Blogiarhiiv

9/21/2012

Bryn Bowen - The Legendary Journeys Vol.1 (2012)



9.3

/Anti-folk, Indie folk, Power pop, Dream pop, Alternative rock, Singer-songwriter, Folk indie, Experimental indie/ 

Comment: firstly, this 9-track album could be managed in a more long-running way to acquire even a more sympathetic outlook and appealing output. Indeed, the longest track (The Good Skirt) represented on this 9-track album will be switched off at 1.52. The compositions are recorded at home based on more or less rough guitar strums which are backed up with slight synth whiffs, "accidental" samples and sonic effects, however, emotionally resulting in opposite ways, expressing himself at times in a soothing, at times in a more urging, uplifting way. In conclusion, Bryn Bowen is a very skillful musician of expressing his thoughts through a wide scope of variable moods and soundscapes, through his urges and daydreams. By the way, he runs the Giant Manilow Records and in association with it he is a key member of the “New Rock” Collective which embraces the likes of Shocked Elevator Family, Gentle Friendly, The Reverends, Hell Brown Kids, Brothers Garcia, and Bleeding Judges (which by its whimsical aesthetical approach can freely be compared with the Elephant Six Collective across the Atlantic).

[Teaser of the day] Mari Kalkun - Üü tulõk

[Teaser of the day] Jacob 2-2 - Frozen Objects (feat. Devery)




Fighting Lion - Sparkling Days, Sparkling Nights EP (2012)



9.3

/Dream folk, Folktronica, Free folk, New Weird Spain, Alt-folk, Indie folk, Alternative/

Comment: these 6 shorty pieces are heart-breaking harmonic whiffs by the Asturia/Catalonia-based artist Àlvaro Menèndez who conjures up on an ukulele (which is embellished with the chords of a xylophone or the halcyon furor of a melodica rising to the surface in some tracks) while being surrounded with sublime atmosphere and otherworldly blissful feeling. Ingeneral, his soundscape reminds a little bit of the likes of Beirut, and The Retuses, though, Menendez avoids to get involved in flirtation with the realm of a kind of ethnic/world music. However, I guess the listeners insist on a follow-up in a very strong way.

Greased Up Records presents - Mixed Up Vol. 2 (2012)



9.3

/Chill out, Trip-hop, Breaks, Nu jazz, Hip-hop, Cinematic, Electronic pop, Poptronica, Urban music/

Comment: this batch of 16 tracks comes out of Denmark where has been in charge such label as Greased Up for a while. It is the records` second compilation featuring such artists as Fenger Sway, Hvadkant, Soundtale, Mokjibake, Rewolmer, Zack Christ, Stacks, Sykofant, CRLF, Eloq, Jongpadawan, Fontomi, Roger Beattaker, Syllestruck, Spejderrobot X Shatter Hands, QOΔST & Hors. Stylistically it used to swirl around a little bit smoky but uplifting broken beats and wobbling, organic electronic explorations in the most cases, though, frequently the miscellany does reveal its more psychedelic, spacey and whimsical furors (there are presented such examples as folk-induced and heavily blissed-out electronica, distorted hip-hop numbers, sample-based sunshiny drifts, robot-driven electronic pop). All in all, the compositions are craftily elaborated and not overstated worth to be listened to it again and again evermore.

9/20/2012

Kago - Öiste vestluste vari

[Teaser of the day] Argo Vals - Hallitussilmad




[Teaser of the day] Kristin Hersh - Krait

10Minimal - ブリキノユメ (2012)




9.2

/Folktronica, J-pop, Experimental electronica, Electronic pop, Modern classical, Ethereal pop, Poptronica/


Comment: as you have already noticed this 4-piece album hails from Japan. It veers away from restrained but a little bit glacial electronic swinging headed up by fragile female singing and electronica-mixed folk-esque fingerpicking to flaring waves of ethereal pop (or ocean pop as it is tagged over at Bandcamp). In addition to J-pop its intention and concept do near to the aesthetics of such sirens as Kate Bush, and Jane Siberry. In a nutshell, the result sounds in an otherworldly and uncanny way.

