KVLTIK – OKEAN (2012)

ODDOT

Lastfm

/Witch house, Drag house, Newbreed, Dark wave, Synthwave/

Comment: in fact, it is quite puzzling to add something original by describing this 5-track issue. The issue comes out of the era when chillwave music showed signs of withdrawal and instead the witch house/drag house scene was blossoming and spreading its seeds worldwide. The best thing related to the genre was the artists were not ashamed of themselves to cross different genres ranging from abstract electronica and noise to post-punk and shoegaze related elements. Murky synthesised progressions, sinister rhythmic patterns beneath and uncanny Unicode symbol filled titles and names arouse something otherworldly and alien. The movement instigated to cook up weirdly sounding tags and stylisations. KVLTIK is a Russian-based artist whose issue involves emotively nostalgic, even contemplative moments in addition to more aggressive synthesizer induced ebbs and flows. In a word, it could be an example of contemporary house music for contemporary shamans and sensitives. It is fairly decent in its wickedness. The outing is a part of Oddot, the witch house outlet for many artists.

Para Contra - ..Offered With Many Apologies EP (2008)

Rack And Ruin

Lastfm

/Improvised music, Art rock, Alternative pop, Free jazz, Indie rock, Musique concrète, Progressive rock, Electro-acoustic, Avant-rock, Lo-fi, Psych-rock, Space rock, DIY/

Comment: actually the title of this 7-track issue is misleading in multiple ways – firstly it is categorized as an EP though it involves music with a length of 53 minutes. Secondly, the title`s intention seems to provide self-indulgence about the music though by listening to it I can assume it is a very uncompromising issue at abandoning stylistic borders by Ontario, Canada-based trio Para Contra. Of course, it is possible that Alex, Brad and Jake think of quite inferior sound quality represented over there. However, it does not matter and actually adds some charm to the pot. Furthermore, their music is being a part of Rack And Ruin Records whose goal was to pick up home recorded music. The trio`s music is at times full-fledged to extend to the space, at times it is nervously brooding searching for backdoor to leave behind shortages in mind. At times provokingly primitive, at times showing up more sophisticated compositions through psychedelic progressions, artsy progressive rock-alike piano taps and even adding some field recorded sounds to the blend. There is even up one immersive jazz inclined composition called Para Jazz which now and then resembles Sun Ra, the huge mystic in the pop culture. One seems to be true – these guys probably have enjoyed their sessions altogether. Ultimately I could acknowledge that the issue used to grow up on me.

Cemetery Cemetery – Cemetery Cemetery

Lastfm

/Fuzz pop, Indie pop, Jangle pop, Dream pop, Shoegaze, Lo-fi, Alternative pop/

Comment: the first experience of mine with Santa Barbara, California, US-based quartet was being at the end of the 00s while I was avidly discovering the netaudio-based music (mostly at lastfm and later through Archive.org). Probably I came into contact with them thanks to the Borrowdeer Records related compilation which involves many artists representing diverse attitudes and persuasions (mostly alternative folk, free folk and electronic/indie fuelled starting points). The collective has been active in the first half of the 00s and this short-running, 7-tracks issue was issued in the meantime then (I was not able to find out the exact year of it). However, musically it is a charming chapter due to Tim Meyer`s soft vocal delivery and jangly guitar chords with DIY attitude which quite much resemble the aesthetics and opinions of artists related to Slumberland Records, an imprint from the same state, for instance. The release embraces catchy songs (for instance, I`ll See Your Key where Tim Meyer`s dreamy vocal is backed up by slightly murky keyboard chords and uplifting refrain; Thousands And Thousands involves many fab dodges and twists on the harmony and melody level due to sparkly guitar work, Meyer`s daydreamy vocal flow and slight keyboard vamp). Thanks to the issue I can rediscover myself to be an ardent classic indie pop fan. Ina word, it is a great and rare issue indeed.

