Chancius - Bando (2015)

Jamendo

Bandcamp

• Art rock 
• Indie rock 
• Alternative rock
• Chamber pop
• Singer-songwriter 
• Experimental pop

Comment: While this issue was plotted out to be an alternative rock opera to depict it does mean the artist must have been some aesthetic restrictions and prescriptions for writing process. In any cases, Chancius comes out of Brooklyn, New York, USA and the listener could readily perceive an exquisite, intelligent touch being so characteristic to many artists from the metropolis. By the recent case, Chancius' sophomore release enthralls the listener by straddling on the border between the restrained and unleashed. All of that turns on expectations in the listener to wait on what will be happening next. On the other hand, the artist controls the process totally allowing no indiscretions and turnoffs. Though he is slightly aloof with regard to the listener his posture suits finely with the music and overall conception. Musically it is an example of how quite austere artsy guitar playing is adeptly imbued with electro-acoustic sonic effects and electronic knacks. At times, at most dreamy glimpses the course is led by affectionate carillon playing and loopy orchestrations (at Big Wave). Obviously the artist is inspired by the local No Wave scene (and by its forefathers the Velvet Underground) and representatives of contemporary art rock/indie scene like The Antlers, Owen Pallett, Terrible Terrible, Foxes In Fiction, Panda Bear. However, those possible influences come in indirectly and rather on the base of similarity thereby allowing to create relatable possibilities between cultural layers and traditions in general. I am pleased he is not trying to spoil the concept with magniloquent details and bloated stances. He has set out a plot to operate within certain borders, however, having enough territory to move forward and then back, by right to left, from bottom to top. As an ancient Greek philosopher once said due to the borders it is possible to exist at all and only this allows you to go beyond, to go to the other side. Psychedelic, isn't? He will not crush himself in the playing out of his genuine role. Listen to Hologram King and you will get convinced this match was made in heaven to save unfortunate souls. In a nutshell, I fairly recommend listen to this 11-notch gentle bright.

[Teaser of the day] Büromaschinen - Firebird

Upitup

• Synthwave
• Kosmische Musik
• Deep house
• Electro-house
• Alternative
• Electronic music

Artist: Büromaschinen

Release: Time Capsule Vol. 1

Label: Upitup

Year: 2014

[Teaser of the day] Sympathy Points - Lusthog

• Darkwave
• Electronic music
• Illbient
• Drag house
• Epic
• Post-industrial
• Vaporstep
• Newbreed
• Experimental electronica
• Avant-garde
• Witch house

Artist: Sympathy Points

Release: Negative Space

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Sunset Wrecks - Long Overdue

• Ambient rock
• Post-metal
• Shoegaze
• Alternative
• Darkwave
• Electronic
• Post-rock
• Blackgaze
• Avant-rock
• Experimental rock
• Doomgaze

Artist: Sunset Wrecks

Release: Salvaged

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2016

T1nn1tuzzzz – Metalli(ɔ)a (2016)

Malware

• Noise 
• Harsh noise 
• Brutal metal 
• Avant-garde 
• Non-music 
• Avant-metal 
• Black noise 
• Leftfield 
• Trash noise

Comment: firstly, after the first chords of listening to this one-track issue (clocking in at an almost 10 minute) I realized it would be better to turn the volume down for the sake of my ears (indeed, the trajectory of the oscillator in my music player is as active as an indicator in the block of nuclear wastes). Additionally, I don not recommend for bourgeois people to listen to it because it brings out a mental illness in you. You`re admonished! The project comes out from Brazil demonstrating itself as an indicator for the country. More profoundly, the annihilation of forests (greetings to Western companies over there), environmental problems (pollution), the Zika virus, outstanding crime activity, an economic recession, the corruption scandal of their president. On the other side, Brazil is being and has been one of the most outstanding music scenes worldwide, including in the underground scene by now. Although the art is much higher than the mundane live, the point of mine is that good music needs controversies and a filthy environment and polluted soil to bring forth sharpness to express an artist’s mind with great(er) fervour and ardour. There is up one of such sort. As you have already pinpointed the ending embarks on with a torrent of vibrant harsh noises though almost implicitly revealing what will be happening in the final part. More concretely, it progresses slowly into the hammering, blackened metal and noise-tinged span where Metallica could sound as an easy listening act. The US-based heavy metal/trash metal juggernaut was mentioned by me because the title is called a somehow reversed Metallica`s title form, Metalli(ɔ)a. In fact, in the final part the music of the legends is represented briefly coming out of overwhelming trash noise to move atop. Otherwise it has much more in common with Japanese harsh noise and metal combos, with the likes of Boris, Gerogerigegege, Fushitsusha, Boredoms. Get this metal/noise gem for you being issued under the newborn Malware Records (it is a great imprint in addition to many Brazil-based ones). In fact, it says more than a thousands of words in total. At least during this brief span of time.

