Category: Review

Recommendations to music releases I like. Each review features track descriptions of my favourite tracks. A download link can be found at the bottom of each posting.

  • The Sleeping Tree – [2008] Leaves And Roots

    The Sleeping Tree – [2008] Leaves And Roots

    Dreamy acoustic guitar folk pop. While writing this review, I realised that I already have reviewed praised a track by The Sleeping Tree back in my review on the 50th release compilation by 12rec. and compared him to Bright Eyes. Like then, melancholic voice and acoustic guitar are enough to create mellow impressions. My two…

  • Various Artists – [2009] ccMixter

    Various Artists – [2009] ccMixter

    Anthological compilation of radio-ready music from ccMixter. ccMixter is a site like Soundcloud, but much older and – as the name implies – founded around the idea of Creative Commons music and remixing. This compilation has its roots as playlist from a ccMixter developer. It bundles some of the less underground tracks on the platform.…

  • Spit Rusty – [2011] Underwhelmed

    Spit Rusty – [2011] Underwhelmed

    Punchy hard rock from Denmark. Loud, very loud. And fast. And LOUD. Erm… what else? Oh yeah, they have cool guitar riffs, excellent drum patterns, transitions. Head-shake-inducing chorus lines. Cannot. Write. Long. Sentences. Must. Move… Read on for my two favourite tracks and the obligatory release link…

  • Frau – [2010] Starlit Carousel

    Frau – [2010] Starlit Carousel

    Soft Vocal acoustic pop, slightly eccentric. Piano and voice are the weapons of choice of Indonesian artist Frau. From scarce notes and harmonies, a strange magic unfolds that reminds of old and traditional songs, though being contemporary compositions. The lyrics speak today’s language and tell beautiful stories. My two picks – as usual – after…

  • Lockerbie – [2010] Lockerbie

    Lockerbie – [2010] Lockerbie

    Icy post rock from Iceland. Lockerbie know the recipe for a delicious post rock album: interesting sound effects, lots of guitars from calm to loud. Long, really long intros and endless repeating of the same chords over and over again. The result makes for some epic background music with punch.

  • Nest – [2007] Nest EP

    Nest – [2007] Nest EP

    Perfectly arranged modern classical piano bouquet. Two piano player team up to create very atmospheric music. Several string instruments, woodwind instruments and a dose of effects are woven together beautifully. Six tracks that show that classical composers have indeed left vast musical space undiscovered left to explore…

  • JT Bruce – [2006] The Dreamer’s Paradox

    JT Bruce – [2006] The Dreamer’s Paradox

    Powerful instrumental progressive rock. And quite versatile. The 11 tracks of Dreamer’s Paradox contain both epic and silent pieces. All instruments are produces with much attention to detail. The album packed with great guitar riffs, bass lines and drum patterns.

  • Graphiqsgroove [2009] – Graphiqsgroove2009

    Graphiqsgroove [2009] – Graphiqsgroove2009

    Ok, naming their stuff creatively isn’t one of Graphiqsgroove’s strengths, but after all, their music is what counts. And there, the Japanese nujazz artist doesn’t disappoint. Laid-back instrumental soft beat lounge funk that doesn’t distract is what you can expect from these 9 tracks.

  • Nine Inch Nails – [2008] The Slip

    Nine Inch Nails – [2008] The Slip

    Nine Inch Nails is a industrial rock band with experimental touch. This is exactly what I wrote Last year in my review on Ghosts I – IV. While the latter contained 36 improvised tracks, The Slip consists of 10 composed, recorded, and produced tracks. They showcase Trent Reznor’s style that later got featured prominently in…

  • Project Channel 2 – [2013] Infamous Trance Impressions – Chapter One

    Project Channel 2 – [2013] Infamous Trance Impressions – Chapter One

    Classic trance with marvellous vocals. The German netlabel Kreislauf publishes electronic dance music. This release contains 13 tracks of dance floor filling, four-on-the-floor beats. No experiments, but the production quality speaks for itself:

  • Epic Soul Factory – [2012] Xpansion Edition

    Epic Soul Factory – [2012] Xpansion Edition

    Epic soundtracks to unmade movies. Faldrians Feierabend, a weekly music podcast that I enjoy very much, uses this style of music as its intro. Richly orchestrated score music, purely instrumental, creates visions of possible movie scenes that might still be produced… in the meantime, we benefit from great production, solid song writing. It makes great…

  • Professor Kliq – [2009] Community Service

    Professor Kliq – [2009] Community Service

    Juicy techno with attitude. Triggered by the recent release of his new Teragraph EP, I looked back to my archive and found ten years of and twelve releases by Professor Kliq. Time for another review of one of his classics, one of the releases that made me a fan. It contains his smashing hit Plastic…

  • Plaistow – [2008] Do You Feel Lucky?

    Plaistow – [2008] Do You Feel Lucky?

    Airy jazz impro-jam. Three musicians meet in Geneva to create experimental jazz soundscapes. Four of these soundscapes are bundled on Do You Feel Lucky? for us to witness. The recording is executed excellently and bring you very close to the imaginary stage, where the piano/bass/drums trio do their workmagic. Two very different songs are presented…

  • Bluebridge Quartet – [2007] Adjusted for Low Noise Tape EP

    Bluebridge Quartet – [2007] Adjusted for Low Noise Tape EP

    Friedemann’s Aquamarin Orchestra would be proud. I discovered this release with the morbid joy of a forensic researcher in the remainings of the discontinued Aerotone netlabel (“Ende.“). Abstract instrumental jazzy tunes are floating mid-air in front of your ears. Skillfull compositions (or improvisations?) showcase the saxophone, percussion, bass and guitar that form this marvelous quartet.…

  • The Rare Plants Garden – [2011] The Rare Plants Garden

    The Rare Plants Garden – [2011] The Rare Plants Garden

    Folkish exotica indiepop. Sort of. Meh, this release hates to be squashed into three descriptive words. Are it the skewed notes (like MGMT), the torn vocals (like indie pop sounds today) or the exotic ukulele and beach sounds, that make this task so difficult? I can’t tell. In order not to confuse you too much,…

  • The Dada Weatherman – [2008] The Green Waltz

    The Dada Weatherman – [2008] The Green Waltz

    Tender vocals, acoustic guitar. Dada is a talented musician from Paris, gifted with a great voice and sense for the right chords. Equipped with piano, acoustic guitar and occasional percussion, he sings his way through 15 tracks. It seems that he calls himself now Dada & the Weathermen, has released three more acoustic albums on…

  • Various Artists – [2013] Fusion Compilation 8

    Various Artists – [2013] Fusion Compilation 8

    Experimental Trip hop compilation. From the Fusion netlabel comes this showcase of a sampler. A range of electronic styles are united on this buffet. Expect to get surprised by the slightly experimental tracks. The production is excellent throughout all featured artists. Two tracks that span the spectrum of this release are in the preview below:

  • Bebop – [2013] Scuola Benassi Deluxxx Edition

    Bebop – [2013] Scuola Benassi Deluxxx Edition

    Crispy, kicking breakbeats is what awaits you in this single on Sostanze Records from Italy. Scuola Benassi in four versions, two of which are remixes by other artists. The song itself is a forward-thrusting floor-filling breakbeat bomb (alliteration allergy, anyone?). My two favourite versions and the obligatory download link follow below.