Tag: Reviews

  • Hayden – Are We Good (Digital, 2023)

    Hayden – Are We Good (Digital, 2023)

    No.5142

    Get ready for the highly-anticipated release of Hayden’s tenth studio album, “Are We Good.” As the reigning king of Canadian slacker folk, Hayden presents a crowning achievement in his remarkable repertoire of heartfelt indie folk. This album has been a long time coming, marking his first release since 2015’s “Hey Love.” Notably, Hayden collaborates with some incredible talent, including guest vocals by Feist and co-writing by The National’s Matt Berninger.

    The lead single, “On A Beach,” is a refreshing departure from Hayden’s typically somber sound. Its catchy chorus, “we’re drinking income taxes and there’s sand at our feet,” lifts spirits and brings a sense of buoyancy. With a spare bass groove, delicate handclaps, and Hayden’s unique tenor vocals, the song bursts into a harmonious blend alongside the enchanting Leslie Feist. It’s a harmonious journey with arpeggiators that will leave you captivated.

    Hayden showcases his exceptional songwriting skills on this album by exploring a wider range of emotions and sonic textures. You’ll find yourself immersed in a sonic experience that combines the essence of Pavement and Leonard Cohen.

    Written, engineered, and produced by Hayden himself, this album is brought to you by Arts & Crafts Production Inc.

    This is one release you won’t want to miss.

    Media: Digital.

    PRICE: 10.00

    Visit Hayden

    Bandcamp URL: https://haydendesser.bandcamp.com/album/are-we-good

  • Clara Engel – Sanguinaria (Digital, 2023)

    Clara Engel – Sanguinaria (Digital, 2023)

    No.5158

    Bandcamp

    In the midst of a world where the effects of powerful men and their systems continue to plague society and the environment, Clara Engel’s latest album, Sanguinaria, challenges us to reflect on themes of power and authority and their impact on humanity and the natural world. This collection of songs takes inspiration from the toxic flower bloodroot and its medicinal use in Indigenous cultures, as well as the poetic language of religious texts. Engel’s music explores the idea of how to live without falling into despair or contributing further to the destruction of our planet. As an alternative music lover, I was immediately drawn to the album’s unique approach and couldn’t wait to dive into its complex themes.

    Engel’s Sanguinaria draws its inspiration from Hildegard von Bingen’s piece “O Cruor Sanguinis/Cum Vox Sanguinis”, Captain Beefheart’s “My Human Gets Me Blues”, Skip James’ “I Would Rather Be A Little Catfish”, and “I Wish I Was A Mole In The Ground”, giving the album a unique blend of classical, blues, and folk influences. Engels’ voice is haunting and raw, expressing the emotion behind her lyrics with striking sincerity. The production of the album is stripped back, allowing the music to speak for itself, and the result is a collection of songs that feel incredibly intimate and personal.

    One of the most notable themes on the album is Engel’s exploration of power and authority. Throughout the album, the artist reflects on how the pursuit of power and authority has driven the destruction of humanity and the natural world. This theme is most evident in the tracks “Toil and Waste”, “Cannibal”, and “Talons”, where Engel’s lyrics paint a bleak picture of a society consumed by greed and unable to escape the stains of authority.

    At the same time, Sanguinaria also offers a glimmer of hope. In “The Sky Is Open”, Engel sings of a longing to become part of a more boundless and mysterious whole, rising above the struggles and limitations of human existence. This track, alongside “Tunnels”, with its beautiful and uplifting chorus, offer an ethereal respite from the rest of the album’s darker themes.

    The album’s production and composition are also noteworthy. The sparse instrumentation is carefully arranged, with each instrument adding depth and texture to the songs without feeling cluttered. The use of string and wind instruments, such as the clarinet on “Cannibal”, adds a haunting quality to the music that perfectly complements Engel’s voice.

    Overall, Clara Engel’s Sanguinaria is a deeply personal and thought-provoking album that explores themes of power and authority in the modern world. It is unique and raw—stripping back the clutter of modern mainstream music to showcase the artist’s beautiful voice and haunting compositions. The production of the album is an interesting yet risky approach, but Clara pulls it off, creating a soundscape that speaks to the emotions and thoughts of the listener. Engels’ latest album is a true gem that deserves the attention of alternative music lovers everywhere.

