Trensmat Records is, in its own words, ‘an Irish-based independent record label who specalise in transmitting oscillations & grooves’. This article is being written just as Trensmat is preparing to release its first full LP, Squirt Image Flex, by New Zealand-based psychedelic-noise artist Tlaotlon.

Trensmat Records has been active since 2005, with a break in activity occurring between mid-2009 and early-2011. The label is run by Stephen & Barry (who prefer to keep their surnames anonymous), who operate also as the band Whirling Hall Of Knives and separately as Magnetize and The Last Sound respectively.

The duo ‘had variously been involved in a few labels since the mid 1990’s, but by 2004 things had started to turn more & more towards digital & CDs/CDRs.’ In setting up Trensmat, however, Stephen and Barry took the decision to focus on physical media for their releases, and particularly on 7” vinyl. According to Stephen, they ‘preferred vinyl for its sound, tactile element and the active event of listening to it as opposed to the background element of digital. The 7″ was the purest vision of this in our opinion.’

This preference is echoed by underground labels the world over, from the Irish cassette label Fort Evil Fruit, to the American Not Not Fun and the British Ghost Box labels. The preference for physical media seeks to displace the hustle and speed of digital culture with an older sense of time and culture of engagement. In this spirit, Stephen suggests that ‘The 7″ is the perfect musical statement as far as we’re concerned – an active experience in these days of music as background play lists.’ He goes on, ‘This is why its very important for us to provide good artwork…occasionally coloured vinyl…but of course the primary concern is that the two tracks are firstly great and secondly work together with the sleeve, etc.. as a package. As a child of the late 70s/early 80s the 7″ has a real cultural resonance for me too.’

Trensmat has released a wide range of underground music – primarily on 7″ record as indicated – from artists such as Astral Social Club, the Telescopes, Mugstar, Bardo Pond, Black to Comm, Mudhoney and Acid Mothers Temple. To date Trensmat has released twenty five 7″ records, five of which were split releases between two artists, and one CD, a 2009 compilation of the best of label’s releases to that point. Tlaotlon’s Squirt Image Flex will be released through mail order in February.

Stephen describes the label’s focus as being comprised of ‘a blend of hypnotic rock/electronics/drone with very frayed and dirty edges’. He suggests that ‘there is definitely a Trensmat sonic style, but it’s hard to put into words. We have a sub-label called Nute which releases albums on cassette & CD. This has a more relaxed policy, with some very contrasting styles – the clean, moody electronica of Being sitting alongside the joke-filled, lo-fi scuzz of Mark Prindle reflects this.’

Trensmat seems to have a special affinity with artists orbiting the A Band/Vibracathedral Orchestra axis of improvising noise and drone musicians. The label has released three 7″s from the Telescopes, for instance, a group that started out playing Jesus and Mary Chain-influenced shoegaze, but now, with the Vibracathedral Orchestra’s Bridget Hayden partnering founder member Stephen Lawrie, make febrile, vibrant, chaotic drone dirges.

Neil Campbell, alumnus of the A Band, was another member of the Vibracathedral Orchestra. Campbell has released two wonderful 7″s on Trensmat under the guise of Astral Social Club, as whom Campbell makes crackling, delirious electronic music somewhat comparable in its warped textures and many-chambered pulsing to contemporary electronic acts such as Laurel Halo or Rustie. Typically for Trensmat, however, the emphasis here is again on sonic scuzz and scum, as opposed to the glinting gleam of Rustie.

These are just some examples of what is a comparatively small but consistently absorbing and provocative catalogue.

For a full listing of Trensmat’s back catalogue, and to listen to samples of many of the releases, head to trensmat.com, or visit the label’s page on Facebook.