Odd Nosdam - Lif
ambient / experimental
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The new ambient album by Anticon founder Odd Nosdam is a strange, otherworldly experience through electronic sequences, tape loops and gloomy soundscapes. According to the biography, the album was recorded during a period of constant rainfall. In a way, you can hear that on these (mostly) short but immersive pieces of music. There is a certain feeling of isolation, not being able to enjoy being outside. The overall sound is cold, metallic and rather harsh, so this is not a gentle, relaxing ambient album. Then again, it is a interesting record to listen to. This ambient grabs your attention and won't let go. Of course it's a recommended one...
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Crisopa - Transhumante
ambient / electronic / downtempo
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Somewhere between classical music, ambient, post rock, shoegaze, trip hop and intelligent dance music we find Crisopa and his latest effort, 'Transhumante'. The tracks on this album are elaborate electronic anthems, laced with soundscapes, percussion and bass lines. Boards Of Canada come to mind, but also The Eye Of Time, Miwon, Autechre and Blackfilm. My favorite tracks are 'I Am The Lord Of These Ruins' and 'Fast Dive' but I can definitely recommend this album to every downtempo electronic music fan out there. This is an exciting album which never lets you down.
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Menin - Lord of Pain
doom / sludge metal
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It's not often that a stoner rock, doom and sludge band reminds me of death metal but while listening to title track 'Lord Of Pain' Dismember suddenly came to mind. Ministry too, and Godflesh, and Yob, and Conan. Needless to say that I immediately loved the shit out of this tune. Does the term "death sludge" exist yet? 'Logrus' is another brilliant piece of sludge doom, spiced with hints of industrial and a total disregard towards your eardrums. This thing just keeps getting better and better. Hypnotic, intense, immersive and crushing, this one has everything a self respecting doom fans could possibly want.
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Ed Carlsen - Elusive Frames
ambient / classical
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I was going to write this review earlier but somehow this EP inspired me to write a passage for my next book instead. It's a book about depression and burnout, so don't expect a very jolly EP. Yet, Ed Carlsen managed to create something beautiful, something inspirational. Based around the piano, Carlsen produces melodic emotions. I can feel a sense of loneliness, solitude and melancholy. Here and there cello, violin, viola and soundscapes appear, perfectly aligned with the majestic piano. I think this EP will accompany me a lot in future writing processes. Highly recommended beauty...
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American Anymen - Flag Burner
punk / antifolk
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Straight from the NYC "antifolk" scene and carrying a credibility similar to the English punk scene, American Anymen come up with three acoustic anti Trump songs. Acoustic, yes, but they still rock and they showcase a fierce hardcore punk attitude. I like that, it feels genuine and real. So in a way, this EP is more punk than punk rock, more alternative than alternative rock and more hardcore than hardcore. My favorite track is the opener 'Flag Burner' but I'm sure all three of these tunes will often appear in my day-to-day playlists. I suggest you do the same. Besides, the lyrics are awesome...
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Stömb - Duality
progressive metal
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For me, instrumental music is always more favorable than music with vocals. Most of my favorite bands are either instrumental or fronted by a vocalist who knows to shut up once in a while. So it's no surprise that I absolutely love this EP by French progressive metallers Stömb. With six complex and immersive pieces of music, they have certainly convinced me of their know-how. My favorite is the gnawing and screaming 'The Red Way', which is a world class progressive metal track, but undoubtedly, this whole six-track comes highly recommended to every progressive metalhead out there.
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Crejuvent - Time
death metal / industrial
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Solo projects are excellent if you have material that other bandmembers think it's just too weird or "out of their style". That certainly counts for Crejuvent, producer, writer and vocalist for bands such as Novacrow, Kryocell, Exhumation and others. On this EP, he showcases his rotten inspiration in a unique and interesting way. Technical, melodic, industrial and brutal, those seem to be the keywords here. Apart from the instrumentation, nothing on this EP is usual or normal, not even in the world of metal. On the other hand, it blasts, it surprises and it's one of the most captivating extreme metal releases I've heard this year.
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Haze of Summer - Znoi
black metal
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I know, the cover picture doesn't really scream "black metal", neither does the band name and neither do their photos on facebook. Then again, the music goes heavy on the drums, fierce on the guitars and brutal on the vocals. I hear a lot of nineties influences, somewhere between Children Of Bodom and Falkenbach but the current post-black metal scene is also represented as the main influence seems to be Deafheaven. Although easily categorizable as black metal, the music explores and destroys the boundaries of the genre, which in my opinion makes this an absolute highflyer. So yeah, I urge you to check this out, especially if you're into unique stuff.
