Louie & The Ocean – Insubstantial (2012)

Webbed Hand
Lastfm 

8.6

/IDM, Electronic pop, Lo-fi, Electro pop, Mood music/

Comment: this is a drift between IDM-esque beats and downtempo-tinged moody electronica where the listener can meet either melancholic or more swift dodges and angles. Furthermore, the album incorporates the elements of homemade aesthetics and gleaming synth/electro shades. This 9-track album comprises predominantly instrumental notches. In a nutshell, it is obviously better effort than the previous release by Louie & The Ocean, the French artist used to be.

[Teaser of the day] LarG Productions - A March Through The Fens (Remix)

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

Hox Vox - Hurry Up Harry - part 2 (2012)

Hox Vox
Jamendo
Bandcamp
Lastfm 
 

8.9

/Alternative, Avant-garde, Avant-prog, Psychedelic rock, World music, Funk, RIO, Experimental rock, Crossover, Progressive rock/

Comment: Gianluca Missero aka Hox Vox is back with his brand new one (21 pieces) whose axis comprises the elements of lopsided progressive rock (let`s call it this way). On the other side, it involves lots of reference points extending from psychedelic funk and disco vibes and bhangra-laden thudding to more ethnic-mixed developments and (psychedelic) trance-alike synthesized bubbling and acidic synth-driven art rock manifestos. It is obvious on the album that one stylistical element used to meld quickly and organically into another. Now and then it sounds like the direct translation broadcasted from a carnival. In a word, Hox Vox proves again to have been a talented musician in his explorations. The album id dedicated to the memory of Marco Bianchi, the drummer of Death In Venice.  

Kisszanto - Surrealism On Tape (2011)

Dusted Wax Kingdom

8.5

/Trip-hop, Hip-hop, Downtempo, Sampledelic, Cut and paste, Lo-fi, Mood music, DIY/ 

Comment: Kisszanto is a producer and DJ from Hungary whose 11-track album Surrealism On Tape used to soothe and bounce simultaneously. Indeed, it is backed up by a wide array of rhythm sequences veering away from slow-natured breaks and hip-hop-alike patterns to more tumultuous jungle/dnb-relied propulsions. All of that is bruished against the sort of homemade aesthetics. Of course, the listener can feel him/herself a little bit confused because there is difference between the title and the content of the album, though, the result is enough enjoyable on its own (built upon repetitive structures, looptronic aesthetics). No doubt, such kind of music seems to be highly influenced by the oeuvres of Flying Lotus.  

I Am Esper - Echoes From A Cold Planet (2012)

Abandonment 

Bandcamp

8.6

/Psycho-acoustic, Acousmatics, Avant-garde, Dark ambient, DIY, Lo-fi, Dystopbient/ 

Comment: this long-running, 18-minute composition seems to be within the realm of lo-fi-tinged black ambient where the listener can perceive hollow shades and some lack of gravity. Indeed, it is a little provolking due to its coarseness and intention to drift in between barely audible and unheardable dimensions as if all of that were situated at the botoom of a well somewhere. Oh, I have forgotten it - it is a cold astral body actually.

[Teaser of the day] ZigiZigi - It Burns My Heart

  Royalty-free music for professional licensing

Galvanic Elephants - Moonstruck

Gangrena - The Zombie Survival Society (2012)

Torn Flesh

9.2

/Death metal, Crust punk, Grindcore, Goregrind, Non-music, Brutal metal/ 

Comment: the listener can be sure that Gangrena, the Mexico-based collective is obviously an out of pop group because of incessantly mutilating and demolishing possible fine song structures and harmonies presented in mind. Gangrena`s release used run on devouring, indecipherable vocal/moaning lines, angrily attacking guitar massives, deathly punching drums and other abrasive (or on the other way unexpected) minutiae by right and left side. As the result the issue releases a vast amount of psyched-out emission into surrounding space. In a word, it is a genuinely cruel, hellish dog.    

