Hello,
I'm deeply sorry, I forgot to feature a few post when writing the Mar, 10 to Mar 16 weekly digest. It is now corrected.
Mar 27, 2012
Mar 26, 2012
Icon Girl Pistols - Goodbye Donuts (Hey, Statue of Liberty)
Are you in a hurry ? This release is available from some major online record stores, such as iTunes and Amazon MP3. Alternatively, you can order the CD directly from the band's official website.
This release was issued in October 2011. This is a follow-up to "New Currency" (the previous album), which was itself a follow-up to an EP and numerous singles.
I discovered Icon Girl Pistols with "Single Collection 2010", which was previously reviewed here. When the newest release was issued, I wasn't still as fond of this band as I am now, and I didn't manage to get the release immediately. But a few month after this, during which I had been listening to the band's music and enjoying it, I decided I had to get Goodbye Donuts, just, you know, in order to see how the band was evolving.
To be true, this is a video posted by the band - a video of Techno Star Jet - that triggered in me the process of thinking about the idea of obtaining the newest release. The video is quite noisy, the song is not on the newest album, and I was thinking "it seems Icon Girl Pistols sounds a bit noisier nowadays, maybe I should listen to the newest release".
The release is not as noisy as the new video. Instead of that, you get seven excellent rock songs, well written and well performed, and recorded in a professional way. Maybe the band is noisier when playing live, I don't know. But Goodbye Donuts is likely to be liked by people who enjoyed "Single Collection 2010", and I am among them.
If I had to sum up, this release still makes me think of some of my favourite records from the 70's pre-punk NY Scene, as it used to happen to me previously, with this band.
But there's also another kind of music that this release makes me think of. An album that is among the one I love the best, and with which this 'Goodbye Donuts (Hey, Statue of Liberty)' has some aspects in commons, according to me. This is "Parallel Lines", the 1978 album of Blondie, which, while coming from the NY Scene, already evolved into something different.
There's things that are shared by both releases. Such as the clearly audible search of perfection, talking about melodies, being vocal ones or guitar solos and riffs. The power and the energy packed in the songs. An overall subtlety that is too rare nowadays...
The result being an album for which I had no choice : I have to review it here, according to my approach of reviewing which currently is, basically, to talk about the best releases I know, no matter how poorly gifted I am when talking about writing on music.
Listening to this album is strongly, really strongly suggested. Why do you think I write all these reviews here ? The few albums I review have simply the highest value among what I discovered during the previous years. They are, according to me, masterpieces. One thing I could do was to testify how good they are, in the hope that a few ones will read the reviews and enjoy the albums as I do.
So please, if you have a valid interest in my opinion, start listening to Icon Girl Pistols today. Depending on your taste, you may encounter one of your all-time favourites.
This release was issued in October 2011. This is a follow-up to "New Currency" (the previous album), which was itself a follow-up to an EP and numerous singles.
I discovered Icon Girl Pistols with "Single Collection 2010", which was previously reviewed here. When the newest release was issued, I wasn't still as fond of this band as I am now, and I didn't manage to get the release immediately. But a few month after this, during which I had been listening to the band's music and enjoying it, I decided I had to get Goodbye Donuts, just, you know, in order to see how the band was evolving.
To be true, this is a video posted by the band - a video of Techno Star Jet - that triggered in me the process of thinking about the idea of obtaining the newest release. The video is quite noisy, the song is not on the newest album, and I was thinking "it seems Icon Girl Pistols sounds a bit noisier nowadays, maybe I should listen to the newest release".
The release is not as noisy as the new video. Instead of that, you get seven excellent rock songs, well written and well performed, and recorded in a professional way. Maybe the band is noisier when playing live, I don't know. But Goodbye Donuts is likely to be liked by people who enjoyed "Single Collection 2010", and I am among them.
If I had to sum up, this release still makes me think of some of my favourite records from the 70's pre-punk NY Scene, as it used to happen to me previously, with this band.
But there's also another kind of music that this release makes me think of. An album that is among the one I love the best, and with which this 'Goodbye Donuts (Hey, Statue of Liberty)' has some aspects in commons, according to me. This is "Parallel Lines", the 1978 album of Blondie, which, while coming from the NY Scene, already evolved into something different.
