Anusheh Anadil - 2012 - Rai

World Music

[FOR FREE]

http://anushehanadil.com/

• 11 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Rohoshshyo, Aha Ki Jaley Atkailore, Mon Diya Por Ashol Madrasae

Impressions

Okay, stick with me here. I would say 'Rai' is quite the album, with world music and folk elements being a big part of the mix, and I would say pop. Of course I don't know much (see: “anything” - editor), about Bengali music or the Dhaka music scene and don't know what this might be considered there, I do however know that I really enjoyed this album, whatever genre of music it is (and whatever the lyrics may be, as I do not speak a lick of Bengali). I really am flying blind on this one; completely out of my element musically, that said, music is like math, its appeal is universal and 'Rai' is no exception. The instrumentation here has a warm sound, very inviting, getting funky from time to time (“Shabash Manush” and “Aha Ki Jaley Atkailore” get down with their bad self). Anadil's voice is the main attraction for majority of the songs, compellingly powerful and direct, sultry at times, even when the she comes off as relaxed in a few of the folk-oriented songs on the record where the vocals are a little more of what I'd consider 'rock' vocals (“Nodir Prem”, “Radham Prem”). The harmonies on “Mon Diya Por Madrasae” sound like a childrens choir is backing Anadil up, and it's rather beautiful and uplifting (the guitar solo doesn't hurt either). A record I was hesitant to review at first, but I think others will enjoy 'Rai' as much as I have. The internet is the great equalizer for music, allowing artists from all corners of the world to be heard and enjoyed from all other corners, and here's proof.

Kindest of Thieves - 2012 - Ever The Optimist

pop/indie rock

   [FOR FREE]

http://kothieves.bandcamp.com/

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Go To Town On Me, Bones

English

Kindest of Thieves could certainly be characterized along with the plethora of indie rock bands that have saturated the music world in recent years, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any fun to be had messing around in other boxes of toys as well. This EP moves at a brisk pace, the four tracks coming in at under twelve minutes, but in that time, it covers an appealing palette of sounds and influences; some songs, like “Amelia”, dabble with country and folk conventions and graft them onto the dynamics and bombast of indie rock, spinning those tropes into slight but subtly brilliant sing-alongs. Others are more direct about their experimentation, like “Go To Town On Me”, which takes the band into swing territory (albeit tempered with the atmospherics of indie rock, which the band use to tie the whole package together). This is all fine and well, but what about the band itself? some of you may be wondering, but for all my talk about influences, the songs feel remarkably cohesive, all of them swathed in clean but organic production that keeps the band centered yet lets the more offbeat moments shine as well. The songwriting here is also quite clean, seamlessly weaving in tangents from all sorts of areas into its tapestry of colorful folk-rock. This is a brief sample of what Kindest of Thieves has cooked up in their heads, but I’m already excited for another taste.

Bit Bit Orunge - 2012 - Orbit

Chiptune/Cosmic Electronic

   [FOR FREE]

http://bitbitorunge.bandcamp.com/

• 5 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: 5Th Season, The Launch

English

Some things in the world are only available to the imagination; no matter how advanced or innovative our technologies become, we will never be able to grasp, say, something as infinitely small as a cell—or wrap our heads around something as infinitely immense as the universe. We’ll always be stuck somewhere in the middle, giants on the face of the earth and specks of dust in the face of the stars. Space may be something that we can never reach the ends of, but at least Bit Bit Orunge paints a stellar picture of what it would be like in Orbit. Opener “5th Season” sets a promising mood right away; it’s a beautiful slice of swooping synths and haunting bloops, and the track nails both the feelings of isolation and awe that the cosmos can inspire. “Jupita” progresses in much the same way, miniscule yet majestic, synthesized yet sincere, wispy yet weathered. Bit Bit Orunge has a way with melodies that drift seemingly aimlessly before they surge up in empowering roars. His instrumentation is also commendable; it’s a brilliant combination of electronic and instrumental, and the interplay yields fantastic dividends throughout. Strings swell in the background while bits of piano and computers swirl and intertwine. Each of the various instruments gets a chance to shine, and they never fight for dominance but simply play to each others’ strengths, soaring to blissful, uplifting heights. It’s a shame Orbit is such a short journey, but it is a gorgeous, stirring ride while it lasts.

