Sandro Marinoni - Don Baltasar (2011)

Clinical Archives

8.6

/Jazz, Improvised music, New age, World music, Chillout, Experimentalism, Crossover/

Comment: Sandro Marinoni is a flute, saxophone and trombone player from Italy who has been active for a pair of decades (embarked on as a member in different groups), having been especially active during the last 3 years. Upon arrived at the umbrella of the Clinical Archives label again, he offers us a delicate submission of new age, laid-back soothings, ethnic music explorations, cool jazz and modal jazz-based snippets, atmospheric near-ambient progressions, and whimsical electronic shapes (being separated or mixed up with each other). By splashing in the midst of such classically trained experimentalists, however, it is very hard to find out the distinctive line between improvised sound and determined music. On the other side, yet, it does not make any difference at all.

Nasienie - Blackwood EP (2011)

Webbed Hand
Lastfm

8.2

/Ambient folk, Ambient, Minimal, Soundscape/

Comment: this 3-track issue comes over to folk-tinged mainlines (spiced up with dark-hued waves), and vast-scale atmospheric pannels rippling on sparse, ellipse-stretched loops. In a nutshell, all the logic of the release is subordinated to repetition.

Meczûp - Hanging from the Purgatory's Pendulum (2010)

BFW Recordings
Lastfm

8.6

/Hauntology, Ambient, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Conceptual, Drone, Minimal/

Comment: Howling and haunting... . What is that? An monolithic slab of theremin-induced sounds which at the time of closer investigations will be decomposed into the countless particles of (dark) mood situations? Indeed, the whole issue is made out of using this ancient, legendary electronic instrument. The album is created in Istanbul, maybe that is the reason why it used to sound a bit oriental at times. However, Cihan Gülbudak`s workout has reached the borders of drone, avant-electronica, ambient, and even orchestrated music, thereby re-locating these genre-related expectations and initial sense/meaning of them.

Battle Flags - Color Engine (2010)

Jamendo
Battle Flags
Lastfm

9.2

/Post-psychedelic electronica, Baroque pop, New Weird America, Poptronica, Free folk/

Comment: Behind this militant pseudonym hides himself Jack Budd, a resident from Richmond, Virginia, from the city which is well-knowingly an important location regarding the experimental rock/post-rock scene all around the world. In true, through this project Budd is not directly related to the post-rock movement of his home city, having engaged spot to direct it upon the two recent traditions - psychedelic/and post-psychedelic folk sound a la - surprise, surprise! - Animal Collective, and one baroque pop instance a la Sufjan Stevens (those wistfully chiming brass sets/orchestrations in the best sense), and nowadays poptronica (which is however strongly influenced by those two aforementioned artists). Approximately 10 years ago when Animal Collective started off its doings such kind of sound used to be pure avant-garde, now it is changed into a clear-cut pop case - into a pleasant pop case, though.

Memoryhouse - Lately (Deuxième)

This Lonely Crowd – Some Kind of Pareidolia (2011)

Sinewave

7.7

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

Comment: This Lonely Crowd has been an astonishing quintet from Brazil who has made up much dizzy energy (via strong emphasis on the power pop and shoegaze-ish angle), or being involved in more dream-charged contemplations, respectively. However, the recent issue tries to cross those two extremities, though, affording less entropy with captivating X-factors altogether - if to compare it to Entangled Chaos, or especially to an endless moment everyday all the time. Moreover, the second part of the Some kind of Pareidolia is obviously more impressive than the first set of tracks, showcasing more clear-cut elaborations, figurative language, directed power and found synergy - or the other way around - just being avoided to be sticked in intransitive chasing and incoherent jamming. Despite of some deficits, however, it can be considered a kind of pleasurable release indeed.

