Browsing Tag

experimental

Sound Animal are at their Dystopian best with a single that might cause car alarms to go off without notice on, ‘Outlaw of No’

Posted on 20 February 2022

After impressively shredding the walls down and bringing us something so brilliant and totally original away from the dull copycats with ‘Botulism Cafe‘, Sound Animal hungrily crunches into our surprised speakers with ‘Outlaw of No‘.

Sound Animal is a multi-talented experimental California-based band that somehow manages to fuse in brilliant sparks of enthralling psychedelic rock, electronic, doom and metal to lather our senses alive.

”The most common genres are noise metal, experimental, dark ambient, neo-psych rock, drone, electroacoustic and avant-garde neo-classical, but most songs can’t easily be placed squarely into any label. Life is strange that way.” ~ Sound Animal

Sending our ears into a new world that has been keeping us locked inside a cage for too long, we find the key to breaking away and running far from whatever has been holding us back from seeing life the way it should be. With a freedom-seeking element of courage and creativity absorbed inside each second – you will feel totally overpowered here – and might need a cold shower afterwards to fully let this mesmerizing single seep deeply into your blushing veins.

”Break out of the cage that holds you back, before it’s too late. Leap through its walls, land in the loamy rich dirt, roll, sing, and walk away, alone, head held high.” ~ Sound Animal

‘Outlaw of No‘ from the genre-defying doom-and-more California act Sound Animal, slices a Dystopian world right into our blood-soaked laps like a hundred ravenous claw-hungry Owls who has grown into majestic beasts who seem like they are from another planet entirely. This is a cutting edge piece of art that feels like is perfect for an important scene in a cult-like movie when everything hits the fan, as its cinematic value is absolutely priceless.

Cutting through your mind and waking you up to live your life, is exactly what is on offer here and this is a song for the brave souls who aren’t afraid to rattle the cages of this plastic-ridden world. Music is meant to be different, and this is one of the best experimental adventures you will surely dig deep into all year.

Hear this remarkable new single on Soundcloud and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

John Wilson composed disarming etherealism with his upcoming soundscape, Echoes.

Posted on 1 February 2022
John Wilson

The UK multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, songwriter, artist, poet, author, tutor and CEO of Consciousness Productions Ltd, John Wilson, has given us a sneak preview of the etherealism that is to come in his upcoming 5-track EP by teasing us with ‘Echoes’.

The reverb-laden composition is a crystal-clear reflection of the artist’s influences that stretch far beyond music genres. For his eery yet consoling all the same soundscape, he found inspiration in spirituality, science, world culture, literature and videogames to deliver a phantasmally cathartic release. Echoes is simultaneously everything it says on the tin and so much more.

Check out the Consciousness Productions Ltd label yourselves on Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud and YouTube. Follow John Wilson’s other endeavours via his Facebook and Insta artist accounts.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Arizonian psych-rock experimentalists, SPACEMOOSE, have released their cathartic triumph of a stoner doom debut

Posted on 26 January 2022
SPACEMOOSE by SPACEMOOSE

The experimental music project, SPACEMOOSE, from the Arizona based space rock alchemists Blake Waltein and Josh Merrick, has made its official debut with the self-titled, psychotropic stoner doom single.

The 9-minute long desert rock-inspired single uses the first two minutes to ease you into the opium-den-style opulence and ambience, before darker and more ominous electronic textures join the sitars and tribal vibes. With the addition of angular 60s psych-rock guitars at the 4-minute mark, the single starts to amass momentum steadily, leaving the quiescence from the prelude far behind in the overdriven garagey tones that deliver a sense of chaos to the mix.

Even though the vocals consist of little more than ethereal sermonic chants that bleed into the soundscape, it’s hard not to be beguiled by the mystique in them. It certainly isn’t every day that we hear a debut as authentic and arresting as this 9-minute cathartic triumph. Naturally, we can’t wait to hear what follows.

