[Artists] GuMMy†Be▲R!

Tundra Dubs/Bandcamp
Soundcloud
Lastfm

[Compilation] Between Two Waves – Vol. C (EardrumsPop)

Actually it did not happen much time ago when I reviewed one compilation (Between Two Waves - Vol. A) under EardrumsPop which consisted fundamentally of two-sided collaborations. In any cases, I am not able to put the temptation aside for not reviewing another one too because of my orthodox indie nature was came to the forefront with those 14 songs again. In a word, here is another great collection of songs shuffling inbetween jangle pop, dream pop, slightly folk-driven indie pop and also some more contemporary sounds are thrown over here (of course I referred to dream-alike electronic/chillwave undercurrents here). Although without whimsical tricks basically, in principle, the whole seems to be really virtuous in the vein of old indie tunes having lots of catchy angles and edges and refreshing air letting you feel yourself free. No doubt, you need to be relaxed and having some distance from effect-loaded pop experimentalism at least for some time. Here is one track that really imprisoned me during last days. Indeed, The Hurries (Sundae + Girl Alliance)`s Not That Easy sounds out as if hinting at a neutral zone between Pet Shop Boys and Mojave 3 somewhere.

Listen to it here

[Artists] Blackbird Blackbird

Blackbird Blackbird
Blackbird Blackbird/Bandcamp
Plancha
Myspace
Lastfm

[Artists] Wolvepop

Wolvepop/Bandcamp
Myspace
Lastfm

Raw Moans + LAY BAC beko_70 (Beko DSL)

There is a fine joint release by LAC BAC and Raw Moans, the kind of one-man-bands, coming from Austin and San Diego, USA, respectively. More detailly, two tracks by both sides, used to be quite similar to each other, however, it can be drawn the gap between them. Raw Moans is up here, to reflect upon minimal, dreamy floating, though, doing it that way which will show up the devoid or at least restraint of his feelings. It is mainly a blend of hazy monotonic chord array and loose motorik rhythms. LAC BAC does play up disco house-drenched, heavy-filtered bedroom visions similar to Ariel Pink`s early doings, on the other side, the second track Ralf Goes Out is based upon a highly down-pitched cadence to offer the platform for Jsef Calamusa`s murky voice to be appeared everywhere.

All in all, it might be seemed as a following example riding on the chillwave and witch house hype, yet, undoubtedly it is a split masterfully composed and played out.

Listen to it here

9.0

Music For Your Plants S/T (MFYP)

Though I come from Estonia I have been quite critical about the most of phenomenons regarding somehow the Estonian indie music and its musical appearances over the previous and last decade. The reason is simple because my native country does have the community of musical critics/activists and musicians very densely related to each other, however, some of them through the job, the other through dense friendship connections. This is why I am not used to believe in maximum-rated overviews in local newspapers after I had listened to some of the albums being classified as really second-rate ones in principle. Once again, I really hope I am not being misunderstood - it is not a complaint it is just admission about the inevitable shortcoming of the small communities.

The debut album by the Tallinn-based trio Music For Your Plants is one of the best issues growing out from the local scene in recent years. Their 8-track release reflects upon past, present and future, where technical know-how is finely arranged with shitloads of ideas and a decent spiritual touch, where all needful is kindly presented and played up into the balance. First off, their affinity toward retrodelic fusion and progressive rock is showed up via impressive light-hearted guitar noodlings and synthesized psychedelic electronics-based vortexes altogether reminiscent of the doings of Kaseke, Radar, and In Spe, the Estonian jazz rock and progressive rock legends by the 80`s, respectively. (Though I am aware of the facts being compared to the likes of Tortoise, Tame Impala and other experimental rock luminaries already). On the other side, though through a narrow slot, you can be a witness about the dodges toward enchanting chillwave moulds (Dr. Mudawi), or the tropicalia/surf pop-mixed-up excellence of Enchanted Sister. Undoubtedly Music For Your Plants is a record which has acquired the potential to be written into progressive rock annuals sometime. In fact, I mean it very seriously.

Listen to it here

9.5

[Artists] Music For Your Plants

Music For Your Plants
Myspace
Lastfm

Tiny Fireflies ePop005 (Eardrums Pop)

By concerning on every kind of single labels around us I have mostly referred to Beko DSL, yet, there are other akin records as well, definitely enough worth to pay much attention. For instance, the likes of Club 7, Bad Panda, and Eardrums Pop are the names to be rememebered in the first place.

