• Music

    Ophtalmologist – Julius Vernus Explorator

    August 5, 2022 - By 

    It’s quite a rare thing for music titles, especially instrumental tracks, to actually match the music produced.  A case in point was a four-album noise release whose name I happily forgot trying to reference a classic of literature.  No need to embarrass the artist or the writer, but it seemed that the choice of subject wasn’t appropriate for the music (at least to my humble ears).  This is not such a case.  Ophtalmologist is the artistic name of Theodoros Hernandez, a Greek-Mexican composer who might be working out of France. He specializes in what I would assume is ambient drone,…

  • Music

    Les Rencards – Les Rencards

    July 30, 2022 - By 

    Les Rencards are a band based out of France which produce a garage rock-meets-yé-yé sound, made up of a Frenchman, a Brazilian and two Catalans, released by the erstwhile Groovie Records out of Portugal.  Their sound is raw and authentic.

  • Music

    Various Artists – Pierre Barouh and the Saravah Sound

    July 22, 2022 - By 

    As I’ve been stewing over this release for well over a month now, it’s exciting to finally announce that today, this scorching compilation is finally available on vinyl and download from our friends at WeWantSounds.  In fact, the only depressing thing about this gem is that I can’t hear it on vinyl yet as I’m currently in Belgrade, Serbia, waiting to see where I move to next before settling down back in the Czech Republic. Normally, I’ll either place my own personal thoughts about a music, or use clippings from a press release, but the Saravah story needs a bit…

  • Music

    Al-Qasar – Who Are We?

    July 12, 2022 - By 

    The bad news about the release of Al-Qasar’s new album is that there is currently only one track available to hear at the moment.  The good news, however, is that it features Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo as well as Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra. From the band’s Bandcamp site: ““Al-Qasar was born in the Barbès neighbourhood of Paris,” explains band leader Thomas Attar Bellier. “I’ve lived in Los Angeles, Paris, New York, Lisbon… I wanted to start a project that was in tune with the daily life of people living in these international cities, something diverse, radically colourful, with…

  • Music

    Donny Vegas – Pharmakós

    July 5, 2022 - By 

    It seems like Donny Vegas has been listening to all the right post-punk records for my taste.  One can hear influences of early Cabaret Voltaire, Suicide, a touch of Throbbing Gristle, and yet, by some odd miracle, it sounds both fresh and lo-fi.  A quirky release, but I like this. Thanks to Filip of Z Tapes for the magnificent suggestion.

  • Music

    Internal Fusion – IWWA

    July 4, 2022 - By 

    I suppose we can coin a new term for this magnificent music out of Breton dark ambient composer Eric Latteux (who composed under the name Internal Fusion): Kosmische dark ambient. I seem to be finding a fair amount of music like this these days, and our dear friends at Mahorka have released another gem.

  • Music

    Various Artists – La Souterraine: Vallée du Don

    June 18, 2022 - By 

    La Souterraine are one of France’s coolest indie labels.  They frequently release compilations of alternative music influenced by chanson, bedroom pop and post-punk.  Some of the ditties on offer are almost Beatlesque in their pop perfection.  Vallée du Don is one I stumbled upon, but the whole catalog is worth exploring.

  • Music

    Vtoroy Etazh Porazhayet – Kraynosty

    May 26, 2022 - By 

    Vtoroy Etazh Porazhayet (2nd Floor is Striking) are a Moscow post-punk outfit, and it seems both Russia and Belarus are producing a lot of these days.  They are released by the French record label Belka Records.  Their sound will appeal strongly to those who are into the post-punk renaissance of the past five years or so.  

  • Music

    Antiq – Ilbeltz / Hanternoz / Anceisural Eritance – D’Anjou en Vasconie

    March 24, 2022 - By 

    This was a combination I didn’t expect.  It’s not uncommon for, say, black metal musicians to integrate their music into pagan folk and make a good hybrid, but this is something different.  Antiq combine soaring traditional Basque and Breton vocals with a proper metal backing, and somehow, by some strange miracle, it all comes together very well.  As far as metal goes, this is really quite good.