Fabian Russ - Schrottmann Remixed (2011)

tonAtom

9.2

/Art pop, Experimental electronica, Sampledelic, Remixes, Sound collage, Downtempo, Crossover, Conceptual, Mood music/ 

Comment: first of all, this release of 9 pieces involves a wide array of different kind of paces and moods, more detailly, extending from airy piano music-induced impetus and uplifting art/indie pop washes to more warped electronic compositions, velvety downtempo/trip-hop gears and old school funk bits. Considering all of this merry-go-round-alike patchwork the outlet can be defined as a subtle instance of sampledelic aesthetics. The remixes are made by such artists as Firnwald, Francis Bacon, Photophob, The Plastic Jazz Orchestra, The1983, Hr. Herr, Marco Sebastian Christ, and Osterland. Pro.

Ratkiller - Gallic Cones (2012)

Dipsomaniac

Lastfm

9.0

/Synth fusion, DIY, Progressive rock, RIO/Avant-prog, Experimental rock, Mood music, Crossover/

Comment: this 10-piece album takes on investigation of the relations between psychedelic fusion, 80`s synthesized regatta pop, space tinged-art pop, DIY-hued aesthetics (indeed, successfully avoiding the quality of sterile studio sound), and RIO/avant-prog glimpses and slots. Anyway, the final result is prudently amusive and uplifting where the technical side of it is finely counterbalanced with moody, psychic sides. Behind the project is Mihkel Kleis, who is being known as the leader of such formations as Luarvik Luarvik, and EDASI.

[Teaser of the day] Lucifer`s Lunar Resort - Cathedral

 CLLCT

Wonaldo - Diepsteweg

Overcolored - Corvus Corone Cornix (2011)

 Bandcamp

Lastfm

8.8

/Post-rock, Crossover, Progressive metal, Art rock, Progressive rock, Symphonic metal, Melodic rock/

Comment: Overcolored is a pretentious ensemble from Krakow, Poland whose oeuvre do meet at the crossroads of soothing, at times concrete music-induced post-rock-ish developments, tumultuous progressive rock-ish rhythm patterns and acrid guitar riffs, and spectacular symphonic rock/melodic metal (indeed, the instrumental side is finely counterbalanced by female operatic soaring). In a nutshell, the result is an intricate and intriguing whole. And the coverprint is shrewd and metaphorical indeed.

fydhws / aiRless pRoject Split (2011)

Bandcamp

Lastfm

9.5

/Post-rock, Avant-rock, Experimental rock, Krautrock, Art-rock, Space rock, Conceptual/

Comment: behind this split publication do hide themselves two Macedonian experimental ambassadors whose 5-track album is tightly filled in with spacey flamingo-tinged guitar motives (sic!), intense, monotonous krautrock-esque vibrations and the washes of infiltrated guitar noise. Furthermore, the listener can hear lots of amplified guitar effects, "broken" chords, gliding textures, and shifts between still life and noise. In a few words, it is an example of how superb guitar music should be arranged for. You can draw parallels upon the likes...mhm, having actually no idea with whom it can be comparable with because it seems to be so idiosyncratic and refreshing.

ki††y c▲t - Radioheadache (EP 2011)

Bandcamp 

Lastfm

8.8

/Electronic pop, Post-dubstep, Electro-indie, Drag house, Alternative, Witch house, Alternative, Electro-indie/

Comment: these 8 tracks are made up of thick, brooding electronic/synth-driven layers and intense rhythms and epic thudding, though, sometimes is outreaches the borders of the witch house/drag electro/post-dub/dope step style, however, extending to more rock/electro-indie centered compositions. The artist originates from Russia who has issued a handful of EPs and singles (solid ones as well) over the last years.

[Teaser of the day] Remember Me - Eyes Wet With Clarity

CLLCT

Colateral Soundtrack - N/D

Gene Rodemich Orch - Shanghai Shuffle (1924)

78RPMs and Cylinder Recordings

10.0

/Big band, Jazz, Mood music, Exotica pop/

Comment: Gene Rodemich (1890-1934) was a pianist and conductor from St Louis, Missouri, USA who had accomplished scores for numerous films (for Charlie Chaplin, and Frank Buck`s ones) and introduced many NBC programmes. Shanghai Shuffle is a composition to function as an example of the sequence of amusing big band-played chords embellished with more exotic seeds and shades. It is funny, pleasant, and masterfully composed. Indeed, let`s take a trip into history.

