The Walla Recovery – A Star, a Star (2015)

Noisetrade

Bandcamp

• Indie pop/rock 
• Alternative pop/rock 
• Conceptual 
• Chamber pop 
• Xmas songs 
• Baroque pop

Comment: they say they (as a quartet) are cello folk combo from Texas, USA. By listening to this 13-track Christmas song miscellany the statement is a partial-truth because they exploit additionally keyboards and guitars as well. Of course, the expression “cello folk” may frighten an indie music lover. It might be he/she starts to think about some rigid classical music oppressed artists or sombre Apocalyptica, or something like that. However, by listening to these fabulous new arrangements of Christmas songs and smooth permutations in chords and volatile solemn easiness it reminds starkly of Sufjan Stevens (and his set of Christmas songs being released some years ago at Noisetrade). In a word, beef up your mood with these 51 minutes on 25^th December. In fact, it would function at any time. At least the experience of mine proved it. And Jesus would like it.

Liz Chidester – Otter Hill (2015)

Noisetrade

Bandcamp

• Singer-songwriter 
• Americana 
• Indie folk 
• Alt-folk 
• Folk indie

Comment: Liz Chidester is a new singer-songwriter from, Chicago, Illinois, USA who is adept at storytelling to bring forth oldie traditions through music, lyrics and memories told once and now by one generation to next ones. It seems the tradition is something extraordinary seminal which enables new galaxies of indie folk/alt-folk and also mainstream folk and country artists to be cropped out. In a word, it is the seminal soil for singer-songwriters today and in the future. The outing of Liz is austere but poignantly accentuated to fill one's soul with emotional coverage and suggestive touch. She says these five songs are the most intimate she has ever written. It had been created during the worst winter storm in Chicago in 2014. All in all, let it be a boosting engine for your world of imaginations.

Matt Pond PA - The Freeep (2008)

NoiseTrade

/Indie folk, Americana, Folk indie, Alt-folk, Indie rock/

Comment: Matt Pond PA is a collective from New York (with the Philly origin, though), USA who have been active since 1998 and related to such well-known labels as BMG, and Polyvinyl. Alongside with Wilco, Band Of Horses, Bon Iver, Iron & Wine, Van Dyke Parks they are prominent representatives indie rock/folk music being obviously influenced by the US traditional (roots) music (country, bluegrass, folk). This EP of 9 tracks sounds quite traditionally having few experimentation courses within the whole. However, in spite of it the issue used to chirp in an organic, unconstrained way. Actually all the melodic and harmonic elements which are needed to constitute decent pop songs are represented over there. #3 could be considered as the experimental track on it due to progressions within the ambient/space music and minimal music narrative playing with chord delays and suggestive repetitions. Eventually it can be said the album contains solid songs from the starting point to the end. Recommended.            

I In The Sky EP - BWR/1 (2014)

Big Wave

Bandcamp

Lastfm

Noisetrade

• Dubtronica
• Cosmic fusion
• Leftfield
• Psychedelic
• Downbeat
• Improvised noise

Outstanding tracks:

Dub Bred - Broken Walls
Alchesound - UpstreamArkeyetexture - Eastern Fire
The Shimmer Effect - Forever Lost

Pioneer Fires - Pioneer Fires EP (2013)

NoiseTrade

Bandcamp

• Americana
• Alt-folk
• Indie folk
• Folk indie

Outstanding tracks:

The Crow And The Dove

Remain

Bora York - Dreaming Free (Sampler) (2013)

NoiseTrade

• Poptronica
• Electronic pop
• Glo-fi
• Alternative pop
• Indie pop

Outstanding tracks:

Open Tales

Ghost Lights

So Heavenly

Deleted Scenes - Birdseed Shirt (plus The Days of Adderall from new album) (2009)

Noisetrade

• Alternative
• Glo-pop
• Art pop
• Avant-pop
• Experimental indie
• Neo psychedelia
• Dream pop
• Americana
• New Weird America

Great Lake Swimmers - The Legion Sessions (2013)

 Noisetrade

9.3

/Indie folk, Alt-folk, Folk indie/

Comment: these ditties by an established Canadian alt-folk/indie folk group, Tony Dekker-led Great Lake Swimmers, provide mostly doleful introspections and longing contemplations. Their approach to the music is tiht, intimate, emotional, and overwhelming by the side of melodies and harmonies. More concretely, the pronounced guitars and vocal lines are counterbalanced by violin-based orchestrations and the upright bass. On the other side, at times there are up more dashing guitar strums and straightforward, one-dimensional singing. In a word, these 9 tracks do constitute the intimating bound to the listener.  

