Jjoi - 2012 - Jjoiful EP

dubstep/electronica

   [FOR FREE]

http://jjoiz.bandcamp.com/

• 5 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Drifter, Joy

English

Being somebody whose only exposure to dubstep was a (fairly awesome) remix of the Transformers battle scenes and a (fairly hilarious) series of Christian dubstep worship songs, I had my misgivings turning on “Drifter”, the first track of electronic artist Jjoi’s new EP. Thankfully, those doubts were quelled as soon as the beat kicked in. “Drifter” is fluidly crafted, with an instantly catchy melody line and a danceable, trippy beat that crosses over into drum and bass territory at times.
The rest of the release’s five tracks seldom disappoint: “Joy” is another standout, starting off with a trippy, insistent synth before going sky high with a wall of stuttering digital voices and a tense stomp-and-clap rhythm. Jjoi excels at welding gritty exercises in percussion with club-ready, memorable synths, all while imbuing every single part of the machinery with a distinct personality. It’s a shame, then, that the endings are never quite as grand as we’re being strung along to believe; the songs here are all wound so tight that a little room to breathe might have been a good thing. Still, aiming for the top of Everest and reaching Kilimanjaro is hardly a feat to scoff at.
With the exception of a few mainstream artists, dubstep may be treated as a novelty, but the Jjoiful EP proves that the genre is just as capable of reaching the highs of electronic music in the right hands. This is ear candy for high-octane minds, and I’m already craving more.

Ann - Life is on Track

Experimental Rock

   [FOR FREE]

http://aann.bandcamp.com

• 5 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: If Only You Knew

English

“Acoustic” and “experimental” don't seem like a natural marriage of musical styles, at least not in my mind, so it was with raised eyebrow that I went in to reviewing “Life is on Track”. I must say, I was caught off guard by the record, though 'acoustic' didn't play as big a role as I thought it might. The vocals here are to be put simply, terrible sounding like they were recorded at the bottom of a mineshaft. In fact, the entire record has a really rough, dirty sound to it, lo-fi to the absolute nth degree. The quote unquote “bonus track” 'Ode to the Roma' sounds like a 5th generation bootleg recorded on a phone from the crowd of a dive bar show. And yet, when Ann doesn't have distinct attempts at vocals, the cacophony of noise manages to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. All of this doesn't remove the fact that an acoustic guitar is on display quite prominently when you can easily distinguish what is being played. 'She' sounds like a battle of acoustic guitars with quite easily the best vocals on this whole record. 'A Brief Pleasure' is the guitar high mark, and lives up to its name. Now I can't tell if the ambiance you hear is created intentionally as part of the songs, or if it's actually that the recording and mixing of these songs is off (or perhaps live in a room with thoroughly crap acoustics) and the varying instruments all start gelling together to create this bright, displaced music that sounds like it's emanating from everywhere and nowhere all at once. When things work, intentionally or not, these songs are rather tranquil, as if Sigur Ros stripped back the production of one of their records and just let it all hang out, warts and all. For me these are the best parts, and make up about half the EP. It's hard to recommend a record you can tell is so rough and shoddily put together but someone is bound to find some of the same elements that I did and enjoy them. Why not give "Life is on Track" a shot?

Fierce Creatures - 2010 - I Mostri Feroci

Indie/Psychedelic Rock

   [FOR FREE]

http://fiercecreatures.bandcamp.com/

• 5 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Satan Is A Vampire, Harpooning

English

Despite that abstract name and the white-eyed creatures peeking out at you from the cover, this release is actually as warm and luminescent as they come. The opening track already hits on what makes this California indie rock group so appealing: their simple yet twisty and well-crafted songwriting, personal and likeable voices, and a slightly romantic vibe, wafting through the elongated guitar strums, twinkling keys, and rousing gang cries. The music doesn’t meander but develops peacefully, content to wander through long instrumental sequences and whimsical build ups before moving onto its next destination.
There’s also a touch of mystery lurking here, whether hiding in the lyrics or showing up in the temperature shifts that swing from cozy to ever-so-slightly unsettling, and whenever it rears its head, the atmosphere rises to an even more otherworldly plane. Thankfully, it’s handled with grace and deftness thanks to the talents of the band and the very good songwriting. These tinges of dark don’t show up too often, but they do add dimension to Fierce Creatures’ well-imagined soundscapes.
All in all, I Mostri Feroci impresses on many levels. It adopts Fierce Creatures’ sense of musical playfulness while mixing it with a haunting spirituality. The combination is intoxicating, and it makes for one of the most interesting, engaging listens I’ve had so far this year.

