Dadala – Tell Tales (2012)

 

Dadala

Soundcloud

 

• Improvised music 
• Avant-garde 
• Jazz 
• Experimentalism 
• Progressive 
• Electronic 
• Free jazz 
• Art music

 

Dadala on sürreaalse hübriidmuusika orkester, mida juhatab Richard Dunlap. Juhatab ainuisikuliselt, ning iseennast. Kas selline isik säärase nimega ka päriselt eksisteerib, on omaette küsimus (Discogs annab alust sellesuunaliseks kahtluseks). Samas see ei ole üldse oluline – muusika räägib iseenda eest. Dadala on eksisteerinud ligi paar dekaadi, tehtud on intellektuaalselt väljakutsuvat muusikat, mida raadiotes mängituna oleks keskmine kuulaja ilmselt nimetanud UFO-muusikaks ning raadiojaama vahetanud. Põhimõtteliselt on tegu eeltehisintellektuaaIse projektiga kui rõhutakse endile kui virtuaalsele orkestrile. Eeldused sisestatakse masinatesse, ennast taandatakse, et valmiks midagi isikupäratut. Sest nendeI rohketel albumiteI opereeritakse järjekindlalt samades piirides, pakkudes varieeruvust nüanssides. See on platvorm, kus kohtuvad progressiivne muusika (rokk), vabajäts, improvisatsioon (improvisatsioon antud kontekstis võib olla näiline) ja midagi veel. Masinatele on delegeeritud enda vaimne energia, antud õigus korraldada rituaale, et võimalikult objektiivne tulemus ette antud informatsiooniväljast kätte saada. Tehisintellekt on jama – selle eristus inimintellektist on ähmane, asi muutub veelgi tööstuslikumaks ja isikupäratumaks ning niigi ülekoormatud kultuuriruum ujutatakse üle kahtlase kraamiga. Sellel ei ole isegi seda väärtust, mis on tänapäeva popstaarikestel. Lisandub veelgi küsimusi – kas produktsiooni on üldse tarvis; kui jah, siis kes seda peaks tegema? Kas tehisintellekt või inimene (vaistlikult ütleks, et TI). Seniks nautige lisanditeta muusikat. 

 

8.0 (7.5-8.5)

LFC – Ancient Spirits Of The World (2012)

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

• Psych-rock 
• Blues rock 
• Avant-blues 
• DIY 
• Avant-rock 
• Improvised music 
• Experimental rock 

Brass Lucas Pastina näikse olemuslikult tegevat vahet oma kahel kehastusel. Üks ilmneb passinime all ning teine on pöörane alter ego elik Lucas Fucking Crazy. Tõepoolest, fucking crazy viimased kümme aastat olnud. Pärisnime all ilmunud kraam on hillitsetum-mõõdukam. Ta äratab üles vanad vaimud, vähem- ja rohkem seestunud blues'i hinged. Alates Howlin' Wolf'ist kuni Captain Beefheart'ini. Kõhedusttekitavad ristteed keskööl ja viljatud kõrbemaastikud liiva silma paiskavate tuuleiilidega. Siin ta siis lakkamatult improviseerib elektrikitarril ja oigab-jaurab-koriseb-ägiseb-uriseb, otsides hingelist tasakaalu 12 loo vältel, mis lõppude lõpuks sulanduvad justkui üheks lõputuks looks. Kardate, et blues rock võib olla korrumpeerunud-kommertsialiseerunud? Eelistage siis LFC muusikat, kuna siin neelatakse päriselt muda. See ei ole ainult vaimline sfäär, see on ka füüsiline valu.

