Saito Koji – Tokyo Morning Loop

Hello!!!

I haven't been there for a while, and I think I won't be much able this month. So just a short post about one record I have come across lately.


Rate:5/5

Saito Koji – Tokyo Morning Loop

Just one loop expaniding and changing through a 45-minute Nippon-journey. Worth checking, even if you're not patient enough to go through the whole thing.

The label? But of course, it is Resting Bell.

Farewell to garageband

So long!!! It's been pleasure to be there!

a_forced_fixed_image - weak wrists

Rate:4/5

extremely weird
This is nice industrial music collage, extremely not appriopraite to the label of reviews (Heavy!Heavy!Loud1) but still, it's an engaging piece of music anyway. There is one nice guitar riff around 6'00'', but it's more electronic industrial than any king of loud guitar stuff.

song's site

NEVER WAS - Truth issue

Rate:5/5

surprisingly good
This is a really nice electronica/rock mixture, evoking the best years of Stabbin' Westward or Nitzer Ebb. There are few nice samples, great heavy drums, a crushing bass and a neat composition. The only drawbacks are a bit unprofessional production and too quiet vocals. It needs to be done once more, but overall impression is more than positive.

song's site

a_forced_fixed_image - Distressed Little Lamb

Rate:4/5

Nice
It is both engaging and disturbing sound collage, taking it all back to the days of glory of SPK or Psychic TV. The production is pretty neat and arrangements are deminic, so one must like it, if one like this particular genre, of course. The mood is pretty depressive and abstract, but basically... That's the point.

song's site

a forced fixed image - Hypocrite

Rate:4/5

Interesting
This is yet another industrial sound collage I stumbled upon, and it is indeed interesting. The timing in sequencing is quite well synchronized, and although this is a bit experimental it's not boring. I loved the end of it, with a children song. That was pretty catchy. The whole tune sounds like some PTV or SPK trip, and I must say it's quite enjoyable.

song's site

The Phantom Carriage – Skull exposed to March rain

Rate:9/10

This is quite an extra ordinary release. I do like the way it was edited – with four pages of extra artwork and very decent cover it is a thing that invites you warmly to listen to. The music itself is also a bit out-of-there. There are nice, lyrical ambient, spoken word voyages, overlaps with the folk songs reminding me of Bonnie Prince Billy. It’s hard to put the album into a genre, but I suppose that’s the way the beauty of it comes. Personally, I prefer the folk ones ober the electronica, so I will distinguish a cappella Blood, and a very sentimental Hawthorn Tree, however one cannot neglect the rest, especially a nine-minutes long Folly, very much in Philip Glass/David Bowie collaboration style with a country guitar twist or extremely psychedelic Three Wishes. Well... electronica covers most of the album, with its end being a very M83 Skull exposed to March rain. It is skillful and neatly produced, but I’ll wait for the whole folk The Phantom Carriage album – really, they can’t be wromg there.

Stay cool,

gz.

Sonic aliance - Engage

Rate:4/5

There is something poppy about it
Which is not bad. I didn;t like cursing in the chorus, it spoils lyrics and an overall mood of the song. It is a song - it's melodical, vocals are good and it has a nice choir in the chorus, there is a bridge, decent verses, everything. It definitely got it, but the production is a bit amateurish, a thing that spoils an overall impression to a large extent.

song;s site

This is my 201 post

Hip hip hooray!!! Two times one hundred exceeded!!!

Level 21 - Facial features

Rate:4/5

It does rock
Good keyboard sound, rich arrangement, simple, but powerful and catchy guitar riff, a sensible composition including - I'm surprised myself that I dig the track so much. It is created by an evergreen NIN or even MM formula, but it does engage a listener. Distorted vocals annoy a bit here, but if a skillful producer worked on it, we would have something really industrial instead of Cher like vocals (it's just for some seconds, but still it spoils a mood). Regardless of these little drawbacks, the composition impresses as a really recommendable thing.

song's site

Lord Numb – Comfortably Numb EP

Rate:9/10

Now, that’s an EP to cherish! I did like all the tracks there, beginning from extremely New Order like A question mark for a face through even more similar Stackridge and experimentally ambiental A song for the numb to electro clashing Webcore, webcore. The whole album has a great dose of self-consciousness musical irony, a quite professional production and catchy riffs (unfortunately, it’s quite minimal, so no melodies). The only drawback I sense here is lack of vocals. I think lyrics and a good singer would give compositions a more complicated texture and greatly enhance the overall quality. By this only my humble opinion, of course. Also, the cover being nice and not hideous, taking under consideration the growing standards of netlabel design it is somewhat cliche. My overall impression, however is more than positive.
BTW – the album is released under the banner of dedpop, a very interesting, rock-folk-indie oriented netlabel worth checking out. I think in the nearest future I will report more both on Lord and the netlabel.

take care,

gz.

