Author: Simon Irvine

Foreign Technology Album Full Of Big Beat Gems

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Foreign Technology Album Full Of Big Beat Gems

Electronic Music

Foreign Technology – Blue

 

It’s hard not to show a bit of favoritism when it comes to music from my hometown. And it’s not hard to justify – Brisbane has a rich musical heritage dating back to The Saints. There might just be something in the air, but there is something about the place that makes it fertile ground for music from a range of genres.

 

“Blue” is the first full-length album from Brisbane’s own Foreign Technology and it is another solid offering from the river city. A departure from his earlier Gary Numan inspired work, Blue sees Foreign Technology (aka Stephen Donohue) step into the world of big beat, plunging the listener into a sonic landscape that bears similarities to early Chemical Brothers. The opening track, “Beat-Ten” is a statement of intent – a mix of break beats and distorted bass lines that is designed to get the listener moving. The following seven tracks change up the pace, but the focus is always on big dance grooves. For me the standouts include the opening track, the acid-line catchiness of “Deeper” and the electro stylings of “Uprockt”.

 

Released on May 14 through Pink Dolphin Music, this is a superb album, full of big beat gems. Like I said, as a fellow Brisbanite, I might just be a little biased, but what can I do? I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this and I would highly recommend you take the time to do the same. I am not going to give my usual score out of five for this – rather…

 

Simon says listen to this album now.

LINKS

Album: https://pinkdolphinmusic.bandcamp.com/album/blue

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foreigntechnology

Twitter: https://twitter.com/steptek?lang=en

 

Club Bombardier Release Blistering Diverse Standout EP Run Mofo

Foreign Technology Album Full Of Big Beat Gems

EnilSounds Release Peaceful Ambient Soft Electronic New Music

Posted on by Simon Irvine

EnilSounds Release Peaceful Ambient Soft Electronic New Music

Ambient Electronic Music

ENILSounds – The Eagle – Instrumental and Vocal Versions

This is a bit of a different review for me – I am actually reviewing two songs that are one. Hailing from Denmark, ENILSounds released her most recent track – The Eagle (Instrumental) on April 30. The instrumental, however, is a stripped back version of the original track, which was released in March. My words here speak to both – two tracks that are equally beautiful and indicative of a talent that has only improved over the years.

ENILSounds’ music is best described as a “soft electronica” – a mix of ambience, new age sounds, moving piano work and touches of synthesized sounds. Her gentle approach to production is best heard in the more recent instrumental version, where sounds appear and disappear, and where melancholy piano chords hint at a longing that may just be beyond reach. The earlier version takes this and adds a vocal performance that is simultaneously fragile and assured. It takes the track to new heights – demonstrating first class song-writing skills from an artist who has created a sound that is truly unique.

I would strongly recommend listening to these two tracks – perhaps starting with the instrumental before moving on to the vocal version. In this way, you will truly come to appreciate the craft on display. The Eagle (Instrumental) and The Eagle demonstrate why ENILSounds is an artist to watch out for.

 

Simon says 4.5 stars out of 5 for the instrumental and 5 out of 5 stars for the vocal version.

5 Stars

LINKS

Distrokid: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/enilsounds/the-eagle

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/line_munch-petersen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MunchLine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ENILSOUNDS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enilsounds/

EnilSounds Release Peaceful Ambient Soft Electronic New Music

 

EnilSounds Release Peaceful Ambient Soft Electronic New Music

 

Franz Kirmann and Roberto Grosso Beautifully Crafted Music

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Franz Kirmann and Roberto Grosso Beautifully Crafted Music

Electronic Music

Franz Kirmann and Roberto Grosso – Songe (from the In Waves EP)

 

Some music just needs to be heard. Some music is just so beautifully crafted that it would seem wrong for it not to reach the listeners that it so richly deserves. “Songe”, from the “In Waves” EP by French producer Franz Kirmann and Italian artist Roberto Grosso, is one such piece of music.

 

The track begins with a lush, ambient synth pad before adding a drum pulse and a simple melodic loop. Over the top of this is added a guitar figure that helps propel and develop the track. The addition of a bass and percussion towards the end of the track only serves to add additional layers of beauty to what is a carefully crafted song. The overall sound is grainy yet clear – cinematic yet personal. The overall impression is haunting yet peaceful.

 

I think I was wise to listen to this through headphones, as this is music that is made for repeated close listens. I highly recommend this track to anyone interested in music that gives more to its listeners than does the standard fare on radios around the world. “Songe” is the closing track of the “In Waves” EP and is out now through Days of Being Wild. Take some time to immerse yourself in its sounds – this is music that needs to be heard.

 

Simon says 5 out of 5 stars.

