Neuf Meuf – On Titled EP (2013)

No-Source

• Indietronica
• DIY 
• Post-rock 
• Art rock 
• Shoegaze 
• Electronic 
• Ambient rock 
• Plinkerpop 
• Lo-fi 
• Noise pop 
• Ambient

Neuf Meuf on sloveenlase Rok Vrbancic'i sooloprojekt ning "On Titled" (või siis "Ontitled" on üks meisterlikult rafineeritud EP, mis algab laisa lofiliku kitarriplõnnimisega – kuhugi kiiret ei näikse olevat –, aga teisest loost alates võtab artist ilmekalt jalad kõhu alt välja, filtreerides ämbienti elektroonikast ja kingapõrnitsemisest. Ka kitarridele keeratakse elektrit juurde ja trummeldamine varieerub esiplaanil olemise ja varjule jäämise vahel, olles kord täiselektrooniline klõbistamine, teine ja kolmas kord mängides sämplitud päristrummidega. Tahaks öelda, et sulnis eksperimentaalmürapopp "That'll" on üllitise apoteoos, aga... ei hakka ütlema, kuna ka teised lood on väärtusüksused omaette. Oleks ebaõiglane seda teha. Meistriteose on Rok Vrbancic üllitanud USA leibeli No-Source all.

Background Radiation – Moot Point EP (2010)

No Source

• Indietronica 
• Electronic 
• Dream pop 
• Alternative 
• Art pop 
• Epic 
• Drone pop 
• Cowbell indie

Comment: autumnal sadness and lethargy have overwhelmed our senses and sensations, all seems to be stopped or at least strongly decelerated, the long and warm summer is let behind, and there it is, an old issue being released more than 8 years ago by Ludo Maas (Multi-Panel), and Tim Dwyer (Off Land & Full-Source) on the US-based imprint No Source. Those slowly growing drone-y melodica tinged lead motives being interspersed with pastel acoustic guitar chords and exquisite electronic touches used to churn the listener's mind. Double Negative, and Radiate are enchanting pop songs, indeed, truly enchanting ones. The listener can perceive this 6-notch issue as if a minimized glimpse as a transgressive, self-thrusting catapult to get thrown into a bigger, more flourishing sonic world. Lofty fantasies used to surface after having listened to these relatively miniature developments. Yeah! Yes!

Parametic Delay – Love Song Before Sleeping (2011)

No-Source

• Indietronica 
• Post-pop 
• Electronic pop 
• IDM 
• Plinkerpop 
• Glitch pop 
• Bitpop
• Synth-pop

Comment: I can remember for the first half of the 00s while one of the most interesting sounds was related to the so-called duyster (from Belgium) and such labels as Morr Music, and Monika Enterprise. Such peripheral sounds and bits as glitches, noises, 8 bits and other wonky sounds were scraped to subjugate them to sub pop/gentle indie pop inflected harmonies and melodies. Within the netlabel world there have also been such kind of juggernauts who provided a platform to an immense number of artists. Error Lo-Fi, Aerotone, 12rec. and of course, No-Source imprint (unfortunately all these records are defunct now). All the aforementioned elements are apparently represented on this 5-notch issue coming out from Indonesia (the duo of Benk Robo, and Dittea). It is witty, it is poignant, it is charming, it is cerebral with regard to the choice of sounds and accomplished compositions. At the same time it is intact and not smeared with the burden of everyday life. We cannot be without adjectives while describing an astounding release. This issue makes that sense.

Art Sonic – Roadside Sketches (2012)

Acustronica

Jamendo

No-Source

Bandcamp

• Folktronica 
• Folk indie 
• Americana 
• Alt-folk 
• Indie folk 
• Ambient 
• Art folk 
• Musique concrète 
• Tex-Mex

Comment: this 13-notch issue is created by a Canadian multi-instrumentalist, Richard Lisaj whose music sounds like a palette of sketches recorded by driving across highways in southern part of the USA. Indeed, it was recorded while he was travelling from Canada to the US states (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico). By listening to it one can discern Tex-Mex details within it. Musically it is based on pastel guitar jangling, some harmonica whiffs and exquisite electronic progressions and roundabouts which together are grandiloquent and rustic at the same time. Frequently these moods are imbued with the chirping of birds and some other concrete sounds, at times it might even remind of some tracks of David Bowie's albums from his Berlin period (for instance, at Garden of the Gods). However, the music is Americana and it is very welcome to meet it with unexpected dodges within the mix. In a word, it is a fabulous listening experience being released under Acustronica, Bandcamp, and Jamendo. 

