Elisabeth Veldon/Luminous - untitled but still rather good (2011)

Bandcamp

8.8

/Noise, Psycho-acoustic, Non-music, Avant-garde, Ambient noise/

Comment: angsttttangsttttttank stankkkkkkssttttrhhhhhhhh trhhhhhhhhhtrhtrhrhrrhrrrrrr
//Smile?Smile!??!Smile!!!!!!Despairdespairdespairtrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr desspppppppppppp!!!! trhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhtrhhhhhhhhhhhhrttrthrttt!!!!!!!!! Eat yourself fitter??? Eat yourself fitter!!! Smile!!!!The soil is falling over my head!!!!!!! Zzzzzhheitggghheist shshsithhththhhhhh!!!!

Liquid Metal Fast Breeder - Scribs (2011)

Bandcamp

9.5

/Noise rock, Space rock, No Wave, Crust punk, Electronic, Psychedelic, Avant-rock, Psych-rock, Krautrock, Experimental rock/

Comment: just a pair of tracks are represented here by Shane Zweygardt who is a representative of the Fort Collins, Colorado-based underground/cassette scene. The expression "liquid metal" seems to sound a little bit contradictory, yet, on the other side, his music outpaces all these theoretical and speculative gaps. More profoundly, the first track showcases the ultimate noodling on synths and frantic drumming immediately behind it drawing enthralling parallels upon Lightning Bolt, and CAN`s Tago Mago. In the second track all those labile structures prima facie will be replaced with the layers of thick cosmic electronica. Only good words can I have to hint at that.

Ixtlan - Galaxy Overload In The Circle Of 8 (2007)

23Seconds
Lastfm

8.9

/Experimental rock, Crossover, Ambient, Electronic pop, Kosmische Musik, Indie dance, Krautrock, Experimental electronica, Hip-hop, Dance rock, Psychedelia/

Comment: Bo Green, and Kent Holm do set you free investing in a hypnotic blend of motorik beats, acidic synth flourishes, idiosyncratic visions of dance rock-infiltrated hip-hop crossover examples. Of course, the duo`s music does not pretend to be a kind of usual music enterprise, moreover, it used to incorporate the concrete music frames and get heavily stucked in mumbling, somehow dizzy electronic paths and even funny dadaistic developments (Fool #9). But please do not forget the main topic is related to the Outer Space, though. You can draw parallels upon krautrock artists such as Droids, CAN, Tangerine Dream, The Cosmic Jokers, Neu!, and, of course, their fellow countrymen Joxfield ProjeX. In a nutshell, it is an intricate 9-track issue which needs many listening times to get grasped and adequately understood.

Wolfredt - Await

Frank Molder - Come With Me (2007)

1Bit Wonder
Lastfm

9.2

/Experimental electronica, Kosmische Musik, Psychedelic, Chill out, Breaks, Organic electronica, Downtempo, Mood music, Neokrautrock, Fusion/

Comment: there are up profound 10 tracks allowing you to get relaxed and watch inside yourself. Gleaming, dark blue-tinged electronic sentiments are hybridized with organic undercurrents and lofty kosmische progressions and, though less, with (psy)trance-hued breaks. Molder does chime at times like a decorous torchbearer of the best krautrock/Kosmische Musik and downtempo traditions. Those sonic effects, "whispers" and echoes based on the old school analogue synths are essentially captivating and uplifting. Indeed, we obviously come with You, Frank Molder.

aXid – Rave Addicts (2011)

Ektoplazm
Neurotrance

8.6

/Psytrance, Electro, Rave, Club dance/

Comment: AXid is a producer from Israel providing a handful of piercing, electro-drenched psytrance notches, however, a pair of them are co-operated with XSlash, another producer from the same country. These tracks can be evaluated due to their changeable shapes filled in with lots of minutiae veering out from machine-alike visions to more amusing enterprises.

The Freak Fandango Orchestra - Russian Circus Story

fydhws - Eden i Dva (2010)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.4

/Drone, Avant-rock, Experimental rock, Post-rock, Conceptual, Epic, Minimalism, Guitar ambient, Ambient drone, Ambient noise/

Comment: fydhws is the favorite musician of mine from Macedonia (I do not want to exploit the derogatory combination of certain initials and dots to have used generally for hinting at that former Yugoslavian country). I like fydhws`s sound because he used to head up the elements into an idiosyncratic, vanguard-ish rock maelstrom. Furthermore, at times the term "rock" or even "post-rock" can be described in indirect sense only. Here are up 18 minutes spreaded out over 2 tracks, however, both of them are dedication to Glenn Branca, an American guitar hero. Due to Branca, however, the dedication can be reduced to the pioneers of the minimalism, and ultimately to the brothers Russolos. More profoundly, the enterprise is made up on one guitar eddying in a tense, droning whirlpool, however, there can be detected for lofty, ascending high-registered keys and chords ringing subsequently like a new breed of noiseful symphony. The guitar tuning is arranged at E-E-E-B-B-B. Almost destroying!

