Happy New Year to you. It's Bandcloud 50, about which I'm pretty happy. What started as a hastily cobbled-together email sent to 30-odd people has become something a bit bigger and better than that. I hope you stay with me in the weeks and months ahead.

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SOUND AWAKENER - BESIDES
Truly marvelous work from Sound Awakener, aka Nguyễn Hồng Nhung, a classically trained pianist whose recordings take her into a completely different universe. Crazily reversed sounds, sharp blasts of noise, crisp piano, Besides is a work that deserves detailed, repeated listens. Limited to 15 copies though! Madness.

Urban Arts Berlin - Synthesis Vol. 1
The label behind the above release has put together an extensive compilation of sound works from women across the world; from  Vietnam, China, South Africa, Bolivia, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Europe and the US. I was really taken with Sylvia Hinz's 'Windserie I', as well as  MIM ILK's 'Astrological Waiting Room'. Flotation tank vibes on that one. There's loads to dig into though, with details about each artist on each relevant track page.

Unknown Tone Records - Vol. III (Various Artists 2014)
Unknown Tone is run by Mark Daniel Kuykendall and Lindsey Kathleen Neal Kuykendall out of Tulsa, OK. This is their third label compilation, and it gives a good intro to what they're about. Moody, ethereal slabs of noise and expansive sound, tracks with titles like 'Space Before Gestures', groaning spirits from other worlds. Cool. Spoopy.

Cities and Memory - Around the world in twelve sounds
The global field recording project Cities and Memory presents 12 highlights of its 2014. 'The fishing women of Lake Turkana', from Kenya, is a personal favourite. Read more about the venture here.

m.e.d.o. - lr22122014
I don't have any info on medo, but I happened upon this long-form piece that's really quite impressive. It's minimal in its approach and instrumentation, but it's broken up across the minutes by delicate and subtle variety.

Radio Cómeme WinterMix by Maria Chavez 2014
Sound artist Maria Chavez made a seasonal mix for Cómeme, in time with the solstice (now passed). It's full of funk and groove and light, and more importantly quality tunes, most of which were completely new to me. Special shouts to DJ Duke's E2-E4 jack 'D2 D2', and Paradise's Deep Groove's 'Innermind'.

Wonj - Mixtwothousandandfourteen
Wonj throws down a "perfect time capsule of 2014 bangers", as one tweeter put it. #bangers

D'Eon - Music For Keyboards Vol. V: "Robby"
D'Eon has just put a load of his stuff on SoundCloud, including what should have been Music For Keyboards Vol IV, and this entry. It's as varied and intriguing and new age as you'd expect. A fun and fulfilling journey. Would love a download though, mate.

Entr’acte: Adam Asnan--January 2015
Buncha weird 80s newbeat sounds and odd sounds. Cool stuff.

HELENA CELLE - 1/1/15
Fresher than you are. Noise meets bleeps and bloops and murky claps. Helena has a half-hour mix/track/album thing under wraps that I probably shouldn't mention but it's dope. Eyes peeled. This is a real talent.
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[Insert inspirational quote here].

All the best,

Aidan