BANDWiDTH – Walking Ghost Phase (2011)

Ayan

• Experimental electronica 
• Power electronics 
• Avant-garde 
• Noise 
• Drone 
• Abstract 
• Experimentalism 
• Improvised noise 
• Non-music 
• Psycho-acoustic

Comment: the Frenchmen David Vilayleck aka Ayankoko and Mathieu Garrouste do create a batch of nine compositions which is based on a couple of live sessions. Recently I saw a TV show about a ghastly event when a saleswoman dialed the telephone number of a man and additionally contacted with his woman who as later was figured out had already been dead/killed. Supposedly the ghosts can use energy for their own sake coming out from the wire. Of course, by dealing with such intentional experiments one must be very warned. On the other side, we cannot eradicate a possibility regarding our lack of knowledge, our prejudices, and some sort of manipulation. It just may be a case of belief. Musically the duo provides a tense experiment with phase changes, for searching a balance between silence and noise, between abrupt intensity and stepwise relaxation. Like it is quite common to noise music some phases are just switched on and some not, and vice versa (the so-called straight, one-dimensional approach). Paradoxically the least strange/hostile element are the voices which supposedly belong to ghosts. The mind-provoking outing is a part of the discography of Ayan Records, and Clinical Archives.

Buben - Glimmer (2007)

Clinical Archives

• Post-industrial 
• Avant-garde 
• Experimentalism 
• Illbient 
• Electronic music 
• Ambient drone 
• Noise music 
• Leftfield 
• Drone 
• Abstract 
• Experimental electronica

Comment: a Belarusian, Vladislav Buben, is a person whose main goal has been - at least it seems so - to promote (underground) music to the backbone. He has been a prolific artist of having released more than 100 issues so far, also has run a radio show with intent to shed light upon avant-garde and experimental music. His tenures have been under a bunch of imprints, involving a cult Moscow-based experimental music imprint, Clinical Archives among others. Glimmer was issued approximately 10 years ago and for me, the characteristic of this 4-track issue represents one of the facets of the record label (especially with regard to experimental/electronic/non-rock music). It is a decent outing because those slightly oppressive sonic details are set up in the way to provide air and space between them. Buben likes to play different distances by sampling the chugging of a train at the distance, by sampling and then producing barely distorted conversations of politicians (Mr. Lukashenka?, Mr. Putin?). He employs intriguing drumming and greyish shades and monochromatic delays going on and on. It could be very interesting to convert all these sonic effects and relations between the sounds into a visual kaleidoscope. If I had it this would be a favourite plaything of mine. Great success by any means.  

Now – Pileofskyhighmiles (2013)

Clinical Archives

Bandcamp

• Indietronica 
• Alternative 
• Avant-pop 
• Space pop 
• Electronic 
• Post-rock 
• Drone pop 
• Organcore 
• Experimental pop 
• Art pop 
• Minimal Wave
• Leftfield pop 
• Avant-rock 
• DIY 
• Experimental rock

Comment: first of all, happy birthday (60th jubilee) and best wishes to Mark E. Smith, the core of the Fall and the legendary figure within the post-punk and alternative rock movement during the last four decades. He has been considered a bit misanthropic in his songwriting which is sobering with regard to the visions of futurologists and philosophers to alleviate desperation of the masses. For instance, I am very sceptical about Elon Musk's plan to organise first flights around the Moon in 2018. Of course, I can principally agree with the statement we have entered into the dèbut de siècle of biotechnological human being within the virtual world which arguably allows us to cross the borders of territories we have not reached yet. I think it is not going to happen in the near future of a couple of decades. I think music is the best rocket to make it happen in our fantasies. And postmodernism is still the cultural magnetic field we are not able to abandon because of being a stripe in our DNA. For instance, one way is to step backwards to approach Now, the 9-notch outing by NOW. Being released on a cult imprint, Clinical Archives, it is a fine drift between different styles similarly to the Fall. More profoundly, one can partake by moving from synth-heavy space pop to minimal post-rock numbers to droning avant-pop terrains. With It is something about a crossroad of how to match the motorik impulse of krautrock with downbeat tendencies. It might remind of an early Stereolab at the time of recording and issuing Mars Audiac Quintet (for instance, at I4Me, and A Good Natured Serpent) and a new wave of krautrockers from cities of the Ruhr area in Germany in the 90s and the 00s. Through it one can hear the influences of an early Kraftwerk, and Neu! (it does not surprise at all, isn`t?). On the other hand, at Lonely Chair you can perceive the influences of bedroom and lo-fi and DIY aesthetic as well. All in all, it is a top notch by any means. The trio from  the UK must have been an outstanding group because of having collaborated and shared the stage with such underground music juggernauts as Damo Suzuki, Faust, Circle, Tunng, Psapp, Rothko, Plaid, A Hawk And A Hacksaw among others.

