sanmi - schizophrenic glitched girl (2011)

Elegirl

9.1

/Toytronica, IDM, Glitchtronica, Microtonal, Organic electronica, Minimal, Experimental electronica/

Comment: this is a lovely project by a lovely recording label from Japan, called Elegirl. Sanmi is an unit started out in 1998. Kyo Sanagi provides a 6-track issue of more or less restraint glitch electronica, i.e undulantly dinging and chiming (at times embraced by sublime noisy hiss washes) or a bit nervously fluttering right and left, respectively. Inspite of its dominantly austere construction it used to evoke a loads of beatific senses and nostalgic memories as if popped out from the very early childhood. It rings out as if Steve Reich`s sonic principles (especially related to Drumming) were thought for to perform them with the help of austere electronic devices and circuit bends. Less is more for sure.

Casket Sludge - The Contents Within Permeate With Necrotic Reek (2011)

Torn Flesh

9.0

/Goregrind, Brutal metal, Avant-metal, Experimental metal, Non music/

Comment: Do you know where can be drawn the distinct frontier between the areas of goregrind and grindcore? Indeed, along the realm, out from where awful kinds of objects begin to surface (excrements, sexual perversity, vomit, necrophilia, brain tumors, schizophrenia, visceral entities etc). (Be very careful if you are intended to check out the sleeves of albums issued on Popsakal, for instance). Goregrind is previously the most banished stylistical lot with enormous brutality and showed up with distorted outlook. Obviously in the former Soviet Union such guys would have been imprisoned in psychiatric hospitals to be cured for (along with political dissidents, by the way). Indeed, mental illnesses and social deflexions are the productions of society (directly and indirectly - depending on the definitions of sanity by certain societies). On the other side, life is a vast theatrical stage where role plays begin to appear. First of all, I like those spectacular prototypes and instruments appeared in Casket Sludge - Moe "Spermblaster" Lest(h)er -pukes & growl - gurgling formaldehyde phlegm throat; Mr. Gorecyst - torso ripping string shreds; Cacophallus - digital pummelling of rotten flesh. If you want to get more involved in absurdity then erstwhile explore the titles of songs and album coverprint. The business as usual - at the first sight there is huge entropy everywhere, i.e through zombie-like moaning and destructive noodling, yet, which have managed to ascend to the organized level of composition ultimately. It always works out.

Spherical Minds - Transpheres (2011)

Archive.org
Lastfm

9.3

/Post-rock, Dub, Chamber rock, Epic, Ambient, Crossover, Avant-rock, Classical, Organic electronica, Minimal/

Comment: Honestly, I don`t have any reprimand against the third album of this French quartet (Paul Chantereau - bass & fxs; Valentin Chantereau - piano & keys; Mathieu Maestracci - guitars & other instruments; Clement Vullion- drums), which used to mix up epic post-rock pannels with chamber/classical music, profound ambient experiments, shamanic incantations, medieval etherealness, dub, and ruffled electronica/glitch inbetween it. While the frenchmens` sound is arguably influenced by such composers and artists as Steve Reich, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Kai Saariaho, Igor Stravinski, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, High Tone, Ez3kiel etc, they used to bring forth an idiosyncratic result on its own - however, for everyone is there something about to record for him/herself. The favorite of mine is Kokkola Transition where female singing in Finnish is whimsically reversed, backed up with acidic electronic, dub, and massive rock forays.

The Charlatans - You Cross My Path (2008)

XFM
Cooking Vinyl
Lastfm

9.4

/Britpop, Alternative pop/rock, Psychedelic rock, Dance rock, Post-punk/

Comment: The Charlatans surfaced in the beginning of 90`s to become one of the most important Britpop/indie groups of the decade in the UK. While they embarked on as a baggy-influenced psychedelic rock/Madchester/indie dance combo along with Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets, Happy Mondays and many less known ones they later designed their sound into more crowd-appealed aesthetics. More concretely, they embraced the elements of northern soul and blues, respectively. They were fronted up by Tim Burgess, a narcissist singer who was certainly an exemplar for many teenagers of how to cut their hairdos (for me as well). Tellin` Stories released in 1997, one of the best years in pop music ever, was certainly a great album, moreover, having managed to got the highest ranking in the British pop chart.
As usual, You Cross My Path is filled in with psychedelic, Hammond-driven sound, yet, which is backed up with variegating, upbeat paces/and breakbeats and Burgess`s uplifting singing. By the way, regarding Charla`s sound, I firstly perceived for some post-punk-ish bass lines played up by Martin Blunt ever. In a nutshell, because of having no chinks in its armour, the album rings out as an almost perfect pop rock example. So let`s enjoy the biggest stalwart appeared at Recent music heroes so far.

Possimiste - Behind The Seas

Snorkel Quintet - 3 (2011)

pan y rosas

8.6

/Improvised music, Fusion, Experimental rock, Avant-rock, Live session/

Comment: Snorkel Quintet is an improvisation/experimental combo descending from the southern part of the American continent. The 2-piece session was recorded at LAKarraka, extending from gravelly sonic patterns, synth-conjured lunkers and restrained, metallic-hued electro-acoustic ambience to galvanized progressions based on motorik fusion and delicately drawn feedbacks. In the meantime some subtle flute-based wispiness and kind of sampled subtlety can also be apprehended for.

Unfactory - She Bleeds (2008)

Jamendo
Af-music
Lastfm

7.2

/Post-punk, Gothic, Alternative pop/rock, Electro-rock, Pomp rock, Crossover/

Comment: this is a 5-track release by a collective from Florianòpolis, Brazil, which is inclined to reveal dark-hued, post-punk-hooked and electro-drenched pop rock. Buzzing and bubbling synths, and weird "bugs" are hearable in the soundscape at times. The coverprint measures up to. While it is a pompous one (or exactly because of it), the issue seems not to be the deepest fish in the ocean. A sort of AOR for radio shows.