Craig Chordman - Scenes (2011)

Jamendo

9.4

/Glo-fi, Alternative, Leftfield, Chillwave, Poptronica, Chill out, Instrumental, Experimental indie/

Comment: The Englishman Craig Chordman has issued a lot of singles at Jamendo over time, yet, now it is time to gather them into one, 9-track album. And the result is truly mesmerizing by any means (by the side of harmonies and melodies, by its structural approach, by its sensible balance between experimentalism and conventionalism - if you wish you can tag CC`s music as "retrofuturistic", "retrodelic"). The miscellany starts its way with blissed-out Beacon of Dreams, which is followed by more catchy, hook-throwing synth propulsions, elusive harmonic and melodic turns and repetitive guitar patterns and riffs. It might be the most surprising leap comes out at Emergence which is obviously an dedication for Ian Curtis and his evergreen Love Will Tear Us Apart. Generally, you can admit that chillwave/glo-fi music meets exotica pop thereby reminding a little bit of Monster Rally, a project from USA. Indeed, the release is thought for your soul and for your body. This album includes much more words than the language used to do.

A Problem Like Maria - Radio Wire Empire Solves A Problem Like Maria (2011)

Bandcamp

9.4

/Alternative pop, Twee pop, Indie pop, Art pop, Baroque pop, Experimental indie, Tropicalia pop/

Comment: a handful of captivating, sonorous indie/alternative pop songs are represented here which are embellished with an array of diverse influences drawn from left and right, from the centre and periphery. These influences do not originate only from within the Western indie scenes (twee, southern rock, baroque pop, art pop, dream pop) but also from Brazil (for instance, at No Me Hagas Daño you can detect the templates of tropicalia pop a la Os Mutantes). Female vocal layers are set in a way to be in front of mellow guitar fingerpicking, sensitive glockenspiel chords, woodwind developments, some studio effects. For instance, listen particularly to the opening single Sea Legs which is enthralling and sexy simultaneously. Within it and more generally relative to the EP Maria C. R is assisted by Matthew R (from Radio Wire Empire). In a word - grrreeat!!!

Somepling - Properly Packed (2012)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.9

/Sampledelic, Nu jazz, Sound collage, Cut and paste, Urban sound, Instrumental hip-hop, Trip-hop/

Comment: upbeat and sunshiny harmonies, cinematic floatation, suggestive sampledelic formations all of that is excited with instrumental hip-hop and trip-hop and nu jazz-mixed rhythms. Such sort of music is being produced very much today, yet, the issue of 11 short-running notches goes across the borders of this sample-based genre. Additionally, I recommend listen to the likes of Blossom, Rimar, Anitek, Juj, htrspltn. Let`s call them the representatives of nowadays muzak.

December Nightskies - Cold Water (2012)

Misspelled

9.5

/Ambient, Soundscapes, Avant-garde, Dystopbient, Dark ambient, Illbient, Abstract/

Comment: glacial glow-alike shimmer which used to profoundly resonate and oscillate throughout the 4-track issue. Behind December Nightskies hides himself Kendall Keeler, a producer from Oklahoma, USA who makes up borealic kinds of soundscapes to conjure up the imagination of cold yet cozy winter. Mostly his soundscapes are restraint yet horrible as if were pulled out from within the realm of horror sci-fi. Imagine Count Dracula demolishing mercilessly human lives somewhere in the dark and very cold climate. By the way, the coverprint used to be as amazing as the music behind it. Reality meets fiction and both of them will tightly be mixed up with each other.

[Teaser of the day] Mizontiq - Wrapped In Glass (Find Me)

Delay Trees - Before I Go Go EP (2011)

Delay Trees
Lastfm

9.3

/Post-rock, Indie rock, Alternative rock, Crossover/

Comment: there are 5 tracks spreaded out over 19 minutes. DT (the quartet) originate from Helsinki-Hämeenlinna, Finland providing a subtle set of sonorous indie rock and more post-rock structured, crescendo-inflected mixed tendencies. You can be sure it is beautiful, enthralling and well treated which, however, consist of a loads of catchy turns and breathtaking spins.

The Peach Tree - The Other Side

The Chairman - Economies (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.9

/Alternative, Leftfield, Electro pop, Alternative dance, Electronic pop/

Comment: The Chairman is Sam Deere, Adelaide, Australia-based artist`s project who at the time provides 9-piece album, entitled as Economies. Deere fuses a vast array of cadences with acidic synth developments in hover. Sharp-edged rhythms are variegated with tricky, even funny changes. Yet, the issue`s album intention should not be misunderstood - it is not only about orthodox kind of dance/electro pop. Deere has managed to enter into the realm of psychedelic and indie-fused universe now and then. Furthermore, Chalk On The Blank Slate takes on energetic flamenco-tipped progressions amplified with orchestrations above catchy rhythms and guitar strums. Onward, he uses electro-drenched aggressive aesthetics filled in with drilling synth sticks, fast-changing breakbeat washes and lofty, infiltrated noise within it. All notches are instrumental. If to compare his undertaking with someone then Deere would be juxtaposed to Angus Maiden aka The Peach Tree, another Australian musician.

