Album: Absent From the Void (C°S003)
The spring 2023 Ceremony of Seasons release! The music accompaniment to VISUALS Wine's third Ritual of Senses Wine Club package - released to the world on the Spring Equinox of 2023.
Tony grew up playing guitar, performing in rock bands, and frequenting his local library in search of unusual records and any publication he could find on electronic synthesizers and analog recording equipment. His synth design career began at Moog Music, and ever since, he has developed an all-coast synthesis style that combines elements from both East and West Coast influences.
Single: Past It All
From Tim Gormley, owner and operator of Ceremony of Seasons and co-owner of VISUALS Wine:
I first came to know of Tony Rolando in the early moments of the pandemic lockdown. After observing many of the creative people in my life taking on new hobbies to fill the time, I was inspired to finally dive in to synthesis. I did extensive research, part of which involved reaching out to musicians that I admired and asking for their advice on where to start. I found it to be pretty remarkable how often Make Noise Music came up in the ensuing conversations. Being an Asheville based company, I knew of them, but my knowledge kind of ended there. In reading about their founder I came to learn that Tony was a musician himself and upon listening to his work, I was blown away.
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Despite the fact that I have not yet taken the plunge into modular synthesis (a format the Make Noise focuses on), Tony ended up playing an instrumental role in my journey, most notably by giving me the confidence to move forward with the Ritual of Senses concept. He has also become a mentor, providing me with invaluable insight into running a record label. Being given the opportunity to release a record of his legitimately makes me emotional. It’s absolutely surreal in concept…and then the record is just unbelievably transcendent.
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Music is a critical part of the rituals I aim to curate. I asked Tony to write and record a record with the specific intention of creating a sonic atmosphere for an experience with Absent in the Void, a Chardonnay from the 2021 harvest. The record is appropriately called Absent From the Void and shares artwork with the wine. It was mastered by Holosuite Mastering and pressed at Citizen Vinyl on clear pink wax.
