DMH – New Blood For All (2015)

Tape Safe

• Ambient noise 
• Avant-garde 
• Experimentalism 
• Epic 
• Leftfield 
• Shoegaze 
• Post-industrial 
• Ambient rock

Comment: if somebody does know or suspect how I used to choose albums for my blog than it will happen truly randomly. I have no methodology to choose from within the bunch of releases waiting to be commented. Last albums I have reviewed I have used the terms “avant-garde”, “experimentalism”, “leftfield”, “post-industrial” steadfastly for them. It is quite annoying to speak these words from one review to another but in the world of the web albums these seem to be prevalent labels. It is just to mention it for the sake of truth. In fact, the net label-based world is a perfect world having no main drive and intention toward money and revealing a human being`s intention to set himself/herself free and experiment with sounds in his/her free, natural state. This 3-notch issue starts off with bass frequencies to progress into a resonant span of wobbly electronic effects to progress into the main narrative – into a massively resonant noise template which at the time also striving to more higher, even majestic perspectives in format and concept. More masculine elements used to vary with feminine sonic aspects, from more powerful investigations to more light developments. At the beginning at Demo 18 one can hear the inclination toward atmospheric guitar/shoegaze world. It can be concluded it will ultimately establish a decent whole for pleasure of all of us because of not employing oppressive (harsh) noises to kill other aesthetical seeds and twigs around it. The issue is a solid bit in the roster of Tape Safe.

BVBEL – // (2015)

Sirona-Records

Bandcamp

• Chopped and Screwed 
• Experimental hip-hop 
• Vaporwave 
• Hip-hop 
• Sampledelic 
• Witch house 
• Leftfield 
• Avant-hop

Comment: these 17 minutes are obviously first vaporwave and witch house vibes and moods ever personally heard on Sirona-Records, a French record label with immense catalogue. BVBEL is a producer from Belgium who in turn owns the huge list of outings at Bandcamp (16 releases in total). Lurking, bold-faced rhythms and greyish noir milieus are predominant on it being adorned with sheer samples as if narrating about blackened themes and grime situations. I guess the sun glimpses and friendly laughing are not supposed to be out there. In a word, it is a solid listening span being craftily balanced between the content and format. This is what we suppose to get from an instance of outstanding music. 

TimHeld – EICV7'' No. 98 (2015)

EverythingIsChemical

• Techno 
• Electronic music 
• Alternative dance 
• Experimental techno 
• Abstract techno 
• Experimental electronica

Comment: by analysing this handful of tracks while watching the cover print of this of depicting the lamp of a nightstand it can be said in that situation you can see many minutiae being otherwise hidden for us. Is there anything being hidden to our ears? Indeed, the outing needs more listening times allowing us to understand it to be a bit more than just a techno album. Indeed, it involves iterative rhythms and enchanting loops to introduce more experimental and abstract segments into it. One can even hear corrosive debris and metallic faintness looping atop and beneath. Furthermore, it is a fine example of how machine-induced applications and more organic sonic details are seamlessly mixed up with each other. In fact, the latter element is subjugated to the first one. The result is a part of the discography of EverythingIsChemical.

Cutside – Invisible Lines (2015)

Dusted Wax Kingdom

Bandcamp

• Trip-hop 
• Alternative 
• Breaks 
• Electronic music 
• Sampledelic 
• Smooth jazz 
• Mood music 
• Big beat

Comment: Dusted Wax Kingdom is a tough record label from Bulgaria with a number of releases reaching over 300 so far. One of those issues within it is Russian Cutside's Invisible Lines which is a sensual blend of sultry rhythms, smooth jazz-based samples, and airy and fickle layers atop involving a shitload of interesting minutiae within it. On the other side, those sultry rhythmic patterns are represented with different and changeable intensity therefore together making up something dynamically magic and suggestive. You can perceive those slipping patterns or some offbeat vibes showing up a charming appeal now and then. Stylistically it is a drift between trip-hop, and big beat. Truly fascinating by any means.

The Walla Recovery – A Star, a Star (2015)

Noisetrade

Bandcamp

• Indie pop/rock 
• Alternative pop/rock 
• Conceptual 
• Chamber pop 
• Xmas songs 
• Baroque pop

Comment: they say they (as a quartet) are cello folk combo from Texas, USA. By listening to this 13-track Christmas song miscellany the statement is a partial-truth because they exploit additionally keyboards and guitars as well. Of course, the expression “cello folk” may frighten an indie music lover. It might be he/she starts to think about some rigid classical music oppressed artists or sombre Apocalyptica, or something like that. However, by listening to these fabulous new arrangements of Christmas songs and smooth permutations in chords and volatile solemn easiness it reminds starkly of Sufjan Stevens (and his set of Christmas songs being released some years ago at Noisetrade). In a word, beef up your mood with these 51 minutes on 25^th December. In fact, it would function at any time. At least the experience of mine proved it. And Jesus would like it.

