Early Worm - 2013 - Early Worm EP

Indie pop

[FOR FREE]

http://earlyworm.bandcamp.com/

• 4 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Thanks George, Water Colors

Impressions

Just look at that cover for a second. That faded Polaroid. That font taken straight from a wedding invite made with Windows Photo Gallery. It’s an image you would see in your friend’s Photoshop (or his wedding invitation, for that matter), not adorning the front of an EP—unless, of course, that disconnect is in fact the point. Turns out, it is, as Early Bird’s self-titled EP is defined less by the band’s performance and more by its personality. The band plays a charming and relaxing blend of indie pop with surf rock that makes for a potent mixer in the moment: opener “Thanks, George” begins with an explosion to shake the listener awake, a heavy rhythmic slog leavened with airy guitar lines and nimble drums, but it soon reveals a more intricate side as the tempo slows down before building into a swing section. It’s all a bit much on first listen, yet the promise of sunshine hangs over each note. The guitars wash over the track like beach waves, while the production lets everything jangle and melt, so worn-out you can almost smell the musk on the CD. “Water Colors” slows down (at least a bit), but the vibe is alive and well. There’s even some political posturing with song titles like “Margaret Thatcher”, but…well, the band doesn’t include the lyrics, do they? It’s a mood it’s chasing, not a message. Ultimately, Early Worm’s EP may not stick with you in your dreams, but then again, it was never meant to: in its short fifteen minutes, the music travels, and that’s really all the listener needs it to do.

Vulture Radio - 2013 - Vulture Radio Demos

Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://vultureradio.bandcamp.com/album/vulture-radio-demos

• 5 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: The First Through The Door, On The Level

Impressions

It's become a rarity since taking up musical arms for Wasfuerfohr that rock acts actually produce anything worth listening to, let alone recommending others listen to as well. I say that because Vulture Radio has an EP of demos that is more than worthy of listening to and recommending. I don't even remember the last straight up rock record I reviewed to be honest. Vulture Radio Demos is pretty self explanatory, we've got 5 song demos that if I'm being honest sound rough around the edges, but that only makes them more listenable; what with this being a garage rock affair after all. These Vultures don't seem too interested in carcases though, not with the deep bass grooves and driving pop punk guitars working instep with one and other to propel things at a deceptively fast tempo. No, these guys want their audiences alive and filled with rock vitality, possibly covered in a layer of dirt and sweat. The opening of "First Through the Door" is instantly catchy, and will plant itself in your mind and take root there. I would go so far as to say the entire record is filled with catchy hooks, simple and effective as all good hooks should be. Another aspect of Vulture Radio that appealed to me was the vocals. Not the best quality, they're a bit flat in that regard, but that's the recording/mixing and not the singer himself. No the vocals appealed to me because they're enticing and decently ranged without relying on any false bravado shtick to come across like an alpha male badass. This is just a group of guys that want to have a good time, no other pretense needed. I hope that stays the same if these songs ever make it beyond demo status. I can only take so many terrible Glenn Danzig impressions in my rock music. Vulture Radio Demos scratched that indie rock itch bandcamp first revealed to me with Cast of Cheers. Cannot wait to hear what they release next. Get out there and crank the Vulture Radio!

Greatest Month - 2013 - Herbs

Instrumental Chillout-Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://oncekingdom.bandcamp.com/