5 Stars

Franz Kirmann and Roberto Grosso Beautifully Crafted Music

 

Lalalow Sensory Deprivation Will Transport You Back

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Lalalow Sensory Deprivation Will Transport You Back

Lalalow

Lalalow – Sensory Deprivation

In the nineties, I spent a lot of time listening to female-fronted electronic acts such as Lamb, Single Gun Theory and Everything But The Girl – acts whose music was characterized by lush synths, fractured beats and ethereal vocals. I took comfort in the way these acts could produce sounds and songs that seemed to wash over me, allowing me to float away.

I was transported back to those times and those sounds when I listened to “Sensory Deprivation” by Lalalow. The Finnish electronic pop duo, consisting of Nina Jackson on vocals and keys and Tommy Laivamaa on guitar and bass have produced a hypnotic piece of chilled, downtempo pop here. The production is sparse and centers on lush synth pads, minimal drums and a bass phrase that serves to add momentum. Over the top of this sits Jackson’s vocals – whispered in places and haunting – reinforcing the themes of isolation and disconnection from reality that tie the lyrics together.

Like so many tracks recently, I am a little bit late to the party on this one. Released in February, chances are that you may have come across it already. However, if you haven’t, take some time to check it out. Lalalow has delivered something quiet special with “Sensory Deprivation” and you will be richly rewarded if you give it a listen.

 

Simon says 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 Star Rating

Club Bombardier Release Blistering Diverse Standout EP Run Mofo

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Club Bombardier Release Blistering Diverse Standout EP Run Mofo

Punk Rock Band

Club Bombardier – Run Mofo (EP)

 

Hailing from Paris, Club Bombardier creates a brand of rock and roll that is complex yet simple, derivative yet original, and immediately appealing. Their latest EP, Run Mofo, released in February this year, shows off the range of diverse, yet complementary rock stylings.

 

“2nd Advice” kicks off proceedings, and here the three-piece deliver a blistering slice of punk-rock inspired, hard driven rock.  This is four to the floor rock coupled with catchy hooks. “Perpetual Movement” sees the band slow down the pace and introduce more angular grooves and defined choruses. The third track, “Praha” is a standout for me. Demonstrating the band’s debt to Britpop, the track occasionally gives hints of the whimsy that was ever-present in that genre. “Virtual Vortex” is another change of pace, and here we detect elements of the stoner rock jams evident on classic Kyuss albums. Following on from this comes “In Time”, the most “contemporary” sounding of the tracks and what might count as the EP’s ballad. The closing track, “Nothing Personal” kicks off with a wonderful, distorted bass groove, before settling into a sound reminiscent of the opener – lending a pleasing symmetry to the EP.

 

It’s rare to listen to an album or EP and immediately be taken in. Club Bombardier manages this here and they are to be congratulated for it. I should also mention that they have coupled a fine collection of tracks with a wonderfully evocative piece of cover art – a detail that I notice a number of otherwise fine artists sometimes forget.

 

Simon says 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 Star Rating

Club Bombardier Release Blistering Diverse Standout EP Run Mofo

 

LINKS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Clubbombardier

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA_MZ6buPDc4i4cRfWp_1jA

Neonian Vaxxor EP Demonstrates A Solid Slice Of Electronic Music

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Neonian Vaxxor EP Demonstrates A Solid Slice Of Electronic Music

Vaxxor

Neonian – Vaxxor

It’s been a long while since I last wrote a review for Music Talks and it is a pleasure to be back. I want to kick off 2021 with a review of the Vaxxor EP from UK-based producer Neonian (aka Ian Sawyer). Hailing from Bath, England, Neonian cites his influences as New Order, Chemical Brothers and Orbital, amongst others, and it most certainly shows. I would add to the list 808 State, as the influence of that seminal act looms large here.

The title track kicks things off and I was immediately taken to a happy place.  Early 90s raves were a formative musical experience for me and the sounds on offer here – break beats, loops and bright synths – transported me back in time.  The following track begins with a colder, trance feel, but the housebreaks, samples and synths make another showing. Track three – Hypnic Jerk – dials back the pace, but the early 90s vibe keeps on. The closing track, Proof To Tower keeps the pace slow, but adds mysterious swirling synths to balance the fat bass tones and rapid-fire percussion that links Neonian’s sounds to more recent musical developments.

Released through WEATNU Records, this is a solid slice of electronic music, demonstrating a nice variety of grooves and ideas.  As a fan of 90s electronic music, this EP is right up my alley. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

 

Simon says 4 out of 5 stars.

