12/23/2012
Esoteric Sob - Nostalgia (2012)
9.3
/Modern classical, IDM, Downtempo, Electronic pop, Neoclassical, Chilltronica, Mood music/
Comment: Esoteric Sob is the nom de plume of John Trifonopoulos, an electronic music artist from Greece. His 9-piece issue is an evocative blend of doleful chilltronic/downtempo progressions, bleak glitch-y dark ambient and neoclassical soundscapes, ethereal modern classical domains, silenful IDM-esque beats. Indeed, the whole sounds like a muffled dirge for somewhat or someone lost or buried recently, respectively. However, all these aforementioned sonic elements used to depict realms and sections inside the human being`s soul and mind. The central track is Everyday Stories featuring Karra Russell in charge of vocal delivery. Very good.
Reality Asylum - Was Tat Ich EP (2005)
9.6
/Alternative rock, Post-punk, No Wave, Avant-punk, Art punk/
Comment: this set of 3 pieces is undoubtedly an effort representing post-punk music in a very solid way. Monotonously stomping drum machine-based beats have been managed in a way to be set below gliding or more tempered guitar swipes and spoken word snippets, however, embellished with stereo effects and suggestive melodies at times. Indeed, it harks back to krautrock aesthetics. As we used to know very well Julian Cope who has been championing krautrock music was also a post-punker as a member of Teardrop Explodes once. In a word, it is the kind of punk for what I am ready to give a damn.
12/22/2012
Time Hitler and the Assholes From Space - The Lost in Time Recordings (2012)
8.7
/Psychedelic rock, Alternative rock, Drone folk, Indie rock, Space folk/
Comment: Doug Rosenberg, Ryan Jones, and Chris Parsons (from Media, Pennsylvania, USA) used to make music which obviously is influenced by an early David Bowie (retrodelic the Spaceman), and by the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Spiritualized due to its lush, sophisticated psychedelic resonances and slightly hazy strips. Chris Parsons plays saxophone instead of keyboards providing intriguing droning undercurrents between strumming guitar layers and Rosenberg`s sprawling vocal mannerism. In addition to music, the coverprint is impressive.
AoK Suicide Forest - AoK Suicide Forest (2010)
9.2
/Stoner rock, Post-metal, Hard rock, Sludge rock/
Comment: AoK Suicide Forest is the trio of Leif Sherman Curtis, David Joy, and Michael Anderson who used to blend the elements of stoner rock, hardrock, and sludge into a formidable, 6-track whole. More concretely, bold, pitch-shifting guitar riffs by Sherman Curtis are assisted by massive, punching drum sequences of Anderson and intense bass thudding of Joy. Impressive.
12/21/2012
Perry Ferya Band - Live on Venus (2012)
9.4
/Krautrock, Space rock, Psychedelic rock, Avant-rock, Improvised music, Psych-rock, Experimental rock, Live session/
Comment: of course, it is not the first time by a seminal avant-garde records, Clinical Archives, to issue dizzy krautrock-ish and hazy space rock propulsions under its imprint. You can remember for such amazing acts as Children Of Ishizuke Tree, Joxfield ProjeX, Melting Clouds, Yoko Absorbing, Magical Unicellular Music, Skala Collective (a marginal project of SC`s musicians). This 39-minute set is a session at a stage involving different sections and plays of variegated intensities full of glacial synths, sultry guitars, reshuffled drums thereby conjuring up psychedelic dust strips and stripes. Stunning.
