Dimaension X – Plagues of Aegyptus (2015)

Archive.org

• Doom metal
• Post-metal
• Dark ambient
• Hard rock
• Electronic
• Crossover

Comment: throughout this morning I have cogitated pessimistic thoughts about crippled human nature while listening to this 61-minute issue. Indeed, I have had a vulgar telephone conversation with one human being full of shit, obsessive anger and waste of time. The only redemption I have got it is through this ominously trudging guitar walls, heavily ponding drums and threatening vocal lines and orchestrated synth panoramas above. Indeed, it is a sort of outing where aesthetical calculations are preferred to annihilate the existence of flea-bitten mainstream crap while one is listening to it. Because of that the artist`s purpose is to provide frank emotions to the listener. I hope that the era of the so-called grand music artists will be over soon and thereby providing no quasi-philosophy to their audience by speaking out from an authority position. Why should we need to get messages from very bare caricatures? Instead of it please listen to this 10-track composition and do not give a damn to the world. 

[Teaser of the day] Pureape - I Need The Sun

Alpinechic

• Electro pop
• Electro-indie
• Alternative dance
• Alternative pop
• Dance rock
• Psychedelic pop
• Acid pop

Artist: Pureape

Release: Speed Up

Label: Alpinechic

Year: 2004

Goto80 and the Uwe Schenk Band – The Ferret Show (2012)

UpitUp

Free Music Archive

• Chiptune
• Conceptual
• Yacht pop
• Electronica
• Cool jazz
• Avant-pop
• Nu jazz
• Mood music
• Regatta pop
• Leftfield pop
• Live session
• Crossover

Comment: Goto80 is the Swede Anders Carlsson who is a prominent musician in the chiptune/demoscene/track music/nintendocore compartments who started making music in his early years already (in 1992). On the other side, I have got no information about Uwe Schenk Band but being related to the recent issue only. I have some doubts that the aforementioned band is Carlsson`s phantom, imaginative combo to deviate from his usual musical doings and stylistic preferences (those tracker music elements are either more hidden or just absent or just developed into next, post-chiptune electronic music). In fact, it was just the imagination of mine although in reality Goto80`s music was re-arranged by four musicians in live thereby providing an innovative concept for orchestrated music and chiptune breaks to get together. Indeed, one could listen to a moody mishmash of cool jazz progressions, effortlessly sailing regatta pop and yacht rock motives. However, in the final track Volksing Ferretismico the listener could enjoy odds and ends of chiptune shards getting some impulses into the exuberant, carnival-alike crescendos and eargasmic climaxes. On the whole, the result is an astonishing whole of demonstrating Anders Carlsson`s versatility and craftiness to create something quite different from his usual practice decently. The issue is a part of UpitUp Records which allows one to enter into a rich source of many great albums.

[Teaser of the day] FLVKE - Have Doubted You

• Deep house
• Club dance
• Mood music
• Progressive house

Artist: FLVKE

Release: Along With You

Label: Geometry Recordings

Year: 2015

Mr Zu - Lunar Trip EP (2010)

Load And Clear

• Progressive trance
• Deep techno
• Remix
• Dub techno
• Trance dub

Comment: the opening track Floating Away does reveal the artist`s intention to search for balance of drifting between soothing dub vibes and trance music inflected synthesised frequencies. The same tendency will continue at Into The Darkness. However, Expedition is a composition of different sort which used to trudge through deeply designed vapour and hypnotic techno rhythms pushing the whole forward in an effortless way. Slownoise`s remix of the track adds more dub stylized echoes and delays to the mix and a more hyper-realist and clear-cut horizon surfaces to the ground. In a nutshell, the title justifies the album`s content. Indeed, it is an astonishing listening session. The issue is a part of the discography of Loud And Clear.    

[Teaser of the day] FrankJavCee - Future Funk Made Today

• Breaks
• Funk
• Seapunk
• Mood music
• Vaporwave
• Leftfield pop

Artist: FrankJavCee

Release: FrankJavCee Vol. 1.777

Label: Bandcamp/self-released

Year: 2015

rin la – Normality Brings Out The Normality In Me (2014)

Bandcamp

• Hip-hop
• Witch house
• Rap
• Dark ambient
• Experimentalism
• Avant-hop
• Leftfield
• Micronoise
• Drag house
• Urban music

Comment: rin la is an Estonian classically educated musician (if I could remember for clearly then he studied the guitar as an instrument) who is dwelling In Vienna, Austria at the moment. By the way, he is not only in the family of him who is related to the music. For instance, her sister Alina Ostrova is well-known in many indie music circles as a member of Hype Williams under the pseudonym of Inga Copeland. In 2014 he had been especially active by issuing three outings in all. NBOTNIM was the last one then, however, reflecting properly upon profound investigation and development of hip-hop/rap music by him. Indeed, one could hear noise fuelled and ominous ambient horizons and hovering dub swaths above his silent, stuttering chanting which might remember of Tricky`s approach to recite verses. For sure, it is innovative because of craftily incorporating exquisite witch house and drag house shards and threatening vibes into the body. Musically it is a distinctive and idiosyncratic hip-hop example which has much more to say than an average gangsta rap instance. Moreover, rin la certainly chimes better than most hip-hop acts worldwide. By similar artists with similar venturous approach from Estonia I recommend to listen to Simon Ace`s Oberon (2013, Bandcamp). 