Shnabubula - 2012 - Free Play

Instrumental Jazz

[FOR FREE]

http://shnabubula.bandcamp.com/album/free-play

• 9 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Polar Eclipse, The Wise Tortoise

English

Having dabbled in the underground chiptune scene for years, Samuel Ascher-Weiss has an adventurous hand with melody that is unrivaled by most of his peers. His sense of daring elevates his music to stunning highs, as it does on Free Play, his strangest—and strongest—tangent yet. Built off of improvisational pieces recorded on the piano, with layers of instruments added after the fact, this 9-song release is absolutely crammed with peaks and grooves fit to soundtrack the most epic space romance saga ever. “Polar Eclipse” immediately captivates with its frosty piano opening before stunning with a series of orchestral stabs and rhythmic twists, ending off the whole feat with a fragile and heartbreaking final act. Follow-up act “Electro Spunk” flips Weiss’ strengths 180 degrees, centering itself not on gloomy refrains but on jazzy piano, a whip-smart drum line and an array of spaced-out synths which run in and out of the track. The rest of his whirlwind creations run the gamut from stunning, majestic crests of sound on “The Wise Tortoise” to playfully malevolent jam sessions on “Morning Commute”. The breadth of the territory Weiss travels in just 43 minutes would almost be disconcerting, and sometimes his goals are so grand that he can’t help but undershoot a bit, but what ties everything together even in the release’s rare shaky moments is that sense of yearning for something undiscovered, something new. There aren’t too many artists making music as ambitious and adventurous as this anymore, and that Weiss pulls it off so effectively nonetheless is to be commended. This is a hell of a release, and we have to keep an eye on this swashbuckler, in case his next release ends up floating out of our world and into the galaxies beyond.

Lonnie in the Garden - Songs From

Folk

   [FOR FREE]

http://lonnieinthegarden1.bandcamp.com/

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Black Blue

English

“Songs From” is what you want to hear when you pop in a folk rock record. Lonnie in the Garden have a stripped back instrumentation that gives every song a sparse, bluesy sound, perfect for an intimate setting or a smokey bar. Guitar[s], and what sounds like a really jazz-influenced upright bass and drum combination bring this band to life, with a few wonderfully rough edges worn with pride. I don't think this record would work if it was polished to a reflective sheen, it would lack emotional oomph. Thankfully LitG packed enough emotion for the long haul in the singing. The double dose of female vocals from singers Natasha Roberts and Lynne Craven is a unique strength, and the harmonizing between the two is beautiful to hear, even after repeated listens to these four tracks. Lynne Craven has a very feisty R&B sort of sound to her singing that's filled with a sly, knowing confidence that is especially evident on the tracks 'black/blue' and 'Wondering'. It's not riotgrrl snarling, she's not filled with venom, but there is an attractiveness to the power she's exuding that pulls one into the songs that extra little bit. The second track doesn't follow this same pattern musically; as it's a much slower paced ballad, but the lyrics betray who still has the upper hand in this scenario, and it is without a doubt Lonnie. Taking your shit, they will not be, and know about you most certainly will. For four songs of excellent energetic folk, take a trip with Lonnie in the Garden.

