- J-pop
- Alternative pop
- Shibuya-kei
- Indie pop
6/06/2013
Various Artists - It's The End Of The World... (2012)
9.3
/Alternative pop, Experimental rock, Improvised music, Indie rock, Electronic pop, Covers, Conceptual/
Comment: this batch of 12 tracks is dedicated to the chosen songs of some legendary cult musical groups like Skeeter Davis, The Urinals, Renegeades/Bill Haley, Devo, Chaos UK, Mofungo, Silver Apples, Alkaline Trio, Meat Puppets, Bob Dylan, Prince, Jim Reeves. The whole is challenging due to intriguing versions extending from hirsute, bluesy induced alternative rock and buffoonish but catchy songwriting to heavily pulsating synth funk sequences, freely designed electronic explorations with regard to mimicking the early electronic explorations and experiments. The covers are performed by such artists as Bob Bannister, Talya Cooper, Freaky Farewell Fallout Shelter, CD (Civil Defense), Ströken, Owen Kline, Mathew Patalano, Alex Curtin, Jose Garcia`s Baseball Arms, Jed Smith, Chie Mori, Decaf, and Kareem Rable and Danielle Choi. On the ball.
Bodypolitics - The Space Of A Jump (2012)
9.2
/Baroque pop, Art rock, Alternative pop, Indie rock, Chamber pop/
Comment: it is clued at Bandcamp Bodypolitics is a trio consisting of Giuseppe Valenza, Thanos Fotiadis, and Art Pinto And they come from Utrecht, The Netherlands. His 9 track issue is filled with artsy solid songwriting drawing inspiration from suggestive post-punk-ish/synthetic rhythm sections and Arcade Fire-esque baroque/chamber pop relied epic moments or used to tick on more dream-immersed, contemplative turns which in the ending part will be turned into an occult, spaced-out outline. Indeed, the result is delightful, grainy one.
Entertainment For The Braindead - Postcards vol. 3 - Cologne - Songs for the Breathless (2012)
9.4
/Alternative, Art pop, Electronic pop, Ethereal pop, Avant-garde, Indietronica, Experimental electronica, Leftfield/
Comment: behind this solo project hides herself Julia Kotowski, a dweller from Cologne, Germany. She started off sometime in the second half of the 00s as a dreamy singer-songwriter/folk indie musician comprised of fragile singing and fingerpicked guitar play. However, Songs for the Breathless is her most innovative album to date - Kotowski introduces microtonal frequencies on the basis of faint IDM-esque rhythms and ghastly, theremin-alike pitched whiffs seamlessly growing out of her angelic singing manner and vowel effects. At times her timbre is to acquire a more distinctive, medieval manner. Highly captivating. Kotowski has an ear to manage the minimal nature of these songs therefore adding even more vibrancy into the mix. Anyway, there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Iron Like Nylon, Laurie Anderson, Meredith Monk, Kate Bush, Jane Siberry, Liz Fraser. Superb album by any cases.
[Teaser of the day] This Co. - Shout!
- Post-punk
- Dance punk
- Leftfield
- Art punk
- Alternative dance
- No Wave
- Punk funk
[Teaser of the day] Armastus - ∩∀AU
- Avant-garde
- Psychedelia
- Kosmische Musik
- Experimentalism
- Krautrock
- Conceptual
- Spoken word
- Sound poetry
The Hathaway Family Plot – Worry (2013)
9.5
/Avant-garde, Post-industrial, No Wave, Psycho-acoustic, Experimentalism, Weird, Non-music, Abstract, Noise, Acousmatics/
Comment: undoubtedly THFP`s previous album Debt (2011, WM Recordings) was essentially weird but superb having hints at folk, lo-fi and indie and electronic music. Indeed, the combo carries on the abovementioned tendencies blending it with more acute noises, outstretched warped stereo effects, cyberpunk esque/error-loaded techno and abstract blowups. More concretely, it is a high-contrast issue of restless silent slices (involving echo-bestowed piano chords and doleful singing) and wrathful noise chops. At times I used to think the recent concept is infiltrated with some dadaistic seeds and motes. Indeed, this whole of 11 pieces is aesthetically challenging and provocative at its core.