The Death Sound - TDS: Year One (2008)

OFF/BRUMA

Lastfm

/Avant-garde, Noise, Experimentalism, Live recording, Spoken word, Psycho-acoustic, Electronic, Industrial, Leftfield/

Comment: I don`t know does deserve the project of Matt and Alex its name or not but music outstretched at a course of 77 minutes is fairly startling because pushing forward an avant-garde concept. However, the issue embraces some live recordings which are obviously less important and more confusing and quite tedious parts on it (for instance, The Birthday Party coming out of a length of 33 minutes). Otherwise, there are up plenty of incisive and thought-provoking electronic progressions being obviously influenced by the tradition of old school industrial music (Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Big City Orchestra, Clock DVA). It includes off-kilter spoken recitations, ominously throbbing dance rhythms or more insolent and louder clanging, reverb-heavy steely rains, wobbling electronic wisps, squelchy synth progressions being interwoven with some spoken samples from having-no-idea-wherefrom. Those different rhythmic formations used to reflect upon different mental and spiritual states. At times the artist`s appearance can be highly immersive (for instance, Psychic Wave - Crest 2) or weirdly light-hearted while rejecting law of gravitation (For instance, The Zac Cunningham Throwing Up in His Bedsheets Memorial Benediction), a times presenting the lunatic´s lullaby songs (No Waking). The project reaches its goal by providing oppressive milieu to be coated over the listener`s mind. In a word, you must hear it. It rewards close listening for sure.

CementO - No Man’s Land (2014)

Wavelike

Lastfm

/Techno, Acid techno, Free tekno, Rave music, Club music/

Comment: CementO`s 4-track issue is based on rave music modifications though providing a more organic, slightly darker approach. On the other side, the listener can discern some hypnotic, even somewhat buried upheavals coming out of the tradition of Detroit techno and electro scene. Moreover, I assume the tension between some cheesy sonic bits and more glowering and gloomy rhythmic structures used to create the welcoming output. In a word, it is a worthy listening.        

Gotikplage - We Are Synonymous With Sin (2008)

Lastfm

/Experimental metal, Ambient, Screamo, Progressive metal, Psychedelic/

Comment: Gotikplage was the first nom de plume of Nic Ross, an artist from Whitehouse, Ohio, USA who headed a fine netlabel called Modicum Of Silence which was an outlet for different artists from Whitehouse-environing/Ohio area. Mostly there were up artists who played innovative electronica, folk and rock fuelled music (Telemetrics, Chad Foltz, Kevin McCraney, Tree No Leaves, Abstressionist etc). Maybe the most well-known artist was Brothertiger, who gained enough success at the pinnacle of chillwave/glo-fi/hypnagogic hype. However, this 8-track issue was released when Nic Ross was only 16-year old. We Are Synonymous With Sin is the tight blend of progressive metal, screamo and ambient music elements being accentuated with boldly psychedelic organ sounds and concrete music whiffs at times. Of course, those slowly progressing spaced-out soundscapes are spellbinding ones. At times the listener can feel as if there is raucous screaming balanced with airy sonic pads. All these tendencies would forebode the forthcoming aesthetics of Our Subatomic Earth, Ross` next one-man-project. Yet, Gotikplage`s oeuvre was remarkably more concise because the compositions are particularly short-running, for instance, reaching the mark of 2 minute only on one occasion at here. In a nutshell, these 10 minutes and 40 seconds are thoroughly striking.

The Tinopener's Art - Pure Elektronik Part 1 (2012)

The Tinopener`s Art

Lastfm

/Robot pop, Remix, Experimental electronica, Tekno, Trance, Alternative dance, Electro pop, Leftfield, Mood music/

Comment: Tinopener`s Art is a musical project from Munich, Bavaria, Germany whose issue is a sort where electronic sonic art meets emotive odds and ends. It embarks on with a habit-forming electro pop song where robot dance and sing at the same time. Later on, Nanomaster evolves into a more trance-y territory with catchy rhythms and slightly dreamy synth crust atop. Actually the expression “German trance” was a pejorative one for 15-20 years ago but the recent one clearly deviates from it. LuckeEnHouse`s trance mix is a more straightforward yet self-ironic composition due to bouncy cadences and diverting cheers with regard to the previous track. Later tracks represented on the 6-notch issue are quite similar though variegating in mood and rhythmic nuances, however, conveying a plentiful back-up of spacey sounds throughout the course. Grab it!

Nachtzug – Compression (2011)

Initial Gain

Lastfm

/Electro pop, Alternative dance, Robot pop, Downtempo/

Comment: this 7-track issue is something truly special which even might need some listening times to become apparent. Gritty analogue synth basses and rhythmic structures flicker and dither beneath synthesizers-induced explorations of creating great harmonic and melodic synapses at times (at Attic, more apparently). Nachtzug does mean the nightly train in German but the music laid down in front of our ears is also very suitable for listening in daytime (the duo comes out of Berlin, indeed). By ideological standpoint the release might chime like a modern update of Kraftwerk. By the way, Compression is only one part of the trilogy (the other parts are Tension, and Fatigue). Top classic notch.

Golgotha Communications Ltd. - Helen McPhee (Galgen 2B) (2012)

Sirona-Records

Lastfm

/Experimentalism, Lobit, Musique concréte, Non-music, Acousmatic music, Post-industrial, Avant-garde, Microtonal, Minimalism, Microsound, Abstract/

Comment: Golgotha Communications Ltd. is a combo from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA who emerged within the webaudio world at the end of 00s. Since then on, they have issued a heap of issues under different imprints. Stylistically the project`s music explores the behaviour of sounds in the compartment of post-industrial music. This issue consists of two compositions one of them is 16-minute long, another 4-minute long. It starts off from nowhere to progress into looped exhausted vocal samples and hazy frequencies around it emerging like a lobit example. Later on, a little will be changing throughout the course. A Night`s Rest is the turning point because some street sounds are organically added to the mix thereby establishing a more haunting ambiance around your cerebral focuses. The outing is a part of the discography of French electronic musician Arnaud Barbe (aka Pollux) led record label Sirona-Records. 

Go No Go For Launch – Re-Entry (2015)

Lastfm

Field Hymns

/Lo-fi, DIY, Synth fusion, Tape music, Electro-rock, Sampledelic, Mood music, Synth rock/

Comment: Bandcamp is an essential platform for many record labels worldwide, including many tape labels either. One of such imprints is US-based Field Hymns whose discography has reached already 60 bars. For instance, Millions` Line In The Sky is one of the most pre-eminent albums in 2015, a fascinating example of the interface between ambient, drone, electronics and post-rock. Randall Taylor aka Go No Go For Launch`s short-running issue was initially produced in 2006 but being officially unreleased so far. More concretely, with the appearance of wonky rhythms, shrill guitar chords and cheap fusion-styled synthesizers and funny samples (one of such is a sample taken from the MacGyver theme) it results in a pleasantly entertaining, self-ironic outing.            

K&K$ -2ci15 (2009)

Hamsterloco

Jamendo

Lastfm

/Sampledelic, Avant-garde, Hip-hop, Breaks, Leftfield, Improvised music/

Comment: this 4-track issue is a collaboration act between Kasero and Koulomek, the artists related to Hamsterloco, a Barcelona, Catalonia based record label. The whole is intriguing because all these sounds put down over here were created during an improvisational session in a few hours only. More concretely, it is saturated with spoken samples, skiddy rhythms, martial orchestrations and unexpected theme changes asi if coming out of nowhere. At times it chimes like a scowlingly appearing Flying Lotus. Interesting thing for sure.

Myll - Bland Siffror Och Troll I En Bil Utan Blinkers (2010)

No-Source
Lastfm

/Alternative pop, Indie pop, Baroque pop, Indietronica, DIY/

Comment: although this 10-piece album is produced in a simple way (if to perceive it at the first glimpse) the result is catchy and mind-blowing. Mostly acoustic guitar chords (or piano and electric guitar-led nexus otherwise) are accentuated with subtle electronic developments and enchanting woodwind whiffs. At times Myll reveals his capacity to bring forth thoroughly infectious harmonies and magic keys as if coming out from the barrel organ. At times the tracks chime like lullaby ditties replete with otherworldly magic and warm touch. The final track involves a very well-known theme interwoven into the guitar and electronic mixed background. By kindred souls it can be compared with paavoharju, Beirut and his label mates from No Source. Myll is the solo project by the Swedish musician Edvin Lindström.       

The Silence Industry - Brother Sing, Sister Shout (And Other Conspiracies) (2014)

Enough

Free Music Archive

Jamendo

Archive.org

Bandcamp

Lastfm

/Cold wave, Post-punk, Goth rock, Alternative rock, Space rock, Remixes, Psych-rock/

Comment: majestically thumping drum syncopation, reverb-heavy guitars and cloudy vocal lines are there to constitute something special for those listeners who think gothic rock and post-punk should be crossed and drawn up in a spaced-out way. The thread which could be tagged as cold wave. Silence Industry is a combo from Canada the line-up of which is made up of Graham Jackson, Laura Mikulec, Josh Pearlman and Hyuma Frankowski. The combo has been related to such labels as Ekleipsi, afmusic, and enoughrecords over the almost 10 years. Their 7-piece issue depicts that silence can be entrancing and gruesome at the same time. Indeed, although all these tracks are produced to be quite lengthy it does not bother nevertheless. However, the only remix represented within the pack does not impose upon me (consisting merely of a maze of sonic effects – it is just annoying at its best). The album is finished off with the bonus track Beneath A Sinking Sky which deviates from the other pieces just using the strums of acoustic guitar (the only unplugged version on the album). By kindred souls I recommend listen to Lycia, an early Cocteau Twins, an early Dead Can Dance, The Chameleons. The issue is released on Enough Records, a prolific Portuguese label containing much music worth to be discovered.

Sr. Acaso – Sr. Acaso (2014)

Lastfm

/Alternative pop, Indie rock/

Comment: at first glance I perceived I was listening to an album sung in Portuguese. Actually it was not in this way, however, being quite close to the truth anyway. More concretely, Sr. Acaso is a combo from Galicia, an autonomous region nearby the border of Portugal in northwestern Spain and a linguistically quite affine language indeed. Musically it is a whole of a handful of tracks saturated with touching refrains, scintillating guitar noises and entrancing piano chords. Effervescent moments are varied with slower ones thus creating organic and dynamic feel laid over the top of ditties. It is beautiful music and definitely a part of the heritage of Galician culture.  

Dwoogie - Babble Off (2012)

Chinstrap

Lastfm

/Breakcore, Electro pop, Robot pop, Sampledelic, Dub, Psytrance, Alternative/

Comment: behind the nom de plume Dwoogie produces music Robin Gill who has made it for more than two decades so far. Babble Off consists of a row of breaks combined with hovering (or brooding conversely) synth sounds and production effects (less or more twisted vocal samples and scratches). More concretely, there are represented psychedelic trance beats and electro flickers, some of them used to sound quite laid back, some of them are full of vivid energy and unexpected bursts. There are also represented some hints at dub and robot pop music. In general, the album could be considered a part of sampledelic music being so popular today. The album is issued under Ergo Phizmiz`s record label Chinstrap. Eventually it can be said the result is balanced and varicoloured.     

The Mussy Gluves - Pelu Green Puns (2014)

Death Roots Syndicate

Bandcamp

Lastfm

/Avant-rock, Americana, Dada music, No Wave, Psychedelic rock, Avant-blues, Art rock, Noise rock, Experimental rock, Space rock, Leftfield/

Comment: in fact, it is hardly classifiable music on its own because the artist`s purpose is to deliberately contort possible initial sources and premises laid out to create this 12-track issue. However, if to listen to it you can hear some hints at Americana and roots music which in turn are crossed with provocative dadaist`s ethos. More concretely, those layers are injected with uncanny flickers and, acute electronic bursts and noisy interventions. Furthermore, the listener can perceive spaced-out and delta bluesy compositions as well, though, witnessing serious aesthetical “injuries” and errors within it. Frequently vocal layers are twisted in a way to create a perception of alternative belonging or disparate world colliding with each other. This album is strongly out of pop. Provoking yet enthralling made up by the duo Matt Heitman and Danny Barton from Missouri, USA. There can be drawn parallels upon such artists as Captain Beefheart, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Royal Trux, and The Residents. But  make no mistake the duo`s sound is highly idiosyncratic.                     

The Starry Tides - One Lit Window EP (2006)

Reverse Engine

FMA

Dave Merson Hess

Bandcamp

Lastfm

/Post-rock, Indietronica, Experimental rock, Mood music, Alternative rock, Art rock/

Comment:  The Starry Tides is the project of David Merson Hess who is also known as film music composer. It is a peculiar issue because of involving tracks being not longer than 3 minutes (the whole finishes off at 10.41). On the other side, it is a sort of post-rock music which tends to meander within many minutes from its starting point. Frequently guitar sounds are embellished with glitch electronic noises, vivid spoken samples (from the film scores?). By the way, the album is issued on his own record label Reverse Engine. In a word, the result is moody and revealing its abundant supply of fantasies.          

Summer Of Haze - Ω†Р∆ЖΣНИΣ З∆К∆†∆ 8 ΩКН∆Х СƱПΣРМ∆РКΣ†∆

Oddot

Lastfm

/Electronic pop, Sound collage, Vaporwave, Indie, Ambient pop, Sampledelic, Alternative/

Comment: these 8 tracks are quite easy to digest because of consisting of facile synth progressions, pastel-hued string chords (a la Ducktails or Real Estate) and slight (ambient) pop formats with some hints at field recording/sample based/sound collage music. However, on the other side, it includes a little bit more ominous elements (slowed-down bass lines and vocal layers), though in a lesser extent than the above mentioned elements. Furthermore, the tracks are quite short-running ones (approximately 2 minutes in length) conjuring the feeling of fragmented music. In a word, Summer Of Haze`s album is a decent part of the vaporwave scene.         

Ayane Fukumi - High-Octane Dancecore (2014)

Underground Core Collective

Lastfm

/Mash-up, Breakcore, Sampledelic, Plunderphonics, Remixes/

Comment: 18-year old Ayane Fukumi`s 22-track issue embraces mostly original tracks and some remixes and covers. Fukumi used to remix such juggernauts as Ludwig Van Beethoven, and Pink Floyd. However, by its approach the artist outlet reminds of a superficial and bulimic mash-up issue replete with a vast amount of dodges, well-known artist`s samples and trashy noises and “accidental” ding-dongs. The release is a part of the discography of Underground Core Collective, a relatively new record label from California, USA which appeared in 2014 for the first time.

The Easton Ellises – NightWavs (2014)

Enough

FMA

Jamendo

Lastfm

/Dance rock, Post-punk, Alternative dance, Electro-indie, Punk funk, Synth rock, Alternative pop/

Comment: The Easton Ellises is a Montrèal, Canada based duo of Alexandre Dionne (previously known as Stereomovers), and Simon Roy who have gained popularity with such issues as EP One, Black Love (single), and Dance It, Dance All, and EP Two. (mostly related to a Portugese record label, enoughrecords). Their music is an inseparable blend of electronic pop, synth pop, post-punk, post-disco, and alternative pop, though in general Dionne-Roy`s sound could be added to the compartment of the so-called post-punk revival music because most of the movement`s related bands used to blend exalted bubble gum-alike beats with catchy guitar hooks and emphatically arrogant singing. The recent issue comprises 4 tracks all of them reveal that arguments about the death of suggestive melodies and rhythms regarding the nowadays musical groups are just vain attempts. Because of having those elements represented throughout the issue their temporary bombasting approach turns into something appealing. Indeed, I do not bear any arguments against their aesthetics. It is pure enjoyment ready to penetrate into your inner world.