Tag: experimental

20/20 Hindsight, by Plukx Vitamite

Quick Picks

Fresh madness from MEGATAPE RECORDS – let’s take a look at 20/20 Hindsight by Plukx Vitamite, a breakcore journey soaked in energy and intelligence.

20/20 Hindsight is at times manic, like the best IDM is – and as with many of my favorite producers of this genre, Plukx Vitamite finds wonderful ways to twist the gnarly waveforms into perfectly chopped and syncopated madness. Tracks like The World Turns Red take a beautiful maximal approach to braindance, seamlessly flowing between distinct rhythms and flavors – synthesizers ripping and soaring back and forth, cradled by the spastic percussion riffs.

Sometimes more pure speedcore and gabber can really throw me through a loop, especially if it’s fragmented and disconnected. Even amidst the most furious breakbeats and shredded samples, 20/20 Hindsight finds that magical zone of “high-speed-flow” that is commonly found in electronic music 170-240bpm and beyond – resulting in an extremely groovy breakcore experience.

You can pick up 20/20 Hindsight on Cassette or Digital via Megatape Records bandcamp page

Watershed, by Dao De Noize

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Watershed by Dao De Noize is a contemplative and brooding ambient project presented by Wormhole World Records.

The 5 tracks are lengthy and expansive, conveying potent feelings and visuals throughout the playtime. Amidst the avant-garde synth work lurks an ominous energy that is sprawling yet not rushed. Stylistically speaking, the album occupies a space in between atmospheric ambient and soft industrial. Mellow enough to be relaxing but imbued with deep emotions that lend to the darkness and a sense of urgency.

Watershed explores some longform concepts as well, including the 5th and final track which clocks in at a whopping 32 minutes. These longer tracks allow Dao De Noize to really find foothold in the sounds, slowly churning and evolving as time ticks on. Macrostudies in ambient-techno and fuzzy radio waves gliding across the landscape.

For fans of Dark Ambient and Industrial, Watershed will be a deeply satisfying experience and likely will be on rotation for several years thanks to both its listenability and ability to challenge the listener. Watershed was created by Ukrainian artist Artem Pismenetskii aka Dao De Noize – all proceeds will be donated to Ukrainian support charities. While the CD is sold out already, we can still enjoy the digital edition via Wormhole Worlds Bandcamp Page.

TREETRAX VOLUME ONE

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We are incredibly proud and excited to announce a brand new compilation series in collaboration with our label branch WEBELOTRAX RECORDS – we present to you TreeTrax Volume One!

18 Producers and Artists gathered together to create and experiment for this project. We encouraged all participants to not worry about genre but to focus on exploring their own creative essence. The result is broad, bold and impressive to say the least.

The track list explores the more gritty and eclectic side of underground electronic music – pinballing between floating ambience to distorted groove in a most satisfying way.

We hope this collection of songs is inspiring, perhaps a little challenging, because that’s how the underground flourishes. Please explore and support all the participating artists directly!

Beyond the Starbox [Deluxe Edition], by Jake Stevenson

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Dreamy dissonance and celestial chimes from this stellar re-release by Jake Stevenson presented by Legendary Entertainment.

Beyond the Starbox is a intriguing and satisfying little album that captures fuzzy feelings of nostalgia with a healthy spoonful of existential dread. Lathered and rinsed in retro video game vibes, I often felt like I was exploring some polygonal landscape before clipping into a bizarre hidden zone. The comforting yet haunting aura of drifting pianos and hazy distorted synthesizers evokes some pretty potent emotions, packing a whole lot of emotion into the gently dissonant soundscapes.

The second half of the project is a full-album remix by Second Sight – offering yet another angle to view this bizarre world. Quite a unique concept which definitely adds to the charm and playability of this album.

The project is officially available on Cassette now as well as digital editions via Bandcamp.

Limnociclo, by Druida

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New experimental sounds from the Vivarium Recordings camp!

Limnociclo by Druida is a marvelous experience of sonic exploration – successfully weaving together threads of lofi chiptunes, long lost casio loops and an atmosphere of thick smoke.

I am always a big fan of electroacoustic experimentation, so Limnociclo ended up being a deeply satisfying experience for me. Druida masterfully layers very intimate pluckings and tappings with urgent bass and frothing pads of dissonance. The result is a surreal and soundtrack-esque experience.

Tracks like Forma really caught my attention, fusing together reggaeton and post-vaporwave into a downtempo groove. Or Nowhere FM – where the true experimentality of the project is given space to breathe and flourish.

I could go on about how the rhythmic shredding massages my brain, how the project is mixed so masterfully that you can almost taste the local climate, or how flawlessly the album glides between genres and tones. To put it simply, you need to hear it to understand, and I highly recommend this one.

You can stream and download the project now from Vivarium Recordings bandcamp page.

Synergy, by Isamesu

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Synergy is a 4 track EP of radically luscious soundscapes and gritty experimental techno created by Isamesu and presented by Illegal Alien Records.