Mark Ge - Your Blues Are Rough (2011)

No-Source
Lastfm

8.8

/Singer-songwriter, Lo-fi, DIY, Anti-folk, Indie folk, Primitronica, Folk indie/

Comment: twanging guitars and lo-fi synth rhythms are craftily set up there to function as the background for pensive songwriting by Mark Ge, a singer-songwriter from USA who just published his debut issue on No-Source. Indeed, he does have barefaced flirt with unpolished sort of folk and electronic-inflected indie music. However, there are a pair of exceptions either - Road seems to be the only example which is more concretely treated inside the walls of recording studio. Peace and Noise showcases its sympathy toward murky type of songwriting. Mark Ge`s aesthetics can be compared with the likes of Gazebo In A Lake, The Home Stretch, Stereo Moon and at the times even the aesthetics of Bradford Cox. In a nutshell, I think Ge is a talented musician, however, I am very excited about his following albums in the foreseeable future.

[Teaser of the day] Pasqualino Ubaldini - Viaggio Sesto

The Cults - Contagious Spirits (2008)

Myspace
Mediafire
Lastfm

9.6

/Psych-rock, Krautrock, Avant-rock, Drone rock, Psychedelia, Doom rock, Electronic, Experimental rock

Comment: The Cults (though it is far away from being as famous as its namesake from NYC) provides a way how knee-deep psychedelia and compelling (and at times murky) psych-rock should meet droning electronics-induced madness and frantic desert rock. Indeed, the issue is built on repetitive shapes and motorik propulsions which can be juxtaposed to such juggernauts as Spacemen 3, Black Dice, Bardo Pond, Sonic Youth, Suicide, Silver Apples, and Jessamine. Though The Cults is highly experimental he used to not forget the balance between the aesthetics of cutting edge and more soulful, affective sides. For instance, you should listen to tracks like Communication From Elsewhere, Reflections, Fire. In a nutshell, the release awaits to be discovered and sung up to the level it deserves for by reflecting the passion and dedication of mad genius.

Off Land - Take Count

Obscuratus - Nebula (2011)

Censored Productions

9.3

/Illbient, Drone doom, Dark ambient, Dystopbient, Avant-garde, Non-music, Experimentalism/

Comment: there are represented 4 elongated progressions which used to explore the inner patterns and functioning of protruding doom, drone and illbient music. Indeed, it is deliberately creepy, monumental and malignant and captivating simultaneously. More profoundly, Obscuratus, Ukraine-based musician`s release is filled in with serpiginous shifts, demented shrieks, metallic blows and clangours, all of that is wrapped up in extremely slowly trudging choppiness. In a word, it seems to be as occult as black onyx used to be.

Atlas Sound - December 18, 2011 Bowery Ballroom (2011)

Nyctaper

9.2

/Alternative, Dream pop, Singer-songwriter, Ambient rock, Space pop, Experimental indie, Art pop/

Comment: Bradford Cox is a master-monster amongst the galaxy of nowadays indie/alternative pop musicians, though, he is not an elderly man at all. Cox is known due to his innovative explorations, at first, with the ambient/space rock/experimental indie group Deerhunter, and later regarding his solo project Atlas Sound. He issued a brand new album, called Parallax, under his solo moniker in 2011. This 15-piece gig should be seen related to the issue in the first place which, however, providing enthralling and fascinating dream-soaked notches within the acoustic guitar-driven strums and lofty sphere-filled ambiance. Though the music is created in a relatively simple way, built on repetitive patterns and loops and echoic effects, however, the touch coming out of it is potently striking and captivating. By listening to the gig, Bradford Cox already seems to be rather a representative of a new generation of singer-songwriters.

Helikäija - a new netmusic/label radio show at Raadio Marta

Helikäija

2 times in a month!

