The Womb Purity Test (23 Seconds)

The Englishman Alan Driscoll embarked on in 1998, at the time when the 90`s Britpop movement started to getting to its closure. From the aforementioned year off to this day he has released approximately 10 albums, including one publication named as Britpop as well. Thereby regarding all those facts and the main characteristic of the recent issue, indeed, for all of those people who had grew up within the glamorous touch by Pulp, Suede, Auteurs and the others acts Purity Test should be meaningful enough. Moreover, by being demonstrated an Ultrasound`s vinyl record on the coverprint, how could it have a reference somehow otherwise?

Purity Test is a double album, or at least an album with shitloads of bonus songs (all in total 10+10). First of all, it is a case of whimsical lyrics with hints at escapism, womanizers, and even a kind of obsession. By the background it is full of great synth-based thrills and orchestral progressions, catchy soulful disco tunes, synthetic pop arrangements, diverse rhythm roundabouts and outstanding song performances with eccentric postures. Despite of all those diversities, however, all seems so evidently sounding under the Britpop regime yet. My favorite notches are some dark-hued, even a bit creeping introspections being not sporadically represented here. Rosanna Woolett, Junalyn Corre, Chloë Reeves and Simon Gray are up here to offer their important collaboration over to the release.

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9.5

[Artists] Four Visions

CLLCT
Four Visions/Bandcamp
Myspace
Lastfm

[Old but important] Birds Build Nests Underground Cold Dreams (KlaNGundKraCH)

Birds Build Nests Underground is a profilic duo consisting of Michal Brunclík and Petr Ferenc who had used turntables, vinyl records and loops for a pair of tracks to be improvised and recorded at home in winter 2008. Cold Dreams is relied upon lopsided soundscapes and propelling centrepoints for aspiring toward a new sonority via weird and dystopic effects. By having exploited lots of vinyl records in the recent case the issue (subsequently over 40 minutes) does hint at ancient symphonic samples, psychedelically repetitive sonic units, electro-acoustic-alike crackling hisses. In fact, this is an album where old touch meets new one and analogue formation meets digital approach. Indeed, Cold Dreams is a case of turntablism which is impressed via unexpected prevarications and dodges. No doubt, if you have listened to some music by Philip Jeck, Martin Tetreault or Christian Marclay or the kind of someone else, however, you should be experienced with the sort of "perverted language". An interesting accomplishment and different view about the (pop) music.

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c0ld l▲k3 - °∆° (Parafago)

The appearance of the Italian label Parafago was highly welcomed in the ending of the previous year having revealed an interesting mix of peripheral and whimsical electronics which at some of its points is related to witch house/haunted house/drag appearances. For instance, the second release in the label`s discography is issued by c0ld l▲k3, which is probably the best known artist in the roster. So far c0ld l▲k3 has got some attention with his/her previous accomplishments in the circle of blogs closely related to witch house/drag hype. Indeed, I have no idea about who she/he is but I have experienced his/her excellent touch of sound.

By obsessed with murky, industrial-infused sonority the recent case is related to a 16-minute track which is fulfilled with propulsive shards, layer changes, (over)shadowed borders, delay effects and stomping beats. Being properly channelized, balanced and dosed for the impression will overwhelm a listener in the first place for sure. And it makes the difference on its own.

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9.3

Shattered Darlings and Liquid Kisses Shattered Darlings and Liquid Kisses (Is This Music?)

Shattered Darlings and Liquid Kisses is a combo from Long Island, NY, USA, which is headed by songwriters Matt Richards and Tony Delgado (line-upped by James Johnson, Lillian Richards, and Debbie Hass, and their partly unknown keyboard player). Their debut issue is represented through 20 tracks within 53 minutes full of loaded guitar drives, subtly offered psychedelic synth shreds and solidly elaborated dream-alike vocal arrangements all in all building up dynamic sonic architectonics. If you have been a fan of My Bloody Valentine and the Irish quartet`s ascending guitar layers then their basic approach might be felt into your expectations and visions, though, SDLK does add their suggestive point of view. Moreover, by its loud, psychedelia-soaked and sometimes soothing approach does SDLK`s soundscape hint at the glorious and influential tradition of psych-rockers, dream poppers and power rockers as well. Honestly, it is a very pure rock`n`roll blowup obviously working superb in different situations and at any time out. To complement this experience for I highly recommend listen to SDLK`s EPs as well (In Tangiers; Chick Pop Vocals under Nana`s Records).

