MRBCO

MRBCO

MRBCO is the imprint of Michael R. Bernstein, releasing music and books since 2026.

Releases

MRBCO-001 — Michael R. Bernstein, “97 BPM Dream Chord Prime Number Search” cassette, featuring the Blue Tape Human Liberation Orchestra

Blue cassette with white printing: 97 BPM Dream Chord Prime Number Search For Four Organs, Michael R. Bernstein

A: 97 BPM Dream Chord Prime Number Search For Four Organs
B: 97 BPM Dream Chord Prime Number Search For Nine Instruments

For as long as Minimalist music has existed, one weakness has persisted — the need for human involvement. The Blue Tape Human Liberation Orchestra (BTHLO) imagines a future where the purity and pleasure of music can exist without the petty and profane need for human intervention. With its twin slogans of “Save Humans from Music” and “Save Music From Humans,” the BTHLO interrogates the infinite possibilities of this perfect future.

This album presents a live recording of an installation for which I designed and composed a special piece, along with an ‘in the box’ rendering using a Nord Electro 2 Sixty-One and a Mellotron Micro, and then the two combined. “For Four Organs” presents the documentary recording of just the installation running; “For Nine Instruments” combines five virtual tracks along with the four tracks recorded live from the installation.

The installation included two chord organs actuated with 8 solenoids, and two custom built pipe organs, fed by special plenum box air supplies. The instruments are sequenced via an Oxi One MKII sequencer, and MIDI is translated into mechanical actuation via custom ‘brain boxes’ I built using microprocessors and Python software. This album explores La Monte Young’s Dream Chord: G, C, C#, D.

Cassette packaging: case with spine and j-card, blue cassette, and unfolded insert reading Save Music From Humans / Save Humans From Music

All design, software, hardware, and compositions by Michael R. Bernstein. Special thanks to Michael Krzyzaniak, Meghan Raham, and Patrick Cain for design inspiration and technical assistance. Thank you to Will Robin for the gracious invitation and the staff of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center: Stephen Henry, John R Davis, James Michael Homme, and Drew Barker. Work created for the Society of Minimalist Music’s 10th International Conference on Music and Minimalism at the University of Maryland.

Available soon at fine distributors internationally, or on Bandcamp here.

MRBCO-002 — “Slugs’ In The Far East” zine, every Slugs’ Saloon ad available in the Village Voice online archive, 1964–1972

Front and back covers of the Slugs' In The Far East zine, collaged with Village Voice advertisements for Slugs' Saloon

The greatest jazz club in history, Slugs’ Saloon, also known as Slugs’ in the Far East, operated in the east village, NYC from 1964–1972. During its tenure, it hosted the greatest jazz acts in the universe.

This zine recounts that history, as told through advertisements placed in the great independent newspaper of the city, The Village Voice.

Interior spread of the zine showing a grid of 1964 Village Voice advertisements for Slugs' Saloon

Also printed here in full for the first time in 15 years, and available nowhere online, is an interview with club founder Jerry Schultz, also known as Gopal Krishna.

Interior spread of the zine showing the interview with Jerry Schultz, founder of Slugs' In The Far East, with a photograph of Schultz

44 pages, professionally printed and staple bound. Hand numbered edition of 100.

First printing sold out, second printing coming soon.

Contact
For wholesale, trades, or anything else: michaelrbernstein@gmail.com