[Teaser of the day] Kai Whiston - Drag Hunt

• Avant-hop
• Experimental hip-hop
• Noise-hop
• Industrial-hop
• Screwed and chopped
• Wonky
• Post-hop
• Vaporwave 
• Rap
• Urban music

Artist: Kai Whiston

Release: Houndstooth 

Label: TAR

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Sander Haugas - Tabasalu

• Art rock
• Alternative rock
• Post-rock
• Experimental rock
• Electronic music

Artist: Sander Haugas

Release: Kummitarsan EP

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2011

[Teaser of the day] Uton - Magica Humana I

Free Music Archive

• Free folk
• Space folk
• Weird folk
• Psych-folk
• New Weird Finland
• Avant-folk
• Forest folk
• Micronoise
• Freak folk
• Improvised music
• Experimental folk

Artist: Uton

Release: Solar Spells

Label: Om Ha Sva Ha Ksha Ma La Va Ra Yam/Archive.org

Year: 2008

JJ Kills Chopped And Screwed By Joel Rampage (2011)

Sincerely Yours

• Hip-hop 
• Avant-hop 
• Screwed and chopped 
• Seapunk
• Cloud rap 
• Wonky
• Vaporwave 
• Experimental hip-hop 
• Rap 
• Urban music

Comment: I could remember very clearly for those times when in the 90s there were being huge problems to deal with dragging and broken tapes, which did not play properly and did bend the normal appearance of issues. Another problem was related to to the tapes being as long as 120 minutes and some of them even longer. For example, before listening to the recent issue I had listened to Britpop juggernaut Pulp’s retrospective issue Countdown 1992-1983 lasting longer than 120 minutes and I sacrificed some hours of mine to save the tape altogether. However, it was a nice warm-up to the recent one because all had been changed since the 90s with regard to the formats, styles and approach in music. Musically it is not surprising at all that sort sort of technical failures are “legitimized” by hip-hop music. The second biggest change is that no one could not predict the fact that the mixtapes would be presented as issues in the discography of imprints. For instance, the recent tape was issued on Sincerely Yours. Because of the aforementioned reasons it chimes in a thrilling way yet all those “failures” are integrated seamlessly and represented in an elaborate way. Mostly those vocal lines are slowed down (at times also being pitched up) and elegantly stretched out to teeter in between stereo channels, however, at the same time being spiced up with electronic effects and bumpy yet enthrallingly lurking cadences. Frequently those layers are imbued with spaced-out, dreamwave-alike vibes to give the whole a more hyper-panoramic and still slightly eerie outlook. I was listening to it in an early morning but I am convinced it could readily be your supper before falling asleep. Indeed, the times have changed around us and inside us but music is still being very attractive in its various mutations thereby the musicians could be considered as contemporary philosophers undoubtedly. Get this issue!

[Teaser of the day] Dinelka - Brain Licker

• Glitchtronica
• Minimal techno
• Avant-garde
• Ambient techno
• Experimentalism
• Microhouse 
• Avant-techno
• Glitch techno
• Abstract techno
• Experimental electronica

Artist: Dinelka

Release: Freeze EP

Label: Microrama

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Computer Magic - Victory Gin

Archive.org

• Riot grrrl
• Electro-indie
• Acid pop
• Indie pop
• Synth pop
• Indie electronic
• Alternative pop
• Psychedelic pop
• Singer-songwriter

Artist: Computer Magic 

Release: Hiding More of Our Time  

Label: Free Music Archive/Archive.org

Year: 2010

[Teaser of the day] Patroux - Golden Sunset

Jamendo

• Easy listening 
• Electronic music
• New Age
• Ambient pop
• Space pop
• Mood music
• Chilltronica

Artist: Patroux

Release: Music Is Magic

Label: Jamendo

Year: 2008

The Shy Trafficker – Hard Fought, Found Thought (2008)

Lost Children

• Post-rock 
• Math rock 
• Experimental rock 
• Indie rock 
• Art rock 
• Avant-rock 
• Fusion 
• Yacht rock 
• Mood music 
• Field recording

Comment: by listening to this 11-track issue one can concentrate on different aspects within the soundscape, which is conjured up by a guitarist, a bassist, and a drummer. Given that this sparse collective must be expert at conjuring up interesting sonic combinations and extracting picturesque colours from within their instruments. Indeed, they did it perfectly because one could discern all these sublime nuances to run throughout in a moody vein. It might sound oddly enough but this set of 51 minutes could be considered an easy listening session additionally. It is mostly due to a bet of jazz rock/fusion and yacht rock-inflected colourful keys. The Shy Trafficker`s album reminds by its tones and approach of Sea And The Cake, of which music is also easy (superficial?) and complicated at the same time. Indeed, music is a platform for talented people to surmount contradictions. The only stylistic exception is Santa Margarita, which is an arousing interlude of the recording of choral singing. In a word, it is the trio’s field recording case. In a nutshell, you can readily listen to this outstanding issue at work and while you are reading or eating or just having a pinpointed focus on it. There are no contraindications at all. This music is highly logic maybe even beyond logic at times. The issue is a part of the discography of Lost Children.