In fact, the last named record was previously known by its sizable indie pop compilations (13 compilations in total), having acquired a kind of magnificient quality the better you are hardly able to find out from somewhere else (indeed, your obligation is just to listen to those ones!). However, the last notches of its discography are exclusively the matter of singles, having a geographical stretch from Indonesia to The United Kingdom, from Finland to the United States. By stilistical approach it might be compared to the sounds of the legendary The Slumberland Records, and The Best Kept Secrets. Indeed, mellow indie pop, consisting of jangle pop and twee pop shadows, yet, having a nowadays touch via poptronic elements.

The Fireflies`s 3-tracks single set is the first missive, signifying the departure from the array of compilations. A duo (Leslie and Kristine) comes from Chicago, having been sharing their duties at Very Truly Yours, and proceeding their solo projects (Tiny Microphone; Fireflies) as well. One of those beatific tracks is a cover of Skeeter Davis` hit The End Of The World, inspired by Claude Longinet`s interpretation of it, and another (Holding Pattern) exploits a sample by Serge Gainsbourg`s La Horse. As it is said yet, it sounds really beatific reminiscent of chillwave oozings and sighs, getting quite close to Memoryhouse (Kristine`s hyper dreamy timbre and vocal manner turns/ascents tend to be similar to Denise Nouvion). On the other hand, a kind of slow(core) movement with the help of drum machines and cathedral-alike organs conveys a decent cue toward Beach House, though. Or hinting at the beautiful coverprint (by Minkee) could have it be named as "lovewave" instead of? A great music, no doubt.

Listen to it here

9.4

Friendship Home (Friendship)

The easiest way to describe the Australian Nic Brown`s release would be to put it into a mould being set up somewhere between Panda Bear`s (Noah Lennox) solo works and chillwave-ish point of view. (By the way, one track, being one of the most mellow ones is named Noah_Frienship and Friendship Bands). 11 tracks are tensely fulfilled by pitched or reversed vocals, repeated chords, programmed glockenspiels, half-loaded orchestrations, synth effects, fingerpicked guitar echoes, and epic harmonies as well. On the other side, its methodology is sometimes used to be based upon loose and primitivistic approach which can be admitted as its best at Sexy Bones, or idiosyncratically brassy soulful tunes (Hip). Obviously Optim 2 is a quintessential example of having respectively built up on lo-fi and nicely tuned harmonies. This album might have been a top notch if the balance had more keened to involve more melodies and harmonies into its whole. Lethargically characterized sonic patterns are not for to be the best case for Brown`s music, though.

Listen to it here

8.4

[Artistid] Evenings

Evenings/Bandcamp
Myspace
Lastfm

[Artistid] PREGNANT

PREGNANT
Free Music Archive
Bandcamp
Life`s Blood
Lost Lamp
Myspace
Lastfm

Evenings North Dorm EP (Bandcamp)

Nathan`i nimeline noormees Charlottesville`ist (Virginia, USA) pakub tasemel chillwave/glo-fi/dream pop/stargaze/haze pop elamuse. Hõrgud meloodiad ning paitavad harmooniad moodustavad vastupandamatu kombinatsiooni - isegi siis, kui konkreetne helind näib kohati laisalt või suisa passiivselt kulgevat. Kuid see on näivus/või näivusega manipuleerimine, kuivõrd sellega külgnebki varjatud mõte. Kaunikõlalisus on alati töötanud, ning andes ühtlasi tunnistust, miks sarnast helikudet produtseerivad-reliisivad samaaegselt sajad pundid üle ilma. Tundub üha enam, et on moodustunud uue meinstriimi vöönd, mida ka toetab üha enam established muusikapress (nt Pitchfork on haaranud plaadifirma Arcade Sound`i oma "hoole" alla). Jutud aastaid tagasi, et Stereolab`i (järjekordne) album kõlab kui popmuusika aastal 2050 või hiljem, on osutunud valeks. Tõsilugu on, et see aeg on märksa varem pärale jõudnud. Kuulata "North Dorm" EP`i tähendab langeda sulniduse mõjusfääri, lasta vajutada teatud klahvidele. Filosoofid ei kõnele tänapäeval enam sõnades, vaid helide keeles. Nupumuusika.

Kuula albumit siit

9.4

[Kogumik] Various Artists - Season of the Sun (Rack & Ruin)

