11/13/2012
Hästoperan - Imrit Exec (2012)
9.2
/Big beat, Acid techno, Ambient techno, Psytrance, Experimental techno, Industrial techno/
Comment: this set of handful of tracks consists of psychedelic big beat and trance-tinged frequencies, growling synth and (industrial) techno vibes and more soothing ambient/acid techno panoramas. Indeed, it reminds of such acts as Orbital, The Orb, LFO. However, despite a diverse palette of sounds the outlet is integrated and convincing.
Boxed Wine - EP (2012)
8.8
/Pop punk, Alternative pop/rock/
Comment: this handful of pieces used to drift between happy punk-esque gears and more impressive alternative rock-ish shadows. It is fun.
11/11/2012
Björn & Gorden - Autumnica (2012)
9.3
/Experimental indie, Indie dance, Leftfield, Indietronica, Alternative dance, Post-rock, Electronic pop, Poptronica, Alternative/
Comment: Björn & Gorden is a collective from Dortmund, Germany whose 6-track set is filled with glossy electronic pop surfaces, psychedelic dance grooves, and indie blended compositions, however, ideologically harking back to the glorious Ruhr district-centered experimental music/Krautrock tradition of the 70s (CAN, Neu!, Kraftwerk) and the 90s/00s (Pluramon, Mouse On Mars, Microstoria, Kreidler, and To Rococo Rot, Mina, The Notwist, Lali Puna, Contriva, Tarwater elsewhere). Sultry and suggestive by any means.
11/09/2012
Off land - Microcosm (2011)
8.9
/Ambient, Kosmische Musik, Dark ambient, Soundscapes, Shoegaze/
Comment: Tim Dwyer`s 12-track album is subdued yet passionate to form a rich texture of sounds and emotions. It sticks to the formula of blending (dark) ambient tissue jostled by a bunch of shoegaze-near propulsions and glowering guitar subversions. In regard to microscopic bubbling and synth hooks it resembles the examples of hailing from the Kosmische Musik scene. However, throughout the course the record used to chime and provide lots of soporific moments. By kindred souls this 67-minute long issue seems to hark back to an abstract masterpiece of Slowdive, Pygmalion. On the other side it can be considered a hit of contemporary New Age music.
Forward Music Group - Forward Xmas Remix (2011)
9.0
/Alternative, Conceptual, Remixes, Weird pop/
Comment: There is up a brace of songs related to the Christmas. However, these pieces by The Olympic Symphonium, and Gypsophilia are intentionally strange ones because of involving sneering and protest elements against prevalent excessive consumerism and buffoonish downbeat arrangements-orchestrations and funny squeaks above slightly ordinary song structures.
Ross Baker - Photographic Reflection (2012)
9.4
/Shoegaze, Experimental folk, Dream folk, Epic, Laptop folk, Ambient folk, Space folk, Ambient, Soundscapes, Noise/
Comment: Ross Baker aka Second Thought`s set is a lofty blend of digital-shaped borealic noises, microscopic shoegaze washes, acoustic folk guitar-based strums, and majestic synth horizons. In a word, it is a pleasing batch of 10 track drifting visually somewhere across the Arctic snowfields in a warm ship. There can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Clark Nova Portable, Tim Hecker, brunk, Alicia Or Simbra, Loscil, Slowdive, Bed..
ACL - The New Myself (2012)
8.8
/Electro-indie, Electronic pop, Breaks, Acid, Trance pop, Electro pop, Chilltronica/
Comment: this bunch of 12 tracks contains hypnotic, trance and indie tinged chilltronica with angular breaks, acidic bubbling synths and somewhat exhausting milieus, however, reminding of Kraftwerk sometimes.
11/08/2012
Julian Percy, Jon Evans, John Murphy - Last Dominion Lost (2012)
9.5
/Electro-acoustic, Avant-metal, Noise rock, Ambient noise, Avant-garde, Brutal metal, Psycho-acoustic, Sound art, Experimentalism, Noise/
Comment: this bundle of 6 compositions is a sultry blend of chirping noises, signal-based frequencies, and suggestive pitch effects and phase changes below and overhead. Sometimes the soundscape is carved with the assistance of distorted voices and clattery drums and thudding bass vibes, however, changing its situation into a quite clinical case. Even an instance of ambient progressions is represented within it (of course, it is made up in their own mode of expression). In a word, at times the whole used to sound in a mesmeric way, sometimes in a more straightforward way, though, being uncompromisingly idiosyncratic throughout the course. By kindred souls the combo can be compared with the likes of Interlard, and Hella. Truly extreme indeed.