Totokoko Christmas Compilation 3 (2012)
9.1
/Indie pop, Psychedelic pop, Singer-songwriter, Indie folk, Baroque pop, Folk indie, Cowbell indie, Alternative pop, Conceptual, Dream pop, Electronic pop/
Comment: it is undoubtedly a nice tradition of the Japanese label Totokoko to provide the Christmas compilation at the beginning of December annually. This batch of 16 tracks used to extend from dusty keyboard passages and chiming guitar layers to picturesque dream pop/shoegazing/cowbell indie and glockenspiel-heavy folk progressions and fluent or thoughful piano-centered and more electronica-tinged ditties. There are up such artists as He Died While Hunting, American Green, Michikusa, Mitsuyoshi Matsuda, Zmi, Dot Tape Dot, Netherland Dwarf, Kaziko Uchida, Masato Abe, M.e, Popolo, Shingo Makino, Asa, Sonicbrat, Conte. The Christmas season will have been on a full swing.
12/18/2012
Uni - Kosmikud II (2007)
9.5
/Electronic pop, Glo-fi, Alternative, Cosmic electronica, Indietronica, Experimental electronica, Chilltronica, Easy listening/
Comment: Uni (or "Dream","Sleep" in translation) was an Estonian duo comprising such musicians and producers as Taavi Laatsit (Von Suck, Galaktlan, Galaktlan Group), and Henrik Luuk (Popidiot). I can remember for this issue firstly issued in tape format and packaged in foil in the end of 90s hanging somewhere in a shop in Tartu (and my friend bought it). This 11-track issue does include mostly laidback, outer space-related (or "ulme" in Estonian the word which is not translatable, though) and more or less ominous blissed-out electronic propulsions, however, having sometimes hints at robot pop (those vocal warped experiments), Soviet Sputnik electronica and sci-fi films and melodica-tinged endeavours. It might be thought the last track Kohvipaus reveals more the duo`s indie influences. It is a highly nostalgic and classic issue regarding the tendencies of the Estonian electronic scene. And even in the recent context it sound previously in a superb, affluent way.
Beta Dog - Fake Hero (2012)
8.8
/EBM, Industrial rock, Dark pop, Trance, Electro-rock, Crossover, Techno rock, Electronic pop, Synth rock/
Comment: this batch of 11 tracks is the debut album by Beta Dog, a Czech project full of gloomy synth layers, rigid machine-driven rhythms and a little bit tortured, hacking vocal appearances and obscure themes sometimes mixed up with spoken word and theatrical samples and robot-esque vocoder filters. Stylistically it veers away the elements of rock, industrial, electro(nica), trance and synth pop.
12/10/2012
Ivan Čkonjević - NUŠ (2011)
9.0
/Chamber music, Ambient, Electro-acoustic, Minimalism, Post-rock, Experimental rock/
Comment: Ivan Čkonjević is a sound manipulator from Subotica, Serbia whose set of 3 lengthy compositions results in a subtle sound processing of minimally evolving, fluttering guitar-based orchestrations which do sound like the murky slices conjured up with the assistance of cello strings. Furthermore, Čkonjević`s oeuvre used to include repetitive elements thereby having a hypnotic impact on the listener. On the other side, his soundscape is barely audible having a relentless drift between the sound, hisses and silence. However, those silentful yet a little tensioned spins and restrained grooves coming out within the ending track EXP Za granicom remind of GY!BE`s aesthetics at Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven (2000, Kranky). A nice listening.