Inglismanni Dean Birkett`i kureeritud Rack & Ruin on leibel, mis annab peavarju pöörasele lo-fi muusikale, mille nime esimene pool on kahe aasta vältel tunnusmärgitsenud alternatiivpoppi-indie`t ning teine pool eksperimentaalset, kohati suisa irriteerivat elektroonikat. Tõsi, nimetet kogumik - mis on pühendatud käesolevale suvele - ei järgi niivõrd teravalt seda eristust võrdluses mõne varasema eelkäijaga. Mõnes mõttes on see ka paratamatu, kuivõrd elektroonika on ajapikku segunenud traadimuusikaga ning ka vastupidi. (Nimetagem seda poptroonikaks). Ennekõike väljendub nimetet tendents artistide puhul nagu Western Homes, T Bear ning Hipster Youth. Vincent Lillis jätkab tavapärast peitusemängu varjude ning folgiga, Woodland Heights teeb silma hoogsa kidrapopiga, kompilatsiooni koostaja Chad Golda pakub omalt poolt elektrist särisevat elektroonikat. Kogumik pakub loomulikult ka üllatusi - Frost Faire`i - mis on siin esindatud surf pop-liuglemisega - ninamees Brad Fielder, kes eelmisel aastal sai maha meisterliku alternatiivfolgi albumiga, pakub brass rock`i ja hip-hop`i hübriidi; auger shell pakub sulnist unenäopopi ja kingapõrnitsemise segu - kuulajana tahaksin isegi volüümi juurde keerata; kogumiku pikima - 14-minutilise - träki eest hoolitseb Dave Menzo, kes segab üheks psühhedeeliat, lo-fi`d ning abrasiivset elektroonikat-efekte, hoolitsedes seekord märksõna "Ruin" eest. 11-looline kogumik on tõepoolest väärtasi, iseasi muidugi, kas see just päikeselõõsas kuulamiseks mõeldud oli; kuid mõnusalt jahedasse ning vihmaootel augustiõhtusse sobib küll suurepäraselt.

Kuula albumit siit

Ducktails: Live at WFMU on Marty McSorley's show on 10/24/2008

Üle-eelmise aasta jõululaupäeval salvestatud 7-looline sett (sh intervjuu) paljastab Matt Mondaline`i suuruse. Kuigi väljutanud muusikat suht lühikest aega, on New Jersey resident mõne aasta vältel jõudnud üheks silmapaistvaimaks DIY-liikumise suurkujuks tõusta. Jänki on lugu pidanud töötlemata helikvaliteedist, salvestamiskeskkondadeks on olnud tööriistasara ja kelder ning levitanud oma loomingut üksnes kassettidel ja vinüülidel.

Kitarrid, Casio, Moog ja helifaaside modulaatorid on tema mänguvahenditeks. Helipilt on ühelt poolt uinutav, kuid teisalt (kohati väga) erk oma tekstuurilt. Mulksuvad elektroonilised (mini)efektid/drone, newage`ilikud süntesaatorite ja loodushelide põimumised ning minimalistlikult progresseeruv kihistus on vundamendiks, kandes edasi Neu!, Tangerine Dream`i, Conrad Schnitzler`i ja Harmonia aegumatuid ideaale - demonstreerides ilmekalt, kus peitub chillwave/glo-fi ideoloogiline lähtepunkt. Tõepoolest, suurepärane sessioon.

Kuula albumit siit

Okinawa Lifestyle Lazy Friend You Move So Fast (haaa00a00a0a/Bandcamp)

Tbilisi duo eelmist reliisi "Naha" - kahtlemata üks parimaid sellest aastast - arvustades avaldasin lootust, et loodetavasti kuuleme neist veel ja veel. Tõepoolest, meisterlik looming, milles on esindatud ning omavahel tasakaalustatud meeliülendavad harmooniad ja kaasakiskuvad nurgelised strobo-rütmid. Uus 5-looline EP jätkab vankumatult eelmise reliisi "Naha" rida. Funky`d electro-haagid ning läbi klubimuusika filtrite kulgev elektrooniline popmuusika kätkeb eneses loomulikult ka tugevat chillwave-glo-fi elementi, olles rohkem kui eales varem lähedal näiteks The Neon Indians`ile. Kuigi David Datunashvili-Gigi Jikia alustasid atmosfääriliste-unistuslike numbritega (debüütreliis "Roswell Crash" EP), on rütmid järjest olulisimat rolli nende helipildis omandamas. Kaasaegne indie dance´i vaste.
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Having reviewed their previous release "Naha" I expressed my strong hope that we would get a lot of issues from this crafty Tbilisian duo in the future again and again. Their alchemistry is a good example of balancing of magical harmonies and edge-y strobo rhythms. Indeed, a new EP does continue walking on in the steps of "Naha". All of those funky electro strokes and through the filters of club music roving electronic pop tunes are previously blended strongly with exhilarating chillwave/glo-fi aesthetics, for instance, being as close to The Neon Indians as they have never done it before. This music can seriously be described as contemporary indie dance.

