Exceptional pop compilation. Outstanding quality from start to finish in 12 tracks.
I’ll directly pass the microphone to the curator:
The netBloc series is my humble attempt to shine some light on music that truly deserves to be heard by as many people as possible.
And this is exactly what he has accomplished with (as of 2018) just over 50 compilations that show the potential of netaudio culture, both in breadth and depth. It’s almost unfair to select among those, but I have my routines: Continue reading “Various Artists – [2010] netBloc, Volume 30: Aldartea”
History-rewriting compilation. Diverse selection of popular CC music from the era.
This release is a replacement (a whitewash) of previous netBloc Vol. 34 about ccMixter, which had to be redacted for some reason which is not completely clear to me to today. I was just surprised that my recollection, download and album art to this release did not match what is currently online… Bad for me, bad good for you. The whitewash has definitely not worse music than the original… Continue reading “Various Artists – [2011] netBloc Vol. 34: The Whitewash”
Classic netaudio compilation. Pop and electro, selected by reviewers from Phlow magazine.
This release is thanks to a very active curator in the netlabel scene. While Phlow magazine seems no longer active, its main author Moritz »mo.« Sauer still pushes work to his public GitHub profile for other projects like netlabels.org. But to talk about the music: it’s mostly pop, some electro sprinkled in and 2 tracks that I don’t get. Of course, I have picked two different ones to represent this compilation: Continue reading “Various Artists – [2008] Their Finest Hour, Volume 1”
Swedish indie pop. Vocal vocals, acoustic and slightly synthy sound.
Tobias Borelius is part of Emerald Park (review of one of their EPs), who produce straight-up enjoyable indie pop rock. This release leans more towards pop, with a focus on its Swedish mellow lyrics. Continue reading “Tobias Borelius – [2011] Du känner mig för väl, farväl”
Echoes of pop grandeur. 80’s synth-pop sends best wishes to a fresh take in the new millenium.
This is a two-track single release on notorious (as in: good) netlabel blocSonic. In the description to the artist’s previous release, they described their music as “a blend of trip-hop, soft-rock, retro-pop and cinematic soundtracks”. I tend to agree. Read on for a full description of all (as in: two) tracks. Continue reading “Marco Mestichella – [2015] Fragments Of Light”
Acoustic vocal indie pop. This gem from French-Finish duo Eva & Manu has unfortunately been de-published by the creators from the original sources, but the archive.org mirror is still up. And thanks to the nature of Creative Commons license, I can be sure that it remains legal to download the original EP. Four songs long, it contains at least two hits.
Timeless introductory drug for to-become Creative Commons addicts. This is less of a review and more of a SHOUT-OUT to make you GET. THIS. RELEASE. 17 good to excellent tracks have been gathered. They show both how diverse (and enjoyable) from 2009 and earlier is. Continue reading “Various Artists – [2009] Music From All Around The World”
Ambient guitars. Many of them. Strange, uncommon harmonies that sound uncannily familiar. Multiple acoustic guitars, all recorded by Fred Baty (aka Crepusculum), create a rich soundscape. Rhythmic chords and melody patterns render percussion unnecessary. Continue reading “Crepusculum – [2009] Sing on in Silhouettes”
Quirky indie pop. Netlabel blocSonic keeps to its mission to deliver solid indie music, this time in form of swingy pop tunes. Acoustic instrumentation (drum, piano, bass, acoustic guitar) + vocals create a solid soundstage and 4 slightly eclectic songs. Continue reading “Dr. Mindflip – [2014] Every Waking Moment”
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… Continue reading “Garmisch – [2013] Fishes”