Snowcake - 2009 - Snowcake

Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://ltrecords.bandcamp.com/album/snowcake

• 8 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Trigger Pull, Hook It, Ticket To Ride

English

I've had a time of it trying to write this review for Snowcake. How can I write a review of an album my brain initially says is “Female Radiohead”, when I know that is not the case at all and will only hurt the album through an unfair comparison to that band if I write around that premise. So I guess I'll just forget that initial impression outside this opening sentence and move onto 'Snowcake' as its own terms.
So Snowcake, both band and album, have created a cache of pop that is instantly memorable and incredibly catchy. And that's what I want out of my pop music anyway, and this delivers. Add it to the ever-growing list of female fronted works I've reviewed in the past months if you must, I'm sure someone it keeping a tally of it somewhere. The keyboard/bass on “Stars” is probably what gave me my initial impression about the record, but after the sound diverges in a few couple directions; some taking neo-soul/jazz with a focus more on the piano/keyboards (“Hook It” especially, with that old school organ-sounding intro) and an airy, relaxed sound, while others tracks veer off in an electropop direction that's dominated by a faster pace, synthesizer, and drum machine loops. To simplify, one is smoky lounge clubs and the other is dance floors and strobe lights. As a nerd, “Ticket to Ride” makes my smile a little wider, with me picturing Snowcake sitting around playing a round or 5 (or my friends and I for that matter), even if the song isn't explicitly about the board game. Even the mere possibility exists is enough for me to enjoy the song on an extra level (it's one of the highlights of the album even if what I just said confuses you immensely). “Unfinished Business” is a melding of the two sounds the album splits itself between with heavy thudding drum and bass, and keys that shift between twinkly ivories and techno beats and makes for a really solid (if too short) way to finish off the record. It's a mix of airy, soulful pop and dancier techno pop with a few tracks that bring it all together with lovely results. Have a slice of 'Snowcake' won't you? 

Wolfmen of Mars - 2011 - Digital Penetration

Synth Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://wolfmenofmars.bandcamp.com

• 4 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: East Of Dementia

Impressions

It's with a love of John Carpenter soundtracks that Wolfmen of Mars take up their instruments to rock out the music of 'Digital Penetration'. Now, if you go in expecting anything even remotely similar to the atmospheric synthesizer-heavy music John Carpenter is known for, you'll leave disappointed, as this is not it. There's a lot of keyboards and synthesizers here, sure, but in this instance The Shape is just as likely to bust up a dance floor as he is a helpless babysitter. A strange mental image certainly, but appropriate with Wolfmen of Mars, as they play dance rock that's heavily influenced by horror and science-fiction films (audio clips from old films fit perfectly) both in tone and structure. With song titles like “Something Monstrous Pt. 1” and “East of Dementia”, it's obvious WoM have their tongues in their cheeks. The music itself follows much the same pattern – songs of eerie keyboard lines and audio samples (billowing wind, guttural growls) surrounded by the absolutely bouncy guitar/bass/drum boogie” East of Dementia” or drum and bass slabs of dance music in “Something Monstrous” 1 and 2. Only opener “The Breather” sticks the horror vibe the entire song length, and only because the drum and bass back up the horrifying revelation audio cue 'Dun NUH' instead of playing against it rhythmically. The last two tracks are remixes of the first and fourth track respectively, and both approach the goofy library music tracks accompanying a George Romero zombie satire in their pomp and lighthearted feel. An interesting detour to end the EP. Not a bad soundtrack for a Halloween party this one.

Synthcake surprise!

Good news for everyone who liked the the newest Synthcake record "Molding through seasons", but didnt have the money to throw them at the artists currently. Its now FREE! So grab it if you dont have it yet. Blog post has been updated to reflect that.

Synthcake - 2012 - Molding through Seasons

And since I am not getting tired of mentioning their first record:

Synthcake - 2011 - Musicophilia

Dan Axtell - 2012 - Cosmos

Free jazz

   [FOR FREE]

http://danaxtell.bandcamp.com/

• 7 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Organic Matter, People Live On Other Planets

English

Maybe it’s the arrival of spring and warmer, happier weather, but I have been spending my May nights gazing up at the stars. And the cool thing is, I’ve heard all the gloom and doom about how small we are in the universe’s endgame, and I still feel completely in touch with them. Yes, we are specks of dust on the face of the galaxies, but what does that matter? If I holler at the sky loud enough, somebody will be listening.
I wonder if Dan Axtell and his trio of jazz musicians were feeling the same vibes I’m feeling when they were putting together Cosmos, which I can safely declare one of the most thrilling, joyous, and uplifting albums of 2012 in any genre. The album flows in a completely organic manner that almost betrays the genre; nothing here is ever done for flash or for pomp, and the parts of each song just dance around each other, whether it’s the bass playing a funky groove behind gong reverbs and xylophone tinkles in “Organic Matter” or a cymbal crashing right at the perfect moment to accentuate transitions in “Cosmic Song of Life”. The instruments strike a perfect blend of the authentic and the synthesized, and neither gets in the other’s way; you may be listening to a piercing synthesizer wail before the floor drops out and you’re treated to a haunting piano solo suitable for any self-respecting National Geographic documentary. Harmony is the name of Axtell’s game here, and he doesn’t strike a false note in this set of songs.
Cosmos is simply life-affirming, an album abundant in zest, grace, and soul. And sure, you can read this and just crawl back into your bed, wondering if the world is out to get you. Or you can get a flashlight and put on that pair of shoes you have, the one filled with holes but is still just good enough to walk in. Find a sidewalk, one that hardly anybody passes through, reach up to touch the stars, turn up Cosmos, and holler at the sky. After all, you have to be pretty loud if you want those guys up there to hear you.