There's things that are shared by both releases. Such as the clearly audible search of perfection, talking about melodies, being vocal ones or guitar solos and riffs. The power and the energy packed in the songs. An overall subtlety that is too rare nowadays...
The result being an album for which I had no choice : I have to review it here, according to my approach of reviewing which currently is, basically, to talk about the best releases I know, no matter how poorly gifted I am when talking about writing on music.
Listening to this album is strongly, really strongly suggested. Why do you think I write all these reviews here ? The few albums I review have simply the highest value among what I discovered during the previous years. They are, according to me, masterpieces. One thing I could do was to testify how good they are, in the hope that a few ones will read the reviews and enjoy the albums as I do.
So please, if you have a valid interest in my opinion, start listening to Icon Girl Pistols today. Depending on your taste, you may encounter one of your all-time favourites.
That was a week - Mar, 17 to Mar, 23 2012
Few news in the week between March 17 and march 23... Just a Matmix video issued in which he plays drums for a live session with a pianist.
No Monster Club - Dublin
Are you in a hurry ? You can give right now a listen to a few tracks from this release straight from the band's Bandcamp. You can also order the release as vinyl from many various places here or there, including the band's official website, or from their label, CF Records.
Ahem. Reviewing albums is an hard work to do. What can I say to express as exactly as possible how great I think an album is ? You may know, I love No Monster Club. A major band, undoubtedly. I love their spectorian wall-of-sound approach of production, mixed with a major lo-fi influence. I love their killer melodies, their awesome rhythmic patterns, the overall quality of musical writing.
So then, you probably guessed, this No Monster Club release is, actually, what you can expect from such a great band.
If you are already a No Monster Club fan, you can go on without any major problem. This is still Ye Olde No Monster Club, with any of the elements that you were loving in their music in the past.
If you are not a No Monster Club fan, well, I ain't no sure. No Monster Club is a band of a kind that requires some prerequisites in order to love it. Give a listen to a few tracks using the previously given link and make yourself your own opinion.
But for me... Word, this release is ***** great. I like a lot the way the band evolves. While keeping strongly faithful to their own sound, they are nevertheless slightly putting new things in their music, over time. And I like them, for sure. What I noticed for this release is a little more clearly viewable use of some experimental tricks, but don't panic, the whole thing remains what you can expect from the band - and that's why so many people like it so much.
I do not rate records here. When I review a record, this means that it is an excellent one. It has been my golden rule since I started writing for Underketing, and it still is. So then, I do not rate records. But if I had to give a few stars to this one, ... Oh never mind, you know what I want to express. This release is HUGE ! There will never be enough stars available to rate such an album.
I hope this release will eventually be made available in digital format. Maybe such a thing is likely to happen within a few months, when some vinyl albums got sold... But for now if you want to get your hand on it, vinyl is the only option. So, basically, if you want to be one of the early adopters of this excellent record, you'll have to buy it in the most cumbersome mean to store sounds ever invented... And besides this, if you want to listen to it, you'll have to get access to one of these ancient devices used to play such records. (Unless you get it from the label, in such case you'll get a download code) [UPDATE : Download code is included when buying the release from the band, as well]
So, you'll have to deserve the access to this release. Your reward will be to be among the selected few ones who actually got the release.
In any case - providing you listened to the excerpts that are available and liked how the band is sounding on this album - I can say you will be perfectly happy once you get this album in your collection. A must have garage-pop mixture, for which saying it will print a deep footprint in mankind's culture history is only an euphemism.
Ahem. Reviewing albums is an hard work to do. What can I say to express as exactly as possible how great I think an album is ? You may know, I love No Monster Club. A major band, undoubtedly. I love their spectorian wall-of-sound approach of production, mixed with a major lo-fi influence. I love their killer melodies, their awesome rhythmic patterns, the overall quality of musical writing.
So then, you probably guessed, this No Monster Club release is, actually, what you can expect from such a great band.
If you are already a No Monster Club fan, you can go on without any major problem. This is still Ye Olde No Monster Club, with any of the elements that you were loving in their music in the past.
If you are not a No Monster Club fan, well, I ain't no sure. No Monster Club is a band of a kind that requires some prerequisites in order to love it. Give a listen to a few tracks using the previously given link and make yourself your own opinion.
