[2011] Tartar Lamb - Polyimage of Known Exits


Fuck yes, it's finally here! The new Tartar Lamb sounds as good as promised. In this opportunity Daniel Means (alto sax) and David Bodie (drums) from Kayo Dot join the lineup to add up to the musical melting pot, which in result pushes the band's sound forward. Still instrumental, it seems closer to Kayo Dot's quieter parts (from the latest album) than Tartar Lamb's first album, and while the violins are still prominent, there's a huge emphasis in sound experimentation. The long wait certainly paid off.


Fully streamable (plus purchase links) on Tartar Lamb's website here.

[2011][UPCOMING] Sunn O))) - Agharhi 09-10

(Via Ideologic.org)


Just look at this beauty... Can't wait to hear it. While Monoliths & Dimensions wasn't a total favorite (an overdose of Attila Csihar, as much as I like the guy's vocals in Oracle), some of their songs were just amazing and I expect them to sound immense live, just like La Mort Noir Dans / Ech Alzette did. I guess the idea of having a live choir in some gigs couldn't materialize, but I suppose sometime in the future it'll happen.
 Only two ways to get this: through the SL Subscription Series, or Roadburn 2011. It seems like there will be a lot of speculation with the prices of this release, given the exclusivity. Quite a shame, but I'll try to acquire it nonetheless.

I think there's a typo on the official flyer on Southern Lord's site, since it says Agharhi instead of Agharthi, like in the cover shown above. It might be the actual name though, but I'll remain skeptical until I see the cover in full view.

More info on the Southern Lord Subscription Series here.

[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.

[2010] RST - The Sunset Limited


Straying from the abrasive, harsh drone from Tomorrow's Void, RST (also known as Andrew Moon, prominent figure in the New Zealand scene) becomes soft and quiet, while retaining some of the menacing tone present in the first albums, replaced here with subtlety.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Utech Records here (scroll down).

[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.

[2010] Tangerine Dream - Zeitgeist Concert


The most prolific, well known German progressive electronic/ambient band Tangerine Dream comes back with yet another live album, from last year's performance in the Royal Albert Hall in London. 3 discs, in which they revise some of their acclaimed works in albums like Phaedra and Stratosfear, along with some more recent material. It all makes up for a great listening experience.

Download it here: [320 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3][V0]


Buy it directly from Eastgate here.

[1993] Vibraslaps - Vibraslaps


Ikue Mori, one of the most prominent Tzadik solo artists of the last decade and also with a reasonable number of collaborations, released a free improv collab along with Catherine Jauniaux (avantgarde singer, member of Aksak Maboul) back in 1993 under the name of Vibraslaps. This was back in the era when Mori focused mostly on drum machines, and Jauniaux had already established herself with Aksak Maboul and her solo work with the aid of Fred Frith, Fluvial. The result is somewhat similar to the latter, going a step further into the insanity by using completely improvised vocals, and there doesn't seem to exist a limit for how quirky and out there they could get. All in all a great release for the fans of their career (both Ikue Mori and Catherine Jeauniaux), and avant-prog in general.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from RecRec Music here.

[2010] Ultralyd - Inertiadrome


Latest (and among the best) release of Ultralyd, this time they went for a catchier take on their style, and while shorter than their previous albums, it makes for a great album. One of my favorites back in 2010, Inertiadrome has a cheerful tone, with a few hints of krautrock repetitiveness here and there, and definitely a perfect starter for these looking to get into this band.

Download it here: [320][V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[REQUEST] [2000] Circle - Prospekt


One of the most acclaimed Circle albums, its hypnotic heavy motorik (already a trademark of their style) truly shines in a prominent way. 6 somewhat long songs that will carry the listener for a mind trip that will seem endless.

Download it here: [V0]

Currently sold out in Ektro Records.