[Teaser of the day] leafes - leafes howls with the wolfs

The Vévé Seashore - A Cup of Coffee for Your Fears (2011)

DFBM
Lastfm

9.6

/Forest folk, Avant-garde, New Weird Finland, Experimental folk, Leftfield, Indie folk, Folk indie, Psychedelic folk, Post-psychedelic electronica/

Comment: it is quite problematic to categorize this 6-track EP because it gives you no break and says that you should go to hell because you behave like a typical jerk of the bourgeoisie. However, frantic shifts between even more frantic endeavours of psych-folk, electronic experimentalism, knee-deep psychedelia, weirdly resonating ambient and elusive indie, all of that is channelized into a whole to function as one of the most enthralling issues in 2011. It veers from one extremity to another, yet, retaining their face without getting decreased or mutilated. Actually it is not surprising a jot, because the duo (previously trio) allegedly comes out from Finland, the country of the most radical and innovative folk (so-called forest folk) in Europe. You can draw parallels upon Silver Apples, Kospel Zeithorn, Kemialliset Ystävät, Speculativism, Paavoharju, Richard There. Thank you, Elroy Oversex, and Lord Fuck. This is our cup of coffee.

Chad Golda - original 9

mnttaB - HastingsBeach EP

Bandcamp

9.2

/Post-punk, Electro-punk, Electroclash, Noise rock, Art punk,Alternative rock, Leftfield/

Comment: mnttaB, a Melbourne, Australian-based musical group offers up the washes of enormous energy and rough power. A handful of notches used to shift between galvanic electronic punk/demented electroclash and gritty post-punk undertakings. It draws parallels upon the likes of The Screamers, Nervous Gender, and The Fall. Indeed, it is very punk because it does not represent pure sort of punk.

Mizontiq - A Room Without Mirrors (2012)

Dusted Wax Kingdom
Lastfm

9.2

/Trip-hop, Cinematic, Instrumental hip-hop, Fusion, Nu Jazz, Big beat, Crossover/

Comment: Mizontiq is a producer from Russia who fuses smoky, slightly dark-hued flickers with angular slo-mo cadences. His sound is already compared with Amon Tobin, Portishead, Massive Attack, and DJ Krush, of course, being done from different corners of a room. All these brooding sounds and creepy paces are wrapped up in vinyl-induced crackles and orchestrated soaring. Furthermore, on some tracks Mizontiq gets involved in the realms of heavy beats tightly blended with galvanized chords of guitars conjuring up fusion-alike sensitivity. In a nutshell, the result is astonishing and solid. ARWM is the third release if him, a follow-up to Tranquilmovie EP; Timeless Season LP). This 15-track album is published under the Bulgarian cult label Dusted Wax Kingdom.

[Teaser of the day] Cults - Fire

Genka - Oleg Kosjugin EP (2011)

Legendaarne

9.2

/Hip-hop, Urban music, Rap/

Comment: while the EP is introduced with the signal theme from Criminal Russia - Today`s Chronicles this 7-piece is directed upon Estonian drug dealers, womanizer-thiefs and other tough lads who have gotten much resonance here and away. But not only - it is also downrightly self-ironic and socially resonating hinting at the prejudical "world view" of pesky jerks and human beings with the attitude just-me-and-the-world-alone. The compositions are chanted in Estonian, the rhythms are arranged by Cool D (also known from A-Rühm), and performed by Genka (Toe Tag; A-Rühm), an important part of the Estonian hip-hop heavy artillery. The favorite of mine is Marraskil, a whimsical composition with witty lyrics.

Shirubi Ikazuchi - Fantom City

Shirubi Ikazuchi - Fantom City from Elina Kasesalu on Vimeo.

Gurdonark - Seven Virtues (2009)

Jamendo
Lastfm

8.8

/Experimental electronica, Organic electronica, Minimal, Ambient pop/

Comment: Robert Nunnally, a 52-year-old musician/netaudio activist from Texas, USA had released his first album approximately 10 years ago. Additionally to the creation of music he runs Negative Sound Institute, a record label co-founded with Verian Thomas, another musician. Seven Virtues includes...surprise, surprise... seven tracks which at the first glance seem to be way too tedious and sparse. Yet, the more you are getting into it the more approval it gets. Actually its minimal undertones within ticking electronic progressions and more swelling visions and some propulsive forays and barely perceptible pitch and phase changes start to function finally demonstrating its strength and huge affinity. Indeed, the release is the kind of grower, and the whole seems to be bigger than its parts on their own.

˦eS‡∆iSL & Zoom-on-a-Kill - ∆uthentic Sexual Liberation (2011)

Bandcamp

9.4

/Witch house, Newbreed, Avan-garde, Avant-electronica, Drag, Trianglecore, Experimental electronica, Dark pop/

Comment: crosses and triangles. This 12-track album is as sharp as the razor blades on your face or on your ... . The collaboration act comes out from Mexico, providing truly angry and demented and on the other side some peculiarly soothing appearances running in the wake of witch house/newbreed/drag aesthetics. More concretely, hardcore, grindcore, (post-)dubstep, dark wave, ethereal sequences, and even some such sort of examples reflecting upon the aesthetics of cut and paste/sound collage - all these styles are seamlessly mixed up with each other showcasing the outlet as essentially convincing - however, outreaching the realm closely related to hipsters`bounce. Louder than bombs indeed. The instance of nowadays punk music for sure. I am sure Malcolm McLaren would have liked it.

