Kromofonica - Ipnagogica (chapter two) (2011)

Jamendo

8.6

/Fusion, Crossover, Chill out, Avant-prog, Drum and bass, Psychedelic, Big beat, Synth, Progressive rock, Alternative, Progressive metal, Art pop/

Comment: Kromofonica is an Italian duo (Vincenzo Geraci - guitar & bass; Edilio Ciuffardi - bass & arrangements) delivering a mind-boggling patchwork of styles - veering from acutely pounding breaks/drum and bass-backed rhythms and brooding synth grooves and light-heartedly trudging jazz fusion to psychedelic and progressive rock (even quacking avant-prog snippets are represented at times) and metal appearances, showing off its artistical and relaxing sides nested and one on the other. Furthermore, it can be considered a kind of spectacular or even a little provoking whole in its vast changeability and meeting of genres. However, it can be compared to Hox Vox, Mahavok, Death In Vegas, and Miles Davis, for instance.

Luarvik Luarvik - Tantsib huntidega

Sally Paradise - Je n'aime pas danser

GRINDING AFTERMATH COMPILATION! (2011)

American Aftermath

8.5

/Grindcore, Brutal metal, Fastcore, Technical grind, Deathgrind, Experimental metal/

Comment: This is our heavy rock for sure. The compilation of 69 tracks consists mainly of grindcore and its subsidiary/subgenres (differences coming forth at different rhythm/speed/technical levels). However, diverse scope of tortured shrieks and groans, washes of brutal guitars and sheer patterns of drum machines are up here to design thundering sonic combinations thus paying off tribute to recently deceased Anal Cunt`s frontman Seth Putnam (1968-2011). It is a distinguished votive tablet indeed.

Casque-T-êtes - Casque-T-êtes (2010)

Jeunesse Cosmique
Mediafire

9.4

/Avant-garde, Psych-folk, Chamber music, Dream folk, Musique concrète, New Weird Canada, Experimentalism, Avant-folk, Freeformfreakout, Noise/

Comment: Montrèal-based combo`s release is stunningly obscure, demented psych-pop music as if produced by the members of Sonic Youth stayed on a heavy dope trip. The quebequers glitch-esque/electro-acoustic abrasiveness is interwoven with chamber-based progressions and spatial concrete sounds, which at times will be evolved into sublime French-sung (in fact, one of them is in English as well) folk ditches filled in with dreams and recherche noise/folk/ambient cross-breeds containing shitloads of "errors" in between. In conclusion, it is an example of cosmic youth indeed.

X-Structure - New Earth (2011)

Bushmen

X-Structure
Lastfm

8.8

/Space-trip, Downtempo, Shoegazetronica, Synth pop, Ethnotronica, World music, Psyambient/

Comment: This is the 12th issue by X-Structure, a quartet from the Republic of South Africa which started out only in 2008. It is highly appreciated via their very holistic approach compiled of diverse genres which the quartet themselves used to entitle as space-trip. More concretely, it veers from psychedelic ambient and downtempo to the shades of electronic shoegaze and thrilling, synth pop-induced world/indigenous fusion. Altogether, during these 92 minutes you can get charged up through a loads of sublime vibes and moods.

The Fukked Up - If I Were Kool

Lukas Nystrand - Magic Forest (North Star) (2004)

Goodbye Cruel World

8.6

/Downtempo, House, Crossover, Chill out, Experimental electronica/

Comment: This 3-pieced issue was released in 2004 by a profilic Swedish musician who is also known under pseudonyms such as Glenny#417, Sentimental Cat, LuKiss, Textile God of Sweden, Disciples Of Ageema and many other ones. However, the publication which was the first one for the Goodbye Cruel World records used to validate itself through laidback beats and simple yet whimsical sequences as if searching effortlessly for a midway point between house vibes and downtempo progressions which are partly coated with ancient hisses and familiarly processed electronics at times. All in all, you can enjoy this ghost from the recent past (yet, which seems to be so far away).

N-qia – qia songs (2011)

La bèl

9.3

/Folktronica, Crossover, Baroque pop, Shoegazetronica, Jazz, IDM, Organic electronica, Experimental electronica, Experimental indie/

Comment: This is the second issue (after Neeva`s one) coming out from the Italy-based La bèl records which does have put itself quite aside in comparison to the label`s usual alt-folk/experimental folk perspective. Yet, I shall have to accentuate the word "quite" or "relatively". This 4-track EP comes out from the Nippon headed by such producers as Nozomi (vocals) and Takma (programming). Lots of IDM-acock rhythms are represented here which are embellished with baroque-esque milieus, electronic shoegaze-alikeness and organic electronica/jazz-y/folktronic-infiltrated evolvements. While it sometimes resembles of the Iceland`s mùm or some Efterklang`s deeds, I can perceive it as idiosyncratic on its own.

