Style: Post-Rock, Art Rock, Industrial-influenced
Vibe: Atmospheric, Cold, Dark, Epic, Ethereal, Ominous, Winter
Sonic explorations and research from the outer groove
Style: Post-Rock, Art Rock, Industrial-influenced
Vibe: Atmospheric, Cold, Dark, Epic, Ethereal, Ominous, Winter
Style: Creative Music, Black Liberation Music, Avant-Garde Jazz
Vibe: Communal, Triumphant, Conscious, Earthy, Futuristic, Passionate, Political, Rebellious, Theatric
Musical Attributes: Improvisation, Spoken Word, Suite, Percussive, Progressive, Live, Group Vocals
Style: Post-Rock, Psychedelic Rock
Vibe: Cinematic, Contemplative, Focused, Hypnotic, Mellow, Peaceful, Spacey, Stoned
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Riffs, Instrumental
featuring members of Grails and Slint
The Invisible Comes to Us is a haunting, modern take on Appalachian and Irish folk songs. Beautiful close-harmonies, banjos and acoustic guitars are juxtaposed with droning atmospheres of woodwinds, Moog bass, pump organ, and euphonium. Guest musicians include Jim White on drums and Susan Alcorn on slide guitar.
Style: Art Pop, Trip-Hop, Synth-Pop
Vibe: Brooding, Groovy, Passionate, Sensual, Heartfelt, Futuristic, Breakup, Love
Musical Attributes: Catchy, Lyrical, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Atmospheric
Style: Progressive Electronic
Influences: Kosmische Musik, Industrial, Drone, Shoegaze
Vibe: Angsty, Dystopian, Cathartic, Mechanical, Depressive, Futuristic, Hypnotic, Intimate, Loner, Spacey, Raw, Murky
Musical Attributes: Drone, Loops, Noisy Analogue Synthesizers, Drum Machine, Atmospheric, Motorik, Lo-fi, Vocal Manipulation
Style: Art Rock, Jazz-Rock
Vibe: Introspective, Moody, Passionate, Sentimental, Sombre, Conceptual
Musical Attributes: Lyrical, Complex, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Rhythmic, Progressive
Lyrical Themes: Death, Existential, Personal, Reflective
Style: Progressive Electronic, Experimental
Vibe/Mood: Ethereal, Spacey, Futuristic, Mysterious, Suspenseful, impressionistic
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Instrumental, Studio-as-an-instrument (Loops, Editing, Dubs), Vignettes, Improvisation
Instrumentation: Synthesizer, Drum Machine
Style: Modern Soul, Art Pop
Vibe: Reflective, Lush, Mellow, Confident, Groovy, Introspective, Summer, Warm
Musical Attributes: Melodic, Soft, Suite, Vignettes, Polished, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Beats
Style: Experimental Singer-Songwriter, Soul Blues, Psychedelic Soul
Vibe: Imaginative, Bluesy, Cathartic, Conscious, Cosmic, Spiritual, Heartfelt, Passionate, Psychedelic, Rootsy, Bittersweet, Poetic
Lyrical Themes: Existential, Afro-Futurism, History, Racism, Reflective
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Lyrical, Improvisation, Raw, Studio-as-an-Instrument
Instrumentation: Vocals, Piano, Synthesizers, Keyboards, Saxophone, Trombone, Percussion
Style: Loner Folk, Singer Songwriter, Psych Folk
Vibe: Lethargic, Loner, Peaceful, Soothing, Airy, Mellow, Contemplative, Dreamy, Droney, Hypnotic, Intimate, Introspective
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Droney, Slow, Sparse, Soft
Style: Indie Rock
Influences: Shoegaze, Post-Rock, Free Improvisation, Emo
Vibe: accessible, cathartic, contemplative, dynamic, lyrical, passionate, philosophical, poetic
Style: Soul, Art Pop
Vibe: Confident, Heartfelt, Introspective, Colorful, Triumphant, Uplifting, Urban, Loner
Lyrical Themes: Conscious, Poetic, Political, Personal, Black Pride, Love, Feminist
Musical Attributes: Groovy, Lush, Headphone Album, Polished, Catchy, Technical
Style: Dream Pop, Psych Rock
Vibe: Dreamy, Groovy, Psychedelic, Ethereal, Sensual, Love, Nocturnal
Style: Chamber Pop, Art Pop
Vibe: Lush, Ethereal, Imaginative, Sensual, Storytelling, Surreal, Intricate, Airy, Dreamy
Instrumentation: Vocals, Keyboards (Piano, Harpsichord, etc), Upright Bass, Strings, Drums, Saxophone
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz, Space Ambient
Vibe: Cosmic, Futuristic, Improvisation, Spacey, Atmospheric
