Various Artists - Sampler 2011 (2011)

rx:tx

9.0

/Dub, Dubtronica, Electronic pop, Electro pop, Robo pop, Experimental electronica/

Comment: This is a set of 13 tracks by the rx:tx records which has promoted Slovenian (new) electronic music for the last ten years. The first tracks of the compilation does have its spot on dub(-related) music reflecting it through more and less hypnotical points of view (in true, the first track, Dpek`s I Go Sunshine has usurped chillwave-ish gleam). However, the residual part will subside into more electro(nic) approach offering memorable moments from robot-and sex-appealed pop (Wanda & Nova deViator) and 8-bit/electro/atmospheric pop (Jovan) to a flickering electronic gliding (8Bitch) and oddly immersed orchestrations (Errorist) and majestic, spherically soothing shifts (AgoTela). However, the last tracks used to search for dub influences once again. A tough miscellany indeed.

Bark Cat Bark - Mathilde`s First Waltz

Conveyor - Sun Ray EP (2011)

Bandcamp

9.4

/Psychedelic, Post-psychedelic, Free folk, Electronic pop, Art pop, New Weird America, Experimental indie, Glo-fi, Poptronica/

Comment: The debut EP by a Brooklyn-based combo is simply mesmerizing. Exuberant vocal lines backed by psychedelic, catchy synth-coated guitar strums remind by its core of the songwriting of Animal Collective (especially in the title song). But not only this is a case. The closure track Milkman plays up synth chords as similar as Air used to show up on their first albums (1998-2001). Through the same hole will run Foreword as well. Yes, Some Things Are So Heavy is one of the finest examples could be found out in 2011 - a fantastic instance of chord/stylistic progressions and vowel demonstration. This 4-pieced EP just cannot be forgotten.

fydhws/bc ranger/Gravity's End - Split (2011)

Mediafire

9.3

/Post-rock, Experimental rock, Instrumental rock, Avant-rock, Epic/

Comment: This is a split album compiled of tracks by 3 talented artists. fydhws is a musician from Macedonia who used to develop one of the most intricate post-rock soundscapes worldwide at the moment. This might be described as an instance of instrumental rock music made up through the methodology based on sound art/sound modulation. On the other side, bc_ ranger (from Ukraine) and Gravity End`s (from Germany) play up more established yet excellent riff based epic rock sound borrowing from the realms of metal, musique concrète, and spoken word. However, all of those rich textures and majestic vibes are fulfilled with lots of good memories and endless melancholy. Beautiful.

Exihibition Poland and the Helmut Orchestra - Poland Skulls (2011)

Paragrafo

9.2

/Psych-rock, Classical music, Dark ambient, Avant-metal, Avant-garde, Experimentalism, Ambient, Avant-rock, Crossover, Sampledelic/

Comment: Similarly to all of those issues released on the Italian label Paragrafo Records, this set of 13 tracks reflects upon a very strange mix of experimental music veering from Bardo Bond-esque slowly grooving psych/drone rock/metal and panoramic (dark) ambient to the snippets based on piano driven classical music being blended with Latin-hued rhythms or ancient sounds (resembling of Caretaker) and such kinds of sounds having no source and time. At times these sounds are slightly mutilated or seamlessly growing from one genre to another one. However, everyone can fix up this puzzle in its own way. An impressive accomplishment for sure.

Keshco - Real Sharp Twig

Peter Swimm - Live from Blip Festival 2011 (2011)

Free Music Archive

8.8

/Live recording, Tracker music, Chiptune, Crossover, Electro pop, Metal, Experimental metal/

Comment: This is a frenzied live session consisting of 6 tracks (the total time consists of 22 minutes). Peter Swimm fuses a rare but potent meting pot of metal/digital grindcore/doom and electro beats which are heavily dominated by gimlet-eyed chiptune/tracker music throbs and bleeping. Doom Cuties features B.Leo, a frontman from another chiptune-based experimental combo Shrimps. Swimm rocks off like a truesome rock star ever had. So let`s dance.