Agent Whiskers - 2012 - A Perfect State of Disarray

Electronica

   [FOR FREE]

http://agentwhiskers.bandcamp.com/album/a-perfect-state-of-disarray

• 7 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: New Dawn The World Is Ours, Caretaker Take Me Home

English

We featured a lot of Electronica records this year, but considering the quality of A Perfect State of Disarray, I dont think you'll be mad at us for pushing one more for today's blog update. Agent Whiskers already released 3 releases and his most recent one outshines his other 2 by far, in terms of sound quality, sound diversity, song structure and album cohesion. I do recommend checking out his other two records as well, though, as some of the presented songs are guaranteed to be stuck in your head as well (Few examples: Awaken on The Path Untaken, or Cascade into Supernova on Abstract Forms of Solace).
A Perfect State of Disarray starts off with a very recognizable, maybe even invasive, opening theme, which would have been enough basis for a catchy track on its own merit. However, Agent Whiskers manages to defy any expectation by adding a second, more upbeat, chiptune theme to the mix, creating a track that inherits something that sounds like two opposing and rivaling ideas, that still manage to coexist for a greater good, or sound in this case. This dichotomy is an arrangement he successfully applies to other songs as well, Caretaker (Take Me Home) for example has one of the most stunning inner song transitions I've heard in quite a while. On the topic of transitions: The song to song transitions are remarkably well done as well. Every song immediately flows into the next, resembling a fluent stream of narration guiding the listener instead of single choppy short stories. This release really deserves to be listened as a whole for someone to really experience the great work done here and probably needs more than one listen to reveal all its subtle nuances.  My only gripe for this record is the inclusion of the last song Endgame (As The World Burns), which by itself is a great song, but unfortunately managed to pull me out of the coherent experience and mood set by the songs before. The song features a strong musical rock/metal theme as its aforementioned dividing contrast, which doesn't quite want to fit into the whole experience.
The third record of Agent Whiskers in 8 months basically guarantees we'll hear more from him in the future and I cant wait for more from him or even Remixes of his songs with other artists. While his other two records had some slightly raw feel to it, his newest release is a work of beauty. Driving bass lines, catchy chiptunes and a great diversity in the song selection, or even within a track, definitely assure you won't get bored anytime soon.

Paralelo - Fig.1

Post Punk

   [FOR FREE]

http://paralelo.bandcamp.com

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: No Has Visto Morir

English

If you've ever wondered what a dark wave rock band would sound like if their post-punk rock music was wedged into a minimalist John Carpenter-style ambient record; Paralelo's “Fig.1” EP would like you to take a quick break, only 6 minutes and 45 seconds will do, and have a listen. You really can't argue with an album that takes less time to get through than it takes you with your morning cup of coffee now can you? [I don't drink coffee, so it make take less time-Editor note]. Minimalism is the word of the day for “Fig. 1”, guitar, bass, drums under a fine mist of synthesizers and keyboards. That being said, you're grabbed instantly into the mist by that opening bass line, at least I am. I'm reminded of the first time I heard Joy Division and their raw, angry energy and a airy, spacious sound (Try to tell me 'Ebrio y estoico' doesn't remind you of 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'!). The bass is followed by either the most synthetic-sounding Gregorian choir ever or a keyboard reaching for the very back of a cathedral. The guitar work is quite good here, taking on a more secondary role in most of these songs than you'd here in most post-punk or most rock records in general really. It's working in the background most of the time to help create that spacey atmosphere, not pump out earth shattering riffs. Paralelo don't necessarily have the same slick pacing as Joy Division and their ilk, opting for 'slow and steady wins the race' approach. Go listen to 'Disorder' and then play 'Todo esta bien' , you'll see what I mean. The lyrics, in so far they sink in (they being in Spanish, myself not) are almost hypnotic, being short simple phrases (“Todo esta bien, madre” for instance) repeated a couple times in the middle of each song in a hazy, sleepy sort of tone that lull the listener (you, and me several times now) into a kind of spaced-out daze. Maybe not the best way to start your day, but not a bad way to spend a break.

