TUMBLEWEAVE describes themselves as “cartoon noise rock”. not bad, eh? it’s essentially mysterious and densely layered noises. the songs consist of extremely many details, and a seemingly endless number of elements. this is reflected in the 1700+ bitrate of the FLACs, actually the highest of any albums in my current music library on Amarok. their music would serve well as the background score for a curious and dark 16-bit game, if not for the fact that I’d probably be pausing the entire time, listening to the music instead of playing the game. this record is only just three minutes long, and is pretty much impossible to process on just one listen. TUMBLEWEAVE has created a mammoth, capable as serving both as ambient noise music as well as upbeat and catchy blip blop pop – at the very same time. this is an extraordinary intriguing piece of work that deserves a listen and then some more listens. GET THIS!
The Sky Looks Pissed – This Ending Promise
it’s been all too long since the last post consisting of one of Ethan’s many beloved project. for those of you who aren’t up to date – he’s in The Loneliest Cowgirls, Henry Bemis Is A Superhero and Screaming and Dreaming. oh, and The Sky Looks Pissed. which brings me to this post. This Ending Promise is the first “Ethan post” in a while, so I hope you’ve missed him as much as I have. for those of you who aren’t Ethan nerds, this band is a fairly stereotypical down to earth folk rock band. at least most of the time. occasionally though (especially on this new album), it strays away from the “formula”, in favour of e.g. ambience, noise or punk. the lyrics are personal and confrontational, and not (obviously) political. it’s mostly songs about girls, to be quite honest. filled with humour and self-irony akin to Loudon Wainwright III. in between the songs about girls, are ambient – almost shoegaze passages. anyway, to sum it up – it’s a fairly experimental folk rock album. if you like folk rock, you might like this. if you don’t like folk rock, you probably won’t like this. you know what to do people.
Ochra Days – Our Dreams Are Drawn In Grey
to continue our exploration and appreciation of the glorious nation Kazakhstan, here is another Kazakh artist. Ochra Days covers an entirely different sound than Mapadelmundo though. we’re going from whiplash screamo to trance-inflicting ambient music on that’s punk, because that’s punk! Ochra Days is a synth-heavy project that evokes many different moods by moving throughout various atmospheres elegantly. the transitions are performed with much grace. this is the kind of ambient that is soft enough to put on in the background, but detailed enough to be reward an attentive listener as well. the modus operandi for Our Dreams Are Drawn In Grey is mainly wide and layered arrangements that sometimes find their way into distorted noise climaxes. if this sounds appealing to you, I urge you to check this out. it’s quite the experience. Borat approves of this post.
Beneva vs. Clark Nova – Dramadadatic
this band consists of the atmospheric mastermind Benjamin Finger and the laid back and poppy Rudi Simmons, both of which have albums posted on this blog. and these guys are every bit as great together as they are apart! though vastly different than their solo counterparts. this is mostly upbeat, insanely catchy and soothing electronica with hints of idm and glitch music. Beneva vs. Clark Nova produce distinct and concrete melodies with a huge crush on the vague and abstract. the album is all killer, no filler. it’s filled with highlights, and never wastes time. this is every bit as atmospheric as those really downbeat Sigur Rós and Múm songs, not only the calm parts, but even when running at full speed down a flight of stairs, Beneva vs. Clark Nova is an atmospheric – as well as joyful affair. though you might frequently be puzzled as to what the hell is going on in this art expo of an electronica album, it’s still very enjoyable, despite the confusion. this is a fantastic album, magnificently building up and keeping suspense whilst being very soothing at the same time. download it! then buy it from http://howisannierecords.com – it’s worth it. the cover is the great photograph “The Greenhouse” by Sandy Skoglund, and it’s a very pretty looking digipack that’s well worth the money.
