Toothless - EICV7" No. 108 (2015)

EverythingIsChemical

Bandcamp

Mediafire

/Experimental pop, Indietronica, Leftfield pop, Post-pop, Art pop, Post-rock/

Comment: this 3-track issue consists of dreamy female vocal deliveries, crunchy glitched-out bugs in the middle of mid-range rhythms, and pitched-up and down sonic segments, and psychedelically swirling sonic effects and slightly mystical synth meandering over the scope, however, constituting the organic whole altogether. First of all, if to compare Toothless with someone then the project`s music used to have some similarities with such sophisticated, avant-pop artists as Stereolab, Flunk, Pram, and Broadcast (especially its aesthetic reminds of the last named project). Hopefully such sort of music will be awarded in the mainstream charts sometime in the future. On the other side, maybe it is paradox that something which could be tagged as “ideal pop” will never reach this honour because it used to be ahead of its time and current people`s tastes. Let`s see – until then you can enjoy this bunch of excellent compositions.

Pizza Puppy – I Got Sunburned (2015)

Underground Core Collective

/Breakcore, Sampledelic, Electronic pop, Mash up, Breakbeat, Crossover/

Comment: by watching the cover prints of albums issued by US-based Underground Core Collective you can see obviously young musicians yearning toward their childhood and obsessions about certain things. About the Little Pony and pizza and burrito, about the sample-based and mash up culture, about the “cores” related to digital dance cadences and anime. Pizza Puppy`s 10-track issue is an organic blend of heavy bass thumping beneath and more light-hearted singing/rapping/chanting snippets. The artist is not ashamed of himself to merge slightly cheesy and “deep” elements together in a seamless way thereby fulfilling one of the pop formulas properly. Throughout the course you can perceive an incessant torrent of sounds and rhythms arriving and leaving and then returning again. More laid back spans are followed by remarkably more aggressive ones being represented even in particular compositions frequently. Let`s enjoy it. 

AbJo - The Art Of Dreaming (2010)

Mediafire

/Breaks, Alternative pop, Soul-hop, Electronica, Dream-hop, Trip-hop, Chilltronica, Piano music, Art music, Mood music/

Comment: San Diego-based producer AbJo`s issues can be dug out from Bandcamp – there are represented 16 ones. However, The Art Of Dreaming is an exception being outside the row. In any cases, The Art of Dreaming is an eminent issue where more or less fractured hip-hop and trip-hop breaks are adorned with subtle glockenspiel induced jingle-jangle, captivated synth loops, moderate sonic effects, dizzy harp drenched enchantment and intellectual play of art pop tendencies. Mandatory tones of soul music are also up there. Although the predominant milieu on it is sedative and soothing the signs of a good album cut through during the course of these 22 minutes. It almost sounds like the 00s instrumental equivalent to Radiohead`s OK Computer (1997). In true, some guitars are represented over there now and then. Moreover, AbJo did manipulate with such sonic elements and extended techniques which later would be reflected on the albums of Oneothrix Point Never. Check it out. 

We Are All Slaves - You Must Be Stuck Into Some Complications (2015)

Myhand. Thanx

/Avant-garde, Noise, Psycho-acoustic, Non-music, Experimentalism, Freeformfreakout/

Comment: my previous experiences with the discography of the French imprint Myhand.Thanx Records were being related to post-punk-ish yet vanguard sonic forms. However, it was great surprise of mine to find out something totally different. The Serbian Filip Stojiljkovic`s 6-track issue is a source at listening to it you must be stuck into complications. The outing starts off with an intense torrent of harsh noise which later will have dissolved into less straightforward yet even more provoking sonic experiments. FS channels his noise music into more complicated, signal-like appearances and even providing rhythmic threads. Additionally, you can listen to elliptic gurgling being interwoven with vowel layers thereby conjuring fucked-up sensations and frantic mental states. The aesthetic of coverprint of the EP is blurred in the way of reminding of the one by Keith Bowsza aka Minòy, the cultish US-based noisenik and artist (1951-2010) whose experiments with photography were laid down in a similar way. 