Style: Collage Pop, Glitch-Folk, Plunderphonics
Vibe: Bittersweet, Warm, Eclectic
Musical Attributes: Sampling, Electro-Acoustic
Style: Electro-Jazz, Free Jazz
Vibe: Afrofuturism, Abstract, Atonal, Cosmic, Futuristic, Noisy, Spacey
“There is a heightened and sustained sense of intuition running through this recording whose sonic palette is so wide it captures – through soundscaping, invocation, lament, impressionistic vocal weaving – not only the transient and hybridised nature of life in Johannesburg, but also the heaviness of the air at the time of its recording. More ambient, controlled swirl of rhythm and experimental mixing than incessant groove, the album is an outpouring of a range of expressions that exist between the supposed binaries of indigenous forms of music and the electronic experimentation Johannesburg is known globally for.” (from Bandcamp)
Style: Spiritual Jazz
Vibe: Warm, Spiritual, Groovy
Musical Attributes: Melodic, Improvisation, Acoustic (Upright Bass, Drums, Flute/Saxophone)
Listening to Alex G, one might imagine a young alien sitting alone in his martian bedroom baring his angsty, teenage confessions to his 4-track tape recorder. Yet, at the core of his music, underneath layers of psychedelic guitars, weird pitch-shifted vocals, and occasional lo-fi hiss, lies some genius pop songs that feel simultaneously adolescent and mature.
Recommended for fans of lo-fi experimentation and bedroom pop. Alex seems to pull influences from all over and channel them through his own unique personality and penchant for odd, psychedelic production. Recalls Elliot Smith’s loner acoustic songwriting and drum machines pulled from 80′s pop songs; there’s even a fucked up jazz piano ballad thrown into the mix.
Style: Glitch-Pop, IDM, Electronic Rock
Vibe: Moody, Groovy, Glitchy, Mechanical, Dance, Futuristic
Musical Attributes: Loops, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Polished, Live Instrumentation, Digital Post-Production
The sludge oozing out of this record is so toxic that all traces of metal have nearly disintegrated, and the fumes cause nightmarish hallucinations to any who inhale.
Style: Free-Sludge, Avant-Metal, Free Improvisation
Vibe: Primal, Murky, Aggressive, Hallucinogenic, Cathartic, Complex
Musical Attributes: Collective Improvisation, Dissonant, Noisy, Progressive
Style: Free Improvisation, Post-Minimalism, Trance Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz
Vibe: Suspenseful, Hypnotic, Epic, Anxious, Impressionistic
Musical Attributes: Atmospheric, Repetitive, Droney, Dissonant, Electro-Acoustic, Collective Improvisation, Minimalistic
These communal sound rituals express a digital-era longing to reconnect to the Earth. The grooves here are circular and ceremonial, not rooted to any specific musical traditions but borrowing from many, including cosmic jazz, kosmische musik and undoubtedly inspired by Holden’s collaboration with legendary Gnawa musician Maleem Mahmoud Ghania. Drums and percussion ground the proceedings while muscular sequencer and fiery saxophone arpeggiations hypnotically intertwine. The sounds of fluttering recorder and modular synthesizer swirl through the air like offerings to the cosmos.
Recommended for fans of The Comet is Coming, Tonto’s Exploding Head Band, Maleem Mahmoud Ghania & Pharoah Sander’s Trance of Seven Colors, Natural Information Society, Colin Stetson
Religious allegory, profane thoughts, and lustful confessions intertwine on Human Behavior’s third LP; Kedimum is a brooding suite of psychological chamber folk that introspects into a conflicted mind, struggling to reconcile matters of indoctrinated faith, natural human desires, and internalized guilt. Primary songwriter Andres Parada is joined by a sympathetic cast of vocalists to create a vivid sonic drama complete with choral vocals and spoken word passages to complement his haunting narrations. The intricate and shadowy arrangements blend distorted electronic beats with a wide array of acoustic instrumentation, including banjo, clarinet, accordian, acoustic guitar, violin, ehru, and cello.
