Depressive

HRSTA – Stem Stem in Electro

Mike Moya with Eric Craven, Sophie Trudeau, Gen Heistek, Rebecca Foon, Harris Newman

Style: Slowcore, Chamber Rock, Post-Rock

Vibes: Gloomy, Murky, Intimate, Melancholy, Apocalyptic, Autumnal, Haunting, Bleak, Brooding, Depressive, Desolate, Determined, Dystopian, Eerie, Ethereal, Hypnotic, Lonely, Moody, Mysterious, Rainy, Sombre, Tender, Weary

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HOOD – Cold House

Style: Post-Rock, Slowcore, Glitch-Pop, Dub-Influenced, IDM-Influenced, Hip-Hop influenced

Vibes: Autumnal, Lethargic, Melancholy, Haunting, Hypnotic, Sombre, Intertwined, Reflective, Depressive, Winter, Bittersweet, Cold, Introspective, Soothing

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Smog – Wild Love

Style: Slacker Rock, Experimental Songwriter, Loner Folk, Avant-Folk

Vibe: Alienation, Brooding, Depressive, Eclectic, Loner, Moody, Nocturnal, Pessimistic, Sad, Sombre, Existential, Poetic, Introspective, Intimate

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BIG|BRAVE – A Chaos of Flowers

featuring Patrick Shiroishi, Marisa Anderson, Tashi Dorji

Style: Doomgaze, Slowcore, Post-Rock, Drone Metal, Noise Rock

Vibes: Introspective, Poetic, Gloomy, Cathartic, Funereal, Bittersweet, Heartfelt, Sombre, Patient, Deconstructed, Intimate, Western, Melancholy, Powerful, Depressive, Haunting, Brooding, Winter

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Robert Wyatt – Cuckooland

LPx2, Domino Recordings, 2003 / 2008 repress featuring Karen Mantler, Annie Whitehead, Gilad Atzman, David Gilmour, Brian Eno, Paul Weller ON THE SURFACE Style: Progressive Pop, Jazz-Rock, Canterbury Scene Vibes: Surreal, Sombre, Conscious, Dystopian, Ethereal, Ominous, Absurd, Colorful, Gloomy, Mournful, Plaintive, Restrained Themes: Liberation, History, War, Political (Anti-imperialist Critique, Socialism), Existential, Philosophical Instrumentation: Vocals, Keyboards,

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David Sylvian – Blemish

featuring Derek Bailey & Fennesz

Style: Experimental Songwriter, Electroacoustic, Reductionism

Vibe: Lonely, Winter, Reflective, Sombre, Cold, Breakup, Depressive, Surreal, Meditative, Desolate

Musical Qualities: Electro-Acoustic, Glitchy, Sparse, Soft, Dissonant

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The Flaming Lips – 7 Skies H3

Abridged version of a 24-hour recording from 2011

Style: Post-Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental Rock, Progressive Electronic

Vibe: Cold, Apocalyptic, Desolate, Ominous, Mournful, Sombre, Mysterious, Existential, Rainy, Spacey, Melancholy, Nihilistic, Haunting, Hypnotic, Lonely, Dreamy, Cerebral, Meandering, Greyscale, Dystopian

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Henry Cow – Unrest

On their second LP, Henry Cow weaves together elements of eerie chamber music, free improvisation, and deconstructed prog to create something that seems like the missing link between the Canterbury jazz-rock of Soft Machine and Gong and the dissonant avant-rock of This Heat.

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Anguish – Anguish

Anguish is a collaboration between German improvisers Mats Gustafsson & Andres Werliin of the Fire! Orchestra, Hans Joachim Irmler of FaUst, and Will Brooks & Mike Mare of industrial hip-hop legends Dälek.