Boutros Bubba - Band Fight (2012)
8.7
/Math rock, Alternative rock, Experimental rock/
Comment: Boutros Bubba is a combo from the Netherlands comprising 3 musicians - guitarist/singer Spoelstra, drummer Vreselijk Ongeluk, and bassist Freddie Mercury (sic!). Their set of 5 tracks consists either of glowering, slow-paced and mid-paced math rock propulsions or more swift, clattery rhythms, and a tiny howling and hoarse singing mixed vocal lines. Yet, the aforementioned details do not mean they have managed to avoid more pop-tinged hooks and suggestive harmonies. All of that is to be found over there. The issue is released on Narrominded, a Dutch experimental imprint extending stylistically from innovative rock to experimental electronica, ambient and field recordings
12/09/2012
Darwin Raymond - Beyond The Shore, The Sea (2012)
9.6
/Ambient, Dark ambient, Abstract electronica, Ambient drone, Experimental electronica, Guitar ambient, Organic electronica, Soundscapes, Minimalism/
Comment: Darwin Raymond is a guitarist/producer from Columbus, Ohio, USA who has issued 4 albums on Bandcamp and different labels (Audio Gourmet, FeedbackLoop, Resting Bell). However, his current issue of 9 compositions is inspired by the ocean and all of that pertaining to it. The soundscape used to base on tight guitar works which in turn are channelized through the filters thereby getting a result full of brooding magic, thudding bass glimpses and flashing visions. It sounds like an abstract painting created on the base of minimal sounds and fluttering oscillations. However, inspite of its minimalism it is highly evocative and mesmeric. In a word, it is an instance of still life thereby can be likened to the likes of Pan American, and Loscil. On the ball. By any means.
Syarlothsita - Syarlothsita (2012)
9.2
/Indie pop, Indie folk, Alternative pop, Folk indie, Dream pop, Jangle pop/
Comment: undoubtedly Syarlothsita is a decent representative of the Yogyakarta-based indie scene. These 3 pieces are inspired by playgrounds, fantasy tales, and children`s cheerfulness, more concretely, filled with chiming guitar chords which are embellished with the whiffs of harmonica, fringes of glockenspiel play and articulated singing by Kiki Tsalasita. Yet, the last track Circus In Town is a short output played with the assistance of lone, dripping piano chords having devoid of any other instruments except Tsalasita`s vocal. The set is issued on Sea Indie, an imprint for Southeast Asia Indie. Both of them are truly solid ones.
12/08/2012
Fontomi - Fontomi EP (2012)
9.1
/Chilltronica, Indietronica, Chill out, Electro pop, Alternative, Poptronica, Hypnagogic pop, Electronic pop, Glo-fi, Chillwave/
Comment: this 7-track issue comes out of Odense, Denmark produced by Frederik Ludwigs and Niels Malte Lundsgaard Sørensen who used to provide mostly blissed-out electronic pop, however, a little bit reminding of Talk Talk while transmuting from synthetic pop into a more string-based, dream pop/post-rock shape somewhere in the 80s. On the other side, the combo transmits strident glo-fi/chillwave-ish signals and dream-infiltrated impulses which will get mixed up with some pitch changed effects. Mostly it is driven by male voices, sometimes providing instrumental, laidback developments or embellished with female voices. Inspite of it the favorite of mine is No Lows performed by Erika Casier.
Girlhood - Half Dead (2011)
8.9
/Anti-folk, Psych-folk, Indie folk, Ambient folk, New Weird America, DIY, Lo-fi, Singer-songwriter/
Comment: approximately 16 months ago I reviewed Phoenix, Arizona-based project Girlhood`s eponymous album (2010, CLLCT) which was a fabulous blend of psychedelia, divergent breaks and beats, and glo-fi templates pouring out of numerous slots. This time Girlhood`s set of 5 pieces is absolutely another story taking on restrained yet psyched-out, reverb-heavy guitar strums, rough vocal lines and buried incantations thereby gushing out much corroded magic and freeing mysticism.
12/06/2012
Zenjungle & Tunedin 52 - Inner Orbits (2012)
9.3
/Motorik, Crossover, Post-psychedelic electronica, Space rock, Free jazz, Krautrock, Ambient, Noise, Avant-garde, Avant-industrial, Improvised music, Experimentalism/
Comment: this clump of 5 tracks is a shape-shifting one extending from Neu!-esque proto-industrial motorik chugging and more contemporary industrial and electro-acoustic mixed outlets to cool and free jazz-esque reshuffling and improvised noise snippets and ambient/space rock-induced flutters and pitch effect-driven sessions. The ending piece Afteryouknowyouknow is more restrained due to blissed-out synths and brass instrument-based whiffs. Emotionally, for sure, it is evocative and uplifting, filled with mesmeric milieus and repetitive horizons suppressing the listener`s consciousness. In a word, it is a fetching, suggestive whole because the artists over there used to get involved in a profound play on subtlety and dynamics.