[Teaser of the day] Life Like Thunderstorms - Deeply Lucid

suRRISm-Phonoethics 

• Post-classical
• Avant-garde
• Improvised music
• Downbeat
• Experimentalism
• Chamber music

Artist: Life Like Thunderstorms

Release: Awkward Balance

Label: suRRism-Phonoethics

Year: 2015

Schaua – Get Happy (2013)

Laridae

Bandcamp

• Indietronica
• Electro pop
• Chiptune
• Post-punk
• Neokrautrock
• Alternative dance
• Electro-indie
• Synth-rock
• 8-bit
• Acid pop

Comment: one thing I could not understand in 2015 was the hype of Tame Impala`s Currents. I can approve Kevin Parker is a pre-eminent musician of a new generation but his brand new one was thoroughly bothersome except the first side (A-side) of the vinyl release which consisted of truly awesome songs. However, since the B-side on Kevin Parker`s vocal was immersed in sugary vocal harmonies and musically it did not make sense at all. It was like keeping run on one and the same pace with repeated, predictable turns and therefore finally burning out all the oxygen in the listener`s brain. In fact, I tried to re-position myself as a listener but eventually I could not listen to it even as an adjusted case of muzak anymore. Indeed, I have listened to it for four times so far and apparently trying to listen to it a couple of times yet. If it will not work on me in the future either I really hope to get 30 euros back from Interscope/Fiction/Universal Records. Schaua`s Get Happy though it had not been issued in 2015 sounds stylistically similarly yet musically it a much better case. It starts off with a light-hearted synth pop notch with some (pop) house music influences (effects coming through filters). Later on, this one-man-project reflects more upon acid/pop and indie electronic tendencies being sprinkled with (neo)krautrock legacy (for instance, KC, Guest). Because of that the artist can be put into one compartment with such neokrautrock legends as Pluramon, Mina, To Rococo Rot, Kreidler, Mouse On Mars, Tarwater, Notwist, and Lali Puna. At Guest the listener can perceive subtle chiptune/tracker music/8-bit music progressions with regard to the harmonic side. At Alright Now one could discern Mark E Smith and The Fall`s influences with regard to chesty repeating of the title and pulsating drums and a galvanized bass thread, respectively. All in all, it is emotionally and aesthetically boggling.

[Teaser of the day] Alejandro Remeseiro - 5

Nostress

• Organic electronica
• Ambient
• Conceptual
• Experimentalism
• Soundscape
• Avant-garde
• Dark ambient
• Musique concrète

Artist: Alejandro Remeseiro

Release: Storm

Label: Nostress

Year: 2014

Unthunk – Big Boots (2013)

Free Music Archive

• Alternative rock
• Indie rock
• Experimental rock

Comment: there is not much to write about this issue because of providing a couple of short-running pieces only (Big Boots, Spiny Urchin). The single side (Big Boots) is a simplistic one having spot on the repeating phrase “big boots” and bold bass driven beats and some sonic effects coming through and around the structure. Spiny Urchin is a remarkably more flowing one without vocal interventions and bubbly dance rhythms conjured up by the baritone guitar. It could be said despite its austere nature and minimal changes in chords the issue begins to grow after many listening times while the listener is able to discover nuances within the sound. The title track is like an exercise of minimal music for “natural” instruments.

[Teaser of the day] Mauro Donati - Frenk Stokwud

Ephedrina

• Electronica
• Mood music
• Synthwave

Artist: Mauro Donati

Release: Response EP

Label: Ephedrina 

Year: 2015

[Teaser of the day] Sloppy Seconds - Broken-Faced/Blue-Eyed

• Indie pop
• Twee pop
• Alternative pop

Artist: Sloppy Seconds

Release: EP

Label: Bandcamp/Self-released

Year: 2015

Outbred - Morda (2015)

Bandcamp

• Mathcore
• Screamo
• Trash metal

Comment: Outbred is an angry Polish mathcore/trash metal combo whose 3-piece issue Morda is saturated with math-tempered rhythms and painful chanting and screaming. As much as I know Russian and given that Polish is also one of the Slavic languages “Morda” does supposedly mean “face” being expressed in an impolite way. Given that it conveys emotions we are experiencing by meeting inferior, arrogant human beings who used to think of themselves very positively and frequently humiliating other ones to scrape their own self-esteem and create useless imago around them. Frequently these creatures are such sort of who if they will die tomorrow for instance have nothing but leaving behind bare shitty odour and lease-purchase for a motor car. Indeed, like the Morrissey once sung while being the singer in the Smiths at Heaven Knows I`m Miserable Now. In my life/Why do I smile/At people who I'd much rather kick in the eye. Outbred`s music is also outstanding to support these lines.  