Lost Tapes - ePop035 (2013)
9.6
/Indie pop, Psychedelic rock, Alternative rock, Shoegaze, Dream pop, Jangle pop, Trance rock/
Comment: Lost Tapes is the combo of Pau Roca, and RJ Sinclair whose 4-track solo issue is made up of chiming guitar ascensions, buried vocal vibes, and subtle keyboard induced whiffs and drones. The duo`s aesthetics is laid bare at the crossroads of shoegaze, jangle pop/C86 scene, and light-weighted psychedelic pop instances like lots of bands related to Sarah Records and Slumberland Records. However, there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of McCarthy, The New Mystikal Troubadours, Field Mice, Ride, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, for instance. Roca & Sinclair`s songwriting is tight, and mesmeric. Great offering by any means.
Petrified Host - As When Lighted (2005)
8.9
/Alternative rock, Hard rock, Power pop/
Comment: there are up 17 tracks which are spread out over 32 minutes only. Petrified Host is a duo (Gabry, and Lars) from the Netherlands whose music is an instance of hard-edged indie rock based on hirsute, noisy guitar gears and heavy riffs and embellished with some acidic synth undercurrents. On the other side, the issue is counterbalanced with catchy melodies and harmonies - one of the practices of the combo is about slow and restrained starts changing ultimately into tumultuous outbursts. Indeed, their roots seem to hark back to the 70`s blues-induced heavy metal/hard rock tradition but also drawing inspiration from the more contemporary grunge movement and artsy Sonic Youth-afflated guitar treatment.
6/05/2013
[Teaser of the day] Helado Negro - Paz a Ti
- Alternative pop
- Singer-songwriter
- Baroque pop
- Chamber pop
- Americana
Tzii – Fascinum (2008)
9.5
/Dark ambient, Psycho-acoustic, Chamber music, World music, Martial music, Dystopbient, Experimentalism, Avant-garde, Neoclassical, Illbient/
Comment: Abyssa was a French label which had issued a solid array of excellent experimental music for many years. Tzii`s Fascinum is a fine example of being a part of it, more concretely, revealing its crossover nature of treated, brooding chamber music layers and illbient/dark ambient/dystopbient laden oscillations and off-kilter sonic effects and reverberations. At times Tzii adds the ominous, steely punches of martial music into the billowy blend. Furthermore, the ending track bases on a weird skiffle of ethnic/tribal rhythms which are a little warped, however, gradually acquiring the motorik, even ritual pattern throughout the course. Indeed, it is an unexpected and truly weird appearance with regard to the logic of the previous tracks. On the whole, Tzii`s work is as great by depth as it is by proficiency.
Trollhead - On The Loose (2012)
9.4
/Avant-garde, Robot pop, Glitch ambient, Experimentalism, Industrial techno, Noise, Alternative/
Comment: Trollhead is the collaborative project between David Deschuyteneer (aka Ronny Ragtroll/Affective Disorder), and Jan Robbe (aka Atomhead/Undacova). Both of the artists hail from Belgium. Their 6-track issue folds different genres and aspects, though, basically rotating around the gloomy maelstroms of portentous industrial rhythms. Additionally, it incorporates buzzing machine induced noises and frequencies, and appalling ambiances coming out from these uncompromised bits and folds. As a part of the album are incessantly changing rhythm patterns, however, this music is not thought for dancing, though. In true, the ending track Tes Ol has been managed to get a catchy, acidic groove to be unzipped. Robots are represented over there to have a party. The duo chimes like Kraftwerk on the distortion mode. Or like a issue for a dystopian future. Cerebral.
Art Brut - Art Brut (2013)
8.7
/Improvised music, Jazz, Chamber music/
Comment: Art Brut is a trio comprising Frank Wilke, Andrè D, and Vasco Ribeiro Morais. Their 3-track album consists of seamless drifts somewhere in between improvised music/free jazz and more contained (cool) jazz chord progressions. Of course, the trio`s release reminds of Miles Davis` aesthetics driven by the trumpet sounds and an endless array of key changes. The difference comes in on the strength of spoken word snippets loaned by Morais himself.
6/04/2013
[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - Claw.Drift.Brood
- Live session
- Improvised music
- Psych-folk
- Dream folk
- Free folk
- Experimental folk
- New Weird England
[Teaser of the day] So I`m An Islander - Winter Horizon
- Modern classical
- Alternative
- Mood music
- Chamber music
SSiCk - Shift EP (2013)
8.5
/Alternative, Synth pop, New Wave, Electro-indie/
Comment: this handful of tracks created by Angelo Russo is spreaded out over 19 minutes has been filled in with some alternative pop feels being tightly mixed up with the New Wave esque synth wobbles and paces. That`s Ok.
Water Liars - HearYa Live Session (2013)
8.8
/Power pop, Live session, Americana, Alternative rock, Alt-folk, Alt-country/
Comment: Water Liars are the combo of Justin Kinkel-Schuster, and Andrew Bryant from St. Louis, Missouri, USA. They boast powerful, galvanic guitar-based patterns, and roots-influenced songwriting (by listening to it everyone can assume it is made in the USA). Indeed, the duo`s dynamics sways between very calm and tumultuous explosions therefore making up the contrast (sometimes their songs just seem to be depicted in black-and-white. By the way, the ending track performed over there is Jason Molina`s Just Be Simple-Partial.
Various Artists - Tasters Vinegar 4 (2013)
9.4
/Indietronica, Glitchtronica, Experimental rock, Industrial techno, Jazz, Kosmische Musik, IDM, Dark ambient, Electronic pop, Art pop, Alternative, Experimental electronica/
Comment: this compilation by Picpack label provides a patchwork of styles and genres, however, mostly rotating around the indie-tinged and electronica-induced axis. On the tangent, some tracks remind of krautrock and improvised rock/jazz-y free flow. Much charm and poignant rhythmic magic come forth from this enormous, 28-piece whole. Of course, there are up also some more obscure, abstract oscillations and peripheral progressions worth to embellish experimental electronica-induced miscellanies. Indeed, they shift somewhere in between glitch, Kosmische Musik, noiseful industrial techno, dark ambient, and abstract electronica. In any cases, there are represented such artists as Jimmy Penguin, Astma, Parta Kamyati, Skvirp, Art Electronix, Cotard`s Syndrome, Sotra, Csum, Htrspltn, Purple Eve, The Wandering Tower, Dissolved, Alex Eadg Crunch, X-Ray, Sport&Music, D.G Svon, Weewtam, Fudo Kazuki, Erkin White, Sun-Inside, Empiric Project, Radex, Symptoms of Near End, Grenade Surround Experience & Oleg Sudakov, SashHen, Kakao, Proekt, City Illusions. In a nutshell, despite its lengthiness the compilation is even qualitatively thereby being one of the best ones I have ever heard.
Illocanblo - Lightframe Loretta (2013)
9.2
/Mood music, Electronic pop, Dub-tech, Psychedelic electronica, Chill out, Downtempo, Alternative/
Comment: this batch of 14 pieces is an organic blend of spaced-out synthesizer driven flutters and thudding bass keys filled in with predominantly chill out-ish hovers and moody glides. Stylistically there are up the abovementioned elements interlaced with majestic downtempo and psychedelic electronic pop/poptronica vibes, a tiny bit otherworldly gleaming synth pop fringes and more dynamic but hypnotic dub-tech wobbles. Furthermore, the issue encompasses funny dodges with regard to sonic effects and spoken word snippets. In a word, the work is solid.
Ordinaria Hit e Rodrigo Montoya - Volume 1 (2013)
8.8
/Chamber music, Improvised music, Free jazz, Collaboration, Experimentalism, Avant-garde/
Comment: this is the first notch of the sessions by Sao Paulo-based quartet Ordinaria Hit whose purpose is to cooperate with other musicians within the concept. The collective exploits ordinary rock instruments for improvisation and Rodrigo Montoya adds the chords of a viola and sparse fingerpicks on a shamisen. The result is enthralling due to a glad ambiance feeling in the rehearsal room. Stylistically their outlet extends from grating chamber music to more tumultuous free jazz-y experiments and improvised noise. Of course, there are represented lots of semi shades between those aforementioned styles.
Nuclear Nation - Just Before Your End (2012)
9.2
/Rhythmic noise, Breakcore, Experimentalism, Industrial tekno, Psychedelic, Alternative, Leftfield/
Comment: Nuclear Nation is 22-year-old Georgios from Lefkosia, Cypros whose 12-track issue straddles the borders between slamming rhythms, droning noises-microtonal noise progressions,infiltrated spoken word layers and massive digitized feedbacks at the backdrop. At times NN adds even psyambient/trance/tekno-near and jungle-ish (or more generally, breakcore-ish) explorations into the mix. By mental side, the issue is filled in with anxiety and dissatisfaction. In a word, it is not an instance of pop music, though, having some seeds of it within the core (more concretely, some keenness to danceable, EBM-alike undertaking). Convincing.
