Tag: experimental

Three Drones, by Wóma

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UK Microlabel HIRU presents this ambient drone ep from producer Wóma.

Three Drones is quite a utilitarian title for this release – opting for a no-nonsense approach to dark ambient and drone stretched across 3 longform tracks.

Created using an instrument that’s just as much a Sculpture as a musical device, Wóma shreds and scrapes across the bleak landscape. The sounds fold into each other, welding the harsh metallic edges with bold and bombastic low-horns for a bizarre, neo primitive feeling. There is an ancient and cavernous essence to the entire project that is only enhanced by the improvisational techniques applied.

Perfect addition to your Dungeons and Dragons playlist and whip it out the next time your player group is diving deep under Baulder’s Gate in search of treasure! Additionally great for moody mornings, rainy days or moments of introspection.

You can stream and download the project from HIRU’s bandcamp page.

Chill Noise, by Phirnis

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Brought to us by German label Strategic Tape Reserves is this long playing industrial noise album Chill Noise by Viennese artist Phirnis.

Chill Noise, for the titles, is surprisingly full of energy, exploration and movement. Not to say it isn’t relaxing, of course – but if you’re looking for a collection of melodic field recordings you can keep on walking! This album is a wonderful study of industrial ambience – combining harsh tones with gentle atmospherics for a dense and intriguing journey.

The first few tracks are quite grounded in their noisy mystique, remaining quite free-flowing and spatial. Upon reaching the middle of the album we are greeted with an intense underground techno track thanks to the distorted kickdrum flying in! It’s a welcome way to break up the quite ethereal structure of the songs.

Harsh Noise fans will rejoice (or perhaps they won’t?) at the pure listenability of Phirnis‘ sounds. Somehow these tortured, shredded and FM distorted tones are perfectly layered and mixed in the least obtrusive way possible. Taking into consideration the actual sounds heard, this might possibly be the most digestible and easy-on-the-ears harsh noise album I have ever heard.

Between the robust textures and the intense soundscape construction there’s no shortage of fascinating sounds within. Chill Noise deserves a home in your collection – consider picking up a cassette tape to support (only a few are left when we wrote this, so move your butts!) or stream/download the digital edition via bandcamp.

Protenomaly, by Directives

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Intriguing and satisfying lofi noise tapes by Directives, released by Colorado-based label Aubjects.

Protenomaly is a fascinating, psychedelic project – knit together from eclectic plunderphonics and harsh, washed-out guitars. The depth of audio exploration displayed here is breathtaking – with truly intense and complex compositions gracing both sides of the cassette.

As the sounds pass by – the listener is exposed to very unique and visceral samples, structured and presented in a way that guarantees a connection or reaction. There’s thick tape nostalgia in everything from the soaked tone of the mix to bouncing ribboning of guitar experimentation.

Passive percussion accompanies most of the pieces on Side A, though it’s role in the compositions is less about tempo and more about grounding the sound. Pitter-patters of miscellaneous hand drum elements are scattered here and there, offering a pleasant juxtaposition to the rest of the production.

Side B begins with some truly avant-garde plunderphonic arrangement – with aliens gathering together with distorted angels to deliver stuttered spoken word while taking the worlds longest celestial bong hit. The project continues to revel in its experimental and exploratory glory for the remainder of the playtime, indulging in fragmented guitar riffs + noodling as well as delving even deeper into the dark atmospheric ambience presented on Side A.

Protenomaly can be considered a multisensory aesthetic experience – being divided over 3 mediums. First being obviously the audio portion of the project, which can be purchased or streamed via Aubjects bandcamp page. Secondly there is a limited run of 66 handmade cassette tapes, each with a unique handmade presentation. Third and certainly not least is the visual portion which manifests as a full video interpretation of Side B.

The D7 Project, by Mollbury Medical Research Centre

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Haunting beauty and academic-level ambience finds us in this most unique release from Mollbury Medical Research Centre titled The D7 Project.

Shrouded in a thin layer of mystique – The D7 Project is an avant-garde album that draws inspiration from many different subgenres, swirling them together into something interesting and new. Layer upon layer of intriguing sound is laid down in the foundation, paired with dissonant wisps of digital wind and a cart of medical tools being casually unloaded.

For the level of sonic experimentation going on here – the album is quite easy to listen to. Pulsing bass and strategically placed tidbits fuse to create this unique atmosphere. This haunted musique concrète soup dominated the compositions in the best way possible.

The D7 Project – though slightly dark and off kilter – manages to be quite relaxing and peaceful for the first half. By the time the listener reaches Brain Activity it’s a different story altogether. The listeners, or patients perhaps, have clearly already gone through the necessary procedures before this mad brain surgery. The album finishes off with a brilliant yet strange modern classical number with big Twin Peaks feelings laced into the synthetic strings, only deepening the sense of discomfort and intrigue.

For fans of experimental ambient, or for anyone who just need a replacement soundtrack for their next Silent Hill playthrough. After this very powerful and brooding debut, I am very excited to see what the future holds for the Mollbury Medical Research Centre. Stream the album yourself or pick up the digital edition from Bandcamp today.

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20/20 Hindsight, by Plukx Vitamite

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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.