Cornucopia - Vacu Sessions 16 (2011)

Vacu Sessions

9.3

/Experimental electronica, Abstract, Avant-electronica, Drone, Noise, Experimentalism/

Comment: Portugal-based Vacu Sessions functions to issue innovative mixes and compositions by different artists all around the world. This composition (symphony?) consists of 7 tracks within 59 minutes, employing opposing visions of sound (fluttering, noiseful snippets and thundering bass sequences are set out against dream-filled droning and subtly haunting electronica; clear-cut sounds versus infiltrated progressions). It might be even more important while lots of powerful energy used to seep from the potent form.

A Flat Noise - Hollow EP (2011)

Dystopiaq
A Flat Noise
Lastfm

7.6

/Alternative, Electro-rock, Electronic, Remixes, Lo-fi, Dark pop, Shoegaze/

Comment: This 4-pieced EP embarks on in an electro-drenched, orchestrated rock mould. Thereafter it continues running back and forth on sultry electro segments in its very marrow. Lazily stomping beats, austere amount of guitar chords and hazy electronic progressions in the background are up here to set out a quite heavily opening whole. The last track Hospital (2009) searches timidly for shoegaze realms, yet, succeeding in creating process of dream-alike milieus surrounding pleasantly a listener. The favorite of mine is Hollow (A1X Remix) which constitutes an underlay of dynamical, catchy beats. By the way, the project comes from Ecuador.

The Wind Whistles - Turtle

Enzo Carlino - the wood of the mists and other tales (2008)

Jamendo

8.8

/Soundtrack, Classical music, Mood music, Orchestrated music, Chill out/

Comment: An epic drift between jubilant, heartbreaking harmonies and kitsch-y, synth-programmed beats (indeed, it is very nicely balanced - without sticking out like a sore thumb). Mostly all of that is created in dominating minor key reminding strongly of Ennio Morricone`s monumental tunes. Powerful orchestrated sounds stick out like the philosophy written in chords instead of bare, deteriorating words. The heart-throb of mine is The Marvellous Voyage of Captain Knob which originally was composed as Concerto for oboe, theremin, electronic and orchestra.

Uton - Taivaan Joka Kolossa (2008/2011)

OM HA SVA HA KSHA MA LA VA RA YAM

Free Music Archive

8.6

/Noise, Psych-music, Improvised music, Experimentalism, Avant-folk, Avant-garde/

Comment: Uton is a nom de plume for Jani Hirvonen who is known as an ambassador of the Finnish avant-folk/psych-folk/psychedelic folk/electro folk generalized as "forest folk". Here are represented 15 tracks veering from rough freeform improvisations to psych-ish and nihilistic noiseful overthrows. First of all, the album reminds of Vierivä Viiksiportieeri`s vehement, open-aired works and Kemialliset Ystävät`s crawling, layered metaphysics (if to speak in the context of the Finnish folk scene).

Sally Paradise - Virtual 7" No. 8 (2011)

EverythingIsChemical

9.0

/Chillwave, Glo-fi, Shoegaze, Avant-pop, Experimental pop, DIY, Lo-fi, Electronic/

Comment: Montrèal is not only the birthplace of ice hockey and home city for Canadiens but also a cultural and musical metropolis for the rest of the world which has offered a loads of musical collectives like Bran Van 3000, Arcade Fire, Tim Hecker, Muhr, Gino Soccio, Akufen, Martin Tetreault, GY!BE (and its subsidiaries) etc. No doubt, Montrèal does have the potent lo-fi/DIY scene nowadays (listen to Hobo Cult`s compilations, for instance) and Sally Paradise is one of those discerning butterflies from there. Here are represented three tracks, which used to extend from bombastic chillwave superflight to lo-fi experimental pop and bubbling dada-near avant-pop. The first track Robert Smith On The Beach pays tribute to the Cure by name (as Robert Smith used to esteem MBV`s Loveless) ringing out like a spoiled yet majestic shoegaze instance. By the way, SP released a new album, called Aouu! at Bandcamp.

Primitive Noyes - Hetch Hetchy

Tribe Of Astronauts – Magic Water, Magic Ice (2011)

Inside

9.4

/Dark ambient, Minimal, Soundscapes, Ambient drone, Modern classical, Dystopbient, Experimentalism/

Comment: Just one track. Some seconds over 21 minutes. The basic carcasses and minutiae of improvised and arranged music are juxtaposed to each other. Indeed, this is a huge soundscape extending over (modern) classical and droning plateaus and trash-filled electronic wastelands (in outer space, in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, in abandoned territories somewhere). Lots of phase and timbre changes, some nervous system shaking throb sequences. Serious-faced and dark-hued. Compare it to the sounds by Taiga, and Caustic Reverie (TheForgotten).

Saito Koji - Luck (2011)

Resting Bell

9.5

/Ambient, Ambient drone, Shoegazetronica, Microtonal, Minimalism, Experimental electronica, Guitar ambient/

Comment: 3-track album by a Japanese experimental musician, Saito Koji, which used to murmur in a minimal yet highly emotive way. Light-hearted synth droning is laced with deluging organic touch and chirpy guitar-based soothing. Fundamental repetitions, more or less elliptically shaped rhythm patterns-loops, beatific reflet exemplified permanently therein are up to standard. Moreover, the issue seems to be the kind of grower. However, if the ending track were speeded up twice as much, it would have chimed as a hallmark of shoegaze music, in principle. In fact, it applies to the other tracks and recent moment either. It sticks out like a warped version of Slowdive`s sound, yet, having existence of full value on its own. A mesmerizing phenomenon indeed.

On Returning - Dresses & Dreams (2011)

Jamendo

8.8

/Post-punk, Britpop, Synth pop, Crossover, New Wave, Alternative pop/rock/

Comment: Similarly to Swedish compatriots The Search`s retrospective issue Silverslut 1999-2002 (especially the first half of the compilation) reviewed the other day On Returning`s release is attuned to roll in a similar, post-punk-ish way. More concretely, rigid yet vivid bass lines, galvanic guitars, leafy synths in the background are configurated in a way to make up both in energy and synergy. Yet, there can be found out two tracks at least which make acquaintance with more synth pop structures and ambiences, on the other hand, acquiring britpop-ish feeling getting close to the Lightning Seeds-alike pop easiness.