FANOE - Only you

Rate:4/5

An interesting song
This one has a lot of rock energy in it. I miss the samples in arrangements, a staple thing for an industrial band in my opinion. The band sounds like industrial-metal bands, basically it's like Ministry rehearsal, not exceptional, but not phony either.

song'site

Grammar – EP

Rate:4/5

This one is a nice piece of experimental electronica, that I stumbled upon while I was checking 49manekinow net label. EP consists of six, rather short (3 minutes, 4 the longest) compositions in Autechre and generally warp records based style. My favourite tune here is Jnry Crush, which very neatly combines abstract samples with composition and Offsediment, when the breaking really takes place. Everything is quite nice and decent about this record, and if one likes that genre he will enjoy this EP. The shame about distributing it is that you got the record cover only after downloading the whole, so visual guys may simply ignore the release and the net-label as well. Apart from that it is a recommendable album, truly a chalenging, but rewarding thing to listen to.

take care,

gz.

New review of our song on garageband

INCREIBLE
Amigos, que calidad tan lograda, los felicito. El ritmo, las trompetas increibles, que ambiente que creado. La combinacion perfecta de elementos sonoros para mi.

Extra Credit: Drums, Bass, Keyboards, Programming, Production, Melody, Beat, Mood, Originality, Best Feel Good Track.



- 8000
Argentina, Santa Fe, Argentina
April 10th, 2010

!GRACIAS ARGENTINA!

New netlable worth recommending

You may stumble upon my review of Tom Woxon's Kickstart. Do check out other releases from 8-bit, chip-tune oriented da!heard it records.

see you soon,

gz.

Repose - Solace

Rate:5/5

Piano gently begins its melody. The beat is trip-hop, and the girl's voice is just sweet as honey. The melody gently flows, taking the listener into moody but catchy piece of very neatly produced music. It's quite useless to speak about what's hot and what's not in this piece, because it's almost perfect. I loved the lead vocals - the singer definitely has a big talent. She doesn't have to sing in all pitches to create the atmosphere - and that counts a lot. All the samples, keyboards and the beat are also very professionally produced. A composition is also interesting. There are two breaks (1:10 I believe, and a similar one around 1:55) than creates a dramaturgy of the record. Overall it's a strong proposal for an underground hit. I like more darker side of trip-hop (if you know Tricky records than you know what I mean), but that track is also undoubtedly recommendable.

song's site

The Metronomus Project - Took Away

Rate:4/5
nice but not extraordinary
This is a very good draft to a composition. A riff and rhythm section is more than okay, but the composition itself it's not really elaborated. The production is almost perfect (I would work on the bass), but still... Where's the chorus and some changes in the mood of the tune (some samples, perhaps?).

song's site

Zodiac - End to Chivalry

Rate:4/5

Well.. That's engaging
How do you sound like? You do sound like NIN or some lighter side of KMFDM but it's still intersting and quite engaging. There's a nice balance between manic Trent-like vocals and hypnotic samples. I liked electronic drums to. The tune is just right - not too long, not too complicated. Right there - an industrial electronic composition at its best.

song's site

a_forced_fixed_image - A Fractured Girl

Rate:4/5

A psychotic piece
I loved it!!! This is a Tarantino soundtrack piece-like tune. Just kidding! It's more like Jodorovsky one! You're lucky because I do enjoy such out-of-head stuff.It's long, it's 12minutes-long and it's more, just as I said, more a out-of-space, Residents-like soundscape than a regular track. Well... It's a regular track in PsychicTV terms ;-). Generally, a recommendable tune. For psychotics. I nominate that song for A best tune suited to an elevator.

song's site

Tom Woxon – Kickstart

Rate:10/10

Now, that’s something! I have stumbled recently at this netlabel Da!Heard It Records and I decided to sample one of their menu at random. I knew there would be some breakcore, 8-bit stuff going on there, but I didn’t know that it would be That 8-bit. Kickstart is a great tribute to a world of commodore/amiga scene, nad it was truly extremely enjoyable to go through the tracks. Tom Woxon’s album is not a simple reconstruction of the sound of those great machines of the 80’s, but more an impression of it. House vocal samples weren’t in use at this time as I recall, I suppose not many people knew about house music in the first place, so those rich vocals that dwells Sofachips or Kickstart tunes are just a sort of interpretation, though it is quite nice and accurate. As much as I liked those, I simply loved those who are more similar to the imaginary amiga games soundtracks such as Casio Dream or Amiga Bass. Overall, this a great LP, very engaging though it has got 14 tracks. It is a definitely recommendable production and I’m looking forward to check something else from this netlabel.

