Mirabilia - Sümpaatiline õudus EP (2011)

Bandcamp

9.6

/Experimental indie, Psychedelia, Singer-songwriter, Art-pop, Indie pop, Psychedelia, Leftfield, Space pop, Krautrock, Avant-pop, Indie folk/

Comment: Dallas was a cult combo from Tallinn, Estonia, and was considered as one of the most prominent Estonian (if not the most well-known) indie pop names in the ending part of 90`s (they released the last and self-released output Delay Lama in 2003, though, after being on hiatus for some years before it. By the way, some days ago were their seminal albums Raj Kapoor/Sleeper`s Entertainer re-issued under Seksound). The band which was apparently influenced by Stereolab, blending indie rock tunes with bossa circulations, fairy-alike orchestrated progressions, psychedelic electronica, some dance vibes, all in all, making it out as a beatific pop group anyway. However, Holger Loodus, their leader, made comeback with the project Mirabilia in the mid of 00`s, having released the album Log In Eye (Seksound). In any cases, the follow-up Sümpaatiline õudus EP is a 4-track issue being named after and using the text of Charles Baudelaire`s Horreur Symphatique as well. He is assisted by the members of now or previously existed acts like Galaktlan Project, Kismabande, Chance, and Sinine, all in all, playing out a very solid set, indeed demonstrating himself as an exciting singer-songwriter, who incorporates besides "usual" indie guitar sections the elements of dynamical psychedelia, catchy alt-folk, krautrock-esque experimentalism, variable sound effects and space contexts. Indeed, it may resemble Dallas at times, yet it is an obvious leap upon the next level.

Pablo Akaros - Unis par les cliks (2006)

Edensonic
Archive.org

8.0

/Tekno, Techno, Club dance, Remix, Minimal, Progressive, Minimal/

Comment: A 4-track brainchild of this profilic Spanish-based club music gearhead reflects upon those dodges and beat manipulations so characteristic to the middle period of 00`s. However, it is an example of bouncing yet minimally fluttering, repeated shapes-relied techno-tekno blended sets, which is intersected by progressing, acid-filled synth brooding at times (Mikro Punto). On the other side, though, it is an insertion into more elemental and warped, spaciously blasting avant-techno realms, for instance through the Catkin Bay Remix of the track Mikro Punto by Jesse Somfay.

Dockta Valkus - Infobomb EP (2010)

Neferiu Records
Dockta Valkus
Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.7

/Experimental, Hip-hop, Avant-garde, Psychedelic/

Comment: After his high-acclaimed debut issue SKYBASE (2008) Dockta Valkus is back with his 6 new tracks within 16 minutes, making collaboration with Mighty Vega whose hectic MC-ing makes potently sense in front of a background built on outer space-looking samples, mystically profound, abyss-arrived bass beats, all in all, making the EP out as a remote species from the chart-appealing rap music, moreover, embodying as a kind of ideal hip-hop paces on its own.

Dark van Galaxy - Ekania (2011)

Tunguska Electronic music Society - Tunguska Chillout Grooves vol. 3 (Lilith & Selena)

Jamendo

7.7

/Electronic pop, Psyambient, Chillout, Psytrance, New Age, Downtempo/

Comment: This compilation consists of two albums (Lilith; Selena), having the total length more than 2 hours. I love ARGONIKA`s track Do You Hear, which makes difference with a fine robot pop. Or Alexander V. Mogilco (feat. JAMA)`s soul notch tuned New Age-drenched mix. In the most part, however, it is a kind of middle-tempo swaying on soothing and burbling synths and synthesized flute passages. By the way, the beautiful coverprint as well.

Random Article - Valley Sessions, January-February 2011 (2011)

Archive.org

/Drone folk, Improvised music, Jam session, Live recording, Experimental folk, Psychedelic folk/

8.5

Comment: It has always been a big pleasure to listen to the Exeter-based improvisational folk groups, mainly concentrated on around a band named as Children Of The Drone. Here is a set of 20 songs, relied upon meditative, improvised raga tunes, restrainted drone folk, played upon bass, violin, vocal improvisations and occasional bouzouki and percussion interventions (tablas) plus burning chestnut logs recorded at a cottage in the Broad Oak valley, near Canterbury (UK), January-February 2011.

Digi G'Alessio - The Cinar Session (2010)

Bedroom Research
Free Music Archive
Bandcamp

/Electro, Club dance, Breakbeat, Sound collage, Lo-fi/

7.6

Comment: This is a Cristiano Crisci`s set of 6 tracks having basically drifts between dirty, lo-fi-esque electro paces and brooding breakbeats, being spiced up with speech samples, old school video game music-alike snippets, MC-ing, and even haunting, near-noise reverbs and undercurrents at times.