Interlard - Gland (2011)

Milk Kitten

Lastfm 

9.3

/Noise rock, Harsh noise, Experimental rock, Crust punk, Avant-rock, Non-music, Screamo, Goregrind/ 

Comment: Interlard, the Birmingham, UK-based musical project is undoubtedly one of the most extreme collectives in Europe. Over years they have practiced grind-ish, soil-eating noise rock (gore metal) which is full of flourishing power and suggestive impetus/ultra heavy thudding or just being more inflected toward instances of unambiguous harsh noise. More concretely, the ensemble can be compared with the likes of Black Dice, Black Pus, and The Lightning Bolt.  Gland includes 4 tracks (or, say, foreign bodies by their contrasts to the whole of pop music) which are deliberately slow-paced, suggestively repetitive ones which at times are accompanied by desperate shouts (Put to Sleep) or used to swivel around an example of grained harsh noise (Doubloons Aren`t Round).

Vèvè Seashore - Seven Years of Gulliver (2011)

DFBM

Lastfm 

9.2

/Post-psychedelic electronica, Avant-folk, Indie folk, Neofolk, Psychedelic folk, Folk indie, New Weird Europe, Experimental folk, Alt-folk, Krautrock, Dark folk, Anti-folk/ 

Comment: Seven Years of Gulliver is the debut album of the Finnish avant-combo Vèvè Seashore. This 15-track album involves a shitloads of elements and a wide array of experiments veering away from examples of quite bucolic (mostly neo) folk-ish guitar twangs and clear-cut singing to much more dizzy explorations which more concretely used to take on musique concrète-infiltrated frames and knee-deep psychedelic krautrock-esque visions to more epic yet otherworldly moments (Seven Inch Script IV (Warsaw Warpig)) and warped folk indie manifestos (I`m a Full Cloud (I`d like to rain)).      

[Teaser of the day] Andrew Lahiff - An Image Of The Earth

Archive

The Smallest Bones - Cross Mountain (2010)

Bandcamp

 

9.4

/Post-rock, Experimental indie, Dream folk, Folktronica, Indie folk, Art-folk, Folk indie, Post-pop, Alternative/

Comment: this is a blissful experimental indie/post-rock release which used to talk to you without words and syllables /except the secong half of the last track). More profoundly, it is filled in with highly harmonious guitar progressions-arpeggios and ascending, a little haunting chords which in turn are embellished with slight dust of concrete/street sounds and silentful rolling of synthetic marimbas and flourishing electronica ultimately having a vast amount of power to enthrall the listener. Behind the project is Julia Kotowski who is being known as Entertainment For The Braindead in the first place. The fabulous result indeed. 

Hazardous Guadalupe - H.G (2003/2009)

FMA

Spleen Coffin

8.8

/Improvised music, Psychedelic folk, Free folk, Psych-folk, Avant-garde, Experimentalism/

Comment: it can be labeled as an instance of freaking folk and improvised jamming which consists of the squeaks of undecipherable instruments, psyched-out guitar twangs and trance-induced drumming thereby drifting somewhere in between 60`s psych-folk and kind of 00`s New Weird and on the othe rside between acoustic primitivism and more treated vistas. Indeed, this 11-piece outlet is a gritty aspiration to search for some genuine synergical borders. Anyway, If I think of the kindred souls of the group such bands as Vierivä Viiksiportieeri, and Uton come to mind. 

Split - II / Colateral Soundtrack (2011)

  

A.M.P-RECS

9.3

/Ambient, Soundscapes, Minimal, Experimental electronica, Epic, Dystopbient, Conceptual/  

Comment: a pair of lengthy ambient tracks which used to soothe and release the listener`s blocked-up mind. Sometimes it chirps like being closely related to some dystopic, horrible places, on the other side it sounds like being an intimate state of mind during the endless space trip. The compositions do include more abrasive aspects (hisses, microscopic noise, feedback-laden bits), however, thus successfully variegating the moods and soundscapes of the release. The second track is a more loop-based and fine-grained propulsion which in turn contains the epic dimension. This mesmerizing result is issued on the Mexican experimental label A.M.P-RECS.    

