The Sweets - Chow (2013)

Bleeding Gold

9.4

/Indie pop, Psychedelic, Glo-rock, Alternative rock/

Comment: it is a sequent, 53rd issue in the discography of Bleeding Gold. The Chow is the combo`s follow-up to their Montequilla under the same imprint just some months ago. If you are intended to categorize somehow Justin Hrabovsky and Zach Romeo`s sound it might be tagged as "renaissance indie/alternative pop", however, sounding like Real Estate, Romantic States, Arbor Glades, and Ducktails, or Slowdive`s sound at the time of recording The Elephant Soundtrack. Slightly psychedelic, slightly laid back as if having no gravity throughout the course. My own term for this sound is "glo-rock". More concretely, all these gently sounding guitar chords, elegantly susurrous noises in the background, absent-minded singing used to make really sense. All in all, you might fall in love with it.Ok?

Cyclic Bits - The Raymond Scott Variations (2010)

Chinstrap

9.5

/Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Experimental electronica, Avant-electronica, Exotica pop, Conceptual/

Comment: I guess Raymond Scott (1908-1994), a legendary visionaire, seminal composer/electronic music pioneer, and instrument builder would have been proud of this 16-track issue because the artists represented
there have poignantly revealed the attitude and nature of the legend. Stylistically the whole folds into a divergent array of styles - from off-beat, whimsical jazz-y grooves and lopsided swing to demented metal outbursts and exotica pop tinged explorations. And of course, there are up a lot of experimental electronica tracks mimicking the acid and beeping sounds of his synthesizers or the gliding motives of his compositions which later would have adapted to famous cartoons. There participate such artists as Tracky Birthday, Bebe Del Banco, 4,000,000 Telephones, Orionza, Listen With Sarah, David Fenech, Fireworks Ensemble, Ego Plum, Vernon Lenoir, DJPE, Satanicpornocultshop, Automated Acoustics, and Felix Kubin. The miscellany is issued on wondrous Chinstrap Music.

OK?NO!! – Party!!! (2013)

Sakakino

9.1

/J-pop, Alternative pop, Indie pop, Shibuya-kei/

Comment: what we could expect from the Japanese band on the Japanese label? Japanoise? Shibuya-kei? J-pop? Experimental electronica? All of that is possible. And the prejudices of Western people play also a considerable role. However, this 10 track issue involves the latter genres mentioned above - indeed, it is mostly driven by female vocal soothing, gentle guitar chord progressions. Although the music is eclectic the harmonies and beauty on it could save the world. So save it.

Billy Bragg - Live at Concert Hall on 1991-11-22 (1991)

Archive

9.0

/Alternative rock, Live recording/

Comment: Billy Bragg is a well-known protest singer from the United Kingdom whose 20-track live session in Toronto 21 years ago embraces catchy songs with conversations in the meantime (including his assertions against racism, Ku Klux Klan, (neo)fascists, a joke about the queen, about the re-union of Germany, free education). In a word, this gig can be considered both a historical document and enjoyable songs.

Control Light - Ghostly Experience (2013)

Ultra Vague

9.4

/Hip-hop, Breakcore, Downtempo, Drum and bass, Alternative, Drill and bass, Leftfield, Remixes/

Comment: undoubtedly it is an interesting, complex recording on the strength of involving lots of elements and sonic manipulations. More concretely, the listener can perceive very welcome tension between acoustic and synthetic explorations, on the other side, there are represented an array of rhythm patterns which can just be tagged as "breakcore" - veering from intense drum and bass and drill and bass mazes to more laid back downtempo and soothing hip-hop cadences. Those less or more ghost-infused propulsions add a remarkable amount of charm to this 8-track album. The whole will be finished off with a pair of remixes. The issue is released on an Ukrainian record label, Ultra Vague Recordings. Spellbinding and blissed-out.

[Teaser of the day] Krestovsky - Third Song

Free Music Archive

• Indie folk
• Singer-songwriter
• Folk indie
• Americana

[Teaser of the day] Alexei Biryukoff - Chase#003

Black Square/Archive

• Field recording
• Musique concrète
• Experimentalism
• Acousmatics
• Avant-garde

[Teaser of the day] Menion - Night in Berlin

La bél/Free Music Archive

• Deep techno
• Electro pop
• Crossover
• Electronic pop
• Electro-indie

[Teaser of the day] TkY - Go Back Once

• Electro pop
• Alternative dance
• Breaks
• Acid

[Teaser of the day] Oh No Nuno! - These Modern Ages

Lastfm

• Electronic pop
• Indietronica
• Poptronica
• Art pop
• Drone pop

[Teaser of the day] The Pearly Gatecrashers - Stop The World

Lastfm

• Indie pop
• Alternative pop
• Baroque pop
• Chamber pop

Panthan - Five Pointed Swords (2012)