Plusplus - Tip Toes

The Crayons - The Only Real Place (2010)

Totokoko

8.7

/Electro-indie, Electronic, Lo-fi, Dance rock, Art-rock, DIY, Alternative pop, Remix, Cover/

Comment: The American duo The Crayons made their first appearance with the album Raised by BestFriends (2009) on the Rack & Ruin label. However, now the duo is an artist under the Japanese label Totokoko showcasing their solid abilities to write catchy electro-backed rock tunes, for instance, Finding a Black Hole is a mesmerizing track which should have been stuck by the whole indie pop blogosphere. Through the tracks like Mr Bug, and Summer Camp With The Crayons they made a big bow toward the mister R Stevie Moore. The ending part of the album is reserved for a heavily effect-loaded remix (helped by ADK) and in live made cover (of Sam & Valley`s track) respectively.

Music For Your Plants - Tour Peru (2011)

Yachar - MUSA (2011)

Jamendo

8.8

/Classical, Neoclassical, Instrumental, Chamber music, Baroque music/

Comment: This is a short-running issue of only 21 minutes by Yachar from Valencia, Catalonia, Spain. Lots of changes on timbres, moods and milieus will be conjured up within it, based mainly on classical and at times neoclassical themes, however, at times getting involved in flaring arrangements, yet the other time round being covered with melancholic or even threatening core. Especially captivating outputs are Invierno por venir, and Eres hoi aquí showcasing Yachar`s ability to manage off orchestral music-based setups into hovering film score notches.

Blackbird Blackbird - Halo (2011)

Bandcamp

/Chillwave, Glo-fi, Experimental indie, Shoegazetronica, Dream pop, Lo-fi, Electronic pop/

8.2

Comment: Blackbird Blackbird (previously known as Bye Bye Blackbird - at the time of releasing his music under the Arcade Sound Ltd label yet) is the solo-project of 23-year old vocalist/producer Mike Maramag, being one of the most prominent heroes in the nowadays chillwave/glo-fi scene. Here are 17 tracks compiled of B-sides and previously unreleased songs. Unlike many other chillwave/glo-fi artists he is more keenly used to wade through shoegaze-infected landscapes too. No doubt, by listening to it you can detect for some of the feats with mighty hit potential. For instance, Fly (feat. Steffaloo) which is one of the three most beautiful tracks heard AD 2011.

Lavalsa - Lavalsa (2011)

Sinewave

8.5

/Shoegaze, Indie rock, Alternative rock, Psychedelic, Noise pop, Power pop/

Comment: A simply rocking shoegaze- and power pop influenced 4-track album by a Brazilian quartet under Sinewave, the label which has delivered some great albums (i.e Hangin Freud`s Sunken; This Lonely Crowd`s An Endless Moment Everyday All The Time, and Entangled Chaos; Loomer`s Coward Soul, for instance). Behind Lavalsa`s concept can be apprehended lots of swayings between silentful leadoffs and noiseful, near-epic outbursts, joyous playings on dissonants and consonants, in a more concrete way, you can perceive influences veering from Sonic Youth-hued guitar stumblings and My Bloody Valentine-like chord alchemy to slightly psychedelic Smashing Pumpkins-esque powerful hooks, catchy ascendings and organic calmings.

Sturqen - Pertal

c0ld l▲k3 - Lanceton Ice Factory, Magic Hour (2011)

Parafago

7.7

/Witch house, Drag, Experimental electronica, Avant-garde, Weird pop, Plunderphonics/

Comment: In fact, for all of those people who have erlier made acquaintance with c0ld l▲k3`s oeuvres the recent issue makes up some surprise though. It sounds like a skeletonal approach of witch house-alike madness. A bleak, abrasive soundscape, which seems to be running on digital hisses and dust, does make strongly sense. Yet, within it there are some lightest moments as well. For example, Robocop makes itself out as a fine instance of afrofuturistic/voodoo funk mongrel. Or Detroit 9000, which does have strong references toward the seminal scenes of Detroit club music.

The Heather - HOLIDAY 0061 (2011)

Holiday Records

8.2

/Indie pop, Neokrautrock, Electronic, Baroque pop, Glo-fi, Poptronica/

Having nothing more to add but this is a catchy, balanced, well-grown indie pop on its own. The second track Like There`s Now Tomorrow is a case of neokrautrock having a decent pop melodic hooks, the lead-off notch Why Do You Laugh, on the other side, is relied upon crumbly focused poptronica.