[ DOG STAR MAN ] – Disco After Disco (2012)

S P E T T R O rec

Soundcloud

Bandcamp

• Dada pop
• Post-punk 
• Art punk 
• Electronic 
• Art pop 
• No wave 
• Punk funk 
• Post-disco 
• Experimental pop 
• Dub 
• Art rock 

Ei, tegu ei ole Suede'i järjekorras teise albumi modifikatsiooni või mis iganes teisendiga, mistõttu otsingusse tuleb sisestada sõnad õiges järjekorras, et oleks võimalik see seitsmelooline album netisügavustest üles leida. Ilmselt bändinimi on inspireeritud samanimelisest Stan Brakhage`i neljaosalisest eksperimentaalfilmide seeriast. Fraas "disko disko järel" justkui osutaks lõputule tümakale ja murtud biitidele, aga Itaalia projekti album dekonstrueerib tantsumuusikat postpungi vaimus. Tantsulise postpungi vaimus. Staccato-kidrad jah, ent põhiline on mässav vaim heakskiidetud vormi vastu. Kõrvale ja sekka ka dada-hullust ning näputäis dub-värelust, mis niikuinii kuuluvad postpungi tohutu valemi alla. Kuidas see buliimiline eelistuste virvarr ekstsentrilises popvalemis maksimaalselt efektiivselt realiseerida? Ekstsentrilisus on lahe, ent jääb lihtlabaseks poosiks, kui liha ehk vormi selle taga ei ole. Siin õnneks seda on. On. On. Albumi on üllitanud Itaalia leibel S P E T T R O rec. 

Cousin Silas – Snowline (2017)

The Cerebral Rift

Soundcloud

• Ambient 
• Minimalism 
• Drone 
• Ambient drone 
• Experimentalism 
• Avant-garde 
• Space music

Comment: although Cousin Silas' one-track composition of a 74 minute is very austere throughout the course it does provide a strong impact on the listener's senses and especially on imagination. Just being embedded in a spaced-out droning with some atmospheric guitar arcs and lifting up to half-orchestrated progressions at times. On the other side, just trying to resect the drone one can hear higher and lower frequencies buzzing around which melt together to provide an imagination of a space shuttle moving on a billions of miles away from Earth. Rushing on the light speed yet in the middle of that slight void it seems like staying at one and the same point and instead of it all the space used to shift in comparison to the rocket. All is relative and conditional in fact, the same can be said about the nature of the issue. All is staying and changing at the same time. And could you feel yourself as one and the same person you used to be before? I guess your perception is more saturated and the feel of reality is more lifted up than before. That's a seductive simulacrum for the human race as possible conquerors of Outer Space. However, this possibility to come to fruition is very low and thereby our obligation is to protect and sustain our beautiful planet. The fabulous outing is a part in the discography of The Cerebral Rift (more profoundly, CerebralAudio as its musical offshoot). 

Binkieman – Strictly Binkie (2015)

Dubbhism

• Dubtronica 
• Dubstep 
• Electronic music

Comment: this set of 3 tracks can just be categorized as binkiecore. With regard to the imprint Dubbhism as a distributor of dub music it is all about quite tumultuous low bass frequencies, some more atmospheric threads, and adeptly treated electronic glimpses in between. Of course, in 2015 much was about dubstep as a genre yet fortunately it is not an orthodox issue. Binkieman comes out from the Netherlands and the music is produced on a custom built modular robosynth. Highly convincing.

Bongley Dead – Undici (2017)

Soundcloud

• Indie rock 
• Alternative rock 
• Glam rock

Comment: Bongley Dead, an Italian combo is back with their brand new one which can be considered a pure revelry and joy. In comparison to their previous outing 4 (2015) it abandoned post-grunge-y smooth mannerisms and reveals its dedication into galvanised, cellophane tinged guitars. Yet through this powerful guitar fuzz one can hear an enchanting glam rock thread which is the lead motif for this 17-notch issue. So let's switch on the electricity and the show is going on. By indirect influences one can hear such combos as Placebo, and Smashing Pumpkins. As I already said indirectly. Solid release indeed.