Lowpines - ePop024 (2012)
9.5
/Alt-folk, Indie folk, Folk indie, Dream folk, Twee pop, Alternative pop, Indie pop/
Comment: there are up 3 songs performed by the cockney band Lowpines (Oli Deakon and Lyla Foy). A pair of tracks are original ones and one is a cover version of a piece by the Vancouver-based To Be Good Tanyas. However, Lowpines is an organic link between slowcore and twee pop and indie pop/folk appearances - those now and then chiming, a little bit wistful guitars are backed up by slow-paced rhythms and male and female mixed dreamy vocals. The favourite of mine is Heavy Hander, though, the rest of songs used to have otherworldly beautiful (or blissful) touch as well. In the first place the combo reminds me of Mojave 3 (especially an early period of Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell-headed combo sometime in the mid 90s). Highly incisive and suggestive in its mellow nature. Top songs.
11/07/2012
Monoiz - Multiplied Phoneme (2012)
9.4
/Avant-techno, Noise, Abstract techno, Experimental techno, Industrial techno/
Comment: yeah, this fabulous set of 9 pieces is filled in with noiseful and a wide array of signal enhanced motorik and industrial-induced rhythms and where any elements of it fired at seem to be thoroughly composed and accomplished. An instance of brain tech.
Красота - Говорящие Гвозди (2012)
9.4
/Dada music, Post-punk, Noise, Experimentalism, Non-music, Avant-industrial, Avant-garde/
Comment: this is a loose unit of divergent sounds built mostly on reverb-heavy effects, blinking electronic flickers, hostile resonances, creepy and nihilistic industrial/post-punk afferents. Maybe even tape manipulations are brought forth to make impact on the whole. As you have already figured out it is not an instance of pop music at all. It resembles of an early Cabaret Voltaire, and obscure post-rock groups which had had little to do with punk music.
11/04/2012
LAY BAC - Party Down (2012)
9.5
/Indie funk, Alternative, Post-pop, Club dance, Alternative dance, Art pop, Experimental indie, Poptronica, Glo-fi/
Comment: LAY BAC is a duo (Josef Calamusa aka tomcruisin & Matthew Shogi aka party girl) which hails from Austin, USA.Their music can be described by using such denominators and tags as glo-fi, chillwave, morning breeze, dreamwave, hypnagogic pop. The first meeting of mine with this group was through a France-based label, called Beko DSL which is promoting divergent yet new kinds of alternative pop. In a word, it is an instance of contemporary indie music composed of glistening slacks and splendent chips. Their quite short-running Party Down (which is a part of the duo`s Shortcuts EP) was issued approximately a year ago involving all these abovementioned firmaments and matters which are propelled by featured Motown tinged funk and club dance blended dance cadences.
Worship - Saturn 4 (2012)
10.0
/Disco, Alternative dance, Space disco, Mood music, Italo disco, Club dance, Electro disco/
Comment: Ladies and gentlemen! We are floating in space. This track is a staggering entertainer because of fusing orchestrated golden disco era glides with sultry gay disco (a la Patrick Cowley) and Giorgio Moroder anf Gino Soccio-induced bouncy electro (disco) pop tendencies and spacey panoramas overhead. Indeeed, the soundscape of the track is cinematic and majestic, full of sultry changes at harmonies and rhythms. In a word, it is a timeless propulsion and a sort of ideal pop.
11/03/2012
Algesis - Mosaic Relics (2012)
9.5
/IDM, Experimental techno, Glitch techno, Ambient techno, Noise, Electronic pop, Experimental electronica/
Comment: this 8-track album is a masterful issue made up of gloomy rhythms, noisy glitches and tight glacial ambient-textured motives overhead. Furthermore, Fugue State is an example of mixing up electro-induced torrents with indie aesthetics. It is relaxing and sophisticated, common and strange, cozy and brsitled, local and far-away at the same time. One spectacular track is dedicated to Yuri Gagarin, the first man who had been up there in outer space. In a word, I will not be wrong by naming this whole as masterpiece.
