Category: Review

Recommendations to music releases I like. Each review features track descriptions of my favourite tracks. A download link can be found at the bottom of each posting.

  • Point – [2014] Flatpad EP

    Point – [2014] Flatpad EP

    Cinematic electro grandeur. Located somewhere between movie trailer oomph and ambient big beat electro, there is a small Flatpad EP. Only four tracks long, it covers 30 minutes with unusual yet tasty tunes. Fat bass lines and thick beats reign supreme, but vocal samples and synth pads create some ambience.

  • Various Artists – [2016] Toucan Music Presents 2016

    Various Artists – [2016] Toucan Music Presents 2016

    Excellent trance mix. Toucan Music is one of the household names for well-produced electronic dance music in the Creative Commons scene. It has been releasing free music as a netlabel for more than ten years now, and its annual mixes never fail to impress. Last year’s mix contains 20 tracks.

  • We&Dem – [2007] Nosotros Y Ellos

    We&Dem – [2007] Nosotros Y Ellos

    Laid-back Reggae tunes. Spanish band We&Dem, according to Spanish Wikipedia article, has been founded in 2002 in pictoresque Zaragoza, Aragon. Influenced by Bob Marley, they craft solid, unsurprising Reggae tracks. 15 tracks, just short over one hour, made it into this 2007 release, which was published on Jamendo and Autoeditados, a Spanish publishing platform. Find…

  • Stephan Siebert – [2012] 10 Songs of 28 Years

    Stephan Siebert – [2012] 10 Songs of 28 Years

    Beautiful, easy listening Jazz. While there is no single smashing hit among the 10 songs, this release offers a consistent listening experience for almost an hour. Instrumental pieces, ranging from piano solo to a richly orchestrated saxophone jam. Only occasional hums are the only vocal parts. Recording and mixing are excellent, and is for my…

  • Eye – [2007] Plays

    Eye – [2007] Plays

    Meditative psychadelic rock. Ok, the release notes advertise this as Pop, “without a shadow of doubt”. I tend to disagree, but what do words matter? For a change, I’ll discuss three of the release’s 7 tracks.

  • JT Bruce – [2005] Anomalous Material

    JT Bruce – [2005] Anomalous Material

    Instrumental progressive rock at its best. This over 10 year old album by JT Bruce contains just over one hour of meticulously produced music. No lyrics, but attention to detail throughout the 16 tracks. If you like this classic, you might also enjoy his 2015 release Vandal of Fortune (Jamendo).

  • Chronique – [2008] A Gate to All Secrets

    Chronique – [2008] A Gate to All Secrets

    Solid alternative rock. A German band, both German and English lyrics, and broad musical influences: traces of new wave, gothic, and metal can be heard throughout the 11 tracks.

  • Kimiko Ishizaka – [2012] The Open Goldberg Variations

    Kimiko Ishizaka – [2012] The Open Goldberg Variations

    Kickstarter-enabled public domain score and recording of a real classic. By raising over $23,000, she was able to have the original notes transcribed to a modern 58-pages score and, based on that, produce a high-quality recording of her interpreting the whole work on a not too shabby instrument in a not too shabby studio. All…

  • Various Artists – [2006] These Boots Are Made For Stomping

    Various Artists – [2006] These Boots Are Made For Stomping

    Reference for Goa & Psy Trance compilations. Monotonous? Yes. Endless beets? Absolutely. Simplistic harmonies? Very much so! If you can with these “deficiencies” of the genre, this release will be an enjoyable ride for your ears. While the music does not offer too much detail to the conscious listener, but is great for recreational, background…

  • Frenic – [2012] Present And Correct

    Frenic – [2012] Present And Correct

    A lesson in Funk remixes. This classic release by from Bulgarian netlabel Dusted Wax Kingdom showcases UK artist Frenic. His trademark is blending together vintage voice samples and funk music, served with some big beats.

  • Various Artists – [2009] Music From All Around The World

    Various Artists – [2009] Music From All Around The World

    Timeless introductory drug for to-become Creative Commons addicts. This is less of a review and more of a SHOUT-OUT to make you GET. THIS. RELEASE. 17 good to excellent tracks have been gathered. They show both how diverse (and enjoyable) from 2009 and earlier is.

  • North Hive – [2015] Gaia

    North Hive – [2015] Gaia

    Detailed ambient treasurebox. If you are easily offended by non-musical “noise” in your music, give this release a try anyway. While North Hive heavily uses field recordings for its compositions, the results often sound quite musical. This album was released at Enough Records.

  • Various Artists – [2012] Braaahhlitz Compilation

    Various Artists – [2012] Braaahhlitz Compilation

    This excellent compilation is a product of the well-developed German netlabel aaahh-records. Well-developed means that while they still release free music under Creative Commons licenses (aaahhwoo!) the label self-identifies as a “festival curators” nowadays. For me, they are one of the longest-standing publishers of consistent high-quality “analogue” music out in the net. This album features…

  • Nicolas Falcon – [2011] Nicolas Falcon

    Nicolas Falcon – [2011] Nicolas Falcon

    Folky post indie rock. This acoustic guitar vocal gem is the debut album by Italian artist Nicolas Falcon. Voice, guitar, piano (in that order) are all it takes him to write thoughtful, entertaining songs. The (apparent) love ballad I Promise features the following lines: But I promise you baby I’ll never let your heart break…

  • The Easton Ellises – [2012] EP Two

    The Easton Ellises – [2012] EP Two

    80’s Pop with New Wave. Having proven their disco-suitability with their previous release (review of The Easton Ellises – [2011] EP One) at netlabel Enough Records, this sequel comes as a pleasant surprise. Without deviating from the success recipe, this EP delivers danceable music by truck.