The Macadamia Brothers - Tiger Sauce (2009)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.4

/Indie folk, Folk indie, Alt-folk, Singer-songwriter, Experimental folk/

Comment: Actually I want and can still remember for those days when Scott Milligan aka The Macadamia Brothers recorded for the now defunct Rack & Ruin Records, sounding like a torch bearer for the New Weird Canada movement. Whatever, this 9-track album is less involved in ecstatic states of songwriting, yet there are some sparkling indie folk/alt-folk moments by set out for us.

pequena fiera! - hello,cupid

Ugol Ratmanova - Oregon (2011)

Clinical Archives

6.5

/Sound-art, Noise, Live recording, Improvised music, Experimentalism, Avant-garde, Electro-acoustic, Illbient, Industrial/

Comment: Digital sound processing in nowadays situation can be considered as a sword with two razors. Some musicians are able to take advantage of it, the other not. However, Sergey Kniazkov and Igor Orlov could reach this challenge out partially. There can be detected for some patterns-aspirations behind the duo`s doings, yet the most part of the soundscape has lacked clear-cut arrangements on timbres, thereby mostly sounding as an array of chords just following to each other, or an instance of into one-pressed audible bunch anyway. Only Muddie Venture and Recession Whisk can make some difference from the residual part.

Flyafter - Today I`m With You (2011)

23 Seconds

8.8

/Experimental indie, Poptronica, Chillwave, Lo-fi, Glo-fi, Electronic pop, Electro-indie, Leftfield/

Comment: This is the second album by this 4-pieced Indonesian ensemble under the Swedish 23 Seconds label. Similarly to their previous, self-titled issue the recent one is filled in with astonishing growings and transitions, more detailly, operating with traditional indie pop impetus and blissful horizons of chillwave/poptronica/glo-fi music, all in all, creating a kind of irresistible touch for ardent indie people. In a more technical language does it mean the change drifts toward a spot on drum machines, sequencers and synths. By the way, you can take the first EP and add it over to this one, thereafter getting a proper LP and more listen times. But it is just a hypothesis.

Victory VIII - Vermont (2011)

Holiday Records

9.0

/Poptronica, Electronic pop, Bedroom pop, DIY, Lo-fi, Glo-fi, Chillwave, Avant-pop, Experimental indie/

Comment: Victory VIII in his well-known quality. This time lo-fi-esque rhythm sources meet introspective and even melancholic layerings above it reminiscent of Morricone-esque sadness (actually I have no idea why I have met so many groups during last weeks resembling heavily the Italian film score maestro). As he said this is an attempt to make a soundtrack to a National Geographic magazine about New England. Also, he wishes he was dead.

Holytigress - Oh Joann (2011)

Holytigress
Bandcamp

8.6

/Dream folk, Alt-folk, Singer-songwriter, Demo, Covers/

Comment: Based in Paradise Hills, Holytigress is a dream pop/slowcore project headed on by the songwriter Joshua Saposnekoo, who has said he is used to create his songs in his mom’s apartment. Herein are four songs - two of them are the covers of golden classic`s tracks, - made just by the man, his guitar, colourful voice, having much of shivering, hazy space around them. Though very simple by its main line, it contains a bunch of captivating moments here. And it makes really sense.

Muhmood - Electrification Of Udmurtia

TakeMeToTheMorgue! - This Dark Virus (2011)

Torn Flesh

8.8

/Dark ambient, Neoclassical, Drone, Modern classical, Classical, Dystopbient, Freeformfreakout, Non music, Minimal, Experimentalism, Abstract, Dark wave, Illbient, Martial, Avant-garde, Synth industrial/

In the same way as Jessie Martin aka Ylnez Payne`s previous, the debut album Oblivion EP (2010) used to be, indeed, the sophomore notch is a very brooding release as well. Actually it is even more articulated and channelized into a mighty form, obviously affording for itself vanguard-ish elements of sound processing and off-kilter sonic formations. What does it mean "serious" in the context of this set of 14 (plus 4) tracks? Firstly, it is an annihilator of your highest (i.e ecstatic feelings), on the other side - in the formal sense - it is an impressive drifting between dark ambient, obscure drone, film noir, dark wave, subdued cybercore, electronically mutilated messages, martial techno and beat-based mayhems and neoclassical orchestrations. Moreover, Payne cleverly takes advantage of not using the hermetical approach of sound recording, yet having no side-effects to be sounded somehow vulnerable. By the way, about those off-kilter sonic formations though? For instance, Beauty Inspired By Darkness (ft. Ricky Revenge) which is a silent, minor key-moulded piano track having a bunch of sinister progressions in the backdrop or Eternal Nightmares For Passive Dreamers which relies on hardly minimal, darkscape-driven developments.

Pequeña Fiera! - Mountains were monsters (2010)

Error! Lo-fi

9.0

/Indie pop, Indietronica, Alternative pop, Electronic, Poptronica, New Weird Europe, Post-folk, Post-pop, Dream pop/

Comment: Thanks to such artists like Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, The Grizzly Bear, and The Dirty Projectors the kind of ecstatic pop has gained more popularity amongst ordinary music buyers and reached quite high places in pop charts. Error! Lo-fi is a Spanish-based label under which have a lot of bands found its output to the world. However, the basic core is concentrated upon mellow indie pop/ indietronic/ folktronic/ toytronic music. However, Pequeña Fiera! is one of the most profilic and eminential notches among this umbrella, anyway, deserving its position rightly. A set of 6 tracks is full of ecstatically pursuing guitar-strumming, dream-alike vocal lines (at times reminiscent of Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson from Sigur Ros) and synth- and glockenspiel-drenched indie pop. It is mesmerizing how those different layers within it will be melt into each other.

Greendjohn - Loophole (2011)

Jamendo

8.8

/Film score, Classical, Soundtrack, Orchestrated music, Conceptual/

Comment: This is the third album (or soundtrack - it would be the more proper classification for such kind of music) by a musician residing in Belgium. Indeed, this sounds like an imaginable soundtrack for a very epic film. More concretely, fast key changes, bombastic orchestrations and even progressions into choir-alike spaces and ominous, martial-hued music vary with decreasings into a near-silence introspection or gliding down into a sort of still life. As a skillful creator, he is very well aware of those emotive elements he is used to operate with - for example, Morricone-esque playings on feminine high vocal registers and flute samples. No doubt, the flowing of serotonine will be activated in your brain while listening to it.

Old Age - Lutsen (2011)

Bandcamp

8.0

/Ambient, Experimentalism, Avant-electronica, Minimal, Ambient drone, Sound-art, Microtonal, Kosmische musik/

Comment: Three tracks. The first track is a soothing, slightly pulsating flowing embellished by some metallic progressions and having nearly epic tendencies within it. The second track is a case of flickering electronica whereas there could be detected for similarities on technical approach with seminal electronic musicians a la Conrad Schnitzler. The third one creates experience through limber drifts over jagged soundscapes, over decreasing and increasing ridges respectively.

Clinker - Good Trip, Bad Trip (2011)

Clinker
Lastfm

/Trance rock, Space rock, Psychedelia, Motorik, Avant-rock, Experimental rock, Krautrock, Progressive, Math rock, Crossover, Dance rock/

10.0

Comment: This is the first notch of the London-based group`s planned pair of albums in the year of 2011. However, when the instruments (guitars, drums, samplers, keyboards) were switched on, the magnificient, 5-track containing journey started off. And it is an essentially enthralling trip. The first track Poison Tree is profoundly introspective, dense, even a bit abrasive outlook upon the world. A massive ballad without being someway pathetic, though. Survive does deliver some spaced-out, electro-rock infused space rock/krautrock gems striking and stroking simultaneously. Being highly dynamic and looping, however, it is krautrockers` rock and roll on its own. Or metronomic pop, as you wish it for. Like Faust on the 1970`s and nowadays releases as well. But Clinker does make grooves up a bit better. Flightpath Of The Righteous is a frenzied yet ultimately catchy blend of neo-progressive developments and math rock-esque bass gears and drum blasts. A murderous combination...whattha hell... what is going there about in the ending section actually? No doubt, it is a 30-second snippet of breakcore-ish/chiptune-ish pace crap. Ame Ni Mo Makezu goes on with the same rhythmic section (in true, tuning it into more danceable ones - one of the best dance rock-gears ever heard), yet, inserting one principial difference by added space rock-ish/orchestration-mixed above it. Arrghhh!!! is all what I would to say. The ending and the longest track, 17-minute-long Pig In My Brain wades through the diverse chapters, beginning with somewhat feeble and subdued shimmerings, yet progressing into a spiritual (sic! resembling Spiritualized too), gospel-induced trance rock-ish anthem.

In fact, it is a bit shame about the British that they are not ready yet to overturn theirselves and discover such a great ensemble with strong issues behind their backs. Let`s take your time and listen to such albums like Clinker (2008), and When I Grow Up I Wanna Be A Space Cadet (2007) as well. However, Good Trip, Bad Trip is one of the strongest candidates for the best album of 2011 for sure.

New Animal - Who`s Gonna Open My .......?

Zoom-On-A-Kill - I Was Her (2011)

Bandcamp

8.5

/Samplecore, Breakcore, Cut and paste, Plunderphonics, Freeformfreakout, Sampledelic/

In comparison with the first album (Couleurs Sans Danger, 2010) by Zoom-On-A-Kill the direction and thought of the latest release is not piled up under a bunch of clenched sounds. Therein can be sensed a lot of different milieus and pleasant air fluttering around you, all the samples are clearly segmented and set out, on the other side, yet never keeping on hold against outrageous maelstrom of sounds which at this time does veer from film score samples, vinyl crackles and 8-bit pieces to vintage Latin rhythms, deep vibes, heavily slapping beats, sliced electro-gears and psych-out MC-ing. In a nutshell, these short-running tracks are the witnesses of an astute manipulation of previously cooked sonic information.