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9.6

[Artists] Blackbird Blackbird

Blackbird Blackbird
Blackbird Blackbird/Bandcamp
Plancha
Myspace
Lastfm

Vlantis Urotanki (Rack & Ruin)

Joe Jacobs aka Vlantis is an extraordinary musician, who is intended to play up an idiosyncratic pop concept based on electro-clash, 8-bit pop/chiptune, electronic indie, even the kind of vibraphone sustained post-rock a la Mice Parade and The Dylan Group. Let`s listen to a handful of albums by Jacobs to get some evidence about his diverse sonic dodges and preferations.

The 5-track EP issued under the Rack & Ruin is full of Japanese girl pop-esque harshness and hardcore-alike dense madness in which straightforward guitars are mixed with striking synths and stomping rhythm machines sometimes reminiscent of Elastica and Le Tigre. Impetuous and catchy call-and-responses, sometimes primitive, the other times over to be flourished into lush explosions. An impressive attack indeed.

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9.0

[Artists] Wolvepop

Wolvepop/Bandcamp
Myspace
Lastfm

Coolrunnings Babes Forever EP (Dracula Horse/Bandcamp)

The Knoxvillian trio Coolrunnings by Brandon Biondo, Forrest Ferguson and Elliott White have published two EPs (Buffalo; Babes Forever) during the August of 2010. However, I like the latter one more - the discussion is not going only around the coverprint. Here can be drawn out some essential characteristics which will be occurred via magic runs on (post-)psychedelic ecstasy and (pseudo) religious hysterics. It can be imagined as if a formula consisting of 40 percent on Animal Collective and Arcade Fire and 20 per cent on The Dandy Warhols respectively. Indeed, although both releases include wide-range musical imageries as broadly as the same, seems Babes Forever to be a more fluid and organic one. Moreover, the borders between the illusions, dreams and reality are blurred through encapsulated lyrics having added much impression to the whole contribution. The issue is full of essentially sublime moments, for instance the track like Better Things When I Got High With You shining out in a bombastic manner. Or Trippin` Balls At Der Wienerschnitzel which embarks on arrogantly rough synths similar to The Ganglians thereafter developing into the sublime rise of symphonic accompaniment on ecstatic drive. In fact, between those mentioned drifts can be found out for much more minutiae and detailed expressions. Or the self-titled song`s hypnotic drumming introduction and the followed sudden change of direction, and subsequently its re-formation again. The ending notch Slumberland is going on about the quintessential evidence once again to be commended through the orchestral brass arrangements being finally resulted in highly potent loftiness. In other words, a kind of vanguard pop which on the other side betrays the trio`s healthy desire toward the charts. Indeed, the six tracks form a whole which is plentiful of pop potential. In any cases, I will keep my fingers crossed.

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9.5

[Compilation] Various Artists - 23 Evergreens Vol.2 (23 Seconds)

The Gothenburg-based label 23 Seconds has been a crisscrosser of different indie styles or at least strongly indie-infused electronic pop genres for some years. Here represented 23 tracks released inbetween 2008-2010 do offer a proper overview about the backbone of the label. No doubt, the selection compiled by H Johan Lundin and Jesper Larsson is decent enough reflecting upon some exceptions as well - hip-hop (Dynamo 414; Conspiracy of Mind) and trance-induced bubblegum rave (Clone DJ) and post-metal (The Big Sleep In Search Of Hades). The other artists include Henrik Josè, Azoora, Jenifer Avila, Shampoo Tears, Azeda Booth, Adam & Alma, Ixtlan, Danish Daycare, Cosmic Spring, The Womb, Azoora, Can`t Stop The Daggers, and Emerald Park.

Listen to it here