[Teaser of the day] ki††y c▲t – try▲ngel

Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino - Live at WFMU on Transpacific Sound Paradise October 8th, 2011 (2011)

FMA

9.4

/Ethnic music, World Music, Live session/

Comment: captivating ethnic music-tinged incantations and colourful wassails by a septet from Salento, Puglia, the southern part of Italy. By listening to it am not wondering at all about the fact that they were awarded as the best Italian World Music group in 2010. These 7 tracks are laced together from diverse influences from different places of the world, however, which used to swing and stomp and exult incessantly or on the other side taking on more brooding (Questa Matina) or droning (Tira Cavallu) gears. The songs are variegated with female and male-sung voices and more instrument-relied endeavors (Indiavolata). At Indiavolata the combo gets quite close to the sonorous yet pensive aesthetics of Penguin Cafe Orchestra. Great

Coma Cinema - Cold Psychedelia

Simon Piler and The Atom Band - Lo Swing of the Earth (2011)

Quixodelic

9.2

/Psych-folk, Weird folk, Indie folk, Alt-folk, New Weird America, Psychedelic, Spoken word, Avant-folk/

Comment: these 8 pieces by Simon Piler and Brendon Hertz, Scarytoes, Def Mute, Emerson Betchkal, and Lt. Spark are all about folk music, though, the combo used to outreach the average, stereotype-obscured understanding of it. Strumming guitars are blended with chanting, at times even hysterical sort of singing. All of that is present within the open-ended yet somewhat warped atmosphere. Indeed, it symbolically hints at a vast array of possibilities so characteristic to this publication. The group`s guitar works are used to come across close to the aesthetics of John Fahey, Leo Kottke and other representatives of American Primitivism and on the other digging out lots of inspiration from the tradition of 60`s hippie and psych-folk seeds. At times these chants are variegated with spoken word interludes and found sound records. In a nutshell, all these projects related to the umbrella of Quixodelic and Daydream Generation do not disappoint the listener.

Caustic Reverie - Unearthly Sun (2011)

Jamendo
Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.8

/Ambient, Drone, Minimal, Epic, Experimental, Dystopbient, Acousmatics, Soundscapes/

Comment: Bryn Schurman is a Florida-based musician, who is being known behind the likes of TheForgotten, and Shufflebrain, though, in the first place he is known due to Caustic Reverie, his ambient and drone music project. Over time, he has issued a loads of albums, so Unearthly Sun is happened to be his 15th release under Caustic Reverie moniker already. There are represented 3 tracks, two if them are very long-running progressions which consist of droning and oscillating ambient tunes - within it you can hear epic changes and minimal orchestrations ascending and dilatating above it, however, giving the outlet almost exulting dimension. The self-titled notch offers up subtle solar wind gusts, which is also one of the highlights of the album. The album embarks on with picturesque kind of looming comprising the frequencies of shoegaze and ambient and drone, this way getting quite close to Slowdive`s Pygmalion (1995). All in all, these three notches are soothing and awakening simultaneously. Yet, Schurman has done more suggestive publications before it.

[Teaser of the day] Kent State - Pains

Cocolixe - 442-net7-10may (2010)

4-4-2

9.4

/New Wave, Industrial techno, Breaks, Sound collage, Experimental techno/

Comment: a Barcelona, Catalonia-based producer provides a pair of captivating outlets which function as an array of cut-ups of diverse stylistical ingredients. A Day of Happiness shows up static kind of looming taking on restraint techno, beatific synth seeds and slight electro vibes above and around it. The second one, Lift Your Eyes used to chime like the early Cabaret Voltaire would have produced more electro-spinning grooves instead of a provoking, nihilistic industrial-charged punch. Indeed, besides the likeness with industrial groups the whole resembles more of the 80`s than the logic of nowadays musical directions and aspirations - all those dance-appealed post-punk groups and New Wave/synth pop combos from the Foggy Albion in ending part of 70`s and at the beginning of 80`s come in mind. So you can say it is a little bit more than just one endeavor amongst the others. Mandatory for all the melomans all around the world!