But for me... Word, this release is ***** great. I like a lot the way the band evolves. While keeping strongly faithful to their own sound, they are nevertheless slightly putting new things in their music, over time. And I like them, for sure. What I noticed for this release is a little more clearly viewable use of some experimental tricks, but don't panic, the whole thing remains what you can expect from the band - and that's why so many people like it so much.
I do not rate records here. When I review a record, this means that it is an excellent one. It has been my golden rule since I started writing for Underketing, and it still is. So then, I do not rate records. But if I had to give a few stars to this one, ... Oh never mind, you know what I want to express. This release is HUGE ! There will never be enough stars available to rate such an album.
I hope this release will eventually be made available in digital format. Maybe such a thing is likely to happen within a few months, when some vinyl albums got sold... But for now if you want to get your hand on it, vinyl is the only option. So, basically, if you want to be one of the early adopters of this excellent record, you'll have to buy it in the most cumbersome mean to store sounds ever invented... And besides this, if you want to listen to it, you'll have to get access to one of these ancient devices used to play such records. (Unless you get it from the label, in such case you'll get a download code) [UPDATE : Download code is included when buying the release from the band, as well]
So, you'll have to deserve the access to this release. Your reward will be to be among the selected few ones who actually got the release.
In any case - providing you listened to the excerpts that are available and liked how the band is sounding on this album - I can say you will be perfectly happy once you get this album in your collection. A must have garage-pop mixture, for which saying it will print a deep footprint in mankind's culture history is only an euphemism.
Mar 24, 2012
Piatom+Batmix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzfFOcKMQTU - Matmix just issued a brand new video, a live session with a pianist named Tom, in which Mat plays the drums. A rare instant of fellowship for two musicians.
Mar 20, 2012
That was a week - Mar 10, 2012 to Mar 16, 2012
Not many news, but important one :
Ferdinand Raillefer's review was updated because the tracks are no longer available ; an alternative download source was provided and - exclusive content, not usual in our weekly digest section - then updated since it is becoming a bit difficult to get a copy of the reviewed album - although it is open-licensed - , but the mean currently provided should work.
Also, we got news from the punk act from the Réunion Island, The Circle A ; Devolt's newest release, "Grey", was reviewed, and the newest No Monster Club vinyl is available for pre-order.
Ferdinand Raillefer's review was updated because the tracks are no longer available ; an alternative download source was provided and - exclusive content, not usual in our weekly digest section - then updated since it is becoming a bit difficult to get a copy of the reviewed album - although it is open-licensed - , but the mean currently provided should work.
Also, we got news from the punk act from the Réunion Island, The Circle A ; Devolt's newest release, "Grey", was reviewed, and the newest No Monster Club vinyl is available for pre-order.
Mar 14, 2012
Ferdinand Raillefer review updated
The Ferdinand Raillefer's "Musique cultuelle en 2007" review was updated, because the provided link lead to nowhere since a few time ago. A new link is available.
That was a week - Mar 3, 2012 to Mar 9, 2012
Hey ! Here what happened recently...
The following releases were reviewed :
Alpha lambda gamma's "Schizophrenic Blues"
The newest AF Music compilation
pornophonique's "8-bit lagerfeuer" (they don't want upper-case in the band's name)
Also, Icon Girl Pistols got new members and issued a video.
The following releases were reviewed :
Alpha lambda gamma's "Schizophrenic Blues"
The newest AF Music compilation
pornophonique's "8-bit lagerfeuer" (they don't want upper-case in the band's name)
Also, Icon Girl Pistols got new members and issued a video.
Mar 12, 2012
Newest No Monster Club album, 'Dublin', available for pre-order
That finally happened. The new No Monster Club album, entitled 'Dublin', is available for pre-order on 12" vinyl from the band's official website.
No need to say that, if this release matches the usual quality grade of No Monster Club releases, it will be reviewed here. I already ordered my copy, and you, what are you waiting for ?
The release date is be March, 23, of the great year 2012. As a teaser, a video from the first single, "Be My Bone", is available from YouTube.
No need to say that, if this release matches the usual quality grade of No Monster Club releases, it will be reviewed here. I already ordered my copy, and you, what are you waiting for ?
The release date is be March, 23, of the great year 2012. As a teaser, a video from the first single, "Be My Bone", is available from YouTube.