Rimar - Higher Ground (2011)

Rimar
Bandcamp

9.2

/Mash-up, Plunderphonics, Chillwave, Crossover, Glo-fi, Hip-hop, Sound collage/

Comment: Chillwave-ish trip takes on hip-hop beats on this 9-pieced issue. Indeed, if to compare it to Rimar`s another release, called A, it is more devoted to blissful/nostalgic progressions and hip-hop-backed dizziness, on the other side, less to (old school) disco paces and apparently detached style appearances. Yet, it previously gets its inspiration from the mash-up/plunderphonics scene thereby suitable for comparing to the likes of Juj, Bahwee, Professor Ojo, Thallus, BeachesBeaches, and Phaseone.

Projecto [`trepia] - Avance Leghons

Lee Noble - No Becoming (2011)

Bandcamp

9.6

/Art pop, Shoegaze, Lo-fi, Experimental indie, Post-psychedelic, Avant-folk, Space rock, Psychedelia, Tape music, Avant-pop, Psych-folk, DIY, Glo-fi/

Comment: Nowadays psychedelia undubiously. Dusted synth drones are variegated with the riffs of abrasive yet spatial guitars and more or less restrainted clatter of hi-hats and clinking of memory-evoking glockenspiel forays. At times demented shoegaze meets Ariel Pink-esque art pop, at times hypnotic guitar-based fingerpicking is wrapped up in highly sublime droning and atmospheric overflowing in the fringe area of a Black Hole. At times all is burning around the centre. The array of soul mates veers from La Monte Young and Terry Riley to Ariel Pink and Russian Futurists, from 13th Floor Elevator and Gong to Superficial Random Knowledge Porridge and Deep Magic, from John Fahey to Boy MTN. Indeed, all is positive, all is accomplished. All is infiltrated. However, you can already expect for the next surprises out from California.

Bubamara Brass Band - Bubamarija / Kashtanizma (2011)

Clinical Archives

8.8

/Brass music, Improvised music, World music, Balkan brass/

Comment: A 4-pieced instance of Balkan/and gypsy brass music with the fringes of big band-like undercurrents and improvised music from Moscow, Russia. Highly energetic and galvanized, i.e played up with the assistance of incessant key changes and tumultuous improvisation snippets left and right. On the other side, giving credit to Emir Kusturica`s music and popular films either.

Grateful Dead - Live at County Fairgrounds on 1968-05-18 (1968)

Archive.org

8.5

/Psychedelic rock, Southern rock, Classic rock/

Comment: Another live session by Grateful Dead before their gig at the legendary Woodstock festival in 1969. As usual this 7-pieced set is a heavy blend of rocking psychedelia and southern rock. Classic!

Hoorah!Hello - Vincent

Vulpiano - Sampler EP: Vol. 3 (2011)

Vulpiano

8.8

/Doom rock, Alternative rock, Fuzz pop, Indie rock, Psych-rock, Experimental rock, Electronic pop, Crossover/

Comment: First off, what a pity that Natural Snow Building, the most well known artist (and one of the best/deepest/idiosyncratic combos worldwide at all) on Vulpiano Records is not represented herein now (though, this time the compilation features the new Vulpiano logo designed by Solange Gularte). Yet, this is an intricate volume hinting at Vulpiano as the strong label. It veers from King Elizabeth-represented slowly evoking doom rock to Red Bellows´s psych/post-Britpop sound a la Campaq Velocet, from an vital electronic pop vision by J.G Hackett to a sultry introspection by Lately Kind of Yeah. Furthermore, you can perceive influences veering from pop psychedelia a la Boo Radleys and Blur to fuzz pop. Indeed, by its dominating alternative rock/and pop-inflected electronica-based approach it reminds of miscellanies compiled by NME in the second half of 90`s/first side of 00s.

Sharks! On Fire! - Air Combat (2010)

Bandcamp

8.6

/Pop punk, Happycore, Easycore, Alternative pop/rock/

Comment: I am not inclined to prefer pop punk/happycore/easycore musical groups in the mp3 player of mine. In true, this Vancouver, Canada-based quartet is a very pleasant exception in its acid-fried, over-the-shaft bent synth passages and enormous energy whiffs and washes. In a nutshell, for all the pop punk hipsters worldwide, direct their own spot upon Sharks! On Fire!, and Windsor-based label SmileCore Nation as well.

Abluonihil - Nova EP (2011)

Mahorka
Lastfm

8.9

/Abstract techno, Experimental, Noise, Experimental electronica, Glitch, Avant-garde/

Comment: Renzo Peressi from Venezuela delivers an innovative 4-track EP, named as Nova (entitling it simply and pretentiously). It is cosmic and nihilistic, noiseful and heart-warming having a stunning drift inbetween micro and macrosystems at the same time. It is seemingly primitivistic in its glitch/noise-based developments, on the other side, exploiting dream-filled minutiae in its very favor. It can be imagined as if it were produced by Autechre strongly affected by old school computer games.

