Tag: abstract

Fresh Batch – May-June, 2023

Fresh Batch

Hello music lovers! My oh my, has it been a while. Time passes like water under a bridge, as they say. But who are they, anyway?

Anyway! Welcome to the Fresh Batch – an exhaustive list of underground sounds from the past fort-month. There’s something for everyone in the Fresh Batch – so don’t hesitate to have a click around! We’ve tried to make discovering interesting and satisfying new music as easy as possible for you with this quick list.

visit BNDCMPR for a playlist based on these recommendations!

Infinite thanks to all of our readers and supporters – we hope you enjoy these selections.

Continue reading “Fresh Batch – May-June, 2023” →

Miracle Build, by waavypanda

Quick Picks

Miracle Build is a new project of short tracks by waavypanda, released both independently and via Engram Recordings in May 2023.

The album is full of fresh and intriguing sounds arranged into unique phrases. The tracks dance delicately between blissful IDM grooves and dissonant chaos with ease. The overall vibe is reminiscent of early 2000’s braindance with plenty of percussion zipping around amidst the playful synth-work.

Though the tracks are, for the most part, quite short – waavypanda does a great job packing and stacking sounds into 2-minute vignettes. And if you just can’t get enough, I’d highly recommend pairing this one with waavypanda’s other recent album ‘angelmech tears‘, as it carries a very similar style heavily informed by ambient and acid sounds.

You can Download and Stream the album now via Engram Recordings bandcamp, or the artists personal bandcamp page!

Colorless Blood, by Lost Phosphor

Quick Picks

Colorless Blood is an abstract and contemplative experimental electronic album from Ukrainian producer Lost Phosphor, self released on May 17th 2023.

The 7 track project has a unique tone to it – unbridled creativity nested in avant-garde structure with a healthy sprinkle of dissonance.

Much of the project feels refreshingly free-form, with a distinct absence of grooves in favor of surprisingly pleasant rigidity. Percussion, strings and pianos plink and plonk steadily along the timeline, evoking luminescent patches of wilderness and soggy villages in the dead of night.

Though mostly instrumental, the final track Resurrection takes the steam built up from the previous tracks and channels it into a dubby-techno jam complete with vocals and hard hitting drums.

You can Download/Stream the album via Bandcamp now! Downloads are available at name-your-own-price which is awfully generous – go show some support!

bulbone, by exm

Quick Picks

Prolific Netherlandian ambient producer exm returns with a frosty longform project bulbone.

Self-released via the artists bandcamp page – bulbone takes the form of a 25-minute ambient expedition through crisp arctic wastelands and desolate tundra laden plains. The listener is forced to seek shelter behind the weaved fabric of buzzing tones and pulsing, gritty synthesizers. The ominous and omnipresent drone of the windswept landscape sits comfortably behind an aethereal ensemble of horns, woodwinds and strings whom speak in staggered cadence and wonton trajectory.

Fans of intelligent, outsider ambient will be satisfied with this listen – properly balancing listenability with intriguing sonic exploration.

You can support the artist today by purchasing the project at Name-Your-Price via Bandcamp!

Fresh Batch – June 2022

Fresh Batch

Welcome back to the Fresh Batch, music lovers! We return with our monthly new-music column absolutely packed with phenomenal sounds.

With summer coming fast and furious (stay cool out there, folks!), we’ve rounded up a selection of lovely summertime releases. Dig in, swim around and enjoy…

Continue reading “Fresh Batch – June 2022” →

World Carousel, by Orvang Halmer

Quick Picks

World Carousel by Orvang Halmer is a collection of lovely and playful psychedelic noise tracks.

I found myself drifting deeply into a new world while listening to this one. I felt like perhaps I had become an NPC in some abandoned massively multiplayer realm, left to my own devices long after the player had wandered off. Tones, riffs, moods, energies and flavors all drift in and out of view as I stand firmly in my designated spot.

The sounds themselves are a healthy balance of humble nostalgia and brave experimentation. Synthesized melodies bend and warp around each other, briskly dissolving into the hazy atmosphere.

Lucky for us, the album is available on tape from the family at Ingrown Records! Order yourself a copy or stream the digital version now via Bandcamp.

1:1, by OLHO

Quick Picks

I was recently introduced to Brazilian producer OLHO’s creations – I am so happy this release found it’s way into my submission inbox, because I have fallen in love.

OLHO’s body of work dances between atmospheric dub, ambient techno and experimental sounds. 1:1 itself is a 2 track study of interesting washed out energy – saturated yet delicious. OLHO manages to create an expansive and massive atmosphere with a relatively minimal palette of sounds. Utilizing soft reverberating pads together with the flickering resonance of plucking synths to create a dense and dynamic world. The limited yet tasteful use of vocal samples only increases the ethereal nature of the pieces….

Now please pardon me while I explore more of OLHO’s offerings. With most of their releases on Bandcamp being only a Track or two long, I highly recommend picking up the Discography at a little discount! Very interested to see what is next on the horizon for this producer…

VLCI NA MĚSÍCI VYJOU NA ZEM, by MOONSPOTTER

Quick Picks

Beautiful experimental electronics from MOONSPOTTER – hopping between experimental ambience, trip hop, spoken word and downtempo electronics. I will need someone to swoop in with some translation expertise, but there is a heavy emotion vibe seated around these tracks – washed out guitars soar and glide around subtle percussion, sealing the atmosphere in a rich and lavish cocoon. There is something deeply satisfying about these tracks that I cannot explain, but I needed to share, so here you are…..

Construct, by Bios Contract

Quick Picks

Unique Avant-Garde electronics from Indian artist Bio Contrast. Construct is a thoughtful exploratory EP consisting of 3 tracks, gliding from static deconstructions into blissful atmospherics and back again. Though altogether less than 10 minutes long – the sonic expanse is astounding – with the concept truly fleshing out by reaching the 3rd track. It’s textural, emotional, and interesting – one of the more rewarding shortform experimental listens I have had the pleasure to enjoy recently. The project is streaming on all platforms as well as for sale over at bandcamp, so show some support! I am looking forward to digging into this artists back catalog, as this was my first exposure to their creations…..

Indigenous Mix 3, by SAD MAN

Quick Picks

SAD MAN is back at it again with a surreal collection of wonky tunes. Following in the footsteps of the artists Indigenous Mix series, this collection of 12 tracks explores electronic concepts often with an electroacoustic palette, with a heavy lean towards world music. Big beats and thick synths sit behind satisfying plucks on mysterious strings and pattering hand percussion. Chimes and bells swirl around the mix creating a jam circle atmosphere that is quite entrancing and relaxing. I am always impressed with SAD MAN’s ability to fuse dissonance with harmony, adding a unique layer in the flavor of experimental jazz. For fans of something out of the ordinary!