Devolt - Grey
Are you in a hurry ? You can find this release for download from many online music stores. And, it is streamable from Deezer.
I met Devolt with their previous EP, 'Supernatural Disaster', which was pretty much good. When I heard about their new album, I was a bit afraid. 'Supernatural Disaster' was excellent. Would the next release be as good, or maybe, better ?
But, when I started to listen to the studio version of 'Raining On Me' which is the first song of the release - I already heard a live version of this song - , I quickly knew that once again, Devolt ended up with an excellent release.
Just because, this band is huge. I could name-drop a bit, and Hüsker Dü and Nirvana would be among the name dropped. But I will try to explain how good this album is in a different way.
This release is packed with energy and melody. Especially, talking about melodies, Devolt is mastering the thing. But, when talking about the energy, they are pretty much here too. At ease on many different tempos, the band is both coherent and versatile.
You may wonder, and how about the production ? The production is a good one. Simple and efficient, for an overall result that sounds very natural. Nevertheless, very professional, and, if I had to sum up, excellent.
But what I like the most on this release, is the way the vocals evolved since the previous EP. More emotion, but never sounding fake. For the other components of its sound, Devolt is just as good as before. The new bassist is doing his job well. For everything else, well, this is our plain ol' Devolt, drums that rock and sharp guitar lines.
You know, when I review something here, you can be pretty sure this is a must-have. An excellent album. A milestone in history of music. And, yeah, this album is all of these. Simply. I wrote I was afraid... I had big hopes. The band didn't betray them. Devolt is the kind of band that counts. The kind of band that matters. The kind of band I review here, simply. You know, I ain't got no time to waste writing about albums that would be only average, or just a bit good. If I decide to invest some precious minutes of my life spreading the word about a band, you can be pretty sure that it is an excellent one.
Well, I'm not that fond of the ballad... Yeah, there's a ballad on this release. But when I look at the score, the general score for the album, well, it is quite high. And, maybe, you will like the ballad. I don't know. But what I know, is that, if you take the time to scroll back to the top of this message to use the provided link and give the release a listen, at a minimum you will then be aware of what is your own opinion about a band that starts where so many other bands end.
Did I mention that these guys are French ? Singing in English ? That they played live in famous rock'n'roll clubs in Los Angeles, that they toured in the UK, and that I love their music a lot ? Oh, for the later point you probably guessed it.
I met Devolt with their previous EP, 'Supernatural Disaster', which was pretty much good. When I heard about their new album, I was a bit afraid. 'Supernatural Disaster' was excellent. Would the next release be as good, or maybe, better ?
But, when I started to listen to the studio version of 'Raining On Me' which is the first song of the release - I already heard a live version of this song - , I quickly knew that once again, Devolt ended up with an excellent release.
Just because, this band is huge. I could name-drop a bit, and Hüsker Dü and Nirvana would be among the name dropped. But I will try to explain how good this album is in a different way.
This release is packed with energy and melody. Especially, talking about melodies, Devolt is mastering the thing. But, when talking about the energy, they are pretty much here too. At ease on many different tempos, the band is both coherent and versatile.
You may wonder, and how about the production ? The production is a good one. Simple and efficient, for an overall result that sounds very natural. Nevertheless, very professional, and, if I had to sum up, excellent.
But what I like the most on this release, is the way the vocals evolved since the previous EP. More emotion, but never sounding fake. For the other components of its sound, Devolt is just as good as before. The new bassist is doing his job well. For everything else, well, this is our plain ol' Devolt, drums that rock and sharp guitar lines.
You know, when I review something here, you can be pretty sure this is a must-have. An excellent album. A milestone in history of music. And, yeah, this album is all of these. Simply. I wrote I was afraid... I had big hopes. The band didn't betray them. Devolt is the kind of band that counts. The kind of band that matters. The kind of band I review here, simply. You know, I ain't got no time to waste writing about albums that would be only average, or just a bit good. If I decide to invest some precious minutes of my life spreading the word about a band, you can be pretty sure that it is an excellent one.
Well, I'm not that fond of the ballad... Yeah, there's a ballad on this release. But when I look at the score, the general score for the album, well, it is quite high. And, maybe, you will like the ballad. I don't know. But what I know, is that, if you take the time to scroll back to the top of this message to use the provided link and give the release a listen, at a minimum you will then be aware of what is your own opinion about a band that starts where so many other bands end.
