Contraphonic is pleased to announce the launch of Little Hell - phase two of our Chicago Sound Series. Little Hell, the companion component to the Sound Series’ “A Lot You Got to Holler” section, brings together Chicago-based musicians and artists to create works that focus on a particular place, event, neighborhood, or moment across Chicago’s broad history. The end result is a portrait of Chicago through the medium of sound.

For the first Little Hell release, Contraphonic presents Apathy of a Cow: Chicago’s Little Hell: a musical meditation on the historic Little Hell neighborhood by Chicago-based drummer and composer Frank Rosaly. A stalwart on the Chicago Free Music and Free Jazz scenes, Rosaly has performed with the likes of Peter Brotzmann, Ken Vandermark, Jeff Parker, Von Freeman, Tobin Summerfield, Mantana Roberts, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, and a multitude of who’s who of the modern avant-music scene.

For Apathy of a Cow, Rosaly presents electroacoustic sounds and manipulated field recordings that evoke the simmering intensity of what was once known as Little Hell - Chicago’s roughest late 19th-early 20th century tenement. Available as a digital-only release, and for sale now in the ContraStore (iTunes coming soon), Apathy of a Cow comes with a free downloadable booklet with an accompanying history of the neighborhood and exclusive photos. Read, listen and learn why this neighborhood was feared as the “the plague spot of North Division.”