Makoto Tanaka - The fluttering we Original Soundtrack (2015)

Totokoko

• Chamber music
• Folktronica
• Modern classical
• Post-pop
• Conceptual
• Soundtrack

Comment: as the title hints at the Japanese musician Makoto Tanaka`s 6-track issue is a soundtrack for Yu Katsumata`s documentary film called The Fluttering We which is about rehearsal to public performance. The issue is a short-running glimpse through majestic chord progressions sprinkled with soothing piano chords, some electronic undercurrents, and beautiful orchestrations which used to emerge behind the horizon and brush over the soundscape.

[Teaser of the day] Robert Farrugia - Ambient Sketc#3

Petroglyph

• Soundscape
• Ambient
• Modern classical
• Crossover

Artist: Robert Farrugia

Release: Mist EP

Label: Petroglyph

Year: 2016

UNDÆ! 2012

Thrmnphone

• Noise
• Experimentalism
• Drone
• Microtonal
• Abstract
• Organic electronica
• Experimental electronica
• Avant-garde
• Electro-acoustic
• Psycho-acoustic

Comment: it is a grandeur miscellany of 14 pieces with a total amount of 107 minutes. The concept´s choice is to explore electronic and acoustic elements in one joint thread. Of course, frequently it goes beyond the aforementioned borders (for instance, providing spot more on drone, ambient and even rhythmic noise music) and this kind of exaggeration is fairly welcome. On the other side, the genre of electro-acoustic music is huge enough to wind quite differently from one brim to another. Some audible examples are abstract and restrained insights, some used to swell and go across exuberant pathways. At times the artists represented over there exploit concrete music samples to convey a more human-close touch to their compositions. There are up such artists as Thom Blum, Donika Rudi, Nicola Monopoli, Josè Luis Maire, Frank Ekeberg, Clèment Parmentier, [zygote], Gordon Delap, Gintas K., Lidia Zielinska, Nichola Scrutton, Christian Banasik, and Vanessa Sorce-Lèvesque. The compilation is a part of Thrmnphone. 

[Teaser of the day] Randy Spike - Singular Grape Waves

• Improvised noise
• Avant-garde
• Space rock
• Minimalism
• No Wave
• Psych-rock
• Experimentalism
• Noise rock
• Leftfield

Artist: Randy Spike

Release: Trans Sister Radio

Label: Bandcamp/Self-released

Year: 2016

MonoCulture – Lawn World EP (2005)

Surfaces

• Glitchtronica
• Indietronica
• Crossover
• Modern classical 
• Organic electronica
• Lo-fi
• Experimental electronica
• Folktronica
• Musique concrète

Comment: MonoCulture provides an issue of describing quite expressively audible Zeitgeist regarding modern music in the first half/mid of 00s. The listener can perceive an exquisite amalgamation of modern/post-classical, folk, lo-fi, concrete music and glitched-out and experimental electronic snippets. By perceptive side it chimes in a lurking way throughout the course and because of it this makes difference of utmost extent. On the other side, because of having a common part with many genres yet being neither one nor another style while making difference regarding the idiosyncratic side of the release. Even its temporary naivety is likeably appealing. In a nutshell, the result is impressive in its picturesque shifts within the different compartments. 

[Teaser of the day] Boats - Henny Guts

• Hip-hop
• Wonky
• Grime
• Experimental hip-hop
• Aquacrunk
• Street bass

Artist: Boats

Release: Squiggle

Label: Saturate!

Year: 2015

The Womb – Joni`s Weird Chords (2015)

The Womb/Danielle

• Singer-songwriter
• Indie
• Electronic pop
• Alternative pop
• Soul pop
• Funk
• Post-britpop

Comment: The Womb is Alan Driscoll, the singer-songwriter of English heritage who is living in Melbourne, Australia recently. He has issued a raft of albums and compilations (more than 20 issues in all) under his own imprint Danielle Records (some of the them have been issued in liaison with the Swedish imprint 23 Seconds) since 1998. At Joni`s Weird Chords lyrical side he is speaking about women/mistresses/sex partners, alcohol, drugs thereby depicting the vicious life course of one person. Musically as usual he likes to sing in a slightly oppressed, half-singing, half-chanting way which at times is backed up by soulful female voices (Cameron Pikò, Regina Eylward-Pikò, and Claire Jeddou) and sublime funk rhythms, austere yet convincing indie touch and suggestive soul pop arrangements. The cover print is highly appealing due to an erotically depicted female person and fish stocking and leather gloves and on the contrary conveying hidden persona through a campy element of disguise. If have never heard The Womb`s music and searching for some comparison points and have previously experienced some amiableness against Jarvis Cocker (Pulp), and Nick Currie (Momus) then you should give it a try. On the whole, although it might not be the best issue by Alan Driscoll, it provides a corroborant listening experience to your soul and mind. It is one of the albums in the list of pre-eminent issues out of 2015.

