Mr. Roy - Outsourced [debun09]

Album: Outsourced
Artist: Mr. Roy
Label: http://www.debun.de/
Genre: Techno / Electro
Release Date: April 2007
Download

Review:

OK, so today its officially techno, electro, tech house, minimal and anything with a funky beat.

This album contains some thundering basslines ... this is some serious damn music! I don't know how this would go down on a dancefloor, it might cause everyone on the floor to ignite or freak out and explode. Its seriously intense music! (ok, I'm exaggerating about the exploding and combustion and stuff, but not by much)

To give you some perspective, take EBM and remove the vocals, add hard'n'Funky techno beats. If machines got angry and they could talk, this is what it would sound like. (I dont know if its just me that is over worked).

I can only handle the first two tracks on the 4 track EP. The other 2 are not bad, but just too complex for my head at the moment, so maybe it will sound different tomorrow. The fourth track is just plain insane ...

The track straight inconsequence is a killer ... put up the volume on this one.

This is definitely for hard techno fans and no one else

Walther lp - Stand by [NUT014]

Album: Stand by
Artist: Walther lp
Label: http://nuten-rec.com/
Genre: Techno / IDM / WTF???
Release Date: April 2007
Download (Ogg Format)

Review:

This is my first review of a release by the nuten-rec.com netlabel. The first rack opens up with a very dramatic piano piece and due to my soft spot for the piano i just couldn't resist listening to it. I was half way through the first track when these synthlines just came blasting out in perfect paradox to the organic sounds of the piano. Its really a moving and dramatic piece of music and yes, thats just the first track.

The second track opens up with a straight 4 beat and some interesting sounds used for rhythms. But at 1:40 when the bassline rips through, thats when you would go ballistic on a dancefloor. This is some serious mix fodder that will fit in anywhere in the mix (take note DJ's :). I really like the running arpeggio synths shifting up and down, it just adds that melancholic mood that i like.

The third track is where things run a little sideways! Its HARD AS HELL and never lets up. This is the stuff that would kill you on a dance floor. Its just a little too heavy for my taste (I'm a little past it) But if you are into some seriously hard, moderately fast slamming and banging techno ... you get the point?

The fourth track is suitably named after my home continent, Africa. Its got african rhythms but with this killer bass oozing out all over. Its hard and a little too raw, but its still damn funky.

Overall this is a pretty good album. If you are into laid back stuff, try the first track but skip the rest. If you are into hard and funky stuff GET THIS ALBUM!!!!

(PS: Listen to it LOUD)

Endorphin - Red EP [foot041]

Album: Red EP
Artist: Endorphin
Label: www.bumpfoot.net
Genre: Ambient / Chill / Downtempo
Release Date: 14 April 2007
Download (27Mb)

Review:

Bumpfoot always seem to have something