Madu - 2011 - From The Elders' Yard

Jazz/ Indie Folk

[FOR FREE]

http://madumusic.bandcamp.com/

• 11 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: We Are Many, Killaloe 

English

Madu is many things: soulful, jazzy, ponderous, but funnily enough, their greatest strength is their lightness. For all their levity, the band still pack a pretty hefty punch when they need to, but their primary mode seems to be brassy and tropical, splashed with just a touch of the exotic. Even the artwork is splashed with touches of humor—there’s a different image for every song, and some are hilarious (the one for “The Deceiver” is just a speech bubble with LIES printed over it, while the one for “We Are Many” takes great pains to make sure everybody gets its title). This approach could have led to a fun but fluffy piece of work, but the top-notch vocal work from Aminah Dastan, paired with chilling melodic lines and thought-provoking lyrics, elevates the music to an even higher standard. My biggest concern is related to where Madu go from here, though; at times the album’s focus almost seems a touch too narrow. The instrumentation, though lush and layered, feels derivative because many of the same musical motifs—mellow guitar licks, groovy drum lines, vaguely psychedelic production—are repeated throughout the album’s 11 songs, and at times the whole thing bleeds together a bit too much. That said, what’s on display here inspires a fair amount of confidence. This is a band with much more going on underneath than their breeziness would suggest.

NQS Records - NQS RECORDS #001

Experimental Electronica

[FOR FREE]

http://nqsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nqs-records-001

• 10 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Eternalpy, Dance Audrey, In The Hall Of The Mountain King

English

Here we have a compilation album from NQS Records that gets its electronic freak on and doesn't look back. “NQS Records #001” is going to find an audience somewhere, but for everyone else, it's like a smorgasbord: a little something for everyone, but too much to tackle it all alone. If you're a fan of old school Nintendo soundtracks and chiptunes, Walt Disney Sweatshirt has got you covered. Not even Trent Reznor can make 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' sound like this. It's probably the 'smallest' the song has ever sounded. John Von Charles, the other artist to appear multiple times on this compilation also spans the most wide range of sounds. 'Jem' is noise, plain and simple, feedback, tape hiss, and light percussion that not only opens the album, but will probably blow your eardrums if you aren't ready for it. He follows that up with the house-y Ei Li Ans-Chat. Of course what would an electronic compilation album be without a shoegaze rock song, let alone Portuguese rap? I can't say because both show up here. The shoegaze doesn't feel as out of place as the rap song does funnily enough, even if it brings the momentum to a complete stand still. I'm sure they're here to show artist variety for the label, and they're competent enough ('Infant Robot Playground' has Sonic Youth on it's sleeve) but they could have been replaced by two other electronic acts to keep things more cohesive. The other nooks and crannies of the album are filled in with ghost house and trance tracks, which ratchet the pace right back up. If you're a fan of a lot of electronic music, you'll probably find something to enjoy here. “Mountain King” has the most obvious appeal to outsiders looking in, so if you're trying to expand your musical palette to include some smaller subgenres of electronic music; start there and see if anything else catches your attention. You may be surprised.

IIIV - Pilgrimage | Ходочашће

Ambient Drone

   [FOR FREE]

http://iiiv.bandcamp.com/

• 2 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: B Side

English

These are the sounds of a long arduous trek through a barren wasteland, where you're completely alone among the elements and the things that lurk in the darkness of your own mind. The EP's [English] title couldn't be more apt, “Pilgrimage”. These two tracks are all about the long haul, as any good ambient drone records should be, since they're both over ten minutes in length. It's a lot of keyboards and percussion at work, creating tense, even suspenseful musical landscapes. One might be inclined to believe the musicians are evoking the sometimes hostile city they're in; hell encroaching on a beautiful calm. 'A Side' ends with the musical equivalent of a chase scene, repeating glitch loops and a constant tapping giving way to a piano repeating the same keys. 'B side' is gospel choirs and walking alone in an endless land surrounded by encroaching storms, only to end with locomotive and militaristic drumming before final judgement rears up to strike you down! This is just me spit balling together the music and the idea of a pilgrimage relating to one and other. It's a strange, but aurally engaging journey to partake in at least. One filled with awe and wonder, but also suspense and an element of darkness to it. This is ambient drone music that isn't relying solely on stretching guitar notes into forever to achieve its musical goals and that alone is worthy of praise, let alone my listening recommendation. Suggestion: Put this on your MP3 player, go for a hike in the woods (or downtown if forests aren't accessible).