[Teaser of the day] Ruben Atmos - Acid Room 3

MNMN

• Experimental techno
• Acid techno
• Dub techno
• Tech-electro

Artist: Ruben Atmos

Release: Acid Room

Label: MNMN

Year: 2015

Okinawa Lifestyle – Underwater (2011)

Okinawa Lifestyle

Bandcamp

• Chillwave
• Electro-indie
• Alternative dance
• Shoegazetronica
• Alternative pop
• Indie pop
• Glo-fi
• Indie dance
• Synth funk
• Mood music
• Chilltronica

Comment: I could remember for that I was quite surprised many years ago by the fact of Okinawa Lifestyle coming out of Tbilisi, Georgia which was then for not being an ordinary place for emerging modern pop/indie bands and got recognized worldwide. Although the duo of was not the first echelon of the so-called chillwave movement they got enough positive feedback being played at lastfm by many listeners weekly. Indeed, the movement was established on the elements of indie/dream pop, house, funk, and alternative dance music though music groups which used to blossom with the compartment used to differ on the nexus of being either more dance-appealed or immersed in to conjure up hazy, thoroughly picturesque sonorous landscapes (for instance, Memoryhouse). I have heard even such a theory that it was grown out of the elements of mainstream music to encapsulate for further development and then arrive at the mainstream level again. It might be true by the latter point ( I can`t agree with the mainstream reference) if to consider that such bands as Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian, Washed Out, Memoryhouse, Youth Lagoon, Ducktails, Tycho, Teen Daze gathered popularity and even contracts by well-known indie labels. Of course, the starting point was boosted by the activists within blogspots and wordpress and there were at least a couple of great imprints for to push newborn groups forward (Arcade Sounds, and Beko DSL). However, the duo of David Datunashvili Gigi Jikia has released a bunch of issues during the two years of which Underwater is their last output. Similarly to their previous issues their sound used to straddle either on body-provoking funk, eelctro and house touched frequencies or searching for more spacey corners to set down. Emotionally it is movable and aesthetically it is interesting to listen to, either being immersed in nostalgic insight or without to be. However, there is one exception either. Green Wand of which is set apart thanks to majestic shoegazer pointed guitars and slightly jagged drums beside them. All these compositions have been drawn out in the way to denote them as leading-edge. For instance, one must listen to Girls Annoy Boys (feat. Alie Lavoie). It is fairly bewildering indeed. By my opinion, Okinawa Lifestyle should have deserved a patch within the first chillwave echelon.                                     

[Teaser of the day] Wixel - Snowsparks

Electrobel

• Indietronica
• Duyster
• Drone pop
• Epic
• Glitch
• Indie pop
• Post-rock
• Dream pop
• Alternative pop
• Organcore

Artist: Wixel

Release: 

Label: Electrobel

Year: 2003

Taman Nada - Taman Nada EP (2014)

SUB/SIDE

Indonesian Netlabel Union 

• Indie folk
• Folk rock
•  Folk indie
• Indonesian pop

Comment: if to run around in Internet and searching for netlabels then you might stumble upon such conglomerate of imprints as Indonesian Netlabel Union. The idea to establish such a sort of nationwide bond seems to be appealing. Furthermore, Indonesia is one of those Asian countries of having the decent indie scene and in general does have an awe-awakening musical legacy regarding both pop music and ethnic/world music. One of the notches is SUB/SIDE in the imprint`s compound and Taman Nada`s self-titled three track issue is a part of its discography. It starts off with whistling to evolve into clear-cut, light-hearted pop music which at times seems to be as crystalline as branch water. Indeed, it is devoid of crackbrained threads, tumbling strains and stoned outbursts however, in spite of it the result is impressive due to predominant vocal lead which is accompanied by sparse instrumentation due to neat guitar fingering – especially at the opening piece Fase. However, this track and Marilah Mari do provide the best harmony solution of which could be found over there. Musically they can be considered a part of the well-acclaimed indie folk/folk rock scene being so popular nowadays thanks to such combos as Mumford & Sons, Angus & Julia Stone, Ben Howard, and Fleet Foxes. All the songs are sung in Indonesian (or at least in a local native language). Let`s grab music from there. 

[Teaser of the day] Frozen Geese - The Coleopterous Charm

Free Music Archive

• Space rock
• Electronic
• Avant-rock
• Experimental rock
• Minimalism
• Drone rock
• Trance rock
• Psych-rock

Artist: Frozen Geese

Release: The Starseed

Label: Vanity Case

Year: 2010

Some best albums in 2015

Comment: the year of 2015 is over and the one of 2016 started to make first steps. The previous year was as prolific as the earlier ones used to be. My personal intention has been for years not to deliberately concentrate on issues at a time. Because of that my list does represent only a microscopic part of what could have been. A huge amount of albums from the year 2015 wait to get listening times. Most of these albums are up for free download. On account of it I am going to permanently complete this list in future. Happy new year 2016!