Silber

9.5

/Drone rock, Drone doom, Ambient, Avant-rock, Avant-metal, Experimental rock, Experimental metal, Epic, Post-rock, Post-metal/

Comment: Panthan (the project of Brian John Mitchell & Nicholas Slaton) sets about its business with massive, hypnotizing drone doom rock/metal carcasses, ghostly bass frequencies emitting slowly but incessantly from the bottom with bleak but incisive synth glimpses which in turn carve the walls of the soundscape. Furthermore, those guitar washes and riffs being set up somewhere in the middle of the sound and those spastic, hellish grooves and maelstroms deliver for the 8-track album unforgettable feel and inject enough vigor and innovation, respectively. In a word, it can be considered a sonic juggernaut full of booming main layers and more or less hidden subsidiary sonic ones.

Bark Bark Disco - Get Out Of My Songs EP (2013)

Bandcamp

Lastfm

9.2

/Alternative pop, Indie rock, Jangle pop/

Comment: arrgghh, this 4-track EP sounds like a breezy, summertime soundtrack for the following months. Chiming guitar chords and epic ascensions-overdrives, easy synthesizer played whiffs and spellbinding or longing unison between Alison Galea and Katryna Storace and the frontman`s Morris Woodcock`s vocals consitute these short-running but highly catchy pop ditties. Anyway, No Reason To Keep Hate In Your Heart should be in the playlist of any self-respecting radio station at the moment.

Bruno & the Susio Soul Squad - The Blue Shadow (2013)

 

Jamendo

 

9.3

/Funk, Lounge pop, Jazz, Mood music, Club dance, Soul, Alternative pop, Soft rock/

Comment: these 9 tracks spread out over 31 minutes reveal the Italian collective`s appeal toward soul and funk music at times embedded in the frames of jazz music. Actually the group`s previous albums used to take on the same stylistic contours, however, the recent one is my indisputable favorite on the strength of exploiting captivating female voices and cocktail induced laidback soundscapes bordering on smooth alternative pop/soft rock progressions and even more synthetic, DJ technique based undertakings and electronic effects- the most important is the collective do convey neither bad taste staggering nor campy entanglements. Indeed, it a truly fine half-hour listening time reminding of witty aesthetics of the 70s and 80s and even in some weird way easiness of the soundtracks arranged by famous film score composer Bruno Nicolai. By the way, the ditties are sung in English and (and a little bit in Italian and French).

This Co. - More (2013)

 

Clinical Archives

This Co.

 

9.1

/Synth rock, Space rock, Post-punk, Electro-rock, Dance rock, Indie dance, Alternative rock/

Comment: indeed, the title of this Santiago, Chile-based quartet brings impressively forth the nature of their music though a little bit bent but exact way. It comprises the elements of slamming post-punk drums and bold bass chords, exuberantly evolving electro/synth rock dashes and even epically booming feedback noise walls (Shout! is the best issue over there). In true, dance-appealed vibes are there everywhere. All in all, their music is minx and saucy yet convincing. By the way, they are considered to be a fascinating live group. And by listening to their sophomore album you can get hint at  it. There can be drawn parallels upon the likes of Zodiac, Motorama, Tallinn Daggers, The Cure, Joy Division.

Fluorescent Heights – Highway Death (2011)

Zeon Light

9.2

  

/Drone pop, Post-Psychedelic electronica, Avant-garde, Minimal/

Comment: the slogan of Zeon Light, a Sweden-based digital/cassette label assumes "pretentious music for pretentious people". However, by listening to this 4-track album by Henrik Stelzer for the first time while driving with the bus in the tight mist in the early morning I was not able to understand it. It seemed so boring, so bleak and sparse just relying on one pulsating, dusty synth/organ layer. However, later the impression would be improving step by step on the strength of
discovering hypnagogic, heavily dream-filled looming coming out of it. Less is more - I do not hesitate to repeat it again and again. At the moment I think it is a great issue and I will rate it with a 92 %.