Did I mention that these guys are French ? Singing in English ? That they played live in famous rock'n'roll clubs in Los Angeles, that they toured in the UK, and that I love their music a lot ? Oh, for the later point you probably guessed it.
Mar 11, 2012
News from The Circle-A
According to some sources, after a bit of delay, The Circle-A would be about to enter the studio to record their debut album. According to the same sources, it would be available in limited vinyl (some says, 500 copies, but nothing is sure), and would be recorded in live condition, the whole band playing together during the recording process.
In the meanwhile, the Réunion Island (Indian Ocean, French territory) band is touring intensively, and released two live tracks for free streaming on their official website.
In the meanwhile, the Réunion Island (Indian Ocean, French territory) band is touring intensively, and released two live tracks for free streaming on their official website.
Mar 9, 2012
Icon Girl Pistols unveils new video, gets new members
Icon Girl Pistols, a Japanese rock band that we love a lot here at Underketing, and that has releases under free license for some of them, and under standard copyright for some other ones (as far as I know), just announced that two new members joined the band, Goldflash and Stuart.
The band also released a new music video from their song Techno Star Jet, which can be seen from YouTube.
Their newest release is entitled "Goodbye Donuts (Hey, Statue of Liberty)", has been released during October 2011, and is available in a pay-to-download manner from iTunes and Amazon MP3, as well as on CD from the band. There's also other releases available for free download from the band's official website and from Dogmazic.net.
The band also released a new music video from their song Techno Star Jet, which can be seen from YouTube.
Their newest release is entitled "Goodbye Donuts (Hey, Statue of Liberty)", has been released during October 2011, and is available in a pay-to-download manner from iTunes and Amazon MP3, as well as on CD from the band. There's also other releases available for free download from the band's official website and from Dogmazic.net.
Mar 8, 2012
pornophonique - 8-bit lagerfeuer
Are you in a hurry ? You can stream and download this release, for free and legally, either from the band's official website (where you can also buy the release on CD) or from a certain site, I am not sure of its name, maybe it is Jamendo.
This release is open-licensed, you can make copies for your friends.
Also, the lower-case at the beginning of the band's name is deliberate, as far as I know.
So, what are we talking about ? We are talking about a German duet, singing in English, mixing vocals, guitars, and electronic sounds, and especially chiptune sounds, made with a Gameboy and a Commodore 64. The rock influence is here, the chiptune influence is here too, so then you already guessed that I like this release a lot.
You may know, when I started writing for Underketing, I tried to write about as many releases from the past few years that I could remember, and that were, according to me, milestones in history of music.
The advantage of this approach is that I ended up with a very spontaneous style of writing - yes, I always write and publish as quickly as possible, that's why there's so many typos around.
But the drawback was there were chances for excellent releases to get forgotten in the process.
That's exactly what happened to this release. I just forgot to write about it. But when wandering on Flattr a few days ago, I found once again pornophonique, and after a few time I realised that not to have their release featured here was a big mistake.
Just because, this album is really good. Oh, I know, you may think it's just plain silly, or worse, to write songs about nerdy things such as (I quote the band) "the loneliness in computerdungeons". But the music is here. And, besides the thematic used by the project for the lyrics, there's the music. Just plain awesome music.
I must add, this release was recommended to me by a friend. That's a really good way to discover a release. And I don't mean yet-another-social-media-share, but, yeah, an old-fashioned email, with a brand new subject dedicated to the topic.
When a friend writes to you in such way, you have to go to check. That's what I did. And, at the first listening, I wasn't totally digging the music. But after listening to it more, now I can say this is exactly the kind of releases that I want to feature in my Underketing reviews. Excellent, really excellent music, the kind of music that can become just like an old fellow, by your side for long.
I must add, as a warning, on some tracks the overall result is quite powerful, and if you don't like such things, you may prefer some other tracks that are more nuanced. To be true, the release has the ability to be liked by various kind of people, all of them with their own taste.
I think I summed up everything that I wanted to say. Now it's up to you to act, or not. You can use one of the above links and discover this release, which is, I think, a great one. Or you can decide that it is not for you, just relying on my own opinion, which can be inaccurate or false. You get me ? I would suggest you not to trust what I said, and to go there, and to decide by yourself.
