Stephen Briggs – Earthbound (2018)

Sucu Music

Archive.org

• Art music 
• Guitar ambient 
• Space rock 
• Progressive rock 
• Mood music 
• Improvised music

Comment: Stephen Briggs used to create a swarm of seven compositions which can be compared with such artists as Gaetano Fontanazza, and Drew Miller, for instance. They are artists who employ their guitars in a way to create meditative soundscapes and enchanting phases of mood. All these artists come from very remote areas related to each other yet their music is comprehensive in a sense. By listening to this issue one could think of it as if it were created by employing electronic devices like synths as well yet it is not so (the same I was thinking mistakenly of the sound of Gaetano Fontanazza). Stephen Briggs employs different sort of technical approaches to brush and vamp up his sound, for instance, by moving chords back and forth and by extending particular chords into the droning and manipulations through phase changes. A main feature is to push electric guitar induced chords are through reverb laden ambiances. Mostly it is illustrated through light-hearted timbres though at times one can hear more ominous threads to disturb the mix. Emotionally the result is adeptly loaded. The spellbinding release is a part of the discography of Sucu Music.

Gaetano Fontanazza – The Grandpa Lullabies (2018)

Sucu Music

Archive.org

• Ambient 
• Post-rock 
• Ambient rock 
• Art music 
• Experimental rock 
• Drone 
• Space music 
• Improvised music 
• Minimalism 
• Electronic

Comment: Gaetano Fontanazza can be pigeonholed with such artists as Brother Saturn, I Am Esper, Glenn Brown, Saito Koji who used to create guitar-based ambient music which, I guess, may be quite obsessive by its method base yet truly relieving for a listener. You can hear extended chord licks which used to move across an artificial space (in fact, by creating and dilating it) and on the other side hover over the listener's mind. Additionally to the electric guitars he employs electronic keyboards and delay and reverb tools to sustain the vibrant ambiances (later the artist contacted me by saying all the sounds are created by using the guitars only). Due to those vibrant drones and faint wobbling which create a pleasant variety based on intermittent pressure and under pressure I would like to call it a dance album for the angels. Furthermore, is it an improvised music example or a designed music issue? Undoubtedly it is one of the best albums in 2018, and the 8-track composition is a part of the discography of Sucu Music.

Fingerflood – Beats And Stabs And Kick In Four (2017)

Ephedrina

Noisybeat

Sucu Music

• Dub techno 
• Electronic music 
• IDM 
• Crossover 
• Remix 
• Breaks 
• Ambient trance 
• Psybient 
• Dubtronica

Comment: it is an overhaul of dub music and its possibilities to establish new (crossover) forms with electro, electronic music in general, world music and psychedelic segmentations. At times it is more deconstructed into disparate pieces thereof resulting in deranged yet tickling developments. For instance, electronic effects are juxtaposed to soothing ambient layers and caressing bouncy rhythms. Behind the project is an Italian producer, Gaetano Fontanazza whose 6-notch issue is a joint release between such imprints as Noisybeat, Ephedrina, and Sucu Music.

TNKS – Nostalgic Happiness (2017)

Sucu Music

Jamendo

• Chillwave
• Mood music 
• Glo-fi 
• Art pop 
• Indietronica 
• Post-rock
• Plinkerpop 
• Electronic music 
• Alternative 
• Chilltronica 
• Post-pop 
• Ambient pop

Comment: by listening to TNKS`s sophomore outing Nostalgic Happiness you may perceive it as if a watered down post-rock issue is put in front of your ears. In fact, the explanation is way too simplistic and little saying to the listener. From these 28 minutes in the set of 7 pieces in total there used to emerge enough elements to tickle your cerebral synapses in a breezy way. Indeed, sun is shining and gentle gusts are stroking your cheeks and dishevel your hair while you are spending your time in the middle of a picturesque meadow in the countryside. Throughout the course you can perceive the intact bucolic feel which of course could closely be related to fairly nostalgic pictures from one`s remote past. These 7 tracks constitute a platform to put off your memories toward the childhood. Toward something you cannot reach anymore because physically we have no possibility to overcome the burden of entropy (if we would get it would we wish it?). Musically and stylistically the album`s touch harks back to the chillwave/glo-fi/hypnagogic movement. Indeed, hypnagogic pop as a stylistic phenomenon is closely bound to falling asleep, dreaming and memories. There are bands up within the style who exploit the corresponding intentions (Memoryhouse, Memory Tapes). Jokingly, The Smiths was obviously a pre-hypnagogic combo due to conveying such tracks as Back to the Old House, This Night Has Opened My Eyes, and Asleep (even if the latter one focused on suicide). Exuberant yet gentle guitar chords used to draw its elliptical lines across the synthetic terrain and IDM-esque crispy beats while being coloured by sublime saxophone beeps and colourful orchestrations at times. By the way, I tagged it as mood music as you can see above but it does not mean it is either somehow simple-minded or "lazy". More profoundly, you can hear easiness in timbre and mood pouring out from the sophisticated instrumental compositions. The wondrous outing is a part of the discography of Sucu Music. Additionally I recommend listen to the debut release Gate One. By kindred souls you should listen to Brother Saturn

Stephen Briggs – Nebbie Mattutine (2014)

Sucu Music

Archive.org

/Guitar ambient, Soundscapes, Epic, Art rock, Space rock, Post-rock, Experimental rock, Progressive rock/

Comment: Stephen Briggs is a musician from the end of the world, New Zealand. His 8-notch issue based on extensively layered guitar music depicts picturesque visions and mellow fantasies for your sake. Although his artsy guitar approach can be compared with Robert Fripp´s aesthetic, the issue involves many elements which might remind you of different styles and years. From cocky progressive rock attitude and more warm fusion infused Canterbury sound to the sonorous grandeur of Labradford and Aarktica, artsy coldness by Slowdive`s Pygmalion and remote, full-fledged dreams of contemporary indie artists like Ducktails and Lee Noble. Furthermore, Briggs` album sounds like a hyperrealistic entity as if reflecting upon a state of sleep within you are wondering around and seeing somehow acquainted yet eldritch environments on both sides of your path. For instance, by seeing gravestones illuminated to promote commercial products. The tracks represented on it used to crop out of nowhere silently to blow over similarly. I am very sure the outing is a strong candidate for listening before you fall asleep.