• 6 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Torn Maps

Impressions

An EP along similar lines to Garden's Burnt Out, Herbs is something of hybrid of different musical ideas trying to come together into a cohesive whole. Where Burnt Out was washed out electronics and bits of noise effortlessly fused into low-key bliss with no real goal, Greatest Month relies on a meshing of field recordings and a live guitars with definite structure and goals. And it's a successful combination from where I'm sitting, and that's in the reviewers seat. The guitar work (bass and acoustic/electric) here is striking, both in the skill Niklas Dahlstrand obviously has with the instruments and his ability to mine the depths of acoustic blues for such varied sounds; the gentle Spanish-lite style strumming on “Torn Maps” contrasted with the more urgent plucking on “Cringe”. The bass lines are a lot simpler than their guitar counterparts, but with the exception of “Burrow” (more on this later), it provides nearly all of the low end on its own, thus giving it extra oomph on every song. Try and tell me you can't feel it rattle through you when “A Loan” comes on, just try! It also seems obvious that Dahlstrand is a producer, because the guitar and bass tracks have just the right amount of rawness to them while the field recordings are unrecognizably woven together with the guitar and bass. It gives the songs a livelier feeling, as if Dahlstrand was playing the guitar/bass in the room with you while accompanied by electronic music playing from a stereo/laptop. I mentioned 'Burrow” earlier, and I did so because it's the obvious nth degree of Dahlstrand's production side, featuring no discernible guitar work (aside from perhaps samples nestled in the background) instead turning things to a dancey-er drum and bass and field recordings tune that's downright catchy. “Urban Center” is similar (though it for sure has some strings in there), but grimier and much less interested in dancing and more interested in atmosphere and mood. I think Herbs is definitely worth checking out. So do it, before he changes names again ;)

PS – Pairing Herbs with Burnt Out is highly recommended for a truly chill experience.

Blasterbra - 2011 - Unit

Garage Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://blasterbramusic.bandcamp.com/

• 10 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Actions/ Reactions, My Sweetheart The Punk, Quiet You

Impressions

Pounding and uncompromising garage rock with a touch of a 90's attitude. These tracks will make you want to jump up and throw your limbs against anything opposing you. The lyrics of most songs are incredibly catchy, the voice of the lead singer is charismatic and the instrumentation is pure and unrestrained rocking fun. Unfortunately, the album doesnt keep the high quality of tracks like Quiet,You and My Sweetheart the Punk throughout the whole record and falls a bit flat towards the end. On top of that there are some slight sound quality issues due to the diy nature of it as well. But that shouldn't detract from the massive amount of rocking fun Blasterbra is providing here. Some tracks, especially Quiet, You are definitely among the best tracks I've heard in the genre in a while. Despite some minor issues, there is lots of fun and variation to be had with Unit. For my part, I sure hope that they pick up where they left off if they every consider returning from their hiatus.

Banana Nightmare - 2012 - Bananageddon

Electronic/Hip Hop/Rock/Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://banananightmare.com/

• 12 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Afterpiece Feat A C E Kylie Fox, This Feeling Feat Eve Vickerson, Hallowed Feat Jeremy Hofer

Impressions

Many of the individual songs on this record deserve to be heard. All of the involved musicians show some great talent, but unfortunately the record somehow ends up to be less than the sum of its parts. The whole record seems more like a mixtape of different musicians and genres than a cohesive LP, which makes it really hard to get into. The fragmented nature also shows in the general idea: "Bananageddon [...] hopes to speak out against dogma and superstitious thinking", yet includes tracks that obviously have a religious message (Hallowed is still a good track nonetheless). I can't be the only one who sees the dissonance regarding that here. The instrumental tracks show some great craftsmanship and would be fantastic instrumental tracks if they werent mixed with interesting, but a bit redundant scientific quotes. I get the idea these guys had here, but the way its implemented doesn't lend itself very well to re-listening the actually quite good instrumental tracks. While there are a few exceptions, most of the hip hop and pop tracks are actually really good as well, benefitting from having great vocalists and only stumble overall because the tracks dont quite seem to fit together. I am not saying this kind of collaboration can't work, but the individual musicians are certainly better than the way these tracks have been assembled into a single record. I heard a decent mixtape here with some great songs. If you remove some of the dissonances and split this album into the 3 albums it should be, we'd have some great records on our hands. Oh and someone convince Eve Vickerson to make more songs please, "This Feeling" is definitely the standout, even among the individually good songs, for me here. Absolutely fantastic dreamy pop track with passion, love and a charismatic voice that the world deserves to hear more of. I highly recommend listening to Bananageddon and getting to know promising musicians that we hopefully hear more of in the future. The review is already too long, but these guys still deserve a shoutout and mad props for their "Project: Free Your Voice" as well, read up on it here: http://banananightmare.com/album/project-free-your-voice

