Recent Music Heroes

Comment: this 7-track outing is a debut album by the Brazilian ensemble Kalouv being released on a Brazil imprint, Sinewave (which has been a fine platform for providing a review about a part of the Brazilian experimental rock scene). These 36 minutes build up an arousing listening experience veering away from propulsive yet caressing guitar chords and funky yacht rock-alike gears to dizzy crescendos and lofty ambient rock sweeping to intense progressive rock noodling. It is a simultaneous play with the format and timbre, with the mood and self-expression. Actually the great cover print of this release used to embrace all of that in a fine way. Sea, sun, and a fine, light-hearted mood in overall. Great music by any means.

asdfhg. – Örvæntið ekki! (2018)

Bandcamp

Indietronica
Drone pop
Ambient pop
Glitch pop
Chamber pop
IDM
Organcore

Comment: by listening to this 6-notch release it reminds me of those days approximately 15 years ago I had been listening to mùm's first albums as Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today Is OK, and Finally We Are No One. In comparison to the mùm's albums one may discern even more layers coming from within it – beyond glitched-out techno rhythms, subtle drone pop waves, suggestive singing in Icelandish one can enjoy more or less synthetic orchestrations, and acerbic ambient rotations. In fact, I do not need any comparisons because it used to meander now and then. It is absolutely over there and everywhere in my ears. It is beauty reflecting back from the blue and white mingled icebergs which in turn reflect back the light of Aurora Borealis. From one channel to the other one to set up an alternative sonic parade. The feeling redeems it. Yeah, it feels organic although it is synthetic. Organically synthetic. Undoubtedly one of the most enchanting albums being released in 2018. It is a way of ideal pop of how it should be represented for.