Droning Earth Vol.58 (2013)

Droning Earth

Droning Earth

9.3

/Ambient, Folktronica, Experimental electronica, Microtonal, Acousmatics, Drone, Musique concrète, Kosmische Musik, Crossover, Experimentalism, Avant-folk, Post-rock/

Comment: Droning Earth is the blog (the Wordpress based one) of the Finnish musician Vesa Lähde. The site is mostly dedicated to metal music with cutting edge attitude, though, there are up some stylistic deviations either. However, this compilation involves 10 tracks within an hour basically rotating around ambient and drone axis which in turn involve an array of other influences and poignant infiltration - veering away folk/tronic developments, arpeggio-loaded post/ambient-rock-ish looming,  microtonal and noise esque undercurrents, spaced-out, field recording induced lushness, and a bit psychedelic, spaced-out Kosmische Musik flavor. By artist side, there are represented the likes of Echoes Of Yul, I`ve Lost, Enboe, Whirr & Nasha, Zeotrope, Daniel Barbiero & Chris Videll, Huey Walker & Bassbees, Derridium, Houdini, and Red Clouds. Emotionally the miscellany is caressing and thought-provoking simultaneously. In a word, the meloman should not give a damn to it. As I did. The listener has very much to discover behind these compilations.

Control Light - Protest

[Teaser of the day] We`re All To Blame - Light

Haze

• Alternative
• Leftfield
• Experimental indie
• Post-punk
• Indietronica 
• Avant-pop
• Post-rock

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

• Chillwave
• Alternative
• Art pop
• Dreamwave
• Electronic pop
• Poptronica
• Leftfield
• Indie dance

[Teaser of the day] Kairon; IRSE! - Soroche

Lastfm

• Post-rock
• Chamber rock
• Post-metal
• Crossover
• Epic

Various Artists – Poulp Up Brazil! (2013)

 

Fresh Poulp

 

8.8

/Dub, Reggae, Riddim, Ragamuffin/

Comment: this compilation reveals the idea of Afrofuturism at times - just worldly hinting at it. On the other hand, the miscellany is issued on a cult label, Fresh Poulp. Otherwise, the compilation of 10 tracks and artists is rigidly about dub/reggae music originating in Brazil. Indeed, these compositions are heavily dubbed especially regarding bold rhythmic patterns and rough bass chords wrapped up in extensive echo and reverb effects. At times there are a little bit deviated moments with regard to electro immersed stances. There are represented such artist as Dub Movement, Buguinha Dub, Adwa Dubs, Dub Majestic, D-Solution, Zambi U-Dub, Ecoaliaze, Dubalizer Feat. Edu marron, Bass Boss, and Fresh Poulp Souk System feat. Aliena??o Afrofuturista. To summarize, the outlet is decent and worth to be listened for many times in a row. And not thought for today only, though.

[distopia] - First Sequence

Archive

Lastfm
 

9.5

/Dark ambient, Post-industrial, Neoclassical, Dystopbient, Darkwave, Avant-garde, Funeral doom, Experimentalism, Psycho-acoustic/

Comment: it is said at Lastfm that [distopia] was formed in 2005, in Athens, Greece. Inspired by the urban culture, combining both social and occult themes, creating a sound that could be described as dark ambient, industrial , power electronics, noise and last but not least as cinematic. The particular issue involves many of these styles, though, baleful dirge-induced misanthropic appearances and loose but compelling EBM-alike rhythmic scatters were not included in the abovementioned listing. However, these 10 pieces do constitute a forgotten gem altogether with regard to wretched, miserable outlooks reserved for the human kind to the future. In a word, one shall have to reflect inside herself/himself to figure out possibilities for changes. Otherwise, you will have no chance. NB! Having no idea when exactly First Sequence was firstly publicized. 

A Duck Named Ping - A Dirty Queen and the Coming Clean (2010)

 

 

White Moon

Bandcamp

Lastfm

 

9.3

/Singer-songwriter, Alternative pop, Baroque pop, Art pop, Indie pop/

Comment: it is not surprising at all that the United States is the best seedbed for songwriters and other musical projects worldwide. Why? Because the recent generation over there have acquired a formidable amount of traditions and roots by their ancestors of divergent heritage, however, excluded in other parts on Earth. Undoubtedly a guy behind this one-man-project is very talented and does have good taste to create poignant, spellbinding ditties. More profoundly, he sighs, varies his suggestive voice and singing manner backed up by airy piano chords, and sublime melodic hovers. In a nutshell, the more you listen to it the better it gets.

