Barthol Lo Mejor - For play Ep (2011)

Barthol Lo Mejor
Lastfm

8.8

/Electro pop, Alternative, Breakcore, Club dance, Robo pop/

Comment: this is a powerfully bouncing and drilling, totally fuel-filled 4-track EP by an Estonian electro musician (he is educated as the semiotician) who has been active since 2005. While the EP is highly flame spitting prima facie it seems to be austere due to its methodology (because of being subjected to the control of artificial intelligence). Eleganz und dekadenz.

Weird Ribs - 803 Days (2011)

CLLCT
Bandcamp
Lastfm

9.2

/Ambient, Kosmische Musik, Space pop, Psychedelic, Synthwave, Electronic pop, Krautrock/

Comment: if to describe such kind of music you don`t need many words at all. Highly oscillating synths used to push forward into the format of Kosmische Musik as if setting out its own narrative about the creation of the Outer Space. On the other way, just listening to it seems to be a much more democratic activity because of getting a chance to perceive more colours, accents, modalities, and variegated tones below, above and around it. In a nutshell, a handful of notches represented here do provide a savory listening. Indeed, Joseph Cox made it out again.

Dolores - To Die No More (2011)

Bandcamp

9.3

/Guitar ambient, Drone, Ambient drone, Ambient, Ambient noise, Soundscapes, Witch house/

Comment: you can be sure Boise (the Idaho State) is not the most known city/town in the USA but at least 2 excellent groups do originate from there. More concretely, those combos are The Very Most (twee/indie pop), and Eluder (ambient/drone). However, Ryan de la Rosa`s Dolores is a stunning collective as well because of providing a tight soundscape comprising the elements of massive guitar-based ambient and relentlessly buzzing drone which are variegated with the minutiae consisting of the details of musique concrète, muffled vociferation, and spoken word. On the other side, if to consider the coverprint and the reversed cross on it, however, this may be a release which puts the finger on the new directions within the black metal or witch house scenes. Indeed, it is rather a hypothetical point of view but such kind of possibility should not be excluded. All in all, it is a mesmerizing effort for sure.

Shirubi Ikazuchi - Seizure

SoftClip – Between the Land And The Sky (2011)

trescatorce

9.2

/Trip-hop, Downtempo, Experimental electronica, Dubtronica, Electronic pop, Chill out, Cinematic/

Comment: I can remember for that Good Natured Threat`s Short Stories EP (2011, Melodica) was reviewed at RMH in March which provides an organic shift between club dance-esque cadences and more pop-oriented visions. GNT used to exist as the cooperative project of Mark and Lara Hjorthoy, a pair from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (you know the home city for the Canucks, a hockey team). Anyway, Mark is this time alone, yet, continuing to run on the similar way, more concretely, by amalgamating suggestive trip-hop/downtempo/dub-oscillating beats into the set of gleaming upper layers of sounds. There is even hinted at the resemblance with Durutti Column, a British art-rock/post-punk legend (I can only agree with it). The 4-track publication seems to be more bigger than the mere sum of its particles. Indeed, it is seamless, organic, it can even be considered as a holistic masterpiece. Listen to it!

Botany Bay - Grounded (2007)

Ubisonic
Jamendo
Lastfm

8.4

/Alternative pop, Dark pop, Pomp pop, Electronic pop, Art pop/

Comment: this 19-track album showcases its mainstream-appealed tendencies mixed up with some more experimental developments. However, Botany Bay was formed in 1996 by Stephan Kleinert (programming, things), a German musician who was often aided by a ever-changing cast of musicians. When this release was recorded and publicated in 2007 Laura Dietrich (singing, synths) was a member of the band as well. The sound of the issue is mostly melancholic, made up of dark pop-tinged progressions and classical approach. At times it have managed to got more into a introspective appearance using microscopic chaotic disturbances and mildly droning keyboards. The outstanding track for me is The Crow Song wherein you can perceive the influences of Einstuerzende Neubauten and Lambchop due to the special vocal manner by Kleinert reminiscent of Blixa Bargeld, and Kurt Wagner, respectively (the most of the songs are vocally performed by Dietrich, though). A nice listening indeed.

Band That Never Was - Band That Never Was (2011)

Birdsong
Lastfm

8.9

/Improvised music, Post-rock, Chamber music, Instrumental rock/

Comment: BTNW is a trio from Israel offering up a sort of improvised rock music in full sway. There are represented 7 more or less hijinks turning off at the length of 36 minutes. Back and forth fluttering guitars are backed up by heavily pummeling drums or on the other side used to display the ones inclined to progress more into a sort of still life art in its very marrow. It is even not surprising if you can find out hints at the glimpses of world music throughout the progression of the notches.

Bing Satellites - You Were In A Dream

Enko - Vshiva (2009)

Qulture Production
Lastfm

9.3

/Experimental techno, Avant-techno, Breakbeat, Minimal techno, Abstract techno, Abstract electronica/

Comment: Enko (also known as Enkolf Kitler, and Artem) is a producer from Sumy, Ukraine who used to have been involved in the production of innovative techno music for many years. He has recorded for the likes of Qulture Production, and Bypass. Here are represented 3 tracks which might pay tribute to machines/or machine-like creatures and artificial intelligence who at times used to function as if were stayed too long on psychedelic drugs and magical mushrooms (especially if to consider those highly acidic breakbeats at Minimalist). On the other side, yet, you can be quite sure the issue is not a dance floor case. At least in the first place. As a producer, he can be compared with such artists like (surprise, surpise!) Autechre, Shtift, Xenoglosia, Nth Synthesis, HermeneutecH, Proswell. In a nutshell, this is a stunning break-laid outlet.

Wild Honey - My Girlfriend Ronnie (2011)

Bandcamp

9.4

/Twee pop, Singer-songwriter, Experimental indie, Sunshine pop, Baroque pop, Chamber pop, Indie pop/

Comment: Guillermo Farrè is a Madrid, Spanish-based musician/singer-songwriter who surprised with an enthralling issue, called Epic Handshakes and a Bear Hug, issued in 2009. It comprises blissful, even epic (twee) indie tunes incorporating the best traditions of the Sarah Records and mixing it up with the Latin romantism and elusive contemplation (containing the historical dimension within it). More concretely, you could get involved in majestic harmonies and clever lyrics. All those words can be said about his brand new single either. Enjoy it and listen to his previous masterpieces in addition to it.