Our Ceasing Voice - When The Headline Hit Home (2011)

Our Ceasing Voice
Lastfm

8.5

/Post-rock, Experimental rock, Instrumental rock, Epic, Ambient rock, Musique concrete, Modern classical, Ambient rock/

Comment: OCV is used to be one of my most favorite Austrian band near Radian and The Autistic Daughters. Though having released some of issues(EP`s) before it, indeed, When The Headline Hit Home is the quartet`s first proper full-length one. The title and the coverprint of the album reflects upon the arrogance of the human being, being masterfully supplemented by (omni)potent, at times exploding crescendos, densed guitar channelizations, blissful choir-backed progressions, remote echoes and endlessly perceived atmospheric plateaus. Mainly instrumental rock, though, the insertions of resigned vocal lines sometimes give it another pleasant touch. For ardent post-rock fans, anyway, the release is obligatory for you.

Computer Magic - Spectronic EP (2011)

Computer Magic

Lastfm

8.8

/Synth pop, Lo-fi, Bedroom pop, Glo-fi, DIY, Chillwave, Electronic pop/

Comment: This is a consistent appearance of nowadays grrrl power. Behind it is a young woman from New York named Danielle "Danz" Johnson who composes, sings and plays synths by herself. Having started off in 2010, she has already released handful of issues, intended to create her own sonority, being neither pure-sensed synth pop nor clear-cut glo-fi/chillwave phenomenon. Besides it she has got lots of listening times and obviously gained cult reputation during this short time interval.

Antonina - Pakike

The Womb - Britpop (2006)

The Womb/Danielle Records

9.0

/Britpop, Alternative pop/rock, Experimental indie, Psychedelic pop, Folk noir, Singer-songwriter, Electronic pop, Trip-hop, Big-beat, Alt-folk/
Comment: This album was publicized in 2006, in an era, when britpop has already been dead approximately 6-7 years, yet, the issue reflects exactly upon those tendencies being dominant throughout the 1993-2000 period while London and Manchester were swinging crazily. In fact, in the ending of 90`s Alan Driscoll aka the Womb leaded off with his musical ambitions. Once to get arrived at the title-based reference, indeed, the britpop was not only a movement of guitar-based groups it incorporates the acts of electronica, trip-hop, club dance/pop dance, big beat, atmospheric pop and (acidious) folk music too. So besides Suede, Pulp, Verve, Lightning Seeds, Blur, Primal Scream, Radiohead and other great indie rock acts else there were also Leftfield, Space, Massive Attack, Chemical Brothers, Björk, Tricky, Asian Dub Foundation, Portishead, Super Furry Animals, Gorky`s Zygotic Mynci, Cornershop etc. Though it was a vast bunch of styles and groups, yet, there was a somehow close connection between all those occurrences and signs. This way I felt then and thinking now by the way. The Britpop is made in liasion with Chloë Reeves, who was singing alone of painfully personal songs here. Lots of hitting appearances can be found from within those 10 tracks (My Lover`s Blood; I Disown My Country; Other Lovers; The Dusty Groove, Nostalgia Town). A beautiful and heavily nostalgic appearance.

Syndrôm - Nomades En No Man's Land (2010)

Bypass
Archive.org
Lastfm

8.8

/Samplecore, Jungle, Drum and bass, Experimentalism, Breakbeat, Rhythmcore, Musique concrete, Folktronica, Crossover, Avant-garde/

Comment: Within those 20 tracks will have happened much in fact. Undoubtedly the whole release is trodden upon densely swinging-grooving beat combinations, mainly on jungle, breakbeats and its closest "step" genres. Yet, the whimsical pace mayhem is differentiated by another level which is constructed of concrete sounds, spoken word overthrows, ethnic drums, the first half of the 20`s century proto jazz, bunch of elaborated sounds, murky soundscape and much more else. By its ideology, idiosyncratical sonic mirror and sheer intellectuality, however, Syndrôm resembles the Italian artist IlKobra.

Boletes - Hunnibug EP/Kites Overhead - In the Shadow of the Mountain EP (2010/2011)

No-Source

Forest Records
Bandcamp
Lastfm
Lastfm

8.4

/Dark folk, Folk noir, Alt-folk, Ambient folk, Singer-songwriter, Experimental indie, Post-rock/

Comment: This is a split compiled of two EP`s. Boletes is Roy Cornall from Scotland who plays up slightly flavoured noir-hued folk. More concretely, this is mainly about middle tempod guitar strummings which are fringed with reverb effects and synthesized walls and lots of changes. Kites Overheas is Gene Kondusky from Canada who showcases his abilitis in the realm of of post-rock-infused indie/folk pop, wherein are presented frizzy guitar drives, reversed sonic effects, pace progressions and repetitive elements, all in all, demonstrating dynamical transitions from acoustic pop notches over to electrified and more technical pop occurrence.

