I’m normally not a fan of hip-hop as too much of the commercial variety is utter trash. However, the abstract part of the genre is producing some fine music like Germany’s DOT, brought to you by Annette Records. Besides the mellow hip-hop beats are some interludes that come across as Continue Reading
Electronica
Various Artists – Alex from Tokyo presents Japan Vibrations Vol.1
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 Continue Reading
Various Artists – Glücklich VI – Compiled by Rainer Trüby
From his days as a member of the seminal A Forest Mighty Black to collaborations with the who’s who of downtempo music (think Kruder & Dorfmeister, Jazzanova and so many others, Rainer Trüby has been of Trip-Hop’s finest tastemakers. We can celebrate today that after 20 years, there is a Continue Reading
Sinners Club and Groove Paradise – CHROMESOUL
I have to admit ignorance to what is known as barber beats, a sub-genre of Vaporwave, but if Sinners Club and Groove Paradise out of Spain are an example of what can be done with the genre, I quite like it. The beats are infinitely more sophisticated than what you Continue Reading
Batavia Collective – Propulsion
I haven’t had a chance to review anything from Indonesia in some time, so it gives me pleasure to introduce you to a band called the Batavia Collective. Their sound is a great balance of jazz, fusion and electronica. One track only, but it’s a solid one.
Heelhooks – Oh Man What a Dream
We have an unsolicited gem today, folks! This live EP by Heelhooks clocks in at around 15 minutes, and the music is aggressive laptop sound deconstruction put together by the London-based duo of Hans Lo (Unk) and Rob Shields (Sunplus). The lads describe their sound way better than I can: Continue Reading
Azu Tiwaline & Al Wootton – Alandazu EP
Azu Tiwaline and Al Wootton could not come from more different places on Earth. Azu’s roots are from Tunisia, while Al’s roots are from London’s urban sprawl, yet they manage to collaborate on a kind of dub informed by pulsating trance and Berber-influenced rhythms. Dark, sparse and pleasant.
Balkan Taksim – Disko Telegraf
This gem, released by Buda Musique, came out on May of 2021, and it’s simmering! From the label’s Bandcamp site: Balkan Taksim is the corduroy-clad brainchild of Bucharest-based multi-instrumentalist/artist Sașa-Liviu Stoianovici who, along with his electronica producer companion Alin Zăbrăuțeanu, is on a quest to inform, educate and entertain audiences Continue Reading
Cabaret Voltaire – Shadow of Fear
Today is a terrible day, as we’re reeling over the loss of Cabaret Voltaire multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Richard H. Kirk. He was 65 years old. The Cabs were one of the most influential bands of their era, whose work would have serve as inspiration to genres such as Industrial, post-punk, EBM, avant-funk, electro, acid Continue Reading
High Pulp – Motel Money (feat. Takuya Kuroda)
High Pulp hail from Seattle, Washington and are currently being published by Anti- Records, best known for releasing albums by Tom Waits, Neko Case and Antibalas. This sounds like none of them, and it caught my attention in a most pleasant way. Motel Money is a single track, and it’s Continue Reading