Mercury Rev “The Light In You”

Mart Avi “Humanista”

The Hathaway Family Plot "Spare Time"

Natural Snow Buildings “Night Country”

The Fucked Up Beat “Europa”

The Fucked Up Beat “(hope! Our Drones Sent From Heaven)”  

Alessio Ballerini “Beautiful Ground”

Hanetration “Acid Reflux EP”

Aires & Rui. P. Andrade “Pânico-Ambiente”

Philip Johnson “0714”

Tont “Rändurvaim”

Japanese Large “Superpositioned”

Joxfield ProjeX, Cotton Casino “Casino Royal”

Godspeed You! Black Emperor “Asunder, Sweet, and Other Distress”

Death Grips “Fashion Week”

Terrible Terrible “Get The New Computer”

Millions “Line In The Sky”

Aaron Yabrov “Tonmuseum”

Outer Gods “Ascend Unto The Seventh Throne”

St Cheatersburg “How To Lose Your Value on The Heterosexual Market”

Lee Noble “Un Look”

Day of the Triangle “Salvia Sundays”

Day of the Triangle “Chair Conspiracy”

Simon Waldram “Inside Out EP”

Jan Grünfeld “Music For Plants”

Massimo Ruberti “Armstrong”

Hanetration “Waldsterben”

ある一日。 “文月だいご”

Dadala “With Brass-Lines”

Orrorin Daydream “A Distant Veil”

Diropel “Yhnpivtr”

The Fucked Up Beat “Europa II”

Paris Angels “Eclipse”

Gamardah Fungus “Hidden By The Leaves”

This Lonely Crowd “Meraki”

Kroma “Prince of the City”

Cagey House “Sometimes Always Never”

Juçara Marçal & Cadu Tenório “Anganga                 

The Hathaway Family Plot – Spare Time (2015)

Free Music Archive

Bandcamp

• Post-industrial
• Crossover
• Noise
• Singer-songwriter
• Art pop
• Modern classical
• Avant-garde
• Experimentalism

Comment: I guess it might even be better to have no words about this miscellany of 15 tracks altogether. It would just be better to silently absorb all those innumerable vagaries into your restless soul thereby getting moving resonance toward the outside world which is thoroughly depraved and rotten because the human being as a species has either no inner will or bigger plan for to leap to a next, qualitatively higher level. The world is governed by the masters of none and in our (Western) media and societies inferior topics used to predominate over essential ones (climate changes, arising problems with heavily polluted environment, fossil fuel based stagnation). Kevin McFadden aka The Hathaway Plot`s purpose is to hint at these problems in a more and less direct way. More profoundly, he has stated against late-industrial capitalism, consumer culture, and music-as-commodity. Another facet is his music which talks in an indirect way through stark threads within THFP and even in his standalone tracks could be many universes to be discerned. Spare Time is as crackbrained as hell. If it is produced with rage then this rage must have been repressed and subsequently channelized into these movable pieces. The whole embarks on like a revelation impending doom through stepwise accelerated drone threads within the ambient dominated environment. Later on, McFadden starts off to pose as singer-songwriter though doing it in a very unusual way. Those calm compositional explorations are starkly “disturbed” by nervous twitches and painful pinches which in turn are even more amplified by sheer noise blankets. At times it may remind of some of the The Swans`s desolate compositions though the link between these artists is fortunately quite faint. On the other side, one could draw some parallels to another excellent issue coming out of 2015, Mart Avi`s Humanista which is also an uncompromisingly straightforward one of exploiting unabashedly avant-garde elements in a pop structure. Ideologically both artists tempt to de(con)struct pop volumes as reflections of the real-life deviated surrounding. It is crucial McFadden is able to sustain the aforementioned aesthetical and emotional peak throughout the course. I have listened to it for three times in a row at least while upholding excitement and feeling no boredom at all. It is one of the most pre-eminent issues in 2015 for sure. Given that THFP`s previous issues are great as well so it could be foretold that new issues are going to reach new sceptical adherents to its own list.

Recent Music Heroes Mixtape #15 (31.12.2015)

Mediafire

1) LFC – A Little Jazz For Your Ass (2013, KeyFuckaroo)  

2) Lezet – Rain (2014, Accumulation)

3) Covered Faces – Abandoned Dogma (feat. Jessica from White Violet Tremors) (2011, Lobiep EP)

4) Gnouli Monsters – Crazy/These Days (2008, Hi)

5) Glander – Variation c2 (2010, Variations)

6) baaskaT – Schizo (2015, Beat Tape 3 (EP))

7) stakka – Snowball (2004, Alone EP)

8) Mart Avi – Tuvalu (A Song of Longing) (2015, Humanista)

9) The Easton Ellises – Stay (2014, Nightwavs)

10) German Error Message – Oh, Excavator (2010, ToCarry Alongside)

11) Japanese Large – Maybe Never (2015, Superpositioned)

12) Juçara Marçal & Cadu Tenório – Canto III (2015, Anganga)

13) Noisesurfer – Paint Forms (2012, ADSL)

14) St Cheatersburg – How To Lose Your Value On The Heterosexual Market (2015, How To Lose Your Value On The HeterosexualMarket)

15) The Fucked up Beat – Regret! (2015, (hope!Our Drones Sent From Heaven))

16) Bone Conductors – Bermuda (2008, Twitches) 

[Teaser of the day] Mimicry - Mistakes

• Alternative pop
• Electronic pop
• Electroclash
• Electro-indie
• Alternative dance
• Synth-pop

Artist: Mimicry

Release: Mistakes (single)

Label: Bandcamp/Self-released

Year: 2013

External World - External World (2006)

Cozy Home

• Improvised music
• New Weird Britain
• Free folk
• Dada music
• Freeformfreakout
• Anti-folk
• Experimentalism
• Primitive music
• Weird folk
• Avant-garde
• Psychedelic

Comment: it is not the first and apparently will not be the last entry of a combo related to such labels as Cozy Home Records, Daydream Generation, and Quixodelic Records. All the three can be considered as staples within the realm of home recorded ingenious music which frequently tend to stay beyond definitive stylistic terms. External World is the duo of Judy Shimmin and Rob Levy whose 15-notch issue is released from conventional pop music threads of utmost extent. I guess someone might think it is negative album on account of just wanting purposefully to counteract to the mainstream music. Such sort of statement would be probably wrong because the result is somehow cohesive and convincing despite of providing a shitloads of wired progressions and wild turns and frantic dodges. More concretely, it involves tickled dialogues in words, mind-boggling interactions between guitar playing, trance-y ethnic drumming and amusing synchronised vocal deliveries pouring out of both channels simultaneously. And all of these elements seem to be surfaced at ease. The starting point is not important here as it is not the ending spot either – between the listener could discern much free energy and delight of cooperation coming out of those relatively short-running pieces. The more you listen to it the more you could behold folk-based structure behind it. Firstly one might discern chaos fuelled fractals which then stepwise begin to disappear to hold place for more “logical” indications. In fact, the aforementioned improvised pieces and lovely freakouts do variegate with emotively and aesthetically restrained guitar twangs (Early Hours) or one could enjoy calm moments where the birds are singing, cicadas are chirping, some leaves fall spirally down accompanied by faint drumming. It sounds like a nice afternoon on Sunday somewhere in the backyard. By lyrical side, it is similarly imaginative and freely tripping as the sonic concept (for instance, We Must Go). In a word, listen to it to get permitted to enter into a difference making portal.

Mirror Lies - Mirror Lies

[Teaser of the day] Juanitos/Mrjuan - Dong Dong Party

Jamendo

• Psychedelic pop
• Exotica pop
• Dance pop
• Organcore
• Leftfield pop
• Mood music
• Tiki

Artist: Juanitos/Mrjuan

Release: OrganiXperiment

Label: Jamendo/Self-released

Year: 2012

Japanese Large – Superpositioned (2015)

23 Seconds

Archive.org

Bandcamp

• Synth-pop
• Indietronica
• Alternative pop
• Hypnagogic pop
• Poptronica
• Mood music
• Electro-indie
• Glo-fi
• Chill out
• Psychedelic pop
• Dance pop

Comment: Japanese Large is a Phoenix, US-based project which is headed by Jon Partelow, the group`s initial singer who chooses mates to get collaborated for. Superpositioned is produced in liaison with Matt Rickard. There are up seven compositions with a total length of almost 50 minutes. Musically it seems to be influenced by M83 because of drifting instrumentally across tumultuous synthesizer moulded seas and on the other side putting itself into a corner of soothing, down-tempo and smooth synth pop/chill out alike compartments. Furthermore, the latter element is frequently adorned with emotive vignettes and motif progressions being ever characteristic to some examples of the French electronic pop (for instance, Air). On the other side, by enjoying those tiny, wondrous hypnagogic progressions in some tracks (for instance, Bbl Thumps) the result comes quite close to an early period Ducktails being then closely related to such terms as “glo-fi”, “hypnagogic pop”, “dreamwave”. Thirdly, partelow and Rickard`s work does have much similarity with Tame Impala`s brand new album Currents though Superositioned is more exuberant and accomplished and actually was issued earlier. It could be said the concept is rounded and well-circled because the premises already foreseeable after listening to some tracks only and the outputs used to provide cohesive connection between one another. On the whole, it is a superb work.     