Matthew Collings – EICV7" No.104 (2015)

EverythingIsChemical

• Experimental electronica
• Electro-acoustic 
• Post-classical 
• Chamber music 
• Improvised music 
• Alternative 
• Glitchtronica 
• Avant-garde 
• Art music 
• Experimentalism

Comment: this handful of compositions is a consistent blend of rough electro-acoustic, rugged chamber music, and more sublime ambient and volatile electronic progressions. Musically it is intriguing to listen to it because electronic music is seamlessly mixed up with sounds of natural instruments. For charlatans I guess it would be a good fare to describe their view of outer space through the aforementioned elements, of how masculine and feminine genuine/primal matter will meet each other, of how energy will have been lead in a proper way. They might be right, by the way. You can not wave off odds and ends within it because it is the main ingredient to lift the whole up to the next level. A Smashed Up World is the final issue on it and being the right choice for it. The composition will expand epically due to fine-grained glitches and the dense orchestrated drone which is going upwards again and again. The outing is a mote in the discography of EverythingIsChemical.

Liz Chidester – Otter Hill (2015)

Noisetrade

Bandcamp

• Singer-songwriter 
• Americana 
• Indie folk 
• Alt-folk 
• Folk indie

Comment: Liz Chidester is a new singer-songwriter from, Chicago, Illinois, USA who is adept at storytelling to bring forth oldie traditions through music, lyrics and memories told once and now by one generation to next ones. It seems the tradition is something extraordinary seminal which enables new galaxies of indie folk/alt-folk and also mainstream folk and country artists to be cropped out. In a word, it is the seminal soil for singer-songwriters today and in the future. The outing of Liz is austere but poignantly accentuated to fill one's soul with emotional coverage and suggestive touch. She says these five songs are the most intimate she has ever written. It had been created during the worst winter storm in Chicago in 2014. All in all, let it be a boosting engine for your world of imaginations.

Calla Soiled – Lucoq (2015)

Bunkai-Kei

Bandcamp

• Chilltronica 
• Alternative dance 
• Yacht pop 
• Electronic pop 
• Electro-house
• Deep house 
• Crossover
• Mood music 
• Nu jazz 
• Balearic house 
• Design pop

Comment: it have always felt myself delighted while coming to a Japanese imprint, this time to Bunkai-Kei. This issue of 11 compositions by Calla Soiled is a true beast due to fairly exquisite modes on chill out, electronica, design pop, jazz, and (Balearic) and electro and deep house and even drowsy yacht pop elements are also represented over there. On the other side, all these elements are not represented in pure way and even not in a sectional way but instead of it with intention to think off something which could be considered an example of universal contemporary music. An example of electronic music without the borders. And the artist reaches the goal in doing it. I have been listening to it since early morning today but the result is getting even more woozy and hazy. It is not because the structure and configuration of these songs is filled with microscopic flaws one could find out after an intense listening session but rather it is zipped in a sophisticated way full of alchemically sticky elements which used to react with one another after a while. On the other hand, it might be I caught the level of nocturnal and deep house-inflected hours within it (for instance, at Rainfall; at Pellucid). By considering the blanket of the issue and the music pouring out from within it you could imagine eine Lichtung /a clearing/lighting to be seen within the ragged top of a volcano in Heideggerian way. Top standing indeed. For your soul, for your body, for your dream, for your reality, for your transcendental mind.

Static Masks - Goosebumps

Asher – Perpetuals (2015)

Conv

• Piano music 
• Modern classical 
• Avant-garde 
• Minimalism 
• Ambient 
• Art music 
• Crossover

Comment: there is a little bit to talk about this 12-track issue because the basins of these compositions are the same – it is made up of the chords of a worn piano being wrapped up by tight hiss. Emotionally it chimes like the listener has stepped into a time travel ship, or listening to an example of vintage piano music on vinyl. Secondly, it is fairly sympathetic to listen to those gently floating chords, which might seem almost like the swimming ones. Today is the last day of a year and it is a chilled-out experience to listen to this flickering and smouldering piano music of veering away between ambient and modern classical. Its slightly formal imperfection changes this short-running issue into a perfect appearance because of avoiding to be a hermetic and lifeless product. The issue is a part of the discography of the Conv. By kindred souls I recommend listen to such artists as Lubomyr Melnyk, Nils Frahm, Bosque de mi Mente, Oskar Hallbert and Hauschka, for example.