Kuula albumit siit

9.3

Atlas Young beko_54 (Beko DSL)

Jaapanlase Atlas Young`i kahelooline singlitaies/EP on üks selle aasta impressiivseimaid. Hea meel on tõdeda, et kaunikõlalisus, eepilisus, panoraamsus, kaleidoskoopilisus, majesteetlikkus on epiteedid, milledel on tänapäeval taas üha enam tähendust ning jõudu kuulaja hinge tungimisel. Uued Pulp`id, Suede`id, Mercury Rev`id, Lightning Seeds`id on esile tulemas - milleeniumivahetuse pikk pohmell on ümber saamas ning suured meloodiad-harmooniad oma kohta tagasi võitmas. Erinevalt nt Memoryhouse`ist ja The Bilinda Butchers`ist - kahest teisest suurepärasest chillwave/glo-fi/dream pop-artistist ning leiblikaaslastest - on Atlas Young veidi karvasema helipildiga - trummid peksavad intensiivsemalt, kitarr kooldub atmosfääriliste kihtide keskelt valla, liikudes märkamatult elektroonilise shoegaze`i maastikele, kus kaugustesse suunatud ainitipilke häirib leitsaklik virvendus, konstrueeritud jõuetuksvõttev miraaž. Stephanie on selle aasta ilusamaid lugusid - eneseteadlikult joviaalne ja hõiskav, kus maskuliinne ja feminiinne alge ühtsuse leiavad. Penetreeriv ja orgastiline saund teisisõnu. Platon tantsinuks selle muusika järgi.

Kuula albumit siit

9.8

[Kogumikud] beko_cs01 (Beko DSL)

Beko DSL on jõudnud oma esimese, 21-loolise kogumikuni, et nädalate pärast sellele järg üllitada. Enamik kogumikul esindatud artiste on pärit USA`st, olles kantud tänapäeva ängidest - traditsioonilise muusikatööstuse lagunemisprotsessist-uute suundade seadmisest ning varemetes tööturust, teisisõnu - ebamäärasest (lähi)tulevikust. Raskekahurväest on kogumikul kohal The Bilinda Butchers, Eternal Summers, Nude Beach, Tan Dollar, The Procedure Club, Jamie Long. Üllatavaim esindaja on 90ndate alul tegutsenud Briti nelik The Electric Sugar Children, kes on tõsise ambitsiooniga tagasi. Kogumik peegeldab tendentse, mis eeldatult kuuluvad 21. sajandisse (chillwave/glo-fi/stargaze, shitgaze, elektrooniline lo-fi), kuid teisalt taaselustab 80ndate post-punk`i, indie`i ning isegi 70ndate disco ja 80ndate klubi-electro traditsiooni. Beko DSL müristab jätkuvalt - kuulake, veenduge ja nautige.

Kuula albumit siit

Hooray! Beko_51 (Beko DSL)

Järjekordne õnnelik avastus USA muusika avarustelt. Chicagolane Ben Wagner krutib imelist saundi Hooray! pseudonüümi all, ning väljaandjaks hämmastavaid leide üle ilma järjepanu üles korjav Prantsuse leibel Beko DSL. Suurimad tänud Reno`le ning tema vaistule!

Kohe tuuma manu - kolmest loost kaks on puhas kuld. I Guess... - lo-fi`likult krobelise rütmikamara ning elektriseeritud kidradega pinget vaikselt üles keriv rida, mille apoteoosiks on lõpus kummituslikult heiastuv vokaalfraas. Hetketi kõlab see justkui Panda Bear mattunuks pilvedesse ning kostuks sealt alla Apollonina. Seda ei ole kuigi palju (kuulda), kuid pisiasjad ongi need, mis elu suureks muudavad. Küllap ideeliselt on sellise asja peale raske tulla, realiseerimisest rääkimata. Nähtavasti seesugune asi peab inimesel kinnisideena kõrvade vahel istuma. Kyle's Having People Over alustab paitava strummkidraga, mille taamal heiastuvad subtiilsed pannood, luues mulje millestki eepilisest ning majesteetlikust. Panoraamse pildi, mille pisiosa tahaksid isegi olla. Ülivõrded jätsin targu lisamata, mitte paistmaks emotsioonidest nõretav. Natuke vähempaistev on Jimmy, Grow Up, võib olla ka minu (vale)interpreteeringu tõttu, arvestamata seda kui interlüüdi.

Kuigi žanriliselt chillwave/glo-fi/stargaze, meenutab Hooray! sett väga Air`i debüüteepose "Moon Safari" futuristlikke lende minevikku ja tulevikku. Unistus ja unenägu saavad üheks - driim loodub teisse driimi. Popmuusika, mille kohta tahaks kasutada epiteeti "abstraktne". Veider, kas pole?

Kuula albumit siit

9.8

[Artistid] Hooray!

Hooray!
Beko DSL
Wonder Beard Tapes
Myspace
Lastfm

[Artistid] Volumina

Peppermill
Peppermill
Myspace
Lastfm