Electronic – Page 2

Various Artists – [2006] An Hour Of EMCradio

Sour popsicle assortment of fruity music ranging from dance to weird.

Wow, this one’s old. And good. A treasure trove straight from the (now) good old age of netaudio. Leaning into the eclectic and slightly experimental, this compilation gathers a colourful ensemble of unique styles, from accessible and groovy to outright bizarre. Yet all tracks remain digestible to the uninitiated ear. If you are in for a one hour of very creative yet edgy music, give this release a go.

Various Artists – [2018] Spirare

Massive electronica and acoustic compilation from acoustic ambient to noisy industrial. Sad it’s over.

The final (as in: last) release by Breathe, a decade long experiment in delivering free compilations, albums and live recordings, based in Mexico. This 29 track collection exhibits the full breadth the label has to offer. And makes my job to only pick 2 tracks all the harder…

Waterplea – [2011] Dream Catcher

Relaxing long-form electronica trip. A 40 minute journey between music and soundscapes.

Although these tracks have been released not only once, but twice, they seem to have kept a low profile online: Formerly released as a 4-track album on now defunct netlabel Mixgalaxy, later re-released as part of a longer 11-track album called Rudimentary Oscillations via Bandcamp, these sounds have yet to find a broader audience. If you like what you hear, consider supporting the artists.

Tuatha – [2019] Connecting Environments

Unusual ambient techno with atmospheric synths and laid back beats, akin to Delirium.

Dark ambient sounds give way to regular beats. Dance music like made for clubbing (or rather lounging) just before dawn. Production quality is excellent. Chilean netlabel Cian Orbe specialises in various darker electronic experimental genres, for which this is a more approachable example of.

Various Artists – [2018] Netlabel Day 2018: netlabel essentials 4

Annual anthology of selected delikatessen, ranging from July 2017 to 2018.

This essential compilation is brought to you by essential netlabel and podcast outlet netwaves from Belgium, produced for essential annual free music celebration day. If you want to get all 10 tracks of this compilation in one solid mix, look for one hour long track 11, which makes for decent coding backdrop.

Daizy – [2012] Aramat

Having reviewed another release by Daizy (The Daizy Factory) back in 2018, it’s time to return this Belgium electronica artist. Their songs are clearly structured, built up from simple layers, yet gain from repeated exposure.

Various Artists – [2020] Fusion Compilation 13

New age instrumental hip hop lounge easy listening compilation. Or something like that.

One year after my review on Fusion Compilation 12, it’s time to pay another tribute to this pillar of the free music scene, specialising in trip hop and related genres. Again, all ten tracks would qualify for a mention here, weren’t it for the competition on this (virtual) disc.

Ambient Field – [2005] Visions EP

Blade Runner like ambiance with space soundscapes as backdrop. Relaxing yet distant.

The music Patrick makes strongly reminds of the music of Tangerine Dream (the godfathers of ambient) in the 70’s. Sophisticated sound-layering with dreamy melody patterns on top of it
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What else should I add?

ALONE – [2017] Beautiful Universe

Essential space ambient music with cinematic ambitions.

Space-based ambient music, calmly uplifting. Produced by artist ALONE from Saint Petersburg, this album consists mostly of long, stretched-out synth pad sounds. Bass only fades in late into a song, drums are a rare occurrence.

In Vitro – [2008] Falso Self En Androides EP

Uncompromising hard-hit tech house. Melodic, yet noisy compositions.

Tech house to me sounds like the red wine of electronic dance music. Very tasteful, yet sometimes quite dry. But once after you have gotten used to that strange feeling on your tongue resp. eardrum, you must come back to it from time to time. If you need more, the mexican artist has archived their back catalogue on Bandcamp for our listening pleasure.