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.