Rollin Hunt - Dear People Of The World (2008)

Lost Frog

8.6

/Primitive pop, Lo-fi, Outsider pop, Singer-songwriter, DIY/

Comment: Chicago, Illinois-based artist Rollin Hunt began recording Dear People of the World in his Chicago bedroom using a karaoke machine with a keyboard, drum machine, guitar and microphone. It is an intimate, funest 15-track recording because of doing it at the evening of the death of his father in 2002. By its primitivistic approach, however, the whole reminds of the deeds by Jandek at times.

The Hirundu - The Return To Swill Mountain (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.5

/Dark ambient, Experimental electronica, Ambient noise, Sound-art, Ambient drone, Noise, Microtonalism, Minimal, Avant-garde, Experimentalism/

Comment: The Return To Swill Mountain was the first album released by Johnny Crewdson in 2011. More detailly, it is a massive exploration on droning snippets, minimal yet englutting brown noises and microtonal thudding, often surrounded by ghastly (dark) ambient mist which at times is "illuminated" with the glimpses of ancient human voice samples or more "recognized" electronic music (electronica) and shimmering electro-acoustic facades. By the main intention this 8-track publication can have common parts with the likes of Pan Sonic, Caustic Reverie, slept., Frank Bretschneider, The Vitrines, Morgen Mittag, and Marc Broude. An eminent album by any means.

Phantom Vibration - Growing EP (2011)

Bandcamp
Lastfm

8.9

/Dream pop, Americana, Alternative, Baroque pop, Tropical pop, Psychedelic pop, Experimental indie, Sunshine pop, Post-pop/

Comment: honestly, Phantom Vibration`s (Daniel Clinton-McCausland, Henry Mackaman, and Gunnar Kauth) debut issue Kids EP offered an amazing listening experience, more concretely, which was forged off into the blend of organ-driven dream pop and americana-based sensibility. The follow-up Growing EP continues running on a similar sunshine pop-fringed path, though, having more air and glockenspiel exercises within it. In a nutshell, while the debut album was more appealing, the sophomore one is worth enough to be given a try. Let`s wait for their planned third EP in a row. The trio is certainly worth to be much more recognized.

Knyaz Mishkin - Live in Soligorsk

Jelani - Wait, You Can Rap?!?! (2008)

Notherground Music
Archive.org
Lastfm

8.8

/Hip-hop,  Cinematic, Urban music, Funk, Soul, Rap/

Comment: Jelani, a hip-hop musician from the Big Apple has been a part of Notherground Music (the fine platform for a circle of DIY hip-hop artists). However, this is certainly of the the strongest albums within it. 12 tracks do demonstrate catchy rhyme settings and enthralling orchestrations (with psychedelic, acid-soaked synths here nad there) and danceable funky beats and blissed-out soul touches in the background. He is assisted by label mates 6th Sense, and Wildabeast, and Mike Maven used to feature in some tracks.

Rainier Lericolais - Adagio Ma Non Tanto (2007)

Tripostal
Lastfm

9.4

/Electro-acoustic, Psycho-acoustic, Film noir, Modern classical, Chamber music, Acousmatic, Organic electronica, Experimentalism, Spoken word, Avant-garde, Sound-art, Noise/

Comment: an eminent 5-track leap by the French electroacoustic/avant-garde musician/sound-artist Rainier Lericolais. Indeed, organic sonic tissue meets the haunting waves of blurred electronica and film noir-patterned curtains which in turn are interwoven with japanese spoken word snippets and vowel effects. Chamber music? Indeed. Ultimately it makes out as an instance of otherworldly experience. I am not sure that those elves possibly audible above there would be well-intentioned on its own...or maybe not. All in all, it is a monumental masterpiece and it does make difference. Beausty-full.

Five Star Debauchery - Five Star Debauchery (2011)

Kill Mommy
Lastfm

8.8

/Punk rock, Alternative pop/rock, Fuzz rock, Blues, Folk rock, Singer-songwriter/

Comment: only good words can I say about this Kentucky-rooted musician`s debut album. These 20 relatively short-running tracks are played up with the help of twanging and fuzzy guitars, harmonica-relied whiffs, and appealingly striking voice (actually you can clearly perceive how he used to love his enterprise). Taylor stands at the crossroad of American roots music (blues, folk and rock`n`roll) and punk respectively. While the release is created with the bunch of ordinary rock instruments Taylor is able to churn lots of modalities and accents on it. Inspite of conjuring up either dreamy jitters or making more straightforward drive sometime, however, his concept is highly enjoyable and hitting all the time. Rock and roll must go on.