Well, actually these are more recommendations and comments about the releases that we like and play in our show. I always hated long reviews anyway. Now read and listen to some music!
2006 - 2005 - 2004
November
Box
Core EP
[Experimedia; 2006] - Free Download
Core EP does have a proper name. Usage of beat machines and glitchy / IDM sounds putted together like this might summon an association to Kraut rock stars like Neu or even Can (without vocals) or maybe even create a thought that this music should have has been a kind of counterpod to Kraut rock in those days. Or, probably more correctly, Box brings a Kraut rock of a new kind. Dehumanized, but sentimental melodies combined with beautifully layered beats here provide minimal, but also a wide spectrum of sounds one can definitely enjoy, whether drinking coffee and analyzing the music in a geek manner whether dancing his ass off after a discussion about latest Native Instruments ensembles usage of CPU power in Reaktor. In every case, very, very good EP which even may sound mainstream in case one's ears are filled with latest Merzbow releases. In all other cases, this is simply very good music! Idm lounge! (©.T)
August
Aviador Dro
Electrico
[Omega Point Records; 2006]
If any band ever deserved to be labeled as electropunk and/or synth pop then this outer space expedition group from Madrid, Spain, certainly does. Bizarre beat combined with rather merry melody layers surely does provide a "classy" (whatever how paradoxal that might sound) set of tracks. Besides the fact they sound as let's say Devo on vacation to Mexico or slowed down Man or Astroman, these guys (and girls) definitely are sure of what are they doing. Whether they touch the feeling of New Order with the flavor of Mediterranean, whether they "cover" Joy Division in 8th track they surely create an exciting and compact soundtrack as well as for party, as well as for staring at your bedroom ceiling feeling good about things you wanted but never did in your life. (©.T)
Zom Zoms
Yellow Rainbow
[Omega Point Records; 2006]
These Austin team is not calm. No way. First impression their sound creates is an image of a nerd who goes nuts and imports all the randomly created sound samples from his hard drive to a sequencer. Hectic? Oh yes. But not eclectic, because, all the randomly put samples seem to function in a perfectly good "order" (take this in a broadest sense of the term), where we get a rather obscure collision of nervous voices and fast synth beats creating a. concept. Or put it more correctly, a perfect lack of concept which is meant to be just that. If we would mention Public Image Limited we would not be far, but at the same time we would be terribly wrong because a mixture of moods in Zom Zoms music case literally produce instant and very change of moods, which someone will find amusing and others highly irritating, which has maybe been the goal from the start? (©.T)
July
Savas Pascalidis
Saigon Nightmare Remixes
(Lasergun; 2006)
Savas Pascalidis is young and upcoming producer from Cyprus? No, the answer is wrong, Savas Pascalidis is acclaimed international dj and producer, living in Berlin, and his tunes like Superman rocked, and are still rocking, dancefloors all around the world. He is also a mastermind behind Lasergun Records, and Saigon nightmare was one of the hits from his Disko Vietnam lp published on Gigolo Records in 2005. Now it comes out in a new shape with remixes by names like Black Strobe, Frank Martiniq and Richard Bartz... Now I realise again what a killer tune it is! Remixes are ranging from pumping sounds to more laidback and minimal, and the best thing is that every version keeps the essence of the tune intact. All the beautiful lines are still there, with raw and dirty "this is how it should be done" club sounds... So let`s face it, Saigon Nightmare is not destined to be a classic, it is one already! (A.I)
May
Various Artist
Elektronische Musik - Interkontinental 5
[Traum; 2006]
Next release in the Interkontinental series, compiled by Riley Reinhold aka Triple R, is out now on German super label Traum. Elektronische Musik - Interkontinental 5, published on the cd and as a 3 x lp, features some established label`s producers like Nathan Fake, Adam Kroll, Jesse Somfay and some great new artists from Belgium, Germany and Austria. These 12 until now unreleased tracks will show you what kind of sound you can expect from this label in the future, and that are mostly minimal club sounds with innovative sound design. You will find some sure players here, like Adam Kroll`s Stalker, Ortin Cam`s New Found Glory, awesome hymn with the kick that will rock any space, and Kenny Leaven`s (new artist from Eastern Germany) Wasabi, tune packed with fresh sounds... All in all great compilation that will appeal both, listeners and dj`s, interested in contemporary minimal sounds. (A.I)
March
Bit Shifter
The Information Chase
[8bitpeoples; 2006] - Free Download
Eh, if anyone ever wanted to know how some past music practices in electronic music would sound like if high pitched 20 times the original then a Frankenstein patched up from Frankfurt '93 "feeling" and synth-pop heritage mixed up in hectic way makes it is clear that The Information Chase is the Frankenstein. Don't take me wrong, this release, sounding the way it does, does not ask any questions but rather gives an answer to a question whether something dead could be fun? Yes, it can, especially if you bring it alive with 8 Bit People's own Mary Shelley! (©.T)
February
Nulleins
Seven Spaces
[Thinner; 2006] - Free Download
Cross over as genre is usually tied to an association that the music fixed up that way has to sound the way definition does, diversed and patched up. However, Nulleins comes as a great example that combination of ambient sound scapes, dubbed depths and repetitive beat can perfectly function as one, compact body of sound. Whether we are talking about minimal danceable "Multiplex" or contempletative "Shelter" Nulleins sure had some quality work....or sleep time. (©.T)
January
Proswell & Wwcarpen
KFAT016CD
[Kracfive; 2006]
Combination of 8-bit aesthetics and beautiful gloomy wide ambient layers in fusion with early Warp style beat is not the only characteristic that makes this release interesting. A way mentioned characteristic are melted into coexistence with loungy atmosphere and even confronted with glitchy crackling is a proof that it is really possible to ride the chaos while being relaxed and having a coffee. Even though one might get the impression that there are too many tracks here, the way they vary from each other is simply satisfying, even when banal merry melodies start after harsh ambiental vortex. Highly recommended to every one who does not like to dance and does like good music. (©.T)
x|k
Outra
[8bitpeoples; 2006] - Free Download
Outra by x|k, "the man who grabbed the NES by it's neck and stuffed the MIDI protocol right down it's throat", according to the 8bitpeoples, is one of the first pieces that I have heard in 2006, and I must say that I am truly excited about this release... What we are dealing with here is 20 minutes long 8 bit, electro-techno, mayhem (all in one track), with some acid and trance ingredients. Very refreshing combination! So, is that what is the excitement about? Well, not only, I am also kind of sick of "creative" tunes that can only work in a "closed environment", and this x|k release is clearly showing us that you can be uncompromising and still rock the dancefloor... I only wish that the kick is more "into your face", but anyway great opening of the year for the 8bitpeoples label. (A.I.)
NOTE: A month when the review was published is not necessary a month when the release came out!
|
