[1993] Stereolab - The Groop Played ''Space Age Batchelor Pad Music''

As of lately, my go-to choice for Stereolab. One of their earliest albums, while it seems softer than Peng!, in here the motorik-fueled beats are more accentuated than in their next albums, even featuring an obvious Neu! homage. There's some noisy tracks that resemble what they'll later do in "Transient Random..." but in a more digestible package. Perfect for fans and starters alike.




Buy it directly from CD Universe here.

[2011] irr. app. (ext.) / Nurse With Wound - 4 Orphans

After Angry Electric Finger 3, 4 Orphans is the new collaboration between these two bizarre figures of the sound collage/dark ambient scene, although it's somewhat of an irr. app. (ext.) album mostly, considering it's based around old Nurse With Wound arrangements, along with the weirdest things the former could come up with in order to spice up the surreal vibe of the album. As usual, artwork by Matt Waldron.

Buy it directly from irr. app. (ext.)'s Bandcamp here.

[2011] Nurse With Wound - Orgasm Mix

Sold at the KOKO show back in May 15th, making it a tour-only release. Abrasive loops of noise, interlaced with haunting, indiscernible sampling.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC]


Unavailable for purchase.

[2010] Rose Kemp - Golden Shroud

Rose Kemp was a weird discovery for me. While I'm used to female vocals in doom metal, specially in the way bands like Serpentcult and Blood Ceremony incorporate them, Rose Kemp goes beyond these two bands, with an energetic, gospel-like delivery that instantly becomes the center of attention. It caught me off guard the first time I heard it, the way the vocals emphasize the heaviness of the band while almost bordering cheesy territories (just barely) was just unique. Musically it stays mostly on a traditional doom metal mode, but it goes into folk rock territory in several occasions, not as much as her previous albums though, but it's definitely there. Quite a mix, for those looking for something different in the genre.


Download it here: [V0]

Buy it directly from Rose Kemp here.

[REQUEST] [2006] Walter &Sabrina - Chioma SuperNormal: The Dark Album

I haven't actually listened to this yet, but I might get around to it today. I'm not fully familiar with the projects associated to AMM as it's something I have on my to-do list. For whoever requested it, enjoy.
 --
And after listening to this, I can certify it's really good stuff. A bizarre form of art-pop, involving electronic manipulation and contemporary classical in big doses, paired with sarcastic, dark humored lyrics.

"This uniform dull plodder,
This Sodden Strangler.
All hail little man, into average stagger marching.
Feeling social inferiority."

~ The Sodden Stranger

Download it here: [256 Part 1 Part 2][V0]


Buy it directly from Danny Dark Records here.

[1987] AMM - The Inexhaustible Document (Reissue 1994)

Very few albums from back in those days get close to what AMM engineered during the recording of this album: tense, minimal improvisations which explored and exerted the slow building mindset of the ensemble, while managing to retain a feebly kept attention from the listener due to its length.
This reissue in particular has an expanded version of the track Page 9:2 with material recorded during the same period, and considerably less minimal than the original version track.

Download it here: [V0][FLAC Part 1 Part 2] Updated!


Buy it directly from Matchless Recordings here.

[1989] AMM - AMMMusic 1966

Reissue by Recommended Records from the original 1967 release, which consists on at least 30min extra of free improvisation. Essential material of one of the earliest free improv bands in the history of the style, which borrowed heavily from the jazz basic structure and experimented with electronic equipment, particularly transistor radios.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from ReR Megacorp here.

[2008] Moloch - Moloch

Wild feedback assaults and menacing, dragging riffs not too unlike Eyehategod and Iron Monkey, since their demo, Moloch has proved itself to be one of the finest gems of the british underground. A band that has also toured extensively through the United States with Thou and released a split with them, it begs for a full length release, since this 25min EP and the few splits fall short. One of my big favorite bands of the last 2 years, has nailed down the heavy, relentless sound that good sludge should have.

Download it here: [256][V0]


No direct purchases from the label available yet.

[1977] John Greaves, Peter Blegvad, Lisa Herman - Kew. Rhone.

One of the many gems from the Canterbury Scene, Kew Rhone is the resulting work of three important figures from that time, whose combined experience gave birth to an album strongly hinting at Slapp Happy's art pop vibe and what would later become Art Bears, with a remarkable jazz influence typical of the scene. Joyous and mysterious at the same time, the album is plagued with occult references and hidden clues not only in the lyrics but also in the cover, on which several clues are denoted with roman numerals and paired together with some phrases within the songs. Definitely, anyone with at least a mild interest in the 70's british prog scene should check this excellent album.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it from Amazon here.

[2009] Orchestre National de Jazz - Around Robert Wyatt

A very interesting release, which gathers plenty of classic compositions from popular albums in which Robert Wyatt (such an inspiring figure of the canterbury prog scene of the 70's and beyond) contributed and took part of, ranging from his solo albums, the Blegvad/Greaves/Herman collab known as  Kew Rhone, to Matching Mole and many others, reinterpreted by the Orchestre National de Jazz, and even with his own participation in a good part of them. Without losing a bit of their original quality, the songs are embellished with noteworthy contributions, such as Rokia Taoré's soul-influenced vocals, full of warmth and innocence, or Yael Naim's folky vibe, giving it a kind, retro feel to Wyatt's compositions.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from Abeille Musique here.

