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We miss you, Paula ~

Pauline Anna Strom ~ otherworldly, intellectual and imaginative, perceptive and opinionated, beloved artist, friend + sister…

On the occasion of her one year passing, a small group of friends, new and old, gathered on the coast of California to share our separate but similarly magical experiences with Paula. She led a mysterious life by design, but not opaquely so. All of the stories shared of Paula were rich in the glow of her warm, passionate personality, and ultimately, her uncanny love.

Paula’s love flowed deep for her many pet reptiles over the years. Sadly, Ms Huff passed away a few months ago, in her tender 40s (lizards can live up to 70 years!). Joining us at the gathering was Little Soulstice (pictured here), the younger of the two lizards that kept Paula companion in her San Francisco home of the past four decades.

Also joining us was Paula. She was seen and felt everywhere — in the trees, the ground, the sky, and she was heard. Paula left an astonishing amount of music that we took this communal occasion to catalog, and revisit under Paula’s direction before she passed, for future editions / explorations of her work.

Thank you Loretta, Jeremy, Amy, Aubrey, Euan, Suzanne, and Marta for such a beautiful week. We miss you so much, Paula ~

EOY Reflection ~ Tiziano Popoli - Burn the Night / Bruciare la Notte: Original Recordings, 1983–1989

Pete first connected with Tiziano Popoli in 2017 while sniffing out deadstock copies of Scorie, an Italian minimalist classic from 1985 that we were hoping to reissue on Freedom To Spend.

We had no idea what floodgate of music would hit our inbox; one that we could barely keep up with, and one that expanded our understanding of Tiziano as a tireless creator.

We ultimately culled the collection down to these fourteen tracks of Burn the Night / Bruciare la Notte: Original Recordings, 1983–1989, all reflecting a sort of pop sensibility rare in the avant-garde.

Sure, it’s great to push the envelope, but shouldn’t it also be a bit playful?

2021 Holiday Sale

Build your own bundle of music & merch ~

Score a sweet deal on RVNG, Freedom To Spend, and Commend ware with code WINTER21 through December 21st. Available on our webstore only.

Catalog Compendium Vol. 6

RVNG rapt ~

We released a dizzying 25 (!) projects this year, across three labels. In wintry tradition, we share our 6th compendium of selections from our 2021 releases (plus, a teaser on what’s to come 😉)

Available as pay-what-you-wish for Bandcamp Friday here.