Tiago Morais Morgado -- Music For Motion Picture (2024)

MiMi

• Contemporary classical
• Art music
• Minimalism
• Conceptual
• Orc music

Sellel 8-loolisel taiesel on kuus lugu komponeeritud keelpillinelikule ja kaks sooloviiulile. Nagu ühes targas raamatus --parafraseerides -- öeldi, et muusikastiilide kirjelduslik kategoriseerimine on alati suhteline ja kontekstuaalne, sest žanrite tunnusjoonte lakkamatu muut(u)mine ei luba stiilidele püsivat identiteeti omistada. Ehk siin siiski saab, kuivõrd samasse kategooriasse kuuluvad instrumendid paratamatult genereerivad sarnaseid tämbreid ning kõlaloogikat; teisalt märksa intrigeerivam on taotlus filmi helindiks vormimisele -- milles kuiv, esmakuulamisel isegi igav ent obsessiivse käiamisega seda ületav helikeel annab tervikule kummastava dünaamika. Tõepoolest, kohati tugevalt krigiseb ja on kriipivalt kuiv - kui masina värgi osised täidetud peenest kõrbeliivast. Sellele vaatamata (või vastupidi - tänu sellele!) on täheldatav nii sisuline avardumine kui arenemine, milles segunevad omavahel ülevus ja norutunne.

Oculoss – Parallel Path (2018)

MiMi
Bandcamp

• Post-rock
• Avant-rock
• Experimental rock
• Ambient
• Minimalism
• Ambient drone
• Cowbell indie
• Ambient rock

There have been talks about the goodness and badness of recent musicianship in comparison to previous decades. In some sense, it is nonsensical because like the historical events the releases should be evaluated after decades to get a hint at their goodness. I am now very convinced that Slowdive's Pygmalion, Stereolab's Dots And Loops and Broadcast's Noise Made By People are superb issues, for instance. On the other side, this can be said only about few albums within Britpop. Of course, good music can be found today as well, though in underground circles only. Most mainstream acts most of them have who have loaned from the underground scenes have seriously failed because they are settled down in a huge distance from ideal pop (given that it must be the ultimate goal within the pop scene). Because of that, paradoxically, many old experimental albums used to sound more poppy than nowadays acts due to have put more catchiness in a song. MiMi Records represents something very special in the embodiment of Oculoss' 5-notch outing. It starts off with a loopy, minimalism-driven ambient track, scene 1221 to go on with more guitar-based sounds. It is silent and immersive and iterative yet enough mind-provoking on the other side to think of it supposedly a weird guitar technique must have been behind. As if modern classically presumed floating watery chords instead of the piano ones. Someone may call it post-rock, maybe cowbell indie. As if Lubomir Melnyk was sat down in front of electric guitar to implement his subtle touch instead of the keyboard. In a word, minimalism/rock/ambient come together to provide an amazing crossover album with a vibration. Pure bliss.

Toupe Mapeto – Unreleased Work Collection 1 (2018)

MiMi

Archive.org

• Breakcore 
• Electronic music 
• Rhythmic noise 
• Digital hardcore 
• Breakbeat 
• Power electronics 
• Avant-garde 
• Post-industrial 
• Industrial techno 
• IDM 
• Sampedelic

Comment: THAGKIA aka Toupe Mapeto cannot be considered a classical representative of the so-called Japanese noise movement because those harsh peaky sounds are just a mere element in the artist`s sound. It may be more clearly said Toupe Mapeto is just (a bit) influenced by it. Of course, it is intense and mind-provoking yet it is more based on more clear-cut yet powerful rhythms full of bass frequencies, cut-up rhythmic patterns and occult noises. Yeah, the description may be a main theme though it is surrounded by a thousands of dodges, electronic effects, collisions and “erroneous” sounds. Unreleased Work Collection 1 as one part of the digital hardcore and breakcore movement is certainly a propulsive power within the so-called acceleration philosophy, having the anti-capitalist intention. As you can hear from this set of 14 tracks many of them involve magnified poppy inclinations (mostly towards IDM shuffling) yet being surrounded by nihilistic sonic trash, slightly out-of-context samples, destructive impulses and broken orbit below them. All the “beautiful” is contradicted by some “ugly” simultaneously. For instance, 00253 is even highly psychedelic due to the main catchy repetition. At 00260 you it can be heard broken and then pushed together tectonic rhythmic debris being embellished by the atmospheric upper layer. These fabulous 61 minutes are released on MiMi Records. Let's wait for a sequel to it.

Royalt – Just Because (2015)

MiMi

• Electronic music 
• Electro pop 
• Tech-electro 
• Alternative dance 
• Techno pop 
• Poptronica 
• Chilltronica 
• Mood music 
• Breaks 
• Tech-house

Comment: behind this project is Paulo Brito, the Coimbra, Portugal-based musician being active since 2008. Although his 6-notch issue is only as long as a 16-minute he provides enough much for one to get satisfied. I would like to tag his music as an example of post-disco though it is certainly a contemporary one. However, this could be the easiest and most superficial way to approach it. Indeed, it is about broken beats and suggestive melodic lines and catchy harmonies with the intention to entertain you in different ways. On the other side, in some pieces one could discern darker and specifically club oriented rhythms (at Care), which is a little bit more than the term “post-disco” is intended to embrace. Thirdly, some influences in his music come from an era of electronic music harking back earlier than the 1980s used to be (more profoundly, hints at Kraftwerk`s legacy). So here it is your turn to decide either he is on the way or manages to deviate this way partly. In general, one can perceive that Brito tries to manage a fine balance between the moody and entertaining side and the more technical approach in music. Ultimately it can be said he succeeded fairly in doing that.

Koji Maruyama – Comune (2016)

MiMi

• Modern classical 
• Minimalism 
• Post-classical 
• Art music 
• Piano music 
• Improvised music

Comment: it happened about one year ago when I reviewed the Japanese musican Koji Maruyama`s issue Isos being released on Totokoko imprint in 2015 where I got acquainted with his exquisite modern classical music. In those days the artist commingled the genre with concrete sounds, however, in general his brand new one is without organic sounds (the only exception is Venice). In spite of it, this 5-notch issue is a wondrous one where Maruyama searches for balance between free flow and more determined compositions. For instance, Venice, and op. 344 are lovely piano music based improvisations, on the other side, Aoi Hasu, which can be considered the central composition due to its length and emphasis is a remarkably more minimalism oriented pace, which is based on vowel bits to be teetered between the stereo channels and suggestive iterations and subtle droning atop. Inside the track it gets switchbacked again and again in a  magnificent mode. Uzume is a very short yet the funniest whistling on the release with occasional orchestrations. Indeed, due to it the track does have inner impetus to evolve into a full-fledged one. In a word, it is a cute issue in the discography of MiMi Records.   

Stabilo – Sleep Deeply (2015)

MiMi

• Ambient 
• Soundscape 
• Drone 
• Minimalism 
• Ambient drone 
• Epic 
• Sound art 
• Organic electronica

Comment: Yesterday in the evening I started to listen to this 4-track issue. I guess the title justifies and celebrates itself though it was too early then to fall asleep. Today I started to listen to it early in the morning and it sounded like a revelation. At Clematis one could hear organic and undulating electronic sounds to be mixed up together being especially suitable for an idyllic morning time. Despite it one could hear a pleasant tension between those multiple layers and effects. Maybe it is not even tension; maybe it is a burden of real layers and imaginative pictures, which follow to each other unceasingly. For instance, at Fossil all those sounds embark on from nowhere and then it slowly build up to culminate in the silence-drenched orchestration of microscopic drones and ambient hovers. One can imagine a (ghost) ship nearing to the bay and then suddenly disappear without any traces. Mysticism meets mundane. There is also one sonic element, which comes across all four compositions - frequently the layers seemed to be played at different speeds, you can enjoy enchanting phase shifts coming in and running out of the focus. In general, music is poignantly majestic and touchingly ennobling. The swathes of ambient music are saturated with droning glitches, electro-acoustic crackles, digitalized hums all those elements are perfectly, I mean seamlessly spliced and forged into the dignifying whole. What else would you like to get from within it? I guess you will feel fairly relaxed after you have listened to it. It might act upon like a simulacrum to hide a world being much up in flames in reality. It is a simply perfect experience, which could also be tagged as holophonic poetry, and subtle soundfields. Behind the project is the Japanese Yasutica Horibe. The issue is a part of the discography of MiMi Records.     

