Review: The Alvaret Ensemble, Kira Kira, Eiríkur Orri Ólaffson, Ingri Garar Erlendsson, Borgar Magnason – Skeylja

Review: The Alvaret Ensemble, Kira Kira, Eiríkur Orri Ólaffson, Ingri...
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The Skeylja project is a collaboration featuring the Berlin-based Alvaret Ensemble, who traveled to Iceland to practice and play with several prominent musicians in the avant-garde/post-classical tradition (a genre which Iceland seems to foster). … read more

Review: Alex Smoke – RS 1403

Review: Alex Smoke – RS 1403
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Alex Smoke does it again with a follow-up release to his 2013 Dust EP. This four-track EP is packed with minimal tech-house beats and industrial-influenced synths. … read more

Review: 1, 2, 3 – Big Weather

Review: 1, 2, 3 – Big Weather
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Inspired by the Tohoku tsunami in Japan, Big Weather is a 20-song concept album about natural disasters. Capitalizing on the theme of water, 1, 2, 3 use surf rock as their base, then add layers of psych and vinyl. … read more

Review: 100s – IVRY

Review: 100s – IVRY
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I must warn you about this reprobate who calls himself “100s” (after the number of times he’s contracted VD no doubt).  A long-haired, self-professed pimp whose music has but one purpose—to congratulate despicable sex acts. … read more

May 2014 National Music Reviews

May 2014 National Music Reviews

National music reviews for 100s, The Apache Relay, Blac Kolor, Chucg Ragan, Dead Rider, Faderhead, Feel No Others, Ghetto Ghouls, King Buzzo, Mahalya, Piss Piss Piss, Pacific Mean Time, The Precious Lo’s, Sleep, Smoke Fairies, Teen, Tiny Boats, Turchi, Vertical Scratchers and more. … read more

April 2014 National Music Reviews

April 2014 National Music Reviews

April 2014 National Music Reviews from Arum Rae, Document, Home, The Huney Trees, Kevin Seconds, Insomnium, Metatag, Modern Rivals, Phantogram, PUP, Reverend Horton Heat, Ringworm, The Shrine, Sleepy Sun, Sr. Vincent, Trust, TWeak Bird, The War On Drugs, White Suns and more! … read more

Review: Zone Tripper – Voyager

Review: Zone Tripper – Voyager
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Zone Tripper’s new ep, Voyager took me back in time when the popularity of synth pop had just begun. Voyager is fun but beautiful—the almost arcade-like tracks had my mind wandering to the days when I filled the hours playing classics like Pac-Man and Tetris. … read more

Review: Young Hare – Unbreak My Heart

Review: Young Hare – Unbreak My Heart
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A typewritten note on a torn sheet of paper was included with my copy of this CD, which said, “This really means a lot to me.” … read more

Review: Wyrd Visions – Half-Eaten Guitar

Review: Wyrd Visions – Half-Eaten Guitar
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Half-Eaten Guitar is mostly Colin Bergh with an acoustic guitar making folk music with a few interesting variations, like the whistling on “Bog Lord.” … read more

Review: Withered Hand – New Gods

Review: Withered Hand – New Gods
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New Gods is the second release from the Edinburgh-based Withered Hand. Dan Willson brings his folk-rock ness to the table once again, and this time, it’s all about the love. … read more