5/31/2013
Jarguna & Uzbazur345 - Oscure Presenze (2013)
9.7
/Abstract, Ambient, Microtonal, Dystopbient, Minimalism, Soundscapes, Kosmische Musik/
Comment: by listening to this 2-track composition the listener can feel him/herself to be laid back or sitting on the board of a space shuttle while perceiving the hiss of the motion at the highest speed. More profoundly, the first piece Post Tenebris expands step by step into the ghastly void/nothingness wrapped up in barely audible shadows and shades, though, the second track Sine Lumine involves the subdued moans of ghosts, torrent of treated sounds of the downfall, the drip of water and glacial glimpses overhead. Sometimes some parts of Jarguna & Uzbazur345`s soundscapes seem to be light, at times quite intense and overwhelming. Even punching. Behind the album are a pair of experienced composers from Italy, Simone Santarsiero, and Marco Billi. By kindred, abstract and space ambient souls I recommend to listen to Cold Womb Descent, Jeff Sampson, Scott Lawlor, Alio Die, Jari Pitkänen. In a nutshell, it is a simply superb experience. And visit other artists at the site of Buddhist on Fire either.
Background Radiation - Uniform Static (2013)
9.4
/Indietronica, Folktronica, IDM, Indie soul, Alternative pop, Electronic pop, Experimental indie/
Comment: behind the collaborative act Background Radiation are Ludo Maas, and Tim Dwyer whose 12- track issue Uniform Static has much to provide to the listener. More generally, it is indie and folk-induced pop music imbued with crispy electronic/IDM rhythms, however, having enough hints at other aspects as well. For instance, the more you listen to it the more it seems like a wondrous instance of soul pop filled in with dreamy reverberations of vocal lining and lengthy organ chords thereby conjuring up soothingly epic moments. Indeed, there are up such outstanding compositions as the self-titled track, Tomorrows, Stars Or Jets, Controls, Misery Missouri. It is time to discover for yourself and enjoy one of the most pronounced alternative pop/indie albums in the year of 2013 so far.
5/30/2013
Selebrities - Everywhere (feat. Erika Spring & Lissy Trullie) (2013)
9.5
/Indie pop, Cover, Post-punk, Alternative pop, Electronic pop/
Comment: it is a suggestive cover of the Fleetwood Mac track Everywhere featuring Erika Spring, and Lissy Trullie as guest vocals. Indeed, the composition relies on those beguiling vocal harmonies and catchy post-punk esque bass gears. It is a proof about the 80s post-punk musicians` huge impact on electronic/synth-y music. The single is thought for Valentine`s Day 2013.
[Teaser of the day] Lorenzo Brutti - Here?
- Ambient
- Glitch
- Experimental electronica
- Abstract
- Microtonal
- Ambient noise
[Teaser of the day] meisterjaan - Ühendus
- Ambient
- Kosmische Musik
- Leftfield
- Alternative
- Experimental
Vandelklang – Rolanron EP (2013)
9.4
/Dub-tech, Tech-house, Dub house, Club dance, Remixes/
Comment: this batch of 4 pieces is a poignant dub and club dance mixed whole. Catchy, even funky rhythms are varied or blended with lofty synth swirls, spacey hisses and hypnotic, repetitive beats and shadowy bubbling. Generally the release involves a pair of original tracks and two covers of one of the original compositions, entitled as the self-titled one. Behind Vandelklang hides himself Camilo Naranjo, a producer from Medellin, Colombia. Whose eyes and moustache are seen on the picture?
Mimicry - Discipline EP (2012)
9.1
/Electro pop, Alternative dance, Electro-indie, Synth pop, Alternative, Sampledelic/
Comment: Mimicry is a combo from Tartu, Estonia headed up by Paul Lepasson (formerly known from Depoo) whose music used to base on indie-induced electro pop templates. However, their last, 4-piece issue Discipline EP is their best work due to more organic dance-appealed progressions and artsy synth pop endeavors with gentle sampledelic whiffs. More concretely, the crunchy synth bass grooves and mostly mildly punching sequences and sublime sonic whiffs are counterbalanced with ethereal vocal lines. At times Mimicry`s sound reminds of the 80`s synth pop groups (an early Talk Talk, Japan, for instance).