Alexico – Acosador de Media Noche (Episodio No. 2) (2011)

Belafonte Melodias

/Synth punk, Electronic, Lo-fi, Alternative dance, Singer-songwriter, Synth funk/

Comment: Alexico sounds literally nearly as close as Calexico, the Southern US-based Americana band with some Mexican music influences (the so-called Tex Mex genre). Although Alexico comes out of Monterrey, Mexico the artist`s soundscape is completely different exploring remarkably more chaotic and noisy sonic soundscapes. This bunch of 6 tracks is saturated with restless attitude where cheap synths are severely twisted and the general vibe of the EP is deliberately discontinuous and rhythms and moods are frequently skipped. Granted the guy behind the project is young at age the compositions are replete with angst, incisive shouts and spicy vocal choruses. The production is mainly blaring thereby coming quite close to the aesthetic of digital hardcore (though stylistically this notch makes difference) and being quite contrary to such nowadays analogue-based indie artists as Lee Noble, Ducktails, M Geddes Gengras, for instance. The artist`s apparent purpose is not to provide possibilities about coalescence at it because of ranging from infantile synth progressions to frantic punk outbursts to thought-provoking electronic experiments (based mainly on the vocal modulations) to more calmed down synth funk cadences. By the way, as it is mentioned afore the artist originates from Monterrey where dwells an interesting indie coterie gravitating towards Delhotel Records. In short, it is an interesting issue indeed. 

Luarvik Luarvik – Tabamata Ime (2002)

History of Misery

MKDK Records

/Synth rock, Progressive rock, Fusion, Improvised music, RIO, Avant-rock, Psychedelic, Art rock/

Comment: because of having no intentional pop pretensions (or having it in other, more inferior and hidden terms) Mihkel Kleis headed combo`s sophomoric issue is not a subject about the second and problematic album topic being so popular in discussions about pop albums throughout last decades. Although the line-up is a little bit changed with regard to the breath-taking debut album Baltic Station Sessions (2000) the musicians continue to solidify their fusion and prog-rock based metaphysics in terms of sounds. If to compare it to the debut album the issue involves more spiky, high-pitched synths and noisy, chunky guitar chord infused undercurrents here and there (making nods toward Canterbury-based prog/fusion groups of the 60s and 70s and dizzy electrically groovy albums by Miles Davis in the first half of the 70s and even to the Soviet period regatta pop and yacht rock groups). On the other side, emotively the result is similar due to an uncountable quantum of key changes, simultaneously surfacing theme explorations and chords from different channels and watery synth vamps interwoven with light-hearted drumming by Andres Lõo. Probably the most poppy notch is Ak due to careless shift and full-fledged easiness at its core. The first four tracks are recorded in the studio and the rest of three ones are takings from one musical event in 2001. By not much time passed after that Mihkel Kleis started off his more experimental and conceptually more ambiguous project EDASI and later made some solo albums (his recent music project is called Ratkiller). In any cases, Tabamata Ime constitutes a dynamic and organic chapter in the Estonian progressive and jazz rock history.              

Soy Robot - Sensibles y Binarios (2011)

Belafonte Melodias

mhs.delhotel

/Electro-indie, Alternative pop, Krautrock, Big beat, Indie pop, Garage rock/

Comment: Soy Robot is a one-man project from Monterrey, Mexico and it is a proper time to remember again this overtly underrated and obviously forgotten issue. More profoundly, it is a blend of shimmering synths, atmospheric guitars, dynamic rhythms, elegantly shuffled noises and Spanish sung vocals. Stylistically this 8-track but short-running issue ending at 15.26) does have its place somewhere within the electro-indie pigeonhole yet having some hints to elsewhere either (big beat propulsions at Me, garage rock infused guitars at El, neokrautrock induced motorik beats at Asi, and Hecho, hazy yet relaxing sonic vectors at Han). Additionally to stylistic diversity the listener can perceive much air oozing out of those sonic configurations thereby conveying the sense of freedom. Let´s dig it out. 

Ssaliva – All Downhill From Here (2012)

Mediafire

/Ambient, Chillwave, Mood music, Space music, New Age, Downtempo, Soundscape, Kosmische Musik/

Comment: the Belgian producer Ssaliva`s 13-track album involves blissful sketches at an average length of approximately 2 minutes. By genre it can be classified as ambient music with hints at chillwave, Kosmische Musik, New Age, and downtempo music. More profoundly, those otherworldly longing synthesised layers atop used to flicker and blossom in different directions being at times accompanied by bold rhythms, at times just bare repeated clicks and cuts, at times mettlesome synth-induced explorations. Although these compositions are simple by their nature the emotional content oozing from it is frequently thrilling. In a word, let`s listen to it.   