Port80 - Lundenburger (2010)

Jamendo

8.5

/Techno, Tekno, Trance, Noise, Experimental techno, Psychedelic dance, Crossover/

Comment: Port80 aka Unterschwellige Einheit aka Sivitz is an artist from the Czech Republic who at the recent publication used to play terse capsule trance and trance-induced intellectual techno (or the way round). Indeed, it is not a sort of simplistic or superficial rhythm music appearance, being coloured with deepness and well-balanced details and undercurrents. At times brooding, at times more light-hearted. In any cases, all of which were hugely senseless if in-between the diverse sound pannels there cannot be detected for any dose of synergy. At the closure of this 8-track issue can be found out even some impressive noise attacks (apparently I stay to miss them).

Lowlands - Beko_85 (2011)

Beko DSL
Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.6

/Alternative rock, Indie, Jangle pop, Post-punk, Fuzz rock/

Comment: Behind Lowlands is Tobias Brockie (aka Rhinoceros Brave) from Wellington, the New Zealand. This 3-track issue is about windy jangle pop with some influences of post-punk and fuzzed-out/feedback-backed guitar gears (plus some bombastic progressions). The tracks are running from fast paces to slow tempo-ness. Simple but masterfully treated.

Gongue - Blurred (2011)

Dracula Horse
Bandcamp

8.8

/New Weird Europe, DIY, Anti-folk, Experimental folk, Avant-folk, Alt-folk/

Comment: Dracula Horse is first of all known as the home label for Coolrunnings, though it does offer little corners for the other artists, including The Foggy Albion-relied Gongue either. What references does Gongue`s sound have exactly? It is profoundly made with the attitude of the nowadays DIY patchwork-ism - simple anti-folk-ish guitar strums (and more complex alt-folk adventures) are variegated with no-so-light electronic slopes (which at times do chime as if the examples coming from the Kraftwerk`s albums (particularly from Radio-Activity), dance funk and weird pop moments (electro-acoustic overthrows, "unstable" sonic snippets-effects). Indeed, it is the issue which is made out with obvious care and dedication.

Mobdividual - Movement V Live

Spheruleus - Forgotten Outland (2011)

Resting Bell

9.2

/Ambient, Drone folk, Dream folk, Minimal, Found sound, Field Recording, Sound-art/

Comment: By having the course on slowly rolling and progressing snippets, behind those subtly manipulated sounds dedicated to the wastelands in your soul is the British grand master Harry Towell (also known as Audio Gourmet, and Eyes Flutter Beneath) who has released over 15 issues (under such labels as Earth Mantra, Test Tube, Audio Gourmet, Under The Spire) in a last few years. This is a case based on three tracks where atmospheric sounds are mixed up with contemplative string chords, slightly heardable found sound-relied cracks, subsequently, all those parts are wrapped up in intimate synergy. Especially mesmerizing is listen to it while the sun goes down. Very often this otherworldly concept of drone-folk-ish enterprise resembles of the French legends Natural Snow Buildings.

Monster Rally - Coral LP (2011)

Bandcamp

8.9

/Sampledelic, Exotic pop, Electronic pop, Avant-pop, Post-pop, Tropical pop, Glo-fi, Chillwave, Easy listening/

Comment: No doubt, the name of Monster Rally is probably quite well-known in the friendships of nowadays music, especially amongst the glo-fi/chillwave music admirers. A handful of releases having been issued by Moster Rally so far. The first two tracks are strongly in the vein of Stereolab, however, a little later the other influences starting to come out too. Step by step, indeed, there can be figured out the fact that this project may be more toward the past, or placing itself out as a retrofuturistic combo. In detail, it runs in front of you like set of exotic glimpses on the sampledelic method. And doing it really joyfully out (some samples laid here can be classified as a genuine classic spot. For instance, the tracks like Cuban Velvet, and A Voice/Big Sur)

Blues for spacegirl – Arezzo (2011)

Blues for spacegirl
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.4

/Dark ambient, Dystopbient, Soundscape, Drone, Ambient noise, Ambient drone, Minimal, Epic/