Evil Robot Ted - Waster (2012)
8.6
/Noise, Dark ambient, Lobit, DIY, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Crossover/
Comment: by listening to it firstly I had some problems to understand it because it seemed way too obscure, blanched, and buried. However, by listening to it many times in a row I discovered the value of this 10-track release. In fact, it is an album settled in a bunch of contrasts where the basic brown noise massives are varied with majestic glacial glow-tinged soundscapes and harsh (white) noise glimpses and big beat-induced rhythm sections. However, the aforementioned brown noise structures have diverged in turn, for instance, being subjected to the pitch mode and other effects. Intriguing. The album is issued on a New Orleans-based label, Flaccid Plastic Records.
11/02/2012
Deerhunter - Fluorescent Grey Demos & Out-takes (2008)
9.3
/Psychedelia, Ambient rock, Experimental indie, Space pop, Art pop, Avant-pop, Demos/
Comment: undoubtedly Atlanta-based Deerhunter have been and still is one of those modern cutting edge-oriented indie juggernauts alongside Animal Collective, Black Dice, and Ariel Pink who came up to the ground after the change of millenium. Indeed, their 9-piece album consists of outtakes and sketches afterwards presented on the band`s album Fluorescent Grey (2008, Kranky). However, inspite of involving some microscopic "faults" and predominating roughness at it the miscellany provides a fabulous listening session filled in with mixed frantic psychedelic hooks and sultry space pop-near milieus. And Bradford Cox`s whimsical interpretations of compositions within his free stream of consciousness
Crowcat - Color Bendin (2011)
8.6
/Screamo, Technical metal, Brutal metal, Hardcore/
Comment: this set of handful of tracks hits with a concise fist made up of manic vocal delivery and highly moshing guitars and punching drums and programmed beats. Additionally, the band do demonstrate slight flirtation with symphonic metal (at least some parts of the singer`s vocal lines do have hints at it). In conclusion, it is an intense, angry and desperate rush of sounds thought to convey the washes of mental pain and anxiety. The issue is issued on an US-based underground label, Psychedelicate Records which has released a bunch of peripheral groups and extreme music, though, embracing divergent styles and genres.
11/01/2012
Galeria Disco - Tenue EP (2012)
9.4
/House, Electro-house, Remix, Deep house, Club dance/
Comment: this set of 6 tracks consists of fabulous house vibes filled in with repetitive rhythms and soothing plateaus. Deep carvings are varied with more uplifting, electro-tinged ones. However, every original track does include remix version either. This issue of contemporary disco music (or the sort of dream pop for disco music) is released on Monofonicos, a decent label from South America. Recommended to all and for any time, pertaining to visceral parts and brain-related parts of the body. Relieving and freeing.
Burn Without Me - Holy Blade Of Death (2009)
9.4
/Progressive metal, Grindcore, Crossover, Experimental metal, Technical metal/
Comment: Burn Without Me is the trio of Sydney Byron (bass guitar, effects), Kurt Allan (drums, samples, synths), and Seth Tracy (guitars, synths, programming) who are assisted by Dave Lanciani aka Dimaension X (guitars, synths, programming) in creation of this pleasing metal and grindcore and technical metal mixed album. More concretely, the group`s sophomore release is an instrumental one which takes on exactly measured rhythms which are covered with throbbing guitar riffs at times, massive washes of guitars and penetrating drums at times, however, embellished with funny spoken word samples, and crafty electronic glides now and then. The biggest shortage (which may be an advantage as well) is related to short-running tracks. Well-defined. Well accomplished. Great in any cases.
10/31/2012
Weinberger - Inconvenience (2012)
9.4
/Drone, Electro-acoustic, Non-music, Avant-industrial, Psycho-acoustic, Experimentalism, Spoken word, Noise/
Comment: Johannes Leo Weinberger says that his album is a collection of electroacoustic noise poems, which are musical translations of mental processes. Indeed, it is an exhausting insight into the human mind, however, wherein the listener can detect lots of irrational tendencies and appearances. If you have grown up by listening to the likes of an early Cabaret Voltaire, Clock DVA, Throbbing Gristle, and Einstürzende Neubauten then you have experienced similarly anguished feelings before it again and again. This 10-piece issue has been managed in a way to be utterly frantic, deranged, weird, and a little bit frightening. It is a bunch of gray-coloured soundscapes which are pronounced with spoken word arrangements, incisive whistles and intense drones, and more or less amplified backdrops here and there. Inspite of being a multi-faceted one the whole succeeds in to be a well-defined realm with clear-cut vectors and impulses. However, some bellicose states of mind coming out from within it warn us that the future may not be ours.