Jan Grünfeld - Sower

[Teaser of the day] Christian McKee - Hear You Out

No-Source

• Alternative pop
• Synthwave
• Soul 
• Hypnagogic pop
• DIY
• Singer-songwriter
• Electronic pop
• Lo-fi
• Bedroom pop

Artist: Christian McKee

Release: Back To The Rock

Label: No-Source

Year: 2011

Bone Conductors – Twitches (2008)

Luv Sound

Bandcamp

• Singer-songwriter
• Indie folk
• Chamber pop
• Indietronica
• Drone pop
• Epic
• New Weird America
• Toytronica
• Baroque pop
• Post-pop
• Folk indie
• Alternative pop
• Americana

Comment: by reading the description about Nick Yulman at archive.org one could admit the resident from Brooklyn, NY, USA is a busy, versatile and requested musician. He has been involved in many projects with purpose to cover different events with soundscapes. Surely, by listening to this 11-track issue one there have been mapped out different hotspots in indie/alternative/art pop/music. Musically it does mean electronic instruments are tightly mixed up with acoustic ones though the whole rings in an airy and subtle way giving no heck to any of these vignettes and fragments represented over there. More profoundly, you can see paths coming out of art houses and bedrooms to climb up to small independent studios and venues where primitive toy-alike instruments are given the same aesthetical extent in comparison to more accomplished guitar rock driven and Americana laden progressions. Even more could be pulled out of it – at times Yulman`s music chimes in a truly farcical way where funny music hall/vaudeville/burlesque elements are seamlessly added to the mix. In truth, Twitches is heavily loaded with stylistic turns and innovative explorations, however, resulting craftily in an emotive way. Although the music lovers could discern certain similarities with other musicians (for instance, Dan Deacon, Stereolab, Sufjan Stevens, Beirut, Grizzly Bear, Mount Eerie, Dirty Projectors) it is an idiosyncratic outing because having no spot on certain elements for longer time. These snippets are just transient instruments to conjure up his extravagant world. The issue involves some songs which should have reached the top of Billboard (Bermuda, I Don`t Design). The album should be considered as one of the classic albums regarding the New Weird America scene. All the relevant aspects are represented over there - it is musically poignant, emotionally overwhelming, conceptually innovative. Top notch.

[Teaser of the day] Flavio Severino - Profumi

Hortus Conclusus

• Modern classical
• Chamber music
• Piano music
• Epic
• Art music
• Post-classical

Artist: Flavio Severino

Release: Mancanze

Label: Hortus Conclusus

Year: 2015

[Teaser of the day] Mikk Rebane - Contested

• IDM
• Experimental electronica
• Techno pop
• Synthwave

Artist: Mikk Rebane

Release: Particles

Label: BFW Recordings

Year. 2015

Jan Grünfeld - Music For Plants (2015)

La bèl

Headphonica

Free Music Archive
Archive.org

• Experimental rock
• Post-folk
• Indie folk
• Musique concrète
• Kosmische Musik
• Post-rock
• Modern classical
• Folk indie
• Electronic music
• Art folk

Comment: Jan Grünfeld likes to basking by just playing guitar and using a few elements to accentuate the instrument`s chords. Mostly those few elements are just algorithms to be implemented for more and less tight air surrounding his guitar endeavours. More profoundly, there are up a loads of echoes and reverbs in the middle and on the fringe throughout seven compositions of improvised guitar playing, however, additionally adorned with hisses from concrete music (the birds are singing and people are chatting) and the tolling of faint glockenspiel here and there. The only exception is The Nightshade where the composer takes on electronic devices to create more sequencer induced paces and synthesizer led Kosmische Musik impulses. The final track Feel Alife used to move on through slow motion lenses with the assistance of bold yet lonely piano chords and concrete music layers and an extended guitar riff thereby eventually resulting in the thoroughgoingly dream-soaked appearance. Fairly impressive. Indeed, the result is a bewildering piece of instrumental music where experimental approach in chords is finely balanced against beauty in touch. It is a joint release under la bèl, and Headphonica imprints. 

Day Of The Triangle – Salvia Sundays (2015)

Trash Can Dance

Bandcamp

• Kosmische Musik
• New Age
• Space music
• Ambient drone
• Soundscape
• Psych-rock
• Electronic music
• Motorik
• Ambient
• Krautrock