Comment: Profound, dense, wide - all in all, it is very expressive indeed. Only in this way could the Belgian musician`s album be described for. Moreover, during a three year lapse he has released 6 albums, and it is one of the most suggestive of them, for sure. In fact, this one-track one (29 minutes) is an extended version of the Fibroma split EP`s closure track. By the formal side he used to push a listener into a seemingly bottomless labyrinth of dark ambient, drone, and ambient. Lots of abstract yet beatless (vibrating) rhythms come directly from the structures of the tracks, all the higher spheres are filled in with the flashes of angels and demons at times. It might be that this one is worth even for some higher rates, still let`s hold those points for his future albums. By the way, the outer sleeve is really magnificient either.

Henrik Josè - Pinpointing The Problem

Woodworkings - Goodbye Homes (2011)

 

Futurerecordings 

 

 10.0

/Post-rock, Ambient, Experimental rock, Chamber rock, Minimal, Epic, Instrumental, Modern classical, Soundscape, Ambient noise/ 

Comment: Oh, it sounds so huge...so vast...so... . In a more profound way, this case is about an exhilaratingly infiltrated blend of ambient, modern classical, post-rock-ish fringes, silentful dream-hued noise, filled in with the sense of entropy which will have modified into mesmerizing, melancholic beauty. There can be sensed for listenable and unheardable, for real entities and ghosts either. Goodbye Homes embarks on by the zero point from nowhere, getting an impulse to grow and blossom and finally to get succumbed unheedingly. Like the life story of a person. By listening to the last track I almost started off crying... . In fact, it is not the first and only case by Woodworkings to make out for the issues with the maximum-point rate. And Futurerecodings is previously one of the peaks amongst the labels all around the world.

Hox Vox - Il Cavallo Spaiato (2011)

Hox Vox
Bandcamp
Jamendo
Lastfm

8.6

/Avant-prog, Classical, RIO, Experimental rock, Jazz, Fusion, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Progressive/

Comment: Gianluca Missero`s (aka Hox Vox aka Turbogrind Terrorizers) new album is really worth to listen to. Actually every recent step by his side needs to be looked back to the way passed along already. The Venice resident has been one of the stalwarts of the nowadays RIO/ avant-prog movement, while being theoretically predictable at this methodical point, however, he has managed to bend his follow-ups into sufficient progressions via off-kilter electronics, changing the metres, adding new patterns and elements. This time the previously known structures are densely laced with drum and bass rhythms and other breaks, fusion, jazz standards, spoken word interventions, samples from the stadium and streets. By the stylistical smorgasboard it can seem unkempt and destructed, yet, on the other side all the developments are apparently strictly controlled. In a word, while being stubbornly mind-evoking and a little contradictive by its speculative aspect, however, this does not flavour the practical side at all. Indeed, it is the sign of a great master.

Moses Luster and the Hollywood Lights - I`m The Lion (2011)

Bandcamp

9.0

/Singer-songwriter, Baroque folk, Alternative pop, Electronic, Dark pop, Noir pop/

Comment: Moses Luster is a musician from USA, who previously used to be a touring musician (and the gigs in the casinos as well). However, his recent album (consists of 12 tracks) is an impressive set of dark pop/noir numbers, which is supplemented with crazy synths, dizzy orchestrations, lone pianos, crescending ridges, female voice-backed notches, and densely hitting drums. At times his voice gets to fall nuts, variegated with suggestive falsettos and crooner characteristics, cabaret-tinged half- and full tones, angrily conveyed narrated parts of his (past) life. Indeed, it is not problem for him to be resigned and angry simultaneously. Luster is already compared to Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, (and Scott Walker by my side), yet, his sound has lots of junctures with Beirut, Cat Bark Cat, Jens Lekman and other contemporary baroque/chamber folk artists. However, I Won`t Stray and Some Day (a kind of the ballad) are one of the best single glimpses from 2011. I just discovered the release can be classified as the kind of grower.

