Josh Woodward – Breadcrumbs

Rate:9/10

This Josh’s release is one of his finest – very much keeping up with the style and efficiency of Not Quite Connected and Dirty Wings. The mood on Breadcrumbs is very switfly balanced between folk/americana melancholy and more alternative (maybe even a bit, but really, just a bit experimental) energetic moments. I suppose people that enjoyed earlier albums from this artist would love most of the tracks here, but my top three favourites are: Overthrown wioth a beginning very much similar to Kings Of Leon compositions (that would be something, Josh Woodward in a KOL style), but later on going into this familiar Josh’s soft storytelling, and two last pieces: Ghosts with a really great, dark atmosphere and one of the best guitarwork from this musician and I’m not Dreaming which is in fact a zenith of Woodward’s melancholy. If the whole LP were that way songs mentioned above, it would be definitely a top jamendo album. Now, it’s nine out of ten for me, and I’m still waiting for this Josh Woodward definite record.

Stay cool,

Gz

Rate:5/5

Worth recommending
This track is a real nice mix of thrash-metal and a bit of hard-core ovcals. The track is engagin,g though it lasts for almost five minutes and a half! The sound is a bit poor, but I suppose not everyone can afford really professional recording studio, plus the mood is more garage thanks to that ;-). Guitar riff is really old-school in a positive sense, it reminds me of some Slayer songs. There are also nice speech samples at te beginning at the track, which makes composition more interesting. In summary, two thumbs up.

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Diablo Swing Orchestra – Butcher’s Ballroom

Rate:10/10

This is definitely an album to recommend. Diablo’s mixture of classic, heavy-metal, swing and whatever comes handy is an extraordinary thing even for such a boiling place as jamendo releases. Butcher’s Ballroom is an almost hour of really professionally produced and skillfully performed music. I feel Mike Patton’s strong influence here, but in my case, it’s more an advantage than a vice. All of the songs are worth mentioning, but my favourite is D’Angelo - a short tune in an almost opra mode. I also loved Rag Doll Physics chorus and extremely energetic Infralove. Every little aspect of the record, beginning from the sound, through the composition and lyrics is very much close to perfection, so do not hesistate to get accustomed with this amazing journey Diablo Swing Orchestra invites you to.

take care,

gz.

De Zeis - The Meaning

Rate:5/5

Strangely enjoyable
The beginning isn't much - just a motoric, almost obssessive sample, and it doesn't change much through the whole tune!!!The samples differs, one replaces the other or they overlap eachother, and it may sound boring the way I write it, but really, it isn't. It's nice and engaging though it's home-made and minimalistic.

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two reviews at frostclick

Arhur Cravan
Mental Killing Spree

enjoy it.

CIRC – Anatole Joy

Rate:8/10

I do enjoy the latest CIRC release, because it’s a very neat example of an artist’s progress. His previous albums were very much in the same mode as Anatole Joy is (namely, an abstract electronica/melodic IDM clash), but more recent LP’s have richer production and much complex compositions. As for Anatole Joy, one may expect nice downtempo, a bit psychotic but also engaging instrumental trips. My favourite tunes on the record are abstract bizzoff with trance, drilling bass and lile it litl dat, where the rhythm section is very professional and the composition doesn’t bore a listener though the whole piece is generally based on the breakbeat treat. The biggest musical disappointment was angels needs pollution to breathe that strats up extremely nice, with great distorted human choir sample, but than keyboards and rhythm gets predictable and spoils all fun. It could a highlight of the material, but it simply fails to do it. The next remark I have is the cover. The donkey here is simply ridiculous and it spoils an overall positive impression.
Summarizing, it’s definitely a thing to check. A next step in the music history of the composer that can really achieve something in the future.

Take care,

Gz.

Plague Angel - Schizophrenic

Rate: 5/5

Hard and heavy
That's a nice track, however the second vocals there sound a bit ridiculous and the first vocal growling part it's not a growling at all. Apart from those drawbacks the tune is a very skillful hardcore/metal clash. It doesn't have to much of crossover rap, which is extremely annoying for me, but instead there are really engaging guitar riffs (though no great solo en route), energetic rhythm section and overall capacity to make head bang ;-). It's 5 out of 5.
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