Cave Bears - Jazz Hands (2011)

Free Music Archive

9.0

/Improvised music, Non-music, Noise, Avant-garde, Psych-music, Freeformfreakout, New Weird America, Primitivism, Psycho-acoustic, Experimentalism/

Comment: it is said that Cave Bears is the incredibly bizarre, noise-drenched, brain-damaged sound exploration project of pre-school teacher Nick Williams, Carrie Bren & friends. Indeed, I can only agree with the statement. The issue embarks on with noiseful, angst-loaded screaming forays which are backed up with the blurred electro-acoustic dust and digital crackles and hiss in the background. Moreover, at times it used to run on primitivistic mode. In the second track it is sampled a sober melody from very far past which soon gets conquered and displaced with the destructive landscape. All in all, this 3 long-track album is an improvisational freakout act, reminding of some Finnish free improvisational combos (Kemialliset Ystävät; Hipsu Jänis; Vierivä Viiksiportieeri) or the Brazil-based nu wave noise acts (Keroøàcidu Suäväk; LFC) or the Portugal-based traveller Xarhope or the Estonian combos Kreatiivmootor, Tuljak, Autharktos, EDASI.

Marc Broude - Maladaptive Daydreaming

3 Way Split - Trifarious Assault (2011)

Torn Flesh

9.0

/Grindcore, Noise, Brutal metal, Cybergrind, Crust punk, Post-metal; Doom metal/

Comment: I love this split recorded by three artists and issued on Torn Flesh Records. Indeed, it is ill-natured and a little bit sick, yet, offering up much energy which pours out from the walls of grindcore and doom-veiled anxiousness and angriness. Their posture while gourmandizing the mire assisted by ultra heavy guitars and permanently punching drums and "throat singing" is truly impressive. In true, there are up three artists - What Makes a Time Bomb Tick; Dog Snot; Skull Incision - who convey the brutal forays of metal, and demented punk (or just call this combination grindcore-ish as I mentioned it already above). However, Skull Incision displays more electronic visions differentiated with the help of pure, digital noise-inflected strikes and slaps. An intense yet matter-of-fact listening.

The Never Years - Beko_98 (2011)

Beko DSL
Lastfm

9.2

/Chillwave, Glo-fi, Electronic pop, Poptronica, Dreamwave, Experimental indie, Alternative/

Comment: behind this project is none else than Jamie Long who was previously known writing electronic-soaked pop music under his own name. Now he is back with a handful of tracks running on the verge and soaring over the plateaus of chillwave/glo-fi plateaus. There are represented blissed-out and lucid ones appearing like the episodes of an unforgettable dream. Let`s call it just panoramic pop which used to gluttonize the stars.

Simon Bird - V (2011)

Bandcamp

9.3

/Poptronica, Post-psychedelic electronica, DIY, Epic, Shoegazetronica, Electronic pop, Experimental indie/

Comment: Simon himself sent me this album and he did it f..king rightly indeed. He is a young composer from Dublin, Ireland who makes an astonishing sound comprising the elements of solemn-angled shoegaze, sober post-psychedelic electronica, DIY-ish "wastelands" and "junkyards" backed up with the "disaffected" rhythms of big beat and downtempo. You could call it urban tribalism if you wish. While you can see the traces drawn upon the likes of Fuck Buttons, M83, and Seefeel, yet, his sound seems to be even more variable thus being more powerful and sympathetic (except Seefeel). Unlike M83 Bird`s sound is not heavily soaked in sugar or so monotonously running regarding vis-à-vis with Fuck Buttons. His project can also be compared with Superficial Random Knowledge Porridge, a mesmerizing Sankt Peterburg, Russia-based duo. However, for instance, listen to Bird`s track Baphomet Vs. The Great Winged Horse II and you can probably see the dubliner does have a huge potential to be discovered and approved. A great output of 5 tracks for sure.

Shelby Sifers - The Food Pyramid

Athletes in Paris - Heartbeat (2011)

Bandcamp

8.5

/Remixes, Alternative pop/rock, House, Soul, Dance rock, Speed garage, Alternative dance, Electro/

Comment: it is a quintet from UK, offering up a single with 5 versions/remixes of it. Indeed, yet bubblegum-ish, dance-appealed track Heartbeat will further be buried under the layers of synthetic sound and natural drum beat will be displaced by house vibes and frequencies in the most dramatic remix by Francophilippe Little Bit Daft Punk Edit which consists of vocoder effects and glamorous ambiance within it. There is also dull 80`s DiscoTape Remix, an acoustic version at BBC 6 Music Live Session, speed garage-ish/electro-soaked/jungle-infected Stevey P Remix, and more soul-tinged AJS Remix.