Goodbye Ivan - The Cherry Wood EP (2011)
9.2
/Alt-folk, Mood music, Epic, Folk, Alternative/
Comment: behind Goodbye Ivan is Arnaud Sponar from Geneva, Switzerland whose album takes on a trip across bucolic folk pastures which mostly seem to be cloudless, though sometimes varied with melancholic elements. Sponar exploits guitar only, though, being played in an echogenic mode throughout the course it reminds of the kind of epic ambient (-near) music actually. On occasion his play is embellished with some hanging flamenco motives which are also very appreciated therein. Furthermore, there can be felt the presence of Simon Jeffes and Penguin Cafe Orchestra in place filled in with seamless harmonic bridges and zippy chord transmissions.
10/30/2012
Moongazing Hare - The Sunderland Wreck (2012)
9.3
/Avant-folk, Drone folk, Neofolk, Dream folk, Electro-acoustic, Experimental folk, Sound art, Pagan folk/
Comment: behind this handful of compositions is David Folkmann Drost from Denmark. His album consists mainly of lengthy electro-acoustic infiltrated folk appearances embellished with angular, resonating droning, obscure vibrations, and uplifting buzzing. Furthermore, the release includes lots of hints at neofolk, faery jangles, and pagan flute whiffs thereby keeping up its otherworldly and genuinely dreamy and mixed aesthetics.
Jeff Morton & Darcy Jean - Western Mourning (2012)
8.7
/Post-rock, Art rock, Experimental rock, Experimental, Drone, Ambient pop, Electro-acoustic/
Comment: this set of 3 tracks used to be a peculiar composition of droning synths, guitar fingerpicks. At times these drone elements used to be mild, at times more rough, though, mostly represented in a blended way. More concretely, these bleak and minimal Casio keyboard-based elements are variegated with more lush guitar motives and amplified echo channels. Maybe it sounds surprisingly but it reminds of some albums by Durutti Column. In a nutshell, it is a pleasing outlet.
10/27/2012
Decktonic - Stars (2012)
9.0
/Acid techno, Primitronica, Electronic pop, Tracker music, DIY, Lo-fi, Electro pop, DIY/
Comment: Decktonic is the nom de plume of Christian Montoya, a New York-based electro music producer. He has said he created it with KORG DS10+ and Nanoloop for iPad. At the time of creating process he was inspired by the work of Henry Homesweet, KODEK, Cheapshot, ???, HarleyLikesMusic, Anthony Seeha and Disasterpeace. However, his 10-track publication involves the elements of rusty, angular electro and more bouncy club-induced propulsions and even infantile-near primitive electronica (though, it is highly amusing and funny) and tracker music/chiptune bits and grains. These sultry synth chunks and acid techno inspired hooks are highly enjoyable. In a nutshell, the more you listen to it the more you like it (as it used to be so usual case in this way). In general, it is as well as his previous, debut album Dark Mode (2011). Actually it is even a tiny bit better.
The Game Owls - So The Heavens Can Hear Us, The Earth Will Be Our Sound (2010)
9.3
/Post-rock, Ambient rock, Psych-folk, Psychedelic, Avant-blues, Epic, Post-metal, Avant-rock, Doom metal, Experimental rock, Crossover/
Comment: the album with an epic name involves lots of slow paced yet noiseful progressions and mesmeric guitar walls and psychedelic flickers. But not only - Punching at the Meteor conjures up ghosts rather like an instance of demented psych-folk/blues music full of repetitive guitar gears and overdriving rasping effects. And additionally cosmic rock sonic effects. Is it krautfolk? Obviously it is. And this handful of tracks is a solid and uplifting one worth to be enjoyed for many times in a row.
10/26/2012
Steve Hilmy & Daniel Barbiero - Live at Bella (2011)
9.1
/Live session, Electro-acoustic, Noise, Acousmatics, Experimentalism, Avant-garde/
Comment: this live set of approximately 21 minutes consists of double bass squeaks and amplified electronics and effects which used to evolve into a sultry and intriguing session hinting at (dark) ambient hues and noiseful glimpses and acute electronic experimentations. Even subtle orchestrations are represented over there.