Melophobia – Fukushima (11_04M) (2011)

Webbed Hand

8.6

/Soundscape, Dark ambient, Conceptual, Sound-art, Abstract, Electro-acoustic, Musique concrete, Dystopbient/

Comment: Actually it is amazing how fastly some musicians have already reacted to the horrendous events in Japan nearly one week ago releasing conceptual albums or dedicating the compilations. If to check the album title out Melophobia, a Greek project, is directly connected to it. For instance, (Otsuchi, population = 0), or (No.1 reactor + No.2 reactor + No.3 reactor etc), or (The Bank of Japan & 15 trillion yen). By its outer form the album seems to be filled in with really austere and minimal tunes, yet, by its inner core (or in translation) it comes more into impressive shape, reflecting exactly upon the feelings of despair and fear. Indeed, therein can be detected for creepy, at times almost invisible drone/hiss pulsatings, be a witness for weak echoes of human speech and the sounds of alarm signals and overflowing planes and bypassing trains.

Hox Vox - Marcel Duchamp

Canoply Games - Harmony (2011)

Jamendo

8.4

/Dada music, Fusion, Experimentalism, Avant-garde, Noise, Post-metal, Avant-electronica, Crossover, Modern classical/

A dada musician/peripheral experimentalist from Bratsk, Russia is back again. This time he arrived at with 8 new short-running tracks, however, the main topic of the release is exactly relied on diverse layers which are densely interplayed with each other. Post-metal meets fusion/Zeuhl meets off-kilter electronics/sound effects meets modern classical meets noise meets silence. Brooding guitar riffs, steel-ish noise and at times unexpectedly inserted bleeps, galoping cadences and drifting sonic massives make sense all in all. Indeed, a potent output reminiscent of CG`s earlier effort Cthulhucore (2009).

Good Natured Threat - Short Stories EP (2011)

Melodica

8.9

/Indie, Crossover, Post-pop, Trip-hop, Downtempo, Folktronica, Hip-hop, Dub/

Comment: Behind Good Natured Theart is a duo Mark and Lara Hjorthoy from Vancouver, Canada who have created an inspiring pastiche from downtempo, indie, folktronica, hip-hop, trip-hop, minimal and optimal dub and other styles on their 3-track debut issue. In fact, lots of diverse guitar chords and riffs are mixed up with lots of beats which, by its side, are built on permanent variations. Obviously this release is also a case when it is used to talk about post-crossover genre. So if you are interested in such kind of music listen to such artists as Menion and Arrogalla as well. And the second track Until We Have Faces resembles strongly some tunes from Bizarre`s masterpiece Cafe De Flor (1996). In a word, this is a solid accomplishment.

Korhymes ft. Astèr - Stabilize

A Holiday Friends Christmas Treasury Volume Two - Part One (2010)

Holiday Records

9.2

/Conceptual, Indie pop, Alternative pop, Twee pop, Poptronica/

Comment: It might be this moment is not the most proper time for the Christmas events and reflections, though, indie-based Christmas songs on its own are not usual phenomenons in any cases and any time. Holiday Records is a tough indie label who has offered lots of charming tunes during many years. On this compilation can be met the songs by the label`s essential guards like Victory VIII, Arctic Flow, Travelogue, Jes Maybe, and She`ll Be Eating Her Nails When I`m Famous. Especially outstanding is a track by Arctic Flow`s Memories To Hold which could be considered as one of the most beautiful songs ever created. Let`s add it to the bookmark of songs of the closure of year.

Die Stille - Mirror (2011)

45RPM-Records

Archive.org

Lastfm

8.2

/World music, Fusion, Chillout, Psychedelic electronica, Psy-trance, Electronic pop, Ethnotronica, Ethnic music, Psy-ambient/

Comment: This 4-track case is about a cavalcade of brooding and burbling psy-trance music which comes to pass to meet ethnic music (islamic culture-relied vocal samples; tabla programmings), psychedelic overthrows in rhythms and timbres, ambient-esque spheres and occasional flamenco guitar chords. My favorite instance is Time To Leave.

The Gifted Children - Fallacy Stilts (2011)

The Gifted Children

8.5

/Psychedelic pop, Alternative pop/rock, Experimental indie, Alt-folk, Chamber pop/

Comment: This is a group from Rochester/Buffalo, USA, having been active since the mid-90`s period and recorded more than 1300 songs, yet, remaining in status of unsung heroes to date. On this record they have featured 6 songs of experimental indie pop, more concretely, compiled of dynamically running strumming guitars, subdued near-shoegaze sounds, delicious progressions on orchestrated elements, acidious sonic effects and off-kilter synth ripples. The small things and beautiful songs make sense indeed.

Rocketships of Love - UFC Space Soundtrack (Book 2) (2011)

Quixodelic

9.4

/Psychedelic pop, Synth pop, No wave, Exotica pop, Drone rock, Electronic pop, Avant-pop, Psych-pop, Pop experimentalism/

Comment: First off, this is an amazing set of 14 tracks. Demonstrated through idiosyncratic (analogue) synth-backed and dusty reed organ-shined exemplaries which do veer from highly densed Suicide-alike psych-out torrents and flashingly droning synth gears-vibrations to contemplative near-ambient notches and vastly catchy space age pop/exotica pop once made by such grandmasters like Jean Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley. On the other side, 90`s are apparently visible via the hints at Spiritualized and James for instance. Indeed, it is a re-interpretation of the past experience in the verge of a cycle of the pop tradition.