[Teaser of the day] Blessed Feathers - Stinging Nettle, Honeysuckle

• Alt-folk
• Indie folk
• Americana
• Folk indie
• New Weird America
• Dream folk

Artist: Blessed Feathers

Release: From the Mouths of the Middle Class

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2011

[Teaser of the day] ART ABSCONs - Somnium 3

Paralucid

• Experimental pop
• Art pop
• Easy listening 
• Sampledelic
• Post-pop
• Neofolk
• Dreamwave
• Leftfield pop
• Lounge pop
• Crossover
• Avant-pop

Artist: ART ABSCONs

Release: Spektral Magik

Label: Paralucid

Year: 2009

[Teaser of the day] Dustycri - Silence

Stato Elettrico

• Neofolk
• Dark folk
• Electronic music
• Industrial
• Leftfield
• Singer-songwriter

Artist: Dustycri

Release: Dusty Lost Tracks

Label: Stato Elettrico/Bandcamp

Year: 2015

Choke – Eponymous EP (2009)

Pen & Mallet 

• Art pop 
• Post-grunge 
• Alternative pop/rock 
• Hardcore 
• Indie pop/rock 
• Experimental pop

Comment: Pen & Mallet involves an universe of bands and behind the musical groups is an universe of styles and genres of less and more experimental sort. With all those bands is involved a man called J. C Thorne. It is quite startling to read that J. C Thorne thinks of Choke as the most experimental band he is being involved in despite it is a relatively poppy group in comparison to others (for instance, I recommend listen to aboombong, Psychic Enemies, Dustdevil & Crow etc). The musician’s explanation is based on the approach of creating music to the band where music for the guitar-based soundscape is written by him who in fact cannot play the instrument at all (J. C Thorn is the drummer in the project). Furthermore, the other musicians have changed their roles with one another either. More concretely, I think of Alexander Orchid to be the most blatantly poppy issue on it due to those bombastic guitar riffs and David Liso`s flamboyant singing that fills the air unarguably. In fact, it is managed to the extent of chiming as an example of kitsch pop. Indeed, it is also an experimental approach. Another aspect related to the pop music scene is singing about romantic relationships and (ex)girlfriends in a doleful and even accusing manner. On the other side, the musicians like to demonstrate their teeth frequently to counterpoint mellow and softened approach. A nice example is Barcelona where the exuberant guitar line progresses into cacophonous noise. The favourite of mine is the final track Sheltering, an instance of light-hearted art pop. Browse is something of a very wicked one because in the beginning using an obscure, highly buried exploitation-alike storytelling being pointed against homosexuality and flabby behaviour (or at least something similar like that), which in the final part will be jettisoned in favour of a pummelling hardcore and technical metal blended torrent. In a nutshell, it is a mind-provoking issue.  

[Teaser of the day] Jan Strach - Zegar, ku

Underpolen

• Lo-fi
• DIY
• Avant-rock
• Comedy rock
• Noise pop
• Psych-pop
• Outsider pop
• Synth-rock
• Space pop
• Experimental pop
• Leftfield pop
• Weird

Artist: Jan Strach

Release: Trawiaste Miasto 

Label: Underpolen/Bandcamp

Year: 2015

[Teaser of the day] Tamara Laurel - Dying

Jamendo

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

Artist: Tamara Laurel

Release: Lightning 

Label: Jamendo

Year: 2014

[Teaser of the day] daRKRam - VI

Kermesse

• Blackgaze
• Space rock
• Illbient
• Experimental rock
• Dark ambient
• Ambient rock
• Doomgaze
• Avant-rock
• Epic
• Leftfield
• Improvised music

Artist: daRKRam

Release: Stone and Death

Label: Kermesse 

Year: 2016

Royalt – Just Because (2015)

MiMi

• Electronic music 
• Electro pop 
• Tech-electro 
• Alternative dance 
• Techno pop 
• Poptronica 
• Chilltronica 
• Mood music 
• Breaks 
• Tech-house

Comment: behind this project is Paulo Brito, the Coimbra, Portugal-based musician being active since 2008. Although his 6-notch issue is only as long as a 16-minute he provides enough much for one to get satisfied. I would like to tag his music as an example of post-disco though it is certainly a contemporary one. However, this could be the easiest and most superficial way to approach it. Indeed, it is about broken beats and suggestive melodic lines and catchy harmonies with the intention to entertain you in different ways. On the other side, in some pieces one could discern darker and specifically club oriented rhythms (at Care), which is a little bit more than the term “post-disco” is intended to embrace. Thirdly, some influences in his music come from an era of electronic music harking back earlier than the 1980s used to be (more profoundly, hints at Kraftwerk`s legacy). So here it is your turn to decide either he is on the way or manages to deviate this way partly. In general, one can perceive that Brito tries to manage a fine balance between the moody and entertaining side and the more technical approach in music. Ultimately it can be said he succeeded fairly in doing that.

[Teaser of the day] Gaze is Ghost - Revolvere

• Singer-songwriter
• Art pop
• Avant-pop
• Space pop
• Chamber pop
• Dream pop
• Electronic
• Baroque pop
• Drone pop
• Post-pop
• Epic
• Leftfield pop
• Experimental pop

Artist: Gaze is Ghost

Release: Revolvere/Murmuration

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2014

[Teaser of the day] Ellah a. Thaun - Adelaide Crescent

• Avant-pop
• Indie pop
• Acid pop
• Psych-pop
• Alternative
• Electronic
• Singer-songwriter
• Leftfield pop
• Experimental pop

Artist: Ellah a. Thaun

Release: Happy 29 Honey

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Steve Nash - Wishing My Life Away

• Singer-songwriter
• Indie pop/rock
• Alternative pop/rock
• Psychedelic pop

Artist: Steve Nash

Release: World Outside My Window

Label: Small Bear

Year: 2016

Üwan - 4 (2015)

Year Zero

• Experimental rock 
• Avant-rock 
• Psychedelic rock 
• Hard rock 
• Noise rock 
• Post-rock 
• Stoner rock 
• Improvised music 
• Doom rock

Comment: Üwan`s tracks are named in the following way: For, Fort, Fore, Four. All these compositions are lengthy ones, extending from 10 minutes to 16 minutes ultimately clocking in at a 52-minute. At the metadata of the album the case is tagged as free rock. I can admit it though it might say nothing of an issue. In general, it could be said the issue starts off and finish off in a similar way. In the meantime, the artist changes its path through quite minimal dodges though the listener can clearly perceive of how all the soundscape conjured up with a guitar, a bass guitar, and the drums used to cumulate slowly in an expressive way. If you like blood, sweat, and mud all these elements do appear prominently over there. By the way, one can hear no words and singing throughout the course. Stylistically the issue has elegantly usurped an interface between improvised music, doom-laden rock, hard rock, stoner rock, noise rock, and psychedelia. It includes a shitloads of guitar riffs but is not embedded in clichès but providing them with refreshing tones. In a nutshell, it could be an ideal issue for the tough rock man who is interested in more playfulness and colours in the classic rock-oriented scene. Get the gem. Get it by now. The issue is a part of the discography of the avant-garde music imprint Year Zero Records.

[Teaser of the day] Illusory Scapes - Wait For My Shadow

• Ambient pop
• Chilltronica
• Downtempo
• Indietronica
• Mood music
• Alternative pop

Artist: Illusory Scapes

Release: Figments Of My Wishes

Label: AFA Sound Machine/Free Music Archive

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Djerro - Heavenlies

• Avant-garde
• Ambient noise
• Experimentalism
• Abstract
• Electronic music
• Ambient
• Post-industrial

Artist: Djerro

Release: Djerro plays musick

Label: Eesti Pops

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Nordgroove - Horizons

MNMN

• Indietronica
• Downtempo
• Alternative pop
• Mood music
• Art pop
• Chilltronica

Artist: Nordgroove

Release: Kepper of the Samples

Label: MNMN

Year: 2016

Massimo Ruberti - Granchite Yumtruso PT. 1 (2016)

Nostress

Free Music Archive

Archive.org

• Ambient pop 
• Post-classical 
• Avant-pop 
• Indietronica 
• Art pop 
• Free jazz 
• Electronic music
• Post-pop 
• Alternative pop 
• Electro-acoustic 
• Space pop 
• Drone pop

Comment: Massimo Ruberti`s previous issue Armstrong (which was also a Nostress` issue) made me fairly psyched and excited because it was a beatific instance of spaced-out electronica. It was dedicated to Neil Armstrong and was an exemplary of how the music must be accomplished. The Italian musician continues to plough through the same field though there are up some differences too. For instance, the opening track Snorri/Hollow Earth chimes as an instance of indie electronica/drone pop/post-classical, having similarities with such artists as Spacemen 3, Tortoise, Penguin Café Orchestra, Efterklang. Welcome, to the indie music world, Massimo! The following track is as exhilarating as the previous one because gentle field recording templates, dribbly piano keys and a minor key motif are mixed up with majestic singing of alien-alike children, all of which later turns into the saxophone-led progression. Believe me, that’s very astounding. Once again, there can be drawn comparisons with another Jason Pierce-related project, Spiritualized. At Metal Talking Artifact Box Ruberti demonstrates again that he has entered into the indie music field because contemporary indie artists have jettisoned the guitars to replace them with other instruments, notably with the electronic keyboards. It could be admitted about the more mainstream-related artists and underground artists. More profoundly, the track is a tight mix of free jazz, and dub and electro-inflected electronic music (one could perceive more and less implicit nods toward Kraftwerk in the latter branch). This excellent issue will be finished off with Spider Guardian Machine in a space pop/ hypnotic electronic/shoegaze vein being provided with high intensity and dynamic impulses. It is one of the best issues in 2016. 