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.       

Dmyra – The Key (2010)

No-Source

/Art folk, Singer-songwriter, Downbeat, Trip-hop, Alternative, Crossover, Folktronica, Improvised music/

Comment: Dmyra is the nom de plume of Robert Demes II coming out of Costa Rica whose 6-track issue is a multi-faceted appearance of different influences and musical indulgences. There are represented minimalist, slightly angulate folk ditties which are embellished with jazzy, downbeat and trip-hop shuffles and austere synthesised breezes on the top. In fact, Demes is not to be hurried up to reach some goals or places and his slacker attitude is fine actually. The album is an effective and cumulative buildup of sonic smithereens having and abandoning basic lines within these puzzles at the same time. It could be considered the experimental core of the issue for inducing the listener`s restless pleasure. By kindred souls the can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Beck, The Beta Band. Get it.                               

Wacky Southern Current - In a Realm of Uncertain Summer (2011)

No-Source

/Post-rock, Indietronica, Art rock, Ambient rock, Epic, Chamber rock, Mood music/

Comment: No-Source is a popular US-based record label whose discography embraces musical groups being involved in exploring indie electronic music. Wacky Southern Current`s 9-track issue used to shift somewhere in between picturesque ambient rock hovers, electronic undercurrents and epic chamber rock and post-rock sensuality. Although the music is instrumental it is replete with pastel hues, warm chords and emotive progressions. At times when music is more diluted it sound like a branch of Ennio Morricone`s music (for instance, Evertide). Marco Cervellin`s one-man-project from Italy proves how essential is to produce music in the countryside just being alone with your imaginations, thoughts and instruments.        

Rho - Breathing Through the Liquid System (2011)

No-Source

Free Music Archive

Lastfm

• Indietronica
• Post-pop
• Alternative pop
• Post-rock
• Mood music

Comment: Rho`s issue is stripped down on No Source, an US-based record label for post-rock, electronic indie and  folk music. Indeed, this bundle of 9 instrumental pieces incorporates the sublime guitar chords and strumming, fine-feeling yet majestically produced electronic orchestrations and shuffled, skiddy rhythmic expressions. Sometimes guitar chords will be reversed or dragged through sonic filters to create more otherworldly ambience for the listener sake. On the other side, notwithstanding predominant experimental nature of creating compositions by Steve Setzepfandt and Josh Wittman the album is highly accessible thanks to repetitive motives and attention-getting melodic/harmonic drives throughout. By the way, Breathing Through the Liquid System was the duo`s debut album. Enjoy it.

dmyra - The Key (2010)

No-Source

• Blues
• Psychedelic
• Art rock
• Singer-songwriter
• Downbeat
• Jazz

Outstanding tracks:

Petition to the Ways

Rings of Mail

Tardiss - Thisistar (2013)

No-Source

Lastfm

9.3

/Alternative, IDM, Indietronica, Epic, Downtempo, Electronic pop/

Comment: firstly, the title of the album is not "this is star" but "this is tar" instead of it. What does it mean actually? Does it mean something noisome, unpleasant odor or something like that? Actually not. It is just play on words because this 11-track issue is composed of soothing electronic terrains, droning synth chords, beatific epic rises, slowly running rhythms expelled somewhere in between IDM and downtempo-moulded territories. On the other side, it is an instance of indie music either due to the possibility to juxtapose with the aesthetics of an abundant wave of Germany based indietronica/neokrautrock collectives surfaced in the 90s (Kreidler, Tarwater, Pluramon, Pluramon, Rococo Rot, Notwist, Lali Puna, Mina etc). And without any questions there is a logical thread between this US-based artist and other No-Source related artists either. You just can feel it by listening to it. Furthermore, by regarding those epic and at times longing rises mentioned above I hope the listener can perceive those Americana induced exuberant humming therefore conveying the soft tissue for those more skeletal elements. To summarize, it is fine contemporary pop music professionally accentuated and arranged.