Domovoy - Chaotic Filesystem (2008)


9.1

/Techno, Acid techno, Club dance/

Comment: there is represented a set of 3 tracks which takes on rigid, austere techno rhythms by their form, however, which on the other side paradoxically reveal its more affective side. We love human robots since the appearance of Kraftwerk, isn`t? And the Dusseldorf-based legends` adherents such as Orbital, LFO, and The Future Sound Of London as well. More concretely, it hints at biocontrollers, mechanisms, and (as you have already figured out) chaotic lifesystems.

9/18/2012

[Teaser of the day] Bisamråtta - Sky With Milk




[Teaser of the day] Jeremy Messersmith - Deathbed Salesman


Kannabinõid - Kannabinõid

Plusplus - Game Over (2012)




9.4

/Baroque pop, Alt-folk, Krautrock, Americana, Chamber folk, Indie folk, Psych-folk, Post-folk, Post-rock, Experimental rock, Folk indie/


Comment: behind the nom de plume Plusplus hides himself the cockney Adam Randmall (the Plantman guitarist, and former Beatglider synth player) for whom it is the sophomore album, a follow-up to Evils (issued on the nonesuch La bèl Records either). Basically this set of 8 pieces (though, the album is also available in another, 11-track format) is an instance of the astonishing dissemination of cinematic folk music, heart-breaking horns and brass-relied ruffles and abysmal sonic reveries. Yet, there are up notches where folk-inspired borders will be annihilated and replaced with more massive, post-rock-ish plateaus and even motorik rock-inspired propulsions or on the other side with silenful yet still chiming contemplations. By kindred souls there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Wilco, Robbie Basho, Fog, Barbagallo, Wild Honey. Hopefully the game is not over yet.

Pollux - My Beautiful Melancholia (2012)




9.5

/Ambient, IDM, Ambient techno, Experimental electronica, Breakbeat, Kosmische Musik/


Comment: Arnaud Barbe aka Pogohm aka Pollux can be described as a very prolific artist from France who in addition to have issued a batch of countless releases over the last years heads up a label, called Sirona-Records in which list there are represented more than 500 albums at the moment (despite of being one of the most qualitative blueprints worldwide). However, his 4-piece brand new one which is spreaded out over 14 minutes meets at the crossroads of boisterous ambient, an array of reshuffled broken beats, and somehow transcendental feeling. Inspite of involving a loads of elements it sounds essentially holistic. At times it chimes like the flight of a mysterious spaceshuttle having been on the road more than the average time length of a human generation thus the memories about this one are remarkably blurred, though, some people still believe there might be up such kind of object. In a word, it is a fabulous issue alleviating pain and providing hope for the next days.

[Teaser of the day] Cidulator - Just Ain`t Able

[Teaser of the day] Ville & Joonas - Herra Jää

Achim Mohne -Philip Jeck - Radio Touch 77 (2012)




9.4

/Abstract, Glitch ambient, Sound collage, Soundscapes, Non-music, Experimental electronica, Avant-electronica, Conceptual, Minimalism, Sound-art/


Comment: there is represented one temporally vast piece which will be switched off at 1.03.16. The composition contains three parts - the first half is composed by Achim Mohne, the second part is the artists` common part, though, lasting some minutes only, and the last section is headed by Philip Jeck. In particular, the artists show their inclination toward minimal and microtonal music, manipulating with barely audible digital bits and crackles which step by step will change its wave shapes and sonic phases ultimately leading up to hiss-infiltrated vintage orchestration-based samples, throbbing flickers and hazy yet ethereal electronic soundscapes. By the conceptual side the publication pays tribute to the format of vinyl disk which is still as popular as in the past days.

Kitty Pryde - Haha, I’m Sorry EP (2012)



9.2

/Hip-hop, Urban music, Rap/

Comment: this handful of notches spreaded out over 13 minutes is published by Kitty Pryde who hails from Orlando, Florida whose music is captivating due to her dreamy chanting, joyous chortling which are backdropped with uplifting motives-gears and lush, panoramic orchestrations. The EP is produced by Beautiful Lou, Sela, and Grant and featuring such MCs as Dankte, and Riff Raff (Orion`s Belt, the favourite track of mine is collaborated with him). Very good by any means.