Fature – From the Other Side (2012)
9.3
/Breakcore, Kosmische Musik, Psychedelic electronica, Experimental electronica, Downbeat, Breaks, DIY, Ambient dub, Lo-fi/
Comment: these 4 pieces are made up of dusty, a little frowzy broken beats which are set below the dubbed layers of electronic progressions (which in turn used to extend from wobbly electronic arrangements and bent downbeat sequences to more glacial glow-tinged spaced-outs). Indeed, all these elements are seamlessly interlaced with each other therefore providing a solid configuration. Behind this project hides himself an experienced cockney producer, Lee, who heads such label as Faturenet Recordings.
Television Sky - Six Yogas of Naropa (2012)
9.2
/Ambient, Musique concrète, Post-rock, Ambient rock, Hauntology, Alternative, Experimental electronica, Crossover, Experimental rock/
Comment: there are up 6 tracks spreaded out over 20 minutes. The album starts off with a track, Pedro de Ampudia, which is Arthur Russell-esque track of reverb-heavy vowel effects and ethereal arrangements. Onward the release will be embedded either in more or less haunting ambient music being infiltrated with concrete sounds and clicks, lofty hums and minimally shaped experiments or "error-induced", glitch and weird snippet-filled atmospheric and flickering post-rock tendencies. The last track Oceans Last Forever`s motif reminds a little bit of Angelo Badalamenti`s Twin Peaks one. All of that is created by a guy, called Samuel Ruth aka Qually aka Metrosound hailing from San Diego, USA.
VedelikuElektroonikud - Compilation (2009/2012)
8.8
/Avant-electronica, Acid, Improvised music, IDM, Synth pop, Ambient, Electronic pop, Experimental electronica, Conceptual, DIY, Lo-fi/
Comment: this is a compilation of 53 (short-running) pieces produced by a tremendous array of Estonian (visual) artists. Stylistically it veers away more or less brooding and acidic electronic propulsions, noisy facets and growling digital sound processing, warped glacial glow-tinged ambient appearances, primitive synth pop elaborations. However, inspite of divergent tendencies all the stuff over the place seems to be designed in the vein of DIY/lo-fi aesthetics of instant recording and conceptually/technically delineated with virtual synths found from Internet. In a word, a lot of catchy tracks can be discovered for your pleasure. A nice alternative for your everyday listening.
12/05/2012
Beatslaughter - Serenity EP (2012)
9.4
/IDM, Breaks, Experimental electronica, Downtempo/
Comment: Beatslaughter is Alexander Stoica, a producer from Berlin, Germany. His 4-track issue is a synergical composition made up of mesmeric rhythm sequences and soaring ambient/downtempo-alike panoramas. It does have a strong melodic pitch crossed with gleaming electronic bits and flickers. Pleasing by any means.
The Antlers Live at Cake Shop on 2009-01-22 (2009)
9.8
/Indie rock, Dream pop, Psychedelia, Epic, Live session, Post-rock, Space rock, Covers, Alternative rock, Experimental rock/
Comment: this batch of 6 tracks spreaded out over 42 minutes is a wondrous experience provided by this Brooklyn combo headed by The Antlers` principial songwriter Peter Silberman. It veers away cathedral organ-driven space rock and acidic Americana propulsions and majestic spaced-outs full of lofty noises, string-based shimmering and soulful fountains. The set involves a crushing cover version of Neil Young`s Harvest Moon. This gig was conveyed to be the Naked Hearts CD release party at Cake Shop. I wish I would have been there.
