A nice, mellow surprise out of India. aswekeepsearching are a post-rock band out of Pune. The band’s sound reminds me of something with a calming, cinematic feel which is complemented with a rock music structure underneath. Quite enjoyable.
Downloads
[Music] Zan Hoffman & Hubert Heathertoes – Kaunastic Relapse of Idiosyncrasies: The Baltic Innoculation and other wayward ditties
Zan Hoffman and Hubert Heathertoes have been featured twice on this blog before (see here and here), and each time, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by their output. The good lads continue their tradition of splicing together drone, field recordings, and an aura of pleasantly calming weirdness together for well over an hour of headphone bliss.
[Music] Lovataraxx – Hébéphrénie
Being someone who cut his teeth on post-punk, new wave and other genres of the decade, it blows my mind that one can find bands who keep these traditions alive, and in some cases, make improvements on them.
Lovataraxx are a band based out of Grenoble, France. The French have a a criminally neglected history of amazing cold wave acts who deserve far wider recognition, but a lot of the music here seems to be influenced equally as much by their neighbors to the west, across the English Channel, and to their immediate east in Germany. One can hear the influence of bands like Depeche Mode and The Cure in their early incarnations, DAF, and several other bands I grew up enjoying.
Much respect to Hélène and Julien, who have released an unpolished gem here. Fine work!
[Music] Tomáš Dvořák – Machinarium Soundtrack
Tomáš Dvořák is a composer, clarinetist and multimedia artist based in the Czech Republic. He produces a soundtrack that blends elements of soundtrack music, game music, electroacoustic music, and a touch of IDM that works very well together.
[Music] Departure Street – Two Islands in the Heart
Departure Street is American/French guitarist Allan J. Kimmel. Reading his bio on the Bandcamp release page, he calls his work neo-folk. I thought it a strange term, as I normally associate it with dark bands who worked with music that would set well with fans of bands like Death In June, Current 93 and the like. Giving this a couple of listens, perhaps there is some connection there. What I hear a bit more strongly is a sound that compares well with contemporary guitarists like Cousin Silas. This has floaty, pleasant feel to it. Worth a third or fourth listen, definitely.
From Allan’s Bandcamp page:
Departure Street, AKA Allan J. Kimmel, creates tranquil electric guitar meditations that sprawl and explore like the hungry tendrils of an aggressive ivy.
Kimmel, who hails from both America and France, has filled this record with nothing but vividly surreal instrumental soundscapes, which are comprised purely of his multi-tracked and effects-laden solo guitar. Across the record’s nine tracks, Kimmel takes his unique brand of psychedelic loner-folk, and stirs in elements of reverb-heavy ambient music, cosmic American primitivism and even some Middle Eastern folk traditions. The resulting brew is a heady yet mellow mix that glides along with a pleasant ease.
While the album feels like one large suite, “Ascension” is certainly a highlight. David Gilmour-esque slide guitar coasts through slow waves of spacey, repetitive riffs, all while Kimmel laces melancholic solos across the entirety of the piece. There’s a heavy atmosphere in “Ascension,” and it makes you think about people and places that you’re nostalgic for, or pleasant dreams that you’ve once had. It’s certainly a comforting recording, but there is some sort of loss hidden just below the surface.
Two Islands in the Heart is a complex record despite its minimalist approach, and it’s an unexpectedly emotionally charged one, as well. If you are a fan of Steve Palmer’s latest record, Cian Nugent or David Grubbs, then you need this album.
[Music] Janne Hanhisuanto – Ambient Collection 2020
Janne Hanhisuanto is an ambient music composer out of Finland. His soundscapes are about as bleak as his homeland. What I enjoy most about his work is that it hovers somewhere between 5 and 9 minutes, and it gives one time to really let the mind enjoy each and every pulse of this work. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Janne soon.
[Music] Philippe Simon – Android
This is something of a revelation to me. Until the good folks at Kalamine Records (run by Zumaia) told me about him, he was off my radar. This I count as a loss, because Philippe Simon brings a vibrant, updated sound to the Berlin School of electronic music which peaked with artists like Klaus Schulze, Mario Schönwälder and others during the 1980s. Simon’s sound is a fresh, even better-produced continuation of that tradition.
He has made 200 albums. I have some exploring to do.
[Music] Virus (Italy) – Eudaimonia
This was a very pleasant surprise. Virus is, perhaps, not the best choice of band name only because there are so many great bands (including a legendary Austrian one I whose album I was listening to today) who share the monicker, but because it is about as far away from the music as possible.
The music claims to be influenced by bands like Sigur Rós, but I hear elements of New Order, some 80’s funk and pop, and a nearly shoegaze-meets-Gospel music feel.
Quite good!
[Music] Various Artists – À Découvrir Absolument 48
À Découvrir Absolument is a magazine out of France which covers its country’s best indie music. They have 50 compilations, and #48 was my intro to their label. Worth exploring deeply.
[Music] Web Web – Worshippers
Compost Records released an album by Web Web a few days ago which hit a sweet spot for me. The album is a magical combination of free improv (without the racket), kosmische musik, soul and fusion, laced with elements of trip-hop, hip-hop, and any other -hop which comes to mind.
Joy Denalane’s voice is sumptuous. She is at ease telling a soulful story as she is using her voice as a improvisational instrument. Roberto Di Gioia, Tony Lakato and Stefan Pintey add a lush background for the three to play in.
This album will be my go-to disc for 3 a.m. listening for the foreseeable future. It is that good.