Róspoem - 2011 - Carried by Crows EP

Alternative Pop

   [FOR FREE]

http://rospoem.bandcamp.com/

• 6 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Beneath Autumn, The Love

English

I am predicting that this is going to be one of my favourite records this year. Next to the mesmerizing and poetic lyrics and the catchy sound arrangements, the part that will draw you to these songs the most are the irresistable and intimate sung vocals. Despite having vocals, these songs actually fit in better with some ambient pieces in regard to their musical composition, and have a very soothing and all-encompassing feeling to them. The moment you start listening to Carried by Crows you'll be trapped inside a carefully crafted world of wonderful harmonies and poetic images that caress your senses for the next 25 minutes. Every one of these songs manages to capture your imagination in a way I've rarely seen and especially the opener Beneath Autumn invites to drift away to delicately breathed poetry and the underlying soft musical arrangements. I don't have any exact ways to measure the general popularity of an artist but the number of people knowing Róspoem (177 Reverbnation fans? 7 Facebook likes on Bandcamp?) is far lower than the number of fans these guys deserves to have. Beneath Autum and The Love are among the best songs I heard this year so far and I'd be very surprised if I wouldn't find anyone sharing that sentiment.

JD and the Longfellows -2011- Swinging for England

Folk Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://jdandthelongfellows.bandcamp.com

• 10 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Swinging-for-england, Losers-cruisers-dirty-rotten-schmoozers, Drink-you-under-the-table, Rhythm-and-soul

English

It's like I've just stepped back in time, and here modern rock and roll radio doesn't exist. It's beautiful really, the music is so joyous and spirited. These guys would make great traveling troubadours strolling into your town out of thin air with their gaggle of instruments, playing for crowds at a barn dance or at the local inn; moving on to the next town just as quickly. The band describe this is alt-country folk skiffle, and yeah, I can certainly hear elements of all of those at play on this album (pinpointing homemade instruments is next to impossible by ear). Everyone sounds like their having the time of their lives playing, and that makes me want to take up a beer stein and dance a jig right along side them the songs are so infectious. It's the same kind of feeling that I got when listening to Freak Fandango Orchestra, without the gypsy punk influence. This comes off more like the best stage play you've ever seen [and probably got drunk to, with the bar maiden]. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that there is a song smack dab in the middle of this whole affair called 'Good Times', since everything here seems to be about having a really good time, so why not be up front about it? I've never loved the sound of a violin so much as I do here. It's like it's whining with joy, if that's possible. Really the stand out instrument for me. The female vocals sounds sweet, while the male vocals have a very speak-sing quality to them that adds this weird gravitas to every word. Dichotomous, but it works very well. This is not music you'll likely ever hear on radio or see on MTV, but god damn if it's not good stuff. Well sung, definitely polished and entertaining. I can't ask much more of my music.

ED7 - 2011 - Surfrider EP

Instrumental Electronica

[FOR FREE]

http://timeresonancemusic.bandcamp.com/album/surfrider-ep

• 7 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Sky, Surfrider 

English

Imagine you’re in the middle of the bluest ocean you’ve ever seen. The sun is just warm enough to hit you in a sunny haze, and the waves are calm enough for you to gaze down below, unbothered. Underneath the still surface lies an entire metropolis of aquatic life: greens, yellows, and reds of all shades converse and swirl in a cascade of lights. If you have that visual in your head, then you have a pretty good idea of what ED7’s Surfrider EP sounds like. This music may be swathed in synths and drums, but it all adds up to something a bit more introspective that what most would associate with electronica: even in its busier moments, the music is bathed in a shimmering glow that’s more suited to late-night stargazing than to partying debauchery. ED7 strikes a nice balance between earthy tones and astral blips and whirs, and the contrast hits a wonderfully wistful note. As large as the palette of tones is here, the EP never feels like it’s aimlessly wandering. If anything, it’s a mild shame that some of the ideas here weren’t expanded upon more so that we could spend a little more time. Nonetheless, this is a fine release, bustling with atmosphere, emotion, and life. It’s a well-matched soundtrack for retreats into the woods, midnight walks, and early sunrises. Those who have no use for such things might be better off pursuing other avenues, but those who are up for a little exploration will be enthralled.