Moses Luster and the Hollywood Lights – The Hangman`s Door (2015)

Bandcamp

• Americana 
• Goth pop 
• Art rock 
• Alternative rock 
• Indie rock

Comment: the Hollywood, California, US-based artist Moses Luster continues to create something stunning both lyrically and musically on his third issue. Of course, he is well-known due to his powerful baritone singing though it always has been adeptly supported by a solid musical accompaniment of murky and bombastic orchestrations, roots and Americana music, sublime electronic breezes and organ-based drones. At Dirt his voice is accompanied by a seductive female vox. It is arousing. Thematically he continues to roll along the themes of the previous two albums, more profoundly, about drunks, losers, love, trouble and death. And hopefully Bob Dylan will have not sell cars during Super Bowl anymore after getting the Nobel Prize (Sold Out). In a word, it is a great album by any standards. Fuck you/but I am not fuckable (The Distance From Me To You).

The Bourgeois – The Bourgeois (2015)

Jamendo

• Punk rock 
• Indie rock 
• Alternative rock 
• Garage rock 
• Noise rock 
• Ska

Comment: this handful of tracks is a strong appearance of energy of blues and rock and roll heritage which in turn is converted into a contemporary garage and alternative rock slam. The name of the musical group used to ironically refer to our our every day's life I suppose. I reminds me of McCarthy's ditty We Are All Bourgeois Now which was covered by Manic Street Preachers, the faux-communist/leftfield group a kind of whom Joseph Stalin called for useful idiots. Of course, the punks are cool but untrustworthy by their nature who used to demonstrate their stubbornness in principles yet who are ready to betray their principles for money or a bottle of alcohol. And the effect and scope of their aesthetic is way too flimsy to could have had a long-running intriguing impact. On the other side, for instance, the stances of the post-punks are more sustainable and intriguing because of having the impulse of changeability within it thereby reflecting upon the life in a more trustworthy way. Of course, the energy of punk rock within other styles is frequently something really enjoyable and staggering. For instance, the US-based duo The Bourgeois (Zach Mobley, and Ty Clark) dissolves it in different directions from Sonic Youth-esque psyched-up noise rock (Be Your Own Machine) to skidding ska numbers (Electric Shock Value). It is really pleasant to follow the singer's timbral formations from one tone to another, from mind-blowing madness to more sedative moments. For example, at Perverting The American Dream one can hear him singing almost in Tim Burgess-like style and tonality at the beginning but later it will be fleshed out due to more powerful appearance with variegated shades within it. All in all, get it and will be the dog of it.

Trent Hawkins – Ninnananne/t2helaev (2015/2016)

Bandcamp

• Kosmische Musik 
• Krautrock 
• Ambient 
• Synthwave 
• Electronic music 
• Alternative 
• Art music 
• Mood music

Comment: indeed, by now I decided to review two issues by an artist within one comment because I am listening to a tape which physically includes both of them being issued by Tallinn, Estonian underground imprint Trash Can Dance (a print-run of 36 tapes; soon in next days it will be officially announced for sale). Trent Hawkins is the pseudonym of a guy from Tartu, Estonia who is also known as the drummer of a local stoner rock group, Smõuk. However, substantial guitar riffs and oppressive psychedelic noodling of desert rock is jettisoned for floating synthesisers and ticking rhythms which are up there to depict something otherworldly and beatific. I like the artist's pure aesthetic of Kosmische Musik where all the elements are enjoyably aligned to constitute a logical whole with enchanting space between and around. It might slightly remind of some works by M. Geddes Gengras under Umor-Rex where one can discern similar perceptions of mathematical relations and measures between the establishing sonic elements. Furthermore, it is as pristine as one counterpart could be against lousy aspects surrounding us in our every day's life. A sort of music for escapists. Similarly to the American musician's soundscapes the recent one is also the grower. At first glance it might seem a little bit lightweight and even superficial but it is the deceptive impression. At first one needs to take some time for warm-up to comprehend this hippy of ambient music (the description by the label boss Gert "Trash" Moser). Or maybe not, though. All in all, both of them are fairly fine ones. After listening to these ones I am sure you will be listening to Trent Hawkins third issue (3) either (also available in tape format on Trash Can Dance).

