Anubi - Perdition Is My Queen EP (2011)

42 Records/24

8.9

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

Comment: It is quite difficult to generalize this 4-pieced issue - it chimes as rock`n`roll as The Fall and The Brian Jonestown Massacre used to have done. During most of its course it showcases quite straightforward sonic spine with some exceptional dashes of psychedelia and galvanically artistic minutiae (using violins and organs for it) dipping out its power from the extremities of the pop scene and melting it into an "understandable" form of art.

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Velvet Embracer

The Vaselines: Live at Primavera Sound Festival 5/28/2009 (2009)

Free Music Archive

9.0

/Jangle pop, Alternative pop/rock, Indie pop, Twee pop/

Comment: The Vaselines is a Scottish duo consisting of Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee firstly being surfaced in 80s (1986-1990) as part of then twee/jangle pop scene. Quite paradoxically, they got some fame as one of the favorite bands by all our beloved Kurt Cobain (by the way, Nirvana covered three of their songs). This gig was recorded at the famous Primavera festival including their best songs represented over here (Molly`s Lips; Jesus Does Not Want Me A Sunbeam; Slushy; Sex Sux, You Think You`re A Man; Oliver Twisted etc). Honestly, I have long awaited for the revival of those seemingly simple yet catchy infiltrated guitar strums and joyous even groovy drum patterns of 80`s guitar bands. This is a honest example of indie`n`roll.

Gennaro Molino – Dub Land (2011)

Deepindub

9.5

/Dub, Tech-dub, Electronic dub, Minimal techno/

Comment: Undubiously Molino aka Dubbemo`s new, 4-track EP rocks your dub-coloured socks off. More punctually, your tech-dub-striped socks off. The first track Orion is the most atmospherical, hypno-stepped appearance on it (or should I say - the most contemplative - on it?). All the album is really enjoyable by the side of drifting refinely between the washes of ambience and soothing beats, however, reminiscent of the outputs by Basic Channel, a Berlin-based legendary duo, and the British ambient dub/techno legend the Orb either. Yet, Molino does have its own way, and it is really great. Believe me this guy from Naples is a wizard.

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.