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.

  • Just Plain Ant – [2009] Dig Deep

    Just Plain Ant – [2009] Dig Deep

    Fresh hip hop. I don’t listen to a lot of rap music. In fact, this is the first review to populate the tags hip hop and rap here. This album has it all: opulent instrumental tracks, multiple vocalists, detailed music backdrops. It shows what hip hop can be like: fresh, so fresh…

  • Garmisch – [2013] Fishes

    Garmisch – [2013] Fishes

    Swedish indie pop. Better late than never for me to join in to praise Garmisch for their excellent third album. Excellent as in professionally recorded and produced, craftily written and solidly executed. 9 7 9 exceptional tracks await you…

  • Skaj Da Waidah – [2013] The Most Epic Chillout Album Ever! (EP)

    Skaj Da Waidah – [2013] The Most Epic Chillout Album Ever! (EP)

    Loopy funk grooves. If you ever wished during a rap song for the rapper to stop talking over the lovely background music, the Bulgarian netlabel Dusted Wax Kingdom is just for you. It specialises in that groovy sound sometimes called instrumental or abstract hip hop. This short 5 track release is an especially funky example…

  • Planet Boelex & Lisa’s Antenna – [2009] Little World (remastered)

    Planet Boelex & Lisa’s Antenna – [2009] Little World (remastered)

    Ambient electronic masterpiece. Take soft synthetic sounds, tender percussion and female vocals, mix… two artists that stand well for themselves join forces here to showcase what their styles combined sound like; and I like the result! This release makes for some excellent background music, and this is a compliment. Nothing in this delicious sound composition…

  • Miltata – [2010] For the Heterotopia

    Miltata – [2010] For the Heterotopia

    A cushion made of bleeps. Instrumental electronic music that makes you think of soft acoustic. Loopy, yet never boring ambient melody patterns make for great background music. As usual, two tracks as a preview after the break:

  • Endlos – [2007] Kein Grund zufrieden zu sein

    Endlos – [2007] Kein Grund zufrieden zu sein

    Instrumental electronic downbeat jams. Oh, my, jeeez! So relaxed, so flowing, yet so rhythmic. It’s hard to describe the dry, yet warm sound of Endlos from Leipzig. The more I can recommend you to lend them you ear for a minute…

  • 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…