Crayon Mortel – Piel (2015)

51 Beats

• House pop 
• Indietronica 
• IDM 
• Electronic music 
• Alternative dance 
• Psychedelic pop 
• Electro-indie 
• Shoegazetronica 
• Ambient pop 
• Drone pop 
• Post-rock 
• Crossover 
• Epic 
• Avant-pop 
• Art pop 
• Glitch pop

Comment: this album is a sequent example of seminal soil in Italy to create music with grandeur and style. As we know very well Italians are the godfathers of noise and electro (house/disco) music, but also having contributed immensely to industrial and progressive and music and soundtracks. Alessio Bressan`s 7-notch release used to touch the tradition of the latter with regard to exploiting (deep) house music to mix it seamlessly to indie and post-rock-tinged music which in turn does have occasional dodges towards dream pop, shoegaze, baroque pop (for example, at Away). Twowt is a way between droning and microscopic orchestrated arrangements which eventually results in something overwhelmingly epic and majestic. However, the final part of it seems to depict something more bucolic and rustic. As a contrast, it makes fairly sense. At times one can find out parallels with artists being released on Morr Music, at times with the likes of Seefeel, Autocreation and Locust, at times with the likes of Atlas Sound and Tangerine Dream yet Bressan has his own proper handwriting. All the aforementioned elements of experimentation are very poignantly counterpointed by sublime harmonies and lofty progressions. That`s all what we need actually for, isn`t. For me, it is a formula for ideal pop music. This staggering ghost is a part of the discography of 51 Beats.  

Cousin Silas – Observations From Earth And Beyond (2015)

The Cerebral Rift

• Ambient 
• Space music 
• Modern classical 
• Post-classical 
• Kosmische Musik
• Soundscapes 
• Abstract 
• Art music

Comment: Cousin Silas is an experienced artist from the UK who has issued a bunch of innumerable albums over many decades. This is his appearance at The CerebralRift, an exciting imprint and free music platform. As usual as it used to be the artist excels at creating soothing soundscapes with intent to have an exquisite impact on the listener. This swarm of 10 compositions proves that the artist slightly deviates due to a more emotive approach because he is interested in conjuring up more restrained, more interrupted compositions where the tranquil and flickering progressions on guitars used to slowly move over gentle pads of a synthesiser. You can perceive a gentle New age-ish touch within his sound which slowly swells and then contracts and in the meantime ginning up eloquent orchestrated beauty while preserving a compelling static touch within it. At times his soundscapes are based on more bold bass frequencies and vague piano chords which nevertheless used to sustain and then almost unnoticeably spread far away. Cousin Silas does not pile on excessively he adeptly develops all these layers into an impressive whole. Fairly magnificent stuff. By kindred souls the issue could be compared with the likes of Brother Saturn, Eluvium, Bosques de mi Mente, Max Richter.

Alpinismo – ALPNSMO (2015)

42 Records

• Indie rock 
• Alternative rock 
• Jangle pop

Comment: it is always pleasant to listen to a full-fledged indie/alternative rock instance. Alpinismo's 5-notch is one of such sort teetering somewhere between downbeat yet highly ringing jangly guitars reminding of the first years of careless Rickenbacker guitar drenched indie pop and more powerful and mercurial progressions wherein the emotions will appear with immense dash. Maybe it happened in this way because of being an Italian (Rome) quartet under an Italian imprint, 42 Records. The lyrics are performed in Italian.

Tunnelbirds – The Horner Sessions (2015)

2419 Record Label
Bandcamp

• Psych-rock 
• Raga rock 
• Alternative rock 
• Garage rock 
• Indie rock  
• Acid rock 
• Blues rock 
• Lo-fi

Comment: first of all, it seems to me that Beer Bottle Blues is the most rocking issue throughout this 10-notch issue. It reveals the combo to be at their most acidic and dynamic. The other tracks might be more restrained, at times veering into the intonation of sordid blear-eyed blues/boozy rock (at Today I Lost My Job), at times making up more raga tinged incantations, at times just jolting and rattling through fluttering wah-wah guitar effects and linear chord manipulations being at times stretched out, being at times pitched-up therefore creating a psychedelic effect. At times it does not reach a magical effect, especially at the time of more acoustic moments, but mostly it succeeds and acts upon the listener. Especially in such tracks as I Don`t See It In You, and Dark Side. Minute Songs exploits some grunge-y riffs but fortunately it evades the borders of grunge music by straddling on a blackened layer of blues rock. Given that you shall have to listen to it to decide whether is it your cup of tea or not. For me it is a cup of coffee. Tunnelbirds is a combo from Utrecht, The Netherlands and the issue is a part of the discography of 2419 Record Label. 