Amulet - 2011 - Amulet

Alternative Rock

   [FOR FREE]

http://amuletjams.bandcamp.com/

• 5 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Devils Dancing Shoes, Pardon My Freedom

English

Stupidly fun rock music to get down and dirty to, leaving you breathless from screaming your lungs out while throwing your limbs through the room. This might not be your cup of tea, but you'll find out easily enough. If you don't like the first song, the rest won't blow you away either since Amulet kept an overall consistant feeling to their songs on this record, even though they manage to mix some parts up quite a bit with some slower song sections and Blues influences. I wouldn't necessarily call their overall style Blues Rock, but they certainly show off the inspiration they've taken from Blues, most prominently featured in Pardon My Freedom. I'd love to see them branching even further from their established sound. Those, sometimes subtle, Blues influences are quite an interesting addition to the basic Alternative Rock sound and I'd love to see them expanding on the foundation they laid with this EP. With some of the guitar riffs being quite the treat, its solid Alternative Rock nature and convincing attitude this is a record you should definitely give a listen. I did mention its stupidly fun to listen to, right? Recommended.

Synthcake - 2012 - Molding Through Seasons

Synthpop

[FOR FREE]

 

http://synthcakemusic.bandcamp.com/album/molding-through-seasons

• 5 songs to download
• free to download
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Drip, Sail Away

Impressions

Synthcake's first EP, Musicophilia, was one of the most entertaining aural experiences I had throughout the whole of 2011. It also made my Top 3 list of 2011 and if you haven't listened to it yet, take this post as a friendly reminder to check out their free and incredibly impressive debut EP. Starting with those expectations, its hard to judge Molding through Seasons. Returning listeners are usually inclined to want more of what they already liked and that is not quite what Synthcake delivered here. This time, the world you are going to enter is not as easy going and inviting, which isn't bad by any means. "Different" is the key word here. Whereas Musicophilia was the equivalent of haunted tales coming to life in your bedroom and showing you little dark secrets that nevertheless are far away from your safe resting place, Molding through Seasons lures and pulls you right down in the pitch black and haunted dancing grounds of creatures that will make you feel a bit more than just uneasy. This EP, as short as it may be, is a journey from which you can't back off once you started it. Let me show you what I mean: The first track is more reminiscent of the first EP, and which indeed has already seen a prior release, therefore luring the listener with something familiar into this dark carneval. After this beginning, you are introduced to softly singing and enchanting sirens that tempt you to come with them on their journey, luring listeners into the haunting story of Alice. Here, the parallels between Alice's and the listeners world seem to blur, only to finally culminate into the dark carnival you attend at the end of song 4 - Molding through Seasons.
While they deviate quite a bit from the overall feeling of Musicophilia, they somehow manage staying true to their own style of inviting people on a haunted dance. A different dance this time for sure, but nonetheless still as refreshing and special as their first invitation. The use of experimental sounds, more elaborate story telling and once more superb and unique feeling are making Molding through Seasons another journey I heartily recommend to any brave soul willing to dance in the shadows to songs unknown.

Skinny Girls - 2011 - For Kate Moss

Electronic

[FOR FREE]

http://skinnygirls.bandcamp.com/

• 5 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Beauty Dies

Impressions

Here's an odd little ditty of a record; an ambient electronic album loosely dedicated to/about model Kate Moss made up almost entirely of samples, that manages to take its crazy conceptual trappings (loose as they are) and make for a deranged, but still entertaining listen. If the title 'For Kate Moss' is more than some kind of joke Moss herself is in on, the cold minimalism and tightly strung tension of the five tracks is more than a little creepy, I'll be honest with you. “Die Down into Something”, the first track is a voice sample looped through filters repeatedly, over the increasingly louder sound of a [vinyl] record skipping and electronic noise. The rest of the EP takes a similarly cold, minimalist approach to their structure: “Beauty Dies” has haunting vocals over a menacing bass line and a piano sample straight out of a haunted house (ending a familiar but effective sample from “Run the Heart”). “In Church †” is an organ sample that sounds like it gets caught in an industrial fire that comes off creepier than it might otherwise in comparison to the morose feeling the other songs are imbibed with. “Sleep on the Floor” seems to be made up of more than one sample (that I cannot identify), and has the haunting vocals again (this time at various places in the mix) that could easily pass for the sounds of the English Moors on a foggy evening (if you're inclined to watch b&w horror films anyway). “Goodbye/Katie's Photos” is a disjointed piano and percussion loop that's less creepy, and a little too repetitive for over half its run time. Though it does crescendo to a not unsurprising noisy finally with tape hiss. If you listen to one record stalking Kate Moss this year, make it this one. Definitely a a niche sound, but its got an audience out there, I know it.