Det Mekaniska Undret - Olika sidor av staden (2011)

23 Seconds

7.7

/Tram wave, Electronic pop, Synth pop, Conceptual, Electro pop, Camp pop/

Comment: This 10-track album by Andreas Österberg might be the first example of the kind to be tagged as "tram wave" ever. Indeed, the issue can be considered as the soundtrack and dedication to the tram line 11 in Gothenburg (all the songs are entitled as the references to those objects regarding this route). Musically it is simplified and even campy related to other "waves" as similar as Army Of Lovers used to have its approach towards pop electronica many years ago, for instance. All of that is played up with the help of blissful synths, simplistic beats and self-irony. My favorite track is the ending Saltholmen med Verklighetens Folk. By the way, all the songs are sung in Swedish.

girlhood - girlhood (2010)

CLLCT
Bandcamp

9.4

/Tracker music, Electro pop, Chiptune, Post-dance, Weird, Psychedelic dance, Shoegaze, DIY, Crossover, Glo-fi, Alternative dance, Bedroom pop, Experimental pop/

Comment: this 8-pieced album represents the best qualitative and even most unexpected sides of the music popping out from the CLLCT collective. Stylistically it comes forth as the kind of patchwork revealing a penchant for gentle, blissed-out electronica, jagged 8-bit/tracker rhythms, blindfold yet exalting electro pop (which does have acquired the best subleties of the contemporary disco music), and trash-coated shoegaze contemplation. All those kinds of styles and sounds and melody/and harmony hooks are masterfully balanced and collected to here what everybody needs apparently for to be in an ecstatic sense of innocent joy. Indeed, it is almost perfect in its imperfection.

Lucy Tentacles - Moon Egg

fljungbe - Slow and simple music performed on synthesizers (2009)

Jamendo

9.0

/Krautrock, Kosmische Musik, Conceptual, Electronic pop, Exerimental, Chill out/

Comment: this 6-pieced issue is dedicated to a handful of seminal German krautrockers/electronic/kosmische musicians (Ralf Hütter, Klaus Schulze; Edgar Fröse) and quite unsung Swedish experimentalist Ralf Lundsten. And to Moog and other analogue keyboards either. The listener can shift alongside with burbling, mid-tempo dominated synthetic rhythms and overdriving harmonic whiffs and washes, autotuned (robot-like) vocal appearances and lots of motives ringing a bell, however, all of that running along the more and less lopsided orbits of inner/outer space. On the other side, the album can be specified as an instance of chill out music strongly inspired by the ideology of Kosmische Musik. Indeed, it is time to set your dials backward to come over to a retrofuturistic era.

Hox Vox - It's the Loveliest Thing I've Ever Heard

Lizard Kisses - Please Stay (The Drifters Cover) (2011)

Bandcamp
Mediafire

9.7

/Cover, Alternative pop/rock, Glo-indie, Slowcore, Dream pop/

Comment: A heartbreaking cover by Lizard Kisses, the Brooklyn-based duo consisting of Marc Merza and Cory Siegler. Slowly moving sonic patterns on quiet fingerpicking is supported by Cory`s blissful, highly accentuated singing manner (reminiscent a bit of Memoryhouse`s Denise Nouvion`s one). I guess Burt Bacharach (indeed, the song was originally written by him) would like this version. By the way, the single is part of the cover album Tears On My Pillow: Part II.

aAirial - Together EP (2011)

Imaginary Nonexistent
Lastfm

9.0

/Downtempo, Ambient, Modern classical, Piano music, Crossover, Organic electronica/

Comment: In principle, this is an unforgettable, romanticism-induced shift based on ambient, downtempo and modern classical progressions searching for more shaking deepness and easiness at the same time. Indeed, it used to be light-hearted and contemplative simultaneously. Lone piano chords surrounded with tight yet effortless ambiences and lofty, haunting orchestrations and backed up with tenuous rhythms make out a huge impression for the rest of a day.

Squadra Omega - Rennes Le Chateau (2010)

Vuoto

9.2

/Psych-rock, Krautrock, Improvisation, Psychedelia, Jam session, Experimental rock, Space rock, Avant-rock/

Comment: This improvised amalgamation of 21 minutes bases on gorgeous impetus of space rock and free jazz-relied fusion, galvanized psych-rock, and buzzing synth layers/acute electronics of krautrock/and psychedelia. Even some experiments on the basis of the radio waves are proudly represented herein. As usual such sort of stylistic combination harking back to the very tradition of 70`s avant-rock groups works always out.

BOA - Push (2011)

Jammerdosa

9.0

/Indie pop, Alternative pop/rock, Dream pop, Meadow pop/

Comment: This was Gothenburg-based quintet Boa`s first single(s) ever. Similarly to many other Swedish indie bands it is fronted up by the female singer who used to be suggestive in her trilling singing manner. At times whimsical and even a bit hysterical (reminds of Arcade Fire) yet sublime indie pop/rock sound which would rock the world off. Hopefully soon it would be made out already. So you can jump up while running along the meadow.

Swampyboy - Quasi Horror (2011)

Sociopath

8.7

/Chiptune, Electro pop, 8-bit, Acid, Bitpop, Chipcore, Experimental electronica, Chipbreak, Tracker music, Psychedelic/

Comment: First off, I feel a little shame about the fact that it happened to be the first issue on Sociopath reviewed by me at RMH. However, the UK-based Swampyboy aka Phork (the pseudonyms by Joseph Loney) has been active in music since 2008 having issued a handful of albums (mainly on the Sociopath Recordings, but also on Amenorea, GDTK, and Faceblast). However, this 8-pieced set provides a dense, synergic array of sawtooth-shaped clanging and acid-boiled overdrives-interventions. Indeed, it might be that 8-bit music is the most psychedelic and highly tempered music in the first place. At least I am inflected to perceive in that direction once again.

Doug Sharp - Veluria Ponsonby`s Epiphany

Cameron Schwartz - A Boy and His Horse Soundtrack (2009)

CLLCT

8.5

/Art pop, Film music, Experimental, Conceptual, Alternative, DIY/

Comment: CLLCT is obviously the biggest DIY/lo-fi/folk-based site worldwide containing more than 1500 artists and 2800 albums and 2.8 million visit times at the moment (in fact, the amount of it is increasing with every day). Cameron Schwartz (also known as part of the psych-folk collective Cameron and the Friendly Ship) composed this 12-track album for a farcical episode running on the Internet. Hushingly chiming guitar chords and clear-cut arpeggios drifting along are once variegated with one more synthetic template (Escape From the Police) and music for the prepared guitar (Rescuing Horse). While all tracks are short-running (approximately about 1 minute), they are craftily created thereby having enough of inner and formal strength simultaneously.

Mindmasher - Mobius Trip (2011)

Stato Elettrico

8.6

/Electronic pop, Techno, Tekno, Art pop, Psytrance, Big beat, Chill out/

Comment: Behind Mindmasher is John Klappstein, a resident from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The album starts out with a bit oriental, laid-back vowel exercises which in the following track will be transformed into a blend of atmospheric layers and pounding tekno beats. Later the whole tends to incorporate much more stylistic elements, including catchy electronic pop approaches and sultry trance and techno occurrences. By the way, the collaboration acts by Brad Sucks and SurveillanceParty feature herein. However, this 4-pieced EP can be compared to Air`s 10,000 Hz Legend (2001).

Talkative - Light Years (2011)

Bandcamp

9.3

/Psychedelia, Free folk, Post-psychedelic, Psych-rock, Experimental indie, Electro-indie, Fuzz pop, Alternative pop/rock, Psych-folk, New Weird America, Crossover/

Comment: In fact, lots of elements is added in comparison with Talkative`s first album Strange Luxuries (2011, self-issued). The trio`s previous, quite austere anti-folk concept is potently widened this time embracing exulting, Animal Collective-inspired free folk-ish chasing, post-psychedelic synth progressions and dizzy psychedelic gears, on the other side, there are made up some furry fuzz pop appearances with relieving energetic loopholes. Furthermore, Voodoo Change would be a potential indie chart skyscraper based on electro-indie and demented psych-rock/stoner grooves. Highly enjoyable indeed.

Momoko Pins - Runner-Up

Speculativism - War and Peace (2010)

Archive.org
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.5

/Avant-garde, Dada, Cosmic prog, Anti-folk, Freeformfreakout, Psych-music, Weird, Crossover, Shoegaze, Singer-songwriter, DIY, New Weird Europe/

Comment: Peter David-Smith, a 58-years old eccentric musician of the Scottish/Canadian heritage is one of those unsung frenetic artists coming from the Foggy Albion. The Hirundu, Gnomefoam, Children Of The Drone (and countless of its subsidiaries), Clinker are the first bundle I can remember promptly for. However, PDS can be entitled as the singer-songwriter by his approach, yet, his sound functions to swerve its way in a very peculiar manner. Dada/chamber/electro/cabaret, abrasive guitar forays, blindfold hip-hop progressions, exorcized piano music, off-the-wall folk/anti-folk/DIY/shi-fi and much more. From mocking grimasses over to desperate cry (by trying to summarize it figuratively somehow). Here is even a cover of John Lennon`s the most famous solo song (it is so warped that it is quite hard to recognize it). The favorite of mine is Aldershot which is a blend of cosmic prog and shoegaze-ish guitar templates. About a dozen of albums by him still waiting to be listened to. PDS is a truesome genius indeed.

Insect Guide - Grey Sky

Parchim - Tribal Sun (2011)

DNA Production
Lastfm

8.7

/Tribal techno, Ethnotronica, Crossover, Psytrance, Avant-industrial, Big beat, Dark ambient, Experimental, Downtempo, Illbient/

Comment: This is Parchim`s sophomore album, the follow-up to Инстинкт Самоуничтожения (which can be translated as instinct of self-destruction) issued in 2009. 5 tracks within 26 minutes will create a fabulous, trance-induced scape compiled of soothing ethnic/tribal downtempo and psychedelic trance paces and stomping big beat rhythms and bristled tribal techno paces backed up with dark ambient/illbient/industrial forays and layouts. And esoteric storytelling snippets as well. Altogether, all is finely channelized and designed to create unusual ambiences and elusive soundscapes waking up far-flung memories in a listener`s mind in any cases.

Jef Barbara | DannielRadall – Cocaine Love EP (2011)

Amdiscs
Bandcamp
Mediafire

9.2

/New Wave, Art pop, Alternative, Synth pop, Disco pop, Remix/

Comment: Montrèal-born Jef Barbara delivers a highly enjoyable vision of art pop relied on a mix of New Wave/synth pop/, and 70`s gay disco a la Gino Soccio, and Patrick Cowley. Indeed, it is very nicely balanced between the rhythms and harmony whiffs. The last track is DannielRadall`s remix of Cocaine Love. Similarly to Ariel Pink`s bedroom pop aesthetic this 5-track whole seems to be out of the determined time and epochs.

Romantic States - Still Petals (2011)

Beko DSL
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.0

/Glo-rock, Alternative pop/rock, Bedroom pop, Lo.-fi, DIY, Experimental indie/

Comment: This is a combo (Jim & Ilenia) from Baltimore, Maryland, USA who used to produce a kind of music I would entitle as glo-rock made in bedroom. The duo`s sound consists of sublimely ascending layers based on lo-fi, fuzz pop and shoegaze-ish tendencies. The favorite of mine is The Fourth which exploits the arcs of mandolines above a Bacharach-esque melody hook (more concretely, it reminds of Do You Know the Way to San Jose sung by Dionne Warwick, and Frankie Goes To Hollywood once). An enjoyable, 6-pieced EP indeed.

Mos Dub - History Town

Doctrine - Leavers` Do (2011)

Bandcamp

9.1

/Chillwave, Electronic pop, Glo-fi, Robot pop, Alternative dance, Synth pop, New Wave/

Comment: Doctrine is the sonic conglomerate by Holden Brahms, and Douglas Donovan. They used to fuse new and old, which mostly is an entrancing forge of chillwave and new wave, post-punk-ish thick bass lines and robot pop (this mix of autotuned vocal lines and bubblegum beats are really elusive). inconnection with this issue I recommend listen to the Okinawa Lifestyle (from Georgia), and the Latvian electro-rock-disco-proto-indie legends Zodiac. By the way, these 5 tracks are produced by Clyde Drexler (having no idea, is it either the former basketball star or his namesake).

Motorama - One Moment (2011)

Motorama

9.4

/Post-punk, New wave, Dance rock, Gothic, Alternative pop/rock/

Comment: From Russia with love...this five-pieced collective comes from Rostov-on-Don and makes highly catchy post-punk/and gothic pop-influenced rock music. The synergic, harsh-mellow interplay between the members of Motoram is potently up to the standard, revivifying the legacy of such 70`s bands as Joy Division, Comsat Angels, Sad Lovers and Giants, and The Sound (if to hint at some ones of them). Listen to their album Alps (2010, Free Music Archive) either.

edPorth - Key Black (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.0

/IDM, Experimental electronica, Electronic pop, Art-pop, Downtempo, Ambient, Alternative/

Comment: Patrizio Piastra has abandoned guitars an his epic post-rock-ish ambitions so evidently represented on the debut album Saying vamos and thinking let`s go (2010, Inglorious Ocean). All what is up here is proudly clothed with burbling, pounding electronics and beats and subtle ambient layers above it. This 11-pieced whole veers from mellow, organic electronica/IDM and dystopic ambient and calm downtempo to soothing, art pop-ish singing and pleasant electronic pop. Some of the tracks are very slightly throbbing ones. You can see influences ranging from Bola and Art Of Noise to Dead Can Dance and Seefeel. A solid accomplishment indeed.

Super Random Knowledge Porridge - live at UAF (2010)

SRKP live at Uue Ajastu Festival from SRKP on Vimeo.

Tschabba - Tschai (2009)

Jamendo

8.8

/P-funk, Art-funk, Hip-hop, Crossover, Acid jazz, Fusion, Afro funk, Urban music, Chill out/

Comment: This 10-track album comes out from Idar-Oberstein, Germany. T Brendel jr has done good job working out P-funk and art-funk, bossa nova ideology and hip-hop/scratch overthrows, slightly opened Latin rhythms and decent acid jazz influences, always frabjously functioning psychedelic afrofuturistic progressions and mellow chill out elaborations into the seamlessly, synergically sounding whole. Indeed, lots of using of reed organ-based backdrops and different kinds of breaks and pipes. Enjoy and blaring it out.

Alligator Indian - Beko_92 (2011)

Beko DSL
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.4

/Post-punk, Psychedelia, Alternative pop/rock, Garage rock, Gothic, DIY, Experimental indie/

Comment: Asheville-based combo (of two guys and one gal) Alligator Indian (formerly known as Eleven and the Falcons) provides an exhilarating jaunt of garage rock over to its punk-ish (and post-punk-ish/gothic) and psychedelic roots of the 70`s, and even some bristled jangle pop action lines (a la the Pastels sometimes). It reminds a bit of Slutever, Best Coast, and Vivian Girls, and Electrelane (if to compare it to their contemporaries). Stay tuned for the collective`s future publications.

Nac/Hut Report - 9th Overflowing...Milky Slaughterhouse...Dream of Incubator (2010)

Mediafire
Lastfm

9.0

/Post-punk, Industrial rock, Alternative pop/rock, Gothic rock, Experimental rock/

Comment: Nac/Hut Report, a duo consisting of Brigitte Roussel (voice, noise, electronics), and Li/ese/Li (guitar, noise, electronics) offers an exquisite set of 9 tracks based on a blend of galvanized post-punk-ish rigidness, and elliptical industrial rock-ish soundscape/and dense beat frequency, gothic danceability and beautiful melody hooks. A decorous and catchy one at once, experimental and pop-ish at the same time. They are not giving shit at all.

Mequetrefe - Wahwah

A Tribute to Club Tropicana vol.2 (2011)

Beko DSL
Free Music Archive

9.4

/Glo-fi, Dream pop, Experimental indie, Crossover, Tropical pop, Electronic pop, Art-pop, Alternative, Post-punk/

Comment: In fact, the French-based label Beko DSL used not to be the single-only label anymore. Reno`s curated label has issued a handful of EP`s and compilations during the last year. A series of Club Tropicana has got the sophomore notch recently. This is a solid 17-track miscellany of glo-fi (this time it is possible to avoid using the stylistic term “chillwave”) and electronic-driven indie pop, noble post-punk progressions and autotuned electronic pop, Ariel Pink-esque art pop and heartbreaking dream pop, and lots sorts of crossovers inbetween them. And of course, tropicalia pop as well (having not depending on the fact is it either the kind of purely subtantial or relational/contingent definition). All in all, listen to the compilations of such labels as Beko DSL, Holiday Records, and Eardrums Pop, it is the easiest way to find out exemplary indie music for yourself. Through this compilation showcases Beko DSL itself to be related to the Free Music Archive (a music site per excellence!) either.

Zastranienie – Manifest Za Radio I TV (2010)

Free Music Archive
Cao! Ploce

9.0

/Electronic pop, Breakbeat, Avant-garde, Electro pop, Crossover, Experimental electronica, Spoken word, Primitive pop, Weird, Poptronica, Freeformfreakout, Experimentalism, Child music, Techno pop/

Comment: This is an EP by a duo (Boško & Ida) from Belgrade, Serbia which has issued four singles at Free Music Archive. Blissful, exuberant synthesizer chords are laced with dashing rhythm progressions in the backdrop; or bleak, abrasive vocal-soaked ambiences functioning instrumentally as weird introduction and background for high-tempered techno pop/breakbeat; or infantile, exorcized electro pop (the main melody hook of it reminds of one of the children ring games in Estonia) which later will be juxtaposed to tranquilized spoken word and lush electronic manifestos. In conclusion, this is an really frenetic and idiosyncratic electronic music outcome which begins to love you (ha-ha!).

The Burning Of Eterna City - And Onward They March With Broken Legs (2011)

Cherry Blossom Dog

8.8

/Grindcore, Experimental metal, Cybergrind, Neoprogressive, Crrossover, Chiptune, Electronic pop, Kitsch pop, Anti-metal/

Comment: Wow, this 13-pieced album seems to be essentially provoking and possibly mocking...for all those orthodox metalheads and other serious lads-gals who used to perceive some music styles through restricted vistas. Massive/majestic metal and grindcore (and at times goregrind elements as well) structures are quaked with pathetic neoprogressive/and symphonic metal and hair rock/metal-ish synth gears and electro-metal (this is gentler version of metal father`s killing). The strong one construes a metal mayhem unprecedentedly melting Katyusha-inflected kitsch pop, cheesy, farting eurobeat “disco”, easy listening synthesized interludes, robot pop and 8-bit/chiptune (the band itself describes it as “nintendocore”) into the amusing pulp. Personally, it is a highly enjoyable set probably crisscrossing the energy barrier of a listener.

