Category: Reviews

Straight to Tape by Pan Amsterdam

Reviews

I don’t know who this Pan Amsterdam fella is but golly gee his music is brilliant. Maybe not the Daniel Johnston of hip hop but most certainly the Jad Fair. He’s going “Straight to Tape” and straight to the top of the charts and our hearts. His latest EP is another look inside the mind of a bonafide weirdo philosopher. His music is avant-garde in the least pretentious way. If Busdriver makes you think you should read more, then Pan Amsterdam makes you think you should’ve rented more movies at Blockbuster when you had the chance. His comedic timing is nothing short of golden. “You’re the wolf of Walmart, sell me this pen.” Pan (can I call him Pan?) is a savant of bogus poetry. A beautiful genius at that. “More kosher than gefilte fish.” Picking up where Das Racist left off, Pan Amsterdam has filled the void for stream of consciousness free jazz rap. “Straight to Tape” has been playing on repeat and I’m just now seeing that it’s only 12 minutes. Re-playability is hard to do in the land of drive thru’s and infinite possibilities. Pan Amsterdam creates a world you can get lost in. Not some fantasy planet either, this world’s like yours just slightly different. Instead of 2001: A Space Odyssey, you’re really into Mars Attacks. You listen to Beck’s anti folk albums instead of Radiohead demos. Whatever mad scientist laboratory accidentally birthed this album should win the Oscar.

Listen/download over on Pan Amsterdam’s Bandcamp:

http://panamsterdam.bandcamp.com/album/straight-to-tape

Album Announcement FAIL! by Trauma Lavern

Reviews

a3282993557_10

The following is an automated debt collection message.

Today I’m here to tell you about a great little album called “Album Announcement FAIL” by Trauma Lavern. I know what you’re thinking, that’s an odd thing to title an album, but I tell you what, if it ain’t odd, I don’t like it. They could’ve called it ‘Back For The Very First Time’ or ‘Where do we go when we sleep?’ (We go to dream land, you fucking morons) they could’ve called it ‘The Carter 9’ or ‘Butter Jewels’ who gives a gosh darn. I don’t know where Langley is but god bless it, cos it seems to have inspired the second track. This could be a huge hit if we were still in the early 2000’s, this song reminds me of my childhood but not in a nostalgic way, that’s for dorks. This reminds me of a childhood I’ve heard about but never experienced.

Colin Swegman (am I saying that right?) is a poet in a good way though, not the ‘poetry is my life’ type of way. That would be sad and I wouldn’t wanna be his friend. Thank god he’s a poet in a sense that he writes novels now but his early collection of poetry is revered. Colin aka PT Burnem (one half of Trauma Lavern) feels music and language in every fiber of his being, this album is from the depths of his soul. I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about sometimes in person, because he genuinely cares so much and I’m a morbid asshole, but on record I understand it all. No word is wasted, there I said it, now Pitchfork can hire me. There’s not enough decimals for this album score, well there might be but I’d need a calculator.

“250cc Revelation” is my favorite song on this album, because he’s singing about riding a motor bike (much more than that too, I’m sure) and it makes me think of Daniel Johnston’s “Speeding Motorcycle”, also my favorite band 10cc. This is 25 times 10cc so you could only imagine my excitement. I’m talking from a mathematical standpoint of course. Colin came right out of an early western, he stepped out of the TV, dripping wet in his cowboy regalia, took off his shoes, and said to me, “to those that are about to rock, I salute you.” Then he grabbed an axe and totally shredded. Another favorite of mine is “Bad Medicine” this is classic bad boy rock n roll, a cool motherfucker singing about someone named Johnny. Probably could be licensed to Guitar Hero even. I mean that in the sweetest way possible, I love it. If this was on the Madden soundtrack, I’d be pumped as hell.

This album has so much potential to be universally loved and critically acclaimed. Trauma Lavern should be so popular, I loathe them. But lucky for us, it’s underground so the outsiders and weirdos can enjoy it. What a great name too, Trauma Lavern. Sounds like a private detective who hunts and kills nazis in a dystopian future. Now that’s a real job. I love music like this, somehow anchored in the past and future at once. Outer space caveman music is what I call it. (That’s a copyrighted term, please use wisely.) This album is like the moment that 2pac song plays in Django Unchained meets the end of Prometheus. Far from failure, so I guess I don’t get the album title after all. 

Listen/download over on Cold Rhymes Records Bandcamp:

http://traumalavern.bandcamp.com/album/album-announcement-fail-2

forest, by Lan°

Reviews

a0670900470_10

forest is a new EP of live electronic jams by Argentinian producer Lan° – consisting of 3 energetic IDM tracks bursting with flavor!