Freelance Whales - NoiseTrade Sampler (2012)

NoiseTrade

9.7

/Indie pop, Baroque pop, Alternative pop, Art pop, Americana, Chamber pop, Psychedelic rock/ 

Comment: these 6 tracks are provided by a Queens, NY-based alternative rock quintet, called Freelance Whales who has issued two studio albums so far (Weathervanes; Diluvia). Indeed, these pieces are closely related to the aforementioned albums. However, each track from within it could freely be an A-side or single. Lush guitar chords are mixed up with sublime glockenspiel magic and synthesized sounds and effects. By kindred souls there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Arcade Fire, Electrelane, Sufjan Stevens, The Antlers.        

Sufjan Stevens - Silver & Gold (2012)

Noisetrade

• Indie folk
• Conceptual
• Folk indie
• Singer-songwriter
• Chamber pop
• Americana
• Experimental indie
• Alternative pop
• Baroque pop

Calexico - NoiseTrade Sampler (2012)

NoiseTrade

9.5

/Alt-folk, Americana, Epic, Alt-country, Indie folk, Alternative pop, Art pop, Chamber pop/

Comment: Tucson, Arizona-based legend Calexico have been associated with the alt-country scene, however, embellished with cinematic semi-orchestrations and catchy Americana hooks which in turn are variegated with more or less epic crescendos and sultry vapor. Inspite of being generally US-centered it now and then (Para) reminds of the aesthetics of Radiohead`s OK Computer (1997). All these tracks are dragged out from Calexico`s previous issues. A fabulous instance of contemporary pop music indeed.

Snowden Slow Soft Syrup EP (NoiseTrade)

New Yorgi/Atlanta kombo Snowden on 5-6 aasta jooksul suutnud palju populaarsust võita. Uurisin ja leidsin, et last.fm`is on isegi Snowden`i kommuun - mida igale pundile teps ei pühendata -, ning kuulamiskordade arv läheneb miljonile. Reliisinud 1 stuudioalbumi ning 5 lühimängivat, on kvartetil ette näidata aukartustäratav gig`ide nimekiri alates 2003. aastast. Tõsi, viimasel kahel aastal oli punt üsna vakka jäänud.

Võrdluses nelja aasta taguse stuudioalbumiga "Anti-Anti" (Jade Tree) on rühmitus liikunud enam kingapõrnitsemismaastikele, peites tsipa rohkem Interpol`i - ja selle kaudu Joy Division`i, The Comsat Angels`i ja The Chameleons`i - mõjusid. Aga ainult natuke. Mis iganes, 5-looline EP on igal juhul dekadentlik - nii oma ilus kui tüütuses. Kaunid ja tüütavad hetked esinevad sageli kõrvuti ühes ja samas träkis (No One In Control (EP Version)). Venivad kitarrid ja vokaalliinid, katkematud katedraaliorelid ning sporaadilised trummeldamised. Hoolimata mõningasest letargiast virgumisest - sisaldades seti kaunimaid harmooniaid - kõlab samasse auku ka Don't Really Know Me (EP Version), ning Anemone Arms (EP Version) tundub kõigest pateetilise käkerdisena. Samuti So Red (EP Version) on nii nagu ta on - üsna lõdva ja lohaka suhtumisega; alles lõpetavas No Words No More (EP Version) hakkavad kitarrid elama-kriipima, pingestatud tume sentiment kerkib esile, kuigi üsna varsti langeb träkk tuttavlikku skeemi.
"Slow Soft Syrup" EP põhiviga peitub selles, et tahetakse panustada ainult unelevatele kihtidele ja lummale (nagu enamus tänapäeva shoegaze-newgaze-punte teeb), kuid jäädakse selles osas selgelt puudulikuks. Kui välja arvata paar hetke (teises ja viiendas loos), siis ülejäänus dèjà vu efekti kordumine muudab 24 minutilise seti märksa pikemaks.

Kuula albumit siit

6.7