wasfuersohr

Paralelo - Fig.1

2012-02-16T01:57:00.001+01:00

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

2012-02-14T00:05:00.000+01:00

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

2012-02-11T11:52:00.003+01:00

Experimental Electronica

[FOR FREE]

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

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://nqsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nqs-records-001"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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

2012-02-09T00:45:00.001+01:00

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

2012-02-07T02:14:00.001+01:00

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

2012-02-04T18:44:00.000+01:00

Folk Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://jdandthelongfellows.bandcamp.com

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://jdandthelongfellows.bandcamp.com"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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

2012-02-02T23:30:00.000+01:00

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.

ouragan - 2011 - ouragan EP

2012-01-31T19:51:00.000+01:00

French Electronic Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://ouragan.bandcamp.com/album/ouragan-ep

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Tuer La France, Je Suis Un Perdant

English

More songs in which I have no idea about what the guy is singing about! However, language barriers can't hinder my enjoyment for music I like and hereby I present you the second French record for this blog (The first one being Deux Gars quite a while ago). While I already take a liking to traditional French Pop, the present attempt to mix modern Indie and Electronica elements into the French Pop genre is a rather successful one. The album opener Tuer La France especially is a lighthearted song with lots of charme that makes it impossible to dislike it. He switches to a more oppressing and hectical sound variety with his second song Je Suis Un Perdant (translated to "I am a loser"), expanding on the French Pop genre barriers until he completely breaks loose in Barium with a pure Electronica track. Despite the very obvious Electronica influences and the French Pop origin, Ouragan can't be bothered to restrain himself to specific genre boundaries, which allows him to bring a lot different musical experiments to fruition. Due to that, it is not surprising that he wasn't quite able to keep the quality on a consistently high level and it is rather noticeable that the record loses a bit of momentum towards the end of the record. Despite all that, Ouragan isn't a "perdant" at all, and I eagerly anticipate any future genre bending songs and catchy tunes he comes up with.

Eighter - Something Weird

2012-01-30T19:15:00.003+01:00

Doom Drum and Bass

[FOR FREE]

http://eighter.bandcamp.com/

6 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Track Four, Track Six

Disclaimer: We have several reviewers on the blog, and after checking back with the initial reviewer I take the liberty to change initial ratings a bit to adjust them on the out-of-5 scale in comparison to all the other records we featured so far.

Original Review rating: 3/5

English

Eighter's “Something Weird” is six tracks of fuzzed as fuck drum and bass. It's certainly the most apt record title I've seen in a while. Who would have thought mixing doom [metal] and drum and bass would work? The band themselves have called it “doom drum and bass”, and I feel that's a rather accurate description that I'm going to crib from liberally for this review. If the phrase 'doom' in a music review pops a giant question mark up over your head: take the blues aspects of early metal, make it slow as molasses, less reliant on sheer volume and more on technical prowess, make it sound as low as possible and cook. In this case, there are no slabs of guitar to get in the way and lyrics also completely absent, which only adds to the really heavy, dirty hip-hop vibe that simmers under all of this. That the mixing sounds extremely raw and rough around the edges adds to whole package really. There is nothing shiny or slick about this record. Aaron Todd's bass sounds like it's playing for the end of the world from a cave somewhere and he's got all day to wait for it to arrive. It fills up any and all space available to it, but doesn't overwhelm or become abrasive even with all the noise and feedback. The drumming is minimalist, not a lot flourishes here. Mike Cooper keeps the beat with a lot of snare drum, the kind that turntablists DJ's make entire albums out of. Again, both instruments are technically impressive to hear, but they aren't flashy about it. It would rattle your core before it blew you away. And yet, there are moments ('Track 3' and 'Track 5' specifically, they don't have discreet names) where things get almost bouncy, jazzy as the rhythm speeds up. The music takes on a blues rock cum hip hop mixture that works out a lot better than it might seem (the bass takes on a lot more of a guitar quality in these moments, and one may even join the fray on 'Track 5'). For 6 tracks of apparent improvisational origin, this could be a Black Sabbath fans introduction to the world of drum and bass. It could be yours too.

Marumeth - 2011 - The Sun Smiles

2012-01-28T21:27:00.000+01:00

Electronic

[FOR FREE]

http://marumeth.bandcamp.com/

6 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: So Happy, Take Flight

English

Mmm relaxing music at last. “The Sun Smiles” is chilled to perfection, the same kind of electronic pop music that made people crave Postal Service like it was candy nine years ago. This is even more laid back than that, like Postal Service sitting on a white sandy beach somewhere just letting it all hang out. There are almost no vocals on these four songs (yes I do tend to enjoy music without lyrics, okay :P), and when there are, they're ethereal and distant and a bit filtered, so they don't quite sound human. Imagine hooking up a motivational tape to an intercom. That's how I'd best describe the vocals on 'So Happy', motivational verbal yoga. The low end is sturdy and thudding in a drum and bass kind of way, but not nearly as abrasive or intense and the keys are poppy and bursting with energy. It really would feel like a sun beating down on you ('Feel the Sun's Rays'). At times the songs do have a melancholy melody to them. It's strangely at odds with the overall feel of the music, but not necessarily out of left field if one looks at the song titles as ironic. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that was the case. The songs are so relaxing and entrancing that you won't even realize that the EP's four track length has actually just eaten up twenty+ minutes of blissful time. It's such an easy listen it's rather hard to describe in words. This is one record that is more of an experience and you'll get more out of it over multiple listens than sitting intently and listening to it one time. So 'take flight' and give yourself over to Marumeth.

Mugison - 2009 - Ítrekun/Reminder (live)

2012-01-27T00:28:00.000+01:00

Blues Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://mugison.bandcamp.com/album/trekun-reminder
http://mugison.bandcamp.com/album/mugiboogie
http://mugison.bandcamp.com/album/live-session-with-bj-rgvin-g-slasson

9 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: The Pathetic Anthem Live, Murr Murr 2
If you like: The Black Keys, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

English

Mugison is a name that should be associated with great and greatly fun rock music. Music that goes through your bones, making your feet dance, your hands pound, your heart race and your mind free from the exasperating daily tasks at hand. These guys seem to be one of the more well known bands featured on this blog so far, but I assume they won't complain too much if we manage to bring them a few more listeners. I had a bit of a hard time to put them into a certain genre because I'd consider the 3 most recent records all different variations of rock, but what one hell of a ride it was to listen through what I decided to categorize as Blues Rock. There were a few outings before, but those most recent 3 are sort of different sides of a three sided coin (read as: My metaphor skills are severely lacking) and Mugiboogie was the first of these 3 to see the light of day. Compared to the other 2, its the more typical studio album, rather polished, less emotional, but still an interesting listen with quite a lot of variety. Ítrekun/Reminder is the live album, where previously quiet songs like "The Pathetic Anthem" stop sounding semi-pathetic and grow up to be full-blown celebratory rock hymns, which is also the reason I liked this version the most. The sheer emotional power these songs convey by having very dominant instruments and a persuasive lead voice backing them is explosive. The live session with Björgvin Gíslasson is another beast entirely and takes a step back to indulge into a room filled with benevolent listeners and improvised guitar sounds, like a Jazz session caressing the senses of the discerning listener, showing its not all about emotional impact that gets your heart pounding but manages to build up some sort of bond with the live listener that is hard to replicate virtually. I would love to see this music performed live, may it be for an all out dancing session or listening relaxed to the Jazz version, waiting for the next improvisational subtlety to reach my ears. Regarding the records you have here: How often do you have the chance to listen to a great song in 3 different variations and choose your favorite? Very recommended.

Franco & The Dreadnought - 2011 - Last Man Standing EP

2012-01-25T00:56:00.000+01:00

Pop Folk

[FOR FREE]

http://francodreadnought.bandcamp.com/

7 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Last Man Standing, Catch Of The Pride

English

There’s hardly been a dearth of indie singer-songwriters in the post-YouTube age, but Franco & The Dreadnought may be one of the most hidden treasures of the lot, though completely overlooked. This EP is proof of that—these seven songs are stripped-back, earnest, and absolutely gorgeous. The titular “Last Man Standing” showcases a lot of what makes Franco stand out: a strong, emotive voice, beautiful harmonies, simple, strong songwriting, and a wonderfully atmospheric production that immerses everything with a slightly moody tint, as if it were daybreak in some dive in an alley with no name, and you were the only one bearing witness to the magic happening onstage. The whole enterprise, in fact, is wonderfully personal: penned by Franco (real name: John Blaylock), the lyrics read like stream-of-conciousness confessions to loves and friends and they’re all the more painful and poignant for their refusal to strip their inexplicable feelings down to easily digested soundbytes.
Of course, none of that honesty would be valuable (or even listenable) without a solid soundtrack, but this EP delivers on the musical front as well. Franco’s sound isn’t couched in swarms of instruments and grandness, but in its own little way it’s equally magnificent: prominent use is made of well-crafted vocal harmonies, soaked piano chords and gentle guitar lullabies. This moderate approach makes detours—such as a bongo rhythm on the sing-along “Muskateers” and a crowd of voices on “Catch Of The Pride”—even more pleasurable when these productions blow up to full size.
I want you to stop reading right now and ask yourself right now why you are here, in this place at this time. I assume that, like me, you’ve come here because music has awakened something in you, and you’re hungry for more. If that’s the case, then I’m telling you right now, person to person, that Franco & The Dreadnought is absolutely not to be missed.

Almeeva - 2011 - EP#1

2012-01-23T18:33:00.000+01:00

Ambient Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://almeeva.bandcamp.com

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://almeeva.bandcamp.com"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Tunnel, Egypt

English

I promise I'll review an album with lyrics next, okay? In the mean time, Almeeva released an excellent instrumental rock EP (“EP#1) last year that is definitely worth checking out. I would describe this EP as anthemic ambient rock. If you're not dead, the pace of every song on this EP should get you pumped. The drums control the proceedings and they hit hard, and I do mean hard. The drummer is really laying into those skins (that the drummer plays every other instrument on the record is a feat unto itself). They keep everything at a brisk, but even-keeled pace. There is quite a bit of noodling around with the guitars – especially when the drums drop out. The guitars explore every nook and cranny of space they can find, and they are given some really airy backdrops to explore. I can't even count the number of actual guitar tracks that make up some of these songs. The bass can be downright menacing at times, really pushing the deep end against the guitars ('Egypt' and 'Canyon'), and that only creates a bigger sound to these songs. The guitars are exploring outer space, and the bass is occasionally digging for hell. That isn't to to imply this album is hard rock. Almeeva is swimming in the seas of ambiance, one listen to the opening guitars on 'Echoes' and you'd know this is not going to need devil horns to enjoy, but glow sticks wouldn't be out of the question entirely. I would say Almeeva's music incorporates elements of U2 (minus Bono), Explosions in the Sky and the one band I almost mistook them for upon first listen – Maserati. That Greg Hoepffner (aka Almeeva) listed them as a tag on bandcamp means he knows this too. This man has good taste in music, and thankfully is a damn talented musician himself.

Raveena Aurora - 2011 - Fools (Demo)

2012-01-21T22:37:00.000+01:00

Indie Folk Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://raveenadawnaurora.bandcamp.com/

4 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Young And Invincible, Fools

English

Here we got another example of why its so damn necessary to look at these bands barely anyone knows. Musicians like Raveena Aurora are simply fantastically talented artists and deserve to be recognized, shared and loved, so that they continue making music on an even higher level. The seemingly innocent lyrics and vocals are something rather precious, but delicate, like the purity of a child or the frail structure of a vase which needs to be carefully preserved. Her exceptional voice and the dreamy instrumental composition consisting of guitar, violin and piano sounds make it pretty hard not to fall for the sweet charm these songs give off. Only considering her vocal talents, this record shows off one of the most compelling demo tapes that I got to hear so far. This stands in contrast to the biggest flaw on this EP - a certain lack of musical variety, which, more often than not, is an accompanying feature of lower budget records like these. However, this is a problem artists usually rectify on future outings with more experience and more ressources to experiment with. If this 4 song demo is a sign of things to come by Raveena Aurora, then I am definitely looking forward to any future record benefitting from some experience she gained from her first outing, considering that these first 4 tracks are already considerably well made pop songs.

RETROSONIC - 2011 - Ties, Cardigans & Other Cool Stuff

2012-01-19T23:26:00.000+01:00

Indie Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://retrosonic.bandcamp.com/

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Until The End, Rock'n'Roll Riff

English

These Italian guys aren't bringing terribly much new to the Indie Rock table, but they sure know how to play driving rhythm. Add a charismatic and remarkable lead singer voice to that and you got the basic ingredients to make some good music. Until the End in particular is a song that might occupy your ear for quite a while if you are able to let yourself fall back right into this pool of seemingly never-ending energetic power this song gives off. And while these guys aren't bad at all, they seem to lack a little something to lift them out of the masses in a rather overcrowded genre. This EP in particular starts off pretty well with the driving aforementioned Until the End but then unfortunately continuously loses steam, and despite the quite respectable effort in The Hipster Song, they weren't really able to fix that leak even until the very end. Its good to try different variations of the sound you are playing, but those guys seem to be best if its as energetic as they can make it to be. Considering all that, this leaves us with an EP that is interesting, even good at best, but leaves wanting for more and better. I hope that the band is able to use the gained experience since the release of their EP to create more songs with the punch of Until the End on their next record. Additionally, check their myspace video page to see one of their live performances in 2011, if you want to hear the "raw" versions of these songs.

The Freak Fandango Orchestra - 2011 - Tales of a Dead Fish

2012-01-17T16:56:00.000+01:00

Gypsy Punk

[FOR FREE]

http://freakfandango.bandcamp.com/

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://freakfandango.bandcamp.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

6 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Late-as-usual, No-means-no, Hitmans-lovesong-feat-paola-graziano

English

Have you ever heard of gypsy punk? You're about to.