You can check out the debut single from SPACEMOOSE by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ludwik Konopko has released the ultimate bohemian alt-country playlist staple with his latest single, Chickee Chick

Posted on 23 January 2022

Ludwik Konopko’s latest single, Chickee Chick, is the ultimate playlist staple for any alt-country fans that aren’t looking to get the blues. The jazzy and progressive single has warm tones by the smorgasbord between the walking basslines, shimmering acoustic guitar chords and arresting infusion of slide guitars.

Even when the vocals kick in, they are sitting low enough in the mix to bring a touch of the human element but not detract away from the organic alchemy that is blossoming from Ludwik Konopko’s Avant-Garde flair.

The Lviv-born guitarist, composer, and arranger has been performing publicly since the age of 19. Just some of the notable ensembles that he’s been involved with include the Lviv National Philharmonic, Tea Fan Club, popular travelling bands and flamenco fusion groups. Notably, he poured every ounce of his creative life experience into the composition of Chikee Chick. It drips with bohemian cool and doesn’t fail to enamour along the way.

Chickee Chick is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

When Mountains Speak pays homage to Coltrane in their celestially Avant-Garde release Electric Trane

Posted on 13 January 2022
When Mountains Speak

‘Electric Trane’ is the latest spiritual-to-the-point-of-celestial ambient world music piece from the Coltrane-inspired artist, When Mountains Speak (Steven Wright Clarkson).

Between the entrancingly tribal drums, the Eastern-inspired strings, and the gorgeous layers of dark and light electronic effect, Electric Trane brings ambient music into a brand-new realm. Sure, it hits you with a heady dose of catharsis, yet, by permitting this track to arrest your rhythmic pulses and allowing the soundscape to get darker and more enticing as it progresses, Electric Trane became so much more than a sonic experience. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to a Glenn Branca Fan, yet, the 8-minute release is undoubtedly one of the most spiritual I will hear this year.

Check out Electric Trane for yourselves by heading over to When Mountains Speak’s website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The UK-based artist, Bobby Bluff is set to make his bleak smitten-worthy avant-folk debut

Posted on 11 January 2022
Bobby Bluff

If any new 2022 release can help you turn a smile, it’s the eccentrically enamouring release, The Cat of Cruickshank, by the UK-based singer-songwriter and artist Bobby Bluff. With fleeting reminiscences to Billy Bragg, The Residents, The Legendary Pink Dots and John Cooper Clarke, the gritty yet sonically exuberant vignette is the ultimate existentialist’s playlist staple.

Paradoxically, The Cat of Cruickshank is elevated in its Avant-Garde style and as rough as the plot to a Ken Loach film. Coming across it almost felt like an act of serendipity in our dystopic world-weary times. The Cat of Cruickshank leaves you with that rare sense of eagerness to find out where Bluff will take his innovation next. Even if the rest of 2022 disappoints, you can place your faith in the stout-hearted ingenuity of Bluff.

The Cat of Cruickshank is just one of the singles on Bobby Bluff’s debut album, Introducing Bobby Bluff, which will release in April 2022.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Post-rock meets folk as Jess Porter connects the dots in his comeback single, Patterns.

Posted on 7 January 2022

After experimenting in other outfits, the Melbourne artist, Jess Porter, has made his first release since 2014. Right from the intro, Patterns hits you with its dynamic intensity. The simple folky melody running through in hyper-speed instantly immerses you in the post-rock alchemy.

Patterns moves past art rock into 65daysofstatic territory with the synths becoming equal to the guitars as they groove and glitch through the complex time signatures. The vocal effects are nothing short of ingenious for the way Porter harmonically proves that he doesn’t have a vocal timbre to hide before running it through enough distortion that it becomes as volatile as the instrumentals.

Patterns is now available to stream and purchase on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

A Nostalgic Place: Freiburg’s ea Collective transmits us into a new world with ‘Tardigrada’

Posted on 6 January 2022
Rust Bear by ea Collective

Bringing the world a track that urges us all to free our contaminated minds and take an expedition into another planet for a few minutes, ea Collective sends us a reminder of the brilliance of his 4-track EP ‘Rust Bear‘, with his mesmerizing new single that shall put you into a welcome trance on ‘Tardigrada‘.

ea Collective is a fascinating Oliver Kern-created Freiburg, Germany-based alternative act that somehow fuses in krautrock, psychedelic, and an experimental ambient post-rock sound for our frolicking hearts to be totally encapsulated by.

Merging in different guest musicians each time, this is a conceptual idea that is well-constructed and expertly delivered with such skilful aplomb by ea Collective. It feels like you are witnessing something so uniquely fresh, in a sadly polluted world that seems to unknowingly gravitate towards the copy and paste that only serves to fill you up with littered waste.

‘Tardigrada‘ from the 44-year-old Freiburg, Germany-based alternative artist Oliver Kern aka ea Collective, is an instrumental track that seems to gain different layers of beauty through this whole experience. Your toes will be tapping as your spirit feels so replenished, from listening to an intricate track that needs to be in a Hollywood movie. You can feel the many hours of sweat and tears endured inside this invention by a true perfectionist, who wants each second to be something you remember eternally.

This is a special song indeed, that is deep in a substance that the whole family may enjoy naturally.

Hear this new gem on Bandcamp and see more via the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Keeping Things Alive: Childhood friends Shyness Boy defeat the odds on ‘Featsteps’

Posted on 9 December 2021

After never giving up on their purpose to make music together, no matter what stones life threw at them, Shyness Boy bravely shows us the track that has been brewing contently for many years with ‘Featsteps‘.

Shyness Boy is an indie experimental shywave/funk/pop/looper duo from San Fernando, California, who despite facing many glitches in the Matrix have made it through unscathed.

”Work on Shyness Boy’s debut began all the way back in the autumn of 2013. Dennis and Ron held a series of writing and demoing sessions that resulted in an initial slate of over 10 songs. In early 2015 the duo was ready to record their album in earnest when one was seriously injured in an accident. The subsequent years were largely devoted to the recovery, but the two still strived to continue their work.” ~ Shyness Boy

After first meeting in the eighth grade back at school, Shyness Boy shows us their utterly in-sync chemistry from start to finish on this underground track that helps you feel so much better than before. There is contemplative summer energy here and the vocals urge you to come a little bit closer, with a sunglasses-type beat that has you looking around with a slight smile on your face.

‘Featsteps‘ from the experimental funk/pop duo Shyness Boy, is a true story all about knowing that some things can’t be bought and you need to be careful otherwise soon, you might be lost. Like so many who lose themselves rather easily in this vortex-filled world of temptation, this is a warning of staying with the good souls and seeing where you land. After many detours in the road that threatened to derail this catchy duo, we get to see what all this hard word is all about. It was certainly worth the wait.

Hear this terrific new single on Spotify and see more of the all-conquering journey on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Zach Butler has made his funked-up blues debut with ‘Selfish’.

Posted on 20 November 2021

Some artists try to portray themselves as icons, and some become iconic through their instant accessibility; Zach Butler safely and funkily falls into the latter camp. His debut single, Selfish, is a soulfully rendered feat of experimentalism that finds its vibrancy by grasping at the roots of blues and ripping them out in grooves that are almost technical enough to resonate as avant-garde.

Even though there’s plenty of distinction to grasp through the lyrics and vocals that carry the charisma of a cult leader, the guitars are on a whole other level. As soon as he starts to play in the progressively choppy despite being smooth single, you get the sense that he carries a deep passion for the technicalities of expression. The up and coming Atlanta-based artist takes influence from the guitar styles of Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer. For songwriting influence, he looks to the likes of Stephen Day and Jordy Searcy.

Selfish is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast