Misdea – Acetilene (2013)

Acustronica

• Post-rock
• Ambient pop
• Experimental rock
• Electronic
• Soundscape
• Conceptual
• Leftfield
• Crossover

Comment: Acetilene is an intriguing journey across thought-awakening landscapes where one could perceive disparate tendencies within less pop oriented music. At times it chimes like ambient pop, at times like experimental/post-rock, at times like a picturesque or abstract sonic ornament for something. At times it rings like a polyphonic composition with different layers being showcased at the same time. At times the soundscape is saturated with noisy debris thereby making up enough contrast to unite different elements with one another. The purpose of it is to create a hyper-realist experience. This "something" is thought to be a dedication to the Italian mercury mine Abbadia San Salvatore. Despite its cutting-edge approach in technology of creating the sound the result is enchantingly dreamlike. Acetilene is produced by the Berlin residing artist Emiliano Baiocchi.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde – Stained Glass (2013)

Sirona-Records

• Post-punk
• Neo-progressive rock
• Alternative rock
• Synth rock
• Electro-rock
• Crossover
• Dance rock

Comment: this notch takes on a borderline of such styles as post-punk, progressive rock, symphonic rock, electro-rock/synth/dance rock. To add all these elements into one melting pot at a time it is not very ordinary even today at the time of postmodernist approaches and practices wherein different styles are crossed and recontextualized into something familiar yet different. All the compositions are instrumental and could be quite contemplative (Let It Burn!). Many patterns of synths, many patterns of guitars, many patterns of rhythms are interlaced with each other into the organic whole. It is the one-man-project of Maxim Khorsun from Simferopol, Crimea peninsula, Ukraine which is occupied by the Russian Federation at the moment.

Steinregen Dubsystem – Recycled (2013)

LibreCommeLair

/Alternative dance, Raggamuffin, Remixes, Dancehall, World music, Electronica, Crossover, Dub, Urban music/ 

Comment: there are represented 17 tracks by various artists who tread the compositions of a 6-piece collective, Steinregen Dubsystem from Freiburg, Germany. In general, it could be said Jamaica is an island of fast-running people and shaggy reggae and dub inflected music. With regard to the compilation the listener can enjoy many crossovers and derivations coming out of the aforementioned styles. Emotionally it is a poignant issue because it used to insinuate lots of dodges and turns within the whole. There are represented pieces being made up of echoes which used to last very long thereby bringing forth a thoroughly spaced-out feeling. There are up some curiosities either where Balkan and other ethnic motives are interlaced with the Jamaican music. Despite putting slightly uncanny elements into the melting pot there is good effect about it. There are up remixes by the likes of Goyo Naranja & Damaa, Dava, Ras Amerlock, EQuBE, Bassinfected, Herbstauch, Lüra, Lata, Pellectronica, Hans Gruber, Ras Tilo, Juju, Akarola, and TRVE.

Mccandless – Surprisingly Coherent (2013)

Higher Living

/Post-rock, Indie rock, Alternative rock, Soft rock, Duyster/

Comment: although this handful of pieces starts off like a colourless, mediocre guitar issue the Brussels-based duo embarks on to develop slowly by adding new layers and motives into iterative guitar gears. At times it chimes like a daydreaming combo who has no hurry and obligation to move on somewhere. They just enjoy recent moments and being in creation. One could hear glockenspiel chords to accompany guitars and at Twirls synths will take a lead to conjure up more soft rock-alike milieu, however being intersected with soaring post-rock guitar keys. Ultimately it could be said it is a solid output which deserves its title. The issue is a part of the discography of Higher Living Records. 

Crashing Down From The Gravity - CDFTG2 (2013)

Ceramic

/Digital hardcore, Breakcore, Alternative dance, Techno, Hi-NRG, Aggrotech, Hardstyle, EBM/

Comment: by listening to this 5-bar issue one can say it is a contemporary, harsh dance album of digital era. It is full of hirsute and rigid synth progressions and rhythmic structures, respectively. Rhythmically it used to extend from hardstyle and EBM to drum and bass and hellektro explorations to calmer techno pads. In a word, energetically it is loaded with overwhelming static and poignant noises atop and beneath, on the right and left side. Those sonic blocks and bits used to fluctuate between getting out of focus and arrive at there again. Because of being replete with incessantly changeable rhythmic and harmonic fabric it needs remarkably more attention to touch its proper core. If one does it then she/he could perceive its greatness. The issue is a part of the Japanese imprint Ceramic Records.

Ancient Lasers – You In The Future (2013)

Clinical Archives

Bandcamp

/Pomp rock, Electro-indie, Art pop, Alternative pop, Indie rock, Emo/

Comment: the Moscow-based imprint Clinical Archives is being known for releasing experimental, improvisational, mostly noisy electronic stuff in the first place. However, its discography extending above 500 issues to date embraces albums which could be considered to be a part of folk and indie music. For instance, I can remember for such artists as Dmyra, This Co., and Post Human Era. The 14-track album You In The Future could be added to the same compartment. It is built upon the intention to create emotionally overwhelming, bombastic pop rock album. On the other side, California, US-based musicians Daniel Anderson (aka Idiot Pilot) and Daniel Finfer (also known as a part of Post Human Era) exploit many electronic devices and electronic solutions to “deviate” from an average emo rock/pomp rock formula and exert their own concept. For instance, you can hear many programmed rhythms and digitally fuelled bugs in the combo`s sonic feedback and powerful outbursts. Lyrically the combo is to be about love, relational problems, and as if searching for boost to foster their self-belief. The favourite song of mine is The Way It Has To Be which could freely have been a teaser within some of Air`s albums (more apparently, at Talkie Walkie). In a word, the issue is a solid exertion.

Abject Object – Romance LP/CD (2013)

Bandcamp

/Punk rock, Art punk, Alternative rock/

Comment: Abject Object is a Paris. France-based musical project whose 11-track issue has been released in different formats under a bunch of record labels so far (Echo Canyon, Flower Of Carnage, Wee Wee, Corn Dog, Protagonist, Zone Onze, Gang Bang Tapes. moncul, Emergence) . Because of that it can be admitted the combo`s music must have some kind of appeal. The combo`s music is tagged as “hardcore” and “hardcore punk” though it is a little bit overstated because the album chimes more softened than an average hardcore band used to do. Of course, some levels of hardcore elements are represented there but they are represented on the average. Moreover, at Waste Of Time the listener is pulled into artsy punk explorations giving the group`s another dimension. At Cruel the band reveals its disposition via those quite atmospheric guitars in the ending section toward the 80`s alternative rock bands who were influenced by the post-punk movement but searched for their own pathway a la The Chameleons, Echo & The Bunnymen, Korova Milk Bar etc. In a word, it is a solid punk rock album. Indeed, it is a decent drift between rock patterns and punk-ish rebellious message and attitude.

Rene Kita ‎– Polkimellisuuksia (2013)

Om Ha Sva Ha Ksha Ma La Va Ra Yam

Om Ha Sva Ha Ksha Ma La Va Ra Yam

/Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Non-music, Noise, Improvised music/

Comment: it can be said Turku, Finland-based artist Rene Kita has much to say though he does not say anything in direct sense actually. Indeed, the artist`s music is exclusively made up of codas of the syllables which in turn are looped and amplified into an idiosyncratic result. At times it rings like the performance of a brown noise artist which used to be abstract and funny at the same time. Indeed, regarding that Rene Kita`s music reaches the dimension beyond contradiction and being free of a burden of theoretical bodywork. It is just a flow of sequencing loops and coincidental noises for your pleasure. Otherwise, the former is the first fractal to constitute another fractal of noise somewhere below or atop it. Indeed, they are causally related to each other though being clearly separated from each other either. It is like discovering different universes in the outer space, which, however, have had the same initial source and impulse. By kindred souls I recommend listen to such vocal artists/improvisers as Roomet Jakapi, Iris Garrelfs, Michael Schiefel, Meredith Monk. 

Max Fotheringham – Perikope (2013)

Higher Living

Archive.org

/Indie rock, Post-rock, Jazz rock, Slowcore, Ambient pop, Indietronica, Indie folk, Alternative rock, Art rock, Singer-songwriter, Folk indie/

Comment: Perikope was bundled 25 months after then Belgium-residing musician Max Fotheringham`s debut issue In All Amber (Higher Living Records). By listening to the first half of the album silent chugging might remind of A Sea And Cake`s subtle aesthetics of being somewhere between sublime indie pop and restrained post-rock and jazz rock progressions where electronic undercurrents are a little pushed backwards but still clearly presented in the blend. On the other side, we should not underestimate the influence of the so-called Duyster movement (De Portables, Styrofoam, Wixel, The Go Find, Sweek etc) in Belgium (where artists played indie music with strong influences by way of electronica, IDM and post-rock). Thirdly, the release is obviously inspired by dreamy slowcore artists (Galaxy 500, Arab Strap, Barzin, True Widow) either because MF apparently likes silence more than noise. Of course, Fotheringham`s outing might be more bedroom studio oriented because of having revealed more warming clumsiness by left and right side. However, later on, some more diverse and drowsy compositions become to appear – from piano driven ambient pop where one can perceive the artist to express soulful emotions through his voice and accentuation. At times he exploits found sounds to fill in the album with more space and intimate corners. Later on, Max Fotheringham left Belgium and arrived at Australia to form a new project entitled Amber Isles. This 10-track silent yet lightsome issue is a part of the Higher Living Records.

SoulSonic - Things That Connect Us (2013)

Archive.org

Cold Tear

/Indie rock, Post-punk, Electro-indie, Alternative pop, Ambient rock, Post-rock, Shoegazetronica, Mood music, Ethereal wave/

Comment: SoulSonic is an artist from Lithuania whose 10-bar issue is a blend of picturesque guitar paintings, crispy electronic rhythms and beatific orchestrations. It can be said SoulSonic`s music is more about to create affective milieu rather than revealing intention to establish something artistically groundbreaking. Indeed, the whole sounds like a smooth jazz/fusion version produced with guitars and electronics. It seems the artist`s goal is to reach a sublime state of mind throughout the course rather than having spot on particular sonic inventions. However, despite there are up hints to almost all styles being connected to “alternative music” throughout the last four decades. The favourite of mine is Gentle Touch due to the spaced-out, longing guitar chord based extensions and highly catchy pattern within it. By continuing the Lithuanian connection I recommend listen to such combos as Picturesque Episodes, and mmpsuf.

Bool – I Eat Phantom (2013)

Black Square

/Witch-step, Breaks, Space rock, Electro-rock, Leftfield, Crossover, Spoken word, Abstract, Electronic, Dark wave, Alternative, Witch-hop/

Comment: this handful of pieces is a poignant hybrid of music and spoken word. More profoundly, it is a mixture of spoken word and different sonic pads ranging from witch house influenced occult sonic appearances to mid-tempo broken beats to murky thumps to airy guitar chords and spaced-out guitar riffs. Of course, it does not mean that these elements are juxtaposed next to each other every time.  Frequently elaborate guitar sounds are mixed up with programmed rhythms and vice versa (for instance, Ancient City Emerge). However, the backbone of the issue is appearance of the Tokyo-based artist`s poems chanted in Japanese which used to overcome and to be gravitated by the aforementioned elements. In fact, an abstract language is exerted additionally. It might be the effect of the output would be bigger if only having some understanding about Japanese. The issue is a part of the discography of Black Square, the Russian-based imprint. Fairly nice one indeed. 

Spiedkiks - Take Off Your Make Up (2013)

Rec72

FMA

/Funk, Hip-hop, Urban music, Electronic pop, Tech-house, Drum and bass, Remix, Big beat, Alternative dance, Sampledelic, Alternative pop/

Comment: Spiedkiks is a German duo whose influences seem to extend beyond their native krautrock tradition which is also represented on this 7-track issue though in a lesser extent. In the opening track Ear Conflict On Main Street the listener could recognize Kraftwerk-ian slightly buried vocalizations stranded in the midst of a funky mayhem (by its accents and timbre resembling Computer World in the first place). By going on, lots of rhythms of slightly different kind would be added to the melting pot by getting inspiration from the vocal-based plunderphonic aesthetic and 80s/90s acid techno and big beat and hip-hop spawned energy. The mix is spiced up with upbeat guitar hooks and hirsute riffs. The duo has set up their pace very firmly to arouse sentiments under your hat and activating the listener`s dance inclined synapses at your extremities. There is also a fabulously spacey tech-house remix by Dominik Berlin. The finishing track Kitchen Suite is a frantic, 13-minute long blend for the afterparty including more calmed down, classical music sections and cinematic funk explorations being juxtaposed next to acidic robot funk, enthrallingly nervous hip-hop scratches and drum and bass/jungle based rhythmic obsessions. Eventually it can be said it is time to pick up this issue and the follow-up Little Smartphone People to your music drawer. It is definitely worth any of its moments. 

Milky Way Wishes: A Kirby Super Star Tribute (2013)

Ocremix

/Chiptune, 8-bit, Chipbreak, Brass pop, Crossover, Urban music, Alternative pop, Poptronica, Tracker music, Metal, Conceptual, Nintendocore, Electronic pop/

Comment: Ocremix.org is a site for music activists and artists who are being enthusiastic for searching and creating with regard to the videogame music. This time a bunch of artists who have created 23 compositions are being keen to pay tribute to such men as Dan Miyakawa, and Jun Ishikawa who created a game called “Kirby Super Star”. However, do not make adverse opinions about the issue because that hint does not mean this tremendous mixed bag involves 8-bit/chiptune/chipbreak progressions only. There are also up enthralling guitar driven and orchestrated (with or without brass sections) opuses with obviously different sound quality rates. For instance, Sixto Sounds exploits punchy metal drums, powerful guitar riffs and overwhelming orchestrations with a hint at mariachi music. PrototypeRaptor reveals his preferences in the vein of hip-hop, soul, and R`n`B music, of course, set out in his own terms. By going on, gentle melodies and light-hearted, volatile motives are also represented over there to spawn good sentiments and touching sensations for you. In fact, the release is a tickling quest for the listener to rediscover new undercurrents, sonic plateaus and highlands and densely crossed styles being still possible to be dug out from some compartments of pop music. There are represented such musicians as halc, Insert Rupee, Geoffrey Taucer, Usa; PROTO-DOME, Ergosonic, Sir NutS, Brandon Strader, Hylian Lemon, Mazedude, Benjamin Briggs, OverCoat, Monobrow, OverCoat, Sixto SoundsPrototypeRaptor, The OverClocked Plaid Muffins. Few tracks are composed in collaboration between some of the aforementioned artists. In a nutshell, let`s listen to this smorgasbord of two discs and find out your cup of tea.

Os Clausas – Os Clausas (2013)

Sine3pm

/Minimal techno, Experimental techno, Motorik, Kraut techno/

Comment: less is more if to start off with some triviality. However, the Italy-based artist Christian di Vito aka Os Clausas` music is being far away from it. There are up experiments with more and less stern yet appealing techno patterns, noises and electronic drones. Furthermore, you can perceive ambient textures under the rhythmic mayhem. The favourite track of mine is DRSD which is a gentle echo and expansion of motorik rhythms by Klaus Dinger, and Michael Rother who constituted a seminal krautrock combo, Neu! for four decades ago. Indeed, representing static, repetitive rhythms in the middle which in turn are accompanied by a lurking hiss fuelled drone on one channel which will spread out stepwise. PP exploits reed organ shuffles juxtaposed against the cadences atop. The finishing track Milspec is funky on its own terms, however, arousing a more loosening feeling at the end of a day. This dainty issue is a part of the huge discography of the Italy-based imprint Sine3pm being a home for many more and less known artists worldwide.

Tuaiki - 惑星 28 (2013)

Poleporecords

/Post-rock, Indietronica, Experimental rock, Noise, Alternative pop, Shoegazetronica/

Comment: first of all, it was quite difficult to find out the albums with Japanese hieroglyphs from Internet (for instance, if you are having one exemplar at your mp3 player before and you are trying to find it out at WWW thereafter). However, finally I got it at Poleporecords site in Bandcamp. Tuaiki`s 5-track issue is a keen blend of post-rock induced panoramic yearning, affective rhythms and emotive layers of indie electronic and shoegaze-y examples and digitally formed noise vamps on the verge of the soundscape building up the welcome contrast to the former mentioned ones. Madness meets sensitiveness, heavenly beauty meets tectonic mud. The title track chimes like a free jazz-esque foray into the guitar drenched feedback noise and boldly stumping programmed beats. 何故、此処に居るのか私には分からない involves a stunning noise torrent with some vibrations within it. Indeed, much bangle is up there carved out with love and caring which used to cut through.

Deprivation – Corona (2013)

Chill

/Breaks, Acid jazz, Chill out, Mood music, Chilltronica, Downbeat, Nu jazz/

Comment: Deprivation`s album Corona is something about to bring forth an untangled touch between rhythms and upper melodic layers. If the electronic music would be an undomesticated animal with untamed nature and apparent wish to bite you then electronic music would be something like Corona after the training by Deprivation. More concretely, frequently rhythmic shuffles are embellished with mellow electronic/acid jazz whiffs as if a gentle breeze coming out of somewhere to caress your ears and tranquilize your hot-headed temper. Although there is represented a bunch of 8 tracks in total all of that results in a seamless flow of music without any substantial turns and forays. In true, piano chords are variegated with some excited breakbeat/jungle rhythms but it is something about to happen incessantly thereby being an essential part of the outing. It might be the title track conjures difference due to creating a feeling as if you`re walking through the streets in Paris. In a word, listen to it and get a part of it.