MRTNPLMR VS Dead Lazarus – The S&D session
here we have no less than two Norwegian noise artists joining forces to create interesting music, that will without a doubt make your mother go «what the hell are you listening to?! this is not music!». could you ask for more? well… you’re getting more anyway. you’re getting a constant beat struggling to survive amidst frenzied noise and claustrophobic atmosphere. you’re getting chaos and order all at once. a journey that only the bravest may embark. if you don’t like noise music, then don’t bother. if you don’t know what noise music is, then download it, and join your mother’s plea of “not music” – or maybe you’ll actually enjoy it! you never know. if you are in fact a fan of noise music, you’ll definitely find something interesting to say about this. but notice that this is not as loud and outrageous as some noise albums. this is more of pretty noise album, to which lending your ears might just be quite like therapy. also included on this album is a lesson in the art of raping bass guitars, which isn’t all that unlike the more noisy passages found on indietrash’s only album.
4volt – Array
“Array” is the continuation of what was started on “Elevate”. it is less ambient and droning, and much more catchy and upbeat. you may recognise some of the tracks on this album from a3o’s “The Infernalist” or “The Misadventures of Lomen” (if you haven’t seen either, go get them – they are hilarious). this is the maybe most catchy effort 4volt has put in. not as droning and creeping as his previous efforts (especially Aware) was. this has an analog sound with plenty of blip blops and the like. it is ultra catchy and mega aewsome. I highly recommend picking this up. it is idm at it’s very finest!
4volt – Elevate
with his third album, 4volt aims to utilize a much more analog sound. this album is an idm masterpiece of intense synths and upbeat rhythms that will get yo feet movin’. it is very much a complete change of style for 4volt. but that does not at all mean you won’t like it if you’re more of an ambient nerd than someone who enjoys electronic music in general. it still has the signature 4volt stamp on it. the quality stamp. so get this. enjoy!
4volt – Elements
4volt’s second album is full of many elements that are layered upon one another. and all the songs have pretty different elements as well. this album ranges from classical music influences to Nintendo influences to good ol’ ambient. “Elements” is much lighter than the first album. where “Aware” was mostly dark and creeping, this album is pretty light-hearted – but intense in its own way. where the first album had the listener in suspense due to the creepy atmosphere, this one has the listener mesmerised because of all the beautiful elements and how they are blended masterfully. it just sounds so soothing – it’s amazing. an incredible effort from 4volt, that deserves your attention! get this!
4volt – Aware
not an album per se, this is really a compilation of standalone songs. the title “Aware” was chosen because this “album” demonstrates 4volt (a.k.a. Jeremy Peterson) and his «awareness of music as a form of expression and experiment». it is dark, moody and creeping ambient, creeping down your spine with a creepy atmosphere. and it has its catchy moments as well, actually. some tracks have so catchy beats, you might’ve felt like getting up and dancing if it hadn’t been for the fact that this music might scare the shit out of you. could easily accompany Doom III on a 50″ in the dark.
Benjamin Finger – Woods of Broccoli
ohh… this is a tough one to write about. how can I possibly explain this? it’s ambient, but at the same time not. it’s atmospheric? it’s melodic? I could just as well say “this is music”, because I do not really know how to describe this. all I can do is describe the feeling it gives me… well okay, I can’t really do that either. but let me assure you, it does provoke feelings. perhaps way too many? I think that’s why I am having trouble describing this album. it is so emotionally challenging to listen to. and that is a very powerful feature when it comes to ambient music. it creates all kinds of different moods, all at once. it really has to be heard to be believed, let alone understood. this is a true gem. get it! and buy it from http://www.howisannierecords.com if you have the funds.
Safehouses on Fire – So We Fell in Love With All of Our Pro-longed Goodbyes
anyone familiar with Fighterpilot or Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson should understand me when I say that this is progressive rock with a touch of ambient from How Is Annie Records. but Safethouses on Fire are not as ambient as Fighterpilot, nor as emo as YP. it has its own, very atmospheric style. the songs flow beautifully, and really dig into your brain, refusing to let go of it. you might be puzzled by this wonderful journey. and you will certainly have to listen to it several times to really fathom all its complex layers, due to the sheer amount of layers. this is deep and wild music. get into it. if you really like it, you can buy it from http://www.howisannierecords.com – which I highly recommend you to. if this is a dream, don’t let it end.