Pigeons & The Insane Porridgemakers – Le Voyage (2009)

Clinical Archives

Free Music Archive

Bandcamp

• Psychedelic rock 
• Noise rock 
• Avant-rock 
• Free jazz 
• Experimental rock 
• Dada music 
• Freeformfreakout

Comment: by watching the narcotic and dreamy mixed cover print of this 12-track issue it can be admitted it is a fine introduction to the outing. Indeed, it is full of psychedelic plateaus, the snippets of free jazz and airy lounge boogie jamming and other insane approaches both by lyrical and sonic side. All the lyrics are sung in very Russian and the content of it it mostly phantasmagorical and surrealistic. I guess if such an album were produced approximately 80 years ago the author of it would be Salvador Dali, or Joan Mirò or somebody from the Russian Futurism movement. However, the aforementioned celebrities are indirect authors as are the forefathers of the Dada art movement and Italian noise artists like the brothers Russolo because the influences of them are clearly discernible within it. More profoundly, it is a discourse between madness, and order, between correlated elements, indeterminacy and incontinence (in many ways it can be thought). The issue is a part of the discography of a legendary Moscow-based imprint, Clinical Archives. The favourite track of mine is the final piece St. Abbas because it is predominant by the shrill and slamming bass plateau being introduced by spoken words and surrounded by loose sonic effects. Fabulous outing. 

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.

Post Human Era – Help, I Invented The Internet (2012)

Clinical Archives

Bandcamp

/Electro-indie, Alternative pop, Poptronica, Epic, Art pop, Indie pop, Remix, Americana/

Comment: Daniel and Michael Finfer aka Post Human Era`s 7-track/12-track issue embarks on catchy yet sublime, even epic melody and harmony progressions at Supplies which will continue in next compositions in a similar way. More profoundly, it is the electro-indie/pop issue with bold Americana influences ultimately surfacing the talent of the Finfers. Great singing and arrangements behind it are set to establish the overwhelming punch. Maybe you will find out some similarities with such Americana and experimental pop/rock moulded artists as Magnetic Fields, Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, and His Name Is Alive, however, the members of Post Human Era used to bring forth their own idiosyncratic concept and vision. The album will be finished off by a remix version of Glowbug about Building The Machine. The issue is a part of the legendary Moscow-based cult label Clinical Archives (I am still waiting for new issues under the imprint). I recommend listen to other issues by the combo and its related acts as Ancient Lasers, and Glowbug. 

Landing Swabs – Fucking Melt EP (2007)

Clinical Archives

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

Comment: Landing Swabs` 2-track issue insinuates a feeling as if you are listening to inner processes of an industrial proceeding in the factory building. The result is a tumultuous blend of noisy grits and demented noise torrents. All of that results in brown noise waves and violent sonic brushes appearing in the middle and periphery of layers. On the other side, the release can be tagged as improvised music because these elements follow somewhat chaotic and unpredictable path. Furthermore, there can be heard some impulses by such noise rock/experimental music combos as Black Dice, Battles, Hella, Black Pus, Lightning Bolt. The album is issued on legendary Moscow label Clinical Archives.    

Simone Schirru / Federico Eterno - Around Three Minutes Long Short-movie Songs (2013)

Clinical Archives

/Free jazz, Cool jazz, Modal jazz, Film noir, Improvised noise, Experimentalism, Improvised music/

Comment: this collaboration by two musicians of Italian heritage is all about an exquisite experience of sloshing through jazz-y swamps. Indeed, the 30-minute session issued under the wing of Moscow-based experimental records Clinical Archives used to show up Shirru and Eterno`s continuous skilfulness to drift between scant instrumentation and jaunty improvisation-filled snippets, still life-esque cool jazz and more tumultuous modal jazz and  free jazz propulsion forces (especially demonstrated in a series of Videomenata). Furthermore, even curious approach to (improvised) noise music is presented there now and then. Of course, as the title suggest the listener cannot underestimate the importance of recent concept – more concretely, it is film noir-esque and sneaky rather than joyous and superficially diverting by its nature.