Stay cool,

gz.

garageband

We've just been acclaimed a track of the day on garageband in the electronica section. Quite a nice surprise. Thank you.

It calls for a rest. See you on 15th of March.

Breakfast in Tanger

Breakfast in Tanger, Lunch in Berlin has just entered a garageband contest.

Let the best man (I mean me) win! ;-)

derrick hart – fall asleep to this

Rate:10/10

Well... It’s truly not easy to fall asleep to this record, because this is both disturbing and engaging album. What we got here it’s a piece of really professionally-made dark experimental ambient. It is not noise for a noise sake however, but a deep and profound exploration of the sound sphere by the artist. Some of the tunes are simply beatiful. Sorry... I know this is the corniest thing to say, but there’s no other adjective for tunes such as wilderness of the city to describe this utterly touching soundscape. Great, haunting radiohead-like vocal samples connected with the sentimental mood of cello (I suppose it’s cello) and background repetitive ambient makes the composition a five-minute of sheer delight to anyone that enjoys the genre. I think that every piece here deserves attention, beginning from restless intro (when someone loves you no more) through the tracks such as emporia (Brian Eno clashes Twin Peaks red-room) or minimalistic kontakt. Generally, it is next release from Resting Bell worth recommending. Berlin still takes it all my friends.
p.s. do check the Resting Bell site. The artwork here is very stylish, and music... oh, the music!

New review of Shogun of all Japan

by lorddeseiz

De Zeis 2 cents
love the vocal samples, love the entire track actually.
Good to smack into carradio while cruising on a hot summerday.
Good stuff.

Gz says: Thanks you!!!

Silent assassin – TurnOffTheRadio

Rate:9/10

This is a piece of really nice ebm here. One knows that the sound and production are extremely important on this genre, and I can feel that Silent Assassin undestands that very well. Although it’s a classical one man band that has its base mnainly on electronic sound and not live instruments, it does not hinder the compositions in any way. Of course, they are not extremely abundant and multi-layered, I would best described that as a minimal electronic ebm, but still it creates very engaging mood and leaves us wanting to listen to the album once again. It’s hard to say, which ones are my favourites here, because every track has something interesting in it, but if I have to, I would point out German Woods, where the story is told with a great, very atmospheric background (too bad, I cannot understand – don’t know German any bit), and MindInc, which reminds me of some dark ambient Aphex Twin trips. The only remark I have it’s that tunes resemble eachother too much, for example beat in GermanWoods and C’est is almost identical. Taking this aside however, TurnOffTheRadio is really a thing to listen to, and I would love to see this performed in a live act. Also the cover, with its early-industrial style is a good cue and a completion to the whole.

Stay cool,

gz.

Lexithimie – Leontopodium

Rate:10/10

One of the most intriguing releases from one of the most intriguing net-labels I’ve come across while surfing. Leontopodium is just (well... not exactly just) two tracks, but both of them present a unique and extremely intersting journey through the mistierium of sound. Leontopodium discolor and Leontopodium alpinum takes us where Brian Eno took us in the past and Fennesz takes us nowadays. The album is a solid piece of ambient work, surprisingly engaging taking under consideration that tracks take respectively eight and over a quarter. It must be said and this is a gem in a genre, bevause of its very swift and neat production. It is a record one really wants to come back, especially when you need a time to chill-out or interally explore yourself.
I made some searching at the Resting Bell, as for what I heard I think I’ll report on some other releases from there, because it’s really one of the most professional and efficiently genre-targeted netlabel I’ve found at the net so far. Everything there is worked out, from the covers till players and download avaibility. Well done!

take care,

gz.