  • Sarah Coolidge – Sports Fan (Cassette, 2020)

    Sarah Coolidge – Sports Fan (Cassette, 2020)

    No.5124

    There is a new album coming in August 2023 from Sarah Coolidge which I’m excited to hear. I’ve reached out for an interview on Instagram to talk about that and this. Stay tuned.

    Media: Cassette.

    PRICE: 7.00

    Bandcamp URL: https://sarahcoolidge.bandcamp.com/album/sports-fan

  • The Smiling Buddhas – Never Ever Forever (Digital, 2023)

    The Smiling Buddhas – Never Ever Forever (Digital, 2023)

    Artist/Label Notes:

    When listening to “Never Ever Forever” you don’t start an acoustic journey, you are not taken to a far away place musically. It’s more like the music pieces reveal the band’s working method. “Swells, Layers, Breaks” is an ongoing motto in the band’s musical output, the same goes for rasende Schleifen (“Raving Loops”). And bass is also never enough on the recording (“Not Enough Bass”), while some pieces seem to dissolve in the working process (“Rip It Into Pieces of Sound”). “Scremo” is a musical dedication to a distortion tool by Alwin Weber. And then there’s always noise interferences in the recording studio (“Electro Magnetic Fields”), full of glitches that trigger something new again. The promise to never do it like that again is fortunately broken regularly (“Never Ever Forever”), only for the last track we couldn’t even think of a proper title. “404 C3” is hopefully the ticket code for a long-distance trip, so that The Smiling Buddhas can collect material for aural travelogues again.

    credits

    released April 24, 2023

    Musik, Electronics: The Smiling Buddhas
    Foto, Cover: Wolfgang Dorninger
    Label: www.base.at/the-smiling-buddhas-never-ever-forever-cdr-digital-k7#main
    Booking: fadi@base.at
    Homepage: www.base.at/tsb/

    Media: Digital.

    Visit Base

    Bandcamp URL: https://dorninger.bandcamp.com/album/never-ever-forever

  • Charles Rice Goff III – Heartbreaking Randomness (Vinyl, 2023)

    Charles Rice Goff III – Heartbreaking Randomness (Vinyl, 2023)

    Media: Vinyl.

    Bandcamp URL: https://herbyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/heartbreaking-randomness

  • Various Artists – Various Artists – The Vision of Twilight (Digital, 2023)

    Various Artists – Various Artists – The Vision of Twilight (Digital, 2023)

    GAJOOB Review by Bryan Baker, :

    This compilation project features music from 34 different Electronic Cottage artists from all over the world, compiled and mastered by Chris Phinney of Mental Anguish.

    Media: Digital.

    PRICE: $1 or more

    Visit Harsh Reality Music

    Bandcamp URL: https://harshrealitymusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-vision-of-twilight-compilation

    1. Fiver’s Stereo – Pineapple Patch 03:16

    Jay Peele – Moog DFAM, moogerfooger MF-104 analog delay, Moog Subharmonicon, Moog MF RING, Voice

    2. Briyan Frederick – Twilight’s Echoes of Wonder 06:00

    Instrumentation used: Lunacy Audio Cube Synth (with mangled Tapegerms by Blind Mime, Heuristics Inc, Jeff Davis & the Beauregards, Sin:Ned, Suckling Infants Network, James P. Bergman, CIIIGoff, Virtual Religion, David Alexander McDonald, International Garbageman), Klevgrand Tomofon, Arturia CMS80, Native Instruments Pharlight, Casio CT-S1000V Vocal Synthesizer.

    3. Ed Drury – The Last Stand 04:36

    4. Rafael González – Stirring a hertz salad 01:44

    5. Hal McGee – Uncivil Twilight 05:59

    “Uncivil Twilight” was recorded on four consecutive days, January 25-28, 2023, during civil twilight.

    According to Wikipedia:
    Civil twilight is defined as when the geometric center of the Sun is between 6° below the horizon and the horizon itself. Civil twilight is the period when enough natural light remains that artificial light in towns and cities is not needed. Under clear weather conditions, civil twilight approximates the limit at which solar illumination suffices for the human eye to clearly distinguish terrestrial objects.

