Lansbury - 2013 - Everything Went Static

Rock and Roll

[FOR FREE]

http://lansburypgh.bandcamp.com/album/everything-went-static

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

Impressions

When I listen to this, the old SNL 'Bill Brasky' skit about Brasky scissor kicking Angela Lansbury is the first thing that comes to mind, and hell, such an event probably sounded a little something like this (A little ironic I suppose, but more on that later). Everything Went Static is a rock and roll affair of the 'band picks fights with audience' variety. Meaty guitar riffing abound, as Lansbury pound their way through 10 head banging tracks of a stoner rock and roll. One not be a meathead to get a little something from Everything, as while it is hard, fast, and mostly howled in a very straight forward manner, the band both in lyrical content, logo, and album art seem to be shining their light on the terrible TV landscape out there in the real world. Maybe not the most original target in the world, but in this case, I didn't really care what was being yelled in my earholes so long as the music accompanying it was this consistently good. And while the vocals fall into throat shredding territory (of which I'm not usually a fan), I don't think anything else would have worked. No macho crooning, no Nickelback impressions (also thank god, you wouldn't believe the number of records ruined by that). Sing when it's called for, yell at me the rest of the time please. Lansbury also break up the pummelling to try a few different sounds on for size, mainly punk and hardcore. The Instrumentalist say, is a bit punk, a little early Metallica-like thrash (you'll know when that part kicks in). Lansbury have also accomplished something few bands I've come across while reviewing for Wasfuersohr have done, and that's write an LP's worth of material worth listening to from front to back, and in this case still eave me wanting more. Most bands can't fill an EP without my mind wandering off/giving up, but these guys are brandishing these ten tracks like a finely-crafted weapon and they know how to wield them.

CosmicDeal - 2014 - I Miss You

IDM

[FOR FREE]

http://eyesbehinddreamsrecords.bandcamp.com

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

Impressions

From beginning to end, I Miss You is a delightful little EP of electronic music from CosmicDeal.

It had me by the sensitive bits right from the get go, what with that cold, emotionless “SOS beacon”-like opening to the record. And from there on out, one track after another hit it out of my musical park. I don't really know what boundaries define 'idm' but apparently this is suppose to fit in them, so take note idm'ers (and naysayers alike). The music does seem to consist mostly of keyboards and drum machine, thankfully it never blends together into a same-y, indistinguishable mish-mash like a lot of dance music. “Dreams of Oxygen” ambiance and dance, while say, “I Miss You” has a chilling lyrical section along sides its more piano-based music. While I'm talking about “I Miss You”, the voice on that song... Eep! The stuff of aural nightmare fuel if you're alone, that's for damn sure. For what it's worth, I truly dislike the opening drum loops on "Leaving" – Drake and Lil Wayne's type of shitty rap music has forever ruined that drum sound for me, which is too bad, because the rest of the song is pretty good - 'guitar riffs' give the track that extra bit of bite that is otherwise missing from the record. Of course now that I've listened to the record a number of times, the overall appeal has waned somewhat, (except the opening track), so I don't know how much shelf life this will have along side its other bandcamp brethren, but for the time being it's still enjoyable, and I think it'll make good headphone listening for you out in the wide world.  

Static Brains - 2013 - Demo 2013

Garage Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://staticbrains.bandcamp.com/

• 4 songs to download
• For free
• Direct Download
• Listening recommendations: Bastards And Born Again

Impressions

This band has a lot of potential to make enjoyable songs that really rock. How do I know? This demo is a lot of fun to listen to. The riffage in each song stood out to me as a clear reminder that the true spirit of rock is not dead. It really is excellent. I remember the riff from Liars and Fools being stuck in my head as I was getting dressed in the morning (weird, right?). But that’s the sort of thing I’m talking about. It has Maiden-esque venom with a garage punk mentality; and plenty of rough head shaking which would make anyone with long hair make it dance. The rest of the songs pretty much follow the same description too. Some more technical than others whether in flaming solos like the one at the end of Bastards and Born Again, and this demo has a groover in the 3^rd track, which happens to be my favorite. I love the chorus’s harmonious style incorporated in such a raw mix of distortion. I would like to remind people that it would be even more harmonious if the vocals matched the pitch a little better… but because it’s more of a recording issue, I give the vocalist a pass. A crisper recording of the wails would make this demo really ripe, meaning that’s all I’d recommend for Static Brains to blossom into a band I’d listen to often. Awesome demo.

BOWANDAERO - 2013 - Endlessly Floating Home

Folk Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://bowandaero.bandcamp.com/

• 6 songs to download
• You name the price (min 0,-)
• You get the link if you register your email address
• Listening recommendations: Bones, When Walking Get Lost, Recycled Air Cover

Impressions

This is definitely refreshing. It hasn’t exactly been an ‘all to myself’ past couple of weeks lately, and this is perfect for unwinding… all of which I think is the desired purpose for a 6-track, 20 minute, sweet simmering release. Not simmering like a whiny tea kettle, but like a pot full of scented herbs lightly evaporating by water. Water evaporating herbs. Not physically understandable but still makes sense? Anyway, while there’s something discomforting and anxious about the name, Endlessly Floating Home, I thought this was very gentle and welcoming. Perhaps that’s the goal. The idea of home and what it means, somehow lost in transition.

But I will admit, Kamikaze Lovers is as simmering as it gets. It’s the featured track here and for good reason: it’s a high point but not too high. It’s romantic and cool; perfect for outdoor, backyard serenading. All you need is a good pair of headphones and 5 patient minutes to really feel all of the pleasantries of soft keyboard chords and soft vocals, which really doesn’t take much. The vocals were my favorite aspect of this release. They’re different, with a surprising amount of emotion in the same laid-back and docile delivery throughout most of the songs. The same goes for Bones, my favorite track here. To me, it resembles the Endlessly feature because of its sad, broken, and wistful tone.
Maybe after a couple of more full listens, below there’d be one more record awarded for such an enjoyable listen this gives, but my analysis demands more in the area of identity. These tracks aren’t strikingly capturing and can only be heard in all of their entirety for the most reward. Not just because of the simplicity of piano, acoustic guitar, and the occasional synth, but there wasn’t a true face to each song. To BOWANDAERO’s defense, the set is called Endlessly Floating Home, and the tracks would most likely resemble bubbles of haziness like memories (which they do in my opinion), but my suggestion remains. However, that’s as far as my constructive ear picks out.

Although I haven’t heard either of the original versions of the couple of covers done, I think it’s blameless to have them here because of how they make the project complete. But not as complete as the closer makes this feel. The closer is precious, and I’d honestly tell someone to listen to all of Endlessly Floating Home just to listen to the closer. This implication isn’t taking away from the rest of the songs, but Miss Nightsky is an absolute acoustic lullaby, and gets all of my stars. Overall, it's a relaxing listen.