[2009] Bushman's Revenge - You Lost Me At Hello






Second album of this norwegian trio, formed by one of the members of the jazz fusion band Shining (Even Helte Hermansen) on guitar duties, Rune Nergaard on bass, and Gard Nilssen on drums. They've been described as "Black Sabbath meets Ornette Coleman", and it fits like a glove. Combining the heaviness of doom metal with the complex drumming and jazzy guitar typical of their influences, this album is a perfect display of the unique sound of this band.


Download it here: [192][V0]


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2010] Free Tallinn Trio - A Tale


A free jazz/improv ensemble gathering three prominent figures of the estonian jazz scene. Performing live in several ocassions in Europe, one of their most remarkable features is Anne-Liis Poll's energetic and highly expressive vocals, which is emphasized by the spastic keyboard and incendiary guitar delivery by Anto Pett and Jaak Sooäär, respectively. The improvisation work in this live album (recorded at  the Moers Festival in Germany, back in 2008) is excellent, exposing the expressive power of the genre.

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

Buy it directly from Leo Records here.

[2010] Stian Westerhus - Pitch Black Star Spangled


Stian Westerhus' (Jaga Jazzist, Monolithic) second solo album and latest release is a departure from the seemingly abstract noise of Galore into a mystical realm of disjointed melodies and bursts of noise dabbling into the shadows, without ever abandoning an aura of uncanny beauty. Don't Tell Me This Is Home is the softest song in the album, before turning into the unsettling chaos that is Pitch Black Star Spangled, the longest track in the album, which is kept until the very end. Quality release.

Download it here: [320][V0]

Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2002] SPUNK - Den Øverste Toppen På En Blåmalt Flaggstang


Spunk is an all-women jazz quartet from Norway, this being their second album, also released under the experimental/jazz label Rune Grammofon. Unlike most free jazz ensembles, Spunk employs vocal experimentation in an extensive way, going as far as becoming the main instrument in most of the songs. It's ensured to sound bizarre at a first listen, given as all of their output so far is quite abstract, but Den Øverste Toppen På En Blåmalt Flaggstang is one of their most accessible material, in which silence doesn't have as much predominance as Det Eneste Jeg Vet Er At Det Ikke Er En Støvsuger, or Kantarell (which I consider one of my top 20 albums of 2009), the latter being shorter and more spastic than the rest.
I have a somewhat curious history with Spunk, seeing as they were the first "out there" band I ever listened to, which in turn made me more interested in Rune Grammofon releases and a variety of genres I got into much later.

Download it here: [V2][V0] Updated!


Buy it directly from Rune Grammofon here.

[2011] Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1


Three years after The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull, Earth finally makes a worthy comeback with what it seems it'll be the first part of a series, called Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1. Still rooted in the somewhat clean, acoustic drone and the chilled out melodies that characterize them since HEX, this album however displays a big eastern folk influence (according to them, Tuareg music), borrowing some of the heavy dark atmosphere present in HEX; Or Printing In The Infernal Method to fully illustrate a deserted landscape, in which the country setting is left behind to focus into the mystical vibe of the Middle East.
There's violins in this album (courtesy of Lori Goldston), which surprisingly gives the songs a Bohren & der Club of Gore kinda sound (mostly noticeable in Father Midnight), a jazzy feeling that it's ensured to please their long-term fans, and placing the album at a remarkable distance from the aforementioned HEX, Bees, and even Hibernaculum.
The best song in the album is, definitely, the title track. Also the longest track in the album, its bass-driven melody is a definitive must-have, soothing and overwhelming in a way not too unlike their heaviest albums, except in a more subtle way. Even though it found its way to the internet 2 months earlier to its original release, this is an album to be purchased and listened in a physical format, so I encourage you from here to do so.

Download it here: [192][V0]


Buy it directly through Southern Lord Records here.

[2008] SubRosa - Strega


SubRosa is a a band formed primarily by women playing an interesting blend of stoner doom metal with violins and clean female vocals, reminding me at times of Black Math Horseman, but more fast-paced and fierce, while retaining most of the same peaceful vibe in the vocals. I'm not a fan of the production, but the music sounds alright, this was a good mix of both styles and it deserves attention.

Download it here: [V2][V0]


Buy it from All That Is Heavy here.