electronic

An album that has on the dilated expansion of its rhythmic integrity the infinity of its textures, conglomerated in the subtle nuances of a conjunction of harmonies dispersed at the nucleus of its own omniscient vitalities, Periphery is a diffuse and dense work, that disrupts in the tranquility of its cosmogony the brilliance of a quiet, but introspective allegiance of perceptions. The general harmonies appear to be simple, but they are restless and profound at the axis of its sensitivity, and emanate from the anxieties of its creative audacities the experimental grace of a linear and solid, but at the same time exceedingly flexible, vibrant and vivid style. 

With brightly insinuating and colorful melodies, that comprehends on the principles of an intelligent diagram of intonations the profound dynamics of sound, and its figurative arrangements within the context of space and dispersive elements, Echo Season creates on Periphery a perceptive and systemic, somewhat minimalist, but also vast and lucid mosaic of sonorous conversion – built almost as a voyage towards an everlasting and fascinating journey throughout the infinity of the universe, a collision with the emptiness of incomprehensible galaxies – that intrigues the listener from the beginning of the journey until the dramatic moments of its monumental conclusion, all arranged with the combined grace of talent and technique.  

The overall attention to details is fascinating, and the minimalistic nature of the harmonies gives an overwhelming degree of creative impersonation to the original style of the artist. In each and every moment of the album, you have the impression of diving deeply into the vast blackness of the universe, in an infinite journey where absolutely nothing can stops the emotional turbulence that compels you, fueled by the sensible and organic vivacity of the sound.    

Sometimes getting close to minimalist ambient electronic space music – or indeed, being a real, almost corporeal definition to the subgenre, with all the elegance of its formal consistency – Periphery is an excellent album, that conglomerates in the exponential elements of its qualities the surreal vitalities so inherent, and so necessary, to the genre. A formidable and fundamental piece, that has as much pragmatisms and exceptionalities as it has paradoxical, but subtlety devised theoretical spasms, Periphery is a great, lugubrious and splendorous space ambient record, with a dry degree of originality, that certainly makes the work meritorious of being highlighted and appreciated among enthusiasts of the genre.  


Wagner

jazz / ambient / electronic

To ambient aficionados, ECM addicts and electronic music fans, the name Jon Hassell will certainly ring a bell. Countless of solo releases and collaborations with the likes of Björk, Talking Heads, Carl Craig and Brian Eno have rightfully given him the "pioneer of electronic music" title. 

Now, he returns with his first solo album in nine years, to be released on his own new imprint Ndeya. This label will publish new material as well as selected archival releases. So perhaps 'Listening To Pictures', a sweet blend of ambient, electronic music and jazz can be seen as a new start in solo recording.

"Pentimento" means: Alteration in a painting, evidenced by traces of previous work, showing that the artist has changed his or her mind as to the composition during the process of painting. Musicians face something similar. Compositions can alter, change and evolve over time with only vague traces of the initial composition still present. Ambient and jazz have always been compared to (landscape) painting and with good reason. They share many similarities, which explains people's often ecstatic reaction to either a song or a piece of art. Somehow it feels like that is exactly what Jon Hassell has been doing on this album, changing, altering, reworking. 

There are eight tracks on this album, each on with its own identity and speciality. Perhaps it's not surprise then that different acts and artists come to mind with each tune. Opener 'Dreaming' has a similar feels as many Biosphere tracks. 'Picnic' throw that sound into an Autechre branded blender and goes wild on the glitches. 'Slipstream' takes me to the reals of acts like Zoviet France and O Yuki Conjugate. I love the percussion in this track. So far in this album, 'Slipstream' is my favorite, even when the jazz influences come shining through. 'Al Kongo Udu' is another favorite, an exotic and adventurous ambient tune.

On 'Pastorale Vassant' we go all jazzy with the nervous percussion and the free floating soundscapes. Perhaps this is one of the most experimental sounding tracks on this album, definitely not the most radio friendly but it still is an interesting entity to have floating through the room. 'Manga Scene' is what would have happened if Autechre and Dale Cooper did a jamsession, or Sknail of course. Glitch jazz is almost always awesome. 'Her First Rain' gently follows that example. And yups, I've turned this thing into a song-by-song thing. Well, in that case, 'Ndeya' is up to you to discover. All I'm going to say is that it's definitely worth it and that counts for this entire album. 


​Serge

post-metal / doom / alternative rock

dark jazz / ambient / experimental / trip hop

hardcore

acoustic blues

dark ambient / noise

doom / occult metal

death metal

black metal / doom / death metal

post punk / synth pop

breakcore / industrial

alternative rock / blues

facebook

style of Tool and quite a bit of grunge - vocals that remind of Cobain included. So go buy this one if you appreciate something that refuses to fit into one box.

ambient / experimental

Pany Rosas Discos

drone / experimental / progressive

The ancient Romans had a simple but effective torture technique called 'The Endeavour'. They used it to see if a person was guilty of certain crimes. They boiled water and threw a pebble into the liquid. Then, while the water was still boiling, you had to reach in and grab the pebble, which obviously was extremely tiny for such a big bowl of hot water. Your hand would burn severely. Once out, they would take good care of your hand, wrapping it in bandages. After a few days, they then came to check on the wounds. If it didn't heal well, you were guilty. If it did heal well, they would simply repeat the procedure. There, that's a thing you know now.

'The Endeavour' is also the new album by Belgian atmospherimentalist Barst. Yeah, I just made that word up. I think it describes Barst's music very well. Once one of Belgium's many drone-ambient acts, Barst has made an impressive evolution in the past several years. His previous album, 'The Western Lands', had been very well received by press and fans. In fact, the album appeared in many end-year lists. On that album the ambient and drone music got company from a wide array of genres, including psychedelic rock, electronic dance music, EBM and whatnot. Topping something like that would surely be...

(bada-boom)

...an Endeavour.

So I guess the big question here is: has Barst been able to at least repeat that masterfully arranged album? Before we an answer, here is a list of people who cooperation on 'The Endeavour': Niels Brown (Vonnis), Gregory Simons (Vonnis, Arise Fair Sun), Messy Mathi, Mathlovsky (Mathlovsky), Tokyo Oyo, William Lacalmontie (OVTRENOIR) and Mike Armine (Rosetta). And since we're making lists, here is a list of acts that come to mind when I listen to 'The Endeavour': previous Barst, Lords Of Acid, The Cure, Atari Teenage Riot, Author & Punisher, Amenra, Wiegedood, Tangerine Dream, Godflesh, Autechre, Worriedaboutsatan, Nine Inch Nails.

Yes, my dear reader, Barst has managed to create something I can only describe as "flabbergasting". In 42 minutes, he treats the listener to a massive array of soundscapes, electronics, beats, sequences, guitars and whatnot. Barst is like a sponge that sucks up all possible sounds and live experiences and transform that into a surprisingly coherent entity. So yeah, I think he managed to top 'The Western Lands'. That album was already incredible but this one...this is simply astonishing. By now you'll probably already know that this comes highly recommended. This one is going to end up in many end-years lists, no doubt about that.


​Serge

krautrock / psychedelic 

psychedelic rock / krautrock / neo folk

doom / blues

techno

electronic / darkwave

shoegaze

death metal

ambient / downtempo / post rock

death metal / power metal

americana / alternative rock / indie

bandcamp

stoner metal

electronic / darkwave / alternative rock

Some of the albums we receive are a real challenge. For me, many releases are rather easy to write about but once in a while something comes along that seems to challenge and question my musical reference pool. In those cases, I listen closely, try to find something to start with, a certain sound, a similarity with another band, a connection to real life events, anything. Then I look into my ever growing English vocabulary and try to bark out some words that might get people interested in that particular release. If all goes well, several minutes later my opening paragraph is written and I can finally describe the actual music.

Writing about this album by Swedish duo Råhypnos proved to be a challenging task. For the record, that doesn't mean this is a bad album. I tend to simply ignore albums I don't like so if it appears on this website, you can bet your ass that I see potential in it. And yes, I see potential in here, a lot of gloomy, darkwaving, new waver's flavour of the year potential. The only thing is, who exactly to recommend it to? Well, I think I just wrote my own answer: new wavers, dark wavers, old school goths looking for their shot of new audible darkness.

As I mentioned before, Råhypnos is a duo, formed in Gothenburg in 2015 by Pablo Rautenberg and Nadja Virgé. Soon into their career, it became clear that one style was not enough. Initially an alternative rock act, Råhypnos added elements from darkwave, gothic rock, trip hop, intelligent dance music and even (dark) jazz. The result feels like a mix between Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds and Chelsea Wolfe, recorded, mixed and mastered by Portishead. 

Now, I have to say that I wasn't immediately blown away by this stuff. Opener 'Pain Shrinks The Heart' is a great song, pretty much comparable to the aforementioned acts. It's downtempo and raw. Interesting yes, but perhaps a bit too much on the experimental side of things. Yet, gradually, the record started growing on me, mainly because of the level of variation. There's electronics but also rough rock music. There's male and female vocals and even those come in a wide array, perfectly fitting in with the music.

Besides, 'Damaged' and 'Insufficient Love' are awesome. 'The Land Of Nowhere' is a brilliant new wave song that will get even Simple Minds fans excited. 'Blood' is a tearjerker and closer 'End Of The Beginning' brings that other amazing darkwave act to mind, namely The KVB. So in all, this is a surprisingly interesting album, one that will definitely end up in my day-to-day playlist. So check it out. I mean, I eventually managed to write a five paragraph review about it so it's definitely worth it.


​Serge

ethereal / drone

drone / ambient / experimental

dark ambient / electronic

electronic / synth pop

electronic / experimental

drone / dark ambient

drone / ambient

dark ambient

bandcamp

dark ambient

dark ambient

techno

techno

drone / experimental / electronic

This project, called t.r. hand is made by the artist known as Glove Of Bones, and it’s a very surprising way to hear experimental electronic music that is either "against the machine" and also enjoyable! The entire art and also the limited 50 CD copies are awesome and was really made with affection to his fans. In the author words: Folke Meditation is a selection of recent sound works, designed to be used during free or guided meditations, is not suitable for everyone, It has not been tested or approved by any Government Organisation and the creator also say that it’s better to consult a Shaman or Alchemist before using this medication... This eccentric presentation was very creative, like his music!

He also defines his work “as a melange of cut-ups and ambient and experimental beats and sound collages”. In a work like this, It is worth to mention some songs: ‘Message to the Experiment’ with an initial noise that become more melodic and with a constant pulse, ‘Circle of Teeth’ with his crazy rhythmic pattern, ‘Meditation Number One’ which starts with a chaotic beginning and changes gradually to a kind of low-fi recording of some Steve Reich music just to end up with a fantastic glissando, ‘Krankenhaus für Mauerkrankheit’ with its beautiful melody, ‘Spectral Analysis of Mu’ with another beautiful melody (in a Vangelis style) and an awesome birds recording with a special end (a big surprise that you will have to listen) and ‘Deadman on Arbor Low’, where he incarnated Earth and Sunn O))) but with some melody in his heavy distorted electric guitar accompanied by choir voices and some additional instruments/samples.

And the “Gran Finale” comes when you discover that the entire work - guitar and imaginary guitar, samples & loops, various field recordings, processed radio, vocal, guttural noise, construction, production and mastering - were all made by only one person!!! This is an amazing experience, this album have more than an hour and you don't even perceive this!!! It’s different (in a good way), it’s eclectic in aesthetic and t.r. hand is a kind of project that will never accept anything just for commercial purposes, because his music has soul, it definitely has soul!!! And the soul/honor of an artist can't be sold!!!


​Glauber

alternative rock

Glauber

drone / experimental

Abjection Productions

Glauber

alternative rock / shoegaze

folk rock / americana

website

metal / post hardcore

post metal

progressive metal

downtempo / electronic

Audiobulb

death metal

doom metal / dark metal / death metal

thrash / death metal

techno

dark ambient / electronic

In July I reviewed an album by Swiss producer Urs Wild (read), titled 'The Hidden Universe'. I was quite impressed by this effort, which I had discovered through the wonderful Unexplained Sounds radio show.
That same show recently provided me with Urs Wild's newest effort, 'The Black City'. Once again, I was impressed and curious towards the rest of the album. Long story short, here I am, engulfed in gloomy electronic soundscapes and a pitch black atmosphere.

So yeah, I guess another review is due

The album opens with the track 'Darkworks' and I must say, the flag covers the load perfectly. No need to gently lure the listener in, Urs Wild immediately delivers sonic grimness from a very high level. In a way it feels like a slowed down version of Scorn delivering the basslines for an array of drones and soundscapes, plus the atmosphere of Bohren Und Der Club Of Gore. "Doom ambient" would be a perfect tag to describe this music. 'The Well Of Sounds' gracefully follows its predecessor's example, showing basically the same deep electronic bassline which gives the whole thing a conceptual feel. 

The entire album lasts for over an hour, with four songs taking up more than ten minutes. However, if you listen from start to end, there is very little that tells you that you're listening to a next song. As I mentioned before, the whole thing truly feels like a concept, or a soundtrack for either a dark sci-fi movie or a film noir. I can imagine a track like 'Underforce' lingering on throughout a Blade Runner scene. I wouldn't mind either, on the very contrary. What a delightful slab of dark drones this is. Raison D'Etre would be proud of Urs Wild.

Anyway, before I slip into writing a song by song description, allow me to recommend the hell out of this album. Urs Wild certainly knows the scene and he definitely knows how to produce excellent dark ambient albums. 'The March Of The Guardians' shows how easily this artist can cross the line between ambient and noise without losing the eerie, impending atmosphere. So yes, dark ambient aficionados, I think you need this album in your collection, even more than his previous one. 


​Serge