Astma - there will be a McDonald's (2010)

Zeromoon
Free Music Archive

9.4

/Industrial rock, Avant-garde, Experimental, Improvised music, Psych-rock, Noise rock, Non-music, Experimental rock/

Comment: Alexei Borisov has obviously been one of the most eminent and well-known names after Sergey Kuryokhin in and outside Russia (and in the area of the former Soviet Union as well) regarding any kind of cutting edge music. Previously known by his participations in different groups and his profound workouts in electronic music, however, his recent workouts for few late years are more closely related to a poet, namely to Alexei Rafiev, and co-musician Olga Nosova. The last named one is involved as the gearhead and vocalist in the Moscow noise band Motherfathers. The album is quite huge consisting of 20 tracks, however, representing a propulsive endeavour taking on innovative industrial rock attacks and noise-core overthrows. More detailly, through those very dense improvised scapes dominantly can be perceived some influences by Einstuerzende Neubauten (exactly the early era of the Berlin legends) and even voice patterns similar in a way to the manifestations of the Fall`s consciousness Mark E Smith. Indeed, on the basis of this delightful appearance of noise (rock) and endless energy can be said that Borisov arrived at his roots again.

Lullatone - Elevator Music (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.8

/Toytronica, Folktronica, Organic electronica, Child music, Electronic pop, Indietronica, Primitive pop/

Comment: Obviously Lullatone do not need a thorough introduction at the moment anymore. Being active since the first half of 00`s the Seymours became involved in making of intiguing mellow electronica-based sculptures spiced up with naivistic approach. Similarly to the past, the recent release is mostly a calm blend of indie and folk and electronica, as if were created with toys and unconventional music instruments. Conceptually the issue bears a practical purpose for listening to while driving in the elevator. At times those naivistic melodies and joyous gears remind of those cartoons of Czechoslovakia (the Mole Krtek; Štaflik a Špagetka etc) by the 60`s-70`s watched in childhood. Really charming and cute indeed. So let`s call it just cutetronica.

Tree Hopping - The Beat Beat (2010)

Mediafire
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.0

/New Weird America, Free folk, Tropical pop, DIY, Psychedelic, Poptronica, Avant-pop/

Comment: Gabriel Berrios is a youngster from Gainesville, Florida, USA representing some innovative directions in the New Weird America movement. Basically it is an instance of sample-relied pop mixing up magnificient pop minutiae with each other within high-tempered act of creation. In detail, densely pitched tropical/latin pop elements are drawn on jubilant choruses, synergically pounding drums, and slightly gnarling synths. On the other side, there can be perceived nowadays lo-fi/DIY aesthetics as well. The energy coming forth from those sonic blocks, it is impossible to convey it further through the words indeed.

Younnat - Radiovision (2008)

Kahvi
Lastfm

9.2

/Psychedelic, Easy listening, Chillout, Sampledelic, Electronic pop, Electro-rock, Poptronica/

Comment: Radiovision is the sophomore issue by the Ukrainian artist Oleg Serdyuk who used to fuse diverse intersections and sonic influences on the album. However, this can be considered a classic one which is compiled of catchy bubblegum-ish rhythms, reed organs, sythesized loops, all in all, making hugely mood and perception. Serdyuk uses to exploit hiss samples of Manu Chao`s radio tuning, Solovyov-Sedoi`s classic Moscow Nights, and the Latvian electro-disco rock legends Zodiac (indeed, which awaits to be more discovered by the Western block people) which at its most frenzied moments resembles of Messer für Frau Müller. An intrinsic beauty which suggests Radiovision is much better than Eurovision.

Bing Satellites - Little Waves (2011)

Bing Satellites

8.7

/Shoegazetronica, Organic electronica, Electronic pop, Chillout, Ambient, Downtempo, Kosmische musik, Soundscape/

Comment: Manchester has had much virtues to offer to. The Smiths, The Fall, Joy Division, some acid rock ravers like Happy Mondays and the first period The Charlatans. Furthermore, the labels like Hippocamp or BFW Recordings, the last of the abovementioned is headed by a guy known as Bing Satellites, who used to practice fusing ambient sound with shoegaze touch and downtempo synthetic-ness. This 4-track album is spatial, filled with cosmic rays, organic soundscapes, silentful chillout vibes and endlessly soothing fluctuation, all of which is based on a range of sounds veering from the microscopic particles to epic developments. A very pleasant experience.

三毛猫ホームレス - KANEKURE EP (2011)

Maltine

8.0

/Shibuya-kei, Funk fusion, Indie pop, J-pop, Easy listening, Electronic pop/

Comment: A 3-track issue filled in with a mix of dance music and indie attitude of Japanese heritage. There can be detected for shibuya-kei-esque synergy, unwieldy yet catchy synthesized progressions, heavily stomping cadences, funk-y fusions, and easy listening visions. First of all thought for enjoying rather than dancing on the dancefloor.

Meeting Of Important People - Quit Music (2011)

Authentik Artists
Bandcamp

7.0

/Alternative pop/rock, Indie, Grunge/

Comment: Although this Pittsburgh-based trio is considered a representative of the garage rock movement, the last issue reflects only some weak flashes toward it. And the conception of the issue (10 tracks within 29 minutes) are up here to afford a somewhat hazy hint at it. Some loud yet varnished guitar riffs do not allow an exit over to this promised area. In any cases, way too ordinary and bombastic indie pop strums with one explorative trip to the compartment of grunge explosion. At times it seems to be a kind of patchwork made out of the minutiae of The Darkness and Keane respectively. All in all, lacking enough charisma and spark except the ending track Country Wife which does have more treated and planned structure.

Sabrepulse - Wanting

Coolrunnings - Dracula Is Only The Beginning (2011)

Dracula Horse
Bandcamp

8.2

/Psychedelia, Avant-pop, Experimental indie, Poptronica, Alternative pop, Glo-fi, Art-rock/

Comment: Knoxvillian quartet Coolrunnings is back after the great EP Babies Forever which was one of the peak albums in 2010. In fact, it can be considered the group`s first proper LP. In principle, they continue keeping on their current aesthetical tradition offering strong drifts toward Animal Collective-esque exulting psychedelia and Arcade Fire-like straightness in songwriting. This time their songwriting is way too restrainted and less shimmering, though, proffering some really great moments either (Megalomania; Burnout).

Apskaft Presents: 21st Century Schizoid Men (2011)

Bandcamp

8.0

/Avant-garde, Covers, Conceptual, Experimental rock, DIY, Progressive, Experimentalism, RIO, Avant-prog, Experimental electronica/

Comment: Apskaft is used to be a platform for DIY musicians basically with clear-out vanguard-ish orientation. The collective has mainly publicized compilations. At times these miscellanies do have a reference toward some artists or songs. However, the recent compilation relies on King Crimson`s 21st Century Schizoid Man, offering 1o diverse versions on it, veering from frenzied RIO to noise-inflected lo-fi electronics and from reggae sounds to chaotic (near-) dance experiments.