Browsing Tag

experimental

The ÆTHER – Instrumental: The Instrumental Album of the Year

Posted on 21 December 2019

The ÆTHER became one of the most unforgettable emerging artists of the year with the release of their single Alone which featured on their third album Ætherville. No matter how many times I listen to it, it still feels like I’ve had lead injected into my bloodstream.

Their latest 2-hour mammoth project “Instrumental” which consists of 32 tracks affirms that if anyone can be considered the Glenn Branca of our time, it’s The ÆTHER.

By sharing the same avant-garde composing style and the same tendency to experiment with volumes and tones it was never going to be an endurance test. From transcendentally light arrangements to piercingly sharp progressions, to droning guitars, each track swallows your conscious whole.

Rather than taking sole inspiration from other artists, The ÆTHER found inspiration in the work of filmmakers such as David Lynch and Duncan Jones. For the project, they used instrumentals used in their previously released self-produced albums. But with the absence of lyrics, there was no absence of expansive poignancy. The ÆTHER set out to create a new language by creating soundtracks to imaginary films, they more than succeeded. Listening to Instrumental almost feels like a collaborative experience. He’s laid out the explorative soundscapes with easily found aural passages. Then it’s up to find your own narrative.

Instrumental comes highly recommended to any fans of Thurston Moore’s latest extended-release “Spirit Counsel”. The ÆTHER may not currently share the same international acclaim as Moore. Yet his instrumental ability easily sits in parallel alongside their illimitable ingenuity.

You can listen to Instrumental along with their earlier releases on Spotify.

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Review by Amelia Vandergast

Luis Mojica – Queen Song: Gothic Indie Baroque Aural Alchemy

Posted on 19 December 2019
https://luismojica.bandcamp.com/track/queen-song

“Queen Song” is the latest tribally artful Chamber Pop single from New York artist Luis Mojica which finds the perfect balance of optimism and dark ominous allure.

Their avant-garde style introduces classical elements to a new era of gothic indie baroque aural alchemy to which you’re guaranteed to have never heard the like of before. While there’s plenty of disconcertment lingering in between the notes of Queen Song, the accessibility definitely wasn’t compromised.

Queen song is uniquely captivating and it is sure to appeal to anyone looking for artfully dark tonality, deep reverberant vocals, and imaginatively inventive lyrics. With their piano-led experimentalism, reminiscences can easily be found between Luis Mojica’s style and that of Amanda Palmer. Yet, with the darker elements, there are plenty of  increments to appease fans of Apocalyptica

Queen Song is now available to stream and download via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Daniele Montagner (Ensemble Voyagers) – Kaos : Experimental Ritual World Music

Posted on 10 December 2019

You should be open to experimental world music in order to endure this song -let alone truly enjoy it. If acts like the experimental fusion group Goat from Sweden excite you, then you have to keep reading.

The song that we will be putting under our microscope today is “Kaos” and there’s quite a lot going on. During its first seconds the song brings to mind a shamanistic ritual; shortly after we can hear a tambourine and a drum kit, both playing simultaneously yet on different tempos. Although slightly disharmonic, this does not create any confusion, while in various points female ethereal vocals alternate with ritualistic chanting; the percussion will not stop until the end of the song. It ends with a dramatic finale.

Interesting sound, blending sounds that although the average urban listener might not be too familiar with, it will be a pleasant listen for the curious listener. If you’re intrigued enough to visit Daniele Montagner Facebook page, you will see that a photo of three roosters adorns his header photo, which I find perfectly aligned to the weirdness of his music.

If you consider yourself a curious listener, click here

Review by Nektarios Oikonomakis

Malmo – The Light (of Roy) featuring Cadence XYZ: Euphorically Indulgent Dark Electronica

Posted on 9 December 2019

While Malmo’s Bladerunner Memories tracks left us hooked on their finely crafted sound, their latest single “The Light (of Roy)” was like nothing we’d ever heard before. Darkwave EDM blends seamlessly with anthemic Pop to create a momentous mix containing plenty of laceratingly sharp hooks.

Euphoria entwines with dark ominous tones leaving you with a taste of disconcertment but sated on the infectiously anthemic energy of the electronically engineered single.

Instead of creating your archetypal build-ups, their extended nature in The Light creates urgency and intensity which is rarely found in Electronica. Malmo’s deftly executed beats combined with Cadence XYZ’s vocals created a chemistry which will be hard to forget.

You can check out Malmo’s latest mix for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sun Lite – Dog and Pony Show: Transiently Cathartic, Psychedelically Captivating Ambient Electronica

Posted on 2 December 2019

If it has been a while since an electronica artist has left you pleasantly captivated, hit play on the indulgently soulful yet spacey mix “Dog & Pony Show” from artist and producer Sun Lite.

The single possesses an unparalleled amount of transiently cathartic groove inspired by the same blissful mellifluous tones of King Crimson, while accidentally being of appeal to any fans of Pink Floyd.

Immersing yourself into Dog & Pony Show is the aural equivalent to throwing yourself into a rabbit hole of kaleidoscopic colour. There’s an ethereal air to the single, but in its essence, it’s a soundscape rooted in abstract serenity.

The instrumentals may be light and restorative, but Sun Lite took the opportunity to use the ambient track to highlight the prolific issue of populism. All things considered, Sun Lite feels like the artist we never knew we needed right now.