Background Radiation - Uniform Static (2013)

No-Source

Lastfm

9.4

/Indietronica, Folktronica, IDM, Indie soul, Alternative pop, Electronic pop, Experimental indie/

Comment: behind the collaborative act Background Radiation are Ludo Maas, and Tim Dwyer whose 12- track issue Uniform Static has much to provide to the listener. More generally, it is indie and folk-induced pop music imbued with crispy electronic/IDM rhythms, however, having enough hints at other aspects as well. For instance, the more you listen to it the more it seems like a wondrous instance of soul pop filled in with dreamy reverberations of vocal lining and lengthy organ chords thereby conjuring up soothingly epic moments. Indeed, there are up such outstanding compositions as the self-titled track, Tomorrows, Stars Or Jets, Controls, Misery Missouri. It is time to discover for yourself and enjoy one of the most pronounced alternative pop/indie albums in the year of 2013 so far.        

Cocolixe - Doméstico EP (2012)

No-Source

Bandcamp

Lastfm

9.3

/Electronic pop, Dub, Krautrock, Funk, Alternative, Poptronica, Alternative dance, Glo-fi, Indie dance/

Comment: the Uruguayian artist Fabián D'alesio aka Cocolixe`s brand new one is a mesmeric drift between indie/krautrock/chillwave and electronic rhythmic shuffles. Indeed, imagine Neu! meets modern Neu! (Ladytron, Fujiya & Miyagi, Stereolab, for instance) driven by obsessive propulsions and deliberate static elements abovestairs. On the other side, the ending track Swing Low gives a damn for sliced funk gears and acidic dub vibes. In conclusion, similarly to Cocolixe`s previous issues this one is graceful and charming full of serotonine-induced turns and suggestive harmonies.

Fighting Lion - When I See The Fallen Leaves Turning Red By The Setting Sun My Heart Is Overwhelmed EP (2011)

No-Source

Bandcamp

Lastfm

9.2

/Folktronica, Indie folk, Folk indie, Alternative/

Comment: this handful of tracks coming out from within Àlvaro Menèndez`s debut release consists of reverb-rich ukulele chords and pronounced melodies above it channeled craftily into blissed-out glimpses and anthem-near compositions. Indeed, there is up tension between harmonies and dynamics thereby gracing the issue and having an impact upon the listener.

Ross Baker - Photographic Reflection (2012)

No-Source
Lastfm

9.4

/Shoegaze, Experimental folk, Dream folk, Epic, Laptop folk, Ambient folk, Space folk, Ambient, Soundscapes, Noise/

Comment: Ross Baker aka Second Thought`s set is a lofty blend of digital-shaped borealic noises, microscopic shoegaze washes, acoustic folk guitar-based strums, and majestic synth horizons. In a word, it is a pleasing batch of 10 track drifting visually somewhere across the Arctic snowfields in a warm ship. There can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Clark Nova Portable, Tim Hecker, brunk, Alicia Or Simbra, Loscil, Slowdive, Bed..

Fighting Lion - Sparkling Days, Sparkling Nights EP (2012)

No-Source

Lastfm

9.3

/Dream folk, Folktronica, Free folk, New Weird Spain, Alt-folk, Indie folk, Alternative/

Comment: these 6 shorty pieces are heart-breaking harmonic whiffs by the Asturia/Catalonia-based artist Àlvaro Menèndez who conjures up on an ukulele (which is embellished with the chords of a xylophone or the halcyon furor of a melodica rising to the surface in some tracks) while being surrounded with sublime atmosphere and otherworldly blissful feeling. Ingeneral, his soundscape reminds a little bit of the likes of Beirut, and The Retuses, though, Menendez avoids to get involved in flirtation with the realm of a kind of ethnic/world music. However, I guess the listeners insist on a follow-up in a very strong way.