Nick Bommarito - Folk Psychology

Bardo Pond Live at Metro Cafe on 1999-12-09 (1999)

Archive.org

9.2

/Doom rock, Post-metal, Doomgaze, Shoegaze, Experimental rock, Post-rock, Stoner rock, Crossover, Psychedelic rock, Drone rock, Avant-rock, Live session, Improvised music/

Comment: Bardo Pond is a musical collective which obviously needs not to be introduced for the fans of experimental rock at all. Throughout the last 2 decades this Philly-based experimental juggernaut does have explored the realms of psychedelic and drone rock, doom and stoner rock through the eyes of demented shoegazers. Along with Jessamine, The Dylan Group, Labradford, and Tortoise the quintet redefined the term "rock" in the US-based underground scene in the 90s. More concretely, additionally to the abovementioned styles the listener can detect post-metal elements on this 8-piece gig, which are fringed below and on the lateral sides with thick psychedelic grooves and bold hooks and epic riffs. All these long (or very long) progressions can be reduced to the model of cyclic, psychedelic rock revs. Really hope they will sometime come to the Northern part of Europe either.

Lebensjunge - Lebensjunge (der junge Tag) (2004/2009)

Accessory Takes
FMA
Bandcamp

9.3

/Noise, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Non-music, Rhythmic noise, Abstract, Powerelectronics, Cut and paste/

Comment: I have always loved to variegate my listening habits with listening to noise music-induced compositions because most of these proponents are intended to get rid of feelings and not being burdened with melodies and harmonies. For instance, this album with a handful of arrangements are about sonic explorations, showcasing its ability to think in the categories of pure mind and transcendent realms.I think Immanuel Kant would have loved it. On the other side, the album does have its more pop-appealed (or more recognizable) moments within it, though. For instance, Lebensjunge (a project from Moscow, Russia) involves the aspects of near-ethnic music at 9:17.58 and the issue will be ended up with a cut and paste-alike act by using the samples of highly suggestive library music (4:12.10). If to emanate from the point of view of kindred souls, however, the likes of Kanin Krusete, Dror Feiler, Psovod, and Edgeist should be mentioned at least. A highly convincing enterprise indeed.

[Teaser of the day] Nick Rivera - Horn Y Orgy

The Juliets - Perfect Season (2011)

Bandcamp

9.2

/Indie pop, Alternative pop/rock, Chamber pop, Vaudeville pop, Art pop, Experimental indie/

Comment: The Juliets, a Detroit-based combo is back with their sophomore album, called Perfect Season, a follow-up to their vastly fascinating self-titled release, which was one of the most remarkable notches in 2010. While this 12-track set does not include such frenetic teasers as Sweetheart, Sunday Song, or Evolved Into, the quintet used to be still enough enjoyable, providing idiosyncratic, melodramatic yet a little bit more straightforward pop pieces, having some similarities with the likes of Arcade Fire, The Antlers, The National, and Beirut and Sufjan Stevens. For instance, it chimes even a little better than the last one by Arcade Fire. All in all, enjoy this lovely music made by lovely people.

Jayne Lakissova - Pam-Param

Vulcan Sessions - Vulcan Sessions (2011)

Clinical Archives

8.6

/Improvised music, Electro-acoustic, Experimental, Avant-garde, Free jazz, Live session, Dark ambient, Ambient drone/

Comment: before the listening of this album I had listened to If, Bwana`s (the project of Al Margolis) enthralling Assemble.Age (2010, Mutable) which is a microtonal, improvised noise/electronica/drone embellished with the elements of classicism (I shall have to say thank you to Tiit K, who allowed me the album). However, the Vulcano Sessions does have similarities with the abovementioned so I can admit the continuation of the same path. The album was recorded in Tenerife by the most eminent Spanish improvisers (including the members of Trio Antimanierista who, by the way, have appeared many times in the roster of Clinical Archives before it. More concretely, minimally "orchestrated" or squeaking strings (cellos) are intertwined with brass-wind instruments, and live electronics. The last two tracks (Mi Patio (third); La Particula) used to deviate from the usual template of the issue, providing a poignant vision based on a kind of sharp-edged electronica/droning, vowel experiments and dizzy phase and chord changes, and the washes of massive ambient drones, respectively. Ultimately the listener can conclude this album with 7 tracks is an asylum for old and modern, for traditional and innovative.

Anitek - Sae Yeon (2011)

Jamendo

8.8

/Nu jazz, Trip-hop, Urban music, Dub, Sampledelic, Chill out, Big beat, Crossover/

Comment: Anitek is a producer from Morristown, New Jersey, USA who has released approximately 20 albums at Jamendo. His influences involve Rachmaninoff, DJ Krush, Bonobo, and Fat Jon. Indeed, Anitek`s sound is profoundly eclectic and sampledelic, however, providing lots of warm memories and feelings appearing after many listening times. More concretely, it veers away the basin of nu jazz, shapes of dub and reggae, and the paces of smoky nu jazz and bold big beat. The lovely coverprint is there as well.