[Teaser of the day] Wouter Bruys – This is Guitar Music

Eric Delay - Four Moments (2012)

Fuselab

9.0

/Experimental electronica, IDM, Ambient techno, Downtempo, Mood music/

Comment: Eric Delay aka Silent Cuts (born in 1986) is a musician from Ulyanovsk, Russia who offers up four sonic episodes which will be finished off at the length of 11.30. More concretely, it is a honest, lush blend of gritty brain techno rhythms and downtempo vibes, lambent IDM progressions and tropical electronica. In a word, this is a set of masterfully produced tracks indeed. 

Wrong Way Home - Weedway (2009)

Black Mess

9.5

/Dystopbient, Avant-techno, Industrial techno, Abstract electronica, Industrial illbient, Dark ambient/  

Comment: this 5-piece issue starts off with the kind of abstract, underwater techno which will be followed by more misanthropic, industrial-soaked notches which are full of evil-sounding frequencies, out-of-Earth vibrations and glitch-hued dystopic thudding. However, it conjures up lots of elusive, otherworldly objects of the perception. Amazing drift indeed.

Bulimic Orgy & Mile - Reverse Of the Void LP (2012)

Dusted Wax Kingdom

9.4

/Trip-hop, Sampledelic, Downtempo, Shoegazetronica, Cut and paste, Experimental electronica/

Comment: Bulimic Orgy is a duo from Riga, Latvia who used to fuse the sequences of slow-paced beats and gleaming, sampledelic electronica/trip-hop into a fabulous, organic whole. Now and then it used to grow into a kind of looming reminiscent more of shoegaze-loaded electronica though it used to be laidback frequently as well. However, it is an unforgettable issue because of involving lots of full and half-brushed shades, picturesque effects, and exulting moods. 

[Teaser of the day] ENRIQUE RAMIREZ – Planeras

Elite Gymnastics - Neu! ’92 EP (2011)

Elite Gymnastics

9.5

/Post-psychedelic electronica, Avant-pop, Poptronica, Experimental indie, Alternative, Glo-fi, Neokrautrock/ 

Comment: Elite Gymnastics is another nowadays urban tribal collective which obviously harks back both to the tradition of motorik rock and nature-near (post) psychedelia/the object of hippies and goth-inspired post-punk a la The Cure, and The Comsat Angels. More profoundly, this 4-track issue is filled in with thudding beat sequences and plangent bass frequencies and on the other side blissed-out synth looming and spacey vocal lines. The release can be compared with the oeuvres by the likes of Gang Gang Dance, Excepter, Animal Collective, Chevalier Avant Garde. And of course with Neu!, the legendary Dusseldorf-based krautrock duo which is being the apparent inspiration source for our heroes. At least this time.   

Chevalier Avant Garde - HAIRCUT 7" (2011)

Bandcamp

9.4

/Chillwave, Post-punk, Avant-punk, Alternative, Art punk, Glo-fi, Poptronica, Post-psychedelic electronica, Avant-pop/ 

Comment: let`s go back to Montrèal, Quebec, Canada the city which has been a bacciferous place for a wide array of experimental and avant-garde bands. No doubt, Chevalier Avant Garde is one spot amongst others within there. There are represented a pair of tracks which are full of Zeitgeist-induced tendencies, yet, chiming lovely and naturally. It crosses the territory of blissful chillwave/glo-fi with mechanical, goth-soaked post-punk/art punk a la Joy Division, and Suicide. In a word, it is simply great.   

Metropol - My Own Gravity (2011)

Bandcamp

7.7

/Pomp pop, Alternative pop/rock, Symphonic rock, Synth rock/

Comment: Metropol is a collective from Spain who is obviously influenced by contemporary alternative pop/rock bands like The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, Keane (those chiming guitars) and on the other side it used to incorporate more bombastic elements, for instance the seeds of symphonical rock/metal and even some hair rock elements. There are up some amusing synth progressions and the falsetto-styled vocal is variegated with the baritone singing.  

Mixtape 15-05-2012

Mixtape

Tracklist:

MeDo`s Little Trap - Medicine Sound

http://labelnetlabel.com/artists/medos-little-trap

This Lonely Crowd - Scaramouche

http://sinewave.com.br/2012/02/this-lonely-crowd-doppeldanger-and-other-delicious-secrets-2012/

Electricwest - Scarlet

http://www.archaichorizon.com/releases/show/ah033

Clinker - Music Gives You Power

http://clinker.org.uk/albums/mp3.html 

Depth Affect - Sarah Carbone (D_Rradio remix) 

http://archive.org/details/moulin012

Tracky Birthday - Newish Disco

http://www.upitup.com/catalogue/release.php?cat_id=28

[Teaser of the day] Alexander Wigger - On Television

Carl-Step - From Far Away (2012)

Jamendo

9.0

/Electronic pop, Synth pop, New Wave, Experimental electronica, Robot pop/

Comment: this one track takes on the tradition of synthetic, robot pop. First of all, of course, it hints at Kraftwerk and upon it the legacy of New Wave/space disco/electro rock which in turn was heavily influenced by the German more or less electronic rock (so-called krautrock). More concretely, the track (3.44) bases on the formidable melody hook containing gloomy dust and autotuned vowel dust.

Post-Avantist - Vasiform Rima (2012)

 Dystimbria

9.1

/Harsh noise, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Non-music, Psycho-acoustic, Acousmatics/

Comment: wow, it is cruel and burningly hissing. You can imagine it as if My Bloody Valentine (or Mr. Shields) were a bigwig of the harsh noise scene. The whole issue consists of one lengthy, 19 minute composition which functions like a sonic nightmare full of high-registered chords and quite static penetrating impulses. It can be considered an example of the imagination about harsh noise in the classical sense of this word because of including loads of drifts between the washes of brutal noise and silentful spans/or silence. More concretely, these minutes can be compared with the likes of Hanatarashi, John Wiese, Dror Feiler, Kanin Krusete.   

FranzSnake - All`s Well (2012)

Mayoware

9.2

/J-pop, Shibuya-kei, Electro-house, Mood music, Lounge music, Bubblegum techno, Robot pop, Easy listening, Chilltronica/

Comment: this handful of tracks make you feel very happy and truly blissed-out - at times FranzSnake`s topic is to mix up suggestive electro house/robo house with J-pop/shibuya-kei seeds or just having a spot directed toward the rotation of moody guitar riffs and soothing synth chords and restrained paces. Or contrary, offering up more bubblegum-ish rhythm sequences. However, Mikakuzino Fantasia is the summer track of mine (there is also another version of it). The release can be compared with the likes of Fantastic Plastic Machine, and Pizzicato Five, for instance.

[Teaser of the day] Summertime`s End - Light And Colour

Last King of Poland - Follow Lonely Roads

Sanmi - Piano Explosion (2012)

Black Square

Lastfm

8.9

/Piano music, Modern classical, Experimentalism, Conceptual, Instrumental music/

Comment: Sanmi is the nom de plume of Kyo Yanagi from Nippon who used to operate on the piano throughout the course of 5 tracks. Indeed, it can be considered piano music, though, played on in a very experimental way. It involves austere and poignant arrangements where fluttering chords and hammering phrases are conjured up to create a lot of moods and lot of changes. Everything will change at the time of this trip.     

Dingle - Bitches Get Glitches (2012)

Robo Robotica

Robo Robotica

8.6

/Harsh noise, Avant-garde, Non-music, Experimentalism, Freeformfreakout/

Comment: this 3-piece issue is abrasive, threatening, provocative and politically incorrect. The whole includes howling noises, frantic throbbing, ingurgitating signals and thick resonating sonic massives. Now and then it is variegated with phrases about "love of fuck", thereby as you have already figured out it is not thought for children. And it is out of pop for sure. 

