Chris Rehm - (i found an) Elephant Ring (and gave it to you)

If Phil Elverum were still young, and a Microphone, and were he actually Sean McCann, he would be Chris Rehm.  And Chris Rehm is himself, so that's unnecessary; anyway, (i found an) Elephant Ring (and gave it to you) is everything dream pop was working towards, but could never, not quite, or at least that's what I'd hoped Benoit Pioulard might've pulled off (but didn't), then Rehm came along, and's been making the records I've always wanted to listen to.  Pure gorgeousness.  And belonging much higher than where I placed it, on this list.
   

Chris Rehm - Old Flame / New Squeeze

(Chinquapin Records, 2011)

How...did...I...miss...this?  Honestly, can someone tell me how this sneaked by?  Chris Rehm operating in long form, collaging together all aspects of his genius...how did I miss this when it first came out?  Listen:

Chris Rehm's Gear Stolen!

We love Chris Rehm.  Evidence: 1, 2, 3.  If you've at any point freely downloaded any Rehm's amazing music (free because he generously offers it that way), consider now giving back.  One of my absolute favourite musicians working right now and the victim of theft.  I always hate seeing this happen, but it is particularly frustrating for it to happen to someone like Rehm, who is by no means made out of money.  More information and a link to donate HERE.

Chris Rehm - Worries, etc. (2011, Chinquapin Records)

RIYL = Tim Hecker, Belong, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma

Last year, Chris Rehm established himself as the new white noise with his gorgeous treatment of texture and volume on Salivary Stones. The spiritual descendent of Tim Hecker, Christian Fennesz and Belong, Rehm's vividly conceived sound sculptures managed to wow me in a way that few other noise/drone records have. Worries, etc. (his now 4th solo effort) is billed as the follow-up and companion piece to Salivary Stones; equally brief, the album's also equally impactful and soaringly beautiful.  In addition to Worries, etc. being a delicious, dense slab of ear candy, Rehm's sparsly placed vocals (gracing two tracks this time around) are absolutely divine additions to the mix.  The short, ghostly sad-folk reprieves nestle in seamlessly with the rest of the album and represent one of the reasons Rehm's work is so uniquely resonant in a sea of dronester wannbes. Stream or download Worries, etc. here.

"Worries" by Chris Rehm

Best Albums of 2010

40. Pigeons - Si Faustine
39. Ou Où - Baron Von Baron
38. Kemialliset Ystävät - Ullakkopalo
37. Forest Swords - Dagger Paths
36. Jefre Cantu-Ledesma - Love is a Stream
35. Avey Tare - Down There
34. Chris Schlarb - Psychic Temple
33. The Last Dog to Visit the Center of the Earth - Colossus Archosaur
32. Caballos y Entusiasmo - Hidropony
31. Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People
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30. TOMO - Butterfly Dream and Other Guitar Works

If you scroll down a bit, you'll see that I just recently reviewed this one. An absolutely gorgeous instrumental guitar/drone album with magical healing qualities for the body and soul.

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Chris Rehm - Salivary Stones

Chris Rehm
Salivary Stones
(2010, Chinquapin)
RIYL = Sam Hamilton, Jasper Tx, Fun Buttons

Hello Chris Rehm. Where did you come from? Since when did you have the absolute best sound coming out of my headphones? Here I am, just minding my own business, checking my inbox, and you have the audacity to send me this? This bliss? It’s like, forget-Pantha-du-Prince-this-bliss too. Well, not quite. Nothing says I can’t love two records at the same time. Maybe just not if they're being played at the same time. Though, to be honest, I can’t imagine this bliss would do anything but enhance This Bliss. Still, this is off topic and out of genre and slightly confusing. Mr. Rehm, do you know what you’ve done? How your little tape here has captured my mind, removed it; that sensory feelings, those not related to the act of listening to Salivary Stones, have gone mute? It’s all for you sir and your little cassette. All my attention. You commented about enjoying that Sean McCann was on this blog. Well, I am happy, nay, elated that your cassette is on here as well. And now this is beginning to feel a bit cheap. Reverse. Reader (read: not Chris Rehm), let me introduce you to this fellow who just sent me the music from his tape, Salivary Stones. Have you heard of it? No? Well, I can’t blame you because neither had I. But seriously, this tape is utterly fantastic. It is the new sound. The new white noise. The new experiment. The new texture. It is the new dirge and the new substance of clouds and the new manifestation of Ra. Sure, there are elements of the old Ra, the old “drone.” But that is always the case, right? My dear reader. Chris Rehm is the name you’ll want to know (along with Sean McCann of course). We aren’t talking about fame here, about respect. You will want to know his name because he will open you up. He has something of absolute glory to pour inside you and, sir/miss, it is of worth. Is it ever of worth. This is the new mech. The next, the it, the growl. And, if I can repeat myself, the texture - oh the texture. And then that last track, “soggy.” The turn to song. It’s gorgeous really. Sleep on this at your own risk. What’s the risk? That it is better than everything else you are listening to right now.

-Thistle

Oh, and of course he had to make it available for free (with the opportunity for donations on the Bandcamp site):
Salivary Stones via Bandcamp
or
Salivary Stones via Mediafire