The Freak Fandango Orchestra will not be everyone's cup of tea, the genres at work here are so seemingly at odds most of the time it can confound and confuse. Others will grab a a draft and dance around a tavern with their lass. Gypsy punk, from what I've come to understand over time, is a mix of punk music and the traditional music of the Roma ('gypsies' – I do dislike this loaded term, personally). To break it down, you've got what sounds like polka, folk, rock, swing, and punk all coming together to form one sound that is really unlike any other (even a bit of jazz in here). Thankfully this is sung mostly in English (good luck deciphering Gogol Bordello if you dare).“Tales of a Dead Fish” is lively and cheery, good for a stroll through town or a bar brawl. Tongue is firmly in cheek lyrically here, but you're not missing out on any joke, these are the sounds of people having a lot fun making kind of weird music. This might be a concept album about a touchy-feely hitman, but I'm not 100% sure. Fun all around really. I mean come on, 'No Means No' has got to be the swinging-est song about sexual harassment in human history. All of the instruments are uniformly excellent, nary a rough edge or distortion to be found here. There are just too many to go into details, suffice to say The FFO make fiddles and accordions cool again. The vocals are also great, with a Spanish accent added to the traditional folk delivery (it's a nice touch for me, as a native English speaker anyway). “Tales of a Dead” has the songs for a night of non-stop drinking and revelry during a game of Dungeons and Dragons. I can see your head has exploded. This really must be heard to be believed.

Rubén Lozano - 2012 - The Astronaut

2012-01-14T19:24:00.002+01:00

Classic/Instrumental

[FOR FREE]

http://rubenlozano.bandcamp.com/album/the-astronaut

10 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Nebulosa, Pulsar, Shuttle
Wallpaper version of the Album Cover: http://i.imgur.com/wIvf3.jpg

English

This is the second classic instrumental record of the spanish musician Rubén Lozano, and the gained experience between the records shows. While his first effort Banda Sonora, released only 6 months ago, was very well received by us, he manages to take his art a step further on the second try. Banda Sonora was more or less a collection of loosely connected, but playful songs that shared a similar production style. The tracks on The Astronaut however, are on a completely different compositional level, which becomes obvious very soon when you listened to it and begin to understand the artists musical vision of the "epic space" theme. Actually, "epic" isn't a word that musicians should throw around lightly. However, it is quite difficult to think of better adjectives to describe the songs on The Astronaut, also considering it serves as a genre descriptor. "Grand" or "grandiose" may be other words that come to mind for songs that are hard to be seen as singular 3 minute pieces, but need to be considered as a whole. Together, these musical pieces create an image of life larger than the one we know, transcending terrestrial imaginary concepts to paint a picture of something more elevated. The cosmos and the thought of an infinite amount of matter are concepts hard to conceive with our feeble human brains. How fascinating is it that there are people able to make music that describes the feeling of these concepts in a language we all understand instead of alienating our brains with complicated facts? Records like Ruben Lozano's The Astronaut are the closest many of us will ever get to understanding the universe, and if that doesn't deserve the word "epic", then I don't know what does.

Les Rivals - 2010 - EP 2010

2012-01-10T23:25:00.000+01:00

Garage Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://lesrivals.bandcamp.com

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://lesrivals.bandcamp.com"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

5 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Sugar-babies, Sos

English

Hey Maroon 5, you guys ain't got shit on these Jagger-like moves I'll tell you that, for damn sure. Les Rivals “EP 2010” is a little bit of that garage rock that radio stations would tell you has seen its heyday pass into the white striped sky, but if this is anything to go by, it's still alive and breathing, and sounding more like The Rolling Stones than ever (take that Hives!). The 5 tracks are all about getting up and shaking your money maker for all its worth, with the organ keys adding just the right amount of psychedelic flavour to allow for lime green outfits and lava lamps to seem like they never went out of style. For Les Rivals, the 1960's are still going strong - expanding your mind and laying everything in sight are actively accepted goals. And hell, with these tracks and the right group of people you might just get your monies worth. Everything about the production here sounds retro, like everything was recorded on old school recording equipment to give it a warmer, crisper sound while keeping the vocals clean and up front. A lot of modern rock music goes out of its way not to sound like this. It's doesn't come off as 'huge', going for a simpler but well crafted and honed sound instead, and it works completely. Les Rivals might just be the hippest cats in the place, “EP 2010” oozes swagger and charm, but you won't begrudge them for it, you'll want to join them. Move over Mick, Les Rivals are here.

The Gravity Amendments - 2011 - From the Other Side of the Mirror State

2012-01-08T17:46:00.001+01:00

Indie/ Folk

[FOR FREE]

http://thegravityamendments.bandcamp.com/

8 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Daydreams, Yellow Dress

Clean "non-hissing" versions of these 3 songs:
- Daydreams
- Bury Your Bones
- Yellow Dress

English

This collection of Indie Folk songs is horribly produced. Every song has a background hissing noise that probably manages to drive the majority of listeners insane. Usually, I wouldn't complain too much about that on a Lo-Fi record but it is simply too distracting in this case and the main reason for the 1/5 rating. On top of that, the song quality differs greatly, ranging from unbelievably catchy with interesting lyrics (see recommended song section) to songs that don't even remotely compare to the best songs. However, those 2-3 songs are really recommendable and especially Daydreams and Yellow Dress are songs that I would love to have professionally recorded, clean versions of. Due to that, I decided to try my best at cleaning those songs a bit with Audacity to get rid of the hissing noise. Listen to the clean versions linked above the review to convince yourself of the potential this band and these songs have. Despite the poor quality and the the mixed bag song selection, I absolutely love those two songs and I hope they record a clean version of these song at some point since it would be a waste not to give these songs the careful attention they deserve. This record is hard to recommend, but the "clean" versions show that these songs shouldn't be written off completely and would probably be closer to a 4/5 rating if recorded properly.

Jori and the PUSH - 2011 - The Heart Is Wise

2012-01-06T01:32:00.002+01:00

Hard Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://joriandthepush.bandcamp.com/

4 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Misbehaviors

English

So I guess the internet read my 'more female hard rock' comments in the One-Eyed Doll review, because hot damn here's some more of it. Jori and the Push's “The Heart is Wise - Promo EP” is dripping with the same sort of cocksure sleaze and heavy guitar riffs one might expect to hear if they popped in a Queens of the Stone Age album. I think I may actually have to clean off my headphones after listening to opening track 'Give and Take', those guitar riffs and bassline seem tailor made for dancing with your clothes off for singles. Jori Teran's voice alternates between angry punk rocker (without screeching, thankfully) and huskier-voided temptress on the prowl for unsuspecting prey. 'Falling In' is throbbing with bass, but it appears to be about depression (although the reasons for depression may be related to the sex), which is somewhat out of place, but shows there is more on display than sweaty flesh. An then just when you expect more hard rock swaggering, “The Heart is Wise” wises up and lets out its pink mohawk and the punk flag flies. It may be about fucking, but it's punk, it's a quickie! The bridge is a bit slower and heavier, but the tempo picks right back up at the 1:54 mark and we're back to 3-cord glory for the few remaining seconds of the song. Take from that whatever metaphor you want. This promo EP ends its quick run with 'Saving Grace', which sounds a bit like the previous two songs mixed together – a fun way to go out really. I can only hope whatever LP follows is as good a mix of punk rock and sex drenched hard rock as this is.

Goodbye Kumiko - 2011 - My Wild Arms

2012-01-03T18:41:00.006+01:00

Indie/Pop/Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://goodbyekumiko.bandcamp.com/

10 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Plain Dream, Sleeping in, We own the night

English

This album is a perfect example of how you are not convincing people to listen to your, too good to be overlooked, music. The band knows how to make music, very good music at that (convince yourself by listening to Plain Dream or Sleeping in), but the beginning of the album is very alienating, starting off with an Instrumental piece that isn't quite interesting enough to catch most people's attention and a few songs that sound not quite as well thought out than the songs the album ends with. Unfortunately, most people tend to judge musicians by the first few songs they hear/skip through and its really troublesome that the best songs of Goodbye Kumiko were probably never heard by the people stumbling over this record. I like with how much different variations of their sound they came up with. I can't really blame them for trying different styles, some resulting in better songs than others. And it definitely paid off since the 3 best songs on the album are also 3 songs that feel completely different. These guys are definitely very talented, and if you look at some of their older songs/older versions of current songs (which you can find here), you can't help but notice how much they already improved their own style of music. They have quite the potential to improve themselves and I am already liking what I am hearing on this album. This is definitely a band we should hope for getting another record.

It Happened Here - 2011 - 001 E.P.

2011-12-30T00:38:00.005+01:00

Pop Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://ithappenedhere.bandcamp.com

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://ithappenedhere.bandcamp.com"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

4 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: The Long Goodbye

English

You've just walked in the door, put your keys in your pocket and the door shuts behind you. It's been a long day of toiling through the dredges at work and you're in need of something to get yourself centered, get yourself right. You spot your mates already coalescing in the usual spot. You order a beer, and slide in next to your friends, settling in to the scene. You've noticed the music playing over the speakers. It's catchy, foot tappingly so, as you realize you're tapping along to the drum beat of 'Get Over Yourself'. It's got an upbeat rhythm to it, even if it sounds a bit a music rebuke to you feeling run down by your day. Your drink arrives and you take a long pull. The song has changed, it's upped the tempo now. A weird sense of urgency has crept into it, as if the band is trying to race into a future they won't ever see. The rolling thunder bass during the bridge really adds to the familiar mood of the place in a way that wasn't really susceptible any of the other times you'd come in here. Your friends don't seem to notice any of this. Maybe it's the drink. The rapid fire drumming on the final song and it's car chase tempo is the final straw, you're enjoying yourself, forget all that nonsense that happened earlier. This place, here and now, is causing nothing but good times. What more can you ask for from rock music?
What I'm trying to get across with all the prose; dear reader, is that It Happened Here's “001 E.P.” can be a cathartic listen (even 'Don't Lose Yourself to Fate') if you're alone, while still having enough oomph to it that it wouldn't be out of place at a bar with your friends as you talked over a few drinks. That it happens to sound like British pop rock the likes of which made names of Blur and Oasis in the late 90's doesn't cheapen the entire affair at all. It doesn't play up any sort of nostalgia angle to put you over, its too good to need such things. It music built for fun times, even if the lyrics are a slight more philosophical than the average alt-rock band. 001 E.P. Is worth a look see.

A very wasfuersohr Christmas

2011-12-22T14:01:00.000+01:00

It is that time of year again. Yep, Christmas time, folks. And with that comes an onslaught of Christmas themed releases. Instead of doing reviews for these records I'm going to do something a little different. Thanks to the magic of the internet, you won't need to listen to your grandmothers old vinyl LP of 50's crooners belting out Christmas standards like you have year after year. No, this year, as a small gift from us here at Wasfuersohr to you our adoring fans and music lovers, we're going to provide you with some holiday musical alternatives. No reviews, just a smattering of holiday cheer from a variety of bands we think you might enjoy listening to with family and friends.

Sound Vat - If Jesus Had Been Born In Canada, He Would Have Needed More Than Swaddling Clothes (Compilation)

A bit of the indie rock in your stocking never hurt anyone. A compilation of smaller Canadian indie rock bands (which is a nice indulgence for me) bringing an energetic mix of holiday standards and originals to this compilation. Certainly a different take on Christmas music, but thoroughly enjoyable for listeners of all ages.

-Check out Honheehonhee - “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”; The Ruffled Feathers - “The Highest Mountain”; Those Gulls - “Come Alive”

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How To Throw A Christmas Party – II – Angels n' Sheep

The festive Dutch collective that becomes How To Throw A Christmas Party have released another five songs of folk-pop twinged Christmas music, that will add a certain “Je ne sais quoi” to any Christmas gathering. It's bouncy and expressive both musically and lyrically, almost like an original cast recording (it's also a touring show if you happen to be in the Netherlands for the Holidays). Five original works that will bring joy to any listener this holiday season. What's not to like?

-Check out “The Gospel According to a Sheep”; “Let Our Voices be Heard”

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Punchline – 2011 Holiday Sampler

Bringing a pop punk sensibility to Christmas music, Punchline have provided four faster, groovier original tracks than any of the two previous records. This was Saint Nick during his rebellious teenage years, Christmas music with a snarky edge. They might not be suited for the entire family (have Grandma and the kids leave the room), but you definitely don't have any other holiday themed music like this (“Forever REMIX” is completely out of place, and not xmas playlist material).

-Check out “All Hopped Up On Jingle Bells”

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Deer Child - Winter Deer Volume 1: Few Are Frozen (Compilation)

Another mix of classic and original Christmas/holiday-themed music, similar in tone to Sound Vats' release, with one foot planted firmly in folk music more than rock. The covers of classic Christmas music have a real soothing feel to them. It easily works as background music for family gatherings or music to listen to while watching that Yule log channel if that's more your thing.

-Check out The Archer Apple – “Blue Christmas”; Baby Ghosts - “All I Want For Christmas”; Gils - “The First Noel”; The Second Estate - “The Bells”

Shekinah - 2011 - The Wind Lost Its Breath Redux

2011-12-18T23:02:00.002+01:00

Post-Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://shekinah.bandcamp.com/

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://shekinah.bandcamp.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

5 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: The-writers-ink-redux

English

When people recommend albums to me, I can be a bit skeptical. I tend to have wildly varying tastes that are hard to nail down. Unless that person recommend me post-rock. Then we're on the same page. Such is the case with Shekinah's The Wind Lost its Breath Redux. An excellent record of reworked songs (according to the band's bandcamp site) that pushed all the right buttons for this reviewer. As long time readers will know, I enjoy this kind of music regardless of its grasps for originality. This record is lyric-less and mostly guitar driven as you might expect, with a pummeling rhythm section underneath it all. Pretty by the books in that regard, but really, if you're still reading this review you're obviously here because you're fine with that notion. And you should be Shekinah doesn't break the post-rock mold but it these tracks make for an excellent listen. I would actually describe the sound as rather uplifting, in so far as the guitar wanking is always aiming higher and higher (except on 'The Writer's Ink' – more on that later) and not going for a low, angry sound. If the song titles are anything to go by (and in post-rock you never know how much a band is taking the piss), these could be trying to tap into some kind of spiritual thing. WWJDFPR? If it sounds like this, let them praise whatever deity they like, the crescendos pay off in spades. I mentioned 'The Writer's Ink' as differing from the others because the riffs are not aiming for the heavens; instead the riffs repetitiously meander down among us mortals. Very wounded crying out for help in the night sort of mortals. It's a shift in song structure and it keeps you on your toes. If the music preceding it was an ascent to a higher plane, this is a contemplative walk through nature. It's post-rock. You're either in or you're out. I'm in, and will be listening to this EP for the foreseeable future. You should too, if you enjoy your rock music soaring and wordless.

Records of the Year 2011 - Editorial Picks

2011-12-16T18:18:00.002+01:00

Alright, the blog is steadily growing and we cant ask every new reader to check every single entry here (even though it is advised of course), but just to round up the last year and to add our own "Record of the Year"-list to everyone elses, here are the respectively 3 highest regarded picks this year by Matthew and me. Click the album picture for the link to the review.

Matthew's Top 3:

My album picks of the year aren't in any real order, as they're all what I would deem excellent through and through and should be listened to by anyone with an interest in good music. So without further ado, here are my three picks of the year 2011.

Shadowboxer - Two Cities: Alternative Rock

This album caught me by total surprise. It was just another url in the bandcamp scrape that week, with a dramatic photo for cover art. Then I listened to it, and I had to clean my brain goop off the floor. It's alternative indie rock, with a hint of Imogen Heap creeping into the vocals. It may not exactly be the most upbeat (that flower on the cover is taking a beating), but not many other records took over my playlist like this one did. Easily one of the best of the year and I'll go toe to toe with anyone arguing differently. Listen to this, do it now!

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Ektoise - Kiyomizu: Ambient/ Alternative/ Electronica

This was actually the first album I reviewed for Wasfuersohr. It's also the longest review to date I believe, I gushed on and on about until Toma said I had to stop or I'd have to pay by the letter. Shadow Boxer scratched my emotionally charged rock itch; Ektoise sneaked in subtly and then bludgeoned me with their varied industrial attack. It's brutal and heavy, yet light and comforting by the next song. If you haven't already done so, check this album out and then give it your friends. This album deserves to be heard by more people. It's wordless, it's epic, it's Ektoise!

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Emily Henry - Demo: Folk/ Singer-Songwriter

It's not the most polished album I've come across (it is a demo after all), and it is sparse on instrumentation. But I chose Emily Henry's Demo because of those things not in spite of them. These demos show that Ms. Henry is quite a talented musician and singer, as both her voice and guitar playing abilities are front and centre the entire time for eleven tracks. Usually sing-songwriter folk isn't my cup of tea, but Emily Henry managed to create an album of just that, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. With this as a base, I look forward to whatever music she creates in the future.

Marco's Top 3:

Magic Man easily impressed me the most, as you can probably tell from the review, but the whole year was packed with musical surprises and artists, whose albums I wouldn't want to miss anymore. The following are the ones that will be listened to until I lose or break my MP3 player (in which case I can still sing them, agonizing everyone else).

Magic Man - Real Life Color: Indie/ Pop/ Electronica

I was easily enough convinced that Magic Man would be a keeper, due to the Postal Service like style of music, but I wouldn't have thought that this album would grow on me so much that I'd call it my favorite album ever. Its unbelievably catchy, creative and could be the sole reason that I can call this year of searching music a definite success. Music that immediately reaches people and makes people want to root for them and tell everyone around the amazing artist they just found. Cant wait for the new singles next year.

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Swimming - EP: Indie/ Surfpop

Easily my favorite summer album. And I have no doubt that the next summer wont be missing Swimming#s EP either. Its pure, free and unhindered fun and one of the most recommendable records I found so far. I wish I had given the review a bit more attention as back then I was still writing review versions in English and German, which was hugely time consuming. Any follow up record will get the review length it deserves. Until then this is the "run through a field with your best friend on a warm summer day" - record of choice.

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Synthcake - Musicophilia: Synthpop

This was the most surprising album I heard all year. I still cant quite decide whether the "Haunted" music feeling subgenre is just critically underused or whether they just did a very, very convincing job at a highly difficult task. Making catchy pop songs out of basically music not unfitting at a Halloween party is quite a feat. Can't wait for all the bands we mentioned here to release their next records. Synthcake is original, haunting, catchy and the best cake I got all year.

Magic Man - 2010 - Real Life Color

2011-12-14T03:44:00.003+01:00

Indie/Pop/Electronica

[FOR FREE]

http://magicman.bandcamp.com/

10 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Monster, Like Sailors, Nest

Disclaimer/Short Recommendation: I have spent way more time with this record than any other record in the recent years. I regularly listen to the music we cover, plus the ~2000 bands I listen through each month to check for good stuff, but this one is special to me. One of the biggest joys we take from this blog project is the gratitude from the musicians we cover. Maybe because we managed to find them a few more listeners, or on the most basic level even just as a thank you for the time we took to listen through their songs, and even write a review on it!

The other reward for us, besides gratitude, is finding the music itself for personal use, and this album..

.. is probably my favorite album of all time.

English

Magic Man - Real Life Color is a release from 2010, but digital music doesn't really age, and considering the rather low popularity of this kind of bands (Magic Man - 1,939 Facebook Likes) compared to big commercial bands (Florence and the Machine - 2,051,090 FB Likes:), there are still plenty of people I can tell about them. And this is it. This is my personal music highlight of 2011. Music to dance, dream, shout, sing and getting swept away to. All rolled into 10 songs of the same artist. Indie/Pop/Electronica as a genre descriptor doesn't sound as special as I would like to make it sound. Almost all of the sounds on this record are electronically created and/or altered. So we got dominantly male vocals and electronic sounds. What is so special about them, making me wish I had the money to fly over to listen to these guys live?

First and foremost that these songs aren't perfectly "clean" and that these rough sounds have been very carefully interspersed, resulting in a surprisingly charming and down to earth experience that just seems to get closer, able to touch people because its similarly imperfect as we are. They often use distortions and rough drum sounds in contrast to very harmonic vocals and clean and "warm" synthesizer sounds to create their rather special sound. This is also one reasons why I haven't grown tired of this album yet, it is seemingly impossible to grow tired of all these different sound variations. Another reason would be the surprisingly varied song composition. Nest makes me want to dance, Darling gets me to daydream and Like Sailors makes me want to shout my heart out. Within 42 minutes, Magic Man gives me a powerful emotional variety I haven't personally experienced in a long, long time. The last, even musically comparable, experience like this was listening and loving myself through the Postal Service album. Who would have thought that a Lo-Fi record would be the most polished album I hear all year, or even top the aforementioned Postal Service album as my favorite album ever. Do not only take this as a high recommendation from a random blogger, please take this in as a present by a close friend, wanting to share one of the most lovingly created musical experiences he was able to discover so far.

pkthunder - 2011 - 5 Song ep

2011-12-10T00:20:00.003+01:00

Indie Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://pkthunder.bandcamp.com/album/5-song-ep

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Boat-night, Stallion

English

Music does not need to be perfect, it doesn't even need to be harmonic. Most songs that rely on dissonances are raw, powerful and ... well... disharmonic. Several genres, punk and noise to name a few, are remarkable in that area and loved by their admirers for offering an alternative, unpolished way of listening to music. pkthunder is a mix of very well thought out pop elements, instrumentation and smooth background sounds with an "alternative and unpolished" voice. Don't get me wrong, I think his voice make his songs rather special, but unfortunately also very alienating. Many musicians, like Conor Oberst, know how to use their voice in a different, disharmonic and even broken way and have people loving them all the more for it. pkthunder might have went a bit overboard with the amount of "drama" in his voice, but personally I dont necessarily see that as a bad thing. Sure, he wont ever find a huge fanbase with that exact kind of setup, but I am the living proof that there is at least one person who enjoys his songs.
As alienating as his voice might seem at first, he knows how to make a good argument for his ability to create appealing songs. However, there are even some technical issues with the record, "Stallion" for example has got a few "popping" sounds, which are quite bothering. Fortunately, the songs can still be enjoyed regardless. The upbeat "Boat-Night"and the melancholic "Stallion" are as far apart as songs can get quality wise, and both songs still manage to resonance with me on a very emotional level. Lots of passion to be had here. As mentioned in the beginning, music doesn't need to be perfect. It simply needs the means to reach those who treasure it for what it is, the ones who in this case may enjoy the rather well written lyrics, pleasing guitar sounds and even enjoy a remarkable voice that might take some getting used to.

Shadowboxer - 2011 - Two Cities

2011-12-06T17:20:00.005+01:00

Alternative Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://shadowboxer.bandcamp.com/album/two-cities

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://shadowboxer.bandcamp.com/album/two-cities"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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

English

This is the reason scouring bandcamp for new and interesting (and free, don't forget free) music has become so beneficial – Finding musicians you wouldn't have otherwise heard, that occasionally blow you away. Shadowboxer's EP Two Cities hits all the right buttons as far as I'm concerned. Hayley Martin has a beautiful, versatile voice capable of soaring heights and barely audible whispers, moving between the two extremes of her range with ease on each of the four tracks. I'll just say this now, Martin's voice sounds remarkably like Imogen Heap's, high praise as far as I'm concerned. Her voice may have its detractors, but they're missing out if they shy away from listening to Two Cities on that basis alone. The music has a pop rock aim; guitars and drums dominate the songs here, not samples and keyboards even if both are present (Imogen-lite it is not). Lyrically Two Cities is not warm and fuzzy, and is best summed up by it's cover art. There are songs about love, sure, but here it's broken and painful; the kind that requires time and distance to talk about. There is even a take on English poetic form ('Villianelle'). Aidan O' Brien's arrangements create aurally vibrant landscapes that ensure the lyrics really come to life and fit the mood of each song perfectly. 'Juniper' is anthem-sized with a really ominous low end. 'Dancer' slinks away in size, being colder sounding, relying on airy synths and a drawn out, but heavy bassline to create its broken nostalgia. Villanelle borders on what I feel is trip-hop, while Word of a Stranger is; by comparison, straight forward guitar-driven rock and a really strong way to end this EP. I might have been hooked by the Heap-esque vocals, but there's a lot more to Two Cities than just that, and I think wasfuersohr readers should dive into this EP to find out for themselves. Amazing.

well done, jackson pollock - 2011 - s/t

2011-12-02T22:27:00.004+01:00

Instrumental Indie

[FOR FREE]

http://welldonejacksonpollock.bandcamp.com/

4 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Untitled 1, Untitled 2

English

I think this may be a first for this blog. Finally great music from Germany, which shows that I clearly have no idea whats going on in my near vicinity. s/t by well done, jackson pollock is a rather long EP at almost 27 minutes and worth every minute of your time. The initial impression of the EP is very melodic, calm even and they manage to amass such a variety of different and congenial soundscapes within those 4 songs, that I am still not tired of listening to them after 3 hours nonstop listening. The 4th song especially, spectacularly named "Untitled 2", sounds like a loveletter to the artistic possibilities and emotional power the medium music is able to unleash. The soothing beginning of the song and the way the band handled the shift to the rather upbeat,later parts in the song are nothing short of inspiring. The band seemingly consists of a rather large group of band members and this style of music immensely benefits from that, making it as diverse and inspirational as its name giving artist and comes highly recommended.

the sky does not care about me - 2010 - any speed any direction

2011-11-27T20:49:00.002+01:00

Ambient/Industrial

[FOR FREE]

http://theskydoesnotcareaboutme.bandcamp.com/album/any-speed-any-direction

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://theskydoesnotcareaboutme.bandcamp.com/album/any-speed-any-direction"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

7 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: sitar freeman, film, knife

English

A bit of an older album compared to what I've reviewed thus far, but probably one of the stranger; “Any Speed, Any Direction” seems to be inspired by the soundtracks to games like Quake and Half-life or science-fiction films. With that in mind it performs admirably. AS,AD is mainly industrial and ambient music, that isn't as interested in following typical song structure conventions in favour of creating soundscapes that would work great paired with a visuals of sterile complexes and desert wastelands. The first track; 'sitar freeman' is both an actual song and certainly lives up to its name. All sitar, all the time, and could even pass as a recurring theme for a character. I don't think I could take an entire album of this, but it is a fun starting point. Everything that follows “sitar freeman”clocks in over 9 minutes and sounds like someone took a microphone through a manufacturing plant to record every sound they possibly could and then added static and occasional glitchy bleeps over top. Well, except 'armor' which appears to be more song oriented, but is still seven minutes long. On the other end of the scale, a couple of songs are soothing to listen to for all their lack of context and noise('film' and 'knife'). This probably isn't a record you'd throw on for guests or dates (unless your guests/date are awesome), but if you do happen to want some background music while you frag over Xbox Live or happen to be putting together an art piece about futuristic dystopias, then “Any Speed, Any Direction” is one art show away from perfection

Gatsbys - 2011 - The Boy & the Mountain

2011-11-22T22:48:00.002+01:00

Indie/Folk

[FOR FREE]

http://gatsbys.bandcamp.com/

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Gulf of Mexico, Dawn

English

Another band that really managed to grow on me after listening to it for a while. Two guys and their guitars singing songs about the sun, the moon and whatever they deem important enough. Whether you like the partly raw and unpolished lead voice is entirely up to you, but there is no doubt about the charm of the songs. You can't help but liking the guys making the music, whether you really enjoy their songs or not. The first songs in particular evoke a kind of familiar "folky" feeling and are immediately accessible. However, this also makes for a slightly noticeable lack of variety, as the songs are pretty similar. But this might be rectified in a, hopefully already planned, full album release. The most remarkable song, and a song I really like, is "Dawn". Its a fantastic combination of the voice and the steadily increasing tension, and heartily recommended for anyone to check out. Music with heart.

Mono Tonique - 2011 - Street lights

2011-11-18T07:21:00.007+01:00

Trip-Hop

[FOR FREE]

http://monotonique.bandcamp.com/

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://monotonique.bandcamp.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

6 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Desert lane, Street homeless

English

Welcoming the ever dropping mercury in your thermometer comes six songs of trip-hop goodness straight from mother Russia with “Street lights”. I can't really explain trip-hop to anyone who has never heard it, suffice to say its often slower hip-hop beats with intricate compositions laid over top (often electronic or classical in nature), with little ambition of getting your ass shaking. “Street lights” doesn't reshape the trip-hop landscape (not even the artists who created it seem to have that power anymore), but does a damn good job of creating its own mood that is well worth a listen. The first half of the record is mostly based around electronic beats and has a somber, lonely feeling. 'Sunset mirage' for instance is awash in layers of synth and noise surrounding chimes and a simple drum machine loop that is comforting but decidedly detached. Mono Tonique are taking you on a voyage through a beautiful, empty but not quite natural place. If an electronic sound dominated the first half, instrumental hip hop makes its home more clearly in the second half of “Street life”. 'P.S.' has the same sort of lonely vibe as the three tracks that precede it but uses horns and piano as its driving force, giving it a sound reminiscent of Endtroducing...-era DJ Shadow. It's a nice change of pace right in the middle of the album following the more alien sounding 'Far Side' with its gitches and new age-y synth backdrops. 'Street homeless' then shatters that somber, lonely mood completely in one fell swoop as a throbbing baseline and snare drum transport the listener from cold and lonely emptiness to a dirty, thriving urban setting complete with grinding street traffic and constant sirens. I dare say it reminds me of early Cypress Hill (minus any rapping) in this regard. If the four tracks before this were “somber” and “lonely”, this is “claustrophobic” and “depressing” music for being swallowed up, unnoticed by the surrounding cityscape (something its title implies). It's the standout track here and the one you'd likely tell friends about, on an album full of excellent tracks. Trip-hop fan or not, definitely check out Mono Tonique's Street lights. it would be a shame to miss this record.

One-Eyed Doll - 2010 - Break

2011-11-15T13:24:00.001+01:00

Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://music.oneeyeddoll.com/album/break

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://music.oneeyeddoll.com/album/break"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

12 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Airplane Man, See Jane Run, Resurrection

English

Hard rock with playful female vocals, why do you not happen more often? One-Eyed Doll's "Break" more than proves the formula works. One-Eyed Doll's sound is reminiscent of other hard rocking female fronted hard rock bands that have come before them. The one that comes to mind most during a listening session is Curve. Thankfully the album does not rest solely on the groundwork laid by forebearers, and plays with the 'female lead rock band' idea enough to keep us interested - in this case by slowing things down and adding a bit of humour/balladry to the mix (the aptly titled 'Murder Ballad' is my country love song of the year!). It works here because Kimberly Freeman would not sound at all out of place on a country record. There is just something warmly approachable about her voice that it would likely work singing over just about any genre of music. On "Break", Freeman's voice is the sly smiling facade that lowers your defenses before the music smashes a vase over your head and steals your stuff. Not that 'Break' is a throwaway pop-punk joke record, subject matter as serious as child and domestic abuse (the album's title track) are gracefully situated alongside tracks like 'Redneck Love Song' and whatever opener 'Airplane Man' is actually about [email if you know the answer/are Kim Freeman. I'm keen to know - Gabbo]. The whole album feels like One-Eyed Doll are letting you in on the joke, like a secret only you and the band know about. The secret is that Kimberly Freeman and Co have released one hell of a rock record.

2 People - 2011 - Hymns

2011-11-09T00:54:00.002+01:00

Folk Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://2people.bandcamp.com/

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: First Day Of My Life/Don't Think Twice , Lion's Den

English

Actually, it isn't too hard liking any of these small bands we cover on this blog, because most of them are rather professional in their approach to music and don't differentiate itself in many ways from commercially available music. However, there is also quite a large chunk of bands/musicians in the lo-fi, lower budget sector which deserve some attention. This EP falls into the Folk Pop category with a very striking introductory song and a nice follow-up, making people listening up and getting them interested in the few songs featured. The first song is a mashup duet of Bright Eyes "First Day of my Life" and Bob Dylan's "Don't think twice", which works beautifully and is followed it up with the similar captivating Lion's Den. I got the impression that the other songs don't quite come as well together or maybe they just didnt "click" for me and especially the good ideas of the 9 minute epic "What's left of me" might have been better served if presented in smaller chunks, although I salute the effort of musicians to present another angle on the typical 3-4 minute pop songs. I really had a hard time putting a score on this one as it is obviously not made with the same budgets as some other releases, and for the love put into the making of these songs 2 people more than deserve a curious ear or two, if only for the enchanting first song.

Town Portal - 2011 - Vacuum Horror

2011-11-03T23:21:00.005+01:00

Hard Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://townportal.bandcamp.com/

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://townportal.bandcamp.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

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

English

'Vacuum Horror' is a crunchy slab of instrumental hard rock that seems to have its sound rooted several of rock musics harder camps – grunge without the white male persecution complex lyrics that often accompanied the lesser acts that came to dominate that grunge post-1994 (Staind, I'm looking in your direction), sludge metal, even a bit of post-rock for variety. I would say of those three, grunge is the one this record seems to thrive on most. Town Portal know enough to slow things down just long enough so we can catch our breath ('Segway', 'Phantom Time's second half), but doesn't seem as interested in extending the proceeding into the 8-10 minute epic territory, were ambience plays a much larger role in slower sections. In cases like Isis' “Wavering Radient”, the ambience creates gloomy atmospheres, here it would be unnecessary padding. The guitars are thick and happy to riff things along at a quick but steady pace, the baselines are low and dirty (Tell me you don't need a shower when 'Salut' is over) and along with the drumming provide just the right amount of kick to get headphones nodding. Vacuum Horror would fit nicely among the harder hitting grunge records from the early 90's, but thankfully can be heard in 2011 without any nostalgia required to be thoroughly enjoyable. For those that like their rock with a little more meat to it, Town Portal's Vacuum Horror is highly recommended.

Canadia - 2008 - One Dog Clapping

2011-10-31T10:48:00.003+01:00

Indie Folk

[FOR FREE]

http://music.canadia.co.nz/album/one-dog-clapping
http://music.canadia.co.nz/album/beg-steal-and-burrow

5 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: You Can't Hide, Teeth Cannot Be Trusted

English

Often times music is used to lift our spirits, sometimes music can manage to drag you down into apathy. As in this case, some tracks are somewhat hard to swallow for an "easy listening", with the musician seemingly talking about his own personal experiences, using his songs to come clean with things happening in his life. In One Dog Clapping, Canadia shares tales of unreturned affection and exhaustion, highlighted by the accompanying guitar and a few other sounds, including his perfectly fitting broken voice, creating an enclosed microcosm for his side of those stories. Musically, he also manages to have quite a bit of variation in these songs. The opener "Whailing" has a very distinct and heavy introduction, setting the mood for the rest of the record, whereas other songs like "Teeth Cannot Be Trusted", could even be described as having a catchy and memorable chorus, despite these songs not being cheerful at all. However, despite the initial impression, Canadia also knows how to make a bit more uplifting songs. Since this particular EP has been made in 2008, it is nice to see that he stuck with making music and if you want to balance out the oppressive mood a bit, I'd suggest checking out his other record "Beg, Steal and Burrow" from 2009, which I also linked above below the album cover, but especially the songs on "One Dog Clapping" communicate a mood worth experiencing.

Emily Henry - 2011 - Demo

2011-10-27T01:39:00.001+02:00

Folk/Singer-Songwriter

[FOR FREE]

http://emilyhenry.bandcamp.com/

11 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: High Wire, I Don't Need You, Just Once

English

It's comforting to find young musicians who are still willing to rely on nothing more than their voice and the strumming of a guitar to anchor themselves. Emily Henry is just such a musician. 'Demo' is an LP's worth of folk music that is quite accomplished if these songs are indeed just demos. I would hope to see most of them on a future release. Of course this entire thing sinks or swims on her ability to play guitar and sing well enough to hold your interest for thirty minutes. Thankfully the guitar work is solid, and complements the voice work on display without overpowering it. An acoustic guitar can be versatile when used properly. Ms. Henry's vocal delivery is, to me at least, similar to Jewel, back when Jewel was still doing alt-country/folk music. The vocal range is more reigned in than Jewel, having a one-on-one intimate feeling to it that greater vocal gymnastics would have diluted, or simply wasn't the aim. To describe Ms. Henry's voice as pleasant comes off as a negative, but it is a good descriptor; her voice is simply pleasant to listen to. The lyrics are familiar territory for folk rock/singer songwriter; hurt, love, regret, longing, moving on. Hopefully you're not the subject of these lyrics, or the intimacy of the whole thing takes on a slightly darker tone. Even so, for fans of the folk-y side of the singer-songwriter genre, you can do a lot worse than Emily Henry's 'Demo'. I can't wait to hear what she does next.

The Scarlet Phonebooth - 2011 - Stories Telling Stories to Ourselves

2011-10-22T22:03:00.003+02:00

Jazz/Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://thescarletphonebooth.bandcamp.com/album/stories-telling-stories-to-ourselves

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://thescarletphonebooth.bandcamp.com/album/stories-telling-stories-to-ourselves"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

9 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: The Dregs, The Blind Lead the Blind Through the Hall of Mirrors

English

The Scarlet Phonebooth's new record, “Stories Telling Stories to Ourselves” is not an album that aims to follow any one particular direction. There is a raw, experimental sound to the whole thing. As if a bunch of friends got together and played whatever came to them, with a nonchalant attitude towards making a mistake here or there so long as everything comes together at the end. Free jazz by Tom Waits junkies. The singing is much the same way, it doesn't always work but it finds a role to fill and does so, never seeming out of place in any of the songs it appears (about half the album is instrumental). Of course, not every album you own features a philosophical argument on the nature of the universe, 'Storing Telling Stories to Ourselves' has such audacious content displayed on “The Blind Lead the Blind Through the Hall of Mirrors”. The instruments accentuating and playing around said conversation with rhythmic ease. It's not the most approachable album in the world, but it's an interesting journey with an off-the-wall destination you will not see coming.

Interview #5 - Wing Dam

2011-10-19T18:36:00.008+02:00

We recently had the chance to chat with Austin Tally; musician out of Baltimore Maryland, who was gracious enough to take the time to answer a few questions for wasfuersohr about his latest project and its recent self-titled release, Wing Dam. You can read our review of the Wing Dam EP here and head on over to Wing Dam's bandcamp to check out the album for yourself by clicking here.

Interview

Are you the sole member of Wing Dam or are there other contributors?

Yes, I am the sole member of Wing Dam. I make backing tracks on an old Casio CTK-601 keyboard (drum tracks, a few synth voices), a bass, and (on some tracks) a lap steel, and then build vocal and guitar loops live.

Wing Dam's bandcamp site mentions the record was recorded at 'Six Flags (Baltimore)'. Is this a studio on the theme park grounds or an unrelated 'Six Flags' recording studio?

As for Six Flags, that is actually the name of the house in Baltimore city where I live/record. In the past, other bands such as Nuclear Power Pants and Future Islands have recorded there, as well.

I have gotten questions about the name "Wing Dam," so maybe I should clarify: a wing dam is a type of dam that only goes part-way out into a river to create a faster channel in the center. I am originally from New Hope, Pennsylvania, and one of the main hang-out spots when I was living there was at a wing dam on the Delaware River. It is only very slightly higher than the water level, and often floods with an inch or two of water. Gives you the feeling of walking on the river itself.

The music has a very dream-like quality to it, conjuring up images of long ago summers and quiet contemplation. What, if anything from your experiences, did you draw inspiration from when putting the record together?

Well, the five songs on this EP were written over the course of probably three years. Some, like "Dig" for example, came from a while back when I was working on a farm in Pennsylvania for the summer. I work and rework these songs over the years; they change shape. They're informed by the original experiences that were there when I wrote the song, and everything else that has happened to me since. My aesthetic interests change (or maybe 'grow' is the right word?) and I continually try to make the songs the best they can be. I was a poetry major in college, and it's kind of like that-- they always say no poem is ever finished, there's only the most recent draft.

What records were you listening to while making Wing Dam, and did they have any affect on the shape that Wing Dam eventually took?

Well, I'm always listening to a pretty eclectic mix of genres, anything from jazz 78's from the 1920's to music my friends have been making during the past month. I don't stick to anything in particular for too long (but I also don't ever completely leave anything behind); there's too much good stuff out there. Recently I guess I've been listening to a lot of foreign music. I have a tape of Nepalese folk music that I keep coming back to. But if I had to pick, I suppose the two records I've been stuck on recently that might have had the most affect on the Wing Dam EP are Paul Simon's Graceland and the lovely, slightly insane and completely genius unfinished Beach Boys' album SMiLE (the original '66-'67 mixes, not the re-created 2004 version). I really have a place in my heart for percussive back-up vocals, and ever since I bought a loop station I've been digging building them up live.

What do you do in preparation for recording vocal tracks? You've got such a unique sounding voice, I have to assume you do some kind of vocal gymnastics before you record in order to achieve that sound.

(laughs) Hmm that's an interesting question-- I really don't do anything to prepare for recording vocals (except that I developed a little head-cold during the sessions for Wing Dam and had to take a break to let my sinuses clear up before I could record vocals for "Moon.") I just turn on the mic, add a little reverb/delay, and I'm good to go. Maybe that 'uniqueness' you’re talking about comes from a complete lack of any formal vocal training. I've just been figuring it out as I go along.

You mentioned the definition of 'wing dam' earlier, and told me about the feeling you got walking out onto one, sort of a 'walking on water' feeling. Do you try to translate that feeling of wonder and awe into the music you make, at least as far as Wing Dam is concerned? It does seem to have seeped into the cover art, if you don't mind me saying so, in a somewhat humourous fashion.

Yeah, that cover seems to sum up a "feeling of wonder and awe" pretty well, I think. (laughs) This project is all about water. And I guess I am too. Like I explained to you before, the wing dam was the spot on the Delaware River where we'd all go to hang out back in high school, and whenever I'm back in Pennsylvania. It's not sort of a 'walking on water' feeling, it really is walking on water-- the concrete lip floods over with a little sheen of water, you're walking halfway out onto the river and can't see what you're walking on.

Soon after I moved to Baltimore and came back to PA to visit, I realized how much of my life had been spent by water. Everywhere we'd hang out back home was by water: on a railroad trestle over a creek, under a bridge, on the wing dam. Or at the beach, where I've been going consistently since I was old enough to walk. That's why I'm not looking at Wing Dam as a temporary project -- it really [hopefully] sums up who I am.

As you've released music under your own name and obviously now as Wing Dam, do you see yourself expanding your musical palette further under any other monikers in the future?

Like I said earlier, I can't ever stick to one genre. Or one instrument. Or one musical project. I used to play in a folk duo called Silent Whys, I had a lo-fi dub side project, an electronic metal side project, an improvised dance music side project, some folkier stuff released under my own name. I'm sure I'll never stop 'expanding my musical palette' -- what I really want to do right now is find a bassist and a drummer and make some brutal, grinding, blackened death metal, or doom. Surprised? (laughs) But I'm definitely going to keep going with Wing Dam on top of whatever else I get into.

As a one-man band, is there any one aspect of the music that really grabs you? Perhaps you're in your element while mixing and mastering, or you've got your own little world while playing the guitar and everything else can wait.

Not quite sure what you mean by 'grabs,' but maybe this will answer your question: I love mixing/mastering, it's fun to get really focused on the little details, but the best part for me is definitely playing live. When you're recording it can be easy to lose track of the spontaneity of the music and get bogged down in EQ and post-production stuff. The real satisfaction for me comes from seeing it all come together, and sharing it with an audience.

As someone who lives and records in Baltimore, how would you describe the music scene there to someone that has never come into contact with it? [Like say, myself for instance.]

I was just home in PA last weekend actually, and I was trying to describe this to some of my friends there. It's hard to explain. Basically, there is a ton of music going on in Baltimore. No one genre has more presence than any other, I wouldn't say -- there's just lots of different acts doing their thing. Some bands are the only ones with that specific sound, others can sort of be grouped together. But there's a lot of individuality.

That being said, the music scene as a whole (or rather, the city as a whole) is very tightly-knit. They call it "Smalltimore" sometimes, and that's not far from the truth. Everyone knows everyone (for the most part). There's lots of collaboration, and people helping people get shows, or recording as guest musicians on albums/EPs, etc. I would say the only real way to get a sense for it is to come to town and see the range of types of great shows in any given week or so. It's impressive.

As sort of a follow up to your 'death metal' response earlier, I will say that after listening to Wing Dam, yes that is a bit of surprise. With that in mind, do you think your open-ended approach to the music you create allows you to come back refreshed and interested in a project or specific sound?

I definitely think so. Whenever I find myself in a rut, or stuck in a particular chord progression, or blanking on lyrics, I usually switch to a different style of music or a different instrument (probably why I play upwards of 10). Because of that, I master none of them, but get good enough to do what I want to do. Some projects come and go, but certainly all of them serve a purpose. They let you see things from different perspectives. There are only a few genres of music that I flat-out do not like. Only problem with that is, I have to have some kind of focus or I wouldn't get anything done (laughs).

As we're all fans of music here, do you have any recommendations for the readers/listeners that you think they should check out? From obscure to headlining acts, go buck wild.

Shoot, I got a bunch of recommendations (laughs). You asked for it! I'll stick with my friends' projects, and I'll still probably forget a couple. These all totally rule:

Amanda Glasser, who I used to play with in Silent Whys, has an amazing, hauntingly beautiful solo project called Saint Julien (saintjulien.bandcamp.com). I have another friend who records instrumental space-rock/krautrock-influenced stuff as Omoo Omoo (omoo-omoo.bandcamp.com).There's my friend William, who records under the name Baraka (facebook.com/barakajams). My friend Sara's band, who I played slide guitar with for a couple shows, is called Which Magic (whichmagic.tumblr.com / whichmagic.bandcamp.com). My roommate has an awesome electronic project called Skyway (no website at the moment, but if you're ever in Baltimore and see that on a flyer, check it out for sure!). Back home, my friend Ty shreds in a band called Mach 22 (findable on Facebook), my friend Bee plays in a sick punk band called Big Attack (bigattack.bandcamp.com). And last but certainly not least, my friend Chris Lyons (chrislyons.bandcamp.com) from PA (now living in New Orleans) -- one of the most talented songwriters I've ever met.

Any final thoughts on Wing Dam or in general?

empty acorn shell

reveals a small mandala --

the paths of water.

Thanks for listening!

Thank you again for taking the time to talk with us.

General B and The Wiz - 2011 - General B and The Wiz

2011-10-16T21:00:00.006+02:00

Blues Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://generalbandthewiz.bandcamp.com/album/general-b-and-the-wiz

11 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: In The Trees, Sally, The Wind

English

Don't judge an album by its cover, because sometimes there are records that need and deserve time to be appreciated despite the first impression. General B and The Wiz are setting a prime example of a collection of songs that might even have been considered an "instant classic" under different circumstances, an LP so well crafted people won't be able to do anything but agree on the quality of it. However, this insight might not be coming immediately to the listener, especially considering the album cover subconsciously often sets expectations. It took me a few times listening to the album, to finally understand the feeling these songs set out to accomplish. These songs don't always contain perfectly pitched tunes, but they contain a freedom of honesty, performed by people caring about the music they play. The initial impression you might get by listening is that these songs are kind of retro-outdated if you arent into that kind of music, but if you pay attention you'll notice that its hardly fair to criticize a band that used Rock, Country, Jazz and Pop elements in such a way as "outdated". The mixture of musical genres makes for a very captivating and rewarding listening experience if you are able to overlook the quite puzzling choice of album cover art and let yourself fall right into this genre crossing journey.

WING DAM - 2011 - WING DAM

2011-10-13T18:11:00.002+02:00

Indie Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://wingdam.bandcamp.com/

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: BLOOM, FEATHERS

English

One's appreciation for WING DAM's eponymous EP of soothing indie pop will ultimately rest on whether or not the listener likes what the distinctive voice that Wing Dam singer Austin Tally brings to the table. It's impossible to describe, yet it's effortlessly catchy and perfectly fits with the tone of the music he's singing over. The music itself is a relaxing mix of alt-country rock and lo-fi pop, the kind of music that evokes summers at the cottage or listening to the rain patter down outside your window. If music could be happily melancholic, then Wing Dam might just be it. 'Mosquitoes' for example, is driven by a toe-tapping drum loop and winding guitar, but the lyrics juxtapose a troubled relationship with a deteriorating home. The music and lyrics play off each other beautifully. There is an impressive amount of work on display here, as Tally is essentially a one man band: playing, recording and producing the entire record himself at his home studio in Baltimore. If you're a fan of lo-fi and want your music to sound a little rough around the edges, this might be too polished for your tastes. But fret not, as Wing Dam doesn't come across like some Bob Rock-produced album you could see your reflection in. The last thing this record strives to sound like is slick and overproduced, just lovingly well crafted songs with enough polish to appeal to just about anyone. You'll be drawn in by its charm if you give it a chance.

Holy Mount - 2011 - We Fell From The Sky

2011-10-10T20:06:00.002+02:00

Psychedelic Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://holymount.bandcamp.com/album/we-fell-from-the-sky

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Throughout These Eyes, Garm of Hounds

English

And god said “Let there be psychedelic rock!” Holy Mount agreed; and so there was. And it was good. 'We Fell From The Sky' is like taking a journey through time and space without having to leave your couch – medicinal assistance optional. Holy Mount have dug their heels in and aim to reclaim the sound that old metal records have: heavy blues music with grimy guitars and bass, and extended solos at every turn. The drumming does seem to be buried in the mix under the flurry of guitars at times, with the cymbals taking more of a prominent place than usual. It also means the bass makes up more of the low end. A task it appears more than willing to tackle. A minor issue for the EP, admittedly, as it doesn't happen all the time and the overall space-y sound doesn't suffer for it in the end. This might be an effect of the album not being mastered (according to the band's bandcamp site), but as I'm not an audio engineer I can't say for sure. Aside from the drumming, they succeed in creating that huge, blues-infused rock sound and wrap the whole affair in droning fuzz. Riffs this heavy are meant to be blasted out of stacks of amps piled high on top of each other. For a demo, this is extremely accomplished and Holy Mount have set my own expectations for a follow up as high as the sky they fell from. If you're looking for a soundtrack to a lost weekend, this is your spaceship.

Suspense Machine - 2011 - An Empty Sky EP

2011-10-06T02:49:00.001+02:00

Post Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://suspensemachine.bandcamp.com/

4 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Stars Burn Cold, The Storm Abates

English

What does post-rock sound like with singing? Absolutely beautiful, that's what. Suspense Machines combine the musical one-two punch of a sound that's two parts progressive rock, one part post rock, with a splash of ethereal vocals served on top that creates quite the musical cocktail. These four songs have a grandiose feeling about them, like a Gothic novel come to life as prog rock music. Now keep in mind, I said 'Gothic', not 'goth', and there is a world of difference. This EP brings the balladry to the forefront with it's oppressive lyrics and a voice that seems to be coming out of a thick mist. Piano also takes a much more central role than the usual post-rock affair, being front and centre for three quarters of the album and not plunking away in the background solely to build atmosphere. In keeping with that Gothic theme, the EP has 2 minutes of ambient-drone to really ratchet up the tension a notch or two. An Empty Sky has a much space-ier sound than most post-rock tries for, only opener 'The Emptiness' uses the soft-loud-soft dynamic the genre is known for. 'Stars Burn Cold' has a nearly forty second guitar solo and bongos as its centre-piece for goodness sake. We're off the reserve here folks. Everything comes together beautifully, I just wish there was more of it. A real treat for rock fans.

Whitebrow - 2011 - All's Still Before the Storm

2011-10-02T04:25:00.001+02:00

Folk/Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://whitebrow.bandcamp.com

7 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Don't Pass Me By, Northern Lights, Rambler Roses

English

Another very serene singer-songwriter Folk Pop EP. Its hard to differentiate musicians in that area as many seem to sound rather similar to most people. So what does this record differentiate enough to warrant being presented here? It masterfully manages to catch a certain feeling that most people know too well. With guitar and harmonica, Whitebrow has a way of underlining the delicate feeling of seeing the first sunrays after a storm and subtly give you enough reason to hope for a better day tomorrow. The singers voice may be hit or miss for some people, since he sings rather high-pitched which is not your usual everyday singer voice, but I really enjoy his ability to put emotions, most dominantly fragility into his voice, while still keeping the attitude that anything is possible. Its actually rather refreshing to hear this kind of message once in a while without any religious coating, which often accompany musical messages of "hope". These songs also have their fair share of problems, though. Despite having a rather unified theme for the songs, Whitebrow might have been better of throwing 1 or 2 songs into the mix that stray a bit from the tried and true folkpop formula used in all of the songs here to continue sounding fresh even after the first listen. But in the end, the songs are an admirable effort of filling imaginations of others people's minds with hope.

benzolnye mertvecy - 2010 - soot

2011-09-29T04:22:00.003+02:00

Noise Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://benzolnyemertvecy.bandcamp.com/

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7 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: sujetno, kobalt

English

Merciless, fast, and noisy. That's how to describe the songs on 'Soot', the album from benzolnye mertvecy. If thrash metal or noise are not your sound, and I'd suspect for a good many of you that is the case, just walk away now. This will not likely change your mind. However, if aural freakouts straight out of a psychotic episode are your thing, then have you stumbled upon a gold mine dear reader. Brash guitars, terrifying vocals (and other sounds I dare not even try to describe) are held together by a rhythm section that goes for broke like their very lives depended on it. It takes quite a lot of talent to sound like a cacophony of noise and instruments being tortured and still come out melodically interesting. For seven relentless tracks benzolnye mertvecy manage just that. “kobalt” sounds like Primus might have snuck in and recorded 6/8ths of the song before benzolnye realized what was happening and tore the place apart in response. At the same time it also shows the band are quite capable of more than pure noise and playing as fast as humanly possible when they want to. It's a quick breather before the wind gets knocked out of you again. Before you realize it, the album's done. It's short, it's fast, it's noisy, and it's a heck of a lot of fun..

Gravy Indie Union - 2011 - Out For Lunch

2011-09-25T23:43:00.001+02:00

Synthpop/Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://gravyindieunion.bandcamp.com/

4 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Olvidame

English

A caveat before we get started: I don't speak Spanish, so lyrically the EP is a complete mystery to me. With that out of the way, lets talk about Gravy Indie Union's EP, “Out For Lunch” shall we? Right out of the gates this is an EP of infectious energy waiting to get out. At just over 14 minutes, 'Out For Lunch' will have your butt rocking the dance floor or anywhere you happen to be with its catchy as all get up indie dance rock. The four tracks on 'Out For Lunch are absolutely soaked in synth and covered with buttery vocals, with a bass so fuzzed out it probably needs to shave by the time the last track, Anana, wraps things up. Tracks 2 and 3; Diskette and Olvidame respectively lean more towards 'rock' than outright dance music, with guitar driven melodies that use synth to accentuate the atmosphere more than create it from the ground up. Unless the lyrics go completely against the vibe of the music, Gravy Indie Union have created the soundtrack for spontaneously breaking into dance basically wherever you happen to be. The vocals being as intoxicating as they are will only make the urge to grab a partner and get down to the music that much greater. I'd listen to a song of the singer reading the phone book with that voice. If you're prone to breaking into an 80's movie dance montage, I suggest you not put this on while driving. Otherwise, Gravy Indie Union's 'Out For Lunch' comes high recommended.

Synthcake - 2011 - Musicophilia

2011-09-22T21:41:00.003+02:00

Synthpop

[FOR FREE]

http://synthcakemusic.bandcamp.com/

7 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Musicophilia, House Love Ground, Red Raw

English

These songs are a perfect example of how to turn disharmonious synthesizer tunes into incredibly catchy songs. The first song especially was bound to be annoying pretty soon, due to the over use of one word repeated over and over and over again. I expected to be fed up with this rather special style of music rather sooner than later, but this point simply never came, which speaks volumes regarding the overall quality and variety of this record. That first song "Musicophilia" is probably even due to its features the best possible choice as opener, as it eases the listener into the quirky and haunting tunes of Synthcake with an extremely memorable and hummable backdrop. Another very remarkable song is "House Love Ground", which definitely would fit right in in a goth opera or musical (Think Repo! The Genetic Opera), not unlike many of the other songs. I think the general musical mixture of Goth Opera song direction and haunted Halloween tunes is definitely underused, and these songs are nothing else but refreshingly different, original, yet unbelievably catchy due to the addition of an equally enchanting and bewitching female lead singer. "Musicophilia" will drag you into depths of pop you didnt even know existed, putting a spell on you not many will be able to resist. Only question left is why the outro is right in the middle of the record (only available after download). Be aware of this record, even the track sequence is haunted!