Candy Claws - Catherine In The Sky

Episode 20 - Catherine in the Sky from Candy Claws on Vimeo.

Superficial Random Knowledge Porridge - Satan And His Army (2011)

SRKP

9.5

/Shoegazetronica, Post-pychedelic electronica, Remixes, Post-rock, Electronic pop, Alternative dance, Dream pop, Crossover/

Comment: Superficial Random Knowledge Porridge is a trio from Sankt Peterburg (Saint Petersburg), the northern capital of the Russian Federation, which applies to as one the most important musical and cultural centres (if not the overriding one) in Russia either (Kino, Akvarium, DDT, Sergey Kuryokhin and Pop Mekhanika, Shnur, Messer Chups/ Messer Für Frau Müller etc). However, the album consists of one track and a handful of remixes on it (backed up by Slow, Wols, DZA, and Tarass 3000). All I can say about it is fairly good. It veers from a kind of urban tribalism/post-psychedelic electronica (a la Gang Gang Dance) and recherche, vibraphone-driven post-rock (a la the early Mice Parade and The Dylan Group) to otherwise viewable electronic-related shoegaze music and exultant dream pop on it. An amazing outcome indeed (one of the best albums in 2011 so far). However, I feel myself really lucky as I will visit them performing at the Uue Ajastu Festival in Põlva (Estonia) the next week. All in all, the expectations of mine are potently brought forth because of the remix album and their fantastical gig exactly in the same place one year ago (I can remember for their drummer who was really worth seeing on its own!). By the way, there are also represented Moscow-based post-rock luminary Mooncake, Vaiko Eplik, Imandra Lake, 3 Pead, Mimicry and many others from Estonia. (NB! Thanks to my wife Merike as well for giving a hint at the album).

Younnat - Bioelectronica (2011)

Bump Foot
Lastfm

8.8

/Experimental electronica, Poptronica, Synth pop, Bitpop, Crossover, Electronic pop/

Comment: Oleg Serdyuk, a stubborn musician from Ukraine has issued a handful of releases on Kahvi, and Bump Foot Records. While his previous albums were essentially light-hearted, trilling and easily listenable, those ones did not allude to any sort of casualness or unpretentiousness (the negativity/positivity of the last mentioned concept depends on a certain context, though). In fact, all is very fine on it. However, Bioelectronica tends to chug on toward a more broad aesthetic approach, incorporating abrasive, even slaughtering glares of electronica, and chiptune-esque bits and bleeps and churned jungle and techno pop beats meanwhile or in the midst of the concept.

Hipster Youth - Teenage Elders (2010)

Bandcamp
Long Lost

9.0

/Chiptune, Lo-fi, Primitive pop, Crossover, Experimental indie, Electro pop, Psychedelic, Electronic pop, Alternative, DIY/

Comment: Behind Hipster Youth is Aidan Wall, a 21-years-old Irish musician who previously was known as Porn On Vinyl, and porn.exe. His previous album Hearse Road Trip (2009, Rack And Ruin – issued on the same label which happened to be the starting platform for Dylan Ettinger either, a famous indie/lo-fi musician now) was a rare masterpiece of the indie/shoegaze/experimental folk scene by the aesthetical point of view – more concretely, mixing up shoegaze-ish tunes and jubilant free folk with chiptune-ish borderlines and swings. It might be Teenage Elders, a follow-up, used to have obtained slightly less glaring colours, seamless curves and serpent line-alike trajectories, yet, this is an enjoyable one (the more I listen to it the less convinced I will be). More concretely, besides his previous tricks he has added some new ones to have this time much in common with his previous label mate Testicular Manslaughter, and Ariel Pink (those slightly tortured yet sublime vocals and seemingly easy yet warped electronic pop tunes). And of course, Thursay nights rocks your dirty (or clean) socks off.

Aphilas - Lifelong Fiction

The Very Most - ePop017 (2011)

Eardrums Pop

9.5

/Indie pop, Experimental indie, Alternative pop/rock, Jangle pop/

Comment: The Very Most, a sextet (being active since 2002) coming from Boise, Idaho, USA (as well as the hometown for the mesmerizing ambient/drone/experimental electronica project Eluder and downtempo collective ElectricWest (also as Electricwest), both overseen by Patrick Benolkin). However, this three-pieced set is a powerful and noble example of indie music merging various elements with each other derived from different epochs. Trilling jangle pop like the McCarthy; space pop and electronically patterned developments like Stereolab; hippie/junkie folk-naiveness a la Polyphonic Spree; the last track If Monday`d Never Come (a cover of the Brilliant At Breakfast`s track) is a galant cha-cha-cha-inflected independent outlook. Listen to and enjoy it.

