Seikomart Japan presents us with this lovely long player from Diskette Park, Contempo. 22 tracks of lush washed-out Vaporwave that rides the mallsoft vibe quite well – offering a great balance of melody and texture. The album is quite cohesive, after playing this one top to bottom a few times, it’s something wonderful to experience as a whole piece. There’s definitely some stand out hits, but it’s best to just sit back and get lost in it….
Happy Monday music fans! Back with a fresh batch of recently released sonic goodness. Lots of great sounds coming out this past week from some favorite labels. Won’t bog you down with too much talk this time, dive in and enjoy the tunes!
Fragments, by default.cfg
Released by Bogus Collective and Eternal Vibes
Experimental / Post-Internet / Vaporwave
E C C O J O I N T S, by ｏ．ｓ．░ｃｌａｎ
Released by Illuminated Paths
Vaporwave / Hip Hop / Experimental
Tatlo, by Imelda Marcos
Released by Already Dead Tapes
Experimental / Prog / Math Rock
The Work of Morrow, by Jeffrey Holmes
Released by DMT Tapes FL
Beats / Lofi / Vaporwave
Generations, by Anarchist Mountains
Released by Lotano Series/Rhos! Records
Ambient / Experimental / Drone
The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging, by M.A.S.S.
Released by Tomorrow Entertainment Records
Avant Garde / Noise / Drone
Mary Jane, by Capitalist1991
Released by Bogus Collective
Vaporwave / Retro / Midiwave
Oh would you look at that face! How could you deny such blissful pleasure – sure pure joy, a joy you will obviously find after indulging in this lovely little beat tape by NANCY. Brought to us by Liebermann & Schwartz, a mysterious new imprint – 𝕭𝖗𝖔𝖔𝖐𝖑𝖞𝖓 𝕲𝖆𝖗𝖉𝖊𝖓𝖘 is a delicious little 7 track tape, packed with smooth samples and dusty chops. It’s pretty much been on rotation for me this past week. Premium piano riffs float effortlessly above boom bap percussion – doing justice to the proclaimed brooklyn theme, evoking feelings of rainy streets and kebab meats….
Subtle slaps and satisfying claps – premium chilled out beatstrumentals wait for you inside this little unassuming release from producer SUNFLOWER. These 5 tracks demonstrate finesse with chops and drums, flourishing and swinging in all the right ways. With a touch of boom-bap and jazzhop flavors, this one is destined to be on repeat for a while…
Released back in August 2017 but just reaching my ears now (forgive me!) – I have become hypnotized and captivated by S P O R T : DELUXE by TYLER HOLMES. Available via Oakland imprint Ratskin Records, this 9-track project bleeds and oozes with expressive energy. Tyler is unafraid to truly explore the sonic territory around him, using an expansive palette of instruments, sounds and influences. There is a strange focus to everything, as if all the madness were arranged in a very particular way….
Tomorrow Entertainment Records has been really hitting my sweet spot with their past few releases, and their most recent album of wonders is no exception! 10 tracks of lush vocal-heavy vaporwave with a fuzzy clarity. Tasty and thoughtful chopping and warping make this one an interesting listen, quite rewarding as the tracks wander onward….
Hello music lovers! It’s time for another FRESH BATCH of awesome underground music!
This week has proven to be ULTRA underground – with quite a few records and projects being “Self Released”. Seeing this trend got me thinking to myself – what really is the purpose of a record label these days? Certainly the role has changed in the past years and decades, leading many independent producers to push releases without any sort of Label backing. The self-release of projects is DIY to the core – and even if there isn’t a stated label presence, many of these releases are propelled forward by word of mouth and pure sonic interest.
So what does all this mean? What is the takeaway!? NOTHIN! Just a bunch of great music, so strap in and listen up folks, there’s gold in them-there hills!
Easy Listening, by Centrofovar
Self Released
Electropop / Lofi / Future Funk
Fondest Memory, by Rosentwig
Self Released
Chillwave / Electropop / Post-Vaporwave
改善策, by Jackswan Turner
Self Released
Atmospheric Beats / Experimental / Lofi
Romantic Walks to the Middle of Nowhere, by J_ade_
Self Released
Alternative Pop / R&B / Lofi
Mem Aleph, by Mukqs
Released by Jacktone Records
Techno / Atmospheric / Outsider House
DEMO., by Mr. Simpson
Released by Illuminated Paths
Experimental / Drone / Ambient
INSOMNIASONGZ, by CALI四TYPE
Released by Girly Girl Musik
Dark Ambient / Drone / Experimental
Micro Dub EP, by Malik Faquir
Released by Hello Strange
Dub / Techno / Ambient
Death Keeps Me Awake, by Distant Animals
Released by Engram Recordings
Experimental / Ambient / Noisescape
Suculenta, by Palm Era
Released by Ingrown Records
Lofi Beats / Outsider Techno / Experimental
From Vivarium Recordings comes a blissful and contemplative new release by Halogen Star titled Antimatter Mirror. A followup to Aprils Elysian Ascension – this 10 track project dances around the concepts of minimal ambient techno and vapordrone – never overstaying its welcome in any particular vibe.
There is quite the impressive subtlety in Halogen Stars music, making close and repeat listens incredible rewarding. Delicate synths and textures do their best to sneak past you the first time, revealing themselves and all their glory only to those who inspect close enough!
Jazz/HipHop collective LBT (Live Beat Tapes) blesses us with an amazing new 5-track project “Too Busy”. Impressively diverse jazzhop with lots of emotion and musicality. Featuring a rotation of vocalist, giving the instrumentals a healthy variety and room to explore sonic possibilities. Next Lifetime has become an instant favorite of mine, big badbadnotgood vibes on this one. Hope this one gets a physical release sometime in the future, but for now enjoy the digital edition via bandcamp…
Emerald is the latest full-length project from electronic producer boycalledcrow. Had this one recommended a little while back and I have been thoroughly enjoying it ever since! It’s a playfully vibrant collection of tracks that evokes lofty feelings of magic cyber fantasy – at many times I felt the world around me was transforming into a N64 platformer.
There is a big video game vibe on this one – with melodic synths ringing over the tracks like wind chimes – buzzing bass guiding us around this strange new world. Subtle energy is also a big theme, with vibes and feelings flourishing rather than being smothered by overcompensation. Percussion is often sparse and merely a suggestion – rhythms and energies being delegated across the sonic spectrum.
I adore boycalledcrows wide spectrum of sounds – with acoustic instruments mingling flawlessly with lush electronics – it’s not electroacoustic but it definitely adds some premium texture and depth when in appears! The whole thing is very mellow, with a relaxed positive aesthetic and all around ease, making it wonderful for repeat listens.
The CD edition of the album is available via Wormhole World Records
Eternity Tree 