Review: Tzolk’In – S/T

Review: Tzolk’In – S/T
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TZOLK’IN S/T Divine Comedy Records The conceptual creation of Tzolk’in’s self-titled release is a collaboration conceived by Empusae’s Sal-Ocin and Gwenn Temorin of Flint Glass. Mayan mythology and the ritual calendar called Tzolk’in was the inspiration for the ritual sounds and mesmerizing beats produced on these eight tracks. Mastered by Herman Klapholz of Ah Cama-Sotz,

Review: Orphx – Circuitbreaking

Review: Orphx – Circuitbreaking
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Orphx Circuitbreaking Hymen Inspired by reactions to the negative impacts of economic globalization by different groups around the world, Circuitbreaking is a compelling release that couldn’t come at a better time. Orphx began in the early 90’s as a group of three people experimenting with homemade instruments, found sounds and improvised rhythms. Working solo on

Review: Wai Pi Wai – S/T

Review: Wai Pi Wai – S/T
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WAI PI WAI S/T Hands Productions The collaboration of Jerome Soudan of Mimetic and Herman Klapholz of Ah Cama-Sotz burst into popularity during the 2004 edition of Maschinenfest where both musicians already held notoriety. The electronic journey begins with “Strings of Infinity,” a solid, melody-driven trancey track. “Dirty Mind” breaks into a Children of the

Review: The Poison Arrows – EP

Review: The Poison Arrows – EP
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THE POISON ARROWS EP  File 13   “Trailer Park” is a tease with its smacking around of sound and distorted blips and buried vocals. It’s a BRMC record stolen by Suicide and slaughtered in Pro Tools. Bloody hell, it’s Primal Scream reborn! Well, if they’d only kick it in and go somewhere, which they never

Review: Magnapop – Mouthfeel

Review: Magnapop – Mouthfeel
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MAGNAPOP MOUTHFEEL  Daemon   You might remember them, or perhaps you’ve seen their albums floating around somewhere. Magnapop were on a self-imposed hiatus. Now they’re back. Ruthie still plays noisy guitars and Linda still sings, two blokes provide the rhythm and maybe, just maybe, Mouthfeel will make you nostalgic for the early-to-mid 90s when this

Review: The Hidden Cameras – Mississauga, Goddam

Review: The Hidden Cameras – Mississauga, Goddam
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THE HIDDEN CAMERAS MISSISSAUGA, GODDAM  Rough Trade   Oh dear, The Hidden Cameras sounds like a rather twisted wreck of the flamboyant sexuality of the Scissor Sisters with the dark wit and tangled allusions to debauchery of The Beautiful South, the sing-along retro-chic of Belle and Sebastian and the awkward humanity found in all things by

Review: Sugur Rós – Von

Review: Sugur Rós – Von
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SIGUR RÓS VON  One Little Indian There’s this band from Iceland. No, not the Sugarcubes. The other band, Sigur Rós—perhaps you’ve heard of them? Well, this is their first album that up until this point hasn’t been officially available in America. It sounds like a nightmare, a rolling psychotic grind into the sparseness of darkness

Review: Tresspassers William – Different Stars

Review: Tresspassers William – Different Stars
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TRESSPASSERS WILLIAM DIFFERENT STARS Nettwerk You could dismiss Tresspassers William as a band filling the gap until the sleeping giants Mazzy Star get off their laurels. You could. You shouldn’t. No, you can’t deny the similarities of the slight country twang in the guitar, the understated female vocals and the mournful atmosphere, but you also

Review: Impossible Recording Machine – Echo The Moon

Review: Impossible Recording Machine – Echo The Moon
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IMPOSSIBLE RECORDING MACHINE ECHO THE MOON Positron! Impossible Recording Machine are not electroclash, Radiohead, James Bond, Coldplay or any combination of “post” + (insert whatever retro music term is popular). They do, however, share a bit in common with the aforementioned because Echo the Moon is a surprisingly nice collection of up-tempo electronic drones, candy

Review: Mothboy – The Fears

Review: Mothboy – The Fears
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MOTHBOY THE FEARS Ad Noiseam 5/5 Two or three tracks into The Fears, thoughts immediately went to Jack Dangers of Meat Beat Manifesto and to Scorn’s Mick Harris. The music is distinctly different from both, but the influences seem so obvious. Onto my research, I discovered that Mothboy’s Simon Smerdon lists both as influences and