You can check out Sun Lite’s latest mix Dog & Pony Show for yourselves by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Soundrage has made their debut with the powerful polished Alt Rock single “Thereafter”

Posted on 27 November 2019
https://open.spotify.com/album/3n2MC5Fo4cQGF6sHokMoTl 

Munich-based five-piece Soundrage have recently made their debut with the single “Thereafter” and proved themselves to be an Alt Rock powerhouse.

After hearing the debut, I’m fairly convinced that if anyone is going to take the crown from Stevie Nicks, it will be vocalist Mery. The range of her vocals alone will have you transfixed as they shift from sultry Rock vocals into powerful baroque artful harmonics.

The instrumental arrangement doesn’t fail to spill its fair share of aural alchemy either. Even under a polished production, there’s a true sense of intimacy behind the perpetually dazzling organic guitar progressions.

Considering that Soundrage has managed to make such a nuanced stylistic soundscape with their debut single, we definitely want to know how they’re going to follow on from such a resounding emotive hard-hitter which was simply packed with aural ingenuity.

You can check out Soundrage’s debut single Thereafter for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Black Bordello – Backache: Artful Aural Escapism

Posted on 27 November 2019
Black Bordello

Up and coming South East London artist Black Bordello has given us a taste of what’s to come from their upcoming debut album with their mesmeric single “Backache”. If you’re looking for aural escapism, you’ll find plenty within this indulgently Lynchian track.

Given that the inspiration behind creating their artful, intellectual singles is to provide catharsis in an anxious modern world, that’s all the more reason to surrender your consciousness to the archaically restorative soundscapes.

Backache could have been the downtempo jazzy score from a film noir film, with the sultry evocative spatial effects before the single steadily picks up momentum to offer reminiscences to artists such as Kate Bush. Then the progressive single slams into a dramatic offering of dramatic Pop which you would have never seen coming, but it turns out, it’s everything you needed to hear.

Black Bordello is easily one of the most inventive up and coming bands in the UK right now. Get them on your radar.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can checkout Backache for yourselves. In the meantime, head over to Spotify where you can listen to their debut single Spectre Man.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

BAUGARD – A Sombra: Distinctively Captivating Alt Latino

Posted on 22 November 2019
BAUGARD

Up and coming duo BAUGARD are set to release their 6th single “A Sombra” along with their debut EP. The lyrics may be in Spanish, but the sentiment of the compelling love song doesn’t fail to resonate.

The single was inspired by the surreal feeling of reciprocal love, which is matched in absolute equality. But A Sombra also alludes to the fact that facets of love are imperfect in their purest form.

Don’t worry, there’s also pioneering beats in the midst of the poetry. A Sombra boasts complex, intricate, and distinctively striking rhythm which instantaneously piques your curiosity as you follow the un-archetypal progressions through the duration of the single. I’ve quite honestly never heard anything like the percussion contained in A Sombra. It’s tribal, while at the same time, cold, calculated, and atmospheric.

In the instrumental increments, the single infused elements of Post Punk. I didn’t expect to hear the experimentalism of bands such as SWANS from a track which kicked off with such familiar, R&B Latino tonality. But like so many of BAUGARD’s listeners, I’m here for it.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out A Sombra for yourselves. But in the meantime, you can listen to their earlier release via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dons Skiffle – G.Z.K.: Ambiently Experimental Lo-Fi Indie

Posted on 22 November 2019

“G.Z.K.” is the standout genre-transcending single found on Manchester-based Lo-Fi artist Dons Skiffle’s second album “Supermac Odyssey”.

Anyone with a penchant for music orchestrated by expressively creative artists who possess a perceptible ingenuity when it comes to pulling together pools of aural catharsis, Dons Skiffle is well worth putting on your radar. G.Z.K. may be a home recording, but the only audible sign is the intimacy which has been brought into the raw and candid tone of the single.

The spacey ambient mix lets quaint and tender synth notes take the lead through the smorgasbord of concordant effects which come together to create the perfect platform for Dons Skiffle’s softly unimposing vocals.

Experimentalism may run rampantly through G.Z.K. but through the solid snappy melodies, it is all too easy to get hooked into the hazy soundscape.

You can check out G.Z.K. along with the rest of Dons Skiffle’s album by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Heavy Salad – Reverse Snake: The Most Cosmically Cathartic Protest Song You’ll Hear All Year

Posted on 7 November 2019

After Heavy Salad appeared on my radar with their effervescently hallucinogenic Alt Rock single “Battery Acid”, my soul felt a little lighter.

The Manchester-based trio’s latest single “Reverse Snake” may be eerier and more serpentine. But considering that Reverse Snake was written in the light (should that be crushing darkened despair?) of Brexit and the insidious nature of our capitalistically gluttonous government, they set the perfect tone in their cosmic feat of catharsis.

With Reverse Snake, crawling fuzzy basslines lead the way into a kaleidoscope of shimmering rhythm into choruses where danceable euphoria still splinters through the overdriven guitars. With Ross Orton (Arctic Monkeys, Drenge, The Vaccines) responsible for the recording, producing and mixing, Heavy Salad’s sound gives you no indication that they’re fresh from inception.

It’s one thing for a band to pull together a nuanced stylistic sound and a tight instrumental arrangement. But the key to Heavy Salad’s infectious edge is the sense that each artist throws their whole sticky-sweet souls into the music. It’s not all too often you get to hear vocalists who don’t strip away their personality and put forward a preening polished pretence. Head to one of their live shows and it will be palpable that they’re feeling the music just as much as you are.

You can check out Reverse Snake which was released on October 31st along with Heavy Salad’s earlier releases via Spotify.

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Review by Amelia Vandergast