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The Great Russian Empire - Low Ends
shoegaze / alternative rock / dark rock
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Speaking about unusual music, here is The Great Russian Empire and their astounding debut EP. Rooted in eighties new wave but just as much influenced by the alternative rock scene of the nineties and today's drone folk genre, this double bass act comes up with surprising songs. Although they are genre-bending, constantly jumping from one style to another, the dark rock foundation always stands. Type O Negative meets Nick Cave meets Ween meets Joy Division, something like. Something pretty damn contagious too, I can guarantee you that.
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One Arc Degree - Ashore
ambient / downtempo
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Back to the softer, calmer side of the music spectrum then, where we find One Arc Degree and their immersive new EP 'Ashore'. This beauty is a must-have for all fans of glacial ambient, lingering soundscapes and deep downtempo percussion. The four tracks on this EP take you on a gloomy trip through the arctic and its barren, snow filled landscapes. I can't pick a favorite. Initially, that would be the opener 'Emotional Machinery' but each track seems to grow on the listener. At first, the beats in 'The Circus In The Stars' but once when the music is well on its way, you'll be dancing or at least nodding your head. Great EP, makes me hungry for more.
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Audioboyz - The Rise of Gqom
electronic / techno / experimental
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Perhaps I should explain what "Gqom" exactly is, since this genre is not often featured on Merchants Of Air. Gqom is a dark, deviant and experimental spinoff, rising from underground techno scene of South Africa. The music is repetitive but doesn't answer to traditional techno arrangements and beats. Instead, you get an hypnotic amalgamation of percussion, noises and drones that will quite often surprise you. In fact, for most techno fans, this might be a bit too off the hook but European IDM fans might as well absolutely adore this sound. It's nervous but different and that's almost always good.
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Nabaath - Firestorm Bringer
black metal
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Ukrainian (once Russian) black metal act Nabaath throws a new EP/single into the mix and it's a smasher. In two tracks (and an eerie, droning outro) Nabaath blasts all that is holy and pure. This is old school black metal in all its grim and powerful glory. There is not much else to be said about this EP, I think, except for the fact that it's a certain must have for fans of the most obscure and evil music on this planet.
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Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness - The Universe Is An Abyss Of Suffering
drone / ambient / minimal
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Belgian minimal drone act Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness returns with a new EP and with "minimal drone" I mean "extremely minimal drone". The four tracks on this EP are dark, gloomy soundscapes. No percussion, no soothing ambient passages, no surprising electronics, just mow tuned nihilistic drones, impending and desolate. "You Contain The Soul Memory Of A Million Dead Stars" is my favorite here, a track that sounds like The Blob is coming for you. That being said, yes, these are awesome titles. But apart from that, this EP comes highly recommended if you want music to scare you.
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Pask - Psychogenic excoriation
noise
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From the same mind as Hellstorm Of Flaming Nothingness but just as user friendly as a rectal exam, Pask represents the harsh, chaotic side of Björn. This five track EP is a grinding noise assault on your eardrums and your sanity. In five tracks, Björn seems to exorcise a few demons and phobias. His motto is "True Belgian Fucked-Up Noise" and that's exactly what you get on this thing. Unless you're a hardcore Merzbow fan, chances are small that you will like this EP but I don't think Pask minds. I don't even think he'll hear you over all this noise.
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Henning Baer - 32-bit EP
techno
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Minimal techno with a somewhat lazy, or laid back, attitude, that's what you can find on this EP by DJ and beats creator Henning Baer, a common name in the Berlin scene. This certainly is something for the house music aficionados among us, those who are into electronic beats, minimal soundscapes and gloomy atmospheres. These tracks are produced for late night adventures on the dancefloor with 'Protect' being my favorite one. In a way, this repetitive tunes remind me of the old days of techno, right before the acid kicked in. The acid house that is.
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Chalk Hands - Burrows & Other Hideouts
post hardcore
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Hailing from Brighton, UK, Chalk Hands deliver two epic pieces of modern day extreme music. Pianos Become The Teeth, Caspian, Isis and Envy seem to be their main influences, judging from the energetic blast of post hardcore I'm listening to right now. Yet, beyond the sheer brutality, there is still some room for melodic passages and immersive instrumentalism. I like that, it gives the whole thing some welcome variation. Perhaps, if all goes well, Chalk Hands are on their way to the main stages of many post hardcore events. With this kind of energy and enthusiasm, they truly deserve that.
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