MeDo`s Little Trap - Medicine Sound (2012)

La bèl
Lastfm 

9.2

/Baroque folk, Singer-songwriter, Indie folk, Folktronica, Dream folk, Folk indie, Art pop/

Comment: there are up 4 tracks which are filled in with warm guitar twangs and harmonious vocal and some vowel effects, being genuinely intimate and contemplative (the most eminent track it the title track). At times it chirps like an instance of doo wop vibes and providing more electronic and programmed seeds. The whole is issued on La bèl, the Italian qualitative music label. 

ionoLa - Lo viejo (bizkaybay)

[Teaser of the day] JUNODEFiANCE - Please, Please. Please Let Me Get What I Want (Acoustic Cover/The Smiths)

árbore - Apenino & Raro (2006)

Bandcamp

9.0

/Free folk, New Weird Europe, Weird folk, Indie folk, Experimental folk, Drone folk, Avant-folk, Freak folk, Sound art/ 

Comment: àrbore, the Spanish-based musical project provide 9 notches, all of them are instrumental and genuinely experimental progressions. In addition to treated guitar-based outlet a wide array of instruments are proudly represented there. For instance, arpeggio-laden guitar chords are accompanied by melodica-based drones and glockenspiel-based subtlety can be found from there. Furthermore, the whole starts off with sophisticated sound art-esque developments which can be categorized "abstract" if to regard folk-tinged things in narrow sense of this word. On the other side, àrbore`s sound does not follow the common understanding of folk music at all thereby rather being a solid representative of the New Weird Europe scene.   

Wreck And Reference - No Youth (2012)

Bandcamp

Lastfm

9.2

/Post-metal, Avant-metal, Screamo, Hardcore, Experimental metal/ 

Comment: I can assume that Wreck And Reference`s previous (debut) album Black Cassette was one of the most fabulous albums in 2011. Without any doubts for sure. However, on their sophomore album they used to abandon their suggestive DIY/lo-fi/and noise-deflected post-metal approach, however, replacing it with more "serious", straightforward elements of metal or the genre-close details (screamo, hardcore, ambient, and elusive orchestrated fillips). Indeed, the listener is challenged of how to fit her/himself into new and a little startling shapes and patterns of the Californian ensemble. The more you listen to it the more natural and organic this 10-track album used to change for. Although the debut release was a more exclusive one the brand new one is very good as well.   

Hurtato Bros. Royal Marimba Band of Guatemala - Aida Selection (1916)

78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings

10.0

/Exotica pop, Conceptual, Classical music, Covers/

Comment: in the first place, indeed, it is a classic one because Giuseppe Verdi`s Aida gets covered with the assistance of marimbas by a Guatemalan ensemble over there. However, one of the most well-known motives of all eras gets accomplished in a fine way by any means - it has managed to restrain a possible canto, it is full of variegating colours and moods, it is soothing and exciting at the same time. Of course, this thick hiss surrounding the chords used to add lots of charming, mysterious feeling to the whole. In a word, let`s call it an instance of conceptual exotica pop. Thirdly, it is an example of pure heritage - it was recorded in 1916, the year when my maternal grandfather was born. Holy shit.  

[Teaser of the day] Taquwami - Ƒắη†Δ§ỷ

Jef Barbara - Cocaine Love (DannielRadall Remix)

Wyrm - Paramount (2011)

Drowning

9.0

/Doom metal, Post-metal, Experimental metal, Epic, Avant-metal/

Comment: this issue involves 4 long-running compositions by Bryan Ferguson who mixes up the aspects of epic, high-register-loaded doom metal with thick crackling and some innovative electronic progressions. Of course, below the clearly visible the listener can perceive suggestive minimal sonic piles which used to repeat and grow simultaneously.