august hell – Life Without Germs
I was contemplating whether to put this in the who knows section, or whether to simply put it in this ambient category. the ambient category barely won due to the way this album makes you visualize a story – an epic tale. I view this album as a soundtrack to a war. it has it all. the initial anger when the war breaks out. the hopelessness when there seems like no end to it. the losses that affect everyone in it. the uprising. the underground parties. the passion. the uplifting optimism and hope for an end to not only this war, but every war ever. the sheer happiness of victory, of end. I mean this album just generally succeeds in so many ways when it comes to evoking feelings. it’s a roller-coaster. get on it.
Elysis – Chillout/Alphawave
German acid-ish chillout music. all the tracks flow. they fit into each other. it feels like it could just as well been one long track at times, because they all put you in this relaxed and eerie mood. atmospheric and moody ambient from Germany. you need to get this.
Elysis – House/Minimal
this is very minimalist house music. almost idm-ish. it’s awesome. a long dreamy journey through the human mind. on LSD. get it.
*luhn – *luhn
*luhn is pronounced loon. that doesn’t say it all, but it says a bit. this is a very pleasant journey through manipulated tape glitches and such. soothing guitars and comforting noise. no synths. only noise. it’s wonderful.
Draff Krimmy – The Poetry of Vår
The Poetry of Vår is a beautiful journey through blip blops and rainbows. magical music, with an intense nerve. it’s demanding music. and you might not be up for it. I hereby challenge you. download it! and buy it from http://www.howisannierecords.com if you like it. provoking though introverted ambient music for the ones with an acquired taste.
hjördis – eplemjölk
what if Sonic Youth made songs that were less than a quarter the lenght of the songs they do make? that would make them less boring, when they get boring. and let’s not kid ourselves. while Sonic Youth may rule pretty damn hard from time to time, other times – it gets boring and repetitive. it’s even borderline artsy fartsy. there. I said it. this boring/repetitive feeling due to long songs is not a problem you will encounter on this ep. at all. you will put it on repeat to figure out what the hell just happened. then you will perhaps leave it on repeat because it’s pretty good. enjoy. oh and also – this here is the world premiere of the album. it is released just now. and will not be “officially” released anywhere else. get it. yay.
Fighterpilot – Between Homes and Travels
Fighterpilot are an emo-influenced ambient/electronic/progressive rock band. if Soup is the semi artsy-fartsy band, Fighterpilot are *the* artsy-fartsy band that everyone just loves. well, maybe not everyone. because it is not for everyone. it’s for people who enjoy great music. with instruments ranging from computers to drums to guitars to vacuum cleaners to whatever else was near the studio – this is awesome. a journey you couldn’t picture in your wildest dreams. dreamy, moody and atmospheric. buy from http://www.howisannierecords.com – it’s worth it.
Soup – Come on Pioneers
Soup are a semi artsy-fartsy band. at least sometimes. Soup are from Norway, and they play progressive and atmospheric music with great dynamics, and loads of marvellous atmospheres. there are awesome ambient pieces, but also melodic synth-driven rock with a very mellow bass and fantastic pop hooks. and it’s awesome. and very comfortable to listen to. are you uncomfortable? listen here to this. and get comfy. buy from http://www.howisannierecords.com at once! there’s a reason this is considered one of the finest albums by every publication lucky enough to have heard of it.
Build Nest, Sleep – Abouts
Abouts was released on a 7″ vinyl and on a 3″ CD. this is the CD that I’ve ripped for you all. it enhances their already noisy sound picture with more blip blops, and louder guitars. and perhaps more importantly – more dynamics. there’s more NOOOooooooOOOiiiIiisssSSSssssEEEEeEEEEEEeeeEE here, where it used to be just nooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOIIIIIIIIIiiiiiiisssssssseeeeeee. buy from http://www.howisannierecords.com if you like it, which I think you will. RWJGTEUAKLFSSSSUifwiulwrRGUUggggggggraeWUEØORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRFV.