• Music

    Floreana – Floreana One

    April 12, 2024 - By 

    I don’t do top tens, but if I did, this album might be EP of the year.  It’s that good.  Imagine early Brian Eno or Tuxedomoon with a sound updated for the 2020’s.  Yes, these names are the ones I’m happy to drop for this release.  From Floreana’s Bandcamp site: “Floreana One, is the first installment of a three-part series, captures tones reminiscent of early Kraftwerk and Brian Eno, exploring themes of isolation and idealism through tape-saturated woodwinds, hazy synthesizers, and vintage drum machines. Features appearances from her father- David Mordoch, John Carroll Kirby, Nico Georis, Shags Chamberlain, and Daryl…

  • Music

    Pyroclastic – Enter Temple of Shiva Exit Tomb of Parvati

    April 5, 2024 - By 

    Pyroclaster is an old friend of mine, and he has a a new album that harkens back to old-school EBM and Industrial dance.  From his Bandcamp site: “Taking on a different approach in Electronic genres Pyroclastic steers the machine driven music gears towards the Eastern Tribal elements. Combining Eastern Tribal instrumentation along with their traditional rhythms of Indian & Arabic roots with your favorite blend of Rhythmic Noise. Pyroclastic has long been influenced by artists like Muslimgauze, Nurse with wound, This Morn’ Omina, and Goa Trance of the 90’s – early 2000’s to bring this collection of it’s own version…

  • Music

    Found Object – every silver lining

    March 30, 2024 - By 

    Well done, Found Object!  The tracks on this album remind me of some of best synth-pop bands I grew up with in the 1980s.  Though Tangerine Dream is referenced as an influence, I hear something different – Kraftwerk, Blancmange, a more instrumental Depeche Mode or Soft Cell seem to be popping up as influences as I listen through.  Really, a joyful album.

  • Music

    Sarah Belle Reid – MASS (Extended + Remastered)

    March 26, 2024 - By 

    Thanks to the magnificent blog a closer listen, I was introduced to the work of a fellow Los Angelino Sarah Belle Reid.  I was intrigued by postrockcafe’s description of the album, and after hearing it this morning in between teaching duties, I have to say that the description is apt.  Shades of early Industrial music with a more academic bent (don’t let that scare you!), a modern, sharper and cleaner take on experimental music, and bits and bobs of something that could pass for soundtrack music underpinned by a subtle, harrowing trumpet underneath, make this an absolutely worthy listen.

  • Music

    Rudy Adrian – Reflections On A Moonlit Lake

    March 22, 2024 - By 

    Rudy Adrian has been at the forefront of New Age music since the early 2000s, and shamefully, I lost contact with his releases.  It’s quite nice to catch up with him on his latest release, a collection of relaxing ambient music to soothe your mind a bit, but also to enjoy as proper electronic music.  Rudy remains a craftsman.

  • Music

    BlindººCoyote – Mycelium Sonora Outtakes

    March 5, 2024 - By 

    From my friend, the rather legendary Drem Bruinsma‘s project, BlindººCoyote manages to expertly weld together wild electronic music with a relaxed back beat, making the music adventurous but, ultimately, pleasant to listen to.  From BlindººCoyote’s Bandcamp site: “This 33-piece album consists of a deep reflection on a period, albeit a difficult one, from Covid and Confinement to hospitals and surgery, from treatment and opiates, from chronic pain to hope and fear, from social isolation to remaining in touch with the outside world by being online. With this album ends a chapter, a period with a very demanding character. I hope…

  • Music

    Various Artists – Alex from Tokyo presents Japan Vibrations Vol.1

    February 5, 2024 - By 

    From the World Famous Records Bandcamp Site: “Dive into the exhilarating era of Japan’s electronic dance music scene from the mid ’80s to the mid ’90s with Japan Vibrations Vol. 1. The hand-picked collection by DJ and musical storyteller Alex from Tokyopays homage to the trailblazers and innovators who shaped the landscape. […] Experience the vibrations of pioneers Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Yasuaki Shimizu. Of culture-shaping forces Hiroshi Fujiwara, Kan Takagi, Susumu Yokota, Silent Poets, Mondo Grosso and Kyoto Jazz Massive. And of new-generation artists CMJK (C.T. Scan), Mind Design, Okihide, and Hiroshi Watanabe. The evolution of a scene,…