Kodacrome - Robbery

Kodacrome - Robbery from marathon of dope on Vimeo.

Amygdala Projects - Shortcut to Heaven (2011)

BFW Recordings

8.0

/Electronic pop, Downtempo, Big-beat, Ambient trance, Psyambient, Psytrance, Kosmische musik/

Comment: Those 11 tracks do come by László Néder from Hungary, which mainly relies upon brooding electronic textures with hypnotic big-beat stokes and sometimes calm, middle-tempod hypnotic trance/psytrance/psyambient, and the other time (The Snag) embarks on a journey through the spherical realm of our inner space, reminiscent of the workouts in the realm of dark ambient and kosmische musik.

Bruno & the Susio Squad Band - The Little Prince - My tribute (2011)

Jamendo

8.6

/Pyschedelic, Conceptual, Brass pop, Alternative pop, Progressive rock, Soul funk/

Comment: This issue is concretely inspired by Antoine Saint Exupery`s unforgettable book named "The Little Prince" and is filled in with beautiful harmonies and catchy rhythmic combinations. However, it can be generalized as psychedelic pop with latin pop/brass pop influences and progressive rock glimpses. Some examples. the first track The boy inside me sounds at times very close to Manu Chao-esque delightful (latin pop) somersaults. The sound of an overflying plane refers undoubtedly to Saint Exupery`s main profession (the flyer). On the other side, the refrain of the track the Fox (feat. Mimisoul) is a rip-off of The Cardigans` Lovefool mixed up with soul funk.

The Echelon Effect - We Will Spin Forever

Clinker - Poison Tree

Mumble Mumble Mumble - Mumble Mumble Mumble (2011)

Kill Mommy
Lastfm

8.0

/DIY, Math metal, Doom metal, Improvised music, Math rock, Experimental rock, Post-metal/

Comment: This is the debut release by a duo from Turin, Italy having 8 tracks within 21 minutes in total. More particularly does it mean that they are densely searching for a seamless realm between doom/doom metal and math rock/math rock, among other details having experimented with the speed of rhythms, at times having their sound on hold, i.e slowing it really down. On the other side, it is a joyous, improvised DIY-esque notch. An interesting output and apparent evidence of what it is possible to do just with a bass guitar, vocal and drums.

[P.U.T] My Sun Is Dying EP (2010)

Archive.org

9.2

/Sludge, Avant-metal, Experimental metal, Noise, Industrial, Crossover, Remixes/

Comment: This is a great single/EP from a Brussel-Paris-based experienced trio, which does blend high-energized, monumentum-filled sludge hammering and mud devouring vocal lines with the glimpses of experimental electronica and solid sonic effects. The issue includes a remix by Garlic.wav as well which by any means does add propulsive, slightly mutilated jungle rhythms to it. A superb workout indeed.

Taiga - Aralar (2010)

Jamendo

9.2

/Drone doom, Ambient drone, Dark ambient, Soundscape, Minimal, Post-rock, Post-metal, Ambient rock, Guitar ambient, Sound-art/

Comment: Taiga is a Spanish-rooted project having directed its spot on manipulated guitars and synths on several issues. The recent case is wrapped up into a peculiar form wherein one of 7 tracks lasts approximately 1 hour on its permanent variation. It altogether makes out about 100 minutes of atmospheric soundscapes, tremulously fluctuating guitar chords and spacious, slightly rocking environments and post-metal-esque stomping and creeping septums-infiltrations. A potent and beautiful accomplishment indeed.

Talkative - Strange Luxuries (2011)

Bandcamp

7.9

/Anti-folk, Alt-folk, Experimental folk, Free folk, Singer-songwriter, Lo-fi, DIY/

Comment: This is another open contexted recorded album from USA which by its sonic feats is based on acoustic guitar strummings and strange synth sounds in the backdrop, moreover, including even radiowave manipulations and sunshiny samples from a track of the golden age of disco within it. This workout by its aesthetical approach could freely be a part of the Indiana-based CLLCT.

Pretty Lights - Unreleased 2010 Remixes (2011)

The Pretty Lights

8.7

/Hip-hop, Electronic pop, Funk, Urban music, Remixes, Club dance, Live session/

Comment: The cult dance music figure Derek Vincent Smith from Colorado is back again, more detailly, this time having joyously remixed the luminaries such as Pink Floyd, Jay Z, Kanye West, James Brown and others during a gig in the end of 2010 in Chicago. No doubt, this live session was fulfilled with hypnotic gear frequencies, cinematic samples, psychedelic synth cores and fluttering digital funk frames, as the final result, the album only strenghtens his reputation as a magical beat wizard.