Damn Robot! - Hunang Skrímsli (2011)

Megaupload
Hawk Moon
Lastfm

8.8

/Post-rock, Electronic pop, Experimentalism, Sound collage, Cut and paste, Weird, Avant-garde/

Comment: Obviously there is more than just one way to find out proper possibilities for translating this sound into minds and words, though. Despite of it, however, it seems to me that the spinal c(h)ord of this album is somewhat related to a post-rock-ish endeavour (probably because of being most frequently represented here) mixed up with fluttering electronic progressions and some unconventional solutions. More profoundly, confronting mellow and harsh, acute and indirect, radio tunings, schizoid samples, rapidly changing sonic episodes, robot pop vocal lines, however, it might be that the conclusion of circumstances happened here all the way allows it to get direction and impetus for. My favorite notch from there is No Slack, But Luckily The Seats Go Back reminiscent of Be There, the collaboration track by Ian Brown with Unkle in 1999. Uhh, beautiful and redemptive.

Fuji Kureta - See-through (2011)

23 Seconds
Lastfm

9.0

/Electronic pop, Club dance, Experimental electronica, Trip-hop/

Comment: Fuji Kureta is a duo from Istanbul, formed in August 2008. This time the singer Deniz Öztürk and the composer Sahin Kureta take on innovative electronic pop in which Björk-like songwriting shadows can widely be recognized (searching for junctures between electronic pop and more experimental approach). Or making a couple of bows to Kraftwerk (What If). In a more direct way, there can be heard for angular beats, drabbling glockenspiel-esque formations, multiply crossbreeded rhythms, trip-hop spasms, dream-tinged vocal lines, some club dance glimpses and much more. By the way, those 8 songs are recorded in French and English respectively. An accomplished workout indeed.

Frozen Geese - The Starseed (2010)

Free Music Archive
Vanity Case
Lastfm

8.7

/Space rock, Improvised music, Krautrock, Avant-rock, Psychedelia, Psych-rock, Experimental rock/

Comment: Frozen Geese is a duo from Leeds, UK making up an exhilarating mix of acid-fried psychedelic carcasses, full-scale space rock, psyched-out grey areas, and structured krautrock hypnotism. The last part of the album is a little clamed down, having even some parallels with near-folk sound. Indeed, the connection between Dave Lazonby and Graham Baily works out really well, searching for the balance between improvised sound (chopped spoken word lines, hauting synth effects) and determined sound collages, however, figuring out such soul mates as Ester Poland, Joxfield ProjeX, Kospel Zeithorn, Acid Mothers Temple, and Faust.

fydhws - 1234+1 levo desno (left right)

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.

Francois Bonne - Drek da'han le fou (2011)

Jamendo

8.6

/Soundtrack, Orchestrated music, Electronic pop, Mood music/

Comment: The main strain of Francois Bonne`s 4-track issue consists of fairy-tale-alike symphonies, intriguingly syntesized soundtracks, all of which is played up with huge impetus thereby particles in the sublevels will be changed very fast in any cases. Like a film score workout for a kind of plenty with pace, however, it is made out of lots of key changes and mood progressions. Indeed, it is art-y and at times even dizziness-induced. Masterful.

Naomu - Amanita (2011)

Totokoko

8.8

/Folktronica, Primitive pop, Weird folk, Acousmatic, Avant-folk, Minimal, New Weird Japan, Experimentalism, Weird pop, Toytronica/

Comment: This semi-detached album under the Japanese label totokokolabel resembles of the first releases by CocoRosie - it is female voice-lead, deliberately primitivistic, swaying between the ancient eras and recent recording technologies. Beatific and weird and a little bit schizoid acousmatic pop. But satisfyingly relaxing in its naive and restrainted prosperity in any cases.