Ben Seaward - 2011 - A Matter Of Moments

2011-09-16T02:10:00.002+02:00

Pop/Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://benseaward.bandcamp.com/

8 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Expectations, Can't Help

English

This is a musical project that still might be in active development. I downloaded the album a while ago, and when checking up on it today, I noticed 3 more songs have been added. Nice surprise! The 2 most catchy and easily accessible songs are right in the beginning, which was a good idea to get people interested. Half of the songs are rather laid back pop songs, which is a bit unfortunate since the other songs with their accentuated electronic and guitar parts definitely stand out as being the more catchy and striking songs. I also got the impression that Ben Seaward tried to push too much different musical styles onto one record, without considering that those different styles might not have the same crowd to like them. "Know How" and "You came after me",with their rather special sound effects, especially stand out as tracks that have a certain 80's pop feeling to it that doesn't really go well with the other songs and will probably alienate people who continued listening after the interesting album openener and the follow up song. Still overall easy listening worth a listen or two, especially for these first songs and who knows, he still might be adding more interesting tracks, so keep an eye on his Bandcamp if you like what you heard so far.

The TV People - 2011 - The TV People

2011-09-13T02:07:00.002+02:00

Industrial Noise

[FOR FREE]

http://tvpeople.bandcamp.com/

5 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: #1B, #4

English

Noise is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. I would normally count myself among those tea drinkers. The TV People however have added just enough structure and melody, if you can call it that; to this eponymous album that it's a decent listen. Some noise albums go for broke, throwing as much noise on top of noise as possible, making for a difficult listen. Not the case here. The TV People go for a more stripped back approach (stripped back for industrial music anyway). If Nine Inch Nails only had keyboards and a drum kit, and a guitar to use only for feedback, it might sound a little something like this. Half of this album is carried by simple, pulsating drum rhythms. Or what I interpret as drums, it's hard to be sure really. The other half is fuzzed out keyboards that layer on top of each other with just the right amount of noise and crunchy feedback filling the cracks to keeep things varied. The atmosphere here is one of paranoia and psychosis, perhaps these TV People shun their own namesakes. And then just to throw you for a loop, #4 ends with a sample that comes completely out of left field. Yet it seems a fitting end for 15 minutes of pounding industrial noise. as if the band is saying "You can stop looking over your shoulder, it's just the TV..."

Jazz Funeral - 2011 - Jazz Funeral

2011-09-09T00:09:00.002+02:00

Alternative Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://jazzfuneral.bandcamp.com/

13 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Sati, Peasant Blues, Absalom!

English

What better way to help ring in the fall than with a band with 'funeral' in the name. As for 'jazz'? This group is assuredly more at home in the alternative pop rock world than it is leading funeral processions in New Orleans. Much like the oncoming seasonal shift, the album is filled to the brim with a sort of melancholy. A longing for sunnier days, a deep seated uncertainty over futures ahead. And yet, despite the dour lyrics; the album is filled with sing-along choruses and catchy hooks that you can't help but tap your foot two. If you're not swimming in nostalgia, nodding your head to the beat by the time 'Wolves' starts rolling, with its country-twinged guitars, you've missed the boat. In fact the best parts of this record are when the lyrics get out of the way and let the instruments take centre stage. Synth and marching drum beats on opener 'Marché Funebre (Introduction)', room filling organ on 'Hymn', or the finger snaps and guitar strumming on 'Prayer' provide atmospheric counter-points to the angst-driven arena rock of 'Foxholes' and 'Rosary Beads'. The lyrics may not be your cup of tea, but damn it all if the music doesn't keep you listening just to see what they'll try next.

Sweet Water Pirates - 2009 - Swedish Music in English

2011-09-07T02:03:00.005+02:00

Indie Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://sweetwaterpirates.bandcamp.com/

4 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: I have no place to go

English

Today I am going to present an interesting and charming little Indie Pop project. As already mentioned in previous posts, people in Sweden seem to breath an air filled with music or something. Way too many incredibly talented people there. If you want to see the potential of those guys, check out the first song. It is a really well made and very catchy pop song, that strikes the right tunes in the refrain to stay in your ear, while having charming intersections with an almost breathed female voice in between. The second song is interesting as well in that they try to change up their sugar-sweet pop style and show that they are able to be more varied. However, when arriving at the third song, the feeling creeps up on me that the band wasn't too sure what to do with their record themselves. It seems to miss any form of musical coherence and simply mashing different music styles together rarely works for a release to create a bit of attention. The 3rd and 4th song are also not nearly as memorable as the first or even the second song. However, all of this doesn't change the fact that I like them enough to present them to you, with especially the first song being strikingly well done.

Ruben Lozano - 2011 - Banda Sonora

2011-09-04T01:33:00.004+02:00

Classic/ Instrumental

[FOR FREE]

http://rubenlozano.bandcamp.com/

14 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Master of Mind, Suite, Tango

English

This might be one of my favourite instrumental albums ever. As the genre description shows, its not an Electronica Instrumental LP, which I come across relatively often these days, but a record filled with classically instrumented pieces of music inspired by modern pop/rock compositions. It also seems that Banda Sonora was a one man project, which is amazingly remarkable since I cant wrap my head around the idea of one guy being able to play piano, violin, flute, an instrument that sounds like a xylophone and probably 1 or 2 instruments more I couldn't identify, and bringing them in harmony. Not only that, but also conveying emotion, mostly deep, melancholic and sad, with just touch of comfort, if at all. If you let this music sink in, it is an exposed emotional ride through your past, past thoughts and thoughtful decisions you encountered. The longer songs, like "Suite" have an especially subtle but lively increase in tension, making sure these tunes will stay with you even after the song ended. It is a bit unfortunate that Ruben Lozano was not able to uncover more, and more diverse parts of his musical self-discovering, but Banda Sonora is still an impressive piece of music, that doesnt dwell within your ears too long and instead goes on to populate your thoughts. Recommended listen for everyone.

SoccerMom - 2011 - SoccerMom EP

2011-08-31T15:48:00.002+02:00

Indie/ Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://soccermomspokane.bandcamp.com/

6 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Against the Grain, Mirrors, College Dreams

English

We celebrate the last day of the meteorological summer by presenting you another almost perfectly fitting summer record for the sunny and weightless days that hopefully are still to come. The catchy songs on this EP should go along swimmingly with Swimming and Fort Lean. Soccermom used a quite varied selection of guitar, drum, piano and synth sounds to create these songs, having every one of those songs leaving a refreshing impression. The lead singer is also incredibly gifted with a carefree sounding and extremely likeable voice. The feel good mood conveyed in the 3 songs listed in the recommendation section is especially contagious. The other songs are well made as well but aren't as catchy, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. The whole record is still a huge success for their first outing. This is definitely another band where I have no clue how they manage to stay rather undetected, which of course also has a Facebook page you can "like". By all means, do so to spread awareness for bands that deserve it and this band is no exception. Summer is over but music in our ears keeps shining on thanks to bands like Soccermom, even though I would be quite interested to hear how they thought of their rather unusual band name.

Ektoise - 2011 - Kiyomizu

2011-08-28T19:19:00.010+02:00

Ambient/ Alternative/ Electronica

[FOR FREE]

http://ektoise.bandcamp.com/album/kiyomizu

10 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Kuroi Kami, There and Here, The Golden Bough

Today we finally got around to writing a proper review for Ektoise, which were already featured in the mail bag section once. There was quite a lot of good feedback regarding these guys, so we thought it might be a good idea to extend our impressions.

English

Writing this review has caused my brain to burn out at least twice now, as if experiencing the album is the only way to tell someone about it and trying to do so by any other means boggles the mind. Genre douchebaggery and descriptors floating in the air around me. That may sound like faint praise for Kiyomizu; the new release from Ektoise. But that is not the case, nor the intention. No, the album itself is exceptional, it's just densely packed into a ten song aural experience unlike any other I've had the pleasure of listening to in a long long time.

One might come to take the band, and the album as a whole to be the post-rock same old, same old going by the lushly textured, yet sludgy post-rock staple song structure of opener, “The Shoreline by Morning.” After that however, any pretense of what to expect is thoroughly tossed aside, as Ektoise let loose with a sonic attack from all possible angles. This is not a band concerned with genre restrictions or labels as songs freely flow from one time signature into another, totally changing musical landscapes along the way. “There and Here” is a prime example of this, starting out as paranoid trance before transforming in thudding drum led techno-rock akin to big-beat wrapped in noise and feedback, then bleeding itself out into a piano and drum freak out that ends in near silence. Obviously the calm before the storm, as “Square Peg” comes out of the gate firing on all industrial metal cylinders to pummel everything in it's path, namely the listener. And album closer “Down River” wouldn't seem that out of place on an album by dark ambient pioneer Lustmord. There are no discernible lyrics on the record, and it's better off for it. None of these songs require words to create images of warm, serene beauty and grimy Teutonic nightmares in equal measure. Of the ten tracks, only “Dissolved”s chilled out guitar riffs swimming casually in space could really support a voice without it feeling out of place. Get the right female vocalist and this would be a smash on the charts. That being said, even the most relaxed, less rock focused songs that round out the album have a sense of urgency to them that makes everything fit and flow together naturally. Not rushed by any means, more a sense of purpose and destination in mind than playing through 70+ minutes of music as fast as they can.

An album that's too good to be free. You'd be doing yourself a disservice not grabbing it from their bandcamp.

Lucky Penny - 2011 - Lucky Penny

2011-08-25T00:22:00.002+02:00

Indie Folk Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://lucky-penny.bandcamp.com/album/lucky-penny

5 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Snake, Bound North

English

After the last two Bands I introduced you to, we are now back on a very soothing terrain of music. This EP starts off with a minimalist, but nonetheless captivating melody to set the tone of the record. The basic instruments you'll get to hear are guitars plus a few occasional other minor background sounds. One interesting feature is the very harmonic use of their voices as such a background sound in some parts of their songs. Since this is a collaboration project you'll also notice some variations within the song structures of the different songs. The bitter sweet, cute "Memory" and the song "What you want for yourself", sung by a male lead singer, especially stand out in that regard, since the other 3 songs have a similar song structure and feeling, despite not even sung by the same female lead singer. The best songs in my opinion are "Snake" and "Bound North". I can't put my finger on it, but something about how the singer uses her voice to tell her stories is really mesmerizing. It's a bit unfortunate that you can hear a slight hissing in the background, which tends to be especially noticeable in slower, quiet records like these. I like all of those songs, though. Definitely an interesting listen, even though probably better matched to a laid back listening session during the colder season of the year.

Rigoletto - 2011 - Prodigal Again

2011-08-21T22:36:00.004+02:00

Alternative Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://rigoletto.bandcamp.com/

5 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Absconder, Lamp Posts

English

No one can honestly argue anymore that the Internet is just a fad that will go away if you turn around. But how seriously can you take the claims of people who managed to fulfill their dreams or start their careers with showing initiative on the world wide web? This band is a remarkable success already in that we are able to listen to their songs at all. They set up a Kickstarter Project to raise awareness for the need of funding just to get their songs made and in the end collected 2500$ by people getting together for a similar goal - Helping a band making music all would like to hear in full glory. So what about the music that came from this initiative and this shining example of generosity? It turned out pretty damn good. It starts off with an inconspicuous 30 seconds intro that slides into the first full length song where Rigoletto show that they know their way around their instruments and catchy, strong and impressive song parts, albeit a bit traditional as far as the Alternative Rock Genre goes. This EP really begins to shine from song 3 "An enemy did this" onwards, though. Original and interesting song structures that varyingly accompany the vocal parts make these tracks definitely something you'd want to listen to more than only once. There are some striking instrumental parts, like the guitar riffs in Song 5 "Sugar", but also some subtle nuances that might go over your head at first, most prominently the "clicking" of the drummer, for example in Song 4 "Lamp posts". This is an EP that will take and deserves more than one listen to find and fully appreciate all the layers those guys worked into their songs. Thumbs up for everyone who donated to this cause. Additionally: This might just be the best Cover Art I've seen this year so far.

The Night Terrors - 2010 - Nasty

2011-08-18T17:32:00.002+02:00

Indie Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://thenightterrorsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/nasty
http://thenightterrorsofficial.bandcamp.com/album/dont-go-out-after-midnight

6 songs to download, divided on 2 EP's
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Fear the Worst, Video Nasty

English

This is a band I've been sitting on for quite a while now. They should be right up your alley if you like some of the more famous Indie Rock bands, like Mando Diao and the likes. Strong, frantic guitar riffs and a very charismatic voice ensure that their songs are very easily stuck in your head if you heard them once. I have no idea how they managed to stay this well hidden with fantastic songs like "Video Nasty" and especially "Fear the Worst". Actually, the only explanation I can think of is the unfortunate choice for the bandname as there is another rather popular band that will pop up if you google "Night Terrors". So be aware of that if you are searching for their website (or let me help you: Click). It seems like their first 2 song EP was moderately well known, but they somehow didnt manage to advertise their second EP as much, which is a real shame. Good music of this genre seems to get rarer by the day with the most well known Indie Rock Bands like Mando Diao, Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and more going creatively the way of the dodo or changing to other subgenres - most noticeably Electronica currently. Despite the last activity on their website being quite a few months ago, I hope The Night Terrors know that their music is still wanted and, even if it takes a while, get back together at some point to make new songs that I can get my hands on.

Stallions - 2011 - The Great War EP

2011-08-16T00:53:00.003+02:00

Indie Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://stallions.bandcamp.com

6 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: A Proper Answer, Girl by the Dock

English

Stallions make well-crafted, serene Singer-Songwriter Indie Pop. It took me a few listens and maybe I wouldn't even have given this EP a fair chance if not for the reason of writing a review about it, but it grew on me after a while. After listening to these songs once, you might not even have noticed all the different instruments used here, namely guitar, bass, keyboards and violin. During my first time through it, I was too focussed on the vocals to notice any subtleties in the instrumentation, which is partly my fault and also partly the fault of Stallions, also pointing out the biggest flaw in this EP. These songs are sort of traditional Indie Pop songs, and they are quite good at that (especially song 2 "A Proper Answer" and 3 "Girl by the dock"), but this record is probably missing some sort of highlight, or more variety in general to set them apart from the many other Singer-Songwriter outings out there. They tried to mix up things with the instrumental song "Hiroshima", but I got the feeling that they need to find another interesting idea for a future EP or full fledged album release to attract more attention. However, they know how to make good music, I really hope they find another interesting angle to present it on top of the solid foundation they showed here.