Balkansky - A Storm

[Teaser of the day] Greg Baumont - Le nettoyeur

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

• Electronic pop
• Chilltronica
• Downtempo
• Mood music
• Art pop

[Teaser of the day] the.princess.and.the.pearl - Paperscraps

Lastfm

• Post-rock
• Epic
• Baroque pop
• Chamber rock

[Teaser of the day] Codex - Phase Seven - Senior

• EBM
• Synth rock
• Electro-rock
• Industrial rock
• Kosmische Musik
• Crossover

Mank - Gutta Percha (2013)

Mankymusic

9.6

/Experimental electronica, Musique concrète, Chilltronica, Abstract, Mood music, Downtempo, Ambient techno/

Comment: Mank is an one-man outfit by Ben Powell who has been issuing a string of albums over the years. Curiously, as an experienced producer of having been active since the back end of the 90s he has recorded some of his albums whilst biding time after a work day on the boards of specific ships (the icebreakers, expedition ships). Furthermore, there could be assumed Powell is fascinated of borealic terrains and arctic beauty. In any cases, his recent 11-track issue is an arresting amalgamation of mesmeric, glacial-alike glimpses and snowy flickers, towering hypnagogic synth whiffs, and trance-y bubbling being interlaced or being a part of slightly evolving, simmering propulsions. Indeed, the listener can imagine her/himself to be sitting in the midst of a cold landscape or at the top of an iceberg wrapped up in a very warm blanket. Despite the rhythms the progressions conjure up the kind of still life. On the whole, the issue is both emotively and formally executed wherein abstract, cerebral appearances are mixed up with moody motes and seeds, however, thereby drawing in the listener without reservation.

Mh.t031 - theirhands.thanx#1 (2013)

Myhand.Thanx

9.8

/Psych-rock, Avant-garde, Art punk, Experimentalism, Dream folk, Noise, Sound art, No Wave, Experimental electronica, Abstract, Acousmatics/

Comment: this clump of 7 tracks is a formidable yet entertaining insight into the profound world of Myhand.Thanx Records. There are represented such artists as mutantbeatniks, Jeremy Gluck and Dave Fuglewizc, Zoomonk, Hangin Freud, ThOmas.W, Giles Morris, and Jacques de Villiers. Stylistically the whole extends from contained, concrete sound infiltrated ambient progressions and dreamy, otherworldly folk appearances to more highfaluting psych-rock and avant-punk/No Wave tinged noises, malignant but somewhat subdued dark ambient contemplations and acute but poignant electronic experiments charting and embedding frantic turns and wraparounds, exalting frequency based bombings, and a huge array of sonic manipulations into the mix. In a nutshell, it is a tremendous but way too short-running miscellany. It is mandatory for everyone who used to think she/he is keen to experimental music.

I Am Esper - The Arc Of A Tree, And The Shape Of A Cloud (2012)

Abandonment

9.5

/Trance rock, Guitar ambient, Space rock, Psychedelia, Shoegaze, Avant-rock, Post-rock, Experimental rock, Epic, Space rock, Ambient rock/

Comment: this epic 3-track album comes out of New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA arranged by a prolific musician, Justin Palmieri aka I Am Esper. Indeed, Palmieri`s oeuvre is highly epic following the best traditions of guitar-based ambient and spaced-out post-rock musing (a la Labradford, Pan American, The Doldrums, Glenn Branca, Flying Saucer Attack, Bowery Electric etc). Rest assured, Palmieri is a discernible composer who prefers to fast dye the tracks and layer them with different shades and poignant nuances and demonstrating no hesitation regarding stylistic "blunges" (however, the practice to incorporate the elements of shoegaze, and ambient washes into the core is one of the basic norms within the realm of nowadays experimental rock). By the way, with regard to those charmingly scratching guitar noises the loop-heavy Song Of The Clouds is a fabulous example of how to outline the concept of "longing". Great.

G-DO & Xception - Carpe Diem

[Teaser of the day] Zawa - Childplay

• Bitpop
• Chiptune
• Hard rock
• Crossover
• Nintendocore
• Progressive rock
• 8bit
• Tracker music
• Electronic pop

[Teaser of the day] The Soundrops - Pastures Green

Lastfm

• Alt-folk
• Indie folk
• Psychedelic folk
• Folk indie

[Teaser of the day] Ok?No!! - Forget

• J-pop
• Alternative pop
• Shibuya-kei
• Indie pop

Various Artists - It's The End Of The World... (2012)

Coolcovercomps

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)

Bandcamp

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)

EFTB

Bandcamp

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.

The Gateless Gate - Light

[Teaser of the day] This Co. - Shout!