Putro And The Money Making Machine Bedroom Session Part 1 (2013)

Ear Alert 

Soundcloud
Archive.org

• Anti-folk
• Lo-fi
• DIY
• Unplugged
• Singer-songwriter
• Covers

Comment: indeed, this set of 10 tracks embraces covers and the unplugged session with vocal and acoustic guitar and all this set of 25 and a half minute is played in the vein of agit-pop (based on the intensely strumming guitars, and straightforward and clear vocal line). The artist provides attention to such artists as Green Day, Operation Ivy, The Ramones, The Descendent, Social Distortion, No Use For A Name, Alkaline Trio, The Bouncing Souls, MXPX, and The Vandals. If you have not made acquaintance with the artists and songs before that yet it is time to do it now with regard to compare the original oeuvre with the cover versions. In fact, for me that agit-pop edge adds a welcome edge to the original ones. The more I listen to it the more I like it. The outing is a part of the discography of Indonesian imprint Ear Alert Records. 

Bongley Dead – 4 (2015)

Soundcloud

Mediafire

• Alternative rock 
• Indie rock 
• Post-grunge 
• Hardcore

Comment: recently Italian quartet Bongley Dead released a brand new one, Undici, on their own terms being uploaded and letting available for free download at Soundcloud, and Mediafire. Before that they had issued 4, the predecessor of Demo n.3 (2014). In comparison to its predecessor 4 abandons trudging across a path being based on heavy and moshy alternative rock guitars (though Demo n.3 includes exceptions either – even hints at dance punk/rock were represented over there). The guitars are more extended and outstretched, light-hearted and jangling in their timbre and style of play. Yet one should not forget and misunderstand it is not an example of jangle pop because the combo is being influenced and rooted by hardcore and (post-)grunge music. For instance, Blueworms is a pure example of post-grunge style with a commercially accessible tone. Nice pop song indeed. Similarly to the previous outing a Sonic Youth influence (especially at Silent Queen) is also present over there yet it is more buried as it was presented in some songs at Demo n.3. A poppy Sonic Youth version. At She Comes Too Late the ending part is accentuated with epic shoegaze tinged noises. It can be admitted their style seems to be more uniform and unvarying with regard to the previous one. By the way, they are being very kind by adding 41 cover prints (sic!) within the folder. I did have to choose only one from this bunch. Because of having listened to the great album a next step of mine is to listen to Undici.

Andrea – Bedtime Stories EP (2012)

Bad Panda

Archive.org

Free Music Archive

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

• Design pop 
• Electronic pop 
• Remixes 
• Alternative pop 
• Post-dubstep 
• Poptronica 
• Synthwave

Comment: Paris, France-based artist Andrea`s (or AndreaLo) 7-track issue involves 2 original compositions and 5 remixes of a track, Work the Middle. With regard to the song titles and some voluptuous sighs within it this does have implicit suggestions at oral sex (Work the Middle, Going Down) and I guess the remixes depict a stage when a human being is inflected with a human papilloma virus and prone to different types of head and neck cancer. If to let that black humour aside I have to admit I like it. The album I mean, of course. I enjoy it though I am quite suspicious about the so-called design pop (which often embraces post-dubstep vibes within it) being very predominant today. You know one could produce it in his/her cellphone very easily and mostly is excessively polished and artificial. At times it lacks soul and spirit. Fortunately this case is mostly spirited and enjoyable to live up to one`s expectations. One is sure Andrea is indifferent toward post-dubstep neither substantially nor formally (at Bandcamp you can find out his version of James Blake`s I Never Learnt To Share). Work the Middle is remixed by such artists/producers as Kodak To Graph, Kyson, Real, Grobbie, and Splinter. The issue is a bit in the discography of Bad Panda. 

Alexander Strung – Party (2009)

The Gifted Children

• Indie pop/rock 
• Alternative pop/rock 
• Indietronica 
• Synth-rock
• Art rock
• Post-rock 
• Electro-indie
• Singer-songwriter

Comment: although Alexander Strung`s 9-track issue Party was issued lately on the verge of the 00s the influence of some parts of the epoch could be heard throughout these 26 minutes. It seems to me that these slightly restrained indie pop songs are influenced both by the Rhein-area indietronica/neo-krautrock scene by the likes of To Rococo Rot, Pluramon, Kreidler, Tarwater, Lali Puna and the US-based post-rock scene by the likes of Mice Parade, Mercury Program, Sea And The Cake, Jim O`Rourke, The American Analog Set. It is the balanced sway between the guitars and synthesizers, between sensual vocal lines and programmed stomping drums and hovering pastoral orchestrations on a minor scale. On the other side, the artist is searching for relaxed balance between technological luxury, and emotive susceptibility. Given that the technological luggage embraces an innumerable amount of possibilities it is arguably not easy task altogether. In a word, the artist demonstrates adeptly its musical skills being not separated from emotions fortunately. The favourites of mine are Olympic Twin, Black Rabbit, Party (What's The Point), Valley Forge. There are up both Alexander Strung`s issues via The Gifted Children. In a nutshell, it is an astonishing one. 

In A Sleeping Mode – Draft (2011)

Yo! Netlabel

Bandcamp

• Avant-garde 
• Post-rock 
• Post-classical 
• Experimental techno 
• Modern classical 
• Art music 
• Avant-rock 
• Crossover 
• Experimental rock 
• Abstract techno

Comment: behind IASM are two Italian guys who were living in the United Kingdom at the time of the release of this 7-notch issue. More profoundly, it happened already 5 years ago in London. Musically it is an intriguing smorgasbord of sounds and styles, more profoundly, meeting at an interface of modern classical, arty rock and intellectual techno vibes spiced up by elemental noises and hisses. However, the aforementioned styles used to stand to be mixed together or just standing alone. Both versions are equally worth to be enjoyed. Another fairly intriguing stance for me is how and by whom these sounds are made up and performed. Of course, mostly one can discern the human touch but there are up some very mechanical moments where the process seems to be induced and usurped by rigid machines. In a word, there is up a thriving clash between the human soul and austere robotic configurations. By kindred souls one can discern pathways coming from Mice Parade, Tortoise, and The Dylan Group to Autechre, AFX, and Venetian Snares to Lubomir Melnyk, and Nils Frahm. However, these ones are just mere comparisons because the artist used to stand on its own. The issue is a part of the discography of Yo [U-Turn] netlabel. In a nutshell, get this mesmerizing issue.

Terracotta Blue - Arcade b-w Healer (2011)

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

/Chillwave, Trip-hop, Breaks, Electronic pop, Chilltronica, Poptronica, Mood music, Glo-fi/

Comment: I can remember for that one music reviewer suggested once while such phenomenon as chillwave lasted 6 months only the influence of it would have endured much longer, principally to date. Maybe he was right if to consider Baltimore, US-based artist Terracotta Blue`s career and doings. He started issuing outings at the second half of 2011 when the movement started to become less in extent and die-hard intensity. However, it does not mean that Terracotta Blue has not changed during these four years. Arcade b-w Healer was one of his first issues with regard to Bandcamp. The issue consists of a couple of compositions which are replete with crispy rhythms and dreamy meanders and majestic synthesiser induced chord progressions. In fact, given that those rhythms reveal their partly lo-fi tinged touch (at Healer) the issue can be considered an organic cross between indie electronic/chillwave tendencies and Ninja Tune related artists composed jazz-based music and Flying Lotus inflected hip-hop/trip-hop alchemy. On the other side, Arcade has been built upon catchy electro bass propulsions and enchanting synthesised progressions atop. In a word, the release can be exploited both to conjure up decent mood around you and for a more sophisticated listening time.

The Parish of Little Clifton – Septemberish 7 (2011)

Bad Panda

Soundcloud

/Dream pop, Chillwave, Electronic pop, Poptronica, Alternative pop, Indietronica/

Comment: this 2-thread issue comes out of Agassiz, Canada from then-19-year-old producer whose tracks It`s Ok, Roseanne; Echo Island are technical and organic at the same time. Indeed, the listener can perceive those production traces impressed in the compositions, on the other side the compositions provide enough relaxing, dreamed-out (Echo Island) and thoroughgoingly earnest, even funny moments to pump up your mood with positive neurotransmitters (It`s Ok, Roseanne). It is just a case to provide some turns, some loops and some moody threads to start off the party and get everyone to calm down. I discovered the artist got inspiration from nature, more concretely, by enjoying the beauty of a couple of lakes nearby his place of residence. The issue is a part of the discography of the Bad Panda imprint.