9/17/2012

[Teaser of the day] The Very Most - Alien Girl

[Teaser of the day] Fighting Lion - Old Floorboards

SistaSara - DubRiddims (2012)



8.2

/Dub, Dubtronica/

Comment: DubRiddims is the first issue for a label, called Advaita Oneness Dub. Indeed, all those 7 pieces composed by SistaSara aka Sara Fuga are dub-soaked, full of gross beats, and thick vibes which in turn are subjected to delay-induced algorithms. More profoundly, of course, SistaSara`s soundscape can be considered "dubtronica", a subspecies of dub, because being an instance of (anonymous) modern dub, where acoustic and electric instruments are traded to electronic music devices and machines and where the listener can perceive linear progressions being mostly without vertical-transcendental scopes.

Sailor Jupiter - Sailor Jupiter (2005)



8.8

/Jungle, Techno, Trance, House, Club dance/

Comment: this batch of 9 tracks consists of an array of club-oriented beats veering away from rude jungle rhythms and less rough techno steps to brooding trance and progressive house mixed sequences.

9/16/2012

[Teaser of the day] The Quinsy - Dissolved

[Teaser of the day] Vinyl Williams - Psychic Shrine

Julio Agosto - Julio & Agosto (2011)



9.3

/Brass indie, Indie folk, Alt-folk, Psychedelic rock, Tropicalia pop, Folk indie, Baroque pop, Experimental indie, Chamber pop, Latin music, Alternative, Indie pop/

Comment: Julio y Agosto is a septet from Buenos Aires, Argentina who do provide a multi-faceted issue all what regards stylistic approach and sensual environment around the centre of this 12-track release. The combo uses acoustic instruments only - velevety vocal lines, strumming guitars, violins, exulting brass and woodwind instruments, and metallophones are seamlessly mixed up with each other or growing out from each other therefore resulting in captivating harmonies and dizzy crescendos. Now and then the issue reminds of Beirut, and The Retuses for instance, though, they used to add more exuberant Latin elements and therefore leading up to more key changes and detours regarding their Music Hall/carnival-alike soundscape. On the other side, provided that it is a slightly psychedelic album there cannot simply be bypassed not to be denoted Os Mutantes, the legendary Brazilian Tropicalia ensemble. In a nutshell, it is a superb result ready to perform both at the stages of WOMAD, and alternative rock festivals somewhere in nature in the summertime.

Esa Ruoho - On The Hangar of Spaceship Earth (2012)



8.9

/Noise, Psycho-acoustic, Abstract, Soundscapes, Acousmatics, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Ambient drone, Microtonal, Dystopbient, Illbient/  

Comment: Finnish musician Esa Ruoho is known as Lackluster in the first place. However, this time he has replaced flourishing IDM-esque propulsions mostly with pessimistic, white and grey coloured industrial soundscapes which in turn are composed of corroded and steel-coated particles. At times it sounds like a tribute to Luigi Russolo (whose rigid music already depicted possible shortages and deficits approximately 100 years ago) due to its incisive noise walls and reverberations. Indeed, these 9 long-running compositions used to slightly throb and change their pitch and shape therefore resulting in an alienated moloch and sinister signs reserved for all of us. More profoundly, by its hints and allusions toward the appearances of industrialization it chimes like a gigantic machine initiated by the human being built to maximize the pleasure of the human kind but unfortunately having no breaks to stop at a time and stay under our control. There is no hope and future. Only the last track Terra drones in a more poppy, psychedelic way like an abstract variant of Spacemen 3/Sonic Boom/Spiritualized. In a nutshell, let`s exploit our free will in relation with a particular moral coercion to change this miserable situation and madness.              

9/15/2012

[Teaser of the day] Plusplus - Song for Sonny










GIUSY L@ [DINGUE] - METALIK INSECTS

[Teaser of the day] Makunouchi Bento - Clipe Fericite




Kannabinõid - Kannabinõid EP (2012)



8.8

/Sludge metal, Experimental metal, Doom metal, Stoner rock, Post-metal/

Comment: Kannabinõid (Cannabis Witch) is a quartet from Tallinn, Estonia whose soundscape is filled in with massive bass and gritty drum induced low noise, growling and screaming vocal presentation and obscure lyrics (chanted in Estonian). The outstanding part of the EP is outlined throughout the self-titled track where nebulous vocal lines are dragged over a lopsided territory which is infiltrated with somehow charming malignancy and adorned with dexterous sonic effects and anaplastic shit. The more you listen to it the more you get suffocated in it (so be careful with it). Because of conveying some kind of deviousness and impurity the musical group can be compared with the likes of Talbot, and Wreck And Reference, for instance. In conclusion, they provide confidence and give hope for their sophomore album provided that it will be issued in the future.

