Evocations of past albums litter this new EP. Plangent piano sonatas filled one album, alchemic wisps of water in air another, and submarine drones a third. When I Live by the Garden is not simply an omnibus compilation of past works, but rather a recombination of efforts showing how past works were not simply stand-alone products but all part of a larger concept. |
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Evocations of past albums litter this new EP. Plangent piano sonatas filled one album, alchemic wisps of water in air another, and submarine drones a third. When I Live by the Garden is not simply an omnibus compilation of past works, but rather a recombination of efforts showing how past works were not simply stand-alone products but all part of a larger concept.
5950 Hits
Frequent collaborators Tom de Geeter, aka Siaz, and Marcus Graap team up again for their first album as Zucchini Drive. Assisted by a different producer on every track and a revolving door of musicians, this smorgasbord of talent concocts hip hop cuisine that’s uniformly good but rarely excellent.
10171 Hits
I expected more from an album that not only advertises sexuality, but also has referential song titles like "Tubular Belles" and "Moi Non Plus." Netherlands-based Trespassers W talk a lot about sex, use plenty of risque language to describe sex toys and sexual acts alike, but none of it sounds very arousing.
6153 Hits
The dubstep and grime producer formerly known as Mark One returns to Planet µ with a truncated name and a brand new 12" of slick urban noise for Manchester and the streets beyond.
9992 Hits
Flowing Seasons is the solo debut from Luca Di Mira of Italy’s Giardini di Miro. At times orchestral, beat-driven, or ambient, the emphasis is on lush beauty, a quality these mellow songs rarely lack.
5589 Hits
Ielasi’s eponymous second Häpna release doesn’t come as the refining or summarizing work one might expect from the prolific artist and collaborator. Despite being his most technologically demanding work yet, its compositions are more linear and inviting than ever before, and sonically the record is beautifully, meticulously meshed.
6356 Hits
This 'album' crams 13 songs into the shortest long player since the early days of Napalm Death. Each track is a blistering blast of heavy metal mayhem for the sampler generation, and a salute to short attention spans.
9632 Hits
Mark Tranmer's project is pronounced like the final syllable of "cognac" and given that he has a disposition towards electronic instrumental music, I should've expected this album to sound like new age elevator music. Images of Yanni record covers and million dollar suits sipping wine at an exclusive British hunting club are all I can think of, now.
7529 Hits
On the second full-length from Drop The Lime, Luca Venezia throws down heavy beats that probably won’t lure anyone not previously so inclined onto the dance floor, yet the album never gives those already there a reason to leave.
6955 Hits
Norway’s Terje Isungset returns to the Ice Hotel for his follow-up to 2002’s Iceman Is. Like that album, all the instruments used are made from ice, including ice percussion, iceofon, icehorn, and iceharp. Joining him is Sidsel Endresen, who co-wrote many of the songs and contributes vocals, for an album of ethereal, crystalline beauty.
10618 Hits
Brooklyn’s Dirty on Purpose cannot help but make elegant compositions out of simple ingredients. Layers of multi-tracked vocals, glittering melodies, and a subtlety of drone stack up in each song. This could be called space rock if it weren’t so firmly grounded in the terrestrial. It’s better described as dream-pop because the songs celebrate many of our earthly delights but viewed, perhaps, through the haze of a dream or memory. Hallelujah Sirens is a smart collection of songs which could be campfire serenades, lakeside dirges, or starry-eyed minuets.
5077 Hits
If Songs Could Be Held is an incredibly bad album. Granted some of the music is pleasant and the entire disc is well produced but the songs are boring and mediocre at the best of times. Thomas is one of those too serious but not interesting enough singer songwriters that are ten a penny these days. There are dozens like her in every city, anyone can go see another identikit performer for free so there's no point in wasting money on this.
5509 Hits
On her second album, Italy's Miss Violetta Beauregarde packs 16 songs into a mere 20 minutes, yet each one brims with more ideas than some bands' entire albums. Created from crappy electronics, glitch beats, screams, with occasional samples and other noises, her frenetic, anarchic nihilism is a much needed kick in the head.
6596 Hits
Anyone that manages to weave a mystery around them are bound to win some fascination from appreciators and press alike. Whether or not there's any substance behind their mystery is another story altogether. Uton unveils floating events and sounds in the same way a magician unleashes doves from a hat or a sleeve, but without the awe or sense of wonder. Mystery Revolution amounts to a bunch of floating stuff and very little more.
8407 Hits
This isn't the first extra-curricular activity from Low's main singer/songwriter to surface, however, those who are looking for something like "Sleep Song," or Hospital Children or Black Eyed Snakes type recordings are in for a surprise. The title of Solo Guitar should be a hint, as this recording is more for the fans of the uneasy listening of Loren Mazzacane Connors or Keiji Haino on a calm day.
6923 Hits
Christian McShane and Aaron Molina make music from instruments that they don’t know how to use (this is a deliberate move, not a criticism of their playing technique!). On this fourth album by the duo, they are joined by a few guests to jam out a few improvisations. The music they create ranges varies in quality but there are some choice nuggets dotted throughout the disc.
5580 Hits
On the surface, Follow the Train’s full-length debut has it all. The production is sumptuous, and the skilled musicians frequently create gorgeous, yearning passages. Even the cover is vaguely arty and aesthetically pleasing. Scratching a little deeper, however, I found ordinary lyrics, sometimes painfully so, and little else that generates much excitement.
7225 Hits
Waterline spends some time brooding upon the shattered landscape of New Orleans, as should anyone with a heart. When the waters of the flood receded, a dirty brown/black/beige line remained on buildings everywhere. The disturbing unease of Potpie's avant-expressionism perfectly compliments this physical manifestation of the community's psychological scar.
10059 Hits
If I could capture a band as a sex symbol, I get the impression that Tapes 'n Tapes would be Johnny Depp and Jessica Alba: nearly everyone wants to sleep with one of the two or both. Like with most sudden sensations, however, there's more sugar coating here than real substance.
5362 Hits
The debut release from the Birmingham based band Una Corda is not as great as I thought it would be. A clinical production divests the group of their presence. Nevertheless the talent underneath is still evident despite some of their mojo going missing in the mix.
10250 Hits