Rarareruri – Wet Pillow Syndrome (2015)

MiMi

Bandcamp

• Electronic pop
• Art pop
• Ambient pop
• Glitch pop
• Avant-pop
• Glo-fi
• Experimental pop
• Singer-songwriter

Comment: Eva Neves Pereira aka Rarareruri`s 15-track issue used to trudge across different pathways of contemporary pop music which is about to loan from everywhere – from rough underground to exquisite mainstream. However, there is no possibility to do it otherwise. It is quite impossible to invent new kind of sonic borders to operate within. There is no potency to do it due to physical and temporal constraints which wrap up our human life. However, Rarareuri is a poignant artist with her own touch which is extracted from glitched-out pop, IDM, freely played synths and loosely programmed rhythms. She is an artist who is searching relentlessly for balance between experimentation and pop format – for instance, let`s listen to I love everyone; I mean... Mankind, I love mankind and Could've, Should've, Would've (I Kinda Did) you could enjoy the pop ditties coming back from charts of the future. By kindred souls there can be drawn parallels with the likes of Grimes, Possimiste, Jayne Lakissova, Julia Holter, Iris, Kate Bush, Jane Siberry.

Table Music Meeting - Wild Flower Way/Echo Holiday (2009)

MiMi

/Indie folk, Folktronica, Art folk, Folk indie, Post-folk, Mood music, Drone folk/

Comment: Recent Music Heroes is back again at a notch of the roster of Mimi Records. This time the Japanese collective Table Music Meeting`s 2-track/single issue provides many associations and creates a fine frame of mind. Although the release is described as “electronica” at the Portuguese imprint`s site it is half true at least only. Mostly it is guitar driven folk-tinged music which frequently draws upon droning, however, being saturated with minute yet delicate electronic and free and easy glockenspiel-based fringes. Between these two components you could perceive much air to be flitting around in thereby furnishing the exertion with the organic slide. By its intention the outing could be tagged as “chill out (chill folk?)” music because it calms down the listener providing him/her a virtuous buffer against daily problems he/she encounters. Additionally I recommend to listen to the likes of Oto, Nick Rivera, Plusplus, Possimiste, 2muchachos, Junya Nishimura, Koji Maruyama.

Natant – Hyphenminus (2009)

MiMi

/IDM, Electronica, Breakcore, Musique concrète, Mood music, Modern classical, Crossover, Chilltronica/

Comment: this handful of tracks is composed of different stylistic aspects, however, sounding consequently like a suite for an art performance or puppet show in the art house or puppet theatre, respectively. For instance, Denentoshi has been spliced in the way to draw on rushed, angular beats which ultimately make up like an instance of breakbeat music, however, providing the backup for major piano chords. It might remind of Dave Keifer aka Cagey House`s aesthetic in a way. However, it the track does have a marked cinematic factor inside. The other tracks used to appear in more calm, laid-back mood allowing the listener to enjoy rainy Sunday morning. Anoxia involves a serene doo wop fuelled female vowel effect or ringing like the main theme from a soundtrack of the 60s/70s European motion movie (a la Caravelli, Paul Mauriat, Raymond Lefèvre and others). The title track takes on beeping synthesizer signals and coiling theme developments, however, creating enthralling, almost psychedelic contrast and feel of encompassing the whole. Ostsee crosses the sample of passing cars with light-hearted piano chords and snappy rhythms beneath. It is a great album by any means. 

Boiar – MiMinhos (2009)

MiMi

Archive.org

/Minimal dub, Avant-garde, Crossover, Ambient dub, Techno, Experimental electronica, Noise, Electro-acoustic/

Comment: Boiar`s 6-track issue is an interesting album of diverse tendencies and intentions. At times the listener can enjoy airtight dub oscillations (Carinho com Vinho and Delicadeza a sua Alteza are the most clear-cut instances), sometimes more electro-acoustic explorations do appear. Many tracks are spiced up by overdriven acute electronic snaps. What is more, Primor no Amor is a rank crossover composition which starts off with poignant electro-acoustic developments to progress into a topsy-turvy mix of electronic noises and techno rhythms. Regalo de Estalo is another smorgasbord which embraces experiments with pitched-up and pitched-down electronic bits, hirsute white noise and glitched-out electronics and even some lustful synth pop gears and classical music glimpses. The issue involves a loads of shadowy sonic elements which might be discovered only after many listening times. Other tracks are also up to prove the artist`s bias to create fast-changing compositions with thought-provoking debris. In a nutshell, although the release contains musical elements of various kind these elements do stick together and demonstrate the artist`s ability for viable sonic synthesis.               

Enleio - The Shape Of Things To Come (2013)

MiMi

• Electronic pop
• Autotune
• Indietronica
• Alternative
• Psychedelic
• Neoclassical
• Crossover
• Art pop
• Darkwave
• Leftfield

Outstanding tracks:

The Shape of Things to Come

Sleepless 

Wrong Place

The Boys Age - Coo (2013)

MiMi

Bandcamp

• Indie pop
• Alternative pop
• J-pop
• Dream pop
• Glo-rock
• Chamber pop

Outstanding tracks:

Coo

Petal Shower

Kasahara Shunichi - Tender Is The Night (2013)

MiMi

MiMi

• Indietronica
• IDM
• Glitchtronica
• Ambient pop
• Experimental electronica
• Ambient techno
• Post-pop

Outstanding tracks:

Little Miss Material

The Night Before

Crux

Down by the Seaside

Warm Tape

Lonesome Panda Society - Ending And Beginning (2013)

Mimi

9.3

/Indie pop, Alternative pop, Indietronica, Soul/

Comment: these 4 pieces convey dreamy, longing guitar music following the best traditions of emotional guitar strumming and fingerpicking and the singer`s stately voice and articulation  spiced up with slight soul vibes and electronics-tinged rhythms. Some critics call such sort of sound as "indie renaissance".   

Xastre - Elements (2006)

MiMi

• Ambient
• Electro-acoustic
• Minimal
• Modern classical
• Ethereal pop

Gobi Bear - LP EP (2012)

MiMi

Lastfm

8.8

/Indie pop, Indie folk, Folk indie, Singer-songwriter, Alt-folk/

Comment: the Portugese artist Diogo aka Gobi Bear presents a 12-track issue which is made up of intimate folk and bucolic indie fingerpicking beyond it is laid charming singing manner and some melodica-alike ornaments in some tracks. All these songs are short-running snippets ending up approximately at 20 minutes in total. It is a lovely track which is appreciated for its own sake. 

Dronjo kept by 4 - Delta (2011)

MiMi

9.2

/Alternative pop/rock, Shoegaze, J-pop, Funk rock, Fuzz rock/

Comment: Hi, lads and guys! Believe me Jun Usuda`s own musical outlook rocks you out and off, pulls you in and pushes you out. Catchy, chiming guitar gears and hooks are up here to be synchronized with suggestive vocal appearances. All those 11 tracks are powerfully galvanized, more concretely, in a mix of the Western and Japanese guitar music tradition. Stove and Snow, and Sunset Children are convincing hints toward more dance-appealed (funk) rock music. In a nutshell, for fans of J-pop, Talking Heads, Flipper`s Guitar, Yo La Tengo, Cosmicdust, Isn`t Anything-era My Bloody Valentine.

[Artistid] Birds are Indie

Birds are Indie
MiMi Records
Bandcamp
Myspace
Lastfm

Birds are Indie Love Birds, Hate Pollen EP (MiMi)

Küsimust - mida kehastab Portugali paarikese 5-looline debüütreliis? - saadab lihtne vastus - minimaalsete vahenditega saavutatud maksimaalne tulemus. Minimaalsus ilmneb akustilise kitarri akordide kasinuses ning naturalistlikus kõlapildis (kuhu on ka sämplitud loodushelisid), teisalt vokaal - mees- ja naisvokaal vaheldumisi - miilab ning lõkendab värviküllasuses, olles albumi toestikuks. Meenuvad nii Stereolab (Laetitia Sadier) kui Tinyfolk (Meghan Lamb), samuti Homeland`i tasane singer-songwriterlus. Selged kalded põhisuunast ehk naturalistlikust alt-folk`ist - nimilugu veiderdab kummaliste brassisaundidega ning lõpuloo One Day teine pool on paavoharjulik digifolk - nagu brassid, nii ka digisaundid on arhailise päritoluga, milles koguni kangastuvad USA lõunaosariikide 20ndate ruraalsed helid.

Kuula albumit siit

8.8