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.

Various Artists – [2008] Cologne Commons Compilation 01

Cologne Commons is an annual conference and festival for digital culture that takes place in — surprise — Cologne in Germany. Unfortunately, I have never attended so far. YouTube enabled me to watch some conference talks online. Fortunately for me as music collector, a colourful music compilation is released for each conference. This album is…

Wed, 13th Oct 2010
Chenard Walcker – [2005] Archisex

Obscure 70s funk samples, harvested from a supposedly vast record collection, are mixed together to create a strange, groovy sound. This album consists of ten tracks with a total playtime of 25 minutes. Creator of this album is Chenard Walcker, a sampling artist who has released a lot of albums on the Internet Archive in…

Wed, 6th Oct 2010
The Kyoto Connection – [2010] No Headphones Required

I found this synth-pop album through the Free Music Charts, a monthly show presenting great free music, mainly from Jamendo. The Kyoto Connection reminds me of La Roux due to the lead singer’s voice and the yummy electronic pop harmonies. This album consists of 11 varied songs, all well mixed and produced.

Wed, 22nd Sep 2010
Jenset – [2010] Rockin’ Back My Nights

This week’s release is a DJ mix set released at the Sonic Walker netlabel. It features 12 tracks from the netlabel rec72 (which should not be confused with the 12rec. netlabel). The covered genres range from dark ambient stuff to breaky IDM. Tracks by Zoe.LeelA also feature vocals. I would suggest it for a cool…

Wed, 28th Jul 2010
Benny Goodman – [1938] The Famous Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

A unique performance, made available to everyone. Often wrongly described as the first Swing concert, the The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert by Benny Goodman is a milestone in the history of Jazz concerts. Just listen to the final track of the concert and you know what I mean. (The cover image is self-made with…

Wed, 30th Jun 2010
Peter Van Riet – [2008] Not even the beginning of the end EP

Peter van Riet is an incredibly talented musician from Belgium. Fortunately, he built on that talent and studied Classical piano, followed by supplement courses in harmonics and composition. The results of this effort are partially for download on his homepage. He first names Craig Armstrong in his list of artists that influenced him. And that…

Wed, 26th May 2010
Alpha Point – [2010] High Like The Angels CDM

Alpha point is a music project originating from a Russian electro band. Their style has influences of Depeche Mode, combined with dance floor compatible beats and straight industrial guitar riffs. The result is not a complex composition, but honest, enjoyable techno songs. They have have released several singles and albums on the internet archive. Here,…

Wed, 19th May 2010
Deadspin – [2006] Deadspin EP

Free online music is still often linked to eclectic, weird and experimental music. This rock album from 2006, recorded by the band Deadspin is a good counter-example of artists who offer their first release for free. In September 2009, their second album Little Birds Are Like Bullets was published at Split Infinity. In between, several…

Wed, 5th May 2010
Old Bear – [2010] If you can find me

It’s time for some dry, abstract IDM music. This album by the artist Old Bear reminds me of the style of Pluxus whose song Transient you might know already from a Ford TV commercial. The Cologne based netlabel rec72 serves a delicious meal of self-entitled Abstract Hip Hop. Have a quick listen to my favourite…

Wed, 31st Mar 2010
EugeneKha – [2010] River Songs

This week’s review is about a great piece of Ambient “World” music released at the magnificent Clinical Archives netlabel, a steady source of “eclectic and illogical music”. Its self-proclaimed aim is to broaden the definition of music. EugeneKha’s River Songs are not attempt in this direction, but they are a dozen well-crafted ambient songs with…

Wed, 10th Mar 2010
Aleksi Virta – [2004] ..Meets Torsti At The Space Lounge

Relaxed vibe entering your ears! This ultra-cool release at Monotonik — which sadly is on hiatus at the moment — is really great background music with attitude. It features funky beats and chords, sometimes accompanied by fitting recordings of miscellaneous voices. As usual, I present 3 of my favourite tracks which are described in detail…

Wed, 24th Feb 2010
Pokett – [2004] Your Picture Here

Stephane Garry is the man behind the name Pokett, having released this wonderful 4 track EP on the Sundays in Spring netlabel. It is all about dreamy folk music and ears full of emotional guitar chord carpets. Forget Jack Johnson or Conor Oberst, I like this album much better. It reminds me a bit of…

Wed, 10th Feb 2010
Various Artists – [2004] Swingin’ Singles

The Comfort Stand netlabel is one of the strangest out there. It doesn’t focus on experimental sound in the sense of noise, bleep and clicking sounds, but in terms of a colourful mixture of artists, genres and styles. One song is a typical pop song, the next one would fit a ghost ride or seems…

Wed, 27th Jan 2010
Various Artists – [2008] So Much Achieved. So Much Left To Do.

This album is the 50th release of the netlabel 12rec. from Germany. It covers the range of the label which mainly publishes experimental guitar music with a touch of folk. 17 different tracks wait to be discovered. I present my three favourites in the following.

Wed, 20th Jan 2010
Hardstroke – [2009] In Front Of The See Through Eye

Merry Christmas! This release doesn’t at all sound like snow flakes or a silent night, but is a furiously vibrant example of a fusion of extremes. Rock guitars, electronic chord clouds, funky bass lines, disco-like beats seamlessly blend together to a very distinct listening experience which casts feelings of euphoria and nostalgia. But just listen…

Thu, 24th Dec 2009