This release is open-licensed, you can make copies for your friends.
Also, the lower-case at the beginning of the band's name is deliberate, as far as I know.
So, what are we talking about ? We are talking about a German duet, singing in English, mixing vocals, guitars, and electronic sounds, and especially chiptune sounds, made with a Gameboy and a Commodore 64. The rock influence is here, the chiptune influence is here too, so then you already guessed that I like this release a lot.
You may know, when I started writing for Underketing, I tried to write about as many releases from the past few years that I could remember, and that were, according to me, milestones in history of music.
The advantage of this approach is that I ended up with a very spontaneous style of writing - yes, I always write and publish as quickly as possible, that's why there's so many typos around.
But the drawback was there were chances for excellent releases to get forgotten in the process.
That's exactly what happened to this release. I just forgot to write about it. But when wandering on Flattr a few days ago, I found once again pornophonique, and after a few time I realised that not to have their release featured here was a big mistake.
Just because, this album is really good. Oh, I know, you may think it's just plain silly, or worse, to write songs about nerdy things such as (I quote the band) "the loneliness in computerdungeons". But the music is here. And, besides the thematic used by the project for the lyrics, there's the music. Just plain awesome music.
I must add, this release was recommended to me by a friend. That's a really good way to discover a release. And I don't mean yet-another-social-media-share, but, yeah, an old-fashioned email, with a brand new subject dedicated to the topic.
When a friend writes to you in such way, you have to go to check. That's what I did. And, at the first listening, I wasn't totally digging the music. But after listening to it more, now I can say this is exactly the kind of releases that I want to feature in my Underketing reviews. Excellent, really excellent music, the kind of music that can become just like an old fellow, by your side for long.
I must add, as a warning, on some tracks the overall result is quite powerful, and if you don't like such things, you may prefer some other tracks that are more nuanced. To be true, the release has the ability to be liked by various kind of people, all of them with their own taste.
I think I summed up everything that I wanted to say. Now it's up to you to act, or not. You can use one of the above links and discover this release, which is, I think, a great one. Or you can decide that it is not for you, just relying on my own opinion, which can be inaccurate or false. You get me ? I would suggest you not to trust what I said, and to go there, and to decide by yourself.
Various artists - Join the dark side, we got the music !
Are you in a hurry ? You do not need to keep on reading. Instead of that, you can stream this release straight from the label (which is AF Music)'s bandcamp. There, you can also pre-order the CD in a limited edition of 100, and if you do so, you'll be able to download the audio files immediately. Release date for the CD is planned for March, 13 2012. Please note that streaming currently requires Flash.
(complete track listing is to be found below)
AF Music is a German label, with bands from various countries in the world, focusing on the Gothic, New Wave, Post Punk, Indie styles, mainly. This compilation gives a good snapshot of the kind of music they use to feature.
You may (or you may not) know that I like a lot what AF Music has to offer. I discovered this great label back in September 2011, and I must confess I did until now not find the time to wander enough on their website to discover just anything that is available. So then, such a compilation is just perfect to discover some of the excellent bands from this label.
And, I must add immediately, well, this compilation is HUGE ! Providing you like the styles the label uses to feature, which is not certain, but in any case I can say that the tracks on this release were carefully selected to make the listening experience a close-to-perfect thing.
I don't see any weak point in the track selection. All of them are likely to be enjoyed ; the curatorial work has been done consciously and no mistakes were made. The overall result is very coherent. I would especially recommend this compilation to people who love Siouxie And The Banshees, The Lords Of The New Church, The Cure, that kind of things. This can also be applied to the label as a whole, by the way.
If I had to determine what is my favourite track on this compilation, well, I would be pretty much in trouble. As I wrote just before, the selecting process was so carefully done that many if not any of the featured tracks are pure gems, definitively excellent tracks, and this is a kind of draw when trying to decide which is the best one, at least, according to me.
Even the tracks that are slightly below other ones, in my own taste, are already far better that most of songs that use to be released nowadays. And, talking about the best ones, they are so good... I don't know what I should add to make you consider seriously the idea of listening to this release.