Golden Cloud & O.S.I.S. - Split (2011)

Sirona
Sirona

9.5

/Avant-rock, Drone doom, Split, Ambient, Space rock, Dark ambient, Post-metal, Minimalism, Avant-metal, Guitar ambient, Post-rock, Experimental rock/

Comment: it comprises two long-running sonic explorations (each notch runs a little bit over 15 minutes) hauling the listener in sublime shifts within the trinity of extensive ambient, undulating space rock, and murky post-rock/post-metal/drone doom (O.S.I.S. does take advantage of the last named tendencies in the first place sounding like another version of the music of Sunn O))); the first part of Golden Cloud`s oeuvre reminds of the early period Slowdive`s contemplations). Of course, behind those highly oscillating but minimal layers you can perceive the traces of the likes of Angus Maclise, and La Monte Young and draw parallels upon such artists as Gamardah Fungus, Taiga, A Beautiful Machine, Glenn Branca, Axxonn, A Foggy Realm, Lengua Mortuoria and obviously many more). More detailly, the album growls and whimpers like a banished juggernaut somewhere in the underworld clambering round to find out the path back to the Earth crust. Epic and majestic.

[Compilation] Gone In 60 Sec - Uncut (2011)

I Heart Noise
Bandcamp

9.2

/Experimental rock, Post-rock, Indie rock, Doom Metal, Alternative rock, Post-metal, Avant-rock, Shoegaze, Blues/

Comment: this is a lush compilation consisting of 8 tracks and artists (Female Demand; Shroud Eater, Drohnwerks; Dave Unger; Dead Leaf Echo; Deadhorse; Trunks; Nikki Louder). All you can take on it are lush perspectives regarding more or less experimental approaches veering from the bristled blues explorations and contained yet light-amplified ambient incantations to massive crust-covered guitar setups and aural post-rock/post-metal numbers. The favorite of mine is Trunks` Kniee which includes a shitloads of intriguing elements (droning, free jazz-induced whiffs) around its indie rock core. Special thanks must be delivered to I Heart Noise, a Boston, Massachussets-based recording, for selecting off and issuing this excellent miscellany.

Botany Bay - Voices

Birch Mouth - High Saturation EP (2010)

CLLCT

8.2

/Art pop, Experimental indie, Primitive pop, Drone pop, Alternative, Lo-fi, DIY/

Comment: at the first sight is seems to be an ambiguous release. Yet, after a couple of listening it either opens up its virtues or you warm up. Sometimes it chimes like a little brother of Beirut, and Bark Cat Bark, at times it used to back away from the approach of the aforementioned juggernauts due to its clumsy, tenuously programmed keyboards and other things. Generally it is a saturated issue, first of all at those places which do showcase more the witty use of lofty harmonies and joyous melodies ( for instance, Carousel; Spooky Clown Lullabye; Gold).

EDASI - Daytime (2011)

EDASI

9.5

/Noise, Black metal, Acousmatics, Dark ambient, Ambient noise, Psycho-acoustic, Psychedelic, DIY, Lo-fi, Experimentalism, Avant-garde, Non music/

Comment: did you know that noise music can be very sensitive in some cases? Especially if it is blended with restraint black metal (at the first sight), solemn psychedelic droning, and off-beat minimalistic yet obsessive incantations. Indeed, such sort of formula can be pulled out from within a 6-track release made by Mihkel Kleis, an Estonian noisenik previously known as the frontman of the retrodelic prog/fusion group Luarvik Luarvik (1998-2010). The outlet is consistent and steady by any means. A superb album which, in the first place, is thought for all of those melomans having been attracted to the ideas of underground black metal, extreme ambient, and lush noise music. (By the way, EDASI has been known due to its frenetic, improvised live shows since the first half of 00s where Kleis used to interplay with an ever-changing cast of musicians).

The Freak Fandango Orchestra - Tales Of A Dead Fish (2011)

Jamendo
The Freak Fandango Orchestra
Lastfm

9.1

/Folk punk, Balkan music, Ethnic punk, Brass pop, Alternative pop, World music/

Comment: TFFO is a 6-piece combo from Barcelona, Spain providing a frenetic, essentially cheerful mix of Balkan, and Gypsy music in the mist of punk-ish attitude being directly influenced by the music of Goran Bregovic, Emil Kusturica And No Smoking Orchestra, and Gogol Bordello. There are represented two versions of a song called Hitman`s Lovesong which is a restless bypass which should be repeated again and again.

Sledding With Tigers - Acoustic Funtime Friendship Show Pt. 2

Brown Recluse - Panoptic Mirror Maze (2011)

Bandcamp

9.4

/Indie pop, Alternative pop, Dream pop, Psychedelia, Brass pop, Experimental indie/

Comment: this is a buoyant and dashing indie pop album embellished with psychedelic keyboards and suggestive brass sections above and around the middle layers consisting of...keyboards and programmed beats. At times it is heavy...heavily easy getting close to cheerful bossa nova and ye-ye developments. On the other side, by its electronic keyboard-laden sound this 9-track issue reminds of White Candles, another combo from Philadelphia, sharing some co-members with each other. Furthermore, there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Belle & Sebastian, The Concretes, A Sunny Day In Glasgow. In a nutshell, Brown Recluse offers up a pop model, a kind of ideal pop music model. Cheers!

Possimiste - Star Caesar (2011)

Possimiste
Lastfm

9.7

/Avant-pop, Experimental indie, Musique concrète, Electronic pop, Bedroom pop/

Comment: Possimiste is one of the best pop prominencies popped out from the Estonian underground scene in 10s. Star Caesar is a song which is quite different from her other, highly dream-bruished, faery notches. More concretely, however, you can see how Ariel Pink-esque timeless bedroom pop meets the sensuality of Jane Birkin, and actually it involves much more you have no proper words to describe it for. Excellente. That`s all.

The Anarchist Pizza Society - No Gods, No Slices (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.6

/Anti-folk, Alternative, Folk punk, Lo-fi, DIY/

Comment: it is pizza anarchy conjured up by Connor Griffin, and Kayla Bastos. Strumming guitars, accidental harmonica-relied forays, some snippets of banjos and tambourines are up there to create a catchy blend of folk-ish punk, anti-folk, and distinctive kind of lo-fi music. Two Ships sounds like a track produced by Radiohead. However, the heart throb of mine is Baby, O Baby (Slice Slice) sung by Bastos involving the best elements of the American roots music. Pizza anarchy?

Weird Ribs - Spacerail

JoieJoieJoie - Les Iguanes (2011)

Bandcamp

9.5

/World music, Covers, Alternative pop, Crossover, Experimental pop, Exotic pop, Psychedelic pop/

Comment: JoieJoieJoie is Clèment Marion, a France-rooted musician residing in Brussels, Belgium who is more known due to his debut issue 2006 (poni republic) 5 years ago since having stayed one of my favorite albums. This time he provides two songs both of them are the covers having hints at the Far East music (all those gong and local flute-induced sounds) spiced up with lofty psychedelic ingredients. Indeed, it is highly exotic and relaxing. By the way, the notch called Les Iguanes reminds of King Crimson`s Lady of the Dancing Water (from Lizard, 1970). Ultimately it is really huge due to its exoticness and picturesque coverprint either.

The Wreck Up - The Wreck Up (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.4

/Fusion, Avant-rock, Progressive rock, Experimental rock, Funk, Art rock, RIO/

Comment: I have no hesitation about a fact that an outlet resulted in the collaboration between the Englishman David Preston (also known from a band called Res Band) and the Italian RIO/prog-head Gianluca Missero (Hox Vox; Turbogrind Terrorizers; The Blasted Muffins) is a truly felicitous act indeed. Their 5-track debut shoots cues everywhere taking on psychedelic progressive rock, art rock, catchy dance-appealed funk, haunting neoclassical progressions and shamanic throat singing. Indeed, the issue is to offer up a rainbow-like experience is thought for those who like Prince, CAN, The Pop Group, Jethro Tull, Yat-Kha, Yes (and Hox Vox either).

Trance And The Arcade - troubleman 7 (2001/2011)

Free Music Archive
Troubleman Unlimited

8.4

/Harsh noise, Psycho-acoustic, Experimentalism, Techno/

Comment: this 3-track issue was firstly released under the legendary/cult label Troubleman Unlimited almost 11 years ago. As a female voice says here in the opening track Drippp "noise is everywhere", indeed, the release does reflect upon the sharp elements of digitalized noise which used to be truly rough and bleak or on the other side just referring to the condition of elemental chaos. At times (the last track) it is blended with raw techno beats and weird squeaks and fringed with bulimic guggle.

Bryyn - Giraffe

Barthol Lo Mejor - For play Ep (2011)

Barthol Lo Mejor
Lastfm

8.8

/Electro pop, Alternative, Breakcore, Club dance, Robo pop/

Comment: this is a powerfully bouncing and drilling, totally fuel-filled 4-track EP by an Estonian electro musician (he is educated as the semiotician) who has been active since 2005. While the EP is highly flame spitting prima facie it seems to be austere due to its methodology (because of being subjected to the control of artificial intelligence). Eleganz und dekadenz.

Weird Ribs - 803 Days (2011)

CLLCT
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.2

/Ambient, Kosmische Musik, Space pop, Psychedelic, Synthwave, Electronic pop, Krautrock/

Comment: if to describe such kind of music you don`t need many words at all. Highly oscillating synths used to push forward into the format of Kosmische Musik as if setting out its own narrative about the creation of the Outer Space. On the other way, just listening to it seems to be a much more democratic activity because of getting a chance to perceive more colours, accents, modalities, and variegated tones below, above and around it. In a nutshell, a handful of notches represented here do provide a savory listening. Indeed, Joseph Cox made it out again.

Dolores - To Die No More (2011)

Bandcamp

9.3

/Guitar ambient, Drone, Ambient drone, Ambient, Ambient noise, Soundscapes, Witch house/

Comment: you can be sure Boise (the Idaho State) is not the most known city/town in the USA but at least 2 excellent groups do originate from there. More concretely, those combos are The Very Most (twee/indie pop), and Eluder (ambient/drone). However, Ryan de la Rosa`s Dolores is a stunning collective as well because of providing a tight soundscape comprising the elements of massive guitar-based ambient and relentlessly buzzing drone which are variegated with the minutiae consisting of the details of musique concrète, muffled vociferation, and spoken word. On the other side, if to consider the coverprint and the reversed cross on it, however, this may be a release which puts the finger on the new directions within the black metal or witch house scenes. Indeed, it is rather a hypothetical point of view but such kind of possibility should not be excluded. All in all, it is a mesmerizing effort for sure.

Shirubi Ikazuchi - Seizure

SoftClip – Between the Land And The Sky (2011)

trescatorce

9.2

/Trip-hop, Downtempo, Experimental electronica, Dubtronica, Electronic pop, Chill out, Cinematic/

Comment: I can remember for that Good Natured Threat`s Short Stories EP (2011, Melodica) was reviewed at RMH in March which provides an organic shift between club dance-esque cadences and more pop-oriented visions. GNT used to exist as the cooperative project of Mark and Lara Hjorthoy, a pair from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (you know the home city for the Canucks, a hockey team). Anyway, Mark is this time alone, yet, continuing to run on the similar way, more concretely, by amalgamating suggestive trip-hop/downtempo/dub-oscillating beats into the set of gleaming upper layers of sounds. There is even hinted at the resemblance with Durutti Column, a British art-rock/post-punk legend (I can only agree with it). The 4-track publication seems to be more bigger than the mere sum of its particles. Indeed, it is seamless, organic, it can even be considered as a holistic masterpiece. Listen to it!

Botany Bay - Grounded (2007)

Ubisonic
Jamendo
Lastfm

8.4

/Alternative pop, Dark pop, Pomp pop, Electronic pop, Art pop/

Comment: this 19-track album showcases its mainstream-appealed tendencies mixed up with some more experimental developments. However, Botany Bay was formed in 1996 by Stephan Kleinert (programming, things), a German musician who was often aided by a ever-changing cast of musicians. When this release was recorded and publicated in 2007 Laura Dietrich (singing, synths) was a member of the band as well. The sound of the issue is mostly melancholic, made up of dark pop-tinged progressions and classical approach. At times it have managed to got more into a introspective appearance using microscopic chaotic disturbances and mildly droning keyboards. The outstanding track for me is The Crow Song wherein you can perceive the influences of Einstuerzende Neubauten and Lambchop due to the special vocal manner by Kleinert reminiscent of Blixa Bargeld, and Kurt Wagner, respectively (the most of the songs are vocally performed by Dietrich, though). A nice listening indeed.

Band That Never Was - Band That Never Was (2011)

Birdsong
Lastfm

8.9

/Improvised music, Post-rock, Chamber music, Instrumental rock/

Comment: BTNW is a trio from Israel offering up a sort of improvised rock music in full sway. There are represented 7 more or less hijinks turning off at the length of 36 minutes. Back and forth fluttering guitars are backed up by heavily pummeling drums or on the other side used to display the ones inclined to progress more into a sort of still life art in its very marrow. It is even not surprising if you can find out hints at the glimpses of world music throughout the progression of the notches.

Bing Satellites - You Were In A Dream

Enko - Vshiva (2009)

Qulture Production
Lastfm

9.3

/Experimental techno, Avant-techno, Breakbeat, Minimal techno, Abstract techno, Abstract electronica/

Comment: Enko (also known as Enkolf Kitler, and Artem) is a producer from Sumy, Ukraine who used to have been involved in the production of innovative techno music for many years. He has recorded for the likes of Qulture Production, and Bypass. Here are represented 3 tracks which might pay tribute to machines/or machine-like creatures and artificial intelligence who at times used to function as if were stayed too long on psychedelic drugs and magical mushrooms (especially if to consider those highly acidic breakbeats at Minimalist). On the other side, yet, you can be quite sure the issue is not a dance floor case. At least in the first place. As a producer, he can be compared with such artists like (surprise, surpise!) Autechre, Shtift, Xenoglosia, Nth Synthesis, HermeneutecH, Proswell. In a nutshell, this is a stunning break-laid outlet.

Wild Honey - My Girlfriend Ronnie (2011)

Bandcamp

9.4

/Twee pop, Singer-songwriter, Experimental indie, Sunshine pop, Baroque pop, Chamber pop, Indie pop/

Comment: Guillermo Farrè is a Madrid, Spanish-based musician/singer-songwriter who surprised with an enthralling issue, called Epic Handshakes and a Bear Hug, issued in 2009. It comprises blissful, even epic (twee) indie tunes incorporating the best traditions of the Sarah Records and mixing it up with the Latin romantism and elusive contemplation (containing the historical dimension within it). More concretely, you could get involved in majestic harmonies and clever lyrics. All those words can be said about his brand new single either. Enjoy it and listen to his previous masterpieces in addition to it.

Bryyn - Crossing State Lines (2011)

Jamendo
Lastfm
Wikipedia

9.3

/Singer-songwriter, Indie folk, Alt-folk, Folktronica, Folk indie, Experimental folk, Art-pop, Experimental indie/

Comment: Bryn Martin who was previously known as Pinkle is a prolific American vagabond who relocated over to Lausanne, Switzerland some years ago. He grew up being influenced by some conceptual rock bands like Trans Am, and Tortoise, and by more pop-inclined artists like Wes Montgomery, Beck, and Nirvana. If to describe this 11-track issue, however, first of all, it is a pop album deserving to be written with the initials. The release is filled in with impressive turns and sublime free falls extending from cagey folk-based approach to electronic effect-laden singer-songwriter-ism to the half-orchestrated splendour. Anyway, you can perceive the similar characteristics with Sufjan Stevens, Dan Masquelier, Sondre Lerche, Bon Iver, Stereolab, The Smiths, and even Blur. Finally, I am very convinced that Coffee in Tokyo is one of the best songs in 2011.

Yachar - Caleuche (2011)

Jamendo

9.1

/Classical, Neoclassical, Epic, Musique concrète, Martial, Avant-garde/

Comment: Yachar, a producer from Valencia, Catalonia, Spain is back with his brand new one. 17-minute composition comprises different elements veering out from sunshiny orchestrations, light-hearted vowel layers, and more and less murky concrete-based undercurrents (it embarks on with the sublime hooter sounds of a barge and will end up with the hollering of seagulls) and martial drumming to electronic explosions and chamber pop undulation. Once more, this sonic odyssey is really worth to be reprised for many times again and again.

Possimiste - Filably

Flamingo - Superpalm (2011)

Bad Panda
Lastfm

9.1

/Electronic pop, Glo-fi, Chillwave, Lo-fi, Ambient techno, Hypnagogic pop, Avant-pop/

Comment: Flamingo is a producer from Rome, Italy offering up an uplifting mix of ambient techno/kosmische chill-out electronica and chillwave-ish indie pop. The 5-track EP starts out with the self-titled track which gets very near to the Orb-esque beatific ambient techno contemplation a la Toxygene (from within the album Orblivion, 1997, Island Records) and the last track Bat Country will do it in the similar manner either. The other tracks in-between are more contemplative in their blissed-out frames and retrodelic hypnagogic gyration (reminding of the 80`s fusion-loaded synth/electro rock bands, and contemporary acts like Ariel Pink, and Eureka Brown), and primitive lo-fi sequences. Ultimately, it is a pleasant listening.

NOW - Sudden Bursts/Normal Breaths (2011)

Clinical Archives

9.0

/No Wave, Avant-pop, Noise rock, Dance rock, Drone pop, Electronic pop, Avant-garde, Krautrock, Experimental, Improvised music, Experimental indie, Art pop, Electro pop/

Comment: here are represented 24 tracks together, which in turn are divided into 2 parts. However, the common picture of the album is convincing thanks to the trio`s innovative but consistent approach by mixing up restraint drone pop montages, guggling electronica and static electro, lofty kraut dynamics, obscure British post-punk tradition, noiseful rock, and whimsical No Wave progressions with some hints at dadaistic tones and hooks. Indeed, the group does have its own idiosyncratic formula, which seems to be coming out into an incessant yet seamless fight between the improvised vapour and determined structures. As it is said at Clinical Archives, it is nowadays experimental pop (which can borrow capably from the past, analyze it and add its own thread to it).

Blossom - Blue Balloons

B.R.O. - Proxima Centauri Remixed EP (2011)

so far unknown records
B.R.O.