Knife City - Knife City (2012)

8bit peoples

Bandcamp 

9.0

/8-bit, Tracker music, Chipbreak, Psychedelic dance, Bitpop, Nintendocore, Primitive pop/

Comment: Knife City is the nom de plume for Luke Silas who used to fuse essentially catchy rhythm patterns with 8-bit/chiptune/chipbreak templates. There are up a handful of notches which provide a kind of alternative for your usual imagination about dance music. More profoundly, it showcases short pace cycle tendencies and offhand frequencies regarding all of that which used to be produced with the help of Gameboy consoles and vintage programmes-plugins. On the other side, it is psychedelic and acute making your feel good. In any cases, Just Trash is the outstanding track on the album.

Hanetration - Tenth Oar EP (2012)

Bandcamp

9.2

/ Avant-garde, Neoclassical, Neofolk, Drone folk, Experimentalism, Avant-folk, Improvised music/

Comment: there are represented 4 notches which used to come out like the reflections through broken pop mirrors. Indeed, it is a little bit out of pop where the listener can perceive hazy compositions involving ghastly, neoclassical/neofolk tendencies which in turn are brought forth with droning harmonium-alike instruments which are backed up by slight cadences on the background. Yet, it is just one tendency regarding the album. The listener can perceive hatching some influences by Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and Daniel Figgis from this egg now and then. Furthermore, some improvised, freeform explorations are up there as well. 

[Teaser of the day] Southern Shores - Mauna Loa

Archive

H Stewart - Attempts for Breath

Bruised Skies - Brumes EP (2012)

Insight

8.9

/IDM, Ambient dub, Chillout, Ambient techno, Downtempo, Modern classical, Crossover/

Comment: these 4 notches are about dubby glacial glow-alike ambient progressions and flickering interaction somewhere in between light and shades. Stylistically it can be determined as "ambient techno/dub" or "IDM-tinged ambient". And even Sigur Ros and mùm come to my mind while listening to these slowly winding paces and harmony-filled progressions. On the other side some epic piano chords are wrapped up in thick mist where is no possibility for sunshine and - rather deliberately managed sadness is to dominate over there. In a word, all these pieces are true to nature, which ultimately will fade out into silence. Blissful experience.

Starfire Connective Sound - Where Go The Boats (2012)

Bandcamp

9.3

/Shoegaze, Alternative rock, Space rock, Post-rock, Dance rock, Psychedelic rock, Indie dance/

Comment: If to talk of the Brazil-based shoegaze scene, first of all, my glance is spotted upon Sinewave, the record label-related artists, and Starfire Connective Sound on the other side. This single is a two-headed one, creating of which is assisted by their friends from This Lonely Crowd. However, the result is a formidable blend of shoegaze, post-rock, psychedelia, dance-appealed sequences, and slight stoner/desert rock dust. The second track reminds a little of the Happy Mondays` Lazytis. Great.

Linear Bells - Los Angeles (2012)

Bandcamp

8.7

/Art-pop, Shoegaze, Experimental indie, Electronic pop, Post-pop, Lo-fi, DIY/

Comment: Linear Bells is a project from California whose album Los Angeles is made up of a little angular synth buzzes or synthetic bugs and bits and resonating drone flickering. However, if to trying to generalize it more profoundly, it can be seen for staying at the crossroads of shoegaze, post-rock, glo-fi, and DIY aesthetics. Furthermore, it used to be rather by the side of glowering and murky territory than on the side of blissful approach.

Orquestra Por Ponto

Orquestra Por Ponto from dimi on Vimeo.

[Teaser of the day] This Lonely Crowd – The Art of Training Squirrels

2muchachos - Vesnywki!! EP (2012)

Bandcamp 

Lastfm

9.3

/Dream pop, Organcore, Dreamwave, Post-pop, Hypnagogic pop, Poptronica, Experimental indie, Alternative/

Comment: 2muchachos is a wonder ensemble from Russia who provide their brand new one containing elusive looming and blissed-out vistas played on vintage analogue synths, guitars, and programmed sequences. By kindred souls the combo can be compared with the likes of Memoryhouse, Beach House, and The Bilinda Butchers. Undoubtedly one of the best musical groups all around the world. And it can be taken for gospel truth.