[Teaser of the day] Scarlet Leaves - The Last Romance

gnyonpix - Place for a lost boy (2011)

Elegirl

9.1

/Primitive electronica, Lo-fi, DIY, Alternative, Chill out, Electronic pop, J-pop/

Comment: gnyonpix is a Japanese project which showcases how the memories (from childhood?) should be proceeded in a way to shape a reliable folder of songs. Indeed, the primitive kind of concept is made up of joyous yet poignant accents and convincing counterpoints laid down within the concept of infantile pop. The lopsided yet suggestive motive of the last track (requiem for memories) seems to be even a little bit boozy. Not an ordinary publication at all.

Barbagallo - Mediocre

Boy Crush - Hauntr (2011)

Bandcamp

9.2

/Singer-songwriter, Lo-fi, DIY, Alternative pop, Psychedelic, Indie pop/

Comment: BC is a singer-songwriter from NY providing trash-filled, fluttering undertakings reminding of somewhat Wavves, Sparklehorse, and Neutral Milk Hotel. But not only - Dorothy Dale Diebold harks back to the aesthetics of Love. Lo-fi and DIY are keywords to describe his template. The set of 7 songs is simple yet it is tinged with highly melodic and harmonic corners evoking out from within the rusty programmed rhythms and resonating guitar strums and spacious vocal manners. The issue is to have slumped into psychedelic and blissed-out conflated pond. It is said at BC`s Bandcamp site that the albums was recorded in a haunted house and mostly the notches used to get involved with ghosts.

Black Veil Of Light - World of Light and Magic (2011)

BVOL
Lastfm

8.9

/Neoclassical, Dark wave, Alternative, Dark pop, Martial industrial, New Age/

Comment: there are up 8 tracks which charateristics are deeply into dark synth progressions undulating between symphonic, neoclassical and at times even New Age-alike soundscapes. The issue can be considered as an instance of characterizing the incessant fight between dark matter and...even a more dark-tinged substance. It is a distinguished drift between pensive and melancholic moods. If to check out a part of of the titles (Why We Must Die; The End Of Our Time; Post Apocalyptic; After The Calm Stillness) you can figure out that the term "post" is pertaining to the main topic. In a word, the outlet is charming and uncompromising simultaneously, inspite being 100% instrumental by the way. BVOL comes out of Slovakia starting with his doings in 2009 and having been very active since (approximately 10 albums are out). Though all the tracks are felicitous the last notch is truly outstanding through hypnotic shifts between darkwave, and shoegaze mixed high-registered layered and catchy cadences below it.

Honky Tonk Project - Elements (2010)

Honky Tonk Project

8.6

/Experimental electronica, Modern classical, IDM, Nu Jazz, Dark pop/

Comment: this 7-track (one of them is HTP`s remix) issue embarks on a slo-mo piano-driven melancholic introspection with some beatific bits of electronica surrounding it. Onward, the album used to pick up more abrasive and mashed bits and minutiae over time including obsessive shrieks, sharply glistening and fluttering electronica, chopped-up rhythms and near-sound collage aesthetics now and then. Furthermore, because of running on slo-mo mode and sometimes being murky, however, it is getting close to the realms of dubstep, and nu jazz breath. The favorite of mine are Microwave#2.

YOUAREHERE - Tape

Simiram - Talvinen Juttu (2011)

Elpa

9.0

/Downtempo, IDM, Poptronica, Chill out, Psyambient/

Comment: Talvinen Juttu is a follow-up to Somni (Winter) issued in 2010, and Loona issued in 2011 by Ivan "Simiram" Filin. He used to produce subtle shifts between majestic downtempo, poptronica, and IDM-patterned paces which are mixed up with the influences of ethnic music, enthralling symphonic and glacial reflets (as astonishing as St Elmo`s Fire), psychedelic trance progressions. It reminds a little of the outlets of Tunguska Electronic Music Society, a Russian based very interesting art/music collective with whom Filin has collaborated by the way. Finally, it is a little bit lazy but elegant sort of entertainment, however, in the first place thought for your brain and for your soul.

Malandrómeda - Que nos leve pra diante_MAXI (2011)

Malandròmeda

9.2

/Urban music, Hip-hop, Rap, Grime, Electro-hop, Crossover/

Comment: spanish (galician)-chanted electro-hop and grime. Indeed, this is the fourth issue by the gang who has issued music since 2006 (including one LP). The release involves 3 tracks which provides highly catchy and whimsical electro-drenched, jungle and dancehall-shuffled cadences and effect-laden undercurrents aside. The whole can be admitted organic and convincing, because of being dynamical and craftily variegated. This is a way how hip-hop should be produced.