Comment: the year of 2015 has been a fruitful year for the Estonian alternative music scene because of many astonishing issues has been released throughout the year. For instance, Mart Avi`s Humanista, Tont`s Rändurvaim, Mavra`s Mavra (though it is a re-issue), Kroma`s Prince of the City. In fact, many albums are waiting to be listened to. For instance, Djerro`s XXmagick, Taavi Tulev`s Rand, Janek Murd`s Kuidas ehitada kosmoselaeva?, Ratkiller`s Comfortably Declined, She Bit Her Lip`s Viiv, Mikk Rebane`s Fragment, and Particles, Florian Wahl`s Sugar Trip. The biggest discovery for me was Day of The Triangle`s two albums Chair Conspiracy, and Salvia Sundays both of them have been released in 2015. There is little known about the artist but he is living in Tartu and is (was?) the keyboard player of one quite fruitless progressive rock combo. Fortunately he decided to launch his creative abilities with the listeners for whom it is great pleasure to listen to a fairly impressive music created in a time span between the years of 2009 to 2013. First of all, it is something of Kosmische Musik where synthesizers are set out to hover in a hyper-realistic realm. More profoundly, one could discern glacial ice-alike glimpses moving across the path between two channels and amplifiers. Mind-boggling sound effects are pushed to the fringe of the soundscape. At times those layers are mixed up with sublime concrete sound ones being supported by more and less motorik driven rhythms below. One might even suffer some vertigo due to those moving poignant noises to create some exuberant vamps within the soundscape. Nowadays the term “New Age” is mostly used as something wearisome and old-fashioned which may sound even ridiculous in some cases. However, Day of The Triangle`s exploitation of these seeds within the sophisticated melting pot is being far away from it. It could be compared with a wondrous, otherworldly dream of which you could remember faintly after restless sleep where fiction met reality in a warped way. Furthermore, stylistically this batch of compositions is a little bit more than a notch within the compartment of electronic music. One is sure the listener could also hear some influences coming out of more guitar oriented but heavily motorik rhythm propelled krautrock (Neu!, Faust) and psych-rock bands. Although these indications are obviously in minority they are represented over there though. In a word, it is a must be outing waiting to interact with your impulses coming out of your cerebral convolutions.

[Teaser of the day] Geronimo - Touch

Bump Foot

• Techno
• Alternative dance
• Electronica

Artist: Geronimo

Release: Touch

Label: Bump Foot

Year: 2006

enLounge – Locked When Lit (2004)

Aquavelvas

• Deep house
• Dub 
• Nu jazz
• Crossover
• Mood music
• Chill out
• Sampledelic
• Breaks
• Electro house

Comment: this jackass issue comes of out the year 2004 being released on Aquavelvas imprint. There are up a loads of sonorous elements juxtaposed against each other or piled up in an enchanting way. By listening to this 3-track outing and regarding the title of the artist one could discern lounge appealed sounds converted into a contemporary counterpart. More profoundly, dub inflections, electronic jazz touches, ethnic drums and deep house frequencies and hip-hop chants and disparate sonic odds and ends (whistles, meandering synth developments, ecstatically looping rhythms) are put to the forefront to conjure up spaced-out associations within the listener`s head. Gorgeous. On the whole, 17 minutes with it one couldn`t say no.

[Teaser of the day] The Falbonauts - Father Xmas (The Kinks)

• Cover
• Conceptual
• Indie rock
• Art rock
• Psychedelic rock
• Alternative rock

Artist: The Falbonauts

Release: Coal, Frangelico, and Myrhh

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2015

Maudlin of The Well – Part Of The Second (2009)

Maudlin of The Well

• Chamber music
• Progressive rock
• Art rock
• Psychedelic rock
• Experimental rock
• Avant-rock
• Epic
• Fusion

Comment: Maudlin of The Well is a combo from Boston, Massachusetts, USA whose fourth issue Part Of The Second is funded by donations of their fans. The quintet plays a sophisticated mishmash of rock, fusion, psychedelic and progressive rock inclined stuff ultimately resulting in the majestic feel. Temporarily it is not related to certain spans of time because of creating and playing music on the band members` own terms and understanding. In a word, stylistically it is a thoroughly artsy whole giving the listener no span to rest because of being intense in chord sequencing and instrumental interplays. It is a top notch by any means.

[Teaser of the day] Nult - Guda Bahia

• Post-rock
• Experimental rock
• Art rock
• Musique concrète
• Epic
• Alternative rock

Artist: Nult

Release: Asil Liseli

Label: La Gramola

Year: 2013

The Macadamia Brothers – Christmas (2012)

Bandcamp

• Indie folk
• Alt-folk
• Conceptual
• Singer-songwriter
• DIY
• Folk indie
• Canadiana

Comment: The Macadamia Brothers is Victoria-residing, Canadian musician Scott Milligan whose music firstly I discovered through Rack and Ruin Records (Tomatoey Plates EP, 2008). Indeed, Christmas is coming and this pack of four tracks is relevant to listen to. You're All I Want For Christmas is such an epic and dreamy cover which must be listened to many times in a row. The issue had been released three years ago while all these songs had been issued followed one by another subsequently yearly. All in all, it is fascinating to enjoy Xmas ditties running in a contemporary mode. Merry Christmas.

[Teaser of the day] Alyiann - Gravity Escalation

Sirona-records

• Chillstep
• Electronica
• Breakcore
• Indietronica
• Downtempo
• Mood music

Artist: Alyiann

Release: Gravity Escalation

Label: Sirona-records

Year: 2011