Tag: idm

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

TREETRAX VOLUME ONE

Quick Picks

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!

Limnociclo, by Druida

Quick Picks

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.

Cold EP, by Vasko the Pig

Quick Picks

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.

Audible Life Stream, by Synkretic

Quick Picks

Audible Life Stream is a new full-length album from multidisciplinary musician and artist Synkretic, brought to us by Megatape Records.

ALS is a brave yet playful collection of tracks. Embracing experimental electronic exploration, the sounds swirl from distorted acid breaks into lofi ambience with acrobatic ease.

Tracks like Nach Jahreziet embrace this lush majestic side like a cozy hug. The rest of the album tends to settle into a nook somewhere between chiptune footwork and progressive trip-hop.

Hinting at braindance with a subtle energy that seems to be bubbling, waiting to explode – Synkretic does a magnificent job keeping things under control, like a surfer taming a rogue wave.

Even at its most chaotic – ALS manages to be incredibly listenable. Quite an impressive accomplishment when utilizing so many unique rhythms and progressions. Structure can easily break down into unmanageable and tangled walls of noise, but what we hear here is true controlled chaos.

Big recommendation on this one – if you agree, do a deep dive on Synkretic to enjoy other creations, both visual and musical. The record is out now both digitally and on Cassette.

Moist Jazz, by TEEN SMOKING

Quick Picks

Forward-thinking experimental electronics peppered with free-jazz – TEEN SMOKING goes all out in this mini album Moist Jazz.

Released in October 2020 – Moist Jazz is a 6 track project that is hard to pin down. Drawing from experimental corners of sound creation such as plunderphonics, harsh noise and freeform jazz. Synths flicker with lo-fi charm, poised against churning atmospherics and occasional flourishing rhythms and melodies.

The album sits at a nice, relaxed pace. Tracks like Atlantean Fight Song and Machine Wash provide a mellow, downtempo experience – breaking up the manic acid-jams. It never gets too hectic, but it is a few active steps away from ambient, despite the very atmospheric nature of the songs.

For fans of plunderphonic vaporwave and experimental ambience – you’ll find this one a unique and rewarding listen. Maybe if we’re lucky it will get a tape release! In the meantime, you can stream and download via Bandcamp.

Eternity Hotline – Soy Sauce (Music Video)

Videos

Feast your eyes and your ears upon the brilliant dark thickness of Soy Sauce!

We are very excited to premier this amazingly twisted music video for Eternity Hotlines’ track from their latest album, Super Glue.

The video itself is a fun journey through a bleak yet surreal world – scooting playfully along the edge of the void whilst having an out-of-body experience.

Retro polygonal forms flicker in and out of existence atop an abyssal pool, dark as soy sauce! Eventually we wake up in our dentists office – that was one powerful dose of anesthetic, we think to ourselves. Perhaps it was laced with something more powerful…

Be sure to check out the full album from Eternity Hotline, which we took a close listen to recently!

Hypnotist, by Toxic Chicken

Quick Picks

Hypnotist is a mellow IDM experience from producer Toxic Chicken, presented by Earthrid.

The 9 track project dances around experimental styles, touching on bit-crushed beats and melodic ambient atmospherics, all tied together by warm electronics. Pounding acid synths sit comfortably next to swooping fuzzy pads as the songs hop along.

There is an interesting overall energy to the album – at times becoming quite rowdy and avant-garde, yet maintaining a firm grounded feeling. The result is a very accessible experimental album – perfect for new ears to this type of freeform experimental electronic sound. With its playful diversity and satisfying and subtly melancholy undertones, this one should definitely be in your listening queue!

Super Glue, by Eternity Hotline

Reviews

Warped and destroyed acid electronica sounds from Eternity Hotline, brought to us by Sacramento’s Outer Grid Records.

I personally dove into this one not knowing what to expect. I am not familiar with Outer Grid Records, but I can say for sure that I am a fan now! Same goes for Eternity Hotline (not to be biased, but we love all things Eternity here…) – a producer I was not aware of at all, but I am deeply impressed and energized by this release, Super Glue.

Continue reading “Super Glue, by Eternity Hotline” →

Surgical, by xas abra

Quick Picks

Supremely satisfying sonic experiments from xas abra – brought to us by Engram Recordings.

Surgical is a 10-track album, curiously with each track weighing in at exactly 4 minutes and 34 seconds. Is there an underlying purpose to this? Does it signal that these sounds are perhaps generated, or trimmed from larger improvisational recordings? It’s all quite curious and, in the end, it really does not matter, as the sounds themselves are deeply interesting and engaging to consume.

From fuzzy lo-fi glitches to off-kilter synthetic shredding, xas wields a sonic toolkit of extravagant diversity and force, as layer upon layer of textural waves overlap and merge again and again. With the heavy rhythmic elements added to what could have easily been a pure-drone experiment, the tracks float into “deconstructed club” territory as the warbled synths are consumed by powerful hissing percussion. Don’t underestimate this one as it’s a dense and delicious project!

Download the album now via Engram Recordings bandcamp, and be sure to explore xas’ world further…