I found myself beginning my own bedroom dance party as I played through forest several times. My interest was caught by the collage of sound being built – with clear inspirations from braindance, downtempo, chillout and acid electronics – all fused together in quite satisfying compositions! Lazy Jam might be my favorite, though it’s really hard to choose…

There is a beautiful energy to the project – something subtle and joyful, at points I found myself grinning from ear to ear, bouncing along with the 808’s and bubbling synths. It honestly sounds like some kind of long-lost B Sides from Squarepusher after he took a couple doses of mushrooms and watched Saturday morning cartoons!

You can download the project now via Bandcamp. I am looking forward to hearing more from this producer in the future, so show some support! ✨

Ambient Symphonies in the Cyberpunk Era, by Elastic Colors

Reviews

a0537560440_10

Inspired by retro sci-fi soundtracks and the 80’s vision of cyberpunk culture, Elastic Colors has crafted a magnificent conceptual album “Ambient Symphonies in the Cyberpunk Era”. Released by Tokyo based label I Low You Records, it’s a bold and thick 14-track project – steeped in warm synths and fuzzy atmospherics.

After listening for a few tracks, it becomes apparent that something special is happening here. Of course all the melodies are sitting where they should, with very addicting riffs sparking up here and there, but it’s something churning under the surface that is triggering some nostalgiagasms.

Upon further inspection my suspicions were confirmed – as the producer utilized a unique technique of recording the entire album onto VHS tape before being mastered for release! The result is an incredibly warm and analogue experience, even when streaming the tracks through my browser I could feel the tape unwinding as the music played…

Some of my favorite tracks are the more ethereal and atmospheric ones – such as “Higher” – with the disjointed percussion and wandering synths, it sets an uneasy scene that’s only amplified with the detuned warped chords sweeping around you. It’s a wonderful and impressive marriage of sound design and post-vaporwave concepts.

Technically the album released October 10th, but you can download and stream the entire project via bandcamp right now! I hope this is a hit that perhaps a physical release will be incoming, but for now a digital edition is more than enough. Great for fans of soundtrack music, Emerald Web, Windham Hill or John Carpenter.

Serenity in the Vast Darkness, by Lucid Sound Driver

Reviews

a2167962446_10

Beautiful melodic and textural ambient by Lucid Sound Driver (an incredibly appropriate moniker), presented in a variety of formats by Æscape Sounds.

Lush new age with a thick atmosphere, dense with emotion and nostalgia. My favorite type of ambient, really – the kind that can set the mood comfortably in the background, or deeply appreciated when more attention is payed. The 6 tracks, though not brief by any means, left me wanting more as the phased synthesizers guided me towards the light beyond the darkness.

The 3-part opening trilogy of tracks are quite strong – even going so far as to destroy one of my biggest bothers in music – the inclusion of police/ambulance sirens, turning it into something quite atmospherically beautiful. There’s even a Sangam feature on this record, but interestingly enough I found that to be the weakest track of the project – feeling almost uninspired and lacking the polish of the rest of the record. It’s still a good track, perhaps I got my hopes up a little too high!

I do adore the generous use of field recordings around this record – gentle breeze, dripping rain and passing vehicles. At times it can be triumphant, while taking mysterious brooding turns towards angst and grief. A story is surely being told, but you can put the pieces together yourself.

You can get the record now Digitally at name-your-own price – or if you choose to support, you can get a Cassette Tape, a CD or Vinyl (all of which are still in stock at the time of this posting) – or even get a beautiful looking poster for only a couple dollars!

Lion Cuts, by CDX

Reviews

a3399466384_10

Impressive in scale and bold in execution, Lion Cuts is the latest full-length by multifaceted producer Tim Thornton (CDX, Tiger Village), brought to us by Doom Trip Records out of LA. Tight and diverse, like an expertly curated charcuterie platter, and it’s equally delicious!

CDX reaches into the massive pool of electronic history, swirling it around and emerging with an inspired and unique collection of tracks. At any moment you could pinpoint genres being mashed and merged – acid bass churning over chillhop beats, all mingling with massive synthwave atmospheres. Have no fear of over-complexity or pretentious un-listenability – Lion Cuts manages to be pleasantly easy to digest from start to finish. Even as CDX peppers in dissonance and experiments in structure and noise, it all serves to a larger experience of bubbly energy and sonic excitement.

Twenty Two II is one of my favorites, easily getting stuck in my head for hours at a time. Rose Gold Relationship Goals is another that really stays with me, the groove is so satisfying I want to hit repeat and keep the party going.

The record is available via Doom Trip Records digitally and on Cassette (Limit to 100 copies).

0016930997_10

Unusual Starter 3 ／／ DMT​-​076, by SOUTH:!:AST CO ‘ J~sr.