“The five-piece band synthesise contemporary classical forms – most often recalling Steve Reich or Philip Glass – and marry them to the looseness and improvisational nature of jazz and the dynamics of head-nodding electronic music. Stateless is at once both carefully composed and freely flowing. The compositions included here are more about rhythm, texture and contrast than definable melodies and harmonic structures.” – Scott Wallace [Sydney Scoop]
Style: Post-Rock, Space Rock, Kosmische-Influenced
Vibe: Driving, Motorik, Nocturnal, Urban, Focused, Energetic, Futuristic
Released in 2016 on Polydor Records Format: LPx2 Style: Modern Soul, Future Garage, Art Pop Vibe: Sad, Heartfelt, Reflective, Lonely, Intimate, … More
Style: Singer/Songwriter, Jazz-Folk, Experimental Rock
Vibe: Cathartic, Transcendent, Existential, Funereal, Introspective, Intense
Featuring: Ryley Walker, Ka Baird, Cooper Crain, Joshua Abrams
[Follow link for full review]
Released in 2013 on Thrill Jockey Format: LP Style: Psych-Folk Vibe: Pastoral, Warm, Cosmic, Nature, Psychedelic Musical Attributes: Instrumental, Droney Instrumentation: Electric … More
Originally released as a cassette on Atlantic Rhythms Records in 2018 Original vinyl pressing (2020), limited to 300 Format: LP
Released in 2012 on Utecht Records Format: LP, 45rpm
Released in 2016 on Polyvinyl Records Format: LP, translucent purple vinyl
Released in 2015 on Constellation Records Recorded June 3-5, 2014 Format: LP
Released in 2018 on Sublime Frequencies Format: LP
Released in 2014 on Svart Records Recorded 2011 Format: LP
Released in 2017 on Pro Era Recordings Format: LPx2
Released in 2011 on Constellation Records Format: 10″x2
Released in 2019 on 33-33 Records Format: LP Style: Free-Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Experimental Rock Influences: Arabic Folk Music, Free Improvisation, … More
Style: Drone-Rock, Experimental Rock
Influences: Dark Ambient, Psych Rock, Kosmische, Noise, Drone-Metal
Vibe: Shadowy, Ominous, Brooding, Dark, Driving, Haunting, Hypnotic, Mysterious, Exploratory, Nocturnal, Hallucinogenic
Musical Attributes: Studio-as-an-instrument, Dissonant, Droney
Fontanelle’s Vitamin F feels heavily indebted to the dense, psychedelic grooves of Bitches Brew and the Mwandishi albums, and while it doesn’t quite reach the majestic heights of those legendary records, it’s definitely a worthwhile slab of wax for fans of polyrhythmic funk, winding improvisations, and spacey keyboard atmospheres.
Style: Drone-Rock, Dark Ambient. Experimental
Vibe: Suspenseful, Eerie, Atmospheric, Slow, Haunting, Dark, Psychedelic, Mysterious,
Musical Attributes: Dissonant, Repetitive, Sparse, Instrumental, Noisy
Musicians: Stephen O’Malley (Sun O)))), Atsuo (Boris), William Herzog, Michio Kurihara
Style: Free Improvisation
Influences: Spiritual Jazz, Noise, Free Jazz
Vibe: Spiritual, Ritualistic, Cathartic, Abstract
Recommended for fans of Albert Ayler, Oren Ambarchi, Stephen O’Malley
Released in 2017 by Arts & Crafts Productions Format: LPx2
Released in 2015 on Ninja Tune Format: LP
This heavy drone rock feels like a journey through some haunted terrains and forests in ancient Europe. Monolithic fogs of synths and electronic soundscapes drone on for minutes at a time, occasionally being infiltrated by psychedelic guitars and pummeling marches of drums and bass. Given the cohesive ark, determined focus, and fluidity of the album (without as much as a pause between tracks until track 7), it was surprising to find that most of the songs are studio-enchanced improvisations pulled from 2014 tour recordings.
Recommended for fans of motorik drums, the thick drone of early Earth or Sunn O))), psychedelic guitar noises and fuzzy stoner rock riffs.
Released in 2011 on Software Records Format: LP
Style: Experimental Rock, Art Rock
Influences: Electronic, Kosmische Musik, Glitch, Afro-Beat
Vibe: Surreal, Psychedelic, Messy, Hypnotic, Warm, Mysterious, Cryptic
Musical Attributes: Sampling, Percussive, Polyrhythmic, Studio-as-an-instrument, Dense, Looping
Themes: Nature
Released in 2012 on Sargent House Format: LP, White Vinyl Style: Trip-Hop, Downtempo, Synth Pop Instrumentation: Fretless Bass, Vocals, Drum … More
Released in 2018 on Ninja Tune Format: LP
Released in 2016 on Blue Chopsticks/Drag City Recorded November, 2014 – July, 2015 Format: LP
Released in 2013 on 4AD Records Format: LP
Released in 2014 on Constellation Records Format: LP
Released in 2017 on One Little Indian Format: LPx2
Released in 2010 on Blue Horizon Format: LP Recommended Tracks: B3 – True Believers, A1 – Bad Vibrations, B2 – … More
Released in 2019 Recorded in the Netherlands on November 11, 2018 Format: LP, DVD
Released in 2018 on The Leaf Label Format: LPx2 Includes vinyl-exclusive track on side D
Released in 2014 on Constellation Records Format: LP
Released in 2018 on Friends of Friends Records Format: LP, Clear Vinyl
Released in 2019 on Western Vinyl Format: LP
Released in 2016 on R&S Records Recorded 2007-2015 Format: LP
The other day I asked myself how I could possibly be thinking about music when the continuing dangers of capitalist-imperialism, … More
Released in 2019 on Constellation Records Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Constellation Records Format: LPx2
Released in 2019 on Stones Throw Records Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Don Giovanni Records Format: LP, grey vinyl
Released in 2019 on International Anthem Recording Co. Format: LPx2
Released in 2017 on Atlantic Records Format: LPx2
Released in 2019 on Jealous Butcher Records Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Impulse! Records Format: LP
Released in 2019 on RCA Records Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Constellation Records Format: LP
Released in 2017 on International Anthem Recording Co. Recorded June 2016 Format: LP
Released in 2017 on Constellation Records Format: LPx2, etching on side D
Released in 2016 on Domino Records Format: LPx2, includes poster and lyric Booklet
Released in 2019 on Constellation Records Format: LP
Released in 2012 on Young God Records Format: LPx3
Released in 2013 on Deathwish, Inc. Format: LPx2. 45rpm, Gold and Red Vinyl
Released in 2012 on Warp Records Format: LPx2
Released in 2017 on ATO Records Format: LP, Vomit splatter vinyl
Released in 2010 on Modular Records Format: LPx2
Released in 2014 on Young Turks Recordings Format: LP
Released in 2014 on Ghostly International Format: LPx2, hand-dipped vinyl Limited to 800
Released in 2011 on Jagjaguwar Format: LP
Released in 2015 on Relapse Records Format: LPx2, 45rpm, Red Vinyl
Released in 2012 on P.W. Elverum & Sun, Ltd. Format: LP, clear vinyl
Released in 2014 on RVNG International Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Fat Possum Records Format: LP
Released in 2017 on XL Recordings Format: LP Overview By introducing heartfelt vocals into her (often) harsh environments of contorted … More
Released in 2019 on International Anthem Recording Co. Format: LP
Released in 2019 on Leaving Records Format: LP
Released in 2017 on Mello Music Group Format: LP
Released in 2017 on Young Turks Format: 12″ EP
Innovative guitarist and producer Dave Harrington (Darkside) uses his latest record to explore the outer reaches of improvisation and compositional post-production. Pure Imagination, No Country is jazz-rock fusion stripped of its retro connotations—fusing hard grooves, free flights of collective improvisation, and futuristic ambience to create something that is at turns atmospheric and in your face.
Recommended for fans of Bill Frisell, Terje Rypdal, or Jaga Jazzist
Released in 2013 on Matador Records Format: LP + 7″ The bonus 7″ features covers of Todd Rundgren’s “I Saw … More