RIP. A weekly roundup of releases on Bandcamp and Soundcloud selected and delivered by Aidan
Bandcloud 241
For the first year or two of Bandcloud I used to find interesting things about the number of the edition and use that as a subject line. That got old. The only thing I can think of is 241 sounds like "2 for 1".
Spinecakes - Brain Fossil In Exile
I started the working week with this. Daniel Gregory of Structured Disasters has been firing out releases these past few weeks and this one is my favourite. The first piece is a beguiling slice of sound collage, a mildly searing blast of sound repeated throughout over spliced samples. The second, featuring Lee Riley on electric guitar, is less messy (that term is in no way pejorative, I should add), instead layering noise and drone with distorted sheaves of single guitar notes, discordant as you like. It ends in a whirlwind of industrial Hearty stuff.
Valesuchi & ótimoKaráter - Split EP [DOM007]
The opener has that rugged lofi sound you may recall from LIES c2012/13. Lots of scuzzy highs and mids. Track two is a weirder jaunt, slower, cleaner, like Boards of Canada doing acid. Then we have two solo tracks, the first coming from ótimoKaráter. Along similar lines to that first track, it's both raw and processed. Then comes Valesuchi's effort, and it's a deep and swirly beauty.
Lavie - Swansong EP
The artist's Bandcamp ID is "saylavie", which just calls to mind B*Witched for this Irish child of the 90s. The music is nothing like that, however. Opener 'Luvbirdz', which makes proper use of the titular creatures, judders along with strangely syncopated kicks. Floating melodies à la mid-00s Holden add colour and flavour, even if the whole experience remains off kilter. 'Maze Ennui' (wonderful title) is similarly rattle-ful, dank melodies and unnerving vocals coming together in unsettling disharmony. 'sncf' is a richly emotive vignette, potentially an ode to the French rail system. 'Swansong', finally, is a hulking beast, thundering forth like the vessels of the preceding track.
Electric Shapes Podcast #033 / Kfeelz
I think Electric Shapes is a Lithuanian series. The latest entry in their podcast series is from NYC DJ Kfeelz. It's billed as "Classic House and Disco sounds" and I'm ashamed to say I don't recognise any of it! Lots of unknown belters, smooth and rugged grooves, chunky and refined beats. Moves towards a more loopy style towards the end, but after the good hour of solid tunes it's earned.
AS//5 - Syn
Syn is a DJ/producer from Cork, Ireland. This mix is some 40-odd minutes of hard drum. I'm not really sure what that means, but NKC, who seems to be the style's ambassador, described it as: "Just hard, syncopated, percussive tracks. Hard Drum." That fits. This mix is hard, rolling forth with clattering percussion and weird-ass synth melodies. It bangs. What more can I say?
Huey Mnemonic - Joyous Occasion
Two opposing versions of the same idea. A plaintive accordion-esque theme is laid out over distinctive beats. The first, the Nuclei Mix, is a rubbery techno beat, evocative of early Derrick May. The second, the Vibe Mix, is a house excursion that moves away from the initial theme into a new direction. Simple but effective.
VA - Tentacular Kinship (suspension)
mina is a queer party/crew based in Lisbon, and suspension is an offshoot of that run by BLEID and marum. This is a compilation filled with new sounds from that crew's wider circle. As the blurb puts it: "Tentacular Kinship is the suspension of disbelief and cynicism of a world set in a blaze." The tracks range from exploratory ambient sounds (Odete, Raw Forest), to driving techno (Mandle, Prec [not Perc]), from breaks-heavy rave (S Ruston) to cavernous weirdness (Suzic). It's big and bold and stark and joyous.
uzala - LW Sing To Me BB-258-A
This is a nice collection of modular noodles, some melodic, some textural, some gnarly.
._ \ • / _. EON - New York Trax 08
New York Trax are always hard. These tracks, from the awkwardly named _ \ • / _ EON, show an intricate take on basic rhythmic elements. Sure, they bang hard, but then the patterns shift and change, seemingly repetitive passages undercut with unexpected flourishes. There's no melody, just noise and dread, along with plenty of beats.
Eternal Ocean: Episode Twenty - Ali Berger
I recently tweeted that I was sick of breakbeats. Ilana B summed up my own thoughts by responding: "Sick of techno with a 1-bar break loop tossed atop the kick. Let's hear some chopped and programmed breaks." This mix is full of them. At least it starts that way. Then in come the congas. The deep house. The twisted bass lines. It's a delight. Possibly the most interesting mix I've heard in a while. Tagged under "sincerity", which is beautiful in itself.
Hi-Vis ~ Deep Mind Music Vol.6
Doing a cheat here. Hi-Vis featured last week with an archived mix with Sold but this one is brand new, gorgeous, amazing, so is featuring. Hi-Vis says about the mix: "My intention is to summon a psychic space that allows you to drift, to confront discomfort and dissonance openly and without fear, so you can experience even greater relief, or even euphoria." The first time I listened was a on a train, reading, and at times I forgot I was listening to anything, I was in such a state of serenity. There are moments later in the mix that really jolt you into paying attention, and of course there are different states of listening that mean I'll never hear it again the same way (the same river twice). I'd love to hear about your experience with it.