Daw Nusk - Hunter Gatherer (2012)

Pandafuzz

9.4

/Ambient, Soundscapes, Minimalism, Avant-garde, Post-rock, Shoegaze, Organic electronica/

Comment: this release by Todd Klempner involves a handful of lengthy compositions made up of the pulsations of Earth, our home planet, slightly psychedelic panoramas and broad ambiances surrounding the human being on the countryside. However, because of being slowly growing while staying majestic the compositions seem to be highly epic and even touched with ritualistic whiffs which in turn are embellished with the croaks of seagulls and flickering humidity located against the background of a picturesque scale. Furthermore, at times, at the time of its most exulting moments it used to reach the borders of post-rock and shoegaze.

Imperial Tiger Orchestra - Live at the OCCII 20/11/2009 (2012)

 

Free Music Archive

9.2

/Afrobeat, Psychedelic pop, Improvised music, Live session, World music/

Comment: TIO is a collective from Switzerland who has managed to get the spot upon a blend of afrobeat-esque grooves and psychedelic vibes. Of course, now and then it used to buck further, incorporating the elements of Orient-driven ethnic themes. More concretely, instrumentally lofty tube sections are interlaced with dashing drum sequences and vibrant electric organs. Moody and dance music as the main parts of the whole are represented there simultaneously.

[Teaser of the day] Tatlum - Farrowed

Summertime's End - Light And Colour (2012)

Bandcamp

8.9

/Chamber pop, Indie pop, Electronic pop, Baroque pop, Alternative pop/

Comment: these 10 pieces are moody revealations introduced with the chords of a piano and backed up with chiming synths, galvanized guitars and mellow vocal lines. It is a little melancholic and sad like the end of summertime, though, on the other side, having managed to be full of hopes and refreshing air. Throughout the course some tracks reveal themselves in a little bit simplistic, cheesy way, the other ones used to be more treated, sophisticated contemplations. However, the eminent tracks used to be Light And Colour, Airport Dreams, Until Blue Skies Return, and There`s Room On My Trolley For Two. 

Drugstore – Gaia EP (2012)

 Cicuta

8.8

/Psytrance, Acid techno, Electronic pop/

Comment: Drugstone`s album is an example of how psytrance-loaded thudding is successfully interlaced with the oscillations of electronic pop and angular techno vibes resembling of the ones having dominated in the beginning of the 90`s. Half of the whole is made up of remixes. In a word, it is interesting and intriguing.

Pilesar - Pilesar`s Ugly Children (2012)

Zeromoon

9.2

/Noise, Krautrock, DIY, Avant-garde, Sound collage, Avant-industrial, Experimentalism, Sampledelic, Psycho-acoustic, Acousmatics/

Comment: Pilesar is being known due to his lo-fi and primitivistic oeuvres for creating of which he used to exploit microphone, broken effects pedals, voice and some other instruments. He has issued a batch of releases under his own label, called Chameleon Dish Archives. This time he represents the brand of Zeromoon. This time his new album is filled in with 11 dazzling patchworks consisting of unbridled noises, dissonating cut-ups and lopsided rhythmic patterns. The whole veers away from obscure noise music and ghastly psycho-acoustic visions to more krautrock-loaded propulsions and early industrial vibes. Very exciting indeed.

[Teaser of the day] Welcome Back Sailors - Other Directions

Derek Clegg - Life Unfolds (2012)

  

Bandcamp

Lastfm

8.6

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

Comment: The Chicago-based musician Derek Clegg is back with his brand new one. Indie folk/alt-folk business as usual though including some exceptions. This 8-track album is built on lush guitar twangs and chirps and chiming yet dolefully mannered vocal undertaking which is turn are spiced up with some keyboard chords and half-orchestrated pictures.

Certain Death To Salamanders - Certain Death To Salamanders (2011)

SDTS

8.9

/Blues rock, Psychedelic rock, Instrumental rock/

Comment: this 4-piece issue is about instrumental blues-loaded rock and roll showing up its groovy muscles and cartilages. More concretely, it used to chase relentlessly upwards and downwards most of the time while being finely psychedelic. If you like The White Stripes, and The Black Keys, the bands who have paid tribute to the Black cultural tradition in the USA this band may be your choice either.