural cycles. Following close behind, “Allusion” carries the calm pace of a slowed clock, counting out moments of aching anticipation in melodic, meditative counterpoint.
Jordan’s fascination with mutability is evident in every second of this suite – even the most seemingly reliable loop is subject to the whims of a weakened battery, repositioning of the tape deck, or tempered malfunction. “Nested” offers a particularly deconstructed view, combining the spatial patience of Hiroshi Yoshimura and the connective tissue of early Eno experiments in its glassy tremolos and mysterious corners.
“Proxy” forefronts the stop-stutter of physical looping with antiquated machinery, and the hand-hewn effect of trying to control something as it tries to escape into the air, like flowing bands of the aurora borealis. “Repetition is a form of change”, the saying goes, and as each renewal of the loop asserts its own idiosyncrasies, we find the pulse of contingency.
As a continuation of the first Dwell Time album (Past Inside the Present, 2022), Jordan’s intention is a cohesive suite in three movements, all with the same materials and methods, in a concentrated period of inspired experimentation with no energy wasted – a form of “musical composting”, in his words. Citing the particular malleability of the Library of Congress’ C1 cassette deck, and the “halfway broken beauty” of the Roland RE-201 tape delay, he brings together disparate sources into captivating sonic approximations of flowing creeks, mossy rocks, and drifting clouds in equal measure.
The album’s final two pieces, “Murmur” and “Tampered”, bear this out with notable grace, as a sense of perennial permanence leads into waves of seafoam hiss, rounding out the set in a peaceful surrender to the cosmos. Brought into its final form with production by Rafael Irisarri at Black Knoll Studio, mastering by Stephan Mathieu at Schwebung, artwork by Cynthia Bernard, and endless support from label head zakè, Dwell Time II is a remarkable ode to the infinite, viewed through the lens of the momentary."
- Written by Thomas Meluch
Written and recorded by T.R. Jordan Produced and mixed at Black Knoll Studio by Rafael Anton Irisarri Mastered at Schwebung Mastering by Stephan Mathieu Photography and graphic design by Cynthia Bernard Layout by zakè
As a student of music, T.R. Jordan cultivates harmony, melody and texture from across the centuries. He began classical piano lessons while still stretching to reach the pedals, and counts Debussy and Chopin among his earliest influences; in this way, we hear something of the moonless night in his careful pacing and melodic mastery. As his passion developed, further influence came from the tape manipulations of Brian Eno and William Basinski, creating a natural drive toward experimentation, and an embrace of uncertainty through forgotten formats.
In an era largely defined by flawless resolution and digital acuity, Jordan dares to place acoustic and analog elements in lower-fidelity environments, creating distinct but familiar compositions. This approach is best heard on Dwell Time and Dwell Time II (Past Inside the Present), the first installments in a trilogy of loop-based reflections on quietude and the verdant infinite, all created during a singular period of epiphany and inspiration. Jordan prefers “methods and means that are temperamental, and that eschew perfectionism,” such as the beloved, versatile Library of Congress C1 cassette deck for the blind, and the joyously unpredictable Roland RE-201 tape delay.
Combined with an academic knowledge of the piano and double bass, Jordan’s willingness to sacrifice any sense of musical certainty and push headlong into the unknown, is much of what makes his unique soundscapes so striking. Long time production assistance from like-minded composer Rafael Anton Irisarri brings yet another dimension to Jordan’s work, as his pursuit of uniquely fascinating forms both honors, and upends, established theory.
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.8 / 5 from 266 reviews.
I got the mystery tape box specifically the "your getting tons of tapes" tier
and it didnt disappoint at all packaged securely overdelivered in the best way in terms of content and didnt take long to get here ,it was exciting to finally see what i got, genuinely made my day when it came in the post, a massive 22 tape package and so far every tape ive listened to has been really really good! Quality all the way, and if anyone was on the fence about getting it, well dont be, go for it you wont be disappointed .
Major respect to whoever curates the box, excellent choices!!
