Okinawa Lifestyle Naha (haaa00a00a0a)

Georgia's duo Okinawa Lifestyle consisting of David Datunashvili and Gigi Jikia who is yet a little known to date, though undoubtedly one of the most shimmering pop acts nowadays originating from the borders of the former U.S.S.R. Their music can be classified as part of chillwave/glo-fi movement, being this way as an earmark in the running of the aforementioned style on popularity all around the world. In fact, the Tbilisians, however, pushed already off their debut Roswell Crash EP one year ago. Are they as one pair amongst the first pioneers of chillwave music actually? It might be right this way.

Speaking about the 12-track LP, it is built up on profuse chords exchanges and the evocation of the groove and velvet-alike harmonies. However, in accordance with duo`s previous release the new is more concerned about disgressions and mood swings. For example, the main harmony of the opening Rouge à Lèvres comes out from the middle of abrasive electro industrial chaos. Levan runs through the prism of beatific and glamorous sounds, enough to be regarded as one of the central pieces on it. Tbilisi Presents does offer a hybrid of the noir mood-ish Pulp (Seductive Barry, Weeds II, My Legendary Girlfriend), and Ariel Pink-ish tunes. Actually it is hard to imagine how the pop music could sound even the better way! But you should never say never. Little Place is a blend of funky electro, hip-hop, and rock riff hooks. Goblin Dance mixes sentimental atmospheric layers with a bit of "garbage" sound. Nightwalk and the Sunrise Club have entered into an area of electronic pop music influenced by club dance jitters,which, by the way, is reminiscent of some of the songs from the Estonian cult band Borax on the album Mikroraion (1999). Emotional Experience is used to be to find some balance in-between lounge music and deep house. Ninenda is just a fine track to be ended up with positive mood.

Indeed, it appears it`s very happy time we are living in being sorrounded by so much beautiful music. Hopefully we hear about this Georgian band soon once again.

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9.8

[Compilation] New Weird Australia, Volume Five (NWA005)

In a relatively short period of time the New Weird Australia compilations have already reached the fifth piece in a row, which probably does testify the fact that the Australian underground scene has enough power and vitality to subsequently set up the steps to permeate over the world.

Indeed, all around of it is ebulliently colourful. Speaking about any kind of so-called New Weird- movements, for instance about New Weird America or Finnish forest folk, you can find out the connection with folk music. In fact, to find out the link with folk music in Australian counterpart it is actually a bit harder task, though. For example, there is represented the music of Alex Yarbley aka Dot.AY, who have acquired enough notoriety in chiptune/tracker music circles in the last years. Another example and pleasant surprise is meet to Gail Priest, who is known by her confident sound art characteristics and methodology (in the recent case, the minimalist vocal drones are flavoured with spare electronics). However, the other projects are also far from (alt-) folk tunes - a primitive noise (Justice Yeldham, who is described by the Wire journalist Bruce Russell as one of the interesting artists after Iggy Pop to date), Ship Caught has a gothic blend of psych-punk and shoegaze to boom out, as if Joy Division had a very special wish to make acquiatence with the specifics of the Wall Of Sound; indie psychedelia (Crab Smasher), a sort of electronic primitivism (Ripple), a kind of Glass Bead Game with cut and paste formality (Kate Carr), a vanguardistic bunch of glitch-electronics, space rock, digital noise/ambient (Blake Freele, / / / ▲ ▲ ▲ \ \ \). Further, even in the recent context Mookoid`s structure seems to be innovative (Hex River Valley). My personal fancies are the Peace Out!`s psych-electro space noir mania (Running the Sand), so you can label it as `modern` without you could sound ridicolous somehow; and Burning Palms` noisy psych-rock with loudly ringing echo drums (Mockery). Third favorite of mine is The Atlas Room`s Iris , which is used to be similar to Burning Palms, though, having more emphasis on motorik sequences and rooting out the borders between different styles.

In short, Volume Five is a fabulous collection of ideas and sounds. If you want to get some excellent examples of contemporary avant-garde rock music, you should certainly listen to this compilation. Aboriginal spirits have got up to the machines to groove themselves out.

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[Artists] Momoko Pins

Myspace
Lastfm

[Old but important] ART ABSCONs Spektral Magik (ParaLucid)

In my mind, `dark folk` (also, `neofolk`, `apocalypse folk`, `folk noir` as a genre has got to stay as one of the honest in its own. Ever since all of those acts, and some of them especially, which established the borders of the aforementioned styles approximately 20-30 years ago are intended to have stayed on the top level to date. Non/Boyd Rice, Death In June, Ataraxia, Current 93, Werkraum. Unlike black metal music, neofolkers have avoided to get devaluated, maintaining their severe, grim and often politically incorrect image. Indeed, for all of those people who have not had experiences with this sound yet should be get apprised that this music has nothing to do with ordinary folk music, except by the word`folk`.
Spectral Magik is the first and since the last release by a mystical German musician called Grandmaster Abscon ( by the way, who is supposed to use a mask). The album which consists of 7 tracks is probably one of the best - maybe even the most outstanding - I have found within this mysterious world since. Naturally, widely sprawling high arches as the obligatory element sketched by acoustic guitars and atmospheric synths are represented here. Besides that, the mysterious side as well. The first row of the lyrics will say much about it:

//Ich komm zürück aus fremden Welten/Seelen/von einsamen Hören/von verlassenen Tränen//

As confident and credible as by the side of its main elements it is also remarkable by its unusual digressions coming forth distinctly. For instance, Somnium III is fringed by the lightness of organic French estrada music. More specifically - there is no doubt anymore that the leitmotiv is loaned from the evergreenish Love is Blue which was popularized by Paul Mauriat and his orchestra. In true, the track does gradually evolve towards medieval music sentiments. Somnium IV is a stunningly synchronized one of relying on man-woman vocal lines sung in French. Obviously one of the most beautiful ones I have ever heard. Somnium V is getting approach to Einstuerzende Neubauten `s album Silence Is Sexy and its oeuvres recorded in German. Actually, a follow-up will move with Bargeld`s aesthetics arm-in-arm. The last track - as you even yourselves figured it out already - Somnium VII - descends to Gregorian-alike vowel experiments/ethereal sonic layers, neoclassical dark wave structures, impenetrable spoken word declarations.

A sort of mysterious universe. Comparable to the same degree, as the entire Spektral Magik is mystical in its vast goodness. The masterful act really worth for to be discovered by more music fans.

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[Artists] The Red Crayon Aristocrat Club

The Red Crayon Aristocrat Club
Zorch Factory Records
Myspace
Lastfm

Yoko Absorbing Museum Of Modern Chaos (Clinical Archives)

Mikhail Lezin and Evgenij Kharitonov are back in business with their dizzy sound experiments again. This time they are accompanied by two another musicians - Konstantin Guro on saxophones and drums and Alexey Karmanov on rhythm guitar. While their last album Vinyl was shaped through sharp cut-ups and sonic fragmentality ,though, Museum Of Modern Chaos directs its focus toward chaotic moments in lush way. It is constituted conterminously conjuring up vivid visual highlights, and indirectly blurring the boundaries between the styles and genres. Guitar improvisation/experimental rock seems to be as a lone house in the middle of an electronic whiteout, which is exciting enough to give it constant try and attention to follow for. At times the conception is fringed by piano music (Opening Museum), and jazz elements (Free Future) either. Duo`s soundscape has aptitude to expand into mechanic (King Of Surf 1) and electronic horror ambience (Museum Of Modern Chaos (Script Type). Another Hemisphere is metallic ambient music riding on gravelly guitar riffs.

Museum Of Modern Chaos is a fascinating album for sure. Also, if you are intended to make up the contrast with this one you should listen to Yoko Absorbing`s another gem Roughly Gently & Special Lowbit Release (2008, Microbit-Records).

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9.0

a27 z archiwum.G (pitu pitu recordz!)

A27`s sophomore album z archiwum.G consists of 6 tracks having the overall longitude up to 10 minutes. The main assumptions of mine? If you've ever had some experiences of experimenting with the sample unit you might probably assume in which way all of this rubbish happened to be recorded. There are stored different rhythms and natural sounds (floating water falling down from the tap, vowel experiments/groans), and some samples dragged out from brass and jazz music at that. Then all of this kaleidoscope is laid on the rhythm function and being mutated through the slice effect mode turning actively the effect control buttons besides it. The result reflects a random array of sounds. The scales being formed of the pairs of the opposites - sparse-dense, anonymous-suggestive, spastic-flowing, relaxing-psychotic, dilettante-skilful. But certainly the most important thing is that the listener will not be bored on this. However, the conceptual premise is a modern case after all, concerning the topics of the `error´ (and the choice of freedom), also representing chaos inside the heads of certain individuals (Golarz Filip and his genious son, Adolf, as it is said on the pitu pitu recordz!`s site). The human being loves to speak to the machine, the robot will mirror it to the others, though, in an inconsistent way. The revel of intellectual machines, which, though, obviously is not intended for dancing.

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8.2