When Angela Winter first saw Joshua Marquez, he was kneeling on a Persian rug in a darkened bar, ringed by a rapt crowd. He was shredding an electric guitar—not as a virtuoso metal soloist but literally, brutally, noise-style, with his fingers, tongue, saliva, and chopsticks. When Joshua Marquez first saw Angela Winter, she was standing on a stage with an electrified ukulele in hand, her head inside an aura of projected clouds, nebulae, and planets in space. She opened her mouth and ethereal melodies floated out.
They met playing at an experimental music festival called All Data Lost. Their styles were near opposites. Yet somehow they clicked. Inspired by Marquez’s noise compositions, Winter began to experiment and created her first noise piece—a happy accident—for her album lightness. She invited Marquez to collaborate on the release show by “destroying” the music of lightness through his signature tape loops and decay process. Inspired by Winter’s vocal compositions, Marquez began to sample and transform vocals through his tape loops and effects pedals. He invited Winter to collaborate on this project.
Unfamiliar Language was born.
On the A-side, Marquez loops heavily processed vocal samples. No discernible language is heard, but guttural sounds, clicks, and whistles sputter in an ocean of reverb. These are the words that fell out of my mouth.
On the B-side, Winter reads a segment from her dream journal—her "book of dreams"—over a surreal sonic landscape. Field recordings of barred owls call the dream into existence and mark its end.
All sounds on Unfamiliar Language are vocal and processed through effects pedals.
releases September 14, 2022
CREDITS
PRODUCTION—Produced, recorded, and mixed by Joshua Marquez and Angela Winter;
mastered by Joshua Marquez
PUBLISHING—Written and published by Joshua Marquez (BMI) and Angela Winter (ASCAP)
COVER DESIGN—Images by Hubert Airy; design by Joshua Marquez and Angela Winter
Joshua Marquez is an experimental composer, guitarist, improviser based in Philadelphia, PA. Hailed as "cutting-edge" (The
Gazette) and "creepy" (The Daily Iowan), Marquez deconstructs sound with innovative textures, exploring the liminal space of his Filipino-American heritage.
Tim Hecker's "Virgins" is my favorite release by this artist. The album feels so intimate and I discover things with each listen. The juxtaposition of textures is so fresh and adventurous, yet cozy. Joshua Marquez
One of many immerse experiences given to us by 'a beautiful burning world'. This, in addition to the rest of the catalog, is a stunning listen. Joshua Marquez
Gregg Belisle-Chi's ensō is such an intricately designed listening experience. The trio's dynamic range makes the peaks and valleys of this album really stand out. Joshua Marquez
supported by 13 fans who also own “Unfamiliar Language”
Oh, it's a rainy day and someone plays folk music with the croon... Oh, and don't until you miss the short-circuited robotic frogs that accompany him!
That's what I can imagine while listening to this release. use2alone