Kane West – Western Beats (2014)

Soundcloud

Mediafire

/Hip-hop, Electro, Game music, Urban music, Breaks, Nu disco, Rap/

Comment: Kane West is a hip-hop musician from London, Great Britain being a part of PC Music. The artist`s 7-track issue is a quite one dimensional issue based mostly on game music induced incisive rhythms which sounds in a quite primitive way. Of course, it does not mean at all the release is somehow inferior or simplistic. Vice versa, those sampled and surprisingly bursting sounds here and there are a part of danceable sequencing replete with electro and nowadays disco rhythms. In short, effect loaded sounds are tightly interwoven with solid programming and spiky rhythms and low bass undercurrents and soulful female singing and some harsher shrieks in the meantime. Enjoyable outing indeed.        

LFC & FCao – In Memorian (2012)

Mediafire

/Experimental rock, Improvised music, Dada music, Doom rock, Psychedelic, Noise rock, Avant-rock, Blues, Space rock/

Comment: these 24 minute minutes are saturated with blues drenched carcasses which in turn are embellished with knee-deep psychedelic organ solos and heavily down-tuned or tortured vocals (it is actually moaning on its own if to express it straightforwardly) and bold bass gears. On the other side, it can be considered a kind of jazz music played with the instrumentation of other styles. Thirdly, all this out-of-pop stuff spawned over there is obviously inspired by a provocative, dadaist weltanschauung. The project comes out of Brazil being a part of the asschoes blogspot (unfortunately it does not function anymore with the loss of many download links ). Superb shit indeed.   

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.

Moscow Club – Radio Vietnam EP (2012)

Bandcamp

/Indie pop, Chillwave, Glo-fi, Synth pop, Alternative pop, Poptronica/

Comment: it is always a great pleasure to arrive at a Japanese combo, Moscow Club`s music due to its serene sonorous cloud made up of exquisite synth progressions and volatile vocal progressions and sublime guitar chords. The title track is a more guitar oriented one with the poignant guitar gear, Sanatorium, however, sounds like a full-fledged synthesizer pop example with slightly autotuned, wadded singing as if coming out of the 80s. Enjoy it!           

Scouts of Uzbekistan ‎– The Scouts of Uzbekistan EP (2011)

Year Zero

Mediafire

/Avant-garde, Leftfield, Experimentalism, Space music, Neofolk, Avant-rock, Spoken word, Psychedelic rock/

Comment: one is very sure – it is not a pop release at all though there can be met some restrained moments juxtaposed to more hirsute and noisy bursts. More profoundly, this 4-track uncanny issue involves stylistically different sections extending from avant-rock and noise rock torrents to dreamy (neo)folk and hypnagogic spoken word centred insights. It might be easily these sounds come out of heads of the personnel of a space lab drifting along millions of miles away from the Earth. It is deep, it is charming, it is spaced-out, it is… . In spite of incisive sonic approach the listener can feel somewhat tongue-in-cheek feeling in these compositions (for instance, using the bluegrass based nexus in one composition). One of the songs used to depict the hell on its own. Eventually Mark Carolan and Nick d’Uzbekistan produced issue proves very expressively it is much more worth than most pop albums available right now around you. In a word, the gem and their record label Year Zero`s discography is fairly precise to be discovered right now. By kindred souls the can be drawn parallels upon the likes of The Hirundu, The Residents, Art Abscon(s), Death In June, for instance.                     

Killorgiveup – Winehoused EP (2011)

Bandcamp

/Electronic pop, Witch house, Alternative pop, Drag house, Poptronica/

Comment: although this EP contains 3 tracks all these ones will be channelized into one theme and form. Laura Vunk aka Spice Mouse`s vocal used to loom over slightly ominous progressions of tight synth mist and some adjacent sonic effects. Sometimes her singing is supported by the duo`s other part Felix Bondarev (also known from such groups as Red Samara Automobile Club, and Stones & Holes). Indeed, the release was issued in 2011 which was the heyday of drag house/witch house appearance and some (gentler) influences of it can be perceived on this issue either.    