Himmelkommando – Cerebromatika (2006)

Clinical Archives

• Abstract
• Experimentalism
• Avant-garde
• Drone
• Non-music
• Glitchtronica
• Post-industrial
• Noise
• Avant-electronica
• Sampledelic
• Illbient
• Dark ambient

Comment: these 7 tracks spread out over 35 minutes are positioned to be very far from the centres of pop music. More profoundly, it embraces straightforward, brutal and improvised noise dashes or more restrained but even more bleaks and malignant (post)industrial and experimental electronic/glitchtronic compositions. At times Himmelkommando´s music chimes like a blend of disparate sonic elements where one layer is managed to be more rhythmic, laidback or even beatific and another used to be clearly abrasive or ominous (for instance, Teletaxia, Alterego, Fantoplication, Water_Hemlock). At this point of view the album can be considered a classical example of noise music where obsessive but successfully accentuated interaction between silence and noise embrace the central point on it. In a word, it is an austere but compensatory experience.            

Ujjaya – Master Of Crossroads (2011)

Clinical Archives

• Ambient
• Ambient drone
• Post-industrial
• Soundscape
• Abstract
• Epic
• Experimentalism
• Avant-garde
• Ambient techno
• World music
• Crossover
• Ethnotronica
• Avant-garde
• Experimentalism
• Tribal ambient

Comment: this 6-track issue is a mighty, highly fluttering ambient issue produced by Madagascar-rooted French musician Randriambololona Hery. More concretely, Ujjaya`s very broad yet subtle ambient and drone-blended soundscapes are mixed up with ethnic segments – Orient-singing and vowel echoes, didgeridoo-induced hypnosis and ethnic drum and gamelan-based incantations, and on the other side providing some mild techno vibes, bubbling electronic fabrics, spoken word snippets and adding some concrete music elements to the mix. Sometimes his music sounds more amusingly, sometimes more in an abstract way, the milieu is at times brighter, at times starkly desolate. It can be said, the artist has gathered the best elements from the aforementioned genres to create his own idiosyncratic result. By the way, the album  was played for a ballet made by Vanessa Villain, called Subliminal, telling how the man exploit the Earth and how in return nature take her revenge. Mandatory.  

Perry Ferya Band - Mantra (2014)

Clinical Archives

• Big beat
• Darkwave
• Neoclassical
• Improvised music
• Alternative dance
• Musique concrète
• Experimentalism
• Avant-garde
• Art music
• Kosmische Musik

Outstanding tracks:

Olympus Mons

Space

Live on Mars

Kontora Kooka - Jazz Virus (2012)

Clinical Archives

• Art punk
• Avant-rock
• Jazz punk
• Experimental rock
• Post-punk
• Free jazz
• Surrealistic pop
• Dance rock
• No wave
• Crossover

Outstanding tracks:
Discrepancy (Несовпадение)
When jestyurnaki goes down from mountains (Когда жестырнаки спускаются с гор)

This Co. - More (2013)

 

Clinical Archives

This Co.

 

9.1

/Synth rock, Space rock, Post-punk, Electro-rock, Dance rock, Indie dance, Alternative rock/

Comment: indeed, the title of this Santiago, Chile-based quartet brings impressively forth the nature of their music though a little bit bent but exact way. It comprises the elements of slamming post-punk drums and bold bass chords, exuberantly evolving electro/synth rock dashes and even epically booming feedback noise walls (Shout! is the best issue over there). In true, dance-appealed vibes are there everywhere. All in all, their music is minx and saucy yet convincing. By the way, they are considered to be a fascinating live group. And by listening to their sophomore album you can get hint at  it. There can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Zodiac, Motorama, Tallinn Daggers, The Cure, Joy Division.

Kontora Kooka - Check (2013)

Clinical Archives

9.7

/Art punk, Post-punk, No Wave, Avant-rock, Dada music, Experimentalism, Avant-punk/

Comment: Kontora Kooka`s 6-piece issue is a thoroughly experimental punk/No Wave album  involving lots of dadaistic slivers, brooding ambiances, outrè song arrangements, obscure lyrics being obviously influenced by such groups as Akvarium, and Einstürzende Neubauten (especially Vladimir Elizarov`s singing manner and accents resemble Blixa Bargeld within it). The duo`s music is exorcized and profound made up of lofty noises, dizzy electronic impulses and outbursts, hypnotic measured drumming and viable acoustic strings behind it. One of the highlights in 2013 so far.

Vassily K. - ego & e-round (2013)

Clinical Archives

8.8

/Electro-acoustic, Experimentalism, Improvised music, Avant-garde, Psychedelic/ 

Comment: despite the exploitation of a wide array of instruments on this 10-track issue the main intention is closely related to electro-acoustic proceedings which at times do give a signal about more folk-tinged, psychedelic terrains, and accentuated improvised music. The most wondrous moments are related to syllable-centric and vowel experiments and incisive electronic undercurrents providing lofty counterparts to rough sonic girders, at round 9, and round 8, respectively.

Red Cosmos - There And Back (2012/2013)

Clinical Archives

Bandcamp

Lastfm

• Avant-pop
• Experimental indie
• Americana
• Art pop
• Dream pop
• Chamber pop
• Post-pop
• Leftfield
• Dark pop
• Singer-songwriter
• Indietronica
• Weird pop
• Experimental pop
• Alternative
• Baroque pop

Miche - Along Yurikamome (2012)

Clinical Archives

• Ambient
• Glitchtronica
• Modern classical
• Organic electronica
• Soundscapes
• Experimental electronica

Perry Ferya Band - Live on Venus (2012)

Clinical Archives

9.4

/Krautrock, Space rock, Psychedelic rock, Avant-rock, Improvised music, Psych-rock, Experimental rock, Live session/

Comment: of course, it is not the first time by a seminal avant-garde records, Clinical Archives, to issue dizzy krautrock-ish and hazy space rock propulsions under its imprint. You can remember for such amazing acts as Children Of Ishizuke Tree, Joxfield ProjeX, Melting Clouds, Yoko Absorbing, Magical Unicellular Music, Skala Collective (a marginal project of SC`s musicians). This 39-minute set is a session at a stage involving different sections and plays of variegated intensities full of glacial synths, sultry guitars, reshuffled drums thereby conjuring up psychedelic dust strips and stripes. Stunning.

Weinberger - Inconvenience (2012)

Clinical Archives
Soundcloud

9.4

/Drone, Electro-acoustic, Non-music, Avant-industrial, Psycho-acoustic, Experimentalism, Spoken word, Noise/

Comment: Johannes Leo Weinberger says that his album is a collection of electroacoustic noise poems, which are musical translations of mental processes. Indeed, it is an exhausting insight into the human mind, however, wherein the listener can detect lots of irrational tendencies and appearances. If you have grown up by listening to the likes of an early Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA, Throbbing Gristle, and Einstürzende Neubauten then you have experienced similarly anguished feelings before it again and again. This 10-piece issue has been managed in a way to be utterly frantic, deranged, weird, and a little bit frightening. It is a bunch of gray-coloured soundscapes which are pronounced with spoken word arrangements, incisive whistles and intense drones, and more or less amplified backdrops here and there. Inspite of being a multi-faceted one the whole succeeds in to be a well-defined realm with clear-cut vectors and impulses. However, some bellicose states of mind coming out from within it warn us that the future may not be ours.

Viktar Siamashka - h.M (2012)

Clinical Archives

8.8

/Improvised music, Experimentalism, Avant-garde, Electro-acoustic/

Comment: Viktar Siamashka`s 6-piece album is recorded somewhere in the abandoned industrial buildings in Minsk, Belarus. By the conceptual  side it seems to be a quite intriguing outlet due to mixing up acoustic woodwind instruments (flutes, clarinets) with bleak echoes and dystopian feelings coming out from within those rooms with massive walls. Substantially according to such a technical approach of music it is generally restricted with the compositional linearity where the questing chords are swiftly followed up by each other backed up by organic noises coming out of the streets. Now and the the border lines and intention between the mentioned parts get blurred resulting in melting into each other at ease. All in all, it is an exciting issue mandatory for all those melomans who avidly do sympathize with the ideas of improvised music.