Los ZappinG - Teoría de la televisión y la radio (2011)
8.0
/Alternative rock, Pop punk/
Comment: Los ZappinG is a combo from Lima, Peru whose sound is a joyful mixture of pop punk, and some harder rock vibes. More profoundly, this handful of tracks used to base on husky guitar overdrives, moody singing, some synth undercurrents, and shuffled drum lines behind it. The lyrics are sung in Spain. In a nutshell, the album is mainstream-oriented and masterfully produced.
5/29/2013
[Teaser of the day] Dead Canaries - Nothing
- Alt-folk
- Indie folk
- Psych-folk
- Folk indie
- Singer-songwriter
Mangust - No Room For Error (2013)
8.9
/Electro pop, Acid, Alternative, Synth pop, Kosmische Musik/
Comment: this 12-piece issue is the debut release of Mangust which is the solo project of the Russian Olga B. She was previously known by the collaboration with the project C-Lekktor. However, the particular release is a dizzy blend of psychedelic electro tinged grooves, warped robot pop-alike bubbling, bold synthesizer bass lining and spaced-out flickers. In a word, it is an instance of contemporary synth pop carved with many curves and hooks. Anyway, it is not a joke of the 1st April inspite of being released on this date. The issue is made available under Synth Me, a Russian imprint.
Catherine Corelli - Evolution (2013)
8.8
/Pomp pop, Crossover, Art pop, Prog metal, Classical, Fusion, Progressive, Synth rock/
Comment: Catherine Corelli is a musician from Moscow, Russia who has been producing a string of a dark and bombastic sort of crossover music throughout the last 10 years. More profoundly, Evolution is actually an old album originally produced in 2006. These 9 compositions used to imbue metal riffs with classical music stance and artsy pop/fusion/prog glimpses. At times her music goes out of control, at times her sound seems to be quite restrained. Indeed, it involves lots of contrast points and shades folded under the main layers. However, the result is thought-provoking, tight, and decorous.
Schizoid - The Remixed Extremes (2013)
9.3
/Cybergrind, Cyberpunk, Remixes, Industrial rock, Brutal metal, Electronic, Techno metal, Breakcore/
Comment: this 16-track album contains remixes of the tracks of Schizoid`s album The Next Extreme. Among the remixers are Evestus, Dirty Fingers Licked, Ambassador 21, Not Half, Tuareg Geeks, Needle Fac7ory, Robot(a), The First Seed, Heartworm, Hyperdriver, Knar, Fft Error, Midi Fister, Drugzilla & Famine. However, it is a painful blend of brutal metal/industrial rock/grindcore/hardcore and heavily punching programmed (breakcore-ish) beats filled in with demented voices and desperate screaming and somehow hazy yet razor blade-alike stitches. In a nutshell, the result is frantic but highly appealing. A demonstration of (metal) power.
5/28/2013
[Teaser of the day] The Gateless Gate - Eihei-ji
- Ambient
- Ethereal music
- Conceptual
- Minimal
- World Music
201 Soundsystem - Broken Days EP (2013)
9.4
/Alternative, Trip-hop, Breaks, Urban music, Soul, Electronic pop, Downtempo/
Comment: this handful of pieces is a sublime blend of female vocal harmonies, and the wah wah effects and plucks of a soul guitar backed up by the smoky rhythms of trip-hop, and downtempo. Yet, there is up enough time to proceed the glimpses and whiffs of other elements and styles either. Every bit and slice seems to be poignantly accentuated on it reeking of dreams and longing. Highly subtle stuff which deserves to get more resonance for sure.
Hollow Press - Heads In Dust (2013)
9.0
/Experimentalism, Psycho-acoustic, Avant-garde, Avant-industrial, Psychedelic, Dystopbient, Dark ambient, Sound art/
Comment: Hollow Press is an Australian musical group who used to incorporate the elements of godforsaken industrial ambiances, bleak digitized sound art-esque overthrows, gloomy ambient and even some peripheral (psychedelic/space) rock impulses (at Empty Hours, and Consciousness, Broken Doll) and acidic EBM-alike synth swirls. By the conceptual side, Hollow Press reveal the classical drift between noise and silence. Wood & Wire is an important Australian imprint which has been acquainting us with innovative Australian sounds.