The Chopittos Arkestra – Zavanardi Rising (2012)

Soundcloud

Bandcamp

/Avant-garde, Space rock, Psych-rock, Dark ambient, Freeformfreakout, Blues rock, Psychedelic, Hard rock, Bossa nova, Experimentalism, Singer-songwriter, Electronic music/

Comment: I cannot be wrong to claim that Brazil is a country for much outstanding music beginning from sensual bossa nova and jazz artists to challenging psychedelic Tropicalia output Os Mutantes to elegant, thoroughly dream-filled shoegazing combo Inverness to artists issued under indie/experimental/post-rock/post-metal imprint Sinewaves to frenetic improvised noise/avant-rock combo Chinese Cookie Poets to…Lucas Pastina and his related projects. Indeed, Lucas Pastina is an eccentric musician who has created lots of albums with intention to explore obscure facets within different genres, create rock sounds which either used to be in focus or deliberately staying outside it. For instance, this 20-bar issue is a frantic parade of different styles ranging from dislocated hard rock sounds and rough blues rock vibes to spaced-out rock universes and demented soil-eating psyched-out compositions to uncanny yet brisk electronic paths moving sidewise. Those cathedral organ drenched arcs and exhausted confessions of a human being stay beyond classification altogether at The Power of The Fish. Samba Suor E Salame is a cute bossa nova song, isn`t it? At first sight indeed. The more you listen to it the more intricately aligned sounds and effects can be found to be surfacing from within it. The whole is silly and inspiring at the same time. The listener can enjoy the artist`s fantasy coming over to the listener`s side. Moreover, you can discern some sort of magic fog which fluctuates within the tracks and across the whole set. Get all the artist`s issues at Soundcloud. 

MC Melodee - Crunch Time EP (2014)

Soundcloud

/Hip-hop, Urban music, Rap, Soul-hop, Nu jazz, Gangsta rap/

Comment: my first impression about this handful of tracks was not very enthusiastic because all of that seemed to be way too straightforward and simplified regarding the production and configuration. Actually it was a quite unusual experience to listen to gangsta-inflected music dominated by a female musician from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. However, this bunch needs more listening times to open up its nature and surface its merits. The listener can discern sublime soul and jazz music debris below the rhymes and chants fattening up your soul and mind. MC Melodee is helped by the likes of Cookin`Soul, Robbie Anthem, Feliciana and D-Luzion, BuddahSPK, Brady James, and Like of Pac Div). 

The Line Below (2012)

Soundcloud

/Indie rock, Dream pop, Jangle pop, Avant-pop, Electronic pop, Art pop, Alternative pop, Chillwave/

Comment: this compilation of 7 tracks involves outstanding indie music from the very beginning to the late seconds. Stylistically and technically it is mottled as indie music used to be, more concretely, extending from light-hearted yet thoroughly affecting guitar driven sonics to more artsy, keyboard/synthn and programmed beat driven experiments where the touch of human soul is deeply mixed up with machine dominated areas. The miscellany embraces such combos as Spakkiano, Murder, Husband, Welcome Back Sailors, His Clancyness, Karibean feat. North, and Wolther Goes Stranger. Furthermore, all these combos seem to come out of Italy. In a word, the Italian musicians in the compartments of progressive rock, disco music (Italo disco), noise music and motion picture soundtracks have earlier proven to be top notches worldwide. This time they proved they could produce fabulous, assured indie sound either. Get this must have package for yourself.

The Stepkids – Wanderers (2014)

Soundcloud

Stones Throw

/Soft rock, Digital funk, Funk rock, Synth fusion, Doo wop, Alternative pop, Electronic pop/

Comment: the shortened Soundcloud version of Wanderers comprises three compositions veering a crossover attitude of soft rock, synthesised fusion and digitalized funk rhythms and robot pop. Although getting partly inspiration from the musical groups of bygone decades the issue`s general impression is very modern – all these production tricks with appearance of stereo effects and overdriven acid keyboard chords, layers of exuberant sonic minutiae atop used to gravitate toward catchy rhythmic structures and subtle singing. At times the singing chimes in the vein of the best doo wop tradition. You can even hear Miles Davis` funk-inclined shuffles through predominant jazz narratives. By listening to The Slap you can discern how it bridges the US-based r`n`b, funk and soul tradition to Italo disco and Kraftwerk-ian electro pop influences par excellence. In a word, it is a fine example of contemporary pop music. It is infinitely better than Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus, for instance (in fact, they are more products rather than musical output).

Sound Awakener - Five Chapters (2014)

Petroplyph

Bandcamp

Soundcloud

/Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Piano music, Field recording, Improvised music/

Comment: Vietnam-based artist Nguyễn Hồng Nhung aka Sound Awakener takes on an upright acoustic piano to create something inspired and beautiful. The issue starts off with Vibrate which differentiates due to a more buried timbre and sonic vamp. Later on, the artist creates tracks by amplifying them to the edge of distortion and dissonance, or using the sounds of field recording, or adding reverb-heavy spaces, some hissy wisps and stereo tricks to the blend. Nguyễn Hồng Nhung is an endued musician because of being classically educated he has not lost his explorative nature to educational formalism. In fact, these two characteristic vectors do have the same direction thereby resulting in the hitting stomp emotively. More concretely, hilarious moments are variegated with more shadowy glimpses into the soul of piano improvisation. Some tracks might sound in a lo-fi way at times yet it is not something of a lo-fi album because all the layers added to the mix are produced in an adept way. You could call it the knavish lo-fi outing if you wish. On this example the Vietnamese musician`s outing resembles the Swede Oskar Hallbert`s slightly introvertive and hazy compositions. Solid issue indeed.

Wellwellsound – From The Heart of The Console (2014)

Natty Droid

Soundcloud

/8-bit, Chiptune, Tracker music, Crossover, DIY, Remixes, Reggae, Lo-fi, Chipbreak, Dub, Primitive music, Nintendocore/

Comment: primitive patterns and expression language in art could be truly appealing. Wellwellsound`s 6-piece issue which is made up of remixes is this sort of. Actually I have no exact idea why this album chimes in this way as it used to enact. Is it either the case of rough chiptune/8-bit rhythm progressions and clumsy melody shifts or lo-fi/DIY tinged essence of reggae and dub music? By virtue of spaced-out echo/delay effects the music is signally more slowed down than a common videogame issue. However, depending on a particular composition there are up different examples of how the tracks are balanced or more inclined toward one or another. Actually there is represented third element either (on this occasion it is deliberately separated from the chiptune part by my perception) – it is a sort of digital debris which used to appear through minor effects and in the embodiment of subdued noises here and there. Consequently it can be admitted both these compartments do manifest free nature of the human being by creating the music.                 

NDR002-BABYLON BY USB (2014)

Natty Droid

/8-bit, Tracker music, Dub, Reggae, Chiptune, Mood music, Chip-hop, Alternative dance, Raggamuffin, Crossover/

Comment: At first I would thank Natty Droid Netlabel for that unique crossover music act where rough chiptune induced rhythms meet catchy chanting in the vein of reggae music, dub, reggaeton and ragamuffin. I am very sure anyone who is ready to take on this 35-track (within  folders) menarche would find out his/her favourite track. The compilation is collaborated by many artists under the aforementioned imprint. It almost sounds like a punk album by its attitude and actually deviating quite a little from the soundscape of such prominent (post)-punk groups like The Clash, The Slits and Public Image Limited who liked to explore the interface between punk rock and dub music. Truly enchanting music by any means. Get it.