This release really drew me in – gripping my attention with fierce determination. This is psychedelic ambient music that has been soaked in absinthe and distortion for a fortnight. Fusing together ambient mentality with techno urgency, Isamesu communicates a feeling of futuristic antiquity with their layers of frothing percussion and otherworldly synths. The sounds provoke you to contemplate – encouraging the listener to stand on their toes and scan the horizon, hunted and haunted.

Truly energetic and unique, throw this one on for big cyberpunk vibes and archaic inspiration. Available now digitally or on cassette via the label’s Bandcamp page.

Cold EP, by Vasko the Pig

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I am not sure what is in the air that has compelled people to start unearthing and releasing long-lost creations, but I am certainly loving the trend!

From 2014 we have the Cold EP by Vasko the Pig (Fwonk, Webelotrax and beyond) – a hazy and glitchy little experience drawn out across 4 lengthy tracks.

Vasko really flexes their signature “industrial yet melodic” style all over this project, with sweeping pads and buzzing synths engulfing the listener as if we are witnessing some bizarre sonic ritual manifest. The beginnings of harsh shredding sounds ripping through dimensions eventually settle into both rhythmic and melodic clarity.

Described by the producer as “Noisy and Weird. Messier than the stuff I do now” – however you could have fooled me, as tracks like Quarantine Zone (an interesting title indeed!) are focused, polished and intriguing.

For fans of drone, post-rock and ambient vaporwave – there’s a little something for everyone in here. You can stream + download the EP directly from the artists bandcamp.

Spreading Roots Episode #5

Mixes

Spreading Roots Episode #5 is out NOW on Ingrown Radio!

This installment of our hour-long radio show features a healthy dose of what I consider thinking music.

Lots of downtempo grooves, melancholy progressions and atmospheric ambience.

Some might call it background music – and it can absolutely serve this purpose. But upon a closer listen, the sounds can be both a tool for meditation and introspection.

Please enjoy this episode of Spreading Roots…

Spreading Roots is a Mix Series Presented by Ingrown Records

Songs selected and mixed by Eternity Tree’s Christopher Hoffmann Jacob (A.K.A. Ohsaurus)

Christopher’s Links – Website  Label  Twitter

Listen and Explore via BNDCMPR!

Tracklist

  1. emptybrother7 – lxvnge
    https://emptybrother7.bandcamp.com/track/lxvnge
  2. Liquid Fin – FACES + PLACES (blasted mix)
    https://liquidfin.bandcamp.com/track/faces-places-blasted-mix
  3. Kriva – Alka-Seltzer
    https://outcasttapes.bandcamp.com/track/alka-seltzer
  4. DJ Presença – AON 25
    https://presenca.bandcamp.com/track/aon-25
  5. Antonello Perfetto & Greg Nieuwsma – T-Bar Cichlid
    https://submarinebroadcastingco.bandcamp.com/track/t-bar-cichlid
  6. LIFE EDUCATION – Canyon Decay
    https://kosmonauten.bandcamp.com/track/canyon-decay
  7. Orvang Halmer – IMAX Waterfalls
    https://ingrown.bandcamp.com/track/imax-waterfalls
  8. gnaarf – Out of Mind, into the Night
    https://gnaarf.bandcamp.com/track/out-of-mind-into-the-night
  9. Multiform Palace – Street Koto
    https://multiformpalace.bandcamp.com/track/street-koto
  10. Scott Thorough – 4PM
    https://scottthorough.bandcamp.com/track/4pm
  11. Sleep Movies – 5G DAYDRM
    https://sleepmovies.bandcamp.com/track/5g-daydrm-2
  12. Lunar Cambridge – The Celestial Mechanic
    https://webelotrax.bandcamp.com/track/the-celestial-mechanic
  13. The Gaye Device – The Other Where The Other When
    https://submarinebroadcastingco.bandcamp.com/track/the-other-where-the-other-when
  14. waavypanda – basophobia
    https://waavypanda.bandcamp.com/
  15. DJ Presença – Enigma
    https://presenca.bandcamp.com/track/enigma
  16. Spooki Tavi – If There Is Then With You
    https://doomtrip.bandcamp.com/track/if-there-is-then-with-you

World Carousel, by Orvang Halmer

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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.

blood year, by Cyparissus

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Luscious lo-fi drones from Cyparissus – blood year is a 4 track album with a heavy, brooding atmosphere.

The style is hazy and rustic – dusty and crusty textures layered atop waves of melancholy synth pads. The melodies and progressions take a backseat to quite prominent “field recordings” and other textural oddities. From dribbling rain and distant rolling thunder to crunchy and compressed tape sounds, Cyparissus utilizes a vast array of audio cues to evoke some potent emotions.

When the calm pads do overtake the noisy drones, they are quite placid and comforting! This provides a beautiful base for the rest of the textural sounds to stretch their legs.

If you’re a fan of slightly-dark ambient, or you’d like some noisy drone music that isn’t too harsh, I highly recommend checking out both blood year and the rest of Cyparissus’ discography, which is available on Bandcamp.