[2011] 40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room

5 years after Watching From A Distance and splitting up, leaving their fans with only a few records in their back catalog (and none as good as the former), the Warning guys reform with a different bassist (William Spong) to form 40 Watt Sun. Pretty much carrying where they left, The Inside Room is an exercise in despair and melancholy, with the same load of sentimental purity that characterized Warning's now classic album. Musically speaking there's a better use of dynamics and atmosphere exploration in this album, although a similar approach is given to the songs: slow, somewhat simple hooks with little bass focus, and emotional vocals going hand in hand with the depressing vibe. An instant favorite, at least for me.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy directly from Metal Recycler (Cyclone Empire's Webshop) here.

[2007] The Stargazer's Assistant - The Other Side of The Island

The Stargazer's Assistant is a collective fronted by David J Smith and conformed by Daniel O'Sullivan (Ulver, Mothlite) and Antti Uusimaki (also from Mothlite), whose deeply layered soundscapes seek to evoke the ever-changing geological structure of the Earth, decaying and resurfacing every new era. Amazingly diverse material ranging from vocal arrangements to sparse percussion, this album is a truly entrancing piece of work, way beyond run-of-the-mill ambient music, and a display of the rich, organic compositions O'Sullivan and Uusumaki are capable of, also heard in Mothlite.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Aurora Borealis here (scroll down).

[2009] Hotel Belvedere - Tomorrow

In the same instrumental rock and ambient vein of bands like Grails, Tim Hecker and Machinefabriek, Hotel Belvedere (a british solo project) goes for a similar approach by using mostly tape loops and minimal guitar chord arrangements to create a soft, cinematic feel with his music. Most of the electronic elements in this album (particularly the use of looped samples) and rock arrangements are kept under the same overall tone, so every song is almost a continuation of the previous, perfect for full album listens.
I should also mention that for an extremely underground musician, the mixing is really good (which I rarely hear nowadays), and it means there was a sensible production behind this album.

Download and support the band here.

[2011] Miracle - Fluid Window

This is the debut EP of the new project between Daniel O'Sullivan (Guapo, Ulver, Mothlite) and Steve Moore (Zombi), which could be described as a heavy 80's psychedelic trip, drenched in a strong aura borrowed (but not directly addressed) from the 70's kosmische scene. The ethereal vocals present here are no surprise at all considering Mothlite's arrangements, but aside from the obvious pop style, there's still space for experimentation like in songs such as Wild Nights, relying mostly in strong sample layering. Catchy and sexy, just as many other bands and artists of that era, brought to 2011 as a reinterpretation rather than a revival intent.
Give it a full listen below, and preorder it using the link provided.

Miracle - Fluid Window by houseanxiety


Download it here: [256][V0] Updated!


Preorder via House Anxiety here.

[2008] Z'EV vs PITA - Colchester

Another Z'EV collaboration, in this case he teams up with Pita (KTL), which has released plenty of solo albums and collaborations with other musicians of the experimental scene. This is a live recording of a Colchester (England) show from 2006, in which Z'EV focused on the live percussion improvisation while Pita worked on the foggy, sonic atmosphere surrounding the stage. Incredible sounding material.

Download it here [V2][V0]

Sold out at Editions Mego.

[1991] Swell Maps - A Trip To Marineville

One of the main pioneers of the british post-punk scene, Swell Maps was the main band of the Godfrey Brothers, known as Nikki Sudden and Epic Soundtracks, both prominent figures of their time. A Trip To Marineville represents one of their best efforts, containing most of the ideas that were later influential for some of the most experimental post-punk that came later, due to its constants dwellings in noise, punk rock and free improvisation. Excellent album which seamlessly combines energetic punk with noise ballads, which later inspired bands with the caliber of Sonic Youth.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Mute Records here.

[2008] Mothlite - The Flax of Reverie

Daniel O'Sullivan (Guapo, Ulver, live member of Sunn O)))) is the frontman of this prog/neofolk project, which borrows a bit from each one of the projects he has been involved with (specially Miasma & The Carousel of Headless Horses) and mixing it with post-rock (with a hint of Talk Talk), giving the music a unique style overlal. O'Sullivan's soft vocals that remind of Toby Driver's give the album an ethereal vibe, constantly layering and reverberating on every song.
So far the only LP (released 3 years ago), which should be followed by Dark Age this year, in which Krystoffer Rygg (Ulver, Æthenor) contributes vocals.

Download it here: [V0]


Buy it directly from Southern Records here.

[2003] 23 Skidoo - The Culling Is Coming

One of the most known albums of this british industrial/post-punk band, displaying their weird side of industrial that dwelves with dark gamelan music, through the usage of what I could only guess it's metal parts smashed together, with some other less abstract moments in which the post-punk takes place, still with dark overtones. Essential album.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from CD Universe here.

[2007] Skultroll - Skultroll

Underground noise/krautrock band with ambient black metal leanings, this is as close as it gets to psychedelic kraut/black metal in the vein of Aluk Todolo (specially Descension). Amazing discovery that can't go unnoticed, this CDr material deserves more attention, even though its mastering quality is lacking a bit. Same members as Ice Bound Majesty, Skultroll is conformed solely of a bass player and a drummer.

Download it here: [224][V0]

Buy it directly from Rhesus Distribution here (contact info on the site).

[1979] Art Bears - Winter Songs

Second Art Bears album, following the stylistic approach started with Hopes and Fears (which contained the written, but unperformed Henry Cow "song-oriented" material). Highly dissonant, reactionary songs, fully exploring the vocal range of Dagmar Krause and the first glances of the avantgarde approach Fred Frith and Chris Cutler were about to fully focus into in the next decades. Not as approachable as The World As It Is Today, but it's definitely a compelling listen for these interested in early avant-prog.

Download it here: [320]

Buy it directly from Recommended Records here.