Nils Quak - On Sinking (2011)

Rural Colours
Bandcamp

9.2

/Ambient, Ambient noise, Shoegazetronica, Minimal, Experimental electronica, Dark ambient, Soundscapes/

Comment: Nils Quak is a musician from Cologne, Germany. By coming from the home city of the CAN, indeed it is such a fact which definitely does make difference. Yet, inspite of positive bias the 34-year-old Teuton`s soundscape makes vastly out on its own. In fact, at times it can even be compared to the sound of the legendary krautrockers, for instance, at Forever Fading throughout which one can perceive for some similar ambient-based vibrations and epic washes with Animal Waves (on Saw Delight, 1977). On the other side, it can be compared to Slowdive, Bowery Electric, and Bing Satellites as well. The kick-off track Please Let Me Rest is set into an "unstable" environment and thereby illuminated with borealic white heat. The second track A Rusting Down continues principially the same array of sounds, yet having acquired some minimal changes through a little more murky tonality in addition to fingerpicked guitars in the background. There Will Be No Harm is a contemplative vision brought forth via barely ringing glitch-like clinks and tremendously minimized flux of sonic particles. Altogether, a solid workout in the realm of experimental ambient music.

The Stereomovers - Waiting

Los Fusilados - Los Fusilados (2010)

Los Fusilados

8.6

/Agit-punk, Anarcho-punk, Punk rock, Psychobilly, Garage rock, Experimental rock, Blues rock, Spoken word/

Comment: This 16-track release is an example of truesomely exorcized agit-punk coming from Chile, from the South America, from a continent, which used to be one of the most revolutionary places all around the world during the last six decades at least. Indeed, the album seems to be presented without any compromises and courtesies, sung or manifested in Spanish either. The soundscape is filled with dizzy psychobilly and blues rock undercurrents, providing lots of key and pace changes within it. Unlikely to the punk music, they used to exploit the kind of snippets played up with harmonicas, making restraint sound-art and "covering" (i.e replaying/sampling) electronic dance music and Grease for once.

The Easton Ellises - EP One (2011)

Enough Records
Lastfm

9.0

/Nu rave, Alternative dance, Alternative rock, Indie dance, Electro-rock, Synth rock/

Comment: Alexandre Dionne aka Alex D and Simon Roy, a couple of residents from Montrèal, Quebec, were previously known as The Stereomovers (2000-2010) mixing up rock music with danceable beats. Moreover, beyond of it, before or in the meantime of the group`s activities they have practised sonic enterprises based on punk rock, trance beats and house music. Whatsoever, as a proof to their huge experience-based past the duo continues with their amalgamative manipulations on rock and very seesawing rhythms. Indeed, this 5-track issue is a crafty blend of sequencer-backed beats and hooks, high-energized nu rave aspirations and intoxicating harmonies. E-rock, as Alex & Simon have themselves described their sound. Although I am not used to be an idle proponent of the nowadays dance music, EP One makes really hugely sense. Good job, dudes.

Greenland Is Melting - Our Hearts are Gold, Our Grass is Blue (2011)

Greenland Is Melting
Bandcamp

8.5

/Bluegrass, Alt-country, Folk, Crossover, Southern music, Punk folk/

Comment: This is a trio from Gainesville, Florida, consisting of Karl Seltzer, Will Dueease, and Shaun Pereira. They mainly do play a upbeat folk/country music with some influences of punk, vaudevillian appearances, bluegrass, and brass music. All is played on a variety of diverse instruments like banjo, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, pedal steel, harmonica, trumpet, bass drum and fiddle. The lyrics represented here do tend to carry more or less careless attitude upon the bittersweet minutiae of life (talking about lingering, finding themselves shelter around here and there, the heaviness of being sober etc). In a nutshell, this is a romantic publication played out in the vein of the Southern music tradition. A honest soundscape indeed.

Wladysław Komendarek - Chronowizor (2011)

NoEcho

9.8

/Progressive, Kosmische Musik, Synth music, Astral dance, Progressive rock, Electronica, Improvised music, Chillout, Fusion, Easy listening/

Comment: Władysław Komendarek (born 1948) can be named as the Polish Edgar Froese (I really hope he does not mind about my statement), who started off as the keyboard player in the line-up of Polish symphonic rock/progressive rock combo Exodus for almost four decades ago. Upon the termination of the group`s activities in 1983, however he has frequently been referred as one of the leading Polish electronic musicians thereafter. On some pictures, he looks out like a crazy hippie behind the wide board of the analogue equipment (Moog synths). Though, not only his outlook used to be welcome - his attitude toward the music is integral, lush and ravishing. Lots of uplifting cosmic synth overthrows, electro/synth rock gears, progressive rock, astral dance music (somewhat similar to deep house, for instance), electronic fusion, near-soundtrack appearances. Regarding his professionalism, this whole of 9 tracks ( most of the tracks are long-running ones) is craftily arranged which in a more concrete sense thought does have a clear-cut vision and complete accomplishment. I think for everyone coming from the Soviet block, indeed such kind of soundscape does conjure up many hazy but good memories stemmed mainly from the sci-fi and youth films. Yet, first of all, it is a gem by the standards of progressive music/krautrock/fusion.

Plusplus - Broken Boiler