    6. DJ Hollow Life – Fighting Depression in the dawn of Twilight 05:52

    Instrumentation on this track is a Casio SK 1 with a Gameboy Camera BEEP sample and a synth distorted kalimba

    7. Magic Bullet – Come The Dreamquake 04:56

    8. M.NOMIZED – Twilight Over The Sea 05:54

    9. Girls On Fire – How to Pronounce Twilight 00:08

    10. Gerardo Colin – Oscuro y Claro 05:04

    11. Craig Tanis – Crepuscular 05:06

    12. Osvaldo Cibils – flockinga 17ene2023 noisy action 06:00

    13. Jim Barker – Restless Twilight 02:58

    14. Lezet – Orange Skyline 03:52

    15. Al Margolis – sturm before der drang 05:20

    arp 2600 and audacity tone generator

    16. Michael Thomas Jackson – nacht nacht nazis 03:53

    recorded live December 17 2022 @ Studio Knexiho in Winston-Salem NC usa
    pro-one & ms20 synthesizers patched together celebrating the downfall of fascism, my personal vision of twilight

    17. Aversion To Reality – I Know The Type 03:29

    18. Amoraim – Delete Myself 05:47

    19. Antoine Trauma – She Borg Trans Loop Lola 02:07

    20. will sōderberg… – return of the agony pipe 02:53

    21. Strattanpossum – Twilight Transmission From The Ranch 06:30

    22. John Jasnoch – TOVNIK 26.1.23 05:06

    Instrumentation:
    Fretless baritone guitar
    Bass guitar
    Lotar
    Percussion
    Short wave radio
    Recording equipment:
    Tascam 4 track cassette recorder
    AKG C1000 microphone

    23. Mystery Hearsay – Twilight Visitors 05:46

    24. ARVO ZYLO – J20005 02:30

    25. Jeff Central – Stereophonic Laughing Gas 04:48

    26. Petit Lafoote – Twilight Cathedral 02:16

    Instruments: Reason Studio, Arturia Keystep, Shure SM7B

    27. Thomas Park – The Dinner At History’s End 05:54

    28. t0rphy – Aube Naissante 05:58

    Aube Naissante by t0rphy ; electronic- Exp/ Ambience ; work on AbletonLive 11

    29. Max Julian Eastman – Fendi & Evening Magic (Excerpt) 06:33

    This an excerpt from a synth / noise C30 tape I recorded (and shelved) called “Fendi & Evening Magic”. It was originally set to be released by the Hong Kong-based label Mouhoi, but I got cold feet about my performance on it and ended up offering them a different release.

    The artwork attached here is the original collage made by Paul van Trigt for the planned cassette. It was later appropriated for the CD “Model of Malehood” released by Tribe Tapes

    30. Maggie-Wynn – Strange by Anonymous 04:55

    31. not half – Twilight 05:59

    32. Station! Station! -When the Bats Come Out to Play 04:48

    I used a homemade dual oscillator synth, a Fresher Straighter strat copy, a Fender Jazz bass, and a drum beat from an old casio recorded onto tape on my Korg CR-4 four track and then sent to Ableton.

    33. PLATO and the Western Tradition No. 8980 Loadstar (excerpt) 06:09

    34. Mental Anguish – Bury Her 05:56

    35. KR Seward – Buzahn 04:32

    Done with recording of voice and feedback via Megamouth messed with in Grainstorm, plus Experimental Noise Room, ModSynth, etc.

  • Sarah Coolidge – Sports Fan (Cassette, 2020)

    Sarah Coolidge – Sports Fan (Cassette, 2020)

    GAJOOB Review by Bryan Baker, :

    Watch for review in a future posting.

    Media: Cassette.

    PRICE: 7.00

    Bandcamp URL: https://sarahcoolidge.bandcamp.com/album/sports-fan

  • BIGCAT – Atlas (Cassette, 2022)

    BIGCAT – Atlas (Cassette, 2022)

    #5123

    GAJOOB Review by Bryan Baker:

    BIGCAT’s latest release, “Atlas,” is a beautiful collection of tracks that incorporate drones, tiny synth melodics, synthscapes, chopped percussion, field recordings, and more. This experimental project, based out of Oakland, CA, blends drone, glitch beats derived from sampled percussive objects, field recordings, and found sounds in a way that is both innovative and captivating.