Joxfield ProjeX - VoxLuxRabax (2011)

Tin Can Music

9.5

/Krautrock, Avant-rock, Experimental rock, Noise, Ambient, Improvised music, Noise rock, Ambient noise/

Comment: the unsung juggernauts of krautrock and the champions of avant-prog/experimental rock are back with their brand new heavy one. The first impression of mine is that the Swedish duo seems to be so loud and defiant as never being before. There are up 4 tracks, first time after a while not being issued on Clinical Archives. However, these long-running compositions are filled in with the shards of abrasive sonic metal and razor-edged smithereens, thereby challenging the eminent noise concept of rock done ever before - from My Bloody Valentine`s charming guitar noise and The Jesus & Mary Chain`s dirty feedback-centered resonation to harsh, obsessive concepts of Fushitsusha, and Gerogerigegege and, on the other side, (Le) Fly Pan Am`s (N`Ecoutez Pas) arty noise episodes and post-rock-mixed vistas and Borbetomagus` free jazz-relied improvised noise. Furthermore, the second part of the 3rd track/part (Ola & The Jugglers) does have managed to acquire a highly rhythmic template below the shrieking massives of guitar riffs and "indecipherable" sort of trash (you can perceive even fusion-alike progressions emitting out from it!) and the closing development Cats Sing Strange Songs fuses some sorts of experimental tendencies into glacial glow-hued ambient music. The result is as powerful as JP`s aspirations proclaimed on a handful of the albums before, though, this times having a little different point of view and galvanized aspect. However, you can call it even the kind of white metal, because of its enormous, braw shape (though having more frantic impetus within it). Well done, Oax, and Yan.

Jeesh - Clock Town Carnival

Enko - Sister (2009)

Bypass
Lastfm

8.8

/Experimental electronica, Abstract techno, Glitch techno, Industrial techno, Avant-electronica, IDM/

Comment: it might be you have already experienced sharing of the albums of Enko, a Ukraine-based electronic producer and IDM musician. His music is colourful and it comes up to the listener. Quite short-running notches are represented there, though, the ones are craftily soaked with experimental angles and somehow propulsive compositions. The 10-piece release is set for being far away from the common understanding and perception of electronica/IDM, because of being frequently heavily abstract, glitch-drenched industrial techno. Indeed, it is playful and punching simultaneously. Of course, it is not the most sharpest pencil on his pen-case, yet, it is highly enjoyable.

Fabio Keiner - Seagram Studies (2011)

Treetrunk

8.8

/Guitar ambient, Post-rock, Minimalism, Dystopbient, Soundscapes, Drone, Conceptual/

Comment: Fabio Keiner`s Seagram Studies is a kind of conceptual album because it tries to make audible the visual art of Mark Rothko. However, these minimally evolving guitar-based ambient and drone do have impact on the listener. It is rather rigid than warm, rather boisterous than soothing. Indeed, these 8 soundscapes are infiltrated with dystopic tacks and plaques, it is rather cosmic dust than earthborn sand. Now and then it used to exploit tight undulation and repeating on one loop, which in turn used to dilatate and then acquire layers and getting more burdened on its concept.

Beth Kleist - Drei (2011)

Distance

9.6

/New Weird Europe, Psych-folk, Folktronica, Post-rock, Experimental electronica, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Sound art, Art pop, Organic electronica, Ambient, Noise, Shoegaze/

Comment: behind Beth Kleist is the collaborative aspiration by two man, Nils Quak, and Philipp Bückle. Their 16 tracks tend to drift between lush dreams and otherworldly reveries. It shifts between solemn and mundane. Between artificial and organic spheres. Between minimal sort of soundscapes and more accentuated, guitar-based effects and bends and repetitive patterns (for instance, the album starts off with a shoegaze-ish instance). Mostly it is filled in with every kind of sonic effects and phase changes (experiments with radio waves and barely audible frequencies and microtonal noise) which, in turn, would be suitable rather for chosen art venues and sound art festivals. In disregard of it the release preserves its warm feeling for the listener. All in all, the result is totally captivating which would be exploited as an instrument for curing the patients with mental disorder.

