AMBIENT IS SHIT!, a “4-way” split sound album featuring contributions from Bottlesmoker, Nissal Berlindung, Theo Nugraha and Manshur Zikri, is now available on Bandcamp. In this album, we include a special bonus: a digital zine Situationist Under-Record Edition 2. Those who contributed to this zine are Prashasti W. Putri @prashastiwp, Dalu Kusma @masdalu, and Harlan Boer @harlan_boer. You’ll get the zine for free if you purchase the album!
“Ambient Is Shit!” challenges the conventions of soundscapes by deconstructing the very notion of ambient sound as a neutral, pleasing backdrop. This project rejects the sanitized serenity often associated with the ambient genre and turns its focus toward raw, unfiltered realities captured through field recording techniques. By embracing dissonance, interruptions, and the imperfections of natural and human environments, “Ambient Is Shit!” subverts the expectation of harmony, exposing the chaos and complexity that lie beneath the surface of curated sound worlds.
Drawing from the exploratory spirit of prior themes, this project critiques the idealization of controlled environments and reframes ambient sound as an active force of engagement rather than passive consumption. Echoing the disruptive ethos of beneficial malfunctions and emancipative catastrophes, it highlights the transformative potential in discomfort and disarray. Each recording becomes a site of confrontation, where the listener must navigate the interplay of unsettling, jarring, or even uncomfortable auditory elements.
“Ambient Is Shit!” reclaims the raw power of sound as an agent of critical inquiry, blending the spectral echoes of the unseen with the tangible disruptions of daily life. It invites listeners to abandon preconceived notions of what ambient should be and instead immerse themselves in the untamed, visceral realities that surround us. In this fractured sonic landscape, beauty emerges not from perfection but from the honest and unpolished textures of existence.
Situationist Under-Record
Situationist Under-Record is an artists’ initiative founded by Theo Nugraha, Manshur Zikri, and KLMRM. It seeks to reframe sound and artistic practices, focusing on the exploration of field recording as a technique and genre. Rooted in the aesthetics of the everyday, this platform celebrates the unnoticed symphony of daily life. By collaborating with both artists and commoners, Situationist Under-Record curates and creates a tapestry of soundscapes, transforming ordinary moments into immersive auditory artworks.
Track list:
1. “Swing Swing” by Manshur Zikri
2. “Night in the Woods” by Bottlesmoker
3. “Sore Menjelang Maghrib” by Nissal Berlindung
4. “Neighbors renovate their house” by Manshur Zikri
5. “Is Shit Ambient?” by Theo Nugraha
6. “Cashier prints financial statements” by Manshur Zikri
MORE INFORATION: @manshurzikri @bottlesmoker @nissalberlindung @theonugraha
