The Sweetest Ache -- Jaguar (1992)

Sarah/Bandcamp

• Jangle pop 
• Twee pop 
• Alternative pop 
• C86 
• Indie pop

Jõulud on tulemas - homme on juba kolmas advent -, mistõttu aeg-ajalt on kuulda kurtmist, et ei taheta traditsioonilisi jõululaule enam kuulda-kuulata. No üheks heaks alternatiiviks oleks legendaarse Sarah Records'i diskograafia -- Rickebacker-kidrade pastelsed akordid ning unelev laulmine (konkreetsel juhul nii mees- kui naisvokaal (tõsi, ainult ühes loos)). Igati traditsiooniline muusika, mille varieeruvust peamiselt teostatakse klahvpilliga (kohati paisub poolorkestreeringuks või mahejätsuks). Nii et detsembrikuus võikski nimetatud plaadifirma üllitatud muusikale ümber lülituda. Tuua kuusk ja õled tuppa, süüa hapukapsast ja verivorsti, vajuda sisekaemusesse ning saata vana-aasta ära. Aamen.

Momus – Voyager (1992)

Ubuweb

• Synth-pop 
• Alternative pop 
• Art pop 
• Singer-songwriter 
• Electronic pop 
• House pop 
• Alternative dance

Comment: Nick Currie aka Momus had released six long players in the while of 1987-1993 for Creation Records and some decades later decided to upload them at Ubuweb for free download. I can remember for listening to a Creation Records compilation of two discs and I could not find out any tracks from the three most important artists from the roster – My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, and Momus. At least the first two ones have proven to be historically the most influential (the impact and reverence to them), their albums are not being articles in second hand shops like the albums of a poor man's Beatles as it strikingly happened after the mass hysteria had been calmed down in 1997. Nick Currie was way too sophisticated and ironic and contemplative to be somehow a mainstream pop icon. Especially if his music could be compared with Pet Shop Boys as if reflecting it through a twisted mirror and on other hand because Momus' sound was more profound, catchy and providing more credibility. In a word, the ideal appearance of PSB. Furthermore, Nick Currie can be considered one of the most honest and prophetic artists at all. Voyager was the penultimate within the discography by offering glimpses into different topics like virtual reality and digital revolution, mirthless life situations and expectations and impending apocalypse. Implications of diving into simulacra, and alienation and silly escape on drugs and frantic behaviour are still relevant and will be more desperate in the future. Great (pop) work.

Tortoise - 1992-04-13 - Lounge Ax (1992)

Archive.org

• Post-rock
• Progressive rock
• Electronic music
• Improvised music
• Live session
• Experimental rock

Comment: firstly, I did not like Tortoise`s last issue The Catastrophist (Thrill Jockey) because I felt as if the legendary Chicago, Illinois, US-based combo had tried to reinvent a new formula of pop music while having no enough faith in it. The result was quite sleazy and superficial. On the other side, I have no hesitation to show up their legacy to be one of the greatest among the indie and post-rock scene during the last three decades. Furthermore, John McEntire, the vibraphone player, keyboardist and drummer and producer of the combo has contributed at many fascinating albums with regard to Stereolab, Yo La Tengo, Bright Eyes, Radian, Jaga Jazzist if to name some of those ones. This 9-track gig at Lounge Ax was obviously one of their first performances whereas having issued no albums so far. Many compositions which appeared here were added to their first eponymous issue. Although Tortoise`s music is being generally tagged as “post-rock” if to dissect it this consists mainly of progressive rock, electronica, dub, krautrock, minimalism, and concrete sounds. Indeed, the combo has exploited elements of the aforesaid styles in different combinations throughout 24 years. It could be said this 41-minute issue is one of such sort of although it might sound a little bit clumsy because obviously having had no enough experience yet to interplay with each other in a more fast and cohesive manner. By regarding the Tortoise`s narrative to prefer instrumental compositions it is surprising enough to discover a track with vocal delivery called Lonesome Sound. It is disturbing that one could hear chitchatting while the combo is playing. The set is ended up by Ry Cooder, one of the most well-known compositions by Tortoise.

Here Be Monsters – Thousands Are Still Asleep (1992)

ZH27

Archive.org

• Sound collage
• Ambient
• Avant-garde
• Experimentalism
• Noise
• Psycho-acoustic
• Non-music
• Leftfield
• Plunderphonics
• Industrial music
• Drone
• Electronic music

Comment: this issue consists of one long-running almost 31 minute composition. However, the whole is a medley of different artists` works and disparately stylized compartments. More profoundly, there are up such artists as Minòy, PBK, Adam Bohman, Agog, Crow, De Fabriek, Factor X, Kazuhiro Ohtsuuka, Merz, Mystery Hearsay, Seiei, Jack, Sismoid, Tuf and Van Der Veens. Musically it used to trudge from rattling rhythmical bumps and hisses at different frequencies and word samples to dreamy microscopic noises and sublime electro-acoustic panning. Now and then one might perceive it like an open immense room with many alleyways which is unlocked for all pedestrians coming around and having different musical tastes. On the other side, such a sort of art might switch him/her to be a subject of stampeding perceptions. The mishmash includes a pile of bewildering sonic effects and hazy progressions. For instance, therein is represented singing of oriental heritage though being switched upside down. By the way, the issue embarks on and finishes off with the snippet. Of course, it is very sympathetic the half-hour is replete with lush analogue fabric and threads thereof giving a more softened touch to the sound even though many sounds are designed in an ominous and abrasive mode. In general, there are up two possibilities considering the title – either it is thought to wake up or soothe the listener into profound yet somewhat deranged sleep. Here Be Monster is the project of Zan Hoffman and the issue had initially been released in 1992 (under his own ZH27 imprint). On the whole, beyond the fact of having historical value (the aforementioned artists were a substantial part of the underground cassette movement in the 80s) on its own the whole is a sequence of mind-boggling snippets where chaos is just an instrument to move toward a more universal integrity. Additionally to (re)discover and support old yet underrated artists I recommend to listen to such platforms and imprints as Bob Chaos, Museum Of Microcassette Art, CS Industrial 1982-2010, Cassette Art Classics, Haltapes and read such blog as Die or D.I.Y?. 

The Pearly Gatecrashers - New! Fluffy! Delicious! (1992)

Lastfm

• Indie pop
• Alternative pop
• Twee pop
• Indie dance
• Jangle pop