The Home Stretch - The Home Stretch (2010)

Giant Manilow

Lastfm

8.4

/Lo-fi, DIY, Alternative pop, Electro-indie, Experimental indie, Avant-garde, Psychedelic/

Comment: Ben Churchill-headed project and by his friends (Gentle Friendly; Noise Jordan) assisted record is a quite weird output consisting of prettily flowing AOR-pop and lo-fi/DIY-esque guitar strumming and at times primitive pop approach over to electro-pop drives and J-pop glimpses. Besides all of those described above, however, the album does have more obscure and vanguard-ish, into darkness sinking and elemental noise-infiltrated characteristics as well. A convincing result.

Syd Lane - Hypatia (2011)

Quixodelic
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.0

/Dream folk, Alt-folk, Drone folk, Noir folk, Singer-songwriter, Psychedelic, Slowcore, Experimental folk, Indie folk, Folk indie, New Weird Europe/

Comment: Firstly I shall have to express my bewilderment about how underrated have the issues by this fairy-alike singer-songwriter been so far. Yet, she has released 8 albums during past 7 years and got 365 listening times at Lastfm to date, yet, her songs are not a kind of arty-farty posing but solidly built-up oeuvres. In true, her side projects (with Jeremiah James) like The Loaded Whispers and Chansons De Geste have been a bit more successful ones. However, this time she has been assisted via some guitar solos and mastering by Jason Raspa (Frogville) and the recent release reflects upon diverse aspirations (as it earlier used to be as well). For instance, from the organ-backed slow motion a la Beach House and rigid, organ-droning folk conceptualization a la Fursaxa to slightly psychedelic yet heartbreaking, growing folk songs a la The Wind Whistles and the borders of noir folk will have crossed many times in her contemplative sadness as well. In a nutshell, the concept makes obvious withdrawals from the realm of urban life to be drowned into omnipotentious bucolic idyll for.

Beko_ lsr 01/10/11 (2011)

Beko DSL

9.2

/Neokrautrock, Chillwave, Lo-fi, DIY, No wave, Avant-pop, Experimental indie, Electronic pop, Poptronica, Psych-pop, Ambient/

Comment: This is a hilarious compilation by Beko DSL, including the artists like Dirty Beaches, Wet Hairs, Gremlinz, Jeans Wilder, Terror Bird and other ones. Those 11 tracks are an example of riding on the beauty of imperfectness, searching for a tight connection between lo-fi/DIY-esque experimental-biased aesthetics and gorgeous melody hooks and harmonic sense. Lots of hints at diverse genres and (innovative) pop eras are presented here, yet, first of all, this is an idiosyncratic brooding of nowadays angst in a nutshell.

Shattered Darlings and Liquid Kisses - Chick Pop Vocals (2010)

Nana Records
Archive.org

8.9

/Alternative rock, Fuzz rock, Psychedelia, Noise rock/

Comment: Having listened to some of the releases by this NY-based group I think I can guess that the members of SDLK have spent much of their time while listening to the albums of Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine respectively. This time those 4 tracks are filled in with dynamical, almost fusible guitar glides, fuzz-backed psychedelia drive, thereby being at the recent moment much closer to their famous fellow townsgroup than to any shoegaze-hued glimpse sets. Indeed, it is rock`n`roll on its own purity and potency.

Inca Gold - Inca Gold (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.7

/Alternative rock, Psychedelic pop, Soft rock/

Comment: The debut issue by this London-based group is filled in with mainstream appealed pop rock touch and and subtle pop psychedelia. Yet, this is positioned out far enough from chillwave and drone pop notches as was claimed at some music sites so far. First of all, it sounds similar to the likes of Keane, The Doves and early Coldplay. More detailly, moving on space-y mode via vast and almost unbounded synth progressions, it makes out as beautiful pop album really worth be detected for a follow-up.

Ostenvegr's Travel - Crossing the Wild Wild "Oak Wood" (2010)

Jamendo

7.5

/Field recordings, Synth pop, Electronic pop, New Age, Crossover, Mood music/

Comment: This 6-track album is apparently a simulacrum of nature sounds, mixed above the borders of electronic/synth pop, new age-esque plectrums, and Morricone-esque film scores. The last influence is pleasingly brought forth at Moonlight (chapter V) and Outro (chapter VI).

Lowercase Noises - Ambient Songs (2010)

Bandcamp

8.7

/Ambient, Guitar ambient, Ambient rock, Post-rock, Minimal, Post-shoegaze, Epic, Instrumental rock/

Comment: Lowercase Noises is Andrew Othling who has released four albums during last years. Ambient Songs is written and taken onto tape with one shoot during live sessions. Anyway, this is a long-running issue with long-running tracks incessantly carrying on guitar based chords and elaborations, which ideological roots harken back to the mid 90`s, more detailly, to the Slowdive`s last album Pygmalion which did have nothing common with their shoegaze sound yet, and the reflection of still life conjured up by Pan American for instance.