4 Star Rating

 

SOCIAL LINKS

BANDCAMP: https://neonian-weatnurecords.bandcamp.com/album/vaxxor

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/neonianmusic

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/neonian1

WEATNU Records: Website – https://weatnurecords.com

Neonian Vaxxor EP Demonstrates A Solid Slice Of Electronic Music

BVSMV, A Lush Form of Electronic Music That’s Dreamy, Retro and Well Polished

Posted on by Simon Irvine

BVSMV, A Lush Form of Electronic Music That’s Dreamy, Retro and Well Polished

Synthwave Music

BVSMV – Escapism

Triplicate Records is on a roll recently – compilation albums Green Shift and Red Shift, along with releases from Beefus B, Suncastle and more have been consistently excellent. Released on September 4, “Escapism” by Milwaukee-based producer BVSMV, is yet another fine addition to the label’s catalogue.

 

Broadly best described as synthwave, BVSMV makes a lush form of electronic music that is dreamy, retro and well polished. From the wistful first bars of opening track “Daybreak”, through the neon-drenched nostalgia of “Quantum Variations”, to the shimmering synths of the closer, “System Testing”, this is an EP that is immediately listenable.

 

I must admit, that despite being a fan of most electronic music, the synthwave sound is one that I don’t generally pay much attention to. The pink, blue and black aesthetic and the repetition of sounds I first heard as the credits rolled in eighties action movies mostly leaves me cold. BVSMV moves beyond the formulas here though, adding more to the sound than I have heard before, and in so doing, manages to create something that is both familiar and new.

 

For these reasons, I suggest seeking this album out. Available now on Triplicate Records, “Escapism” is well worth your time.

Simon says 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 Star Rating

LINKS TO BVSMV

Bandcamp: https://triplicaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/escapism

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/triplicaterecords

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/triplicate_recs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bvsmv_music

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BVSMV

BVSMV, A Lush Form of Electronic Music That’s Dreamy, Retro and Well Polished

Catchy, Melodius Folk Music with Lyrics Of Substance from Brook Kelly

Posted on by Simon Irvine

catchy, melodius Folk Music with Lyrics Of Substance from Brook Kelly

Electronic Music

Brooke Kelly – Sun Gilded Clouds and the Angry Sea

I have said before that the music available in the world is best compared to an iceberg – what we hear on radio and in the charts is merely the tip – there is so much more to be found below the surface. All it takes is a small amount of effort to seek it out.

 

So it was that I discovered the wonderful EP, “Sun Gilded Clouds and the Angry Sea” by West Australian Artist, Brooke Kelly, whilst searching the artist-friendly platform that is Bandcamp. The music on offer here mixes alt-country, folk and elements of rock to produce a set of five tracks that demonstrate strong song-writing and superb production. Acoustic guitars and brushed drums form the backbone of the sound, and organs and cellos add subtle flourishes.

 

Over the top of this are catchy melodies, delicate harmonies and lyrics of substance – lyrics that seem to go to the heart of what it means to be human. Favorites for me were the introspection of “Getting Old” (“I’m getting old and so are you”) and the sweeping strings of the closing, title track.

 

So, to paraphrase the songwriter, “let us be cultured, cunning and wise” and support this artist. Dig deeper and be richly rewarded when you listen to “Sun Gilded Clouds and the Angry Sea” by Brooke Kelly.

Simon says 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 Star Rating

LINKS TO BROOK KELLY

BANDCAMP: https://brookekelly.bandcamp.com/album/sun-gilded-clouds-and-the-angry-sea

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/solonesomemusic

Catchy, Melodius Folk Music with Lyrics Of Substance from Brook Kelly

Belial Pelegrim Releases New Electronic Album Masterpiece

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Belial Pelegrim Releases New Electronic Album Masterpiece

Belial Pelegrim – Fluorescent Mastodon Alliance

Do you ever get the feeling that some people just exist on a different level to the majority of us mere mortals? Are you ever left wondering how on earth some people are able to do what they do? These are the thoughts that always cross my mind when I listen to the music of Belial Pelegrim.

 

Hailing from the USA, Pelegrim makes some of the most sophisticated and thoughtful electronic music around. Not only that, but he is incredibly prolific – rarely a day goes by when he doesn’t release a new masterpiece (always accompanied by superb cover art) that demonstrates to the rest of us electronic producers how it is done.

 

On “Fluorescent Mastodon Alliance”, all of the elements that make Pelegrim’s music so exciting are on display. After the relatively “safe” start of “Travel By Thought”, the album moves from spooky fairground melodies in “An”, to orchestral dissonance in “Interlude” and on to “Latin”-style beats on “Wax”, before finishing with the big, chilled beats of “Unnatural Shadows”.

 

Linking the disparate styles is a production approach that would be schizophrenic in lesser hands – fractured/disintegrating beats mix with warped synthesizers and old radio (?) samples – orchestras meet funk grooves and choral flourishes. In Pelgrim’s hands though, these seemingly unrelated sounds mix to create a sound that is simultaneously dark and light, challenging and familiar and always engaging.

