[Compilation] Between Two Waves – Vol. C (EardrumsPop)

Actually it did not happen much time ago when I reviewed one compilation (Between Two Waves - Vol. A) under EardrumsPop which consisted fundamentally of two-sided collaborations. In any cases, I am not able to put the temptation aside for not reviewing another one too because of my orthodox indie nature was came to the forefront with those 14 songs again. In a word, here is another great collection of songs shuffling inbetween jangle pop, dream pop, slightly folk-driven indie pop and also some more contemporary sounds are thrown over here (of course I referred to dream-alike electronic/chillwave undercurrents here). Although without whimsical tricks basically, in principle, the whole seems to be really virtuous in the vein of old indie tunes having lots of catchy angles and edges and refreshing air letting you feel yourself free. No doubt, you need to be relaxed and having some distance from effect-loaded pop experimentalism at least for some time. Here is one track that really imprisoned me during last days. Indeed, The Hurries (Sundae + Girl Alliance)`s Not That Easy sounds out as if hinting at a neutral zone between Pet Shop Boys and Mojave 3 somewhere.

Listen to it here

Artner 11:40 (Budabeats)

At 11.40 are presented 5 brainchilds within 22 minutes by Daniel Artner (also known as dyspeptic) who has made out a fine mix of psychedelic funk, cinematic jazz, blue-coloured trip-hop, fringed by string lines, hip-hop scratches and speech samples at times. Shuffling broken beats/downbeats, dusty organs, Miles Davis-esque trumpets, dynamic guitar lines, subtle brass samples, lone piano chords, and soothing flutes are the instruments here searching for different combinations with each other creating up climax-touched variations and afrobeat-alike easiness. Indeed, it is in a smart way layered oeuvre emboding different roles as entertainer and as brain dance notch. If you like the sounds from Bristol or the acts under Ninja Tune, Dusted Wax Kingdom and other similar labels, in this case, this issue is certainly for you. And not only for you.

Listen to it here

9.2

Children Of Ishizuke Tree Chameleon Straship (Clinical Archives)

In the first place I want to admit that the more I listen to this double LP (in total of 112 minutes) the more I fall in love with it. A duo from Minsk, Belarus, makes a subtle guitar-based dream pop music. If you are keen to draw parallels upon in a big manner, indeed, it sounds as if an equivalent version of post-rock version of Mercury Rev`s Desertoir Songs (1998) at times, altogether being described as ambient rock or atmospheric post-rock. Moreover, a sophomore album by Alexander Haletski and Marina Bartosh incorporates the elements of repetitronica, void-filled ambient/dystopbient/dark ambient, soothing drone wraiths, spoken word tunes and even some distant echoes of the ethnic music from East Asia. Alternatively, it might be a kind of lo-fi music in the midst of ambient shimmerings or a sort of underweighted My Bloody Valentine as well. This is an album through the essential touch!

Listen to it here

9.4

New Animal New Animal (New Animal)

New Animal is a duo from Atlanta, consisting of Kris Hermstad and Derek Burdette. Recently the duo issued their self-titled album, compiled of 15 tracks. Actually their similarity with Animal Collective is not incidental on the name level only as having much broader touch through shimmering soundscapes and blissful milieu as well. Of course, they are more contemporary (i.e blissfully arranged) group incorporating a little chillwave and glo-fi elements as well. All of it can be seen via psychotic singing manners, repeated psychedelic loops, and impressive (even epic) overdrives, all in all, those mixed electronic pop currents and acoustic folk indie grounds do make out a subtle post-crossover (or post-Animal Collective) approach. Apparently it could be called as animated indie or spiritualized disco too. Really outstanding/transcending moments are embodied in such songs as All I Want Is Gone, Grow Back Out, They Don`t Know, Kill The Lights. In fact, something similar happened about one year ago as well when another duo named as Magic Man released their Real Life Color. Indeed, New Animal might be one of the best candidate for the top album of 2011 at today`s hour already.

Listen to it here

9.7

Dmitriy Rodionov Experience - Invisible Parts of Absurd Images (Noecho)

Since 1999 the Russian guitarist Dmitriy Rodionov has recorded lots of albums, having revealed his sympathies on diverse record techniques and sound collages. His recent, 3-track album (initially recorded in 1999) kicks off proceeding with mystical poem snippets and dense electrified drone (in fact, the issue will be finished off in the same vein). In between it is fulfilled with the effects of reverse guitars, another kind of spoken word, dark ambient shreds, unclassified sonic dust, and cock-eyed guitar jams. A solid cutting edge work, reminding of some Muhmood`s (guitar and spoken word) work and the two collaboration results made out by Alexei Rafiev & Alexei Borisov (mysterious spoken word/poetry).

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9.2

[Artists] Poodlepay Arkestra

BFW Recordings
Myspace
Lastfm

Metawon & The Dirty Samples Toothface Swaggerfoot (Neferiu)

Who has previously had some experiences with Neferiu Records, a label from Calgary, Canada, this must know what kind of warped hip-hop turnabouts and urban trash could be expected for. A sort of hip-hop music which does evaluate more its sonic backdrops rather than manifesting vocal parts. Moreover, Toothface Swaggerfoot is in principle more for you if you have never cared of the different kind of rap music, for example, especially of gangsta rap which is used to talk to you in speech of women, guns, cars and tough guys. If the gangstas` message is used to just letting you shrugging your shoulders and their sonic backgrounds are obviously turned out to be colourless on its own.

Metawon and The Dirty Samples, the previously themselves proved gearheads, do make up a split which consists of 28 basically short hip-hop blasts, having suffused shuffling cadences with really cinematic samples in the first place. Secondly, the musicians are deeply involved in the realm of funk, jazz/downbeat, brass-orchestrated stabbings and soulful suggestions. On the third side, here can be hearded more weird turns at times, for instance, the space age pop samples reminiscent of Mort Garson, a cult Canuck from the 70s. All in all, a superb accomplishment representing a refreshing hip-hop approach.

Listen to it here

9.7