12/04/2012
Fighting Lion - When I See The Fallen Leaves Turning Red By The Setting Sun My Heart Is Overwhelmed EP (2011)
9.2
/Folktronica, Indie folk, Folk indie, Alternative/
Comment: this handful of tracks coming out from within Àlvaro Menèndez`s debut release consists of reverb-rich ukulele chords and pronounced melodies above it channeled craftily into blissed-out glimpses and anthem-near compositions. Indeed, there is up tension between harmonies and dynamics thereby gracing the issue and having an impact upon the listener.
Rktic - Northern Lights (2001)
9.1
/Ambient dub, Organic electronica, Dub-Tech, Tech-dub, Breaks, Dub, Minimal techno/
Comment: this set of 6 (mostly long-running) compositions by Ronny Pries rotates mostly around knee-deep, sappy dub configurations which are embellished with elusive ambient horizons, concrete music-near whiffs, drilling techno propulsions. On the other side, this issue can be considered as a whole searching for balance between spaced-out, wobbly structures and divergent pace progressions. Solid.
12/03/2012
Embark - Just For You (2012)
9.0
/Shoegazetronica, Glo-fi, Alternative, Electronic pop, Leftfield, Dark wave, Experimental indie/
Comment: behind Embark hides himself David Teboul, a Frenchman whose music is a lofty blend of dynamic shoegaze-ish noises, orchestrated dark wave-esque incantations, and some gritty electronic frequencies and blissful glo-fi gliding. However, from within it you can find out some outstanding tracks like the self-titled piece, Pavement Surfer, and Spacious Factory.
Entertainment For The Braindead - Postcard #2: Songs for the Homesick (2012)
9.2
/Indie folk, Singer-songwriter, Folk indie, Dream folk, Post-pop/
Comment: EFTB is a Cologne-based one-woman-act, headed by Julia Kotowski (also known as The Smallest Bones). Her 4-track issue hinges on wondrous vocal hovers and lonely piano chords embellished with some glockenspiel fringes, uncanny semi-orchestrations and concrete sounds got from the streets in Istanbul, Turkey which together used to result in essentially intimate, fragile dream pop/folk-ish appearances. Additionally, Way Out involves a teasing motif on a bouncy, piano-based flow. Great work by any senses.
12/02/2012
Leonardo Rosado - a long white sleep EP (2012)
9.7
/Soundscapes, Abstract, Shoegaze, Ambient, Post-rock, Epic, Dark ambient, Minimalism, Ambient drone, Dystopbient/
Comment: Leonardo Rosado`s 4-track album does reflect upon ambient music in slightly different ways filled in with remote noises and majestic panoramic burning fading away across the Universe. The paradox of the issue is being both abstract and moody at the same time. Especially by listening to variation in white #3 which used to evolve into the realm of shoegaze and space rock-tinged frequencies. By kindred souls there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Saito Koji, Tim Hecker, slept., Caustic Reverie, Pan American, Bing Satellites, Loscil. In conclusion, it is highly formidable in its serious capsule providing a possibility about the situation on Earth after the existence of the human race is ended up. The skyscrapers are wrapped up by creepers and the asphalt world is full of cracks and fissures and Heidegger`s books are washed out from rooms and eroded. It is epic, don`t you?
Väljasõit Rohelisse - Külastus (2012)
9.3
/Trance rock, Post-psychedelic electronica, Space rock, Improvised music, Drone rock, Avant-rock, Experimental rock, Krautrock/
Comment: undoubtedly Väljasõit Rohelisse (i.e, drive out to natural environment in a clumsy translation) is one of those fewest spaced-out combos from Estonia whose concept is expressive and contemplative simultaneously. However, the first time I met the group at Schilling, an independent outdoor festival in Kilingi Nõmme, Viljandimaa, Estonia. Their live session was embedded in thick smoke created by particular devices on the stage and covered up with fluorescent green light. By listening to VR`s 7-track album you can detect which way perky and light-hearted moods are merged with exhausting progressions and brooding outlines in the middle of droning keyboard sounds, ragged drums and thudding bass lines, vagrant guitars, resonating sonic walls, and Lauri Tikerpe`s buried vocal murmur. More profoundly, it sounds somewhere in between Spacemen 3, Bardo Pond, and Joy Division, though, having its distinctive bucolic (Estonian) touch rather than pronouncing urban-related theme. (Hotwired) minimalistic psychedelia.
