ojdo – Page 22 – Reviews of Creative Commons music, self-made photos and wallpapers

Emanuel Salvador – [2007] Selected Performances

Classic music it is. Violin and piano or orchestra, playing Debussy, Elgar, and Fiorini. Purely instrumental, the live recordings have much dynamic range, i.e. there are both quiet and LOUD moments. This release contains both traditional and contemporary music, as long as it’s violin.

Wed, 15th May 2013

CCBYND25, Classical, Instrumental
Various Artists – [2012] netBloc Vol. 40: AAIR Attack

It’s great when an awesome compilation of first-class free music makes to its 40th release. Few similar projects have managed to see their 10th release. The happier I am to be able to write this review. For now over 5 years, the netlabel blocSonic has been pumping out the netBloc compilation series, in addition to…

Thu, 9th May 2013

CCBYNCND, Compilation, Pop
Jay Phonic – [2012] Space Pictures

Time for more space music this week! This release is part of a larger music donation I received from Machtdose; more details will follow in a later post. Back to the music: softly pulsing synthpads, minutes pass like seconds. Elaborate motives are used sparingly; not to draw to much attention to oneself. It is perfect…

Wed, 1st May 2013

Ambient, CCBYNCSA, Dub, Electronic, Tech House, Techno
Stellardrone – [2011] A Moment Of Stillness

Stellardrone is an artist from Lithuania, excelling in the art of creating ambient music that causes neither coma nor nausea. The secret lies in finding the balance between repetition and catchy tunes. This release sounds, while being cold and spacey on the outside, quite warm and meditative.

Wed, 24th Apr 2013

Ambient, CCBYNCND, Electronic
Lüger – [2010] Concrete Light

Lüger plays uplifiting psychadelic rock with punch and energy. What sounds like a contradiction, becomes noisy reality in front of your ears. The Spanish band use heavily distorted guitars, synths and a dash of space rock to compose their take on rock music. Two tracks preview and the download link are below.

Wed, 17th Apr 2013

FMA License, Progressive Rock, Rock
Fall Walk Run – [2011] Throwing It All Away

Exceptional acoustic pop from UK. This is Fall Walk Run in a nutshell. Voice, acoustic guitar and some percussion are all this talented artist needs to capture my attention.

Wed, 27th Mar 2013

CCBYSA20, Pop, Pop Rock, Vocal
Botany Bay – [2007] Grounded

Botany Bay make simple emotional pop music with influences from many genres. The common theme among their various releases are rich instrumentation, female vocals and good arrangements. This album from 2007 was released at Jamendo. The band caught my attention by their contribution to the compilation Freeloaded (play on freemusi.cc), issued by Musikpiration once a…

Wed, 20th Mar 2013

CCBYNCND, Pop, Vocal
Serphonic – [2009] Sounds of my Life

This week’s release is quiet electro pop from Germany. Electro pop only loosely summarises the exotic mix of trip hop, IDM and instrumental samples that we are served here by Serphonic. This album is great for frequent casual listening; many neatly crafted details wait to be discovered. Two of the 16 tracks are presented below,…

Wed, 13th Mar 2013

CCBYNCSA, Electronic, IDM
Studbaker´s Blacksmith Shop – [2011] Excuse me, are you sick?!

This band was brought to me by the now discontinued Free Music Charts (archive) over at darkerradio. The Bavarian band shares genes with Pandoras.Box (review on their album Barriers) from the same region. Their music can be described as edgy, slightly rough alternative rock. Production value is exceptional; recording and mix sound superb. I selected…

Wed, 6th Mar 2013

Alternative, CCBYNCND, Rock
Evan LE NY – [2011] SpaceChem

Professional music producer releases soundtracks under Creative Commons licenses. Sounds like Jan Morgenstern (the composer of most Blender movie OSTs)? Yes, and there are more out there. Evan LE NY produces epic and orchestral soundscapes. The music on this release is featured in SpaceChem, an addictive indie puzzle game.

Wed, 27th Feb 2013

CCBYNCND, Classical, Exotic, Game, Orchestral
Minimal white desktop wallpapers

These photos were recorded in University Town, a new campus of NUS. Its architecture is quite impressive, yet not intimidating. These pictures show some details in the new sports building that was opened last month.

Tue, 26th Feb 2013
Galdson – [2006] Roots

Galdson is a Spanish pianist I found on Jamendo. Usually, I find piano solo quite boring to listen to casually. However, some of his songs managed to attract me enough to keep this album. And I was rewarded: through repeated listening I found two songs which I would not like to miss in my collection…

Wed, 20th Feb 2013

CCBYNCND, Classical, Piano
Marina Bay Sands desktop wallpaper

A (lunar) new year has just begun, so it is time for new wallpapers as well. The landmark hotel Marina Bay Sands is the theme this time, featuring five motives from around and inside the hotel by day and night time. Both bright and dark images, all in full HD (1080p) are the result.

Sat, 16th Feb 2013
Kali – [2012] Eclipse

Netlabel Phonocake is always good for that slightly eclectic sound. Singer Kali from Italy delivers an IDM/Soul crossover performance. Music is reduced and tightly produced. The album’s main attraction is voice, and what a voice it is. Go listen for yourself!

Wed, 13th Feb 2013

CCBYNCND, Funk / Soul, Soul
Sandro Marinoni, Stefano Roncarolo, Roberto Padovan – [2009] Cold Flowers

The netlabel Clinical Archives does not cease to surprise me with its variety of styles. This week I present you a (slightly) experimental instrumental jazz release from Italy. Over 40 minutes or 8 tracks worth of saxophone, piano, bass and percussion await you.

Wed, 6th Feb 2013

CCBYNCND, Free Improvisation, Jazz