As of per usual, AF Music perfectly achieved a great achievement in the field of excellence. I don't know how far this label will go, but I can say, and this, is definitively and absolutely true, that they already are far beyond the usual quality standards in the world of contemporary music.
And now, as promised, here's the complete tracklisting :
1. Principe Valiente - In My Arms 04:18
2. The Foreign Resort - Take A Walk 03:49
3. The Transisters - Confuse-a-cat 03:03
4. M!R!M - No Way 03:59
5. Winter Severity Index - The Wiser 03:46
6. Rhombus - Timeless And Elegant 05:05
7. Christine Plays Viola - Permutations 03:50
8. Legion (UK) - Collapse 03:59
9. The Knutz - Ghost Dance Party 04:49
10. Stromble Fix - Dragonfly 03:47
11. Shearer - Monument 03:13
12. Rebentisch - Befreien 04:07
13. (((S))) - Hole In My Heart 03:36
14. The Search - The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter 04:15
15. Emerald Park - At the Mall 02:49
16. Danish Daycare - A Purpose To My Sins 04:52
17. Tobias Borelius - Arkitekten 02:50
18. Deied - A Shell Full Of Scars 04:39
19. Eternal Nightmare - The Worst Day In History 04:14
You are still here ? Please, go back to the top of this message and use the link provided to give this release a listen.
(complete track listing is to be found below)
AF Music is a German label, with bands from various countries in the world, focusing on the Gothic, New Wave, Post Punk, Indie styles, mainly. This compilation gives a good snapshot of the kind of music they use to feature.
You may (or you may not) know that I like a lot what AF Music has to offer. I discovered this great label back in September 2011, and I must confess I did until now not find the time to wander enough on their website to discover just anything that is available. So then, such a compilation is just perfect to discover some of the excellent bands from this label.
And, I must add immediately, well, this compilation is HUGE ! Providing you like the styles the label uses to feature, which is not certain, but in any case I can say that the tracks on this release were carefully selected to make the listening experience a close-to-perfect thing.
I don't see any weak point in the track selection. All of them are likely to be enjoyed ; the curatorial work has been done consciously and no mistakes were made. The overall result is very coherent. I would especially recommend this compilation to people who love Siouxie And The Banshees, The Lords Of The New Church, The Cure, that kind of things. This can also be applied to the label as a whole, by the way.
If I had to determine what is my favourite track on this compilation, well, I would be pretty much in trouble. As I wrote just before, the selecting process was so carefully done that many if not any of the featured tracks are pure gems, definitively excellent tracks, and this is a kind of draw when trying to decide which is the best one, at least, according to me.
Even the tracks that are slightly below other ones, in my own taste, are already far better that most of songs that use to be released nowadays. And, talking about the best ones, they are so good... I don't know what I should add to make you consider seriously the idea of listening to this release.
As of per usual, AF Music perfectly achieved a great achievement in the field of excellence. I don't know how far this label will go, but I can say, and this, is definitively and absolutely true, that they already are far beyond the usual quality standards in the world of contemporary music.
And now, as promised, here's the complete tracklisting :
1. Principe Valiente - In My Arms 04:18
2. The Foreign Resort - Take A Walk 03:49
3. The Transisters - Confuse-a-cat 03:03
4. M!R!M - No Way 03:59
5. Winter Severity Index - The Wiser 03:46
6. Rhombus - Timeless And Elegant 05:05
7. Christine Plays Viola - Permutations 03:50
8. Legion (UK) - Collapse 03:59
9. The Knutz - Ghost Dance Party 04:49
10. Stromble Fix - Dragonfly 03:47
11. Shearer - Monument 03:13
12. Rebentisch - Befreien 04:07
13. (((S))) - Hole In My Heart 03:36
14. The Search - The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter 04:15
15. Emerald Park - At the Mall 02:49
16. Danish Daycare - A Purpose To My Sins 04:52
17. Tobias Borelius - Arkitekten 02:50
18. Deied - A Shell Full Of Scars 04:39
19. Eternal Nightmare - The Worst Day In History 04:14
You are still here ? Please, go back to the top of this message and use the link provided to give this release a listen.
ΑΛΓ - Schizophrenic Blues
Are you in a hurry ? Reading this review is not necessary. You can, instead of that, go to the release page on Dogmazic.net where you can stream and/or download this album, legally and for free.