I Usually never leave reviews of things but this was worth doing it for.
I will definitely be buying this again no doubt about it and yeah just awesome really, very happy with it :)
It took a long time to arrive ( mainly because i put the wrong address😅) but overall its an amazing track. Thanking Cory from inner Amazing website and will buy more records from here.
The vinyl itself is very beautiful, and the sound is very punchy and clear! Of course all the tracks slap hard. Really great pressing, really great album!
I discovered the Bless Vol. 1 compilation a few years ago. Some of my favorite lo-fi artists were featured on it, and last year I reached out to the label hoping to get some of their releases.
Cory got in touch with me and personally made sure the record arrived safely. It sounds incredible, and the editions are beautifully produced.
Now I'm eagerly waiting for Vol. 1
Greetings from Argentina!
Really big fan. It’s a solidly built player and I think the aux-in recording function and ability to pair Bluetooth headphones/speaker is really unique, especially on the same device. I can’t speak to the Bluetooth pairing as I haven’t tested it out. I specifically was looking for an aux-in recording cassette player and this fit the bill perfectly. I tested this function and it sounds really great without completely losing the charm of a mic recording.
It was packaged perfectly! Everything that it came in was great, too!
HOWEVER, the page for this product does have a preview of all the songs ASSUMED to come with the album. This is not the case. This album comes with everything EXCEPT: September Rain (English Version)
With the previews available, I thought it'd be there. I was apparently missinformed. That is the ONE AND ONLY issue I have with my purchase. I wish they gave you the EXACT track list on the webpage. But like I said, that'd the only issue I had. Everything else was great.
I've been looking for an original copy of this album for a while at a price and quality that I was happy with. I was thrilled to find this on your website and couldn't pass up the opportunity to support you and support my unhealthy collection.
Excellent, can not recommend highly enough. My new go-to for Japanese import vinyl. Reasonable price, fast ship time. Will definitely be telling all 1 ½ of my friends interested in vinyl about Inner Ocean.
This album is truly fantastic. I have the cassette as well, it's so dynamic and interesting to listen to on both the turntable and in my case the player with headphones! blips is also just a very talented artist and incredibly kind person, sent me a short to make up for the shipping delay with the vinyl.
I can't say enough nice things about inner ocean and the artists on here. Interesting work from very talented people, great deals on buying multiple tapes and records, professional and kind customer service, I've honestly never had a bad transaction from inner ocean and I look forward to my next purchase! Thanks all!
Legit and amazing quality!!! These are my very first two vinyl albums and I just love how these two turned out! Would definitely recommend Inner Ocean Records to those who enjoy collecting vintage Japanese albums.
Most beautiful cassettes on earth as always. Every Inner Ocean release is an instant classic and everything I’ve ever ordered (cassettes, vinyl, merch) always comes quick and very well packaged. Best record label out!
Absolutely PHENOMENAL transaction, adding a piece of Casiopea history to my collection. Shipped fast, packed well, and Always a pleasure to do business with. Not my first Inner Ocean order, and FAR from my last! Again, many thanks to the IO crew!
I’m so glad to be able to have my favorite casiopea album on vinyl and it play wonderfully. Would say it got here quickly but alas the Canadian post strike happened not too long after I ordered it. But all in all I will definitely be ordering more from here.
Favorite Miki album. The added posted was wonderful surprise. Inner Ocean Records shipping and customer support is top notch. Can’t wait for my next purchase!
This is my first entry into the Lofi Snacks series after bumbling into the Inner Ocean label on Bandcamp and looking up their website. And my, what can I say other than it has been a delight! Really fresh vibey beats that sound great digitally on on my desk cassette player. The art is also fantastic and I love the print on the cassette itself. I've had this album on repeat since it arrived Monday. Look forward to exploring more of the Inner Ocean catalogue.
One of the greatest records in my collection! There are few legendary records that scratch the sonic itch this one does. Love the addition of the obi strip. Inner Ocean delivers greatness yet again!