Baykur - PTHC

Rate:4/5

An experimental trip
This tune may sound annoying for some people, because it is experimental and unapproachable to some extent. Vocals may really get on ones nerves but it's meant to be that way, I suppose. Because of that I didn't get lyrics - a large drawback. I liked the keyboards and sequencing though. Overall, it's a nice tune, but it's bit too short (2'32''), so I won't get into details, because there aren't too many.

song's site

De Zeis - Mirror Mirror

Rate:4/5

experimental and interesting
This is one piece of experimental industrial music. I liked the samples (very factory-like) and drum-sound and although the composition is not extremely elaborate, only repeated sequences, it is an engaging composition.

song's site

Yet another review at FrostClick

Pequeña Fiera! once again

New reviews at frostclick

Lagrima once again.

Asylum Bedlam - This is it

Rate:4/5

Underproduced
It's really hard to decide here. The riff is really catchy and NIN-like, but the rest is more metal (I mean vocals and rhythm section) than industrial. There are one or two samples, but it doesn't necessary make a tune industrial. However, an overall impression is very positive. The song is catchy, with a THIS IS IOT howl and composition is swift, but it's simply underproduced. If recorded in better studio, would be hit.

song's site

Pequeña Fiera! - Secrets with no words

Rate:8/10
Once again, this one’s from Error!Lo-Fi Records (Spain.). Pequeña Fiera! is a band that explores the border between lo-fi (really ;-) and experimental/art rock (vide Radiohead, Sigur Ros, etc.). What we got on Secrets with no words are 5 very dreamy and hazy tunes, that takes us somewhere very much behind the rainbow. If the band thought about the compositions a little bit thoroughly than it would definitely be a minor underground hit-band. It is still above average, because Pequeña Fiera! Is not afraid to try something new (ok, we’ve heard this dream pop/post rock thing before, but still it’s not that everyone plays that way). My favourite track here is do re mi fa sol I kiss you, very chilled-out track with my vocals and slacky/lazy melody strolling through out. Generally, it is a band and an album to recommend, and I would gladly check out what more do they have in stock.

p.s. I loved their cover. Freaked out!

Stay cool,

gz.

Nightmare Simulation - Never Die

Rate:4/5

Rammstein demo?
Is a nice piece of something that reminds me of some Deutche Neue Harte demo track. It's hard, it's rythmical and undoubtedly industrial. Lyrics are crude, but that's the way it should be and production is a bit garage, but it only makes the mood more grime. Lead vocals do recollect Rammstein singer and the composition is well sequenced. Overall, it's a good track. Keep up with jobs well done.

song's site

smoked out brainz - re disablinator

Rate:4/5

Nice hardcore
I would truly recommend this tune. It reminds the good, old experimental hardcore stuff from Alternative Tentacles Rec. and so on. It's much more sophisticated that the usual hc stuff, but still it has this energy and power one looks for. I would work on the vocals a bit (I think more about the production than the singing), but overall it is an interesting composition.

song's site

p.s. well... only after I wrote this review it appeared that a tune comes from my Canadianb friends. Greetings!!!
p.s.2 Smoked out brainz is a name of a net-label, not a band. What's group name? I don't know. Anybody?

The Shambolics - First: I Kill You. Then: I Steal Your Power

Rate:8/10

It's raw, it's garage-like, it'S The Shambolics. Those crazy punk-blues kiwi's from postmoderncore net label it's one of the most surprising things I've recently come over CC. First: I Kill You. Then: I Steal Your Power it's just 4 tracks, roughly 12 minutes of music, but still it's so dirty and in-your-face that I do recommend it to every indie-fan out there. My favourites there is instrumental Petrol, and Bad Man/Bad Girl - a modern crazy ride in a Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion style. Number 2 at the record, Stoopid Bitches may be little bit off-putting because of a sexiest title, but nonetheless it's nice tihs to listen to.

stay cool,

gz

Lágrima - Trayecto Imperfecto de un Viaje Inacabado

Rate:8/10

This is the first of the records from Error!Lo-Fi Recording, a very interesting net-label that I recommend here, that's why the score is maybe a bit excessive. Lagrima plays interesting and engaging instrumental lo-fi and although there is a certain that-composition-is-so-similar and I-have-heard-it-before syndroms, it's still a recommendable release. Becasue of the first thing mentioned above, I won't say which track on the Trayecto Imperfecto de un Viaje Inacabado is the best, and because of the second syndrome, I won't say which bands too much influenced this project ;-).
Summarizing, check it out; if you like lo-fi/postrock vibes, this is your record. If not, well... Too bad.

stay cool,

gz.