Flora - Trip (2010)

Dissonant

9.4

/Sludge, Doom, Post-metal, Psychedelic, Avant-metal, Experimental metal, Drone metal/

Comment: For instance, similarly to Nadja, Sunn O))), and Talbot, to their soulmates, Flora is a duo consisting of zero nowhere (guitars) and fdj (electronics, samples). They represent three long-running tracks (from 12 minutes to 16 minutes) laying out a mesmerizing sludge/doom/drone mix which is decorated with incessantly overdriving synths/electronics. Its seems to be static, yet, not being this way actually (or having the opposite sites simultaneously). I don`t symphatize with the claims by those intellectual solipsists who tend to insist on that Mozart`s and Beethoven`s symphonies and their otherwise styled musical works were the one and only (as if the Rolling Stones (or Fauna) is less moral (?), for example). (Or the way round, Mozart or Beethoven`s music would have been an instance of black metal in the recent context). Trip is one of the most righteous answers to them. Indeed, is is another tremendous discovery of mine behing Wreck And Reference`s album Black Cassette in the realm of metal music.

Ebola - Brodmann Area (2008)

Acroplane
Lastfm

9.2

/Grime, Electro, Ambient, Avant-garde, Crossover, Experimental electronica, Industrial techno, Experimental electro/

Comment: Ben Hudson aka DJ Psylage (also known from a group, called Baconhead – with Paul Bowyer) comes from Devon, UK. Before this 6-pieced issue, however, he released music of diverse styles on such labels as Mutant Spider, Wrong Music, Sublight, and Proboscus. Similarly to his previous issues the dominantly instrumental Brodmann Area does have lots of cues to a loads of different styles, offering splashing industrial techno/and electro beats, grime-drenched dystopic-ness, slap-up tekno overthrows, digital glitch and eerily hollow ambient shades and much more worth to be discovered from this classic patchwork. The EP should not be misunderstood – this is not intended to be issued for dance floors, instead of it for your peripheric brain cells. Furthermore, by its ideological point, it is rather a hint at old school music for sure.

Claro De Luna - Quedarse

Steffaloo - My Heart Beats (2010)

Bandcamp

8.4

/Minimal, Electronic pop, Free folk, Experimental pop, Singer-songwriter/

Comment: Steffaloo is a musican from Los Angeles, USA who has issued some singles, one EP and one LP (and collaborated with Blackbird Blackbird, for instance). This mere one and half minute long single is pulled out through slight, autotuned vowel experiments and restraint slo-mo bounces subtly surrounding it. Is it either folk, electronic music or...? However, as a soul mate she go with iron like nylon, and Meredith Monk in the same scope but a little from different directions.

Edvenjah - Still in Germany (2008)

Kreislauf

9.0

/Downtempo, Techno, Neoclassical, Crossover, Darkwave, Psytrance, Tekno/

Comment: Sultry, gurgitating techno sequences (in true, which frequently evolves into tekno/and psytrance rhythm frequencies) are variegated with serious, sometimes dark-hued/martial synth progressions-orchestrations in the background; and mingled seamlessly with mesmerizing, atmospheric layers embellished with floating, elliptical paces around it. Furthermore, it makes sense through an diverse row veering from stomping sci-fi rhythms to corroded, lo-fi-inflected beats. Indeed, the 5-track album seems to have acquired the meaning of a buffer zone between the neoclassical music, downtempo, and intellectual techno. A rare yet delectable appearance.

Dreams - Simple Steps EP (2010)

Bandcamp

9.5

/Baggy, Dance rock, Alternative pop/rock, Indie dance, Alternative dance, Madchester, Indie rock/

Comment: this 4-pieced set from Portugal seems to have borrowed its roots from the scene of 90`s baggy/dance rock/madchester (reminding evidently of Primal Scream, Wordsmiths, Flowered Up, and Happy Mondays). Indeed, these roughly sounding, massively stomping beats and hispid, organically flaming vocal manners and abrasive guitar walls ring out really retrodelic whilst Dreams and those abovementioned bands used to make much more sense than nowadays peaky, way-too-much produced rave rock examples (!!!; Klaxons; Bloc Party etc). All in all, I got sentimental and excited and feel myself really fluttered. I recommend to search for old indie compilations on vinyl and listen to Clinker`s self-titled album and Abstract Green`s Romeo Echo Victor (Deluxe).

Joxfield ProjeX - Electric Apple

BeachesBeach - FourFour (2011)

Bandcamp

8.7

/Poptronica, Chillwave, Glo-fi, Sampledelica, Electronic pop, Tropicalia pop/

Comment: The title "BeachesBeach" sounds witty, isn`t? However, it might be visualized as a transcendent shore to be designed to collect such kind of pop tendencies oozing from the scenes of glo-fi/tropicalia pop. Indeed, sublime tropical beats are overlapped with beatific vowels and warm electronica. Last but not least - catchy crossings are genuine part of BB`s soundscape. The use of sample-only techniques used to hint at some similarities having in common with Phaseone and, Rimar - Columbus-based producers.

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.