Clinical Archives/Archive

• Post-punk
• Dance punk
• Leftfield
• Art punk
• Alternative dance
• No Wave
• Punk funk

[Teaser of the day] Pete Lund - A Place Holder

Free Music Archive

• Indie folk
• Alt-folk
• Folk indie
• Singer-songwriter

[Teaser of the day] Armastus - ∩∀AU

• Avant-garde
• Psychedelia
• Kosmische Musik
• Experimentalism
• Krautrock
• Conceptual
• Spoken word
• Sound poetry

The Hathaway Family Plot – Worry (2013)

WM Recordings

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)

Eardrums Pop

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)

Narrominded

Lastfm

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.

The State Lottery - Little Song

[Teaser of the day] Taras Bul'ba - Hari

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

• Experimental rock
• Avant-rock
• Power pop
• Art rock
• Psych-rock

[Teaser of the day] Meadows - My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean

• Child music
• Cover
• Alternative pop

[Teaser of the day] Helado Negro - Paz a Ti

• Alternative pop
• Singer-songwriter
• Baroque pop
• Chamber pop
• Americana

Tzii – Fascinum (2008)

Abyssa

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)

Bedroom Research

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)

Pan y Rosas

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.

[Teaser of the day] Sinus Force - Schmerz 2011

Wavelike/Archive

• Electro-house
• Alternative dance
• Electronic pop

[Teaser of the day] Children Of The Drone - Claw.Drift.Brood

Archive

• Live session
• Improvised music
• Psych-folk
• Dream folk
• Free folk
• Experimental folk
• New Weird England

[Teaser of the day] Ongaku2 - La leggenda di Woby e il cerchio

La bèl/Archive

• Chamber music
• Improvised music
• Neoclassical
• Avant-garde
• Experimentalism

[Teaser of the day] So I`m An Islander - Winter Horizon

• Modern classical
• Alternative 
• Mood music
• Chamber music

[Teaser of the day] Einar Stray - Chiaroscuro

Lastfm

• Experimental indie
• Alternative pop
• Baroque pop
• Chamber pop
• Art pop
• Epic
• Americana

[Teaser of the day] Sufjan Stevens - Year of the Boar

Lastfm

• Alternative
• Experimental indie
• Electronic pop
• Art pop

SSiCk - Shift EP (2013)

Zorch Factory

Soundcloud

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)

HearYa

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)

Picpack

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)

Section 27

Free Music Archive

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)

Bandcamp

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)

Hesperus/Species Productions

Soundcloud

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.

The Sugarettes - Destroyers Of Worlds

[Teaser of the day] Cambriana - Slow Moves

• Alternative pop
• Indie rock

[Teaser of the day] Rocket Tree - Standing In Time

Lastfm

• Kosmische Musik
• Ambient
• Soundscapes
• Abstract
• Microtonal
• Ambient drone

[Teaser of the day] Dvig - Moj Dilbere

Lastfm

• World Music
• Ethnic music
• Folk music
• Balkan music

Jarguna & Uzbazur345 - Oscure Presenze (2013)

Buddhist on Fire

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)

No-Source

Lastfm

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.        

Selebrities - Everywhere (feat. Erika Spring & Lissy Trullie) (2013)

Cascine/Soundcloud

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.

Everything Is Made In China - Buy 4 Take One Free

[Teaser of the day] The Kyoto Connection - Voyage III - The Space Between Us

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

• Chill out
• Mood music
• New Age
• Electronica

[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)

Monofònicos

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)

Soundcloud

Lastfm

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)

Bandcamp

Lastfm

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.

Wreck & Reference - Absurdities & Echoes

[Teaser of the day] Klient - Avakosmos

• Drum and bass
• Alternative
• Chill out
• Kosmische Musik

[Teaser of the day] Dead Canaries - Nothing

• Alt-folk
• Indie folk
• Psych-folk
• Folk indie
• Singer-songwriter

[Teaser of the day] Bakis - Bitter Almonds

Lastfm

• Alternative
• Electronic pop
• Chilltronica
• IDM
• Mood music

Mangust - No Room For Error (2013)

Synth Me

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)

Jamendo

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)

Dtrash

Bandcamp

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.

Garnets - Misty's Ocean

Garnets - Misty's Ocean from The Blind Club on Vimeo.

[Teaser of the day] The Gateless Gate - Eihei​-​ji

• Ambient
• Ethereal music
• Conceptual
• Minimal
• World Music

[Teaser of the day] The Dog Above - Horses

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

• Electronic pop
• Electro pop
• Alternative
• Acid
• Robot pop

[Teaser of the day] The Procedure Club - Your Fat Body

Free Music Archive

• Fuzz pop
• Alternative pop
• Indie pop
• Glo-rock
• Dream pop

201 Soundsystem - Broken Days EP (2013)

Melodica

Soundcloud

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)

Wood & Wine

Free Music Archive

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.