Joxfield ProjeX – Archives EP 7 – Dark Castle (2013)

Tin Can Music

/Space rock, Improvised music, Psych-rock, Avant-rock, Electronic, Art rock, Fusion, Experimental rock, Jazz rock, Avant-prog, Kosmische Musik/

Comment: any time I feel tempted to repeat what I have already said in earlier reviews and add something new to more recent issues with regard to Joxfield ProjeX, the Swedish magical duo of Janne Yan Andersson, and Stefan Oax Ek. I recommend search for my interview with Stefan at Recent Music Heroes taken approximately four years ago where he cast light upon their activity, influences, history and something else. More concretely, they are two gentlemen from the two biggest cities In Sweden who started their collaboration exactly 50 years ago while doing it for 10 years. However, their new activity in the embodiment of Joxfield ProjeX was born in 2005 in a small village (Kolpebo) somewhere in between Gothenburg and Stockholm. They just decided to gather over there to create and produce music for its own sake. Indeed, what dedication! Most albums produced so far are being released on their own imprint Tin Can Music, and Moscow-based Clinical Archives. This year, however, they issued a vinyl release, called Casino Royal in collaboration with Acid Mother Temple`s ex-singer and synth player Cotton Casino. The pre-eminent outing was released on Bam Balam, the legendary French imprint for innovative rock music since 1982. Hurry up, it is the limited edition only! Besides, they have collaborated with such progressive rock luminaries as Geoff Leigh, and Pat Mastoletto, and digital culture sociopath Kenji Siratori during this quite short span of time. By the way, Acid Mother Temple`s frontman Makoto Kawabata featured at Submarine Trees on Casino Royal.

At Archives EP – Dark Castle all the sound is produced by themselves only which does not surprise because the EP is a part of the Archives EP series, a bunch if issues which used to reflect upon their early doings in the 00s. It consists of two compositions (Dark Castle; Heavy Oax Missing) replete with more hidden or unveiled sonic layers. The sound is mostly improvised, yet, it chimes in the way the process to be properly managed. And it is actually very fine because allowing to get more focused and bring forth more ingredients and flavours from within. Despite it the more you listen to it the more you will experience vertigo and feel how your foot lose touch with the ground. By regarding the psychedelic music it is the very goal on its own. Musically there are represented incisive guitar strokes and deliberately dysfunctional guitar riffs (reminding of Jimi Hendrix at times) which are permeated with haunting fusion-alike chord progressions and eerie woodwind whiffs somewhere in the middle of it. The other counterpoints come out from rhythm fuelled levels – those obsessively monotonous punches only accentuate the glowering nature of the issue even more. Highly recommended.  

Doomettes - Song About A Noun

Futurospekcja – Lamacz (2013)

SoFarUnknown

/Big beat, Indietronica, Alternative pop, Acid jazz, Mood music/

Comment: this pair of tracks is based on exuberant rhythm shuffles as if a mix involving the elements of indie guitars and big beat and acid jazz cadences replete with distracted milieu and broken constructions. If to speak about it in a more in-depth way, it is a notch somewhere between Skalpel, and Spaceman 3`s Big City (Everybody I Know Can Be Found From There), for instance. I don`t even know is it a sort of mood music or not (even if these elements are represented there). However, all these questions are properly pseudo ones or at tleat irrelevant because Futurospekcja`s soundscape surfaces in astonishing way. This album is produced by Błażej Gębura who is being related to the artists of such labels as Noecho, and SuperSound.

Teddy Bear –Euphoria (2013)

Ceramic

/House, Club dance, Electronic pop/

Comment: indeed, Teddy Bear`s 2-track issue deserves its title and resonates with the sensual cover print because of swaying somewhere in between filter-heavy house music and elements wafting out of the club dance room. More concretely, with regard to filtered sounds it chimes truly in an oneiric way being counterbalanced with thumping bass frequencies and deliberately repeated vocal sample bits which soon will be distilled to emerge in a more chart-oriented way. However, this issue can also be considered to be a part of the chillwave movement saturated with sonorous breezes and mellifluous sound progressions. Excellent work by any means. The issue is a part of the Japanese label Ceramic Records.