Ataque Escampe - Papá borracho/Alan Lomax (2016)

Bandcamp

• Indie pop 
• folk indie 
• Alternative rock 
• Psychedelic rock 
• Indie folk

Comment: I guess my first meeting with Ataque Escampe happened about 6-7 years ago through A Regueifa Plataforma, an imprint of which purpose was to issue disparate kind of music coming out of from the autonomous region of Galicia, Spain. Unfortunately the site has been down for a while. I dislike such sort of reckless attitude because you are being responsible for so many artists and it could be understood in the case you are having your own site but if a site is based on blogger than I can see no excuses. Furthermore, you could upload a roster’s music at Archive.org as well. It could be said about many imprints as well. All of that is fairly regrettable to see the past to have ruined in front of us. Fortunately many artists on the imprint have moved to Bandcamp, including Ataque Escampe. Ataque Escampe is a quintet from Santiago De Compostela, who has been together since 2001 and been releasing a swarm of issues throughout the last ten years. In the recent issue there are up a couple of new compositions. It is sympathetic of how they used to create the buildup of their music by doing it though lite indie folk numbers, which usually in the ending parts is chased by Roi Vidal played acid synthesizers and electronics. For instance, Papá borracho does end with a game boy-alike chip. Alan Lomax is set up in the way to meet at an interface of folk, psychedelia, rap, and alternative pop. However, blending of the styles (the formal side of songwriting) is not a goal on its own but the combo is adept in executing it seamlessly and convincingly to boost the main narrative. In a nutshell, the result is highly hilarious. 

Chancius - Bando (2015)

Jamendo

Bandcamp

• Art rock 
• Indie rock 
• Alternative rock
• Chamber pop
• Singer-songwriter 
• Experimental pop

Comment: While this issue was plotted out to be an alternative rock opera to depict it does mean the artist must have been some aesthetic restrictions and prescriptions for writing process. In any cases, Chancius comes out of Brooklyn, New York, USA and the listener could readily perceive an exquisite, intelligent touch being so characteristic to many artists from the metropolis. By the recent case, Chancius' sophomore release enthralls the listener by straddling on the border between the restrained and unleashed. All of that turns on expectations in the listener to wait on what will be happening next. On the other hand, the artist controls the process totally allowing no indiscretions and turnoffs. Though he is slightly aloof with regard to the listener his posture suits finely with the music and overall conception. Musically it is an example of how quite austere artsy guitar playing is adeptly imbued with electro-acoustic sonic effects and electronic knacks. At times, at most dreamy glimpses the course is led by affectionate carillon playing and loopy orchestrations (at Big Wave). Obviously the artist is inspired by the local No Wave scene (and by its forefathers the Velvet Underground) and representatives of contemporary art rock/indie scene like The Antlers, Owen Pallett, Terrible Terrible, Foxes In Fiction, Panda Bear. However, those possible influences come in indirectly and rather on the base of similarity thereby allowing to create relatable possibilities between cultural layers and traditions in general. I am pleased he is not trying to spoil the concept with magniloquent details and bloated stances. He has set out a plot to operate within certain borders, however, having enough territory to move forward and then back, by right to left, from bottom to top. As an ancient Greek philosopher once said due to the borders it is possible to exist at all and only this allows you to go beyond, to go to the other side. Psychedelic, isn't? He will not crush himself in the playing out of his genuine role. Listen to Hologram King and you will get convinced this match was made in heaven to save unfortunate souls. In a nutshell, I fairly recommend listen to this 11-notch gentle bright.

Royalt – Just Because (2015)

MiMi

• Electronic music 
• Electro pop 
• Tech-electro 
• Alternative dance 
• Techno pop 
• Poptronica 
• Chilltronica 
• Mood music 
• Breaks 
• Tech-house

Comment: behind this project is Paulo Brito, the Coimbra, Portugal-based musician being active since 2008. Although his 6-notch issue is only as long as a 16-minute he provides enough much for one to get satisfied. I would like to tag his music as an example of post-disco though it is certainly a contemporary one. However, this could be the easiest and most superficial way to approach it. Indeed, it is about broken beats and suggestive melodic lines and catchy harmonies with the intention to entertain you in different ways. On the other side, in some pieces one could discern darker and specifically club oriented rhythms (at Care), which is a little bit more than the term “post-disco” is intended to embrace. Thirdly, some influences in his music come from an era of electronic music harking back earlier than the 1980s used to be (more profoundly, hints at Kraftwerk`s legacy). So here it is your turn to decide either he is on the way or manages to deviate this way partly. In general, one can perceive that Brito tries to manage a fine balance between the moody and entertaining side and the more technical approach in music. Ultimately it can be said he succeeded fairly in doing that.