Style: Industrial Hip-Hop, Dark Jazz, Post-Industrial, Experimental

Moods: Dystopian, Aggressive, Urban, Poetic, Political, Revolutionary, Cerebral, Existential, Sombre, Dark, Depressive, Cold, Mechanical, Heavy, Apocalyptic, Moody, Brooding, Conscious, Abstract, Cryptic, Industrial, Nocturnal, Ominous, Raw, Philosophical

Musical Qualities: Beats, Dissonant, Noisy, Improvisation, Rhythmic, Studio-as-an-Instrument

Instrumentation: Rapping, Sampler, Tenor Saxophone, Synthesizers, Electric Guitar, Drums, Percussion, Electronics, Effect Processing, Vocal Processing

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Brand New – Daisy

Style: Post-Hardcore, Art Rock, Noise Rock, Emo

Moods: Angsty, Self-Loathing, Misanthropic, Nihilistic, Depressive, Dark, Menacing, Aggressive, Existential, Shadow, Raw, Sombre, Alienation

Musical Qualities: Noisy, Lyrical, Dynamic, Riffs, Dense, Heavy

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Kee Avil – Crease

Style: Experimental Songwriter, Glitch, Minimal Industrial

Moods: Ominous, Mechanical, Brooding, Cold, Lonely, Anxious, Apathetic, Cryptic, Depressive, Eerie, Existential, Moody, Shadowy, Bitter

Musical Qualities: Electro-Acoustic, Glitchy, Sparse, Polyrhythmic, Dissonant, Spoken Word, Digital, Dynamic

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Old Fire – Voids

features vocals from Bill Callahan, Emily Cross (Loma), Adam Torres, & Julia Holter

Style: Haunted Folk, Ambient Americana, Southern Gothic

Moods: Desolate, Bleak, Haunting, Western, Cinematic, Stark, Sombre, Rustic, Melancholy, Brooding, Contemplative, Depressive, Nocturnal, Alienation, Dystopian, Impressionistic, Lonely, Moody, Mournful, Mythic, Noir, Personal

Musical Qualities: Suite, Atmospheric, Slow, Sampling, Electro-acoustic, Droney

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Danny Brown – XXX

Style: Hardcore Hip-Hop, Psychedelic Hip-Hop

Vibe: Hedonistic, Personal, Sexual, Vulgar, Manic, Playful, Introspective, Depressive, Nihilistic, Aggressive, Anxious, Dark, Stoned, Storytelling, Urban, Surreal, Disturbing, Existential, Sarcastic

Musical Qualities: Sampling, Lyrical

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Dirty Three – Ocean Songs

Style: Chamber Rock, Slowcore, Post-Rock

Vibe: Aquatic, Melancholy, Flowing, Patient, Soothing, Meditative, Longing, Lonely, Dreamy, Mellow, Lethargic

Musical Qualities: Atmospheric, Loose, Soft, Instrumental, Loops, Improvisation

Instrumentation: Violin, Drums, Electric Guitar, Loops, Melodica, Piano, Harmonica

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Smog – Red Apple Falls

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Slowcore, Alt-Country, Loner Folk

Vibe: Existential, Warm, Morning, Spiritual, Deadpan, Peaceful, Poetic, Introspective, Lonely, Melancholy, Mellow, Contemplative, Intimate

Musical Qualities: Slow, Lo-fi, Lush, Soft, Sparse, Lyrical

Instrumentation: Pedal Steel, Piano, Hammond Organ, Guitar, Trumpet, Drums, Drum Machine, Hurdy Gurdy, French Horn

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Neko Case – Blacklisted

LP, Anti- Records, 2002 (2016, RE) Style: Gothic Americana, Alt-Country, Singer/Songwriter Vibe: Bittersweet, Rebellious, Haunting, Western, Passionate, Energetic, Longing, Anthemic, Breakup, Depressive, Heartfelt, Introspective, Twangy, Rustic, Sentimental

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Vic Chesnutt – At the Cut

Style: Singer/Songwriter, Southern Gothic, Chamber Punk, Slowcore, Folk Rock

Vibe: Depressive, Angsty, Triumphant, Moody, Introspective, Somber, Passionate, Sad, Cathartic

Musical Attributes: Dynamic, Raw

Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitars, Upright Bass, Violin, Drums

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Sixteen Horsepower – Folklore

Style: Gothic Country, Americana, Chamber Folk?Vibe: Rustic, Sombre, Murky, Rootsy, Ominous, Loner, Western, Melancholy, Moody, Dark?Musical Attributes: Acoustic Instrumentation (Banjo, Upright Bass, Cello, Acoustic Guitar, Accordion, Piano), Atmospheric, Droney, Slow, Lyrical?Lyrical Themes: Alienation, Religious, Christian, Storytelling

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The Microphones – The Glow Pt. 2

Style: Lo-Fi, Experimental Singer/Songwriter, Loner Folk
Vibe: Heartfelt, Imaginative, Introspective, Nature, Intimate, Loner, Bittersweet, Depressive, Psychedelic, Raw, Lonely
Lyrical Themes: Existential, Alienation, Breakup, Philosophical, Poetic, Personal, Death
Musical Attributes: Acoustic, Noisy, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Analogue Recording, lo-fi, Distorted

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The Flaming Lips – The Terror

Released in 2013 on Bella Union UK Pressing Format: LPx2, Bonus 7″, Holographic Cover Studio album takes up sides A, B, & C. Side D contains “We Don’t Control the Controlled (mashed-the-fuck-up-remix, Dan Deacon and the Electric Worms’ Insight Violence)” 7″ includes “Sun Blows Up Today” b/w “All You Need Is Love (featuring Alex and

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Magnolia Electric Co. – What Comes After the Blues

“Human hearts and pain should never be separate, then they wouldn’t tear themselves apart both trying to fit”. The first album under the Magnolia Electric Co. name touches on the loneliness and depression of much of Jason Molina’s work, but it also contains a fair amount of the hope, light, and perseverance one needs in times of struggle. The musicians here were recorded live in a room by the great Steve Albini, featuring slide guitar, fiddle, and beautiful vocal harmonies from Molina’s band members. With its mix of melancholy Americana, country-tinged rock, and stripped back folk, What Comes After the Blues feels like a continuation of Neil Young’s great ditch trilogy.

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Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly

Kendrick travels through the history of African-American music and into the future, taking inspiration from P-Funk, G-Funk, jazz, trap and everything in between. His lyrics display an acute awareness of someone battling with the weight of fame, institutional racism, and his own depression. This album is simultaneously personal and universal, and nothing short of revolutionary.

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Ryley Walker – Deafman Glance

Acoustic-shredder/singer-songwriter ventures out of the jazz-inflected folk-rock territory explored by his last few albums to create something that feels fully himself. Deafman Glance is full of angular left turns, complex structures, airy flutes, jazz detours, and psychedelic atmospheres. A balance of great songwriting, jazz musicianship, and experimental/art-rock tendencies. Recommended to fans of Tortoise’s Standards, Tim Buckley’s Starsailor, and King Crimson’s Red. (Click for full review).

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Holy Sons – Survivalist Tales

Album Information: Released in 2011 on Partisan Records Produced by Emil Amos Jeff Stuart Saltzman recorded tracks B1, B3, B5 and mixed track A2. Ash Black Buffalo – Synths on A1, B1, B4 and B5 All other instruments by Emil Amos A3 written by The Troggs Recommended Tracks: Slow Days, Look of Pain!, Reckless Liberation

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Death Grips – The Powers that B

This double album set is recommended to anyone looking for extremely primal, complex punk rap with a wide range of influences, including industrial hip-hop, IDM, math rock, noise, and psychedelic rock. Fans of experimental, aggressive hip-hop like Dälek or Public Enemy will probably really dig this, as will fans of math rock for the extremely innovative musicianship and intricate interplay of Death Grips’/Hella’s Zack Hill and Tera Melos’ Nick Reinhart (who plays on 5 of the tracks).

Click further for full review

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Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition

On his Warp Records debut, the eccentric rapper crafts an album of shadowy hip-hop that expresses a unique creative vision. His bipolar, extremely personal lyrics fluctuate from paranoid agoraphobia and self-deprecating reflection to uninhibited hedonism and braggadocios swagger, sometimes in the course of a couple lines. Highly recommended for fans of Busdriver, Aesop Rock and other psychedelic hip-hop artists

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Songs: Ohia – The Magnolia Electric Co

“Sometimes it’s hard doing anything”. Somehow Jason Molina knows how to perfectly express what depression feels like without ever succumbing to hopelessness. His music has been a friend and a voice of encouragement when I need it most, reminding me to persist and not beat myself up when I feel unproductive or lazy or unmotivated. “The real truth about it is no one gets it right. The real truth about it is we’re all supposed to try”

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