Garden - 2013 - Burnt Out

Experimental

[FOR FREE]

http://gardenland.bandcamp.com/album/burnt-out

• 4 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Blue Eagle 2

Impressions

I was searching through the myriad of albums and EP's that I've gotten from bandcamp over the last few months for something that would make for excellent music to put on while I did my morning yoga (yes, I started doing that). Flipping through, I knew that something like Grimblee or Viktor Disque might be great techno records, but their tempo was too fast, and not what I needed early in the morning to empty my mind and focus. Rock and metal records of any kind tend to draw my focus onto the lyrics (or in the case instrumental rock) into the guitars and I'd end up going completely off course. Pumping adrenaline does not make for the kind of workout I'm looking to have. I needed something that was at once calming and relaxing enough that I don't want to get up pump my fist, but also aurally engaging enough that I'd want to hear it again and again every morning and keep coming back for more. That I put Burnt Out on during the yoga and afterward to listen to it again (and again, and again. And again once more to write this) showed me Garden achieved this in spades. Garden experiment with a lack of song structure, these are mostly sound collages with no real final destination in mind – “Blue Eagle” throbs along with only the drums and cymbals giving any sense of direction to what's going, and even that fades out into a psychedelic stream of sound. There may be a lack of real structure, but there is, as a song is named, a kaleidoscopic array of textures and sounds working together here you can simply get lost in. You may listen to this and wonder how I chose it for yoga, and you may be right, but I'll be damned if it this doesn't center me and put me in a good place every time I put it on. Burnt Out comes highly recommended regardless of what you're doing.

Frrrp! - 2013 - Things That Make You Go

Jazz Fusion

[FOR FREE]

http://jbjtrois.bandcamp.com/

• 5 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: A Night In Tunisia

Impressions

Oh lord, I'm about to step into truly unmarked territory for myself (at least, unmarked for five years), and lay Things That Make You Go on you guys and gals. Take my e-hand and let us groove to the smooth sounds of Frrrp!'s free jazz fusion shall we? That last sentence either caused you to scoff and walk off, or you're itching for more. If the latter, first, stop itching. Second, Frrrp!, Great name? Greatest name? Jazz is something I know when I hear it, even if delving into it's many facets and idiosyncrasies is much too daunting a task for me. That out of the way, Things That Make You Go is laid back and relaxing, never really getting above a brisk walk in tempo (“A Night in Tunisia” or “Nardis”), but that's part of the appeal. It's not too slow as to put you to sleep or lose your attention, and not a freak out that only jazz aficionados can enjoy. The rhythm sections keep it relatively simple and warm, but deftly handled, coming into the fore just at the right moments when things start to really pick up the pace and the guitar can't go it alone any longer. Speaking of, the guitar keeps its sound rather bar band bluesy, never veering too far off into uncharted territory, for better or worse depending on how you look at this. The organ/piano seems to day tripping along side the rhythm section (when I hear this kind of jazz, I always think of the movie “Breathless” for the scenes of Patricia walking around Paris) or playing a supporting role to the guitar, either way it adds a bit groove to the music that would be lacking otherwise. This is made apparent on “Nardis” and built upon in later tracks, which I think makes this record perfect for a leisurely stroll just about anywhere (though Paris in the 1960's, should one have a time machine handy, would be excellent). Things That Make You Go isn't going to reinvent any jazz-related wheels, but it does present us with a set of tracks filled with laid back grooves that will satisfy that itch you didn't even realize you had (notice your toes tapping? I didn't at first either!). I can't ask for more than that, so give Frrrp! and Things That Make You Go a spin.