Emerald Park - Slow 2004-2005 (2011)

23 Seconds
Af-music
Jamendo

8.6

/Alt-folk, Indie pop, Britpop, Indie folk, Baroque pop, Folk indie/

Comment: As the album title suggests, indeed the issue is about 4 songs being released 6-7 years ago. The group comes from Malmo, Sweden and showcases some examples of folk-inflected Britpop, Swedish (indie) pop carnival, and baroque pop, in detail, demonstrating its affinity toward mellow chords and pleasant melodies. By the recent point, however, it can be considered classic (indie) pop. Nostalgic and decent.

Ataque Escampe - Violentos anos dez (2011)

Aregueifa

8.5

/Alt-folk, Indie folk, Baroque folk, Folk indie, Indie pop, Psychedelic/

Comment: Aregueifa is a honest label from Galicia, dedicated to the Galician music and musicians who mostly used to sing in their native language (which reportedly is more close to the Portuguese than Spanish language). However, a smorgasboard of genres are presented under the label, from nihilist punk attacks to strongly Celtic folk influenced ethnic music. Ataque Escampe is one of the most profilic collective under Aregueifa, playing up folk music with a tough touch of indie pop. Exalting harmonies, joyous rhythms, more concretely, wherein alt-folk used to get embellished with orchestrated sounds, jangle-y strums, brass sounds and at times psychedelic easiness as well. It can be compared to the other Spanish-based harmony alchemists like Nodding by the Fire, and Wild Honey.

Jose Travieso - Don`t Kill The Vinyl (2011)

Jamendo
Lastfm

9.0

/Downbeat, trip-hop, Hip-hop, Rap, Jazz, Epic, Experimentalism, Electronic pop, Film noir, Cinematic/

Comment: Are you used to enjoy high-tempered Spanish hip-hop/rap? Beside it, however, you can listen to smoky, cinematic trip-hop scratches (oh, Portishead, Portishead!!!), noir-filled downbeat progressions, solid jazz shakes, some cool glockenspiel interludes, reversed sound effects, and decent tributes to the Kraftwerk-ian tradition, however, all of those fundamental stones are finely juxtaposed to each other. Indeed, Travieso`s notch is whimsical and melancholic simultaneously. Deliberately perverted by language.

Book of Burrow - Book of Burrow (2011)

No-Source

Lastfm

8.4

/Folktronica, Experimental folk, Glitch/

Comment: Intriguing 12 minutes of glitch-induced folk music by Michael Carrier and Morgan Quirk. The duo`s debut album showcases lots of metallic-inflected shadows, bleak guitar fingerpickings, from metronomic yet slightly strikeless to suggestive clock-alike beats, all of which is brought forth without singing and words. Awesome listening indeed.

Wonder Wheel - Speakeasy (2011)

Beko DSL

9.8

/Free folk, Shoegaze, Alternative, Glo-fi, Poptronica, Post-psychedelic electronica, Psychedelia, Lo-fi, Avant-pop, Primitronica/

Comment: Wonder Wheel is the brainchild of the californian Paul A Rosales, already being known as a demiurg of a great mix of psychedelia, lo-fi, glo-fi, and shoegaze. In fact, this 9-track album continues to ooze greatness out of every pore, though, this time Rosales` shoegaze element is even a bit more subdued in comparison with his usual practice (and replaced by a kind of trance-induced Animal Collective-esque repetitiveness, for instance). Yet, it does not mean it is not an example of nowadays shoegaze album at all. Exhilarating progressions is filled in with the washes of serotonine. At times it chimes like Ariel Pink meets Slumberland Records sound. By the way, some grooves of deliberately primitive dance music are made out on it as well. If you have been involved in sound of Ariel Pink, Wavves, Coolrunnings, Animal Collective, and Memoryhouse, such sort of quality is thought for you. One of the albums from the path of 2011 so far. Music is not dead yet. Fortunately.

Saur - Saur EP (2011)

Saur

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.4

/Post-rock, Power rock, Instrumental rock, Experimental rock, Synth rock/

Comment: This is a trio from Lisboa, Portugal, and Saur EP is their debut issue. It is represented through 4 tracks (within 23 minutes), drifting between instrumental-induced post-rock-ish noise and silentful tunes, searching densely for peaks and bottoms during their sonic explorations. However, massive guitar vibrations, guitar fingerpickings, whimsical near-electro synth snippets, all of it is packaged into powerful energy and nice still life-ish contemplation respectively.

Moses Luster - I`m The Lion

Radere - Maple Drip (2010)

Rural Colours

9.7

/Ambient, Organic electronica, Sound-art, Musique concrete, Post-rock, Soundscape, Minimal/

Comment: Philly-based writer and sound artist Carl Ritger`s sophomore album consists only of 1 track (23 minutes long, though) , which is a solid wash of ambient sounds, organic soundscapes, synthetic swirls and exhilarating post-rock-ish vibrations. A kind of post-music indeed, which is filled in with lots of dreams and imaginations. By the way, the release is mastered by Rafael Anton Irisarri aka Sight Below.

Joxfield ProjeX - Hypnotic Wash Up (2011)

Clinical Archives

9.2

/Kosmische musik, Krautrock, Psychedelia, Avant-rock, Fusion, Progressive rock, Space rock, Dance rock/

Comment: One of my favs (from Sweden) are back with a brand new release...it reminds me of the first CAN`s issue I have ever heard - CAN (1979), which is used to be ashamedly underrated by the musical press worldwide. More detailly, those subtly flowing, high-ridged guitar riffs are pulled off to the frontline, slightly danceable spaced-out washes ride into a listener`s consciousness, subdued autotuned vocals, altogether making lots of sense through dynamic jamming sessions. Space-funk, kraut-fusion etc... Hipernotik.

fydhws - Fikcii, II (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.4

/Post-rock, Drone, Krautrock, Minimalism, Experimental rock, Avant-garde, Sound-art, Experimentalism, Progressive/

Comment: This is a beautiful and irritating post-rock album simultaneously. Fikcii II does not come over to the high ridges of guitar explosions, preferring to play with other "toys", for instance, with minimalistic, very slowly progressing primal sonic atoms, threatening infiltrating drone overthrows, static krautrock effects, and a kind of sound which comes very close to the sound-art-like approach. Knob-screwers` output indeed. Could this sound be described as the progression of the cancer disease throwing its metastases over to the every angle of a body? Fydhws is an artist from Macedonia, Balkan, whose sound has been very underrated so far. So if you have been interested in such (post-rock) bands as Transient Waves, Grails and Radian, however, this group would be similar to your taste.

pous- VPLE (2011)

Noecho

/Indie-hop, Experimental hip-hop, Avant-garde, Noise-hop, Sampledelica, Rap/

9.0

Comment: pous is an experimental hip-hop guy from London, UK crossing it with indie aesthetics, cinematic sampledelica and digitally inflected hiss and noise outbursts and different overthrows. Very dense and obsessive indeed. Visiting his site at Lastfm I mentioned such tag as der beste rapper der welt (the best rapper in the world). In any cases, those 7 tracks make hugely sense.

A Beautiful Machine - Solar Winds, White Noise, Antigravity (2000)

Embryo

10.0

/Shoegaze, Stonergaze, Psych-rock, Experimental rock, Epic, Avant-rock, Guitar ambient, Dream pop/

Comment: The Australian Skye Klein is known by his participations in such projects as Halo and Terminal Sound System, yet my favorite endeavour by him is A Beautiful Machine, an epic shoegaze project, which decently reflected upon the angst feeling of a pre-millennium change, and some new directions during the post-Slowdive/MBV era. Indeed, similarly to Slowdive`s Pygmalion (1995) it is heavily abstract and warm simultaneously, full of suggestive guitar manipulations and progressions, atmospheric yet psyched-out vocal howls, and mellow noise washes. Actually, the term shoegaze does mean way too little nowadays, so let`s complement the term, however, it is clustered with abrupt yet dreamy chasing along the midway of stoner visions and ambient . Aarghh, it is a majestic yet forgotten (actually undiscovered) shoegaze gem.

Blear Moon - Sauvignon Valley (2010)

Umpako
FMA
Lastfm

9.0

/Musique concrete, Sound-art, Abstract, Electronic pop, Modern classical, Electro-acoustic, Dark ambient, Modern classical, Microtonal, Ambient drone, Experimental electronica, Dystopbient, Experimentalism/

Comment: The Russian experimentalist Vlas Presnetsov`s 8-track album (being released at 20.10. 2010) is a lingering journey across different stylistic middles and fringes, which staple spot is focused upon profound, mostly beatless endeavours, though, at times it goes into down-tempo electronica for a wink. More precisely, the first mentioned involvement is more intriguing approach among Presnetsov`s sonic pastiche, i.e compacting the elements of ambient drone/dark ambient/ghost ambient, some minutiae of electro-acoustics, undercurrents of microsounds/experiments with hisses, piano-headed snippets, concrete music occurrences, however, all of which is flinged into endless progression and phase changes. A solid result indeed.

Sometimes Always - ePop008 (2011)

Eardrums Pop
Lastfm

9.2

/Indie pop, Alternative rock, Cover, Noise pop, Shoegaze, Fuzz pop, Electro rock, Jangle pop/

Comment: Sometimes Always (may it be named by the Hope Sandoval-featured JAMC`s hit?) is a sequent example of the blossoming Indonesian indie scene nowadays. More detailly, Tyo from Jakarta seems to be one of those old school guys who used to mix up the mid-period (Isn`t Anything) MBV-echoed densely stomping drum patterns with dynamic, hiss-filled jangle pop/C86/blonde hair guitar strums, however, which will be interrupted sometime to segue into shoegaze-inflected electro rock (a cover of The Sharesprings` Ivory Tower). Grossly, it is a recommended release for all of those bewailing crews having assumed the advantage of the past experience vis à vis with the nowadays musical situation.

Dan Deacon - Twacky Cats (2004)

Comfort Stand

9.3

/Avant-garde, Indietronica, Dada music, DIY, Avant-electronica, Electronic pop, Weird, Experimentalism/

Comment: Twacky Cats was released by this Baltimore-bred, academically educated musician in age of 23 years old in 2004 having revealed 5 vanguard electronic staples as if R Stevie Moore-esque DIY aesthetics meet masterful manipulations on angular-led, even dada-like electronics (sine wave and FM manipulations, Broadcast-like spooky sections of innovative pop, peculiar pitch-treated samples), deliberately balanced notches relied on skipping electronics and sublime indie pop, and a frantic, even infantile-induced notch about diverse beasts in the jungle (Arms Saloon). Yet, on the other side, it might be considered the foremost pop album ever. Close to, it is a classic one really worth to be remembered daily.

humeka - Moolid the Lobster (Infloria Edit)

Nodding by the Fire - At home in the wilderness (2011)

Bandcamp

8.4

/Alt-folk, Mood music, New Weird Europe, Baroque folk, Epic, Chamber folk, Indie folk, Instrumental folk, Folk indie, Brass folk/

Comment: This is the sophomore album by this Spanish-based instrumental music combo (Javier Ordàs, Carlos Puente, Jacob Gonzàlez). Likely to the self-titled debut issue (2010), indeed, At home in the wilderness is managed to manipulate on listeners` mood via brass-induced themes, fully radiant harmonica-led melodies, some adjacent droning examples and craftily tinted textures, some of those having reached essentially dizzy altitude. For instance, I`ll tell you a story, and the self-named track. On the other side, it can not outbalance the trio`s first outlet.