Apsis Lappet - The Fear Of Farewell (2012)

No-Source
Lastfm 

8.8

/Indietronica, Post-rock, Electronic pop, Electro pop, Poptronica, Art pop, Acid pop, Experimental indie, Remixes/

Comment: Apsis Lappet is the solo project of Nate Kitchens, the Texas resident who started to compile his own pieces after the breakup of a pair of musical cooperations. Stylistically the whole picture is truly colourful due to a shitloads of refined allusions and at times humorous forays (indeed, there are some similarities comparable with the aesthetics of Army Of Lovers). Kitchens` music is whimsical and buffoonish and on the other side he is interested in to get involved in reaching vertical, epic heights. In general, it can be considered an instance of indie-tinged electronica-synth pop bedighted with accidental arpeggios, treated vocal lines, guitar-based propulsions. There are up some exceptions too - Rejected is Jenova 7`s breakbeat-driven remix, and Anaerobic is Kitchens´most innovative composition which includes experiments with the shuffle of radio waves, minimally channelized digital elaborations and infiltrations of suggestive concrete sounds.

Sekotis - People In Grass Houses (2010)

No-Source
Lastfm

9.4

/Post-rock, Krautrock, Experimental indie, Alternative dance, Avant-rock, Electronic pop, Experimental rock, Shoegazetronica/

Comment: behind Sekotis is Tom Stokes, a Wolverhampton, UK-based musician who fuses electronic undercurrents with indie and post-rock endeavours. At PIGH he demonstrates a diverse array of tendencies extending from slightly glowering krautrock-ish vibes and grooves (Littlefield) and slowly straggling pop experiments to more flourishing dance appealed undertakings (Black Sand). Indeed, Stokes rock off in a profound and broad way. His music can be compared to the likes of Harmonia, Superficial Random Knowledge Porridge, Seefeel, Neu!, Simon Bird, Weird Ribs, Fuck Buttons, and Mark Van Hoen.

Mark Ge - Your Blues Are Rough (2011)

No-Source
Lastfm

8.8

/Singer-songwriter, Lo-fi, DIY, Anti-folk, Indie folk, Primitronica, Folk indie/

Comment: twanging guitars and lo-fi synth rhythms are craftily set up there to function as the background for pensive songwriting by Mark Ge, a singer-songwriter from USA who just published his debut issue on No-Source. Indeed, he does have barefaced flirt with unpolished sort of folk and electronic-inflected indie music. However, there are a pair of exceptions either - Road seems to be the only example which is more concretely treated inside the walls of recording studio. Peace and Noise showcases its sympathy toward murky type of songwriting. Mark Ge`s aesthetics can be compared with the likes of Gazebo In A Lake, The Home Stretch, Stereo Moon and at the times even the aesthetics of Bradford Cox. In a nutshell, I think Ge is a talented musician, however, I am very excited about his following albums in the foreseeable future.

pEACEFANg - pEACEFANg EP (2010)

No-Source

9.0

/Folktronica, Dream folk, Indietronica, Post-folk, Chamber folk, Electronic, Organic electronica, Dream pop, Experimental folk, Art pop, Ambient pop/

Comment: by the download numbers at Archive.org pEACEFANg`s EP at the moment is being the most popular personal issue having ever been issued on No-Source, an American qualitative sonic brand. Lots of less lucid or more dream-filled subtleties can be found from here. Behind it is an American, A. Fischer, conjuring up on an acoustic guitar and Casio CT-310 synthesiser to getting a  change smoothly from one phase to another, from halcyon guitar-based pastels to beatific synthesised soaring to emotive glockenspiel interventions, thirdly all of that seems to be seamlessly intertwined while meeting each other. It may even remind of Slowdive's Pygmalion in its most quiet moments. Is it an example of artsy mood music? Indeed, it is. Predominantly it is slowed-down and buried yet it does not turn into a lethargic one. By its content it is a greatly uplifting and tranquil mixed release exploring the valences of mellow electronica/ambient, folk and indie.

Grids/Units/Planes - Her Sound Became my Prayer (2011)

No-Source
Lastfm

8.7

/Post-rock, Shoegazetronica, Electronic, Crossover, Epic, Indie, Emotive electronica/

Comment: While this 5-pieced issue embarks on with a depressive description regarding a woman talking about her child and pain and frustration, it manages to get soon transmitted into a flourishing towering consisting of the elements of shoegazing, post-rock, and chill electronica. There can be drawn parallels upon such kindred souls as M83, Dykehouse, Super Random Knowldege Porridge. Behind Grids/Units/Planes is Andrew Foley, a musician from Brisbane, Australia.