[Teaser of the day] The Agrarians - Piercing, Reckless Eyes

Free Music Archives

• Psych-folk
• Folk indie
• Singer-songwriter
• DIY
• Indie rock
• New Weird America
• Indie folk
• Psych-rock
• Lo-fi
• Alternative rock
• Alt-folk

Artist: The Agrarians

Release: The Jovial Shepherd

Label: Self-released 

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Kingdom of the Holy Sun - Sihanouk Trail

• Psychedelic rock
• Alternative rock
• Drone rock
• Neo-psychedelia
• Indie rock

Artist: Kingdom of the Holy Sun

Release: Thirteen Eyes E.P

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2014

[Teaser of the day] Dot.AY - Dayglodocus

• Bitpop
• Tracker music
• Chipbreak
• 8-bit
• Acid electro
• Nintendocore
• Chiptune
• Electronic music
• Primitronica

Artist: Dot.AY

Release: Ceratopian Society

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp 

Year: 2011

Mutawwa`in + Noise Jihad – Split (2015)

Azawad

• Noise 
• Avant-garde 
• Experimentalism 
• Leftfield 
• Non-music 
• Spiritual music 
• Post-industrial 
• Ethnic music
• World music

Comment: I am honoured to review a first issue (AZWD-156) from the discography of Azawad for Recent Music Heroes. This net-label started off in spring of 2013 to would have released more than 150 issues thereafter. However, it is surprising in 2016 there are no issues therefrom. In a word, do much, die fast. I really hope I am wrong in this case. One of the most prolific artists from the imprint is Noise Jihad and the project is also represented there in liaison with Mutawwa`in. Both artists provide just one composition – Noise Jihad`s one is a very fierce and incisive noise attack chiming like an industrial opus for dead men and unhappy ends. Mutawwa`in`s one is a quite different case because it is an organic bond between uplifting islamic singing, mid-range rhythms and the buried noise wall. In a nutshell, the experience is really captivating and staggering. Indeed, one can trace down the label’s and the artists` close relation with the Islam culture and some very reluctant aspects from the underground music thereby being obviously culturally influenced by such leftfield artist as Bryn Jones aka Muslimgauze who lived too short but reached much to convey some problems to us related to Middle East and Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

[Teaser of the day] Semiosis - One For The Road

Asiluum

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

Artist: Semiosis

Release: Pictural

Label: Asiluum

Year: 2009 

[Teaser of the day] OSB - Bigger Things Rolling Over Us

• Avant-garde
• Experimentalism
• Post-rock
• Post-classical
• Avant-rock
• Ambient
• Spoken word
• Improvised music
• Art music

Artist: OSB (formerly 1-Speed Bike) 

Release: Robbery EP

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2013

[Teaser of the day] Felipe Baradit Stevenson - Copacabana

Epa Sonidos

• Electro pop
• Alternative dance
• Electronic pop
• Synth electro

Artist: Felipe Baradit Stevenson

Release: Fiscalização Eletrônica

Label: Epa Sonidos

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Hua†a - Operation Mistletoe

• Stoner
• Sludge
• Post-metal
• Doom
• Experimental metal
• Avant-metal

Artist: Hua†a

Release: Atavist of Mann

Label: Bandcamp/Self-released/MUSICFEARSATAN/Cosmic Tomb  

Year: 2011

[Teaser of the day] Isoleren Lawaai - Invasion=Evasion

Sirona-Records

• Dark ambient
• Illbient
• Avant-garde
• Techno
• Breakbeat
• Post-industrial
• Leftfield

Artist: Isoleren Lawaai

Release: On/Off EP

Label: Sirona-Records

Year: 2012

[Teaser of the day] Crayon Mortel - Away

Soundcloud

• IDM
• Alternative dance 
• Techno pop
• Crossover
• Ambient pop
• Electro pop

Artist: Crayon Mortel

Release: Piel

Label: 51beats

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Gartner - snk 8

Monofònicos

• IDM
• Experimental electronica
• Micronoise
• Post-industrial
• Leftfield

Artist: Gartner

Release: snk

Label: Monofònicos

Year: 2016

Mega – Scanner (2008)

Proc-records

• Alternative dance 
• Dub 
• Electronic music 
• Deep tekno

Comment: I am pleased to be back at the discography of Proc-records (proc041), and the recent issue is a two-track issue by Mega, called Scanner. There are represented lots of rhythms, spaced-out synthesizers and shades of dub-inflected and electronic origin. These rhythms are set up at a mid-tempo range. The dub influences are prominently put forth at Autumnscanner though later it will be intermingled with catchy tekno rhythms. The second track Abstinent Freakno is more about deep tekno shuffling with microscopic noises as if a track coming silently through the hours between the night and early morning. Because of that the outing can be considered as the sort of music, which used to be played late at a party. In a word, the result is a solid drift between arousing rhythms and laid-back milieus. Get it to insert it into your home system. 

[Teaser of the day] Natural Snow Buildings - Sandy Cult

Free Music Archive

• Avant-folk
• Space folk
• Kosmische Musik
• Art folk
• Free folk
• Ambient folk
• Dream folk
• Epic
• Psych-folk
• Improvised music
• Weird folk
• New Weird France
• Post-rock
• Experimental folk
• Post-folk

Artist: Natural Snow Buildings

Release: Aldebaran

Label: Vulpiano

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Valovoima - Avaruus 02

Pakkaslumi

• Synthwave
• Space music
• Kosmische Musik
• Soundscapes
• Alternative
• Electronic music

Artist: Valovoima

Release: Avaruus

Label: Pakkaslumi

Year: 2015

[Teaser of the day] Nothing For Free - A Name Among So Many

• Hardcore
• Punk rock
• Emo

Artist: Nothing For Free

Release: Speeches Are Useless

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2013

Thuuooom – Aste EP (2016)

Textural Healing

• Minimalism 
• Microtonal 
• Avant-garde 
• Drone 
• Microsound 
• Abstract 
• Space music 
• Non-music 
• Experimentalism 
• Sound art

Comment: behind the project Thuuoom is a sonic experimentalist Tuomo from Finland who has been issuing his music since 2008 under his own imprint Textural Healing. In the meantime I was quite worried because of having had no releases by the artist for a while. However, in the recent year he has issued four outings so far. The three-track Aste EP is one of them clocking in at a 28 minute. Technically it is a little bit different than his previous ones because on it he operates with an acoustic guitar and an Elka Consolette organ. Previously Tuomo had been relying on such proper and non-proper instruments as music boxes, plastic bags, wine glasses, acoustic guitars, toy pianos, faucet, elevator, kettles, coin, contact microphone, balalaika, bottles, human voice, midi, whistles, Excel (!), electric guitars, dices, shelves, tables etc. Later on, of course, he mixed them up into solid electronic compositions. Back to the topic again, partly because of that his soundscape is more restrained and buried yet being enough abstract and stimulating at the same time. One has to crank up the volume of his/her volume system to hear exquisite nuances coming out from there. By listening to such sort of music I cannot bypass the comparison with a space rocket flying in a very remote distance from Earth being totally alone and seeming like a very small dot in an immense space while emitting such sort of sound being barely hearable on the outing. First of all, the recent issue is all about the shapes of microscopic waves, which used to drone at different frequencies. At times it is more bass-drenched, at times more demonstrating lighter tones. In fact, it is the most austere and minimal issue I have heard by the artist and because of that I needed more listening times to get related to it in a more close manner. In a sense, it is more mathematics than music, just being a physical representation of sounds. It is not post-psychedelic electronica and forestelektro anymore. On the other side, it is said on the page of the release that these tracks were conceived during the Kaiut Sessions, another issue, but did not fit on the said album. By my opinion, to understand these compositions better it would be better to listen to Kaiut additionally as well. 

[Teaser of the day] Mental Health Consumer - 10:00

Archaic Horizon

• Ambient
• Soundscapes
• Kosmische Musik
• Electronic music

Artist: Mental Health Consumer

Release: Early Spring Midnight 

Label: Archaic Horizon

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Spooky Cigarette - Spiritual Hypochondriac

• New Wave
• Alternative pop/rock
• Indie pop/rock
• Art pop
• Avant-pop
• Psych-pop
• Glo-fi
• Dream pop

Artist: Spooky Cigarette

Release: As Loud As I Can

Label: Bleeding Gold

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Vincent Soleil - Remember

Jamendo

• Experimental rock
• Art rock
• Angst rock
• Electronic
• Film noir
• Alternative rock
• Indie rock
• Avant-rock

Artist: Vincent Soleil

Release: Another Past Time

Label: Jamendo/Archive.org

Year: 2006

Marrach / Bad Poet / Chtin Mara – Opus Oratorium (2016)

Enoughrecords

Free Music Archive

Jamendo

• Hip-hop 
• Rap 
• Free jazz 
• Improvised noise 
• Downbeat
• Crossover
• Industrial-hop 
• Leftfield 
• Avant-hop 
• Experimental hip-hop 
• Spoken word

Comment: this is an arousing yet not ordinary issue of a handful of pieces clocking in at a 24 minute. As you have already figured out behind the project are three musicians/mc`s whose music used to base on striking poetry like The Last Poets but whose profound thoughts are backdropped by free jazz, improvised noise, slowed-down beats thereby chiming like a slowed-down and more acoustic form of Death Grips. At times the message is warped through sonic effect blocks to change it even into more obscure (for instance, at Habitus Poeticus). In general, by listening to the issue one can discern endless undulation from start to end, from top to bottom. They themselves call it “tripstep” it might be because they are represented threesome over there. On the other side, it might be because the three stylistic whales on which the issue used to stand upright are hip-hop, jazz, and electronic music, and the styles are seamlessly crossed with one another. The issue is a part of the roster of the Portuguese imprint enoughrecords. In a word, let’s enjoy an ideal form of hip-hop music.

[Teaser of the day] Virgin Twin - Apocalypse Groove

• Soul
• Soft rock
• Psychedelic pop
• Alternative dance
• Disco pop
• DIY
• Outsider pop

Artist: Virgin Twin

Release: Sacred Precinct

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2002

[Teaser of the day] The Hirundu - Psyclobin Reaction

• Avant-rock
• Lo-fi
• DIY
• Psych-rock
• Leftfield
• Noise rock
• Outsider

Artist: The Hirundu

Release: The Savage Crimes  

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 1990

[Teaser of the day] Andy Kirk - Tempbence a Gan

Earth Monkey Productions

• Electro pop
• Alternative 
• Crossover
• Synthwave
• Chilltronica
• Mood music

Artist: Andy Kirk

Release: I Used To Dance, Now I Romance

Label: Earth Monkey Productions

Year: 2006

Batsu – GRΣΣT (2015)

Yuzame

• Electronic pop 
• J-pop 
• Poptronica 
• Digital funk 
• Hi-NRG
• Hip-hop 
• Rap
• Electro pop 
• Remix

Comment: this is a 6-notch of contemporary (electronic) music with distinct Japanese pop influences. It is not surprising because J-pop had absorbed influences from Western music during many decades. Batsu conveys galvanized Hi-NRG/electro pop, subtle digital funk and downbeat-inflected electronic pop and not so drawn-out electronica to us with childish and young female-induced high-pitched vocals. The latter element is very on its own by the Japanese side. Eventually the whole chimes exotic and familiar at the same time. That’s very accepted. By listening to it this evokes ambivalent sensations in me while thinking of such artists as Merzbow, Hanatarashi, KK Null, The Gerogerigegege who are being known as representatives of the Japanese harsh noise scene. Indeed, Japanese music is being known by its contrasts, at times exquisite, at times sublime, at times harsh, at times stoned, at times seductive. In a nutshell, Batsu`s patchwork-alike issue is exquisite, sublime, and seductive getting inspiration both from dance floor-based entertainment and higher aesthetical, artsy aspirations. The issue is a part of the discography of Yuzame label.

[Teaser of the day] (null_) - On My Way Back Home

Hand Craft

• Ambient
• Electronic music
• Ambient pop
• Post-classical
• Art music
• Modern classical
• Dreamwave

Artist: (null_)

Release: (null_)ep

Label: Hand Craft

Year: 2013

[Teaser of the day] Faex Optim - The Ocean Congress

• Poptronica
• Alternative 
• Synthwave
• Ambient pop
• Chilltronica
• Indietronica
• Electronic music
• Mood music

Artist: Faex Optim 

Release: Start with the River

Label: Kahvi Collective

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Jeremy Gilliland - On Our Way Back Home

• Singer-songwriter
• Americana
• American gothic
• Folk
• Roots music

Artist: Jeremy Gilliland

Release: Highway 77

Label: Death Roots Syndicate/Archive.org

Year: 2016

Blumen – Press 1 For Music (2015)

Bandcamp

• Yacht rock 
• Art pop 
• Post-pop 
• Progressive pop 
• Sophisti-pop 
• Fusion 
• Mood music 
• Vaudeville pop 
• Crossover

Comment: this 5-track issue comes out from an one-man-band (Richard Blumenthal) from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA and is a moody one with an artsy and ludic approach. It is admirable to see how Richard Blumenthal transcends the genres or just commingling them one another while being up to anywhere. A Brief Disagreement is a vaudevillian tapping on a piano with buried vocal slices behind it. Windup continues in a similar vein in the first half of the composition though being soon supported by shuffly drums and bold bass chords beneath. Indeed, the buildup justifies the song’s name. In general, it could be said that the transitions from one song to another used to happen seamlessly and involving the same elements in some parts of songs. Falling Down (feat. StarSystems, Michael Riehlman, Benjamin Bailey) gets caught up in a more progressive pop way with high masculine singing and high-spirited progressive rock-related keyboard solos. Hej Hej (feat. Alec Dube) makes difference as well due to be immersed in yacht pop and progressive pop experiments. One could hear vibraphones combined into bare and quite rough piano chords. It reminds even of Tortoise/John McEntire`s involvement in vibraphone playing. Cyclicycal (feat. Theo Young) is the most cinematic track getting its wings from yacht rock-infused easiness. In a word, the result, which clocks in at a 19 minute is exuberant both for one’s soul and cerebral dimensions. By the way, (Die) Blumen does mean "the flowers" in German thereof it is your turn to figure out the album`s similaritites with certain kinds of flowers.   

