Kirk Cosby – Dreams In The Absence Of Oxygen (2011)

Vaatican

• Experimentalism 
• Sound collage 
• Sampledelic 
• Avant-garde 
• Plunderphonics

Comment: these 6 pieces within a 45 minute are up there to unhinge and irritate a listener. Of course, it is a glorious whole made up of original samples though these samples used to come out from very disparate sources. From spoken word ones to more tranquil electronic sounds, moody jazz samples and earnest singing and on the other side you can perceive monotonous drumming and short wave frequencies and austere hiss extractions to be added to this informative melting pot. Of course, mention must be given to other minutiae as well you can hear in the mix. Recently I reviewed The Fucked Up Beat`s brand new one Insomnie which may be similar to it. Especially at Stimuli Unconsciously, and asdf Space you can perceive parallels with it. Otherwise the whole chimes in a more haphazard, in a more convulsive way. It can be described as an instance of disruptive and insubordinate music. From earlier times with regard to the artists it bears a resemblance with the likes of People Like Us, and Ergo Phizmiz. In the absence of oxygene I guess dreams come first for some minutes and then to be ready to die thereafter. But you should relax (by citing one of the phrases from the issue). The tricky outing is a part of the discography of mind-provoking imprint Vaatican Records.

Arze Kareem – Akstrumentals Vol.2 (2011)

Audiocast Productions

• Nu jazz 
• Breaks 
• Sampledelic 
• Acid jazz 
• Sound collage 
• Hip-hop 
• Synthwave 
• Trip-hop 
• Electronic music

Comment: this bunch of 6 tracks is represented by the Latvian beat maker Arze Kareem whose cocktail is a sultry blend of crunchy hip-hop paces and scratches and trip-hop rhythms, cinematic samples and yearning vowel effects, hovering and boldly laid out synths and synthesised orchestrations, and lonely piano chords and even some rock music bottoms here and there. The short-running 6-notch outing is a part of the discography of Audiocast Productions. Belonging to the top tier of sampledelic/sound collage/nu jazz/trip-hop music. A logical consequence thereafter is to go to the first volume of Akstrumentals. And then to the other issues by the artists and then to the discography of Audiocast Productions.

Fm-Ra ‎– Some Kind Of Forest (2011)

Rejected

Rejected

• Experimentalism 
• Avant-garde
• Art music 
• World music 
• Ethnic music

Comment: it is way too problematic to tag this album of 4 compositions because of involving way too a little and on the other side much unusual and not quite daily sounds. It was recorded at home employing Audacity and the instruments were a kalimba, one rain stick, and a storm imitator with some delay effects. Given that kalimba can be categorized as an instrument in the ethnic music world and its use in the popular music is quite limited the recent outing can be pigeonholed both in the compartments of experimental/avant-garde, and ethnic music. Moreover, one can discern very closeness to the nature as if being played under the sunny (or cloudy – it does not make difference though) sky somewhere nearby the forest. In fact, the title suggests it. The elemental touch can always be welcomed. The result is simple, pure, and even divine. The nature has been a topic for the artist because some days after the release of this issue he issued another similar album Oceans & Waves. The issue is a part of the discography of Rejected Netlabel.

Nuno Maltez – Improvised Acoustic Guitar (2011)

Rejected

Rejected

• Improvised music 
• Avant-garde 
• Experimentalism 
• Art music

Comment: in fact, the title says everything - it is all about the acoustic guitar and improvised kind of music throughout the course of a 17-minute. It is based on canorous guitar twangs, spacey guitar's resonance in the surrounding room and the counterpoint of it are reversed, ellipse-tinged guitar loops to establish the raspy rhythmic point to it at a time. Despite its experimental approach the outing is gentle by its nature and even revealing exuberant facets within its mood. For me, it is a sort of moody music either. And the actual course of it seems to be even a bit shorter than it actually is. I guess it is an implication of qualitative music. The outing is a mote in the discography of Rejected Netlabel.

The Woozy Speakers – Nonlinearities (2011)

Bandcamp

• Indie rock 
• Alternative rock 
• Garage rock 
• Noise pop

Comment: The Woozy Speakers is a combo from Massachusetts, USA and they play mostly booming guitar music though apologizing that some tracks from with n the 10-track issue are out of tune and may not be in-time. Maybe it is so, maybe it is not exactly that way but the most important aspect is that the result makes very sense because the flow of fair noise rock is constant and coherent pouring out of much energy and power from the loudspeakers. Additionally, one of the strengths of the issue is related to emotive side as well. For instance, Medicine is a fine love song with sublime profound echoes and an emotive blanket. At Walt The Hound Dog they (ironically) sing that “country music is in my blood” but one can hear certain influences coming from the East coast indie scene (The Pixies, and Dinosaur Jr.), and Scottish indie popsters such as The Vaselines, The Primitives, and The Pastels, and even some vibes of an early My Bloody Valentine (especially at If You Were You). Musically it is a quite linear alternative pop example but it is focused on a certain style and exploiting different penumbras to amplify the final result. And it fulfils a listener.

