Quell Figure - Roots (2011)

U-Torn

8.7

/Drum and bass, Jungle, Experimental techno, Experimental electronica, Breakbeat, Crossover/

Comment: the Russian Daniil Kasperovich`s 8-track album is influenced by intelligent dance music, sultry techno, off-kilter drum and bass/jungle and poignant breaks, this way reflecting upon its own progressions as well. However, the programmed beats are at times varied with brooding piano chords.

Proviant Audio - Mushrooms EP (2009)

Sojus Records Network

9.3

/Nu-jazz, House, Acid jazz, Afrobeat, Sampledelic, Cut and paste, Crossover, Sound collage/

Comment: during the last days I have reviewed lots of such sort of albums having its very point focused upon sampledelic basic, catchy trip-hop/hip-hop grooves. The Norwegian Mathias Stubø`s work (being then in the age of 17 years old) shows up much similarity with such kind of music, yet demonstrating more affinity toward catchy nu-jazz, psychedelic afrofuturism and looping house music. Furthermore, including peculiar spoken word lines (cigarette is a very democrate instrument). In conclusion, it is really expressive and impressive.

Johan Reinhold - Shoot Me Down

Bobby Baby - The Some Place New

Tim Chaplin - The '80's Girls EP (2008)

23 Seconds

9.2

/Covers, Singer-songwriter, Alt-folk, Indie folk, Folk indie, DIY/

Comment: the British singer-songwriter and experimental musician Tim Chaplin is covering a handful of hits from the 80`s. Here is Westworld`s Silver Mac, Kirsty MacColl`s They Don`t Know, Yazoo`s Only You, and Roxette`s It Must Have Been Love. Twanging guitars and convincingly accentuated are loftily wrapped up by lo-fi-esque intimate ambience and gritty hiss. Indeed, let`s break on through to the other side of those beloved songs.

Ars Sonor & Meklabor - Box of Matches (2011)

Eg0cide

9.4

/Drone, Ambient, Dystopbient, Ambient drone, Ambient noise, Soundscapes, Epic, Minimal/

Comment: this 4-track is an intricate compromise between lush ambient soundscapes and epic drone pulsation created by Laetitia Schteinberg (Ars Sonor), and D. Vlasov (Meklabor) who are supported by the well known drone musician Mystified ( playing flute) in one track. More concretely, the album is a majestic drift between bleak and whistling sonic plateaus, as if murmuring its wishes over the metallic landscapes and wrathful hills. Great.

ShakySuperFly - Don't Sweat the Neon Fever (2011)

Dystopiaq

8.8

/Trip-hop, Hip-hop, Sampledelic, Cut and paste, Sound collage, Urban music/

Comment: 9 tracks which end up at the length of 21 minutes. More profoundly, all the tracks are cut up to the pieces of hip-hop, propulsive sultry samples, "accidental" spoken word snippets and primitivistic electronica. A solid reflection of the urban sampled tapestry.