The Manhattan Syndrome - 2011 - And we left it behind

2011-08-12T17:25:00.001+02:00

Alternative Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://themanhattansyndrome.bandcamp.com/album/and-we-left-it-behind

4 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: The Manhattan Syndrome, Hollowheads

English

This band is another definitive recommendation for anyone slightly interested in harmonic pop music. The band combines drum, synthesizer, piano & guitar sounds with the memorable voice of the lead singer, interwoven by subtle, instrumental passages, which are as outstanding as the main parts of these songs. The fourth song "Hollowheads" and especially the third song "The Manhattan Syndrome" are probably among the most beautiful songs I've heard this year. With their superb instrumentation they set the stage for haunting tales of love and loss that "will stay with you until they dry". On top of three rather melancholic songs they also show with "Carnival" that they are perfectly able to create songs that stray from their usual perfectly harmonic formula, which is quite refreshing regarding the arrangement of the tracks on this EP. Whatever they set out to accomplish before they recorded "And we left it behind", I can't help but imagining that not even the band members themselves could have envisioned creating something as masterfully, organic and mesmerizing before. I really hope that this is not the last we'll hear from The Manhattan Syndrome.

Mailbag #1

2011-08-10T18:18:00.001+02:00

Mailbag time! This blog is about free music and bands who take the time to contact me shouldnt be ignored. Lots of interesting music out there, and unfortunately I don't have the time to cover everything. This section is devoted to bands who contacted me and other bands I found but didn't feel like writing a review about. Click the album picture for the Bandpage.

Boring Girls - Boring Girls: Lo-Fi Alternative Rock.

Quite energetic Garage rock. Boring Girls seemingly split already, though.The current Project of two ex-members is Ill Murray.

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Ektoise - Kiyomizu: Ambient Electronic Rock.

These guys are actually pretty great. Diverse and thoughtfully put together instrumental tracks. Check it out if you are interested in the genre description. Lots of enjoyable tracks.

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Raquela Berakiki - Shuki Pai EP: Lo-Fi Pop.

If you ever wondered how Pop from the Phillippines might sound like, here is your chance to find out.

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Digital Disorder - Village EP: Noise Rock

Very raw, but they show an interesting potential in their first EP. Hopefully, they'll get to use better recording equipment for their next record.

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Mateo - Demo: Ambient Instrumental

This guy shows a lot of promise. Interesting and laid back compositions, perfect for background listening. More of his Music to be found at his Soundcloud Page.

Oldboy Records - 2011 - Oldboy Records EP

2011-08-08T18:43:00.002+02:00

Electronic Pop

[NOT FREE ANYMORE]

http://oldboyrecords.bandcamp.com/

6 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Pale White Heat, Cold and Bright, Send Her Off

English

It seems like the number of great musicians giving their music away for free exploded in the last year. This guy is another example for that. He is able to make some distinctive electronic tunes, which he is very aptly mixing with harmonic samples of his own voice, best seen in the first and second song of this EP. Those tracks also have the most distinct uptempo beats on the record, making your feet tap without you noticing. Those first two songs and the third song "Cold and Bright" strike me as the most interesting ones on this EP. The simple but very charming harmonies and the intriguing lyrics of "Cold and Bright" make this a very interesting and bittersweet ballad, that will definitely find its way into my regular recommendations to friends. Additionally, Oldboy Records managed to keep his songs fresh due to different variations for reocurring song parts. Slightly altering the volume or adding a different sound to an already introduced theme go a long way of ensuring that listeners wont get tired of your songs too fast and he does that pretty effectively, despite being somewhat subtle about it. One point which is slightly bugging me is that the volume level is is a bit inconsistent throughout the record, and especially song 5 "Silver Spaceship" seems to be way too quiet. Other than that, definitely recommended and worth checking out.

Fort Lean - 2011 - Fort Lean

2011-08-06T03:14:00.002+02:00

Indie/Rock/Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://fortlean.bandcamp.com/

4 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: Beach Holiday, High Definition
Click this for a video Interview, including Live Performances: Nice Video

Deutsch

Erstmal ein Dank an die Leute von Breakthru Radio, die mich mit den Sachen die mich für meinen Blog interessieren auf dem Laufenden halten. Fort Lean sind eine weitere Band die uns mit Musik für den Sommer versorgen und sollten damit recht gut zu der Swimming EP passen, die ich vor einigen Tagen geposted hatte. Ihre Musik basiert auf Gitarren, Schlagzeug, einem eher subtilen Synthesizer und der sehr angenehmen Stimme des Sängers. Schon der erste Song der EP macht ansteckend gute Laune, aber auch der Rest brauch sich nicht verstecken. Ich zweifle nicht daran dass diese Jungs noch viel populärer werden wenn es Ihnen weiterhin gelingt auf dem Niveau Musik zu machen. Leicht beschwingte Texte, Ohrwum Melodien und die Fähigkeit sehr zugängliche Musik aus allen Einzelteilen zusammenzufügen, werden auch Ihren Teil dafür tun dass die Band stetig Fans dazu gewinnen wird. Dem Video Interview mit Breakthru Radio zufolge, ist die Band auch bereits dabei an neuen Demo Songs zu arbeiten. Ein späterer Besuch Ihrer Bandcamp Seite sollte sich also durchaus lohnen. Alternative gibts auch das volle Programm an Netzwerkseiten, auf denen Ihr natürlich auch nach Infos suchen könnt: Facebook, Myspace, Twitter. Ich freu mich auf mehr.

English

Huge thanks for the folks over at Breakthru Radio for the heads up on this one, and also for keeping me up to date with their stuff. Fort Lean is another band making a few nice tunes for the summer. This should be going well with the Swimming EP, posted a few days ago. Their sound consists of drums, guitars, the subtle use of a synthesizer and a very pleasant voice by the lead singer. The first song is contagious and probably effortlessly able to cheer up any mood, but the the other songs arent bad by any means. There is no doubt in my mind that these guys will get incredibly popular if they keep continuing to make music on this level. Easygoing lyrics, catchy tunes and the ability to make very accessible music will do their part to ensure they'll continue on finding more fans. According to the video interview, done by Breakthru Radio, they are already working on their next demo tapes, so keep an eye on their Bandcamp page for more music to show up. Alternatively, add them on their social sites and wait for news: Facebook, Myspace, Twitter. Looking forward to more, guys.

Your Song Here - 2011 - Volume One: Outer Space

2011-08-03T19:27:00.004+02:00

Indie Compilation

[FOR FREE]

http://yoursonghere.bandcamp.com/

11 songs to download
For free
Direct Download
Listening recommendations: "Tunnel Vision" by Modern Space Station Furniture, "Star's Song" by Jenni Potts, "Books About UFO's" by Minah Thrones

Deutsch

Es ist recht schwer eine Musik Compilation verschiedener Künstler zu bewerten, da jedes Lied und vor allem jeder Künstler eigentlich einzeln die Aufmerksamkeit verdient hätte. Aus dem Grund hab ich es bisher auch vermieden derartiges auf meinen Blog zu stellen. Allerdings musste ich meine Einstellung dazu überdenken als ich dieses Projekt hier gefunden habe. Es hat mich einfach froh gemacht zu sehen dass derartige Zusammenarbeit auch heute noch möglich ist, und zu derart vielfältigen und interessanten Ergebnissen führen kann. Für dieses Album wurden nicht nur ein paar bereits existierende Lieder zusammengeworfen, sondern meines Wissens alle Lieder für dieses Thema und diese Veröffentlichung neu erstellt. Die Mühe diesem Album ein allumfassendes Thema zu geben, hat sich definitiv gelohnt und hält alle Lieder merklich zusammen. Es gibt einige wirklich empfehlenswerte Songs, vor allem "Star's Song", "Tunnel Vision" and "For Nine Months, Mars Was Home". Diese gehören definitiv zu dem qualitativ hochwertigstem Material was hier zu finden ist, aber ich würde trotzdem empfehlen die Songs alle mal anzuhören da es noch einige andere interessante Songs gibt.
Da es eine Independent Compilation diverser recht unbekannter Musiker ist, gibt es natürlich einige Unstimmigkeiten was die Qualität der Songs anbelangt, da nicht jeder Musiker dieselben Mittel hatte. Jeder hat aber gute Arbeit geleistet, die vorhandenen Mittel zu nutzen um die eigene Vision des Themas "Outer Space" umzusetzen, was zu einem gefälligen und durchaus empfehlenswerten Album führte. Wenn euch einer dieser Musiker besonders gefällt, versucht Ihre Band Seiten zu finden, da es einige Musiker gibt die mehr als nur dieses eine Lied veröffentlicht haben. Ich werde versuchen alle Links die ich finden kann in den Comment Teil unter dem Review zu posten. Aus den Gründen die ich anfangs nannte, werde ich auch keine direkte Bewertung unter dieses Review setzen. Bleibt nicht viel mehr zu sagen als: Dif-tor heh smusma, hoffentlich hören wir mehr von diesem Projekt.

English

Its hard to review a compilation, as every song and especially every artist actually deserve more attention than being one amongst many, which is why I refrained from reviewing a compilation so far. But when I found these guys efforts, I couldn't help but feel happy to see that people still get together to make projects like these. Not only putting together a few songs that were already made, but the efforts to give this release a coherent feel by making songs to a certain topic are easily appreciated. There are a few really good songs on there, I especially recommend checking out "Star's Song", "Tunnel Vision" and "For Nine Months, Mars Was Home". These are among the most polished songs on this record, but give it a complete listen, since a few of the others are also quite charming.

It is an Independent compilation of relatively unknown musicians, so there are a few minor problems as not everyone obviously had the same means for creating their songs, which sometimes shows in the varying quality of the songs. Everyone made a great effort, though, to put out their vision of a song about "Outer Space" which ended in a definitely enjoyable and recommendable album. If you are interested in one of those artist, check out their bandpages, some of them have more music than just one song. I'll put all the links I can find into the comment section later. For the reasons mentioned in the beginning, I also wont directly put a score under this review. Nothing left to say, except: Dif-tor heh smusma, I really hope to hear more from this project.

The Barrelhouse Kings - 2011 - The Pine Mountain Sessions

2011-08-02T02:11:00.003+02:00

Blues/ Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://thebarrelhousekings.bandcamp.com

5 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Mean Ole Woman, What's so Special?

Deutsch

Es gibt einfach Musik die man nicht anders beschreiben kann als mit den Emotionen die Sie auslöst. Unmöglich scheint es, diese Songs anzuhören und sich nicht unwiderstehlich cool zu fühlen. Die Mischung der Instrumentierung durch Harmonika, treibendem Schlagzeug und Gitarrenriffs versetzt den Hörer in das klassische Setting einer amerikanischen Landschaft, allein unter Männern am Lagerfeuer unter klarem Sternenhimmel. Es ist für mich fast unmöglich diese Lieder anzuhören und mir keine derartige Kulisse dafür vorzustellen.
Diese Lieder sind voll mit Emotionen ohne zu sentimental zu werden. Vor allem der Sänger ist unglaublich gut, mit einer sehr markanten Stimme und Textstellen an denen man seine Emotionen aus dem Lied springen fühlt, um jeden zu erreichen der mit Ihm um das gerade erwähnte Lagerfeuer sitzt. Das führt zu Liedern die einen bleibenden Eindruck hinterlassen. "Mean Ole Woman" wird aus genau diesem Grund warscheinlich noch eine Weile in meinem Kopf festhängen. Eines der größten Komplimente die man Kunst wohl machen kann, ist wenn es dieser möglich ist die Grenzen des Mediums in der es übermittelt wird, zu sprengen und Emotionen direkt an den Hörer übertragen. Diese Band ist darin umwerfend gut. Wenn Ihr die Barrelhouse Kings mögt, solltet Ihr vielleicht auch mal in die Musik von Commissario Tzenko reinhören, auch wenn die Musikrichtung etwas anders ist.

English

There is music that can't be described better than by describing what emotions it triggers. And these songs simply make you feel like a boss. Its impossible not to feel irresistibly cool while listening to these songs. The mixture of a harmonica with some very impulsive drum and guitar sections take you back into the American countryside, living a men's live among men. Live and Learn from what others learned before you, sharing their stories around the campfire in the wild. It seems impossible for me not to make up any kind of setting when I hear these songs.

They put a lot emotions into these songs without being too sentimental about it, especially the singer is fantastic. He's got a very distinct voice and many vocal parts where you feel like his emotions jump out of the song, trying to reach everyone sitting around the aforementioned campfire. This makes for songs leaving a permanent impression. "Mean Ole Woman" will stick with me for a while for that reason. It's one of the greatest compliments anyone can give to art, if it manages to transcend the media its delivered in, and transmit emotion directly affecting the listener. These guys are wonderfully apt at this. If you like this band, chances are you might like Commissario Tzenko as well, despite them making a slightly different kind of sound.

MYSTERY SCHOOLS - 2011 - GOOD THINGS

2011-07-30T19:18:00.002+02:00

Alternative/ Pop

[FOR FREE]

http://mystery-schools.bandcamp.com

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mystery-schools.bandcamp.com"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

4 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Everybody Needs, All My Friends
More Demo songs at http://soundcloud.com/mystery-schools

Deutsch

Die letzte Band war zugegebenermaßen nicht für jeden. Bei der aktuellen Band zweifle ich allerdings daran, dass es ihnen an Fans mangeln wird. Die Band vereint die seltenen Talente unglaublich eingängige Lieder zu schreiben und trotzdem einen Sänger zu haben, der jedes Stück Emotion aus seiner Stimme holen kann, und dabei trotzdem immer gut klingt. Die Lieder an sich bestehen aus Gitarrenklängen und anderen Rock Elementen, zusammen mit einer guten Menge an Synthesizer Beats. Die Band hat einen Song auf iTunes hochgeladen, was vermuten lässt, dass noch mehr folgen könnten. Ladet euch die EP hier kostenlos runter so lange ihr könnt, oder gebt der Band trotzdem etwas Geld, wenn euch die Musik gefällt, damit mehr davon produziert wird. Ich bin ehrlich gesagt ein wenig perplex, dass ich diese vier Lieder drei Stunden am Stück angehört habe, ohne mich daran satt zu hören.
Mystery Schools zeigen außerdem ein gutes Einschätzungsvermögen bezüglich der Song Auswahl auf der EP. Diese vier Lieder sind nicht nur die vier best produzierten der erhältlichen Songs, sondern passen auch sehr gut zusammen. Das klare Highlight auf der EP ist für mich "All My Friends", das Lied machts unmöglich die eigenen Gliedmaßen still zu halten. Wenn euch die Songs gefallen, könnt ihr auch auf http://soundcloud.com/mystery-schools vorbeischauen, um euch die vorher erwähnten Demo Songs mal anzuhören. Die Lieder die Ihr dort vorfindet sind zwar nicht auf dem selben Niveau, aber interessant genug, um einen Hinweis darauf zu rechtfertigen. Außerdem sind diese Songs ein gutes Zeichen, dass die Band noch einiges in petto hat, auf das man sich freuen kann. Ich hoffe nur, dass die Wartezeit darauf nicht zu lang wird.

English

The last band featured, admittedly wasn't for everyone. This band however is something everyone should check out. They have the rare talent of a singer that uses every emotion he can squeeze out of his voice, while still making incredible catchy songs. The songs themselves are mixes of guitar and other rock elements mashed together with some synthesizer beats. The band has one song from their demo page put up on iTunes, so it's not unlikely others might follow. Grab this EP for free, while you still can, or throw them some bucks anyway to ensure they'll make more songs like that. I can't believe that I just listened to those four songs three hours non-stop.
Mystery Schools also showed quite a good judgement in regard to which songs to pick for this EP. They are not only the most polished ones of those available, but also fit very well together, making for an EP which can be listened to hours on end. The highlight for me is "All my friends", that song makes it impossible to keep still. Remember to check out their other demo songs at http://soundcloud.com/mystery-schools, if you like their stuff. The songs on there are different and not quite as good, but still interesting enough to warrant me telling you. This also shows that they are busy working on songs. I really, really hope another polished release isn't too far around the corner.

Revenge Piñata - 2011 - Hungry Ghost

2011-07-28T16:17:00.007+02:00

Indie/ Electronica

[FOR FREE]

http://revengepinata.bandcamp.com/

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://revengepinata.bandcamp.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

9 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Snake Charmer, Apollonia, Sunflower

Deutsch

Die heutige Band ist was für Musikliebhaber mit "besonderem Geschmack". "Electro/ Pop" ist nicht wirklich ausreichend als Beschreibung der Songs, die diese Band auf Ihr Album gepackt hat. Angefangen mit sehr eingängigen Instrumental Stücken wie "Proximity Love Song", über langsamere Liebeserklärungen wie "Bubblegum", zu anderen besungenen Liedern wie "Ritas with Nancy", scheinen Sie so ziemlich alles auszuprobieren, was ihnen für dieses Album einfiel. Fügt dem noch sexually explicit (Ich habe keinen Schimmer wie ich das vernünftig auf deutsch übersetzen soll) Liedtexte hinzu, und ihr habt die Grundlage für Revenge Piñata. Und wenn das noch nicht genug war, um die meisten Hörer abzuschrecken, fügen sie der Liste "Was die meisten nicht hören wollen, wir aber trotzdem machen" noch rauhen und teilweise disharmonischen Gesang hinzu.
Warum ich euch die Band trotzdem vorstelle? Weil ihnen das vollkommen egal ist. Sie machen gut produzierte Musik, mit definitiv vorhandenen Ohrwurm Potential nach "Revenge Piñata"-Art, und sind dadurch umso origineller. Das wird ihnen nicht allzu schnell Fans bringen, aber immerhin dauerhafte Anerkennung meinerseits. Und ich glaube, da werde ich nicht der Einzige bleiben.

English

Let's say this entry is for people with a special taste. "Electro/ Pop" sounds way too normal as a genre description for what these guys are putting on this record. Starting with very catchy electronical instrumental songs like "Proximity Love Song", over slow love songs like "Bubblegum", to sung songs that are almost exlusively electronically produced like "Ritas with Nancy", they seem to try every idea they could come up with. Mix that with some sexually explicit lyrics and you got Revenge Piñata. If that wasn't enough to fall into a category for "special taste", they could still add raw, partly disharmonious vocals to the list of "what most people can't stand, but we still do".
Why do I still like them? Because they don't care. They make well produced music with some catchy tunes like they see fit and they are all the more original for it. This won't bring them quickly lots of fans, but at least my steady appreciation. And I don't think I am completely alone with that.

Swimming - 2011 - EP

2011-07-25T19:56:00.006+02:00

Indie/ Surfpop

[FOR FREE]

http://swimmingforever.bandcamp.com/

7 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Swan Dive, Frends, The Lawn

Deutsch

Mit diesem Album kam auch endlich der Sommer bei mir an. Es entspricht nicht weniger als dem Gefühl der reinen Freude und Freiheit an dem Ort an dem der Sommer eures Lebens auf euch wartet. Es ist ein wenig schade dass die Qualität der Aufnahmen nicht ganz perfekt ist, was aber in diesem Fall nicht weiter stört da es nur das Gefühl der uneingeschränkten Freiheit unterstreicht, was warscheinlich sogar beabsichtigt war. Die verwendeten Instrumente sind keine Unbekannten, mit Schlagzeug, E-Gitarre, Bass und Gesang. Sie erinnern mich ein wenig an das Gefühl was ich letztes Jahr hatte als mir die Drums zum ersten Mal zu Ohren kamen, allerdings bevorzuge ich das hier vorliegende Album eindeutig da mir die weniger aufdringliche Stimme weit mehr zusagt. Ich glaube nicht dass ich ein besseres Sommer Album dieses Jahr finden werde, was es zu der Platte die ich für den Trip auf die sprichwörtliche einsame Insel empfehlen würde.

English

This album finally introduced the summer 2011 to me. It is nothing less than the feeling of fun and pure freedom of simplicity in a place you are going to have the summer of your life. Its a bit unfortunate that the recording quality isnt quite perfect but it isnt too bothersome in this case, as it makes the music simply feel like more raw unregulated fun. The band was probably even shooting for this effect. The instrumentation isnt too surprising, drums, bass, e-guitar and vocals. They sort of remind me of The Drums last year, I tend to prefer Swimming's work though, as I can relate more to the relaxed voice of the singer. I doubt that I'll find a better summer album this year, which makes it the record I'd recommend for the trip to the metaphorical desert island.

Fos - 2011 - We Are

2011-07-23T03:21:00.001+02:00

Indie/ Pop/ Rock

[FOR FREE]

http://weare-fos.bandcamp.com/

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://weare-fos.bandcamp.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

4 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: number seven, image of dust

Deutsch

Eine weitere Band, die fast ungreifbar scheint, wenn man nach ihnen in den Weiten des Internets sucht, die aber definitiv nicht schüchtern zu sein braucht, was ihre Musik angeht. Qualitativ hochwertiger Rock/Pop, mit einer ebenso charismatischen wie einprägsamen weiblichen Lead Stimme, die definitiv das Highlight dieser vier Lieder darstellt. Am Besten gefällt mir "Number Seven", weil es die interessanteste musikalische Dynamik Ihrer Lieder aufweist. Deswegen ist es durchaus schade, dass man nur vier Lieder vorfindet, da Fos bestimmt noch mehr Abwechslung zu Tage fördern könnten. Und weil man eindeutig merkt, dass Fos wissen wie man Musik macht, würde es mich auch bei dieser Band nicht wundern, wenn Sie überall da, wo sie spielen Fans dazu gewinnen.

English

Another band that is seemingly untraceable if you look for them on the internet. But they definitely don’t need to be shy about their music. High-quality Rock/Pop, with a charismatic and memorable female Lead Singer, who is definitely the highlight in these four songs. I like "Number Seven" best, since it has the most interesting dynamic of the songs featured here. For that reason it’s a bit unfortunate that they only have those 4 songs online as I am sure that they would be able to put forward even more varied songs. Since they most definitely know how to make good, catchy music, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them gather quite a few more fans each time they perform somewhere.

2011-07-21T04:28:00.003+02:00

Something new from: Mama Bear

Deutsch

Es ist unglaublich erfreulich zu sehen wie Bands denen man viel Potenzial zuschreibt, dann auch tatsächlich irgendwann von anderen, vor allem wichtigeren, Leuten als mir entdeckt und als interessant befunden werden. In Ihrer Serie "Hear and There", Breakthru Radio featured momentan "Mama Bear" mit dem Lied "Old Man Trouble". Meine Eindrücke zu Ihrer EP findet Ihr hier. Und die neue, auch sehr angenehme Version mit ausschließlich Gitarren Instrumentierung findet ihr im folgendem Link:

Breakthru Radio: Mama Bear - Old Man Trouble

Auch weiterhin viel Erfolg an Mama Bear und Breakthru Radio.

English

Its unbelievably pleasing to see how bands that definitely got enough potential, get noticed and appreciated by other, especially more important, people than me. In their feature series "Hear and There", Breakthru Radio is featuring "Mama Bear" with their song "Old Man Trouble" at the moment. You'll find my review to their EP here. And the new, very enjoyable video version of the song, only including a guitar for the instrumentation you'll find at the following link:

Breakthru Radio: Mama Bear - Old Man Trouble

Best Wishes to Mama Bear and Breakthru Radio!

Alex Ananiev - 2011 - demo 2011

2011-07-20T00:58:00.007+02:00

Instrumental/ Postrock

[FOR FREE]

http://alexananiev.bandcamp.com/

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://alexananiev.bandcamp.com/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

4 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Northwind (demo), Settlers (demo)

Deutsch

Heute ein kurzer Eintrag über dieses instrumentale Postrock Demo Tape. Ich würde allen empfehlen sich wenigstens das erste Lied "Northwind" anzuhören, welches eine fantastische Steigerung im Songaufbau hat. Es beginnt beruhigend und langsam, verwandelt sich aber in ein musikalisches Kunstwerk. Alex Ananiev weiß definitiv wie man verschiedene Töne und Sound Effekte benutzen muss, um verschiedene Emotionen auszulösen, was man bereits am ersten Lied merkt. Das zweite Lied ist auch sehr gelungen, kann sich aber nicht ganz mit dem ersten messen. Er hat ohne Frage ein Talent für Töne und ich hoffe es kommt noch Nachschub. Außerdem scheint er auch als Fotograf durchaus Talent zu haben, schaut dafür auf seiner Website vorbei: www.alexananiev.com

English

Today, a shorter entry about an instrumental demo tape. You all should at least listen to the first song "Northwind", which has truly great build-up. It manages to start off with a soothing entry, only to slowly shift to become a quite monumental piece of music. Alex Ananiev's use of the different sound effects to create different emotions within the same song is actually quite impressing. The second song is interesting as well, but doesn't manage to stand out as much. Nice work, hopefully he'll put out more of that. Also, he seems to have some talent as a photographer, check his works out here: www.alexananiev.com

Symphony of Science - 2011 - Symphony of Science Bundle

2011-07-18T00:49:00.004+02:00

Indie/ Pop/ Electronica

[FOR FREE]

http://melodysheep.bandcamp.com/album/symphony-of-science-bundle-v10

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://melodysheep.bandcamp.com/album/symphony-of-science-bundle-v10"&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;?&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

FREE
11 songs to download
You name the price (min 0,-)
You get the link if you register your email address
Listening recommendations: Ode to the Brain, Children of Africa: The Story of Us, Our Place in the Cosmos

Deutsch

Warnung: Verzerrte Stimmen sind definitiv nicht jedermanns Sache. Allerdings möchte ich hier darauf hinweisen, dass dieses Problem oft darauf zurückzuführen ist, dass man teilweise eine Abneigung gegen Künstler entwickelt die nicht singen können, aber durch das Verzerren jegliche Originalität aufgeben, um trotzdem noch genügend Alben zu verkaufen.

In diesem Fall ist das Verzerren der Stimme, um eine Melodie erzeugen exakt der Sinn, der dieses Musikprojekt so einzigartig macht. Der Mann hinter diesem Projekt, John Boswell, griff auf Aussagen und Aufnahmen diverser Wissenschaftler aus Wissenschaftsserien oder Konferenzen und Interviews zurück, um diese zu einem Statement (Wissenschaft ist zugänglich für alle), und gar musikalischen Kunstwerk zusammenzuformen. Da alle Gesangspassagen Ausschnitte von anderen Wissenschaftlern sind, empfehle ich durchaus mal einen Blick auf die Videos von Symphony of Science zu werfen, da es schon faszinierend ist, wie gut der gesungene Text trotzdem noch zur Mimik und Gestik des jeweiligen Wissenschaftlers passt. (Link zu den Videos)

Musikalisch ist nicht jedes Lied 100% perfekt gelungen, aber liefert doch insgesamt ein sehr beeindruckendes Bild ab. Ich fühle mich bei dieser Idee und bei Textzeilen, wie den folgenden, nicht in der Lage weniger als volle Punktzahl zu geben. Inspirierend und Originell.

Hier ein Beispiel der Texte:

"About one percent of the snow and noise

Comes from the big bang itself
We're all eavesdropping
On the birth pangs of the cosmos"

Übersetzung:

"Etwa ein Prozent allen Rauschens

entstammt direkt aus dem Urknall

und wir alle belauschen heimlich die

Geburtsschmerzen des Weltalls."

English

Disclaimer: Distorted voices are certainly not for everyone. I'd like to point out that this problem arose for many due to the misuse of so called "artists" who, instead of creating something original, distorted their voices to ride on a quick wave of success. Because of that many people don't even seem to be able to give it a fair chance if something original comes around.
In this special case, the distortion of the voices is exactly what makes it special. The man responsible for this project, John Boswell, accessed speeches, series and interviews from a variety of scientists and used those scientific quotations for creating inspiring deep meanings within melodic harmonies, trying to make the beauty of science accessible for everyone. Since all text passages are taken from scientists, I really recommend taking a look at one of his videos, in which he matched the videos to scientists speaking the message which you can hear, which adds another layer of urgency to their message. (Link to the videos)
These songs are not 100% perfect, but still damn impressive altogether and I am not able to give anything else than the best score possible for the music, since it is decorating his original idea and inspiring text passages like the following:

"About one percent of the snow and noise

Comes from the big bang itself
We're all eavesdropping
On the birth pangs of the cosmos"