    “Atlas” transports listeners into an almost tropical realm, creating an immersive experience akin to a rainforest on a hot and humid evening. The album’s warm and inviting feel is complemented by its use of Javanese Gamelan and Indonesian folk samples, synthesizer drones, recordings of natural sounds, samples from old sci-fi films, and homemade percussion that is digitally edited.

    Standout track “Voodoo Sisters” cooks up an extremely busy blend of reggae dub, sampled voices, and drum and bass rhythms. It maintains a steady drive while still sounding ambient, showcasing BIGCAT’s ability to balance different elements effectively. “Old Machinery” layers various discordant found sound rhythmic patterns alongside evocative ambient synths to great effect.

    “Karaya II,” another noteworthy track, showcases BIGCAT’s mastery of the studio with its sparse vocal samples, chopped up percussion, ambient synth swells, and deep subsonic bass. The track manages to be both mellow and tense, demonstrating the artist’s skill in creating complex sonic textures.

    Lastly, “Atlas” is a fantastic album to listen to on headphones, especially with a headphone amplifier. The masterful use of textures by BIGCAT is further showcased when listened to in this manner.

    In conclusion, “Atlas” by BIGCAT is an outstanding album from start to finish. Its controlled diversity and beat-filled tranquil ambient radiance make it a composition meant for long duration in any listening form. It is deliciously crafted with sonic flavors from forgotten realms and serves as an odyssey of heartwarming selections built upon tribal rhythms and courtly ceremony.

    Media: Cassette.

    PRICE: 5.00

    Bandcamp URL: https://bigcat9139.bandcamp.com/album/atlas

    Opening the package.
  • Mental Anguish – Frozen Lake (CD, 2016)

    Mental Anguish – Frozen Lake (CD, 2016)

    GAJOOB Review by Bryan Baker:

    That Chris Phinney has come out of hiatus is good news to my ears. When you get to be our age, 5 years seems like yesterday sort of, but also forever too.  Frozen Lake is a painting in sound (or a sculpture as the artist tells it) and Mental Anguish dips its Moog Rogue (it rhymes) into delays, modulators, distortion pedals, samplers and things and spreads it around its sonic canvas. The picture is an abstract frozen lake that feels cold and foggy, full of potential demons. Movement is slow but you’re on edge with each passing microsecond. You may fall in at any moment. Frozen Lake’s drones are like chunks of ice colliding around you in the dark with the depths of its sounds coming to claim  you.

    Media: CD.

    PRICE: name it

    Visit Hal McGee / HalTapes / Electronic Cottage

    Interview by Bryan Baker, 2016

    Do you mind sending me a photo of your setup? I’d like to show it.

    The setup’s broken down or would but use studio as shop & storage & had to get equipment work stuff out, all my stuff’s undone right now as well decks, everything as resetting up in time.

    Did you have to get into a certain frame of mind to record this?

    Yes & no just felt the need to do something as hadn’t in a long time see if could still pull it off the space rock sound sculpture thing.

    Is this a first take?

    Yes all tracks were first take & only one mixdown.

    Tell me about the cover art.

    Hal did the cover art I just supplied the info, if I release anything today will have to be by another label, I did supply art for another P/M you should get soon I assume.

    What is it about the Moog?

    The Moog is a wonderful analog beast that if one knows how to use they can create most anything,from pop,rock,space,noise etc, Plus it suits my tastes quite nicely, fat sound & in my opinion nothing better synth wise than analog gear.

    I’m glad to hear something new. What’s inspiring Mental Anguish these days?

    Life itself inspires me nothing else… well yeah, Hal also.

  • Mental Anguish – Broken (Digital, 2021)

    #4239

    ARTIST/LABEL NOTES:

    Recorded between November 8th 2020 thru May 10th 2021 Eight tracks of sound sculptures, or sound paintings, call it what you will to paint a picture of your own in your mind, where you the listener interpret the title in your minds own sculpturistic way. I do hope you enjoy it. My first solo lp since Puff! (March 26,2020) Been way busy. All individual track photos are in the info. released May 10, 2021 All instruments,fx,mix,mastering by Chris Phinney (Mental Anguish) at HRM

    Media: Digital.

    Visit Harsh Reality Music

Discover Sounds reviews sound recordings we find worthy of discovery. It’s published by Briyan Frederick Baker of GAJOOB (that’s me). Send bandcamp download codes, tapes, CDs, vinyl and other things. Read more…

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