[Teaser of the day] Oudeis - Near Spaces

• Downbeat
• Electronic music
• Sampledelic
• Darkwave
• Alternative
• Art music

Artist: Oudeis

Release: The Greenery

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Thuoom - Elac

Textural Healing

• Ambient
• Avant-garde
• Epic
• Abstract
• Ambient drone
• Minimalism
• Soundscapes
• Ambient noise
• Experimentalism
• Drone

Artist: Thuoom

Release: Aste EP

Label: Textural Healing

Year: 2016

Darcin – Castor Volant (2009)

No Type

• Drone 
• Avant-garde 
• Experimental electronica 
• Space music 
• Minimalism 
• Experimentalism 
• Microtonal 
• Sound art 
• Abstract 
• Ambient drone

Comment: let’s keep reviewing in the vein of the discography of Montrèal, Canada-based No Source/Panospria imprint. Nicolas Dion aka Darcin`s issue is an undoubtedly methodical listening because these three pieces used to unveil throughout 67 minutes. Furthermore, the compositions are quite disparate; especially the second track Bonus Piano is something of a cut-up sort, where silence is varied with very short, wispy sonic bits. Later on, all those bits will be subjected to unsteady wobbling. It would be interesting to know why the artist decided for the sake of this kind of composition. Given that I am just feeling myself fairly curious to know the rationale of such a sort of dividing line, however, the track is fabulous. Castor Volant is the lengthiest composition on it, unveiling its brilliant nature throughout a span of 33 minutes. It is the contemporary kind of drone music being in general produced for small tape imprints with small print-runs oftentimes residing at Bandcamp. Furthermore, it is the contemporary sort of minimalism while listening to this immense piece one can perceive tickling sensations coming out of those incessantly undulating waves, which will be broadening the more the 33-minute course reaches the end. In a word, it is a gentle, in-depth psychedelic experience. Bonus Process could similarly be categorized as drone music though its accents are a little bit different. More profoundly, it is more abstract chiming like the sound of the engine of a space rocket having reached a very remote distance from Earth. Because of that it could be admitted to be a part of ambient drone music/space music. It is similarly captivating and laid-back though its method is set up otherwise. In a nutshell, the outing is a fascinating issue, which even would predict the hype of analogue-based drone music some years before. It is mesmerizing how Nicolas Dion excels at producing and investigating minutiae within the soundscape. Get it now. Yeah. 

Avec Silenzi - Indelicada

[Teaser of the day] The Impossebulls - The More Things Change

Free Music Archive

• Hip-hop
• Rap
• Urban music

Artist: The Impossebulls

Release: Back To It b/w 5X5

Label: blocSonic

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Golden Duck Orchestra - Alien

Jamendo

• Electro-rock
• Synth rock
• Pomp rock
• Pop rock
• Dance rock

Artist: Golden Duck Orchestra

Release: Golden Duck Orchestra 1st EP

Label: Jamendo

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Dee Yan-Key - Way Home

Jamendo

• Easy listening
• Chill out
• DIY
• Brass pop
• Electronic pop
• Mood music

Artist: Dee-Yan-Key

Release: Lo-Fi Lounge

Label: Jamendo

Year: 2016

[Teaser of the day] Archètypo 120 - Angels Fall

MiMi

• Post-punk
• Alternative rock
• Coldwave
• New Wave
• Gothic rock
• Indie rock

Artist: Archètypo 120

Release: Obsession 

Label: MiMi

Year: 2012

Koji Maruyama – Comune (2016)

MiMi

• Modern classical 
• Minimalism 
• Post-classical 
• Art music 
• Piano music 
• Improvised music

Comment: it happened about one year ago when I reviewed the Japanese musican Koji Maruyama`s issue Isos being released on Totokoko imprint in 2015 where I got acquainted with his exquisite modern classical music. In those days the artist commingled the genre with concrete sounds, however, in general his brand new one is without organic sounds (the only exception is Venice). In spite of it, this 5-notch issue is a wondrous one where Maruyama searches for balance between free flow and more determined compositions. For instance, Venice, and op. 344 are lovely piano music based improvisations, on the other side, Aoi Hasu, which can be considered the central composition due to its length and emphasis is a remarkably more minimalism oriented pace, which is based on vowel bits to be teetered between the stereo channels and suggestive iterations and subtle droning atop. Inside the track it gets switchbacked again and again in a  magnificent mode. Uzume is a very short yet the funniest whistling on the release with occasional orchestrations. Indeed, due to it the track does have inner impetus to evolve into a full-fledged one. In a word, it is a cute issue in the discography of MiMi Records.   

Smut – Conveniently Broken (2015)

Bandcamp

• Alternative rock 
• Indie rock 
• Shitgaze 
• Noise rock 
• Cover 
• Lo-fi 
• Psych-rock 
• Garage rock

Comment: Smut is a combo/trio from Miami, Florida, The United States Of America, whose sound is fraught with pointed guitar noises, diffuse drumming and husky female-led vocals yet preserving a welcome laid-back attitude during this 14-minute session. Stylistically it comes out of the tradition of the so-called shitgaze genre, which powerfully appeared approximately 10 years ago. However, it is a logical point in the tradition of noise and garage rock. One song from a bunch of 5 compositions is By Tomorrow being a cover of the cult compatriots Black Tambourine. I like the trio’s attitude of being no hurry to reach one end point followed by another. Just relax and keep up going in that pace. Ultimately the issue sounds like a long, integrated track altogether. The issue is a follow-up to Matter That Soils or Blackens (2014).