Various - Commie Release Compilation #2 (2001)
9.0
/Acid pop, Psychedelic, Funk rock, Dub, Crossover, Electronic pop, Big Beat, Alternative, Club dance/
Comment: if you like "old" music then you should listen to this 29-piece compilation issued on the Finnish label Commie. It veers away from uplifting funk rock, psychedelic trance and shaggy dub crossovers to acidic tekno, noiseful techno slabs, machine-distorted electro bites and rusty big beat and marred electronica and plain entertaining melodies. However, this enormous area of styles is covered up by the likes of Spiritual Algorithm, Jabsasonic, Kiviluoto Schutt, Matthew Tyas, Ddr Rhythm, Le Modem, Tero, Istari, Analogia, Mixture Model, Lastenfahrer, Artificial Unintelligence, Desertplanet, Fsd, Rabbit-O-matic, Makonnen, Full Scale Deflection, Meme. In a word, you will get convinced in that the Finnish artists are up to the level you actually need from fascinating music. And the machines seem to rule our world.
10/25/2012
Jaime Munarriz-Susanna Millaruelo-Amanda Rejas - The Basement Tape (1979)
9.3
/Tape music, Post-punk, Acid pop, Psych-pop, Electronic music, Avant-garde, Krautrock, Lo-fi, DIY, Experimentalism, Psychedelic/
Comment: this rarity of 8 compositions comes out from the year 1979 made up of psychedelic grooves, noiseful experiments, offbeat sonic effects. However, all these reliefs used to base on analog synths and sonic treatments. Indeed, it sounds like an instance of obscure post-punk, early industrial, krautrock musician or some demented classically trained composer from the 1950s sitting heedlessly in front of a keyboard while permanently changing phases and turning acidic sounds and thereafter taking some parts from the recording away and cutting and pasting them together otherwise. In a word, it chimes refreshingly and punk-y even at the moment.
Chenard Walcker - Heartbreak Pain Cafe (2005)
9.0
/Breaks, DIY, Plunderphonics, Sampledelic, Cut and paste, Psychedelic, Conceptual, Sound collage, Experimentalism/
Comment: firstly, I am being very far from the opinion this case of a handful of tracks is somehow lame or even the lamest thing (as one reviewer suggested at it). For instance, think of DJ Shadow`s compositions (including his critically acclaimed debut album) which are also made up in the same vein - composed of other musicians` samples, though, the result is craftily channelized and accomplished. This time the prolific Frenchman and copyleft activist meets the sounds of Captain Beefheart, a psychedelic/avant-blues legend`s music, however, giving it his own touch and outlook. The release (as the most portion of his other ones) is issued on Free Sample Zone, Walcker`s own label
10/24/2012
Brasileira Camerata - Noves Fora (2007)
8.8
/World music, Improvised music, Experimentalism, Choro, Mood music, Electronic pop, Crossover/
Comment: there is another album from Brazil to be commented today. This bundle is an exciting appearance of carnival-tinged rhythms and circumspect progressions over the course of 7 tracks. More concretely, choro, a basic style originating from Brazil is more and less moderately mixed up with jazz-y elements, ethnic/World Music elements, brass-y fringes, some New Age-y and bossa nova whiffs and ethereal keyboard chords and programmed beats (in Tumaraca remix), i.e made up in an improvised way. However, contemplative moments are varied with more impulsive and careless times, thereby outbalancing the album as a whole emotionally. In a nutshell, it is an enjoyable listening session for sure.
LFC - Armoço Di Dumingu (2012)
8.9
/Avant-blues, Art rock, Improvised music, Experimental rock/
Comment: Brazilian experimental musician Lucas Pastina aks LFC sets out guitars only to create a hirsute instrumentally improvised landscape being obviously influenced by blues-y waxing and waning interactions and John Fahey-tinged distorted primitivistic yet compelling licks. Of course, because of being stylistically so restricted it might sound a little bit obsessive and glowering. This 4-track issue provides if the listener does have enough time for it she/he gets the genuine charm out of it. In any cases, Pastina`s music deserves attention.
10/22/2012
Music For Your Plants - Expedition Chant Cup/Sampler EP (2012)
9.4
/Club dance, Electronic pop, Remixes, Alternative dance, Chilltronica, Alternative, Leftfield, Glo-fi, Indie dance/
Comment: obviously one of the best contemporary Estonian musical combos MFYP have changed a bit their style propelling more electronic and especially club dance-driven propulsions instead of glo-fi and indie tinged alternative fusion on their 4-track brand (the issue clocks in at 18 minutes) new one sampler. More concretely, this time it veers away distinctive Balearic vibes, esoteric New Age-hued gliding, bouncy trance mixed electronica and blissed-out exotica elements. In a word, let`s enjoy this sampler which has been managed in a way to acquire both visceral and brain dance tendencies for your pleasure.
