MacroNoise – Continuum (2018)

post-label

• Electronic music 
• Alternative 
• Kosmische Musik 
• World fusion 
• Psybient 
• Downtempo
• Ethnotronica 
• Crossover
• Experimental electronica

Comment: this 8-track issue is not the first entry by Prague, the Czech Republic residing artist Tomas Sebelka (of Slovakian heritage) at RMH. I reviewed his issue Various Species (released on a Canadian imprint, Crime League) approximately three months ago. Similarly to Various Species it is a very intriguing outing though it is more mellow and gentle by doing away with more harsh breakbeat and EBM-drenched angles. Instead of it there are represented more decelerated downtempo and emotive electronica appearances. At Taking Off the artist comes close to hypnotic dubstep frequencies. Of course, talking about gentleness regarding MacroNoise's music it is a comparative aspect because the listener can hear glitched-out noises, abrasive keytar-induced progressions and incisive hisses within the mix. One can hear more ethnic music and psychedelic ambient induced sounds though these tracks cannot be directly considered neither examples of world music nor instances of psybient. Indeed, the forms are way too much littered with different sultry kind of minutiae – and that's makes sense anyway. The solid outing is a bit in the discography of post-label, a record label from the Czech Republic.

Butipreferrominapov – Lullaby For My Deaddog (2018)

In Your Ears

• Americana 
• Indie folk 
• Folktronica 
• DIY 
• Folk indie 
• Post-folk 
• Alt-folk 
• Drone folk

Comment: this bunch of 9 compositions bridges successfully the old and modern approach of folk music. For the listener it is an inspiring, horizon-widening outing. There are up the songs mostly getting inspiration from the Appalachian plateau and American roots music (although the artist obviously comes from Italy. In nay cases, Italians have previously developed some very American brands like producing Western movies a la Once Upon Time In America) – banjo and guitar plucked chords are proudly represented and on the other side all of that is varied with droning electronics, acidic keyboards, microscopic electronic beats, treated vowel loops and groovy synthesised whirlpools to add some churning electro-tinged, cybernetic touch to the whole. In that case, one can draw parallels upon The Beta Band. Secondly, resigned glimpses backwards in many songs resemble Wilco. Marco's fragile vocal timbre used to contrast suitably with the aforementioned firework. In one song he yodels like Zach Condon. The magnificent and adorable issue is a part of the discography of an Italian imprint, In Your Ears.

K4mmerer – Mind Train (2018)

Jamendo

• EDM 
• Electro pop 
• Electronic pop 
• Alternative dance 
• Post-disco 
• Dance pop 
• Synth-pop 
• Ambient pop

Comment: K4mmerer has released approximately 40 albums at Jamendo since 2008 and he keeps running in the vein of electro pop and post-disco path. Mind Train, 9-track issue, provides many fascinating vibes full of different configurations with different frequencies on basses and exquisitely kicking drumming. All those finely set up kick, ride, tom and snare pitches. At Nobody one can hear high-pitched guitars/keytars with treated, a bit warped vocals. It is followed by Platform, one of the most laid-back propulsions within the whole. Fallingrainmonkey is another example of how to employ effectively and conjure up convincing symbiosis based on a treated vocal sample and slightly gleaming rhythms. The self-titled track reminds of some tracks from within Currents (2015) by Tame Impala. In other words, it is as if produced by Kevin Parker. In a word, the result is outstanding and I am going to add it to my list of the best albums in 2018.

[Teaser of the day] Hizmi - Nue

Bunkai-Kei

• Electronic music
• Digital soul
• Digital funk
• Glitch-soul
• Crossover
• Alternative

Artist: Hizmi

Release: Dendel Voile

Label: Bunkai-Kei

Year: 2014

[Teaser of the day] Juanitos - Joe Tequila Twist

Jamendo

• Psych-pop
• Alternative pop
• Latin music
• Indie pop
• Crossover
• World fusion
• Acid pop

Artist: Juanitos

Release: Best of Vol.2

Label: Jamendo

Year: 2009

[Teaser of the day] Viktor Van River - Miracle

Dusted Wax Kingdom

• Breaks
• Trip-hop
• Alternative
• Electronic music
• Hip-hop
• Cinematic

Artist: Viktor Van River

Release: Almost Human (EP)