Sangre Y Tierra - El Machete Negro (2013)
8.5
/Improvised music, Black metal, Noise, Avant-metal, Drone, Psychedelic, Lo-fi/
Comment: Marvin Quinones´ 4-track issue takes on thoroughly lo-fi and noise tinged black metal explorations, however, bringing forth its charm with regard to ghastly, resonating sonic walls and massive, punching gears underneath. Furthermore, the issue provides some psychedelic resonances every once in a while. At times the compositions are varied with silence-induced snippets and whining, abrasive guitar riffs. In true, the centric track Agonia is a improvised one based on flange and stereo effects as if having a duel between a static and convulsive layer. By kindred souls I recommend to listen to Wreck And Reference`s Black Cassette (2011).
5/27/2013
[Teaser of the day] Matmos - Teen Paranormal Romance
- Experimental electronica
- Experimental techno
- IDM
[Teaser of the day] Jolana Havelková & Lucie Vítková - Svornostenka
- Musique concrète
- Improvised music
- Experimentalism
- Avant-garde
- Weird
[Teaser of the day] Air Protection Office - U8W
- Industrial techno
- Avant-techno
- Leftfield
- Experimental techno
Jalikebba Kuyateh and the Toubabs - Jalikebba and the Toubabs (2005/2009)
9.2
/Ethnic music, World Music, Psychedelic music, Folk music, Alternative/
Comment: Jalikebba Kuyateh & The Toubabs` domestic sound consists of African rhythms, suggestive violin chords, and impassioned singing. More detailedly, the collective`s soundscape do involve the elements of kora music, Swedish folk music, compelling rhythms of Indian tabla, and clattery sounds of a gamelan alike wooden instrument. The collective is comprised of the musician of Gambian, and Swedish heritage. The outlet is enough exotic and psychedelic to get laid back and relax. Indeed, at a moment you will perceive yourself to be streaming in the flow of spellbinding sounds.
Lauki - Gea (2013)
9.2
/Chamber music, Ambient, Post-rock, Modern classical, Epic, Crossover, Abstract/
Comment: Gea is the follow-up to 69?54´S?-?135?12´E which was one of the highlights in the year of 2012. Lauki, a Basque/Catalan artist`s 6-track publication continues in a similar vein due to shifts somewhere in between halcyon chamber music, epic post-rock climbing, slightly blossoming modern classical developments and moody ambient drifts in the stratosphere. In a word, the result is organic and highly blissful.
G-DO & Xception feat. Shishani - Keep Rising (2013)
9.4
/Soul-hop, R`n`b, Hip-hop, Urban music/
Comment: G-DO & Xception is a prolific urban music duo who have issued a two handful of albums, singles, and EPs there over Bandcamp. However, Keep Rising is a fine example of how mid-tempo hip-hop is craftily mixed up with dreamy soulful progressions, and modern r`n`b-tinged touches. Of course, Shishani`s vocal duties are mesmerizingly stunning being at the center of the single`s second half. In a word, keep rising, every next step leads to another door, keep rising, every next step is better than before.
Msk.fm - MadeInSF (2013)
9.4
/Urban music, Nu jazz, Chill out, Cinematic, Fusion, Crossover, Trip-hop, Hip-hop/
Comment: behind these 6 track issue is Antonino Musco, a Sicily-based producer residing in San Francisco at the moment. My first meeting with his music (the album Am I Scared? 2008) was through Jamendo approximately 4 years ago. I can vaguely remember for that he and some other musicians had gathered under the slogan "jazz against the mafia" or something like that. However, his sound continually rotates around Miles-alike trumpet driven (cool) jazz/fusion progressions with overt hints at hip-hop, trip-hop, chill out, downtempo, and soul. And those crispy rhythms make sense. Most of the tracks are embellished with female vocal lines (Hanna Rifkin, and Jessy Manuel), and these ones used to be usually gorgeous (for instance, Near You, and About Tonight). Despite a shitloads of stylistic dodges and stops the whole is an organic and seamless one. Very solid work.
Quadrilles - Inuit EP (2012)
9.3
/Experimental indie, Remixes, Art pop, Post-rock, Alternative rock/
Comment: Quadrilles is an interesting quartet from London, the capital city of the United Kingdom which do not sound like a common indie pop/rock example at all. For instance, formally the recent issue is divided into two parts - one of them encompasses original tracks, the other one involves the remixes of them. Stylistically, the collective blends tickling guitar chords with post-rock-ish hues and even math rock-tinged ellipse shaped rhythms, though, the remixes lay bare those influences even more distinctly. Furthermore, remix makers add electronic lining, and some chill out examples either. Regarding the concept of Quadrilles there can be drawn parallels upon the likes of The Sea And Cake, and The American Analog Set, for instance.
Interpretace - MC(OEC) (198?)
9.4
/Avant-industrial, Experimentalism, Improvised music, Avant-garde, Noise, Experimental rock/
Comment: these 3 compositions (two of them are truly lengthy ones - having the lengthiness of 25 minutes or more) straddle the border between guitar based noise and industrial music thereby reminding a little bit of an early Einstürzende Neubauten by the way. More profoundly, this recherche album is filled with repetitive and artsy guitar chords and developments, dirty riff-based overdrives, crawling effects, and improvised brown-hued noises oozing out of the slots in between those tremendous sonic examples mentioned above.
5/25/2013
[Teaser of the day] The Wind Whistles - Where Does The Garbage Go?
- Alternative rock
- Indie rock
- Indie folk
- Canadiana
- Folk indie
Ukulele Clan Band - About a Chamaka (2011)
9.4
/Folk punk, Alt-folk, Ethnic punk, Mood music/
Comment: the debut issue of the Spain-based collective Ukulele Clan Band sounds like a party at the epicentre of a carnival. More profoundly, the result is intense and emotionally upsetting full of exuberant feels, delicate humour and key changes. The songs are performed with tremendous passion and power. Inspite of a huge load of dashes and dodges this 6-track issue is devoid of magniloquent postures and hollow gestures. However, the second half of the EP lays bare the more arty side of the group. The follow-up to this EP is The Sun. Great by any means.
Loren Connors and Bill Orcutt - Natch 8 Collaboration (2012)
9.0
/Improvised music, Experimentalism, Avant-garde, Live session, American Primitivism/
Comment: this set of 4 compositions is a fabulous blend of artsy guitar chord progressions embellished with some alarming sounds coming out from the street, and formidable, glowering undercurrents and shimmering sonic explosions now and then. Both the musicians are in legend status one of them being a modern follower of the so-called American Primitivism, and the other one is being known as a solo artist, and member of the noise rock outfit Harry Pussy.
Anastasia Vronski - Colors & Shapes (2013)
9.4
/Abstract, Minimal, Experimental electronica, Avant-electronica, Noise, Microtonal/
Comment: Anastasia Vronski is a sonic experimentator from Perm, Russia whose 12-minute composition is composed of bleak sine waves, and incisive white noise impulses and indecipherable blips to depict the idea of colors and shapes. Despite (actually thanks to it!) its monochromatic nature the result is cerebral and stunning.
5/24/2013
[Teaser of the day] White Sparks - Sharp Edge Of Earth
- Synth pop
- Cosmic synth
- Electronic pop
- Kosmische Musik
Kurt Vile - Live at WFMU on Talk's Cheap 8/11/2008 (2008)
9.3
/Singer-songwriter, Indie folk, Folk indie, Americana, Dream folk, Live session/
Comment: Kurt Samuel Vile recently issued his solo fifth album called Wakin on a Pretty Daze on Matador. However, the particular live session was played and recorded while Vile only started off his solo project (before it he had been a member of War On Drugs). However, on this set of 5 tracks Vile takes on dreamy songwriting backed up by an guitar, and banjo now and then. Indeed, he proves vividly why he is considered one of the most charming songwriters today.In true, the session lacks of those whimsical keyboards-driven lining juxtaposed with guitars and his sprawling singing.
Halloween - S/T (2012)
9.2
/Garage rock, Rockabilly, Alternative rock, Surf rock, Psychedelic rock/
Comment: there are up 9 instrumental pieces just spreaded out over 15 minutes (there is just one track longer than two minutes). Indeed, it is a compelling blend of dirty, unpolished rockabilly dashes, breezy surf riffs wounded up in a Florida summer night. Despite its hirsute nature the whole is entertaining and even soothing. Nice listening. Indeed, there is no reason to afraid of this group. By the way, the basic riff in Ren Yao resembles Joy Division`s classic Love Will Tear Us Apart. The release is publicized on White Moon Recordings which reminds of another similar label, called Kill Mommy Records (hailing from Italy) where the genuine rock and roll touch is varied with more contemporary approaches.
5/23/2013
[Teaser of the day] Entertainment For The Braindead - Berlin
- Chamber folk
- Singer-songwriter
- Indie folk
- Baroque folk
- Free folk
- New Weird Germany
- Folk indie
[Teaser of the day] AyGeeTee - Kayak
- Glitch ambient
- Soundscapes
- Repetitronica
- Sampledelic
- Digital funk
- Avant-garde
- Experimentalism
- Alternative dance
Firetail - Learning to Cheat (2013)
9.5
/Guitar ambient, Ambient rock, Epic, Post-rock, Experimental rock/
Comment: Firetail is the one man project of Andrea Vascellari, who is being more known with regard to slowcore project Lullabier that has shared the stage with the likes of Rivulets, Low, Jessica Bailiff, and Boduf Songs. With Firetail he abandons a subdued, austere singer-songwriter concept, instead of it proceeding more extended sonic terrains and still life-induced progressions. Indeed, this 2-track issue is an outstanding one due to the organic bond of glacial-alike gloss, epic guitar overdrives and moody hiss washes and slow burning. The listener can feel himself/herself like standing alone on the shore at a remote distance of the civilization. Superb.
Chad Golda - Abroad (2011)
9.4
/Improvised music, Modern classical, Musique concrete, Post-psychedelic electronica, Free folk, Freak folk, Avant-folk, Weird folk, New Weird America/
Comment: Chad Golda was a part of free/indie folk collective starstarstar (previously known as ringostar, and ***) related to an excellent DIY label, Rack & Ruin Records (headed up by Dean Birkett). Actually the trio`s albums Electric Goose and The Nylon Moose, and Soul Tide were excellent exemplars. However, later on he started off to proceed his own solo career to depict formidable noises, quirky folk visions, and bent psychedelia. The instrumental album Abroad comprises a handful of pieces filled in with restrained piano chords which are accentuated with the sublime noises and glowering drones of an organ and lofty strums of a guitar and fingerpicked chords of a banjo in the background. Mostly Golda`s approach rotates around improvised folk compositions, though, the first half of the second track chimes like a modern classical opus at its core (which later will be stretched out to a section of psychedelic folk). In the third compositions there are up the sounds of a tiny bit metallic (as if prepared) strings wrapped up in the tight ambiance of hazy concrete sounds. All in all, the result is great and thought for those who prefer the open context for recording and listening to achieve the more natural feeling and perception. Superb by any means.
Ólafur Arnalds - Found Songs (2009)
9.0
/Post-classical, Modern classical, Chamber music, Minimal, Mood music, Alternative/
Comment: Ólafur Arnalds is a 26-year-old musical luminary from Iceland whose soundscape can be described as "post-classical". More concretely, these 7 tracks (the set will be ended up at 20.27) takes either on lonely but doleful piano chords or are accompanied by manipulated orchestrations and austere noises and creepy cadences at the backdrop. Emotionally Arnalds´ soundscape is suggestive and touching full of monochromatic feels and half-shades. The seeds and whiffs of wintry, nordic freshness are represented everywhere on this issue.
5/22/2013
Den Haag - Trials And Tributes EP (2012)
9.2
/Alternative rock, Post-punk, Gothic rock/
Comment: Den Haag is a British quartet who prefer to play post-punk and goth inspired alternative rock ditties. More concretely, their soundscape consists of the vocal lines which nature do coerce to drift between subdued (or a tiny bit tortured) and blossoming pitches - the same can be said about those hirsute guitars in the background. Anyway, their soundscape seem to be influenced by such revered artists as Joy Division, Bauhaus. The more you listen to it the more it works.
Ossie - Ossie Baba EP (2013)
9.5
/World music, Breaks, Ethnotronica, House, Afrofuturism, Alternative, Crossover, Acid house/
Comment: Ossie is Ossie Aneke (also being known from the group Black Orange Juice) whose 3 tracks are spreaded out over 11 minutes. More profoundly, it is a tight blend of skittering afro rhythms and (electro) house grooves, acidic synthesizers, soulful singing and autotuned vowel effects. Despite a huge array of sonic styles and elements the EP is knitted without any disturbing hacks and dents. In a word, Ossie proves that he is enough on the ball to be the artist under the umbrella of Hyperdub (listen to his previous publications on it).
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