This release is open-licensed. You can make copies for your friends.
ΑΛΓ (alpha lambda gamma) is a one man band, located in France, almost always singing in English, who mixes blues, rock and pop influence for a very interesting result. You may know, I like lo-fi releases. This one is not of this kind. It is really professionally recorded, produced and mastered. A thing that I can appreciate too, especially when the usual I-will-sound-louder-than-you tricks are not used ; and this is the case of this album. The production is subtle and very pleasant.
But this wouldn't be enough to have it featured here, because, as you may know. I use to review releases that struck me, releases that I like more than a lot, that I love beyond words. And, yes, this is this kind of release. Here's the few reasons that make me think that this album is exceptional. Yours may differ, but I am pretty sure you can enjoy this release too, whatever your reasons are.
First thing, the song-writing is really, really good. I will not try to explain how the magic operated, but it is here, for sure.
Second thing, the arrangements are over the top. Especially, ΑΛΓ is not afraid of using from time to time slightly out-of-sync riffs, and this is the kind of thing that deserves my respect. But outside this, we got here someone that is truly mastering the writing of arrangements that rocks. Just give the release a listen and you will understand what I mean.
Third thing, the performing is outstanding. Especially, vocals and guitar. When I say 'outstanding', I mean, just, plain 'outstanding'.
A last thing, I suppose that, when listening in a focused manner, you can detect a very light and very subtle subtle alternative/noisy rock touch in these songs. Well, the alt-rock thing is not that hard to notice, actually. The noisy thing is a bit more discreet. But the two things add a lot of value to the album.
I discovered the release a few hours back, with the song 'Christian Mess'. This song immediately triggered in my brain, at an unconscious level, the process of considering the idea of reviewing the release here. And a few hours later, the decision emerged clearly, I had to write a bit about this great album.
Some tracks on this release are made available to the audience through the (net ?)label 'guenille all stars', some other are self-released. This, said, to end this text on a purely factual note. So then, you know what you've got to do now. Scroll up to the top of this message, click on the link, and enjoy !
This release is open-licensed. You can make copies for your friends.
ΑΛΓ (alpha lambda gamma) is a one man band, located in France, almost always singing in English, who mixes blues, rock and pop influence for a very interesting result. You may know, I like lo-fi releases. This one is not of this kind. It is really professionally recorded, produced and mastered. A thing that I can appreciate too, especially when the usual I-will-sound-louder-than-you tricks are not used ; and this is the case of this album. The production is subtle and very pleasant.
But this wouldn't be enough to have it featured here, because, as you may know. I use to review releases that struck me, releases that I like more than a lot, that I love beyond words. And, yes, this is this kind of release. Here's the few reasons that make me think that this album is exceptional. Yours may differ, but I am pretty sure you can enjoy this release too, whatever your reasons are.
First thing, the song-writing is really, really good. I will not try to explain how the magic operated, but it is here, for sure.
Second thing, the arrangements are over the top. Especially, ΑΛΓ is not afraid of using from time to time slightly out-of-sync riffs, and this is the kind of thing that deserves my respect. But outside this, we got here someone that is truly mastering the writing of arrangements that rocks. Just give the release a listen and you will understand what I mean.
Third thing, the performing is outstanding. Especially, vocals and guitar. When I say 'outstanding', I mean, just, plain 'outstanding'.
A last thing, I suppose that, when listening in a focused manner, you can detect a very light and very subtle subtle alternative/noisy rock touch in these songs. Well, the alt-rock thing is not that hard to notice, actually. The noisy thing is a bit more discreet. But the two things add a lot of value to the album.
I discovered the release a few hours back, with the song 'Christian Mess'. This song immediately triggered in my brain, at an unconscious level, the process of considering the idea of reviewing the release here. And a few hours later, the decision emerged clearly, I had to write a bit about this great album.
Some tracks on this release are made available to the audience through the (net ?)label 'guenille all stars', some other are self-released. This, said, to end this text on a purely factual note. So then, you know what you've got to do now. Scroll up to the top of this message, click on the link, and enjoy !
Mar 4, 2012
That was a week - Feb 25, 2012 to Mar 2, 2012
No much news, but nevertheless, Gotch released a new song.
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