The Sway - Worthy

Nick R 61 – Cветтудаб (2011)

Fusion

Fusion

• Dub 
• Raggamuffin 
• Reggae 
• Hip-hop 
• Electronic pop 
• Urban music 
• Psychedelic

Comment: this is an oldie, 2-track issue by the Russian artists Nick R 61, and Raggadigma whose music is imbued with the influences of Jamaican music – reggae, dub, and dance-appealed ragga rhythms. On the other side, one can discern a poppy counterpoint set up to it at Свет. Lyrics are sung in Russian and the words are about changing the world into a better place where one could live on without pain and distress and suffering. The intention is good by any means and it would transmit to the soundscape of the song as well. At Ту да б the lyrics are about flying between galaxies and that the outer space is having vigour and being animated. The words are accentuated with astral-tinged volatile synthesisers and enchanting dub delays thereof resulting in something almost intangible. The outing is a part of the discography of Fusion. All in all, the result is placid, mellow and gentle. Fairly soulful and mind-blowing for our late hours.

Matto Grosso – Blanco perfecto (2011)

Bandcamp

• Noise rock 
• Hardcore 
• Alternative rock 
• Indie rock 
• Post-punk 
• Math rock

Comment: Matto Grosso is a collective from Santiago De Compostela, Spain whose 13-notch issue is a powerful blend of hardcore, noise rock, and post-punk. Some lyrics are in Spanish, some in English. By listening to these tracks one can perceive a certain sort of buildup within the quartet`s music – it frequently starts off in technical way, even mathematical sort of relations between instruments can be found out from there. However, many tracks will finally burst into noise torrents with apocalyptic echoes and primal bluesy energy of rock and roll. Yeah, it is a sophisticated and straightforward rock music example at the same time. It makes difference, it makes sense due to the combo's wise planning and impressive energy behind it. At times one can perceive similarities with the likes of Sonic Youth, and The Fall (more remarkably, at Positive). Stunning.

Erreome – Mis Ciclos (2011)

Rawmatroid

• Deep house 
• Remixes 
• Electronic pop 
• Chilltronica
• Dubtronica 
• Alternative dance 
• Club dance 
• Funk house 
• Electro-house

Comment: this is the first entry into the discography of Rawmatroid and a successful one. Erreome is an artist from Spain and his 5-track one is classy. It (City Start) starts off with solid deep house vibrations full of nostalgic sensations, hovering magic and soulful sensibility. At Help the artist will change the pace by showcasing more funky seeds though still flowing in deep house vein. Catedral is the last of Erreome's original tracks before remixes start to step in. In truth, it is a different case in comparison to the two first ones because of providing an electro-house with tinny synthesised chords and the poppy gear. Ales Pardo's version of Help is quite similar and slightly inferior to the original one and thereby adding not much charm to the whole. It is more funky than the original track. Kebiin's re-interpretation of Catedral is a good bit because of hooking up dub and chilly electronica-tinged vibes to the mix. All in all, the result is fabulous and overtly a top notch (especially the original compositions).

Cola Idol – Terminal Zone EP (2011)

17 Sons

• Techno 
• Minimal 
• Alternative 
• Avant-techno 
• Experimental techno 
• Post-industrial

Comment: the French imprint 17 Sons Records provided music which could be denoted as techno but undoubtedly with intriguing experimental twists. I have reviewed such artists as Mobyl (Pact EP), Nihil Limit (Drifting EP), Urmal Vesnat (Musics For Near Future Ceremonies), Formika (Never Change The Way You Walk) among others under the umbrella but this one is probably one of the most splintered ones due to hirsute bits, cut-up pulsations and branched rhythms that at times might sound a little bit as a DIY and lo-fi exercise but it is not that case because of being thrown in front of our feet to reach the other goals. Splitting Motions gets inspiration from Throbbing Gristle rather than having flirtation with the contemporary club culture. The more you listen to it the more you will get immersed in these tight and knavish labyrinthine corridors. At times it seems to be more a mathematical formula and research than music. For instance, listen to Percussive Research, at least formally. However, it embraces something strange and intriguing to intermingle it with more familiar details. Yet it will not be resulted in complications – it is an elegant yet quite alien-alike music form in comparison to those ones you have met earlier. Robots are there to pitch the tent for their party evening. In truth, it is difficult imagine a human being from Paris, France to be hidden behind these vibrations. Fabulous one. 

Team.Radio – Summertime (2011)

Sinewave

Bandcamp

• Dream pop 
• Alternative pop/rock 
• Indie pop/rock 
• Shoegaze 
• Post-rock 
• Psychedelic rock 
• Avant-rock 
• Experimental rock

Comment: these five pieces do introduce the listener into autumnal sadness, especially the opening, self-titled track of which beauty pours lavishly over one's centres of sensation because of chiming in a cinematic way due to those intermingled male-female voices and bucolic synthesiser-drenched progressions atop. French Doll is something between Lush, and The Sundays, where deliberately dormant emotions are awoken by witty chord changes and an acidic keyboard key. Vegas reminds me of the Russian indie juggernaut Motorama at its most light-coloured moments. However, it is not Motorama it is Team.Radio and it is their special delivery. Come On is a thoroughly dreamy number with regard to elliptical chord developments (especially in the second part) and hazy female vocal delivery. Albatross is the finishing composition and the quartet's aesthetical apotheosis through combining power and chaos, systemization and tenderness, tension and relaxation. Thereof it is not surprising at all this 13-minute piece is the most post-rock-esque moment within the album. Furthermore, regarding the downright experimental final part of it this is the counterpoint to the rest of the issue. All in all, it is a great issue in the discography of the Brazilian Sinewave.  

Loose Link And Option Command + Various – Karramantha (2011)

Sirona-Records

• Breakcore 
• Remixes 
• Alternative 
• Electronic music 
• Rhythmic music 
• Ambient 
• Bass music 
• Avant-garde

Comment: this is an immense issue because of containing two original tracks and 17 remixes of them and involving a loads of facets which could be perceived differently. Undoubtedly it is a sort of rhythmic music the question is is it the sort of dance music? I guess it is not because there is up a bunch of counterpoints to it – from rattling noises, dejected hisses and labile yet profound bass thudding to more undermining sequences and spaced-out yet ill-omened frequencies. Indeed, the artist makes no compromises to adhere more listeners to the concept. With regard to the dance music the artist exploits its algorithms but the code of it is deliberately hurt to produce an unsteady monster ultimately. You are thrown into a maze being inhabited with lurking beasts. He is here right now to do it for the sake of the art. Even if it might sound in a clichè way it is so right. The issue is a bit of the discography of the Sirona-records.

Gloss. - Trophy (2011)

Fusion

Archive.org

• Chillstep 
• Trip-hop 
• Crossover 
• Art pop
• Folktronica 
• Psychedelic 
• Alternative 
• Urban music
• Electronic music 
• Mood music 
• Chilltronica

Comment: so after being finished of listening to Experim3ntus` Korruptio I opened the window of my living room again to get more air for the Mexican producer Gloss.`s issue Trophy. If to join these words together it could almost be pronounced as “catastrophe”. Luckily this 6-track issue is not catastrophic. It is the quite contrary. It is also an example of urban sound though being more synthetic, beat-oriented, acidic and psychedelic in comparison to the aforementioned issue. Mostly because of that these sounds do not have common part with those ones which do come from the street and natural surroundings. So you could open your window. Musically it provides pure joy from start to end – it is tight enough due to chilled-out and trip-hop-alike beats which used to vary in heaviness and at frequencies, acidic synthesizer undercurrents and flickers and a folktronic fabric. For one it might remind of the Beta Band due those sultry folk and electronica mixed developments, for an other person it might be similar to Portishead, and Massive Attack. For a third person Jimi Hendrix is going to haunt him/her. It is not surprising at all because the trip-hop combos leaned frequently and strongly on the tradition of rock music and even directly took samples from there. Otherwise you could hear those heart bleeding melodic progressions which induce the listener longing for something which inevitably is passed by and it might be even passed away (more evidently brought to the fore at New Destination, and Dry Land). This enchanting 6-notch issue is a chapter within the discography of Fusion Netlabel. Additionally to great music it is supported by the witty outer sleeve.

Experim3ntus – Korruptio (2011)

Gabumat

• Ambient 
• Electronic music
• Darkwave 
• Soundscapes 
• Crossover 
• Kosmische Musik 
• Glitchtronica

Comment: Experim3ntus had released three Eps before he changed his nom de plume to another one, Vuohe. Under the new name, though, he was just revamping old compositions. The Finnish producer`s 5-track issue Korruptio is remarkable due to unifying the visual side of the cover print wherein one can feel sensations of late autumnal uneasiness due to representation of higher concentration of fog and clamminess than usual annually. Musically the listener can perceive vivid drifts between majestic ambient panoramas and eerie darkwave sweeping being immersed in heavy pessimism and impending tough and morbid times. That’s chilling. At times those suggestively epic templates are slightly “corroded” by samples, “accidental” noises, glitches, and other treated sounds. By the way, it is an especially right moment to listen to in the early morning when the Sun is still being eclipsed and greyish darkness and tangible humidity are in full sway. It must be said surprisingly I had to close the window of my small living room because all those outer noises merged seamlessly into the soundscapes. Maybe sometime in the future I will review it in the described manner. It might be a composition called Ajan rakenne on MUUTTUNUT (in fact, the title of the track is even longer) carves out from the rest because of coming very close to the classic tradition of Kosmische Musik though excelling at Tangerine Dream-alike templates in the first half only. The latter part of it will slowly be changing into a dormant yet rocky glitched-out soup. This is an astonishing bunch of elaborately accentuated compositions. Get it and additionally I recommend listen to his other issues (Experim3ntus EP, and Autius EP) and Vuohe`s Yksinäiset Vuohet, and Bleat Runner (which involves a new version of Ajan rakenne on MUUTTUNUT) either. The issue is a part of the short discography of Gabumat Records, which involves the Finnish music only.

In A Sleeping Mode – Draft (2011)

Yo! Netlabel

Bandcamp

• Avant-garde 
• Post-rock 
• Post-classical 
• Experimental techno 
• Modern classical 
• Art music 
• Avant-rock 
• Crossover 
• Experimental rock 
• Abstract techno

Comment: behind IASM are two Italian guys who were living in the United Kingdom at the time of the release of this 7-notch issue. More profoundly, it happened already 5 years ago in London. Musically it is an intriguing smorgasbord of sounds and styles, more profoundly, meeting at an interface of modern classical, arty rock and intellectual techno vibes spiced up by elemental noises and hisses. However, the aforementioned styles used to stand to be mixed together or just standing alone. Both versions are equally worth to be enjoyed. Another fairly intriguing stance for me is how and by whom these sounds are made up and performed. Of course, mostly one can discern the human touch but there are up some very mechanical moments where the process seems to be induced and usurped by rigid machines. In a word, there is up a thriving clash between the human soul and austere robotic configurations. By kindred souls one can discern pathways coming from Mice Parade, Tortoise, and The Dylan Group to Autechre, AFX, and Venetian Snares to Lubomir Melnyk, and Nils Frahm. However, these ones are just mere comparisons because the artist used to stand on its own. The issue is a part of the discography of Yo [U-Turn] netlabel. In a nutshell, get this mesmerizing issue.

JJ Kills Chopped And Screwed By Joel Rampage (2011)

Sincerely Yours

• Hip-hop 
• Avant-hop 
• Screwed and chopped 
• Seapunk
• Cloud rap 
• Wonky
• Vaporwave 
• Experimental hip-hop 
• Rap 
• Urban music

Comment: I could remember very clearly for those times when in the 90s there were being huge problems to deal with dragging and broken tapes, which did not play properly and did bend the normal appearance of issues. Another problem was related to to the tapes being as long as 120 minutes and some of them even longer. For example, before listening to the recent issue I had listened to Britpop juggernaut Pulp’s retrospective issue Countdown 1992-1983 lasting longer than 120 minutes and I sacrificed some hours of mine to save the tape altogether. However, it was a nice warm-up to the recent one because all had been changed since the 90s with regard to the formats, styles and approach in music. Musically it is not surprising at all that sort sort of technical failures are “legitimized” by hip-hop music. The second biggest change is that no one could not predict the fact that the mixtapes would be presented as issues in the discography of imprints. For instance, the recent tape was issued on Sincerely Yours. Because of the aforementioned reasons it chimes in a thrilling way yet all those “failures” are integrated seamlessly and represented in an elaborate way. Mostly those vocal lines are slowed down (at times also being pitched up) and elegantly stretched out to teeter in between stereo channels, however, at the same time being spiced up with electronic effects and bumpy yet enthrallingly lurking cadences. Frequently those layers are imbued with spaced-out, dreamwave-alike vibes to give the whole a more hyper-panoramic and still slightly eerie outlook. I was listening to it in an early morning but I am convinced it could readily be your supper before falling asleep. Indeed, the times have changed around us and inside us but music is still being very attractive in its various mutations thereby the musicians could be considered as contemporary philosophers undoubtedly. Get this issue!

Avec Silenzi - Indelicada

Irifune – Loomur (2011)

Totokoko

• Folktronica 
• Indietronica 
• Organic electronica 
• Alternative 
• Drone pop 
• Organcore 
• New Weird 
• Free folk 
• Weird folk 
• Epic 
• Art folk

Comment: this 7-notch is an issue of the discography of Totokoko imprint from Japan, which predominantly is being a platform for indie and folk and mellow electronic mixed songwriting. The same could be admitted about this issue. More profoundly, one can hear drowsy melodica-based drones, lone string plucking, hovering electronic motives, poignant semi-orchestrations making your soul bleeding (at Cinematic Twin Leaf, for instance). In fact, all the other compositions have been made in a similar vein though inner relation between the aforementioned elements might be different. At times the composition is complemented with psychedelic organs and fragile singing and found sounds thereby giving a feeling as if sitting on the bench nearby the picturesque woods of emitting otherworldly energy and power. At times you will fall into sleep, dreaming uncanny stories with sprites and faeries. The outing is quite austere but any chord of it is adeptly drawn and made visible. Any detail makes sense. The release is short-running thereof I would have liked to hear more from the artist.  Ultimately it could be admitted it is a bloody great issue. Get it.

Brideburger – A Beautiful Mind (2011)

Amnion

• Shoegaze 
• Post-rock 
• Avant-rock 
• Guitar ambient 
• Epic 
• Soundscapes 
• Experimental rock 
• Noise 
• Minimalism

Comment: the UK-based Matt Catling aka Brideburger`s handful of tracks plays with the consciousness of listener both through volume loudness and an exquisite aesthetic standing on an interface of noise, shoegaze, post-rock, and guitar-based ambient. And of course, it shows how patient is your neighbour actually if you play it through the loudspeakers. Mostly it is quite silenced, however, you have to be warned, before the start of A Beautiful Mind 2, where the sound is strongly cranked up. Otherwise Brideburger`s aesthetic is quite silenced though the sound is intense and even glowering by its nature. By kindred souls there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of My Bloody Valentine, fydhws, Glenn Branca and A Beautiful Machine. Eventually it could be said it is a fascinating issue because it changes and ennobles your state of mind. This issue is a notch in the catalogue of Amnion Records.                  

Ilya I Alisa – I Entered The Dark Forest (2011/2015)

Trash Can Dance

Self-released

• Post-punk 
• Alternative rock 
• Drone 
• Electronic music 
• Art rock 
• New Weird 
• Avant-rock
• Progressive rock 
• Dream folk 
• Spoken word 
• Avant-garde 
• Experimentalism 
• Ambient

Comment: Firstly, it is an unusual case; it does mean one has little chance to find out such sort of music daily because there is little such kind of music around. If I’m saying it is either a case of art rock or progressive rock then I have described it partly only. Secondly, it is an idiosyncratic case getting its boost and apparent inspiration from the Russian culture, from its glorious part, which is antagonistic to its inferior, the so-called blatnoi (thug) culture, which cropped up in prison camps in the Soviet Union during the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. More profoundly, the issue is highly dreamy as if a reverie stuck between reality and a hypnagogic state. At times it is imbued with naivety yet fortunately it will not turn to be pathetic because the nature of the issue is candid and properly emotive. If to trying to date it this would probably have happened in pre-historic times when reality and dreams and fears come into one, when imagination and real things had had a common part. And one had to come along with it. Of course, the forest was the uppermost ambience and catalyst for such sensations to Slavic and Finno-Ugrian tribes. In a word, it was a realistic place, it was a hyper-realistic, and it was a surrealistic place at the same time. Furthermore, it seems to be filled with a religious content though being laid down implicitly, not in a raucous manner. For me, Ilya I Alisa embodies a modern touch by sketching it quite similarly to Animal Collective in the USA who had principally done it on their two first albums. Of course, by saying it I admitted a little coefficient to the proposition. Last but not least – by listening to this 12-track issue on the tape, which is a part of the catalogue of Tallinn, Estonian imprint Trash Can Dance, it was something of a ritualistic act to change the sides of it. In a nutshell, it is a staggering outing by Ilya Bogatyryov, which was firstly issued digitally in the beginning of the 10s.