Lizard Kisses - Water Tap (2012)
9.4
/Indie pop, Exotica pop, Tropical pop, Alternative, Art pop/
Comment: still fabulous Brooklynites Cory Siegler and Marc Merza make music which is a tiny bit deviated from their artsy and intimate/restrained folk music on this particular track. They are assisted by Jordan Lee (vocals), and Andrew Morehart (drums) therefore rocking a little more off and having somewhat more exotic flavour than in an usual case. More detailedly, it chimes like an instance of pleasing Hawaii-tinged indie/tropical pop full of bouncy guitar hooks, sultry feeling and assuasive vocal harmonies overhead. The single is taken out of their 7" split issue with Crystal Dorval`s one-man-project My Friend Wallis (from Victoria, Canada).
Luno - Disbelief (2011)
9.5
/Dream folk, Experimental folk, Dark folk, Singer-songwriter, Alternative, Noir folk/
Comment: I truly adore this set of 3 tracks which contains 2 versions of the eponymous track, and Three Breaths To A Swing in addition to it. However, it stylistically takes on dream folk and neofolk blended outlets based on dreamy synth reveries, anguished vocal delivery and strumming acoustic guitar magic. Because of being the first in a series of singles from Luno`s forthcoming record Precipice I recommend to listen to the album (released in 2012) as well.
10/21/2012
Saito Koji - Again (2012)
9.6
/Avant-garde, Guitar ambient, Space rock, Experimentalism, Post-rock, Ambient noise, Epic, Shoegaze, Ambient drone, Drone, Soundscapes, Minimalism/
Comment: the japanese experimentalist Saito Koji`s 8-faceted universe does formally rotate around guitars, though, at times these chords are more treated, at times slightly less. It veers away from knee-deep ambient and essential minimalism to freely strumming shoegaze shades and majestic space rock references. More profoundly, it is built upon slowly changing phases, delusive undulation and barely audible turbulences on the ground which in turn will evoke suggestive shades somewhere in a lush sonic bowery. Hopefully I am not the only one who can perceive how the ground stepwisely does subside underneath the feet now and then. Inspite of being quite laconic in his expression Saito`s touch is thoroughly emotive and cathartic. Less is more, as we used to know very well. But do not call it a sort of chill music, though. If I had my own country I probably would choose a track, Sunset, for instance, to be the anthem of the country. I guess Neil Halstead, and Kevin Shield would be proud of it if it would have been produced by themselves. I recommend to listen to his other issues on Resting Bell and other sites as well.
$PL▲$H ¢LUB 7 - Don`t Stop Splashing (2012)
8.8
/Seapunk, Sound collage, 8-bit, Drag, Trap, Breakcore, Trianglecore, Witch house, Glo-fi, DIY, Lo-fi, Alternative, Cut and paste, Witchgaze, Leftfield, Electronic pop, Electro pop/
Comment: this one-man- act (previously known as Slowtempo) comes out from New Zealand and is predominantly tagged as "seapunk". The generic term "seapunk" does mean an adjacent form to glo-fi and witch house, however, the aforementioned elements are mixed up with aquatic themes (dripping situations, for instance), self-irony and even a bit absurd. Indeed, this set of 7 tracks clashes basically against ebbing and flowing lo-fi frequencies and DIY aesthetics in a highly tumultuous way, sometimes the aesthetics clears up revealing its sympathy toward shoegaze-ish influences, loose snare drum based trap circulation, hirsute 8-bit-ish droning, and precious electro pop. It is very suitable to start off your day with these frantic vibes.
10/20/2012
Along Came December - Lost Memories (2012)
9.0
/Alternative rock, Art rock, Post-punk, Gothic rock, Art punk/
Comment: Along Came December is a one-man-project launched by the Englishman Glen Jones in 2006 under the nom de plume Hello Stranger. Jones was then sparked by video games and 80s/90s indie rock. Indeed, this set of 4 tracks is an enjoyable journey by listening to a tiny bit austere, post-punk/goth oriented and chiming jangle pop-tinged alternative pop. Yet, this album can not be considered a part of the post-punk revival started off at the beginning of 00s because of being more uncompromising in regard to the contemporary mainstream music. Jones` aesthetics involves faithfully much of the attitude pertaining to the one of the 80`s alternative groups.
