Showing posts with label Psychedelic electronica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psychedelic electronica. Show all posts

Sunday, August 22, 2010

W Physalis EP (Elpa)


The choice of anonymity is an ethical statement, actually. Indeed, especially in the recent reality show era, when the purpose of the TV is to offer dull stripped-down plays and the chance to get some cheap fame to the manipulated ones and thereby humiliating a person`s humanness in a broader sense as well.

However, I was looking for the artist background called W, though, getting no word at his/her Myspace or on the Elpa label page. I even thought to get contact with the musician, but I found this idea unneccessary at the last moment, yet. Have there been any other musician, whose identity, being revealed, thus became better? This is the case of pseudo-problem actually. Let´s music to speak.

In fact, a four-track EP, issued under the Latvian label Elpa, says much more than some stilistically similar, though 2-3 times longer releases. This item does dwell on the examples of ambient, downtempo, IDM, broadening sometimes into the shadows of Kosmische Musik and New Age on here. Besides, there is also an example, which is densely dominated by digital sound processing - indeed, the ending track épiphyte seems sound like the perfection on behalf of glitch-y sonic ruins. In any case, the main emphasis is built up on the organic tonality of synthesizers, although those tend to move through various patterns and shades, reminding by its effects of such electronic artists like Lackluster, Myrakaru, Younnat, and Electricwest. More exactly, pulsating electronic keyboards, occasional vocal bits, and even some jitter of pop/rock shot (the title song), and sharp sonic tissue at times do make sense.

An intriguing, emotionally awakening whole, which synth-based music (of obviously influenced by the 70`s) meets intellectual techno ideology of the last two decade.

Download it from here

9.0

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Weird Ribs Tubes (CLLCT/Bandcamp)


I suppose Joseph Cox is still better known as Fragile Battleships, by his previous project, through the course of 4 albums, in which he generated interesting ambient music. The 20-year-old British musician offered intense soundscapes with solid variability and impressive credibility - atmospheric soundscapes, restless glitch rhythms, the elements of musique concrete and modern classic, subtle orchestrations, low frequent bass booming, freeform sonic effects.

Although quite different, the direction on Weird Ribs wasn`t actually a very surprising turnaround drifting into a new realm - his spirit of open-hearted inventiveness promised to abound almost in everything. An new middle place is set around krautrock - around music without or within the sound of a few guitars, concentrating on creating electronic music with space odour, so-called kosmische musik. However, you know all of those names - Cluster, Conrad Schnitzler, Manuel Göttsching, Harmonia, The Droids, Cosmic Jokers and many others.

Stereo effects initiate Tubes – from one channel to another moving electronic loops are joined by synthesizer drones pumping thereafter up high chords - maybe it sounds even more Cluster than Cluster itself was able to do it. Goodnight Sweetheart is full of clashing digital sounds which at first glance, though, are quite remote from positive acceptance. Maybe even Cox itself is a bit frightened about it, turning on the previous gear. Leave is one of the highlights on the album - a kraut/synth-based sublime symphony which gets growing and meets the expectations of listeners` perception in the degree of 101 per cent. It might seem to be sound in a way as if Harmonia is circulating with Penguin Cafe Orchestra in the CD-player in the same time. The ending of this is an unexpected offering of Gang Gang Dance-alike vanguard tribal rhythms while a counterpoint in the embodiment of digital noise moves up to an intensive background whistling having some similarities with Cox`s previous project sounds, though, having more outbursting and destroying output. One of the best songs of 2010 to date. Pitter Patter is shaken through tectonic quakes while moving through cosmic spheres. All this enchantment of sounds is being captured from vintage analogue synths and epic tanpura-based long-lasting chords and will be set up a new metaphysics - the castles of old peers will be made up again.

On Tubes modern sense meets retro spirituality, epic meets sound manipulation, old school electronics meets recent technology, dance sentiments are infiltrated into psychedelic chaos. Moreover, as Joseph Cox has also mentioned the likes of Fuck Buttons, and Growning as influences amongst others, this conception will nicely be wrapped up. However, by my opinion his closest musical soul mate is still Dominik Jansen aka Cidulator from Cologne.

Download it from here

9.3