Blogiarhiiv

1/15/2011

Coolrunnings Babes Forever EP (Dracula Horse/Bandcamp)


The Knoxvillian trio Coolrunnings by Brandon Biondo, Forrest Ferguson and Elliott White have published two EPs (Buffalo; Babes Forever) during the August of 2010. However, I like the latter one more - the discussion is not going only around the coverprint. Here can be drawn out some essential characteristics which will be occurred via magic runs on (post-)psychedelic ecstasy and (pseudo) religious hysterics. It can be imagined as if a formula consisting of 40 percent on Animal Collective and Arcade Fire and 20 per cent on The Dandy Warhols respectively. Indeed, although both releases include wide-range musical imageries as broadly as the same, seems Babes Forever to be a more fluid and organic one. Moreover, the borders between the illusions, dreams and reality are blurred through encapsulated lyrics having added much impression to the whole contribution. The issue is full of essentially sublime moments, for instance the track like Better Things When I Got High With You shining out in a bombastic manner. Or Trippin` Balls At Der Wienerschnitzel which embarks on arrogantly rough synths similar to The Ganglians thereafter developing into the sublime rise of symphonic accompaniment on ecstatic drive. In fact, between those mentioned drifts can be found out for much more minutiae and detailed expressions. Or the self-titled song`s hypnotic drumming introduction and the followed sudden change of direction, and subsequently its re-formation again. The ending notch Slumberland is going on about the quintessential evidence once again to be commended through the orchestral brass arrangements being finally resulted in highly potent loftiness. In other words, a kind of vanguard pop which on the other side betrays the trio`s healthy desire toward the charts. Indeed, the six tracks form a whole which is plentiful of pop potential. In any cases, I will keep my fingers crossed.

Listen to it here

9.5

[Compilation] Various Artists - 23 Evergreens Vol.2 (23 Seconds)


The Gothenburg-based label 23 Seconds has been a crisscrosser of different indie styles or at least strongly indie-infused electronic pop genres for some years. Here represented 23 tracks released inbetween 2008-2010 do offer a proper overview about the backbone of the label. No doubt, the selection compiled by H Johan Lundin and Jesper Larsson is decent enough reflecting upon some exceptions as well - hip-hop (Dynamo 414; Conspiracy of Mind) and trance-induced bubblegum rave (Clone DJ) and post-metal (The Big Sleep In Search Of Hades). The other artists include Henrik Josè, Azoora, Jenifer Avila, Shampoo Tears, Azeda Booth, Adam & Alma, Ixtlan, Danish Daycare, Cosmic Spring, The Womb, Azoora, Can`t Stop The Daggers, and Emerald Park.

Listen to it here

1/14/2011

[Artists] Tolmunud Mesipuu



Tolmunud Mesipuu
Myspace
Lastfm

Evan Connolly The Pagans Fight Back (Evan Connolly)


Jam sessions and 17 tracks? Does it foretell us about something bourgeoisiely suspicious actually? Fortunately it does not reach the longitude of 2 hours or more, The Pagans Fight Back does not keep moving into the annoying sessions of predictable sonic patterns and boring cadences. Short improvisation sessions played up on electrified guitars and dynamic bass, vertically downward stomping drums and shimmering hi-hats bring forth a joyous synergy, reminiscent of CAN`s interplays between Michael Karoli and Holger Czukay or the doings by Burrito and Replicast as well. In fact, Evan Connolly (previously known as J2M2 and consisting of James, Mike, Matt, and Jason) might be the best model of jam sessions via joking speech interludes or instant experimental upturns (weird electronic music and sound effects) juxtaposed on music. The kind of stripped-down approach which makes up an interesting workout. Indeed, the quartet was inspired by the group Novels, when they recorded their Novels EP without previously writing any music or lyrics. So they decided to do the same thing in their friend's room, having recorded for 49 minutes and 15 seconds, and edited it down to 17 tracks within 32 minutes. Altogether, by wrapping up the album they have had lots of good time so will you get it as well.

Listen to it here

9.3

1/12/2011

MMOSS i (Bandcamp)


This Bostonian quartet sounds as if the late period Beatles meets the 60`s (British) psychedelia and folk-ish outsprings, and even Inspiral Carpets-alike baggy-infused grooves and Spacemen 3/early Spiritualized-esque roughly fluttering long chords at times. The 18 trippy paths on dusty keyboards (Hammond and Farfisa organs), spaced-out flutes and horns, doo wop-ish backdrops, a bit mutated yet suggestive vocal lines and whimsical rhythms and some irregular instruments like shruti box, dulcimer and cellos or just the unusual approach of the drums in the embodiment of shamanic vibe bounce sets are stretched out to be formed up into astonishing universes. Sometimes it will be "forgotten" to keep moving on drone-ish mode. Full of great harmonies and catchy turns, having found out its magnificent balance between the kind of hippy prog and experimental touch, between the tendencies of going toward the past and nowadays.

Listen to it here

9.7

1/07/2011

Bosques de mi Mente Otoño (Clinical Archives/CRLM Office)


The Spanish artist Bosques de mi Mente (translated as Forests of my mind) is being one of those one-man projects having got huge response under Clinical Archives, CRLM Office, and Jamendo. Since 2007, as a "home artist" therein, he has released 5 albums to date. His music is spotted mainly upon the piano-based modern classic backbone, fringed at times by strong found sound and post-rock influences.

Otoño is a record with the longitude of more than 100 minutes of 27 tracks relied entirely upon live improvisations, recorded during 6 days of the fall of 2010. Aside the silence as impossible conversation (as it was sung by Malcolm Mooney of CAN by-and-by) there are intimate yet affective, mainly minor piano chords, spoken word snippets and wide-range samples (from baby babbles and adult people clashes to elderly individuals` memories), musique concrete-drenched flickers and some violins by Sergio Trujillo, all in all filling in your listening times with the restraint sense and playing up the sparse environment over you, thereby offering a sole realm for thinking of your thoughts and planning your future deeds. Of course, some more radical turns and dodges are up here to be driven into huge impact (Berceuse Macabre) All is rolling on in a silent and minimal way, indeed. It might not be Bosques` best notch but a very solid one nevertheless.

Listen to it here

8.8