If I listen to noise, this is the kind I enjoy – something that will keep me guessing where the artist is going. Kevin Miller & Jukka Pekka Kervinen are two improvisers who make a more elegant form of free improv music, something I could come back to again and again.
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Hiemis are a project out of Spain, not exactly a mecca (yet) for dark ambient bands or dungeon synth, but this album is wonderfully bleak and enveloping. It has the feel of a lo-fi Spanish or Italian horror soundtrack, but with a lot of warmth to it. Eerie, of course, but accessible.
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Words fail to describe the beauty of this release, even if it is an acidic beauty. Harae are a band run by beloved friends, and both innovative musicians in their own right. Combined, however, they have made magic, especially if you like a harsh wall of noise cascading over you like molten steel in an industrial factory. The vocals are frightening, which works seamlessly with the music. It’s a harsh but rewarding listen. I cannot wait to hear more from them! For those of you who prefer a hard copy of the release, you can order a mini-CDR edition from…
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The legendary Lustmord has a new album which releases on March 15, 2024. Judging by the one track currently available to sample, this will be a creepy, heavy album with all the horror of watching a Bosch painting melt while on acid. This will be that deep.
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Boston’s Skyjelly are a bit of a revelation for me. They sound like a post-punk band infused with the power of Krautrock bands like Faust or the British trio This Heat. One of the best of the year so far!
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Mykel Boyd is one of the leading lights in experimental music and drone, and has done so much to promote the genre that it is (pleasantly) hard to keep track of his releases. He is paired with Brume (the working name of French composer and long-time contact Christian Renou) who is, frankly, a legend in the cassette culture scene. The album is a fine take on electroacoustic music with an ominous vibe floating throughout these pieces. Perfect to get lost in thought with.
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Today is a travel day, so I leave you in the ever-capable hands of Jeff Gburek and one of his latest creations.
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Jolanda Moletta is an Berlin-based experimental vocalist who used to sing for the group She Owl. This album features her gently eerie, comforting vocals and not much else. To add to such glorious tones would be a crime. Her voice is delightful as is.
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Øystein Jørgensen should need no introduction to those who follow ambient experimental music. He has been quiet over the past few years, but I came across this old recording from 2010 which showcases his more sound designer influences.
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We are sad to report that German indie record label Engram Recordings has ceased operating. They have, thankfully, decided to leave their catalog online as long as Bandcamp exists. This sampler is a great way to get to know about their quirky releases.