Reviews

a4018773955_10.jpg

With DMT Tapes FL getting some well deserved buzz recently, I have decided to take to the archives and explore the backlog a bit. Simply poking around my bandcamp collection after picking up the discography has always resulted in some wonderful listens and gems worthy of visiting again… So I have decided to dedicate some listening time to the impressive back catalog!

I will begin documenting these highlights on the blog – starting with the best starter, the Unusual Starter 3! Released March 23rd, 2015 – Unusual Starter 3 is described on the Bandcamp Page with few details – Another for the EP project of Floridamphetamine, SOUTH:!:AST CO ‘ J~sr. gives a clue to the creator and an opportunity to explore deeper projects.

The 3 tracks are incredibly lush and fuzzy, saturated and bizarre metallic frequencies and washed-out synths paint a vivid atmosphere. The overall style is thickly psychedelic, like a true DMT trip at 10:30 AM. The weight of the release rests on the first track, with its ominous and cavernous melody dripping around you. Honey Syrup functions well as a sweeping interlude before a breezy and mysterious outro…

Introduction to Docetism: Trees & Saints

Reviews

a2519903123_10

There seems to be a churning energy happening all over the underground music scene currently, and in an interesting way it all seems to be tied into impressively large projects! Here we have presented by polish Ambient/Dub label Nichts 2-20 track collections of Docetism tracks from the past 7 years. DAUNTING?! A little bit, but it’s equally as delicious and delightful.

Docetism – who has released projects across some of my favorite labels in the past (Silent Season, Rohs! Records) is no stranger to the dub techno scene, boasting a sprawling catalog of full lengths, EP’s and singles. It’s no wonder long time label partner Nichts would aim to give listeners a crash course per-say. As stated on the releases bandcamp page, for a new listener it’s “A good place to start”.

The sounds themselves are pure dub-techno bliss. Docetism presents a distinct voice and flavor however, often utilizing much more movement in chords and progressions than others working in the genre. Raw musicality blends perfectly with the subtle palette of sounds and instrumentation, especially on tracks like Hedera Helix [Golden Bough] or Requiem [Armenia].

Tracks leap in and out of textural ambient and modern classical ideas, all very much welcome in context, eventually leading the listener back to a healthy groove. Out of the two collections I would say I have listened to “Trees” more, but there is plenty of quality to be found in both albums. The kicker? Nichts is offering these both at name-your-own-price, so if you want a nice place to start your dub-techno collection look no futher!

Atelier Elektro, by Ametrom

Reviews

a1758081265_10.jpg

Thoughtful and melodic synthwave from Canadian producer Ametrom, Atelier Electro is an enjoyable electro-disco record overflowing with riffs and lush synth arps! The 10-tracks are peppered with just the right amount of vocals – leaving plenty of room for the instrumentals to breathe, while also giving the album some additional weight and emotion.

On the whole, it’s a very positive record – melodies tend to be uplifting in a cute and nostalgic way, with steady tempo beats driving the tracks forward. There are some retro vibes, especially with certain riffs and passages, Ametrom utilizes some interesting instruments and sounds throughout. You might hear a sudden groove with organs blasting, guitars plucking and beautiful vocals – you begin to feel like you’re listening to something straight out of the 60’s.

I was very impressed with the sounds on this one. Ametrom clearly has a firm grasp on his tools and knows how to craft an experience. If you’re a fan of cinematic sounds, synthwave or cyberpunk style, you should really enjoy this one. The songwriting is tight and the execution is satisfying.

Played, by Palavas

Reviews

a0708387772_10

Beautiful and mellow sounds pour from this one, Played by french Novelist and Musician Palavas, presented to us by Wormhole World. Lush and expansive while remaining intimate, Played is quite the unique journey. With structure being cast aside and a big focus on mood, it’s all propelled forward by Palavas‘ vocals – which he uses quite creatively and beautifully – often behaving more like an instrument itself than words being sung, and I adore it. I actually found it to be a more blissful and ambient C. Duncan, a favorite artist of mine from the past few years, it was a pleasant surprise!!

The album deals with themes of hope and healing, the melancholy of existence – Palavas seems to effortlessly convey the complex emotions of helplessness and solitude. The generous use of strings really helps solidify the intention, with a beautiful acoustic palette being utilized, you can easily imagine floating through the sky enjoying a small cup of coffee on the edge of a cloud, watching the world pass below…

The album is available digitally as well as a nice looking Compact Disc – both at an incredibly reasonable price considering the content – Played being 14 tracks of thoughtfully crafted songs, if you’re looking for a great soundtrack for your summer porch chilling, look no further!

0016708583_10
0016708584_10
0016708585_10