Chord - Year As A Ghost (2012)
9.2
/Electronic pop, Dreamwave, House, Deep house, Downtempo, Club dance/
Comment: indeed, by listening to this 7-track album you could imagine yourself to be a lone ghost for a while. The whole consists of airy piano chords and ethereal vowel whiffs which are waded in by an array of variegating rhythms, concrete sounds-tinged and orchestrated synth stripes at times. However, all these sparawling particles are settled down to wobble within the realm of pouting house vibes backdropped with acidic piano hammering and soulful tuning, at times having a trip through universes which are freed from the burden of gravitation. In a word, the issue because of being soaringly idealistic can be considered a tool to get yourself out from this world. Would you like to be an escapist approximately for an hour?
10/19/2012
Juanitos - OrganiXperiment (2012)
9.2
/Psychedelia, Funk, Surf rock, Alternative, Acid pop, Latin music, Exotica pop, Chill out, Lounge music/
Comment: hooray, France-based musician Juan Naveira aka Mr Juan (also known in regard to his side projects Miss Emma, and Limbo Deluxe) is back with a barrage of psychedelic organ sounds, seamless surf licks, dizzy funk grooves, and sly latin motives mixed flickers. Similarly to his previous issues it is highly amusing and chilling. If you dare to call it as "muzak" then you should admit it is a sort of arty muzak whose
inspirational sources do hark back to whimsical space age pop and elfish exotica/tiki pop in addition to the aforementioned sections. However, there are even up some motorik elements related to the aesthetics of krautrock, and indie vibes. Indeed, I have never perceived the use of synthesizers by him before it. In a nutshell, it is a fabulous listening experience.
Binärpilot - You Can't Stop Da Funk (2006)
9.0
/Chiptune, Electronic pop, Robopop, 8-bit, Funk, Electro pop, World fusion, Poptronica/
Comment: popular Norwegian producer Alexander Støver aka Binärpilot`s 4-track issue does encapsulate a wide range of styles and genres veering away from 70`s Bowie-esque funk propulsions and contemporary rnb appearances to more precise electro cadences and mechanic groove appealed territories where robot-tweaked rhythms are traded to sawtooth and squarewave-shaped rhythms, and on the contrary. There is also up the third dimension which is closely related to slight world music/Orient-fused progressions where you experience both Jewish and Arabic patterns. In a word, we can´t do it.
10/17/2012
Nicht Rio - Title Turtle (2011)
8.9
/Improvised music, Electro-acoustic, Experimentalism, Live session, Avant-garde, Musique concrete, Acousmatics/
Comment: Lionel Malric (prepared piano), Yannis Frier (table guitar, amplified objects), Sebastien Bouhana (drums, percussions) are being a part of the Grand Chahut Collectif. This session was shot during their first tour in 2010 while the trio was travelling in the South of France with a hundred-year-old baby grand piano. They shared the stage with the likes of Sébastien Cirotteau, Emmanuel Cremer, Charles Fichaux, Bastien Pelenc, Heddy Boubaker, Olivier Germain-Noureux and Laurent Rochelle. However, their introducing gig as a trio was performed in the Notre-Dame Chapel in Fabrezan at the "Son MiRé" festival. More profoundly, the particular session does last approximately an half-hour being filled in with squeaking bits, intriguing signal-tweaked effects, buffoonish turns and detours, a little whistling sounds and surrounding dense ambience therefore honouring the kind of electro-acoustic, acousmatic and concrete music. By describing the impulses of the track the listener can detect a course getting grow more intense and noiseful with every subsequent step the ensemble is taking toward the final seconds.
Cadmio - EP (2011)
9.3
/Art rock, Indie, Alternative rock, DIY, Noir rock, Post-punk/
Comment: this handful of tracks is produced by the Italian musician Luigi Palmieri whose instrumental ones are composed with the spot on glowering guitar riffs and sprawling hooks and uplifting propulsions which are backed up with sublime synth textures full of emotive lines and intriguing forms. At times the whole reminds a bit of an outtake dragged out from the post-punk/noir rock/art rock scene. It can be compared with Vini Reilly`s guitar work, for instance. Delicious by any means.
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