12/01/2012
Hanetration - Torn Heat EP (2012)
9.4
/Drone, Modern classical, Noir, Experimentalism, Avant-industrial, Post-Pyschedelic electronica, Electro-acoustic, Avant-garde, Dystopbient, Hauntology, Psycho-acoustic/
Comment: one thing is obviously clear - it is quite problematic to give the clear-cut definition for the sophomore issue of London, UK-based combo Hanetration to be categorized for. In fact, Hanetration`s soundscape comprises different aspects veering away from contemporary classical and ghostly droning to somehow exhausting, even psychedelic electro-acoustic pulsations and industrial-tinged dystopism and noir spiced electronica. Emotionally it does have a huge impact on the listener because of providing anguished pictures. The good thing is the whole of 4 compositions does ring in a solid way setting your imagination free. Furthermore, I am not able to mention some souls reminding of it. It might be Penguin Cafe Orchestra would have chimed in this way produced by the members of Throbbing Gristle, and Stuart Pearce (Death In June) and Boyd Rice aka NON, for instance. Maybe not. However, I can imagine I like those machines behind this creative process.
Benjamin Briggs - Snake Man vs The World (2012)
8.9
/Chiptune, Psychedelic electronica, Conceptual, Chipbreak, Bitpop, 8-bit, Chill out/
Comment: Benjamin Briggs is a chiptune producer from Indiana, USA whose batch of 4 pieces is characterized by Snake Man, a game-relied theme. Briggs` oeuvre is a gritty pixelation of sawtooth-shaped rhythms, suggestive psychedelic turns, a naive concept and the upbeat motif. Additionally, Briggs likes to vary and reshuffle tones and phases therefore giving his music a distinctive feeling. In general, because of its predominantly emotive functioning and less its adventurous nature the set can be considered an instance of chill out music. It is fun rather than "serious" electronica.
11/30/2012
Rohstein - Rohstein (2010)
9.3
/Speed garage, Jungle, Breakcore, Club dance, Glitchtronica, Experimental electronica, Breakbeat, Drill and bass/
Comment: this batch of 9 pieces is an intense mix of ominous broken beats, overdriving shifts, and slices of crashing glitchy electronica which are covered with gleaming luster and metallic glaze. It frequently swells ferociously like a tortured example of having gotten inspiration from reggae, ethnic music, house, garage, and hip-hop, Metalheadz-addled in an indirect and somewhat warped way.
Simon Waldham - How To Let Go (2012)
8.5
/Singer-songwriter, Alternative pop/rock, Indie folk, Alt-folk, Folk indie/
Comment: there are up three solid pieces by Simon Waldham, a singer-songwriter from Nottinghamshire, England. Lush guitar strums and sensitive singing manner are accentuated with dashing orchestrations above it. And that is obviously all.
11/29/2012
Derek Piotr - Virtual 7" No. 25 (2012)
9.2
/Experimental electronica, Noise, Avant-electronica, Abstract electronica, Experimentalism, Avant-garde/
Comment: Derek Piotr is a sound artist/experimentator from Poland (who has been residing in New England for a while) whose teacher has been Meredith Monk, for instance. His 4-track issue is an amalgamation of distorted and warped sounds where bass-heavy rhythms, susurrous noises, sublime vocal-based effects, and incisive, repetitive electronic aspects are seamlessly merged with each other.