 

I was a bit late to the party on this – “Fluorescent Mastodon Alliance” was released on 28 August – but it is a case of better late than never. This is an album that deserves to be heard by all, and so…

Simon says 5 out of 5 stars.

5 Stars

LINKS TO BELIAL PELEGRIM

 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/pelegrim

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/belial-pelegrim

BANDCAMP: https://belialpelegrim.bandcamp.com/album/fluorescent-mastodon-alliance

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/belial.pelegrim

Belial Pelegrim Releases New Electronic Album Masterpiece

New Music with Pulsating Electro Beats with Like a Feather

Posted on by Simon Irvine

New Music with Pulsating Electro Beats with Like a Feather

Single Cover
Artwork by Adman Rowe

New Music with Pulsating Electro Beats with Like a Feather

Marc Häfner ft Kintsuku – Like a Feather 

New Single from Powerhouse Vocalist Jacqine, It’s Never Been About Us

Some music suits itself better to certain times and places than others. Chilled out beats are better for studying than prog rock and techno is better for a workout than jazz. “Like a Feather” by Marc Häfner ft Kintsuku is music perfectly designed for lazy Sunday afternoons with drinks and friends. 

 

Starting with a steady, electronic pulse and beats, “Like a Feather” reveals its true beauty when Kintsuku’s ethereal vocals are added to the mix. What starts out as a chilled mid-tempo groove is transformed into a track that is both haunting and beautiful. The “B-Side”, “After the Rain Comes Sun” is a slightly more tense affair. Creeping synths and filtered break beats establish the musical palette before the addition of Kintsuku’s delightful vocals. While more suited to the dance floor than “Like a Feather”, this is also a solid offering that simply ramps up elements evident in the title track. 

 

As the days get longer and warmer here in the southern hemisphere, I am sure there will be plenty of opportunity to enjoy this track in just the right environment. Available on September 24 through DeepDownDirty, I would recommend adding “Like a Feather” to your summertime playlist as well. 

 

Simon Says 4 out of 5 Stars

4 Star Rating

 

 

 

Social Media Links 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kintsukumusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kintsukumusic/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/kintsukumusic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WroM4TfBEXt0lyxCzHV5d?si=mj-YAa5zSUmQ6S5rm6-TYw

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hagenfx

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hagen.fx

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2IJxvksfgoJvY5WLxTDMj6?si=M5Oy0n5AQ7alcA8qSj0j5g

New Music with Pulsating Electro Beats with Like a Feather

OUT 24th September

DEEP DOWN DIRTY: https://deepdowndirty.co.uk/releases

New Retro-Synth Pop from The Truth Sounds Different

Posted on by Simon Irvine

New Retro-Synth Pop from The Truth Sounds Different

Single Cover

Dive Into Mellow Jazz and Chill Under The Willow

The Truth Sounds Different – Elastic (featuring David Vaughan)

I am a child of the eighties. That decade was the one in which I did my schooling, in which I discovered girls and (most importantly) the one in which I fell in love with music. The sounds of that time hold a special place in my heart – taking me back to a period in my life in which the future was open – when anything seemed possible.

 

So, it is a no-brainer that when I hear music that harkens back to that time, I am going to have a soft spot for it. This is true of “Elastic (featuring David Vaughan)” by The Truth Sounds Different. The side-project of the producer behind Analogue Electronic Whatever, The Truth Sounds Different makes a fragile kind of synthpop, characterized by rippling synth sounds that slowly build over the length of the tracks. Over the top of these sounds comes the voice of Vaughan – a voice that immediately had me thinking of Jim Kerr of Simple Minds and “Mad World” era Tears For Fears. Taken together, this makes for an excellent slower track that wouldn’t have been out of place on a mid-80s mix tape.

 

Due for release on 28th August through Pink Dolphin Music, the single includes an extended version as well as an instrumental and radio edit. This is definitely going to appeal to fans of retro-synth sounds and I recommend checking it out.

 

Simon Says 4 out of 5 Stars

4 Star Rating

 

 

 

Social Media Links

TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/TruthSDifferent   

TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/TenCenturions

TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/PinkDolphinMLtd

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/The.Truth.Sounds.Different

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TenCentrurions

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pinkdolphinmusic

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_truth_sounds_different

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tencenturions/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/pinkdolphinmusic

New Retro-Synth Pop from The Truth Sounds Different

OUT 28TH AUGUST

Dive Into Mellow Jazz and Chill Under The Willow

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Dive Into Mellow Jazz and Chill Under The Willow

Single Cover

Dive Into Mellow Jazz and Chill Under The Willow

Mellow Dive – The Willow

Some artists have monikers that thoroughly establish their sound. When you see the name Metallica, you know what you are in for. The same could be said of acts such as Groove Armada or The Blues Brothers.

 

Mellow Dive has a name that perfectly encapsulates the sound and mood offered on “The Willow”. Released in August 5 through Dezi-Belle Records, the Italian-based instrumentalist and producer presents a collection of eight tracks on his debut album that are mellow to their very core.

 

Each track feels like a snapshot, as if the artist has simply sat himself down and started to play while reflecting on the various environments and places he finds himself in. This is established through the extensive use of background sounds – be it children in a playground, birds chirping or the sounds of people in a café. Over the top of these sounds float jazzy guitar chords, minimal electric piano meanderings and the occasional swell of strings.

 

All of the tracks are short. Most feature down-tempo hip-hop beats and the melodic hints are subtle, suggesting old-time musicals or the nostalgia of a music box tune. Nothing strays above a gentle groove and taken together it is like a trip inside the mind of the artist who made it – an artist who seems at peace with the world around him.

 

I really, really enjoyed this album. I look forward to the next cold, rainy day where I can curl up with a book whilst having this play in the background. Indeed, I think I will be playing this one as often as I can – as a chance to find calm in a world that seems increasingly hectic.

Simon Says 5 out of 5 Stars

5 Stars

 

 

 

 

Social Media Links

WEBSITE: https://www.dezi-belle.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/mellowdive/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/mellowdive

BANDCAMP: https://dezi-belle.bandcamp.com/album/the-willow

Dive Into Mellow Jazz and Chill Under The Willow

The Brothers Burn Cheesy Electro-Pop are Happy To Be Here

Posted on by Simon Irvine

The Brothers Burn Cheesy Electro-Pop are Happy To Be Here

Single Cover

The Brothers Burn Cheesy Electro-Pop are Happy To Be Here

The Brothers Burn – Happy To Be Here

 

Some music defies categorization. The easy genre labels that apply to so much of the music that seems to pollute the mainstream nowadays just doesn’t apply to a select few. This is particularly true of Texas-based group, The Brothers Burn.

 

Making music that is best described as a blend of They Might Be Giants, early Art Of Noise, The B-52s and Seinfeld incidental music, The Brothers Burn produce a sound that is all their own. This is particularly true of their latest release, “Happy To Be Here”.

 

The album kicks off with the catchy electro-pop of “Let’s Go Party With Corrine”, which describes the charms of a girl who “has all the best clothes” and “a box of Legos”, before moving on to describing the events of “March 2020”, when “Twitter blew up coronavirus”. The album continues with shades of reggae and flashbacks to (cheesy) 80s pop.  

 

There’s an innocence to this album but also a knowing irony. Despite its seeming simplicity, the music is a well-spring of references that allows for multiple listens. Just like the aforementioned TMBG, The Brothers Burn offer up what seems on the surface a collection of disposable pop, but that is simultaneously a salute to any thinking listener.

 

And the best thing here is that you don’t have to wait. Released on July 24 and clocking in at just under 18 minutes, “Happy To Be Here” is ready for your listening pleasure now.

 

Simon Says 4.5 out of 5 Stars

4.5 Star Rating

 

 

 

Social Media Links

WEBSITE: http://www.thebrothersburn.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/TheBrothersBurn/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thebrothersburn

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thebrothersburn/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/433cxJI14Crn2BktevDu0i?si=5H9nnGALSgebo2_qhmbA6w

The Brothers Burn Cheesy Electro-Pop are Happy To Be Here

This is What Black Lives Matter Sounds Like with Think Good Audio

Posted on by Simon Irvine

This is What Black Lives Matter Sounds Like with Think Good Audio

Single Cover

All Atomic Compelling Cinematic Electronic EP – Sirens Of The Suns

Think Good Audio – Black Lives Matter

It is no secret that Think Good Audio is one of my favorite artists. Working in the area of fractured, downtempo, instrumental hip-hop, Think Good Audio consistently produces music that challenges his listeners to both think and expand their musical horizons. His latest album, “Black Lives Matter”, is absolutely no exception to this.

 

With track titles such as “I Can’t Breathe”, “George Floyd”, “Oppression” and “Giuliani’s Last Stand”, it should be clear what this album is about. But just in cases it is not, it’s worth quoting the artist himself here:

 

“This album addresses the many shades of police and racial supremacy that continues to push an ugly history of America into its own oblivion amongst a pandemic that knows no prejudice. 

This album is dedicated to the many lives of black Americans killed unjustly; through slavery, segregation, and systemic racism. 

I grew up dealing with racism on a personal level. This is an album of significant importance. To still witness minorities dying on TV and cops being protected, sends a message to a person of color like me that my life has no worth in America.”

 

The sonic palette on display here is startling. Wistful piano loops and chilled hip-hop beats meet vocal samples from TV news. Fractured industrial sounds are juxtaposed against vocal choirs and Maggot Brain-style guitar solos fade in and out of a number of tracks. It is challenging listening at times but it is also reflective of the fractious, partisan times we are currently living in.

 

For me, the standout tracks were “I Can’t Breathe” where the subtle piano loops and lush orchestral sounds are abruptly silenced by a lingering gunshot, and the musical painting of the experience of oppression on display in the song of the same name.

 

I normally wrap up my reviews with a rating out of five, but rather than do that, I will instead end with this…

 

Simon says listen.

Producer Indie Artist

Social Media Links

BANDCAMP: https://thinkgoodaudio.bandcamp.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Mixmaster412/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/HaynesMagaleon9

This is What Black Lives Matter Sounds Like with Think Good Audio

All Atomic Compelling Cinematic Electronic EP – Sirens Of The Suns

Posted on by Simon Irvine

All Atomic Compelling Cinematic Electronic EP – Sirens Of The Suns

EP Sirens Of The Suns

All Atomic Compelling Cinematic Electronic EP – Sirens Of The Suns

All Atomic – Sirens of the Sun (EP)

I am not usually prone to making sweeping generalisations, but I think it is fair to say that the best music is made by those artists most keenly aware of its historical development and their place within it. This is true of all genres, including electronic music. That is why I found the new Sirens of the Sun EP from English producer, All Atomic, so compelling.

It is obvious listening to the four tracks on offer here that All Atomic is steeped in electronic music history. He combines the driving bass arpeggios first introduced to the disco scene by Giorgio Moroder with the synth sounds and phrasing of early Jean-Michel Jarre, along with an eighties synthpop sensibility and the driving beats of more recent years to inform his own sound. What is most impressive is that, whilst these elements are recognised, the end result is a sound that is more than the sum of its parts – a sound that is distinctive and fresh.

Holding all four tracks together on this EP is an underlying tension that All Atomic achieves through the use of repeated, looped arpeggio lines and cinematic flourishes. This is most evident in the first two tracks, Coda and Sequence. The last two tracks, Sirens of the Sun and A Dove 4 Love, add fat, eighties bass sounds that serve to cut through the tension to some extent. Nevertheless, their addition never serves to undercut the dark overall tone of the EP. I particularly liked the rock drum samples on the opening track and the sweeping synth sounds at the start of the title track and my favorite track overall was Sequence.

All Atomic is to be commended for constructing such a thematically consistent EP. He should also be congratulated on his obvious understanding of how the genre has developed historically. His grasp of this has served him very well indeed here.

All Atomic Compelling Cinematic Electronic EP – Sirens Of The Suns

Simon says 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 Star Rating

 

 

 

OUT 24TH JULY

 

Social Media Links

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/allatomic1

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/allatomic

Links to Pink Dolphin Music

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PinkDolphinMLtd

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pinkdolphinmusic

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/pinkdolphinmusic/

All Atomic Compelling Cinematic Electronic EP – Sirens Of The Suns

SNEAK PEAK

All Atomic Compelling Cinematic Electronic EP – Sirens Of The Suns

11:11 Invasion Album Serves Up a Serious Feast Of Styles and Sounds

Posted on by Simon Irvine

11:11 Invasion Album Serves Up a Serious Feast Of Styles and Sounds

Electronic Compilation Album

 

Electronic Alliance Records – 11:11 Invasion (Compilation Album)

What a great time to be a fan of electronic music! For the second week in a row, I get to review an album that highlights just how strong the world of independent electronica is right now. Following in the history of genre team-up collections such as the rap-meets-rock of the Judgment Night soundtrack and the metal-meets-electronica of the Spawn soundtrack, 11:11 Invasion couples 11 electronic music artists with a diverse range of rappers. The resulting album is best described as excellent.

 

Starting with the 1920s jazz club chorus and drum and bass switch up of “A Blessing and a Curse” by Davey Hub featuring Fat Pockets and Skyline Tigers, through to the acid-house workout of “Warehouse Party” by Gribbles, 11:11 Invasion serves up a feast of styles and sounds that is sure to please listeners. For me, there were three standouts. “Tribe” by Skaarl is a big bass house number featuring the Dizzee Rascal-style rap of Reminiss. “Light Trails” features the sing-song rapping of Bonnie Legion over the top of a minimalist snare and synth groove. And “Pikes Peak” by ØLSKXX (featuring Cee Reed) brought to mind the dense production of cLOUDDEAD and the lyrical flow of Atmosphere.

 

That is not to suggest those are the only strong tracks on offer here. I could have also mentioned the RZA meets John Carpenter production on “Better Place” by DZM (featuring Helstrip) or the straight up boom-bap of “Oldsckool S.A.N” by Cylotron (Featuring Donte Pringle), but there’s only a certain amount of words I have to play with.

 

Electronic Alliance Records are to be commended for this experiment. The sheer quality and range on display here should make this a must-listen for all fans of electronic music and hip-hop. So, for the second week in a row…

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Simon says 5 out of 5 stars.

5 Stars

 

 

 

Electronica Records

BANDCAMP: https://electronicalliancerecords.bandcamp.com/album/11-11-invasion 

WEBSITE: https://electronicalliancerecords.weebly.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/1EARecords

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/1EARecords

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/electronicalliancerecords/

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Album Cover

Triplicate Records – Red Shift (Compilation Album)

I am a big fan of compilation albums. Some music purist friends of mine find that disturbing – a kind of musical sin, so to speak – but I have always found them a great way of discovering new artists and new styles, From the yearly collections of chart hits when I was a child, through to the Ninja Tune and Dope on Plastic samplers of the 90s, onto to my recent purchases of Northern Soul compendiums, compilation albums have always been a part of my musical diet.

 

The Red Shift compilation from Triplicate Records is a very worthy addition to this diet. Featuring tracks from some of the most interesting artists in the field of electronic music today (including Crest of the Syndicate, Suncastle, Station Zero, Leaving Richmond, Mood Exhibit and Belial Pelegrim amongst others), Red Shift represents a collection of tunes that fall at the more “experimental” or “intelligent” end of that broad genre’s spectrum. The styles and sounds on display here are diverse indeed, but what holds them together is a sense of inventiveness and sonic exploration. Each and every one of the tracks is pushing at the limits of their chosen sub-genres and asking the listener to go beyond their comfort zones.

 

Whilst it is hard to pick favorites, there were two standout tracks for me. “Index” by Richard Alfaro is an exercise in slow building psychedelica, as various glitched and deformed synth elements are added to build a kind of demented merry-go-round sound. “Fume Jazz” by Dark Fidelity HiFi was another standout – lush synth pads and delayed trumpet sounds float over the top of a subtle drum and bass workout to create a chilled and atmospheric listening space.

 

Whilst not every track will appeal to every listener, there is a great deal to recommend this album. Most importantly, it will introduce the uninitiated to the wealth of sounds that is to be found in the world of independent electronic music – music that will take them out of their safe spaces. And for those who are familiar, Red Shift is a rewarding listen consisting of some of the best and brightest working in electronic music today.

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Simon says 5 out of 5 stars.

5 Stars

 

 

 

Triplicate Records

WEBSITE: https://triplicaterecords.bandcamp.com/album/red-shift

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/triplicaterecords

TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/triplicate_recs

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Diverse Intelligent Electronic Music On Red Shift Compilation Album

Electronic Synthwave For Your Mind and Soul from gribbles

Posted on by Simon Irvine

Electronic Synthwave For Your Mind and Soul from gribbles

Music Review

gribbles – The Requiem EP

Sad to say, I am a bit late to the party on this one. The Requiem EP, from UK-based producer gribbles (aka Graham Thorpe) was released on June 15th and represents an exploration of different electronic music styles across its four tracks.

 

Starting with the ambient-infused IDM of the title track, the EP sets a high musical bar. The second track, What Are the Media?, steps up to the mark, establishing a kind of synthwave-styled spy groove before adding an extended sample of Noam Chomsky. Hive is up next, and here Thorpe juxtaposes a circuit pulse and organ before adding a bass and keys reminiscent of those French purveyors of retro electronica, Air. The EP closes with the aptly titled Airwatching, an atmospheric piece of chillout music.

 

I am not going to suggest that this is music for everyone. I couldn’t see this being played at parties and on dance floors around the world. However, as a fan of the broad range of sounds and moods that electronic music has to offer, I was very impressed by this. It was food for my mind and soul.

 

Simon says 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 Star Rating

 

 

 

gribbles

WEBSITE: http://gribbles.co.uk/

BANDCAMP: https://gribbles.bandcamp.com/album/requiem-e-p

Electronic Synthwave For Your Mind and Soul from gribbles

Electronic Synthwave For Your Mind and Soul from gribbles

The Rude Awakening Of Synthpop Style Making You Squeal!

Posted on by Simon Irvine

The Rude Awakening Of Synthpop Style Making You Squeal!

Music Review on Music Talks

The Rude Awakening – Squeal!

Formed in 2018, The Rude Awakening has been quick to make a mark on the independent electronic music scene. Hailing from the UK and consisting of Johnny Normal and Bridget Gray, The Rude Awakening have previously released a number of synthpop tracks for grown-ups including Emerald Dancer and Your Wetness Is My Weakness.

Squeal! Is the duo’s first full release of 2020 and represents a further refinement of their sound. Upbeat, saucy and infectious, Squeal! is a conversation between lovers best summed up in the chorus that serves as the track’s outro:

Tell me what you want and what you need and what you feel

Wrap your arms around me baby let me make you squeal

Along with the original radio mix, the single includes six remixes from Mr Strange, Patrik Kambo, Eminent, Mechanical Cabaret, Subject:2 and the Jan Doyle Band. Each offers its own unique take on the track – from the techno beginnings of the Patrick Kambo remix, to the crunching guitars of the Jan Doyle Band Armageddon remix and the beat monster that is the Mechanical Cabaret remix (my personal favourite).

Despite being around for roughly forty years now, synthpop is a genre that continues to grow and develop. The Rude Awakening is doing its own part to keep the style alive and interesting and Squeal!, due for release on 10th July, is further evidence that synthpop still has a lot to offer.

 

Simon says 4 out of 5 stars.

4 Star Rating

 

 

 

THE RUDE AWAKENING

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/rudeawakening69 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PinkDolphinMLtd

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/therudeawakeninguk

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/pinkdolphinmusic

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/therudeawakening69/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/pinkdolphinmusic/

 

PRE-SAVE SQUEAL!

The Rude Awakening Of Synthpop Style Making You Squeal!

The Rude Awakening Of Synthpop Style Making You Squeal!

The Brisbane Metal Band That Will Blow You Away; Adriatic

Posted on by Simon Irvine

The Brisbane Metal Band That Will Blow You Away; Adriatic

Metal Music Review

Adriatic – Koreni

Let me start by saying that this is going to be a little longer than my regular reviews. With an album this complex and engaging and my personal bias for bands from own hometown of Brisbane, it would be wrong of me to pass over this release too quickly.

 

I first saw Adriatic play at the Back Room in Brisbane on a bill with some other local metal acts and they totally blew me away. Their intensity and live presence made me an instant fan and on that night I bought my first CD. So it was with excitement that I saw the band was releasing a new album. This is the first time in my life as a music reviewer that I have contacted a band directly and asked if I could review its work. Fortunately for me, Adriatic was only too obliging.

 

Koreni, due for release on 1st July, kicks off with the title track and what a track it is. Featuring Reni Bojilov of Bulgarian folk group, Zhiva Voda, Koreni (I) opens with a captivating Middle-Eastern-style vocal line before moving into intense slower metal groove that had me thinking of Rotting Christ and Igorrr. Falling Helplessly In A Dream featuring Simon R-W of Massic is up next and the band introduces the Meshuggah-style riffing and rhythmic complexity that sits at the heart of this album. This is evident in tracks such as Immerse, When Words Mean Nothing (which also contains hints of psychedelic rock in its opening) and Poison Me (II).

 

But it would be wrong to reduce Adriatic to a band that “only” does complex riffing. They are so much more than this, as is demonstrated in Poison Me (I), a ballad that starts with a juxtaposition of samples of a preacher begging his congregation for money and news of pedophile priests. The track then moves into a kind of rock ballad that wouldn’t be out of place on an Alice in Chains album. The nineties influences don’t stop there – Unbroken featuring Sami S reminded me in its tone and structure of earlier Helmet.  The other standout for me was Against All Odds featuring Jesse N of Regular Gonzales. I was wanting to say something intelligent and insightful about this track, but all that kept springing to mind was “f**king awesome”.

 

The album ends with Koreni (II) and the track reprises the Middle-Eastern vocals of the opening track, moving through an angular riff workout, before decaying into a wall of eroded noise – the perfect ending to a perfect album.

 

All I can saw in summary is this – if you are a fan of metal, BUY THIS ALBUM. There is not a weak track here and I know that I will have this on heavy rotation over the coming weeks. If I could give it more, I would, but for now…

 

Simon says 5 out of 5 stars

5 Stars

 

 

 

Koreni track listing:

  1. Koreni (I) ft. Reni Bojilov of Zhiva Voda
  2. Falling helplessly in a dream ft. Simon R-W of Massic
  3. Immerse
  4. When words mean nothing
  5. Against all odds ft. Jesse N of Regular Gonzales
  6. Poison me (I)
  7. Poison me (II)
  8. Unbroken ft. Sami S
  9. Delusion ft. Dwid Hellion of Integrity
  10. Koreni (II) ft. Reni Bojilov of Zhiva Voda

 

 PRE-SAVE  ADRIATIC

The Brisbane Metal Band That Will Blow You Away; Adriatic

The Brisbane Metal Band That Will Blow You Away; Adriatic