Absent Fever Presents Woman Was The Word

Absent Fever
Mediafire

9.3

/Electronic pop, Indie pop, Chillwave, Soul, Singer-songwriter, Indie folk, Dream pop, Folk indie, Dream folk, Conceptual/

Comment: This is a seamless project between female bloggers and musicians purposed to pay tribute to the women involved in the cultural realm. Three remarkable female bloggers were asked to write pieces, poetry, stories, about anything that made them feel inspired to put pen to paper. Here are 3 tracks, the first of them, Elisabeth`s Rose Throw Me To The West (inspired by East to West) starts out with a snippet from the ancient, 1920`s jazz-influenced pop music which soon gets developed into an electronic-induced soulful brand. Rachel Levy`s Pierced (inspired by Heavy Percussion) and Yohuna & Adelyn Rose`s All The Slow Songs (Waiting) (inspired by Friends With Both Arms) are used to be catchy, dream-alike folk-ish notches, however, representing the indie (folk) music sphere at the highest level.

Distape - The Flying Cats Season (2011)

42 Records
Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.8

/Poptronica, Experimental indie, Glo-fi, Lo-fi, Psychedelic, Singer-songwriter, New Weird Europe/

Comment: Distape is the brainchild of Michele Alessi, coming from the homeland of the Farfisa organ - Italy. However, there are represented 5 beautiful examples of the songwriting which are mainly created through catchy electric keyboards-backed hooks-loops, lo-fi beats and slightly pessimistic, symbolism-tinged lyrics. Furthermore, there can be detected for some subtle bows of electrified guitars played up with huge impetus. By the way, the issue is mastered by Barbagallo, one of the Recent Music Heroes` longtime heroes.

Tryad - Struttin`

Orphalis - Watchmaker Analogy EP (2011)

Torn Flesh
Lastfm

8.5

/Brutal metal, Death metal, Black metal, Progressive metal, Technical metal, Goregrind/

Comment: Orphalis (Jens Duerholt - vocals & guitars; Morten Formeseyn – guitars; Danny Koehler - bass; Kai Volman - drums) is a combo from the western part of Germany (Dortmund-Luenen) who used to play appealing technical death metal with some influences from the black metal, and goregrind purviews. Within the 3 tracks can be met stumbling grooves of key changes, mangling riffs, punching drums and grinding voice, all of it wrapped up in an organic (metal) whole. Indeed, it mostly takes on impression via (omni)potent energy.

Ohmbot Cassette Tape - Program 5

Myspace
Archive.org

10.0

/Noise, Avant-garde, Avant-electronica, Tape music, Experimentalism, Drone, Circuit bending, Doomtronica, abstract, Improvised music, Dada music, Acousmatics, Non music/

Comment: This one track-relied set is sent from the state of Pennsylvania (at least the project`s Myspace site hints at OCT this way). Those 68 minutes are filled in with lush analogue (brown) noise, lots of phase changes, drone, itself devouring onyx-tinged outbursts, manipulated circuit-bent electronics, which at times will be evolved into highly suggestive orchestration-like anthems, frantic improvisations, and near-dada occurrences. In fact, it might be described that the total sum exceeds the sum of its particles. Grossly, it really makes hugely sense having an apparent regard to the early tradition of electronics and experimental music indeed. So handle it as an instance of the perfect noise.

Kurobear - Special Electric (2010)

Rec72
Lastfm

8.8

/Dubtech, House, Electronica, Progressive, Crossover, Tech-house, Minimal techno, Breakbeat, Techno, Club dance/

Comment: Kurobear delivers a crafty set of 10 tracks which showcases his profound affinity toward the club music via the highly dynamical grooves of pleasant dub(tech) and tech-house, mesmerizing deep house, melancholic down-tempo electronica, hasty breakbeat, and some glimpses of drum and bass and minimal techno, or crossovered outputs of the abovementioned styles, however, most of those tracks are essentially sublime on its own. In fact, there is also another set of 10 tracks called Rare Traxx, created under his old pseudonym Kid Kaustic during the years 2006-2008, unlike in comparison with the basic disc, running mainly on electro- and electronic-drenched paces which at times chimes really simplistic and primitive, at times solid enough.

Ruby Coast - Made To Change