Genka - Kukeseen

Emilie Lund - Emilie Lund EP (2009)

Aaahh
Lastfm

9.3

/Psych-folk, Dream folk, New Weird Europe, Indie folk, Folk indie, Alt-folk, Singer-songwriter/

Comment: a handful of intimate folk songs by Emilie Lund, a Stockholm, Swedish-based singer-songwriter. It is hinted at lastfm that she is the daughter of former hippies who grew up on a farm on the countryside and creates music looking for love and long lost childhood friend in the capital of Sweden. He used to exploit mainly guitar, sometimes piano and glockenspiel either. And of course, her voice does fulfill the goal, being truly suggestive and compelling. Sometimes she used to layer her songs vocally (polyphonically) being haunting and dream-soaked alternately. Especially at Something Is Eating Me. However, all the pieces are craftily accentuated and used to be penchant for profound folk divas like Julia Kotowski aka Entertainment For The Braindead, the sisters Cassidy aka CocoRosie, and Joanna Newsom. In a word, the EP is an instance of nowadays girl power (unlikely many of those gals who strip down herself and being the object for manipulations).

Gore Obsessed - Whore Hacking Fun (2010)

Dis-Organ-Ized

9.2

Grindcore, Porngrind, Crust punk, Brutal metal, Hardcore, Goregrind/

Comment: while there are represented 3 very short-running tracks, first and foremost the EP oozes out an enormous volume of destructive power and energy. It scoots over grindcore, crust punk, and the (sexual) violence of goregrind (especially those voluptuous snippets at the beginning of the notches). It hacks like marquis de Sade`s perverted dream within the music.

Derek Clegg - Quirky Little Love Song

Beat Surrender - Beat Surrender (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.7

/Pop punk, Ska, Alt-country, Psychedelic, Alternative pop/rock/

Comment: joyous, mostly (pop) punk or rock-inflected with some ska, country, and psychedelic dodges and undertakings. Just a handful of pieces are up here to make out an enjoyable result ultimately. The opening track (Where Do You Buy) Clothes (That Fit?) functions as a platform to cross country, ska, and strong psychedelic angle. Mirage is a dashing retrospection reflecting upon the beatific pop charts of the 60`s and 70`s. Or Three Little Feelings which is made up of charming country strums, electric guitar-based trills, and mild song manner. The quartet comes out of Boston, Massachussets, USA.

The Light Tracer - Landspace of My Flesh (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.2

/Shoegaze, Indie rock, Space rock, Chamber rock, Post-rock, Instrumental rock, Dream pop/

Comment: resonating, highly spatial progressions are created on ground of amplifying and ascending guitar layers and guitar fingerpicking-headed motives. The best example of how to create the harmonies is laid out at What The Fuck Mogwai Means (sic!). In a word, massive and exultant by any means. However, there is a joint point connecting all these 4 tracks into the whole - clattery paces which used to incessantly trash around.The last track sounds like a melancholic chamber rock looming being deeply drowned in its enthralling self-pitiness. You can draw parallels upon the likes of Vlor, and Spell 336. Ultimately, the result is outstanding which deserves to be got more listening times.

Dainumo, Jeesh, P.SUS - 3 Flavors of 8bit (2011)

Bandcamp

8.8

/Chiptune, Mood music, Primitivetronica, 8-bit, IDM, Lounge, Chill out, Experimental electronica/

Comment: this 12-track miscellany is made up by 3 artists - Dainumo, Jeesh, and P.SUS. As the title already hints at it this trinity used to generate 8-bit alike sounds, though, doing it in a quite quaint way. More concretely, it is instrumental electronica which does have remarkable laid back, even lounge-alike angle. Its characteristics are naive, subtle, and graceful as if were brought out from a remote yet blithesome period of your childhood. Stylistically it rings like the kind of sci-fi chiptune/8-bit music - more detailly, the minutiae of chipcore is intertwined with glitch-inflected bits. The favorites of mine are Summer Magic, Yo-Ho, and Rare Candy.

Dudeldrum - Dudeldrum (2011)

Jamendo

9.4

/Celtic folk, Neofolk, Medieval music, World music, Experimental, Crossover/

Comment: Dudeldrum is a Celtic folk and medieval folk inspired ensemble from Moscow, Russia. A little bit surprising, isn`t it? However, the result is decent on an issue consisting of a three-quarter hour spreading out over a dozen of notches. The soundscape is intense, more intense than the average Celtic folk album used to be - in addition to droning bagpipes, frantic drumming threads and sparkling fiddle hooks it incorporates the undercurrents of ethnic music from elsewhere off Ireland, used to have flirt with New Age sounds, offers some glimpses of martial-tinged endeavours and a dollop of programmed (tabla) paces and a dollop of electronica either. At times it covers you with brooding veils, at times it used to shatter into the smithereens of melancholy and longingness. Pleasantly surprising indeed.