9.4

/Remixes, Cinematic, Trip-hop, Nu jazz, Fusion/

Comment: here are 6 tracks, two of them are original ones created by the Polish duo B.R.O. (Konrad & Jakub Zamojski) and the rest of them are remixed by Remy LBO, Graham O`Brien, Graf Cratedigger, and Wladyslaw Komendarek. However, all those notches are made up without sparing time and resources in production. Mostly lush, dark blue-infiltrated rhythms are seamlessly interwoven with the epic touch of topmost cosmic layers to offer for the listener the sort of transcendent experience.

Opusvertigo - Tales of the wood - part II - Revenge (2011)

Jamendo

8.6

/Film noir, Electronic pop, Neoclassical, Classical, Conceptual/

Comment: this 6-minute single is the second part of Tales of the wood. However, it does embark on with a layer of droning, slightly wavy orchestration-laden sound which gets developed into a more synthetic and dashing approach with the demonstration of a sharp contrast between thudding synth sequences and acute forays of orchestrated samples.

The Hatsune Mikus - Go Manchester!!! (2011)

Canata
Lastfm

9.5

/Dream pop, Baggy, Shoegaze, Madchester, Dance rock, Alternative pop/rock, J-pop, Indie pop/

Comment: I have always been into such groups as Happy Mondays, The Soup Dragons, Darkside, Flowered Up, Northside, The Mock Turtles, The Wordsmiths and other such kind of groups who used to fuse indie guitars with dance-appealed beats. By listening to this 5-track issue I can only perceive very strong bittersweet feeling because of including elements which do build up an enthralling whole. Japanese female vocal driven songs are backed up by suggestive wah guitars, beatific mandolin chords and amusing orchestrations, and loose drum pads. Onwards, the result can be measured in astonishing harmonies and melodies either. In fact, the album`s title should have named as Go Madchester!!! (just a little joke!). However, imagine as if Happy Mondays were met with Richard Hawley, and Asobi Seksu, and Flipper`s Guitar, and Ride. One of the pop albums in 2011.

goto80 - Ter4

Hox Vox - Undead (2011)

Bandcamp

9.3

/Electronic pop, Progressive rock, RIO, Avant-prog, Weird pop, Experimental/

Comment: Hox Vox is Gianluca Missero, a native from Venice (or Venezia as you wish) who has covered lots of stylistic curiosities and thus has been a steadfast torchbearer for nowadays RIO (rock in opposition) movement or at least its uncompromising traditions. Matter of fact is that he is now more involved in the doings of such groups as Turbogrind Terrorizers, The Blasted Muffins, and The Wreck Up, yet, here is the awesome single Undead which, however, demonstrates Missero`s idiosyncratic sonic calligraphy and ability for dramatic explorations. More concretely, it includes the elements of different kind of breaks, the growling of werewolves, ethereal vowel layers. The most appealing fact is that the moods around it are peculiarly shifting and changeable. I would delineate it for myself as a psychedelic experience at least.

Betamaxx - Wild Foxes (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.3

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

Comment: a heavy blend of nowadays and past tendencies mixed into a stunning whole by any means. The 70`s disco oscillations and lush synth pop glimpses are interlaced with nowadays bedroom production a la early Ariel Pink. Truly retrodelic. Tom Reah and Euan Lynn are a Newcastle, UK-based duo whom should be checked out in the future as well. Most of us are not so talented just to take on such superb sound and intentions.

Enki Enlil - Acid Monkey Strikes Again (2010)

Archive.org

9.5

/Hauntology, Synth noir, Psyambient, Electronic pop, Avant-electronica, Experimentalism, Drone pop, DIY/

Comment: actually it involves much more elements than just by the sentence that hip-hop beats meet acid ambience. Furthermore, those aforementioned stylistic elements are quite vague on it. It is deeply haunting sounding like a track from within a compilation of halloween being deliberately mixed up with nowadays DIY/lo-fi aesthetics. All those dusty, droning analogue keyboards are set up to provide lush vibrations and suggestive rhythms or at times being replaced with more introverted electronic explorations. Even psychedelic chill out/psyambient-esque patterns and shamanic incantations are represented here. And all of that sounds truly great. In a nutshell, a gem indeed.

2muchachos - Long Time Ago

Mood Rings - Sweater Weather Forever (2011)

Mediafire

Bandcamp

9.2

/Indie pop, Alternative pop, Shoegaze, Dream pop/

Comment: a handful of solid indie songs by Allen Taylor, a Atlanta, Georgia-based native. The chiming touches of delay-filled pop progressions are spiced up by some more penetrating shoegaze-esque guitar riffs now and then. In fact, the last track Washer abandons all the dreams to come over for fording in the swamp of more straightforward indie rock/shoegaze-ish tunes. Ultimately, you can draw the parallels upon the visions and intention of those combos ever issued on Slumberland Records and Holiday Records. Of course, the reverberations by Deerhunter, and Atlas Sound are also represented on it. However, this release was the first one issued in 2011. Taylor has been truly prolific since this moment (7 publications upon it at Bandcamp).

ISM/DUBBHISM - Vintage Dubbs Vol. 1 (2010)

Dubbhism

7.4

/Dub, Reggae, Raggamuffin/

Comment: here are represented 8 tracks by Tony Dubshot and 2 by Scratchy Dubplate Crew. Lazy ganja beats are mixed up with electronica or more contemporary club dance-tinged (programmed) beats. At times it sounds even primitivistic, though, which this time is not of advantage to. On the other side, however, Breaking Dub is a solid exploration. All in all, vintage meets more recent years.

Asolaar - Vellocet (2011)

Sincro

9.2

/Industrial electro, Abstract techno, Noise, Experimental electronica, Minimal, Drone noise, Avant-techno/

Comment: this 6-track album can be described as a sort of galvanized industrial electro/abstract techno where beats are highly blurred in the embodiment of noiseful droning chords and being as sharp as the smithereens used to be. Indeed, at times it seems to be chiming as an ode to electricity. However, it comes out from Argentina by the experienced musician Dario Pinto.

Philippe Nore - Additif EP (2011)

NoEcho

9.0

/Experimental electronica, Noise, IDM, Abstract, Experimental techno, Avant-electronica/

Comment: this is a boisterous but intelligent machine/machinery-induced vision by a classically educated French musician who used to mix up noiseful signals and bleeps with more restraint, undulant pads of electronica which are embellished with symphony-relied samples sometimes. Intriguing and intricate indeed. Needs more listening times than just one time.

Bing Satellites - Areas Of Darkness And Light (2011)

Laverna
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.8

/Ambient, Shoegaze, Psyambient, Dystopbient, Kosmische Musik, Soundscapes/

Comment: this is very vast, very broad, very profound...one of the best ambient artists in the world at the moment because of mixing intensely up the warmth of arctic fields and shimmering of borealic fires. Sounds like the kind of shamanic dance below the aurora borealis reminding a bit of the works by Tim Hecker in the first half of 00s. It is supposedly quite rare when the sound gets much bigger than your possible imagination about it. Actually the other works by Brin Coleman are as qualitative as this one here.

Melting Clouds - Full Removal (2011)

Clinical Archives

9.3

/Post-rock, Dark pop, Chill out, Experimental rock, Psychedelic, Art rock, Organic electronica/

Comment: six profound, blissed-out/or even creepy insights into a sort of ethereally tinged experimental/post-rock from Kyiv, Ukraine. Indeed, it does involve interesting electronic modalities and uplifting psychedelic washes following the mentality and formula of arty rock music. At times solemn, cathedral-based organs are fused suggestively with the layers of concrete sounds. On the other side, the last track is an example of pleasant smooth art pop aesthetics.

he died while hunting - we used to dream awake (2011)

Totokoko
Lastfm

9.2

/Folktronica, Organic electronica, Drone pop, Experimental folk, Singer-songwriter/

Comment: a handful of nice electronica-drenched folk songs from Belgium. These are enough mellow and cute ones to attract attention for you and me. Finger tapped rhythms and synthetic bleeps are fused with suggestive guitar sounds and microscopic near-noise feeling to make out an accomplished whole.

Moses Luster & the Hollywood Lights - Lover

Moses Luster & the Hollywood Lights - "LOVER" from Shane McLafferty on Vimeo.

Black Winds - Space

Kent State - Polly (2011)

Paranoid Futures/Kent State

9.0

/Cover, Garage pop, Alternative rock, DIY, Lo-fi/

Comment: Kent States do cover Nirvana`s classic song Polly and doing it very well because of giving it a dirty yet uplifting lo-fi/garage shift.

Brian Square - A Bunch Of Souls (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.5

/Avant-garde, Spoken word, Psycho-acoustic, Anti-folk, Experimentalism, Freeformfreakout, Non-music/

Comment: Brian Square is an artist closely related to the Cologne-based vagabond Richard There and his Sleeping Horse Records. As you have figured out at yourself now, indeed, it supposes something unusual, something which is very away from the cores and centres of mainstream pop music. More profoundly, there can be detected for a countless amount of sonic experiments, which are "embellished" with skewed spoken word experiments, different occult voice manners, creepy song structures and tenuous electronic minutiae (around the folk-based song There Is No Sin For All This). By the way, Brian Square conveys to us a version of the US-anthem Star-Spangled Banner which is the only notch which throws out a sense of easiness and more light.

Weird Ribs - Tubes (2010)

CLLCT
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.5

/Krautrock, Experimental rock, Psychedelic electronica, Ambient rock, Epic, Avant-rock, Electronic pop, Cosmic fusion, Drone, Kosmische Musik, Space synth/

Comment: not only Bradford Cox can forge excellent music. Here is 22-year-old Englishman Joseph Cox who is as similarly as his well-known namesake influenced by electronic, ambient and psychedelic sound. However, a native from Newcastle was previously known thanks to his obscure ambient project Fragile Battleship. Anyway, Cox takes out some elements from there and fuses them with the oscillating vibes of Kosmische Musik and krautrock, following at times slightly more pop-oriented (Tangerine Dream; Harmonia; Cluster), at times more profound, orthodox alchemy (a la Conrad Schnitzler). On the other side, if to compare it with contemporary kindred souls you can direct spot upon Growing, Emeralds, Fuck Buttons, Oneohtrix Point Never and many othe rones. In a nutshell, this 9-track issue is truly epic and huge.

Hipster Youth - Crying Outside Clubs

These Animals - These Animals EP (2011)

Aaahh
Lastfm

9.3

/Indie rock, Alternative pop/rock, Doo wop, Baroque pop/

Comment: here is a handful of ditties coming out from New York, USA. However, there is no opportunity to say unpleasant words about this 6-track EP which compounds burbly guitar strums and chiming magic and a little bit androgynous vocal yodel with each other as if The Free Design or The Manhattan Transfer were chatted up with indie sound approximately four decades ago. Indeed, sixties-soaked harmonies give it a characteristic outlet and output. Let`s call it just doo wop-drenched indie pop.

Paper Pilot Plane - As You Let Me Go (2011)

Paper Plane Pilot
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.3

/Electro-indie, Post-punk, Alternative pop/rock, Indie dance, Dance rock/

Comment: behind Paper Plane Pilot hides himself Dustin Frelich, a San Diego native who has issued the album First Flight and a shitloads of singles. However, the current single is tagged as Joy Division", and "New Order" among others at Bandcamp. Indeed, And You Let Me Go used to utilize and gets benefit from vivid, propulsive bass lines and The Cure-esque synth dust hovering above it and getting a whiff of. On the other side, all those old school post-punk elements are intensively interlaced with the structures of nowadays electronic indie sound. A solid punch indeed.

Bobby Baby - Some Place New (2005)

Corpid
Corpid

9.2

/Indietronica, Experimental indie, Organic electronica, Alternative, Leftfield, Electronic pop/

Comment: Ella Blixt is an indie girl from Hultsfred, Sweden who embarked on playing music in her early teenager years in 90s. This EP can be considered as "classic" because of having been very popular and on the other side Blixt`s ditties are really worth deserving to be giving a try. These 5 songs reflect upon the examples of silentful, mellow guitar chords and minor symphony-based harmonies of melodica assisted by gritty electronic beats below it. The most important aspect is established on the ground that the ditties are craftily accentuated, filled in with lots of crunchy touches and perceptions. All of that happened before she joined with Robert Kretzschmar, and Frank Shültge Blumm to establish new projects (It`s A Musical, and Bobby & Blumm, respectively) and record for the legendary Morr Music. By listening the EP, you can obviously feel similarities with mùm, Cantaloup, Lali Puna, Wixel, Hood and many others.

These Animals - Souvenir

Bear Mountain - Daysailer (2011)

Bandcamp

9.7

/Alternative rock, Indie, Glo-fi, Art-rock, Shoegaze, Dream pop, DIY, Singer-songwriter/

Comment: it is said that this is the musical project by the filmmaker Jeffrey Hoyt. Anyway, these 8 ditties (most of them do include just a few rows of lyrics) are truly enthralling in their dreamy, reverb-loaded guitar strums and mesmerizing arpeggio-driven twangs which at times are interfered by harmonica and female vocal-relied harmonies. It reminds a little bit of Slowdive`s quite unfamiliar songs like Richard, and Summer Daze (which are already more inclined toward the aesthetics of Mojave 3) moreover, as if these ones were remixed by Avey Tare-Panda Bear and. Moreover, Hoyt seems to be influenced by the spaghetti western themes and saccharine underground-ish easiness. For instance, listen to Dunes, a blissed-out incantation/insight which sounds like indie-esque Morricone. Graveyard Shift is one of the ditties in 2011 as similarly as Daysailer is one of the albums in 2011. A truly lush shift indeed.

Plasma - Digital (2008)

Off/Bruma
Lastfm

9.3

/Avant-garde, Noise, Abstract electronica, Experimentalism, Drone, Conceptual, Minimalism, Microtonal, Sound-art, Non-music/

Comment: Ian Linter aka Plasma`s Digital (2008) was the first issue under Off/Bruma, an experimental/avant-garde label. As the title hints at the 6-track one`s content it does explore on the borders of digital approach and used to search for possible hidden angles and almost invisible corners within it. More profoundly, it consists of the turbulences of noise which are truly restraint and microscopic being incessantly variegated with the different lengths of bleak, abstract chords and barely audible pulsations below it. In true, due to extensive using of sine-wave oscillators the bunch sometimes resembles more of mathemathics than a kind of music.