Kamikaze Deadboy - Self Titled (2012)




9.2

/Crossover, Ambient, Breaks, Plunderphonics, Jungle, Samplecore, Sound collage, Experimental electronica, Musique concrète/ 

Comment: my first experience regarding meeting the arty aspirations of Halifax, the UK-based artist Keiron Ignorant aka Kamikaze Deadboy was related to the album If You Happy, Buy Me on Echoboy Records back in 2008 which was a 22-track dizzy blend of a tremendous array of frenetic breaks, poignant samples and innovative cores. However, he had been issuing a series of releases on Sociopath Recordings at the end of the 2000s either. This time the British musician gets involved in the list of Sirona-Records offering up 8 compositions spreaded out over 28 minutes which used to wobble in between a little lethargic but relieving spatial plateaus (which consist of dreamy and still life depicting soundscapes a la Pan Am, flourishing orchestrations and solemn church songs) and incisive rhythmic frequencies (based mostly on aggressive jungle rhythm sequences). Moreover, these elements are tightly interspersed with concrete sounds (the insects chirr and the frogs croak here and there). In a nutshell, I am very glad that Deadboy is back with a decent album.

9/14/2012

[Teaser of the day] Animal Collective - Comfy In Nautica

[Teaser of the day] Tragavenao Orquesta Afrobeat - Four Loko

Death Grips - Full Moon

Beat.Dowsing - Trigger. Melodies (2012)



9.4

/House, Electronic pop, Alternative, Dub-tech, Downtempo, Mood music, Soul-hop, Remixes, Disco pop, Nu jazz, Cinematic, Breaks, Chill out/

Comment: undoubtedly this album is entitled properly because it includes lots of exulting and catchy elements providing endlessly allusions toward a wide array of styles and genres. By the emotional side it is sexy and seductive due to its more or less direct hints and velvety margins. Technically it is based on gritty loop-driven rhythms (veering away from downtempo and cinematic nu jazz glimpses to shimmering electro, some dub-tech vibes at the beginning of some compositions, and soulful house music) blissed-out harmony sections emerged from within the samples of acidic synthesizers sounds and programmed cadences. Some variations presented there are indulged by using acoustic guitars and the orchestrated sounds to strum up the soundscape. Predominantly there is represented such sort of music I would like to call simply as "soul-hop". By the way, the album involves a pair of tracks where Beat.Dowsing (aka Transient) remixes such artists as Carmen Chiles, and Lumeet. In a nutshell, it is a pleasing, sublime hour worth to be spent with it again and again later on.

Abe Lyman Orch - Never Swat A Fly (1930)



9.5

/Big Band, Jazz, Classic, Classic pop/

Comment: indeed, this track was composed 82 years ago. Inspite of the huge temporal interval I suppose the track sounds as entertaining and joyous as many decades ago, though, obviously chiming in a more exotic way. It consists of uplifting swinging and grooves set up for a big band collective. Dance music in any sense which predicted the birth of rock and roll ready to be conceived after a timespan of 25 years onward. Classic.

9/13/2012

[Teaser of the day] Nodding by the Fire - I'll tell you a story




[Teaser of the day] Victory Park - Through The Night

Swamping - New Weird Asheville, Vol. I (2012)



9.2

/New Weird America, Psych rock, Avant-garde, Psychedelic rock, No Wave, Experimental rock, Free folk, Singer-songwriter, Alternative, Shoegaze, Indie, Sound poetry, Spoken word/ 

Comment: this compilation is compiled by Christian Church, and Spooky Bubble (of Alligator Indian) who have had the goal to unite Asheville-based lesser known artists under the collective umbrella. Although usually the term "New Weird" hints at odd folk explorations this miscellany of 16 pieces strides beyond the borders of the aforementioned style. It is provocative in its unconventional noisefulness or is ready to create contrasts through the representation of psychedelic synth/No Wave appearances, distorted soul music, cosmic fusion arrangements, tortured shoegazers, provoking sound poetry/spoken word, loop-based post-krautrock propulsions, bombastic chamber pop outputs etc. There are up such artists as T.S Rex, Luke Puke, Ànubis Rude, Glorious Incandescence, Replicants, Alligator Indian, Muntjac, The Pilot and The Pussy, Diesel Daiquiri, Merryl, Tom Vinson, dep, ER Airplane, Doc Aquatic, and Myla. In conclusion, it is an important compilation which provides a partial overview about interesting music having been producing in Carolina. However, there is already up another compilation with new artists from Asheville.

Pretty Lights - We Must Go On (2012)


9.3

/Funk, Urban music, Soul, Mood music, Chill out/

Comment: behind Pretty Lights hides himself Derek Vincent Smith who comes out from Fort Collins, Colorado, USA which may be known thanks to its DIY/underground label Patient Sounds (involving such artists as M.Pyres, Petrels, Sterile Garden, Littoral Drift, Bad Weather and many other ones). If he used to perform at stages (and it used to happen frequently due to his popularity) then Adam Deitsch gets involved in the project. DVS delivers an amalgam of soulful vibes with dreamy vocal treatments which are backdropped with lush funk beats. The magic will be ended up at 5.44. Obviously he knows very well what he does. Very chill urban sound indeed. So go on and listen to his other compositions either.

9/12/2012

[Teaser of the day] (exitpost) - Small Ghost




[Teaser of the day] Okinawa Lifestyle - Green Wand




G.A.N. 665+1 - IIOIO

Charles Rice Goff III and Jared C. Balogh - Resonant Tableaux (2011)





9.5

/Experimentalism, Radiophonic, Avant-pop, Indie, Experimental electronica, Folktronica, Crossover, Hauntology, Cut and paste, Free formfreakout, Space Age, Sound collage, Art pop, Avant-garde/

Comment:
arrghh, undoubtedly it is a frantic set of 12 pieces which is composed of a huge array of the snippets of (mostly) vintage recording samples, commercials and elaborated sounds. Indeed, it behaves like a chameleon throughout the whole course providing many cogent changes in formation and moods. More profoundly, sometimes it chimes like a space age courier, sometimes like a brother of Dave Keifer`s Cagey House due to its haunting artful outlets, at times like a weird output of indie/folk pop, classical music and electro (which is driven by autotuned robotic vocals with tongue in cheek). Or on the other side offering up instances of buffoonish pop a la Kevin Ayers which do entertain you in a weird way as those compositions which freak out within the territory of ethnic and trance-induced progressions. It is a loveable issue which may make you go nuts.

Due Samoani - Just Guitars (2012)




9.0

/Art rock, Blues rock/

Comment: Due Samoani is an Italy-based experimentalist who has dragged his approach over the realms of blues, post-rock, and indie (check it out his excellent albums, called Early Tapes, and Saturae Cubilculae). This time his concept used to be quite minimal and linear because of playing on electric guitar only. On the other side, it involves a loads of arpeggios and intensified chords shifting seamlessly in between blues and artful pop. Just guitars.

9/11/2012

[Teaser of the day] Killed By A Word - Zoo, Zoe, Zorro

[Teaser of the day] †∆† - B3NJ

Motion Sickness of Time Travel - Seeping Through the Veil of the Unconscious (2010)



9.1

/Ambient pop, Ethereal, Kosmische Musik, Drone pop, Avant-pop, Experimentalism, Minimal/

Comment: Rachel Evans`6-track album is minimal yet sufficient enough to seduce the listener after a couple of listening sessions. Indeed, it is built on loops and ethereal (even a little bit haunting sounding like an exhausted witch in agony) vowel effects which are varied with suggestive electronic experiments, throbbing synth pulsations and gleaming lengthy chords. And those a little dirty hisses coming out of periphery are also loveable. Her aesthetics can be compared with the likes of H Stewart, Niobe, Chimney Fish, Julia Holter, Maria Minerva, for instance. In a word, her music can be tagged as a notch of contemporary Kosmische Musik or a sort of astral pop.

Cantaloup - On A Hill Not Far Away (2008)



9.8

/Indietronica, Dream pop, Cowbell indie, Alternative, Epic, Post-rock, Electronic pop, Art pop, Remix, Experimental indie, Baroque pop/

Comment: it is the sophomore album by Thomas Peters firstly issued in 2008 on an unforgottable indie and electronica label, called Aerotone (which is a defunct one at the moment). There are presented 8 tracks, one of them is a gritty remix at Wakeup Call by Hoodwink, and Crooked Rain is a collaborative composition by Cantaloup, and Hoodwink). And of course, much beauty and artful power is added by Eva Paul`s dreamy and ethereal singing. However, the other notches used to shift between subtle indietronica, intimate art pop, contemplative baroque appearances, and epically compelling cowbell indie and post-rock apparitions. In a word, it is a legacy worth to be remembered and listened to at any time.

Minimal Boffin - Granular Motion EP (2012)




9.5

/Dub, Dub techno, Club music, Dub house, Tech-house/

Comment: behind the nom de plume Minimal Boffin hides himself Duncan Russel-Smith who is a dub master from Melbourne, Australia. There are presented a pair of compositions issued on Drift Deeper Recordings.Indeed, the EP deserves its name due to a sublime amalgamation of dusty dub vibes and deep techno/and house rhythms which in turn are shaped with moody drifts wobbling upward and downward. In a nutshell, it is an eminent contemplation not only within the realm of club music world but also in a more bright sense of the meditation.

Watchkoma - Castor (2011)



7.8

/Hip-hop, Urban music, Rap/

Comment: this set of 15 compositions are in German chanted hip-hop appearances with some interesting backdrops (lush orchestrations), and stylistical variegations (nu metal, reggae). Sometimes the notches are variegated and contrasted with female singing (singing in English) providing more soulful moments. The favourite track of mine is Luzifer, which is an obscure portrayal of Lucifer. In general, Watchkoma`s compositions are simplistic and homogenous.

9/09/2012

[Teaser of the day] Greg Bird & Flamingo Flame - Neckerchief


[Teaser of the day] Gobi Bear - Lebanon





Various Artists – Shunt EP (2012)




8.8

/House, Tech-house, Electro-house, Rave, Acid house/

Comment: on this compilation/EP there are represented such artists and projects as Luke Creed, Jose Pouj, Allan Nonamaka, .Moitan, David Reina, and Drugstore. Stylistically it veers away from electro-tinged house and straightforward rave-near and acid house vibes to more elaborated hypnotic techno and tech-house propulsions or on the other side these elements are infiltrated with industrial-backed whiffs. Much fun through dizzy grooves.

The Cassini Projekt - Blind Vision (2008)



8.8

/Progressive rock, Psychedelic rock, Hard rock, Funk rock, Progressive metal, Crossover/

Comment: The Cassini Projekt is a musical project from Dublin, Ireland which is headed up by Alex McDonnell. This batch of 9 compositions takes on hirsute progressive rock riffs, solid bass gears, and blasting drums in general. McDonnell gets involved in a highly playful action which is reflected through incessant changing in chords and keys. The whole is keen on running along the borders of progressive rock and metal rock which are embellished with tickling psychedelic whiffs, frantic funk flirtations, bombastic orchestrated flirtations, and electronic explorations. By singing manner McDonnell extends from calm and joyous to more melancholic and aggressive expressions.            

9/08/2012

Art Sonic - Buffaloes

Art Sonic - Buffaloes from Art Sonic on Vimeo.

[Teaser of the day] Fuji Kureta - What If



[Teaser of the day] Dan Deacon - Arms Saloon

Sarah J Ritch - String Theory (2012)




9.4

/Chamber music, Abstract, Drone, Modern classical, Electro-acoustic, Minimalism, Experimentalism, Experimental electronica, Crossover, Avant-garde/

Comment: Sarah J Ritch`s 5-track issue is a crossover album which is managed in a way to lead it up to the consolidation of modern and traditional, doleful cello music and experimental, at times even aggressive electronic or electro-acoustic processings which wake you up from a lethargic state of mind. These minimally treated vibrating impulses are spectacular, filled in with divergent power and intensiveness, however, ultimately ready to ascend or descend into remote, abstract universes.

Benfro - Observable Universe EP (2012)



9.2

/Downtempo, Trip-hop, Hip-hop, Cinematic, Mood music, Chill out, Breaks/

Comment: this batch of lush compositions is a decent example of how fine atmospheric panoramas could be mixed up with slow-paced rhythms (veering away from cinematic trip-hop and abstract hip-hop paces to melancholic downtempo vibes), however, which will result in highly moody outlets. It is the first (and entirely successful) effort by a British artist, called Benfro AKA B. Mason.

9/07/2012

Postiljonen - We Raise Our Hearts

We Raise Our Hearts from Postiljonen on Vimeo.

[Teaser of the day] Venice - 30th Century

[Teaser of the day] Alessio Oissela - Saturn Conspiracy

The Quinsy – The Violet Day (2012)

  

8.8

/Darkwave, Coldwave, Gothic rock, Post-punk, Alternative rock/  

Comment: The Quinsy, the Russian-based combo`s 11-track miscellany used to afloat in dark-hued (sorry, violet-hued) seas and meandering gothic/coldwave oceans, however, instrumentally based on sizzling, ornamental guitar patterns, pronounced drum gears, compelling vocal lines and some programmed rhythms, electronic treatments and shadowy synths, however, therefore reminding of the band`s early electronic roots. A happy gothic hour indeed.

Marta Zapparoli - Codex (2012)



9.2

/Musique concrète, Sound art, Avant-industrial, Noise, Drone, Psycho-acoustic, Ambient noise, Experimentalism, Crossover, Avant-garde/

Comment: I do have no hesitation to give to this 4-track album high points. More profoundly, it is enough interesting and intricate involving the huge scope of sounds which in turn used to balance in between more or less noiseful concrete sounds and treated sonic manipulations or on the other side providing a depiction of aggressive fight between the human kind and nature (which, of course, will ultimately be ended up with the defeat of the human being). Some abstract industrial rhythm throbs, mechanical drones and buzzes, intensive hiss washes are up there to create strong contrast within the soundscape. While having had a trip In East Europe she recorded natural sounds in different locations over there. A soundtrack for "eco-terrorists", for instance.

9/06/2012

[Teaser of the day] Luno - Disbelief

Okinawa Lifestyle - Underwater (2011)



9.4

/Chillwave, Ambient pop, Electronic pop, Tropical pop, Experimental indie, Dream pop, Alternative, Glo-fi, Shoegazetronica/

Comment: Okinawa Lifestyle is a collective from Tbilisi, Georgia which can be considered one of the most fascinating musical projects originating from the post-Soviet territory. There can be supposed if the duo had a privilege to be the US-based combo by roots they might have acquired the status of a famous indie band. Underwater, the 7-track whole basically blows up exhausting dreams, blissed-out flickers, and sultry dance rhythms. The favorite of mines are Green Wand which is an mesmeric instance of shoegaze-induced whirlpools and epic power, and Girls Annoy Boys (feat. Alie Lavoie) which sounds like a piece dedicated to the legacy of Madonna`s album Erotica.

Teepee - Time Meant Nothing (2012)



9.5

/Shoegaze, Alternative pop, Indie rock/ 

Comment: Erix S. Laurent aka Teepee started off today his east coast tour with the full band. Success on the tour means that his next LP will come out on time, and he intends to share it with everyone. There is a gift for us, called Time Meant Nothing which involves an exciting trajectory on its own - throughout the course it used to grow bigger and bigger until getting its shimmering blooming. More thoroughly, it chimes like a pristine Beach Boys set up under the waterfall. A wall of noise.

9/04/2012

[Teaser of the day] Damn Robot! - The One Who Knocks


[Teaser of the day] Benfro - Breathe In

Apsis Lappet - The Fear Of Farewell (2012)



8.8

/Indietronica, Post-rock, Electronic pop, Electro pop, Poptronica, Art pop, Acid pop, Experimental indie, Remixes/

Comment: Apsis Lappet is the solo project of Nate Kitchens, the Texas resident who started to compile his own pieces after the breakup of a pair of musical cooperations. Stylistically the whole picture is truly colourful due to a shitloads of refined allusions and at times humorous forays (indeed, there are some similarities comparable with the aesthetics of Army Of Lovers). Kitchens` music is whimsical and buffoonish and on the other side he is interested in to get involved in reaching vertical, epic heights. In general, it can be considered an instance of indie-tinged electronica-synth pop bedighted with accidental arpeggios, treated vocal lines, guitar-based propulsions. There are up some exceptions too - Rejected is Jenova 7`s breakbeat-driven remix, and Anaerobic is Kitchens´most innovative composition which includes experiments with the shuffle of radio waves, minimally channelized digital elaborations and infiltrations of suggestive concrete sounds.

Krokar - Respiration (2011)



9.3

/IDM, Ambient dub, Musique concrete, Dub-tech, Experimental electronica, Dark ambient, Avant-electronica, Abstract techno, Breaks, Industrial techno/

Comment: in the first place, this batch of 9 compositions showcases its brooding and a  little hysterical brain dance-appealed side full of (half-) shades and industrial-tinged rhythmic facets and highly infiltrated borderlines right and left. Sometimes these elements are set in a way to build up more abstract sonic tissues, haunting landscapes and ill-omened robot "voices" which are assisted with the help of some concrete sounds and warped sonic effects. There are up some exceptions either which used to step in the traces of deep dub music. In short, it is an eminent example by the Russian combo coming out of the innovative dance music scene.

[Teaser of the day] Ludwig Maravilla - Tempo al Viento (Natalia Lafourcade)


[Teaser of the day] Eufoteoria - The United States of Music

Imperial Topaz - Imperial (2012)



9.4

/Chillwave, Glo-fi, Experimental indie, Electronic pop, Art pop, Alternative, Slowcore/

Comment: Imperial Topaz is a musical project from Brooklyn, NY, USA who used to fuse contemporary indie tendencies into a delicious hotchpotch. Furthermore, all these elements represented there are finely balanced, yet, being remarkably keen on slowcore and glo-fi elements in the first place. Indeed, although it might be perceived to provide predominatingly laidback templates and mesmerising dust for the listener it seems to be invigorating either somehow. This 4-track EP can be compared with the likes of Beach House, Prince Rama, Zola Jesus, Maria Minerva, Julia Holter. Very good by any means.

Circle Of Lebanon - Circle Of Lebanon (1996)



9.5

/Sound-art, Experimental metal, Doom rock, Drone doom, Psycho-acoustic, Dark ambient, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Experimental electronica/

Comment: Circle of Lebanon is one of those projects being closely related to Skye Klein, the Australian avant-rocker and sound manipulator. There are up 5 pieces which take on mayhem-alike progressions filled in with glowering guitar drones and massive drum breaks which meanwhile are replaced with distorted vocal snippets, whimsical yet strained electronic arrangements. Frequently the soundscape is getting to grow beyond the borders of rock/metal borders, however, ultimately, landing in the realm of ambient/sound art/psycho-acoustic music/acousmatics. Indeed, at these moments this sound chimes like a soundtrack for a theatre performance somewhere in a dusty art house. In a nutshell, it is a tremendous stuff being one of those unsung gems waiting to be discovered sometime in the future.

9/03/2012

[Teaser of the day] Miriam Kaukosalo - D.A.M.P

[Teaser of the day] Cold Womb Descent - Empire of the Remnants


B For Brontosaurus - RUT!


Fake Realize - Supra EP (2012)



9.1

/Electro-rock, Trance rock, Noise rock, Experimental rock, Industrial rock, EBM/

Comment: this set of 4 tracks is managed in a powerful way to have a shift in between machine-induced beat mayhem, rough guitar washes and heavily thudding bass gears. All in all, this instrumental outlet is a joyous attack (or caress?) to the listener`s body and perception centres. Let`s term the sound design of the EP as "IBM" (industrial body music), though a piece called Try is the refreshing exception because of driving out on repetitive patterns and hypnotic whiffs coming out of it.

Misha Mishajashvili - 2011 (2011/2012)



9.2

/Spoken word, World music, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Avant-industrial, Crossover, Ethnic music, Acousmatics, Psycho-acoustic, Non-music/

Comment: Misha Mishajashvili provides a batch of intriguing, oddly designed compositions which are immersed with very surprising aspects and crossways. More concretely, it chimes like a chronicle of the industralization of the USSR and the creation of a new human race. Moreover, it can be viewed as a sonic evidence of the socialist realism where the dominating industrial-tinged axis is embellished with ethnic music motives (a loads of tabla rhythms below the sound layers), church choirs, jazzy samples and spoken word snippets which in turn used to depict relentless propaganda of the Red Plague. MM used to masterfully treat and distort these hiss-soaked elements, however, therefore amplifying and widening certain bits and spots from within the tremendous whole giving it an anxious milieu and distinct touch. Powerful!