Swain – The Single (2004)

Imaginary Albums

• Indietronica 
• Electronic music 
• Post-rock 
• Experimental pop 
• Alternative 
• Lo-fi 
• DIY 
• Art pop 
• Indie

Comment: this batch of 12 tracks came out under such imprint as Imaginary Albums in 2004 which had been releasing the records in the 00s being a dwelling place for DIY and lo-fi music. It embraced such artists as The Harvey Girls, Santa Inferno, Hubre, Procrustes, Tiny Creatures, C.J Pizarro among others. The Swain's issue which was the first nod in the discography of the label is multifaceted due to disparate dodges though the main base of it is delineated as electronic with intention to create an indie tinged stuff. From littery electronic shuffling to more laid-back and thoughtful glimpses with steady electronic layers and blissful glockenspiel induced chord leads which frequently remind of Tortoise, for example. Indeed, the listener can hear jazzy undercurrents regarding those rambling and clattering drums here and there (the best example is Synapsis). Indeed, the construction of some tracks is progressive and artsy with stepwise yet artistically overcoming effects ultimately. Fine stuff.

The Harvey Girls – The Harvey Girls (2005)

Imaginary Albums

• Indie pop/rock 
• Art pop 
• Alternative pop/rock 
• Jangle pop 
• Experimental pop

Comment: The Harvey Girls` 9-notch outing can be considered a classic indie pop album where jangly guitar-based templates are mixed up with synthesised effects and with some electronic music around it. However, recent understanding of indie music is already changed because the synthesisers have conquered the scene and mostly the result used to be quite cold and making no difference. There is no naivety, there is no belief for better future. Frequently all is changed into a repellent electronic gross. Do you like such combos as Kasabian, and 1975? I do not like them. Do you like Primal Scream in the year of 2016 and 2017? I do not like it. However, Primal Scream`s Vanishing Point (1997, Creation) is one of the best albums throughout the time. The album starts off with Green Light, the first chords of it remind of Pulp`s Do You Remember The First Time. I like if guitars and synths are balanced on a release or the artists trying to avoid lame synthesised sounds (for instance, The Smiths` album Queen Is Dead, and Strangeways Here We Come, and Blur`s Blur, and Mercury Rev`s Light In You, and Animal Collective`s first five albums, and Sufjan Steven`s albums are great ones with regard to it). The point of mine is also related to the belief that sonic effect based approach cannot replace solid songwriting. The Harvey Girls succeeds doing it. The album embraces catchy melodies and experiments due to song structures and sounds. It is filled with hirsute noises and gentle jingle-jangling sounds, with expressive and restrained moods. Furthermore, I could not resist singing in unison by female and male voices. All is craftily balanced on the album being released under Imaginary Albums.

C.J. Pizarro – Snow Crabs (2004)

Imaginary Albums

• Electronic pop 
• Comedy 
• Urban music 
• Hip-hop 
• Rap 
• Indie pop

Comment: it happened quite recently when I discovered such a label as Imaginary Albums which in fact had been in action in the first half of the 00s. The roster of the imprint involves such artists as Corpus Callosum, The History and Civilization of the Great Black Swamp, Laura Palmer, Hubre, Procrustes, Blasting Trout Overbite, Cookie Jar, Santa Inferno, The Harvey Girls, Swain, Tiny Creatures (the artist also being known from the roster of the Israeli imprint Birdsong. Thanks to it I discovered Imaginary Albums), and C.J Pizarro. The two first tracks (Dark Black Semen, Going To Die) apparently mock the violent gangsta rap philosophy and culture gravitating towards sex, guns, and dope. Of course, the rest of the tracks (or at least the most of them) have been managed to focus on these themes but they abandon the apparent stereotypical approach though carrying on a tongue-in-cheek advance and involving black humour (for instance, at Look! I'm an Angel!). Frequently comedy aspects are intermingled with experimental pop elements. For instance, at Alpacas R Us the artist exploits repulsively desperate vowel effects and chants and a battle of sonic effects being counterpointed by sublime a cappella  and soulful singing here and there, However, there are up some tracks which used to distance from rap/hip-hop music. For instance, the final track Heaven and Milk running in the vein of artsy indie pop by employing sliding sonic effects and twanging guitars and exuberant singing.

[Artistid] Tiny Creatures

Tiny Creatures
Birdsong
Imaginary Albums