Jared Lee Longer – We Don`t Know What We`re Doing (2011)

Mediafire

/Improvised music, Experimentalism, Garage rock, Primitivism, Avant-garde, Psych-rock/

Comment:  it is hinted at the ISHITNOISE site Jared Lee Longer is a noise-punk band based out of Southern Maine, USA. Their 8-track issue breaks out in different directions – from piano-driven improvised numbers and psychotic garage rock-driven undercurrents to deranged developments built up on intense rustles and rattles of hi-hats and cymbals.  However, the joint part of compositions is based on a loosely structured, even primitive approach and design letting doors very open for the listener to experience new challenging sonorous perceptions.

ki††y c▲t – Hold On (2011)

Mediafire

Lastfm

/Witch house, Witch wave, Trianglecore, Remix, Sampledelic, Drag house, Experimental electronica, Leftfield/

Comment: actually there is up quite little information about this artist but it is a one-man-project from Russia. Musically he is a proud representative of the so-called witch house/drag house movement. More profoundly, the style does mean crosses and triangles represented in artists` names, song and album titles. At times all of that is indecipherable or problematically discernible. Musically it is infiltrated with gloomy synth sounds similar to dark ambient profiles and semi-slamming, mid-tempo rhythms. Hold On is an outstanding issue thanks to catchy solutions in harmonies and in conveying majestic progressions over permanently changeable cadences. The album contains many “hit songs” (at least, having potential for it) – One Day Teapression, Take Me Away, Midnight Car, March of Not Very Dead, Try▲ngel. By the way, the album will be ended up by a remix of Try▲ngel. In a word, the result is a classy album worth to be remembered and listened.        

Recent Music Heroes Mixtape #11 (26.09.2014)

Mediafire

Andy`s Airport Of Love - Duquesne Incline (2009, Rack & Ruin; Actually, I Am Sasha Fierce)

Mr.Dean - Il Futurista Annegato (2009, Self-released; Il Grande)

Analogic Captive  - Intronoma (2014, CS Industrial 1982-2010; TYF (1996-1999)

Tan Dollar - Clams (2010, Beko DSL; Beko_cs01 (July 2010)

6SISS - Alaxsxaq (2014, Entity; In Pallid Nights)

Book Of Burrow - Pathless (2011, No-Source; Book Of Burrow)

Dadalù - Internet (Deaf Shout Remix) (2013, Michita Rex; Internet)

Tom Fahy - Cedar Row (1994, Auralnaut; Adytum)

This Lonely Crowd - Disguises 2014, Sinewave; Möbius And The Healing Process)

The Sound Down Cellar -  Leave Your Resume (2014, I Heart Noise; Boston Not LA Vol. 3)

Jenova 7 - Chasing Tomorrow (2013, Dusted Wax Kingdom; The Sounds Of Sector 7)

Bongley Dead – Demo "3" (2014)

Soundcloud

Mediafire

• Alternative pop
• Indie rock
• Dance rock

Comment: undoubtedly this 9-track issue is a nice listening session because of providing catchy hooks in guitar playing, dashing paces and joyous melodies on the top. Actually it is the first aspect regarding the Italian quartet`s music which seems to be influenced by the so-called easycore (pop punk) groups. The other aspect is remarkably gloomier and spectacularly nervous, however, reminiscent of Sonic Youth`s anguished guitar chords and Thurston Moore`s singing manner loaded with pre-millennium tension. In conclusion, despite the polarity of the aforementioned phenomena in a theoretical plan Bongley Dead is able to melt them seamlessly into each other. Last but not least- the favourite notch of mine is Razor which shows up a suggestive, dance-appealed gear in the middle of bruising guitars.      

Skeleton Zoo - Busride EP (2011)

Bandcamp

• Hip-hop
• Trip-hop
• Sampledelic
• Cinematic
• Breaks
• Mood music
• Nu jazz

Outstanding tracks:

Nelson Mandala

Devil`s Lettuce

Chocolate Elbow

White Elephant

Rainbow Road (28 Children Disperse)

Sun Devoured Earth/Wounder - Sound Devoured Earth/Wounder Split (2012)

Bandcamp

Mediafire

• Shoegaze
• Ambient rock
• Epic
• Darkwave
• Alternative rock
• Dream pop
• Darkgaze
• Post-rock
• Guitar ambient
• Space rock
• Ethereal wave

Outstanding tracks:

Reflection

Bright Days

Empathy

Things That Make Life Worth It

Flowers

End of My Days