Label: Dusted Wax Kingdom

Year: 2014

[Teaser of the day] Zgress - Timbo

• Electronic music
• Art pop
• Alternative pop
• Digital soul
• Autotune

Artist: Zgress

Release: Timbo

Label: Self-released/Bandcamp

Year: 2010

Zis0ky – Into The Abyss (2018)

Sun Department

• Hi-Tech 
• Psytrance 
• Electronic music 
• Darkpsy

Comment: in fact, I have had few contacts with such styles as darkpsy, and hi-tech the music of an artist called Zis0ky is described for. There is represented a bunch of three compositions of which rhythmic frequencies extend to 180 to 190 bpm. It is very fast and tectonic like the gabber style or an accelerated jungle example, however, being imbued with slight psychedelic vines around the rhythmic backbone. In fact, the artist employs and treats vocal samples from TV series (at Brain Trip). Into The Abyss is the debut issue by John-Michael Heck AKA Tranonica and being released on Sun Department Records, and Ektoplazm as the biggest platform for psytrance, psybient, Goa trance etc.

Aigar Vals – End Game (2018)

Bandcamp

• Shoegazetronica 
• Synthwave 
• Post-punk 
• Alternative rock 
• Ethereal wave 
• Epic 
• Dream pop 
• Indie 
• DIY 
• Art pop/rock
• Crossover

Comment: Aigar Vals is known as the drummer from such Estonian dance-appealed indie groups as Badass Yuki, and Junk Riot. End Game is his debut album some weeks before his band mate from Badass Yuki Mart Avi would release his fourth solo outing OtherWorld. 8-notch outing is an intriguing drift between cinematic synthesised developments and epic panoramas – oh yeah, it is so beautiful! - and on the other side, it is more about undulating yet warped electronic shoegaze. Let's say – it is an example of unconventional shoegaze. Indeed, I would like to avoid the term nugaze because nugaze used to relate to something superficial and volatile and secondary in my mind. Most of those bands are produced and channelized into a very similar product. All those guitars, drums, and synths are packaged tightly into a sparkling yet empty box. One can feel lo-fi and DIY-tinged (at times elegantly awkward) attitude within the whole by adding an extra charge to it. Additionally there are up bold bass lines, stomping piano chords and heavy drum fringes here and there thereby drawing parallels upon the electronic post-punk/synthwave scene. Thirdly, those decelerated a bit murky soundscapes remind a bit of such ethereal wave juggernauts as Lycia, Autumn's Grey Solace, and Love Spirals Downwards. All those unforgettable halcyon hours spent behind heavy curtains sometime in the past. However, in the context of Estonian music it is absolutely singular, absolutely extraordinary. I like it very very very much. The issue is a part of the discography of Estonian underground (mostly) tape imprint Trash Can Dance (best regards to Trash as well!).

ZeeKat – it Hertz EP (2018)

Bonimedia

• Alternative rock 
• Indie rock 
• Art rock 
• Fusion
• Electronic 
• Post-rock 
• Jazz rock 
• Progressive rock 
• Psychedelic rock 
• Improvised music 
• Sampledelic
• Ambient rock 
• Yacht rock

Comment: behind these eight compositions is the Polish artist Lukasz Padzik whose music is built on atmospheric synthesisers which used to rotate around vivid, frequently fusion-tinged guitars. The aforementioned pillars are variegated with vocal samples, interesting sampled and short wave radio induced minutiae, and treated electronic effects. The whole starts off with 2AM which is based on exuberant synthesiser slides, wide range progressive and jazz rock guitar framing and suggestive samples all the elements used to merge with each other. In fact, it is an excellent start for an album to develop into new and invigorating directions thereafter. Lukasz Padzik likes to stay within the borders to set out a more impressive picture, to get maximally festive and cinematic feeling from within it. At times those prog/fusion guitars are tuned into a more laid-back, yacht rock form. The fascinating release is a part of the discography of Bonimedia.