Mental D-struction - Extrapolation (2011)
8.7
/Breakcore, Dark electronica, Breaks, Neoclassical, Electro metal, Cybermetal/
Comment: this batch of 7 pieces is a frantic blend of thudding breaks and desperate beat sections, neoclassical synth hooks and whiffs, furious metal attacks and demented black metal appearances, however, all of that is forced out with enormous power and confidence. In a nutshell, it is intense, powerful, and even somehow majestic on its nature.
11/28/2012
Das Hobos - Memphis Buchloe (2012)
8.9
/Experimental folk, Funk rock, Indie rock, Blues, Roots music, Dance rock, Soul, Alternative/
Comment: this set of 7 songs is a refreshing drift between folk-y and blues-y moods, between acoustic and electric, though, all of that is channelized in its own way by this German trio, called Das Hobos (also known as Rhythm Police, the indie version of Leroy Schlimm, Frank Nägele and Tom Simonetti). For instance, Harlem Master is still an indie-tinged, more concretely, a little indietronic jam. However, my favorite track is 888 which sounds like a modern version of American Primitivism tightly mixed up with Bowie-esque funk grooves and soul vibes In fact, the same can be said about Toy Of Toy. The issue is released on Montrèal-based label Camomille Records, headed by Vincent Fugère aka Muhr.
Последние Каникулы - Ромашка (2012)
9.7
/Post-rock, Alternative, Epic, Ambient rock, Avant-rock, Cowbell indie, Experimental rock/
Comment: believe me, it is a formidable album full of crashing crescendos and otherworldly beautiful passages. You know I like post-rock, though, generally I do not have faith in post-rock anymore. Yet, by listening to this 3-track (in total it is wrapped up in 56 minutes) it reminds of the experience I got in a day 12 years ago by listening to Godspeed You! Black Emperor`s Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven (Kranky). More profoundly, majestic structures are interlaced with (so-called cowbell) indie-tinged bucolicness which in turn are adorned with repetitive noises and sublime electronic effects. Only some issues on Future Recordings had had such impact on me. Moreover, there is impellent density between static and dynamic structures and elements which provides impulses to convert its power into rock and ambient appearances. As you have already figured out it is emotionally thoroughly evocative and shaking. In a word, it is an instance of rock music spotted on the absolute.
11/27/2012
Lolishit - Delicious Lolicore (2010)
8.6
/Lolicore, Noise electro, Hardcore techno, Breakcore, J-pop, Primitronica, Anime/
Comment: this batch of 6 pieces consists of heavy breakcore and J-pop and anime mixed sounds full of profound bass terror frequencies, electro-tinged drills, and rapidly changing moods and infantile babbling. In a word, it is genuinely tight, chaotic and messy where it is quite problematic to find out the centre of this propulsion. On the other side, why should we?
The Brainhole - 2332 (2012)
9.1
/Synth rock, Abstract, Hip-hop, Avant-electronica, Alternative, Experimentalism, Techno rock, Industrial rock, Electro rock, EBM/
Comment: Krzysztof Kłubo, and Dawid Portasz do mix together noisy electro(nica)/EBM with more or less rigid and hirsute industrial/techno/synth rock templates. Sometimes the listener can perceive slight nu-metal and demented hip-hop appearances at the maze of beats and synthesized layers (Liquid Spice, and Scorch, respectively). However, this 12-track album will be ended up in the vein of abstract, repetition-heavy hisstronica (Spectre of Albion). Indeed, this galvanized, undulating notch is produced radically otherwise in regard to the ideology of the release (except The Reverend Ascends which is a fascinating dub and electronica blended monster). This stylistically provoking album is issued on an experimental label, called NoEcho Records.
The Taxpayers - The Exhilarating News (2007)
9.2
/Indie punk, Art punk, Post-punk, Alternative rock, DIY/
Comment: The Exhilarating News was the debut album by the Taxpayers, an Portland-based punk rock combo. They are self-confident, arrogant and impressive from the start to the end. These 13 pieces used to extend from desperate (post-)punk energy and galloping alternative rock to delta blues, country, folk and even ballad-esque soft moments.Indeed, if you are intended to find out a good punk band then The Taxpayers is thought for your pleasure.
11/25/2012
Jeff Sampson - Swarm (2012)
9.3
/Minimalism, Dark ambient, Avant-garde, Soundscapes, Drone, Ambient drone, Experimental electronica, Abstract, Ambient noise/
Comment: indeed, the title and coverprint may hand on the essence of this one-track composition. Sampson`s oevre sounds like glowering movement of a swarm of deadly African bees somewhere in the middle of a road over to another continent. Or on the other side, you can imagine it chimes like the tape head at distorted, blurred tapes. Indeed, it is genuinely minimal, however, providing some variegation in intensity as if running on gravity and without the feeling of gravity. In a word, it is a highly abstract and contemplative composition throughout its 42 minutes and 3 seconds.
Jiony - Waiting For The Sun EP (2012)
9.1
/Chilltronica, Lo-fi, Ethnotronica, Organic electronica, Crossover, Exotica pop, DIY, Poptronica, Downbeat, Electronic pop/
Comment: Jiony is a musician/producer/disc jockey from Mexico City, Mexico providing a set of 3 pieces which is an organic, sample-based amalgamation of lo-fi/DIY-tinged electronic explorations, ethnic acoustic-based appearances, lush harmonies and suggestive, a tiny bit downbeaten rhythmic propulsions below it. Additionally I recommend to listen to Jiony`s edit remix of Portishead`s Roads either. In a word, it is chill.
11/23/2012
Scant Intone - Elevator (2009)
9.6
/Sound-art, Epic, Soundscapes, Drone, Conceptual, Minimalism, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Ambient drone/
Comment: this long-running track is a fine example of ghostly drone ambient which involves an array of barely audible vibes, phase changes, and exhausting flickers. Yet, despite its minimalist framework it does have huge impact on the listener. Conceptually Constantine Katsiris` work is dedicated to the abandoned buildings and grain elevators in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. This 14-minute composition can be compared with other Canadian musicians like Tim Hecker, and Loscil. The track is apart of Katsiris` album Swift Current. Very impressive.
Rotten Sperm - In Semen We Trust (2012)
8.0
/Goregrind, Metal, Grindcore, Covers/
Comment: there are up 20 goregrind songs by Estonian duo Rotten Sperm. Of course, sometimes you may feel these compositions are intentionally blended with questionable jokes and provocative irony (for instance, there are represented a slushy cover of Elton John`s Can You Feel the Love Tonight, though, a cover version of Beyonce`s Irreplaceable sounds much more better). I can admit that goregrind can be humorous if the things are forced forth reduntantly. Generally it is a practical listening (for instance, you could use the release as the first step to make acquaintance with goregrind and grindcore styles if it is needed.
11/22/2012
The Candy Strypers - epop021 (2012)
9.2
/Indie pop, Singer-songwriter, Covers, Alternative pop, Jangle pop/
Comment: behind The Candy Strypers is the mancunian Paul Hughes whose 3-piece set is an amalgamation of fine guitar strumming and chiming harmony glides. It is pleasing,organic, and sometimes epic (e specially at Don`t Forget Your Dreams which is accentuated with sublime orchestrations). There is up a cover version of Born On A Train, a song by Stephin Merritt aka The Magnetic Fields. A tiny bit retro but any moment it provides it is on the ball.
Paper Plane Pilot - We’ll Disappear (2012)
8.5
/New Wave, Alternative pop/rock, Post-punk, Indie rock/
Comment: behind this project are Dustin Frelich, and Paul Welch who are inspired by 80s new wave moods and state of minds. We`ll Disappear is a song in a huge array of singles issued by them, however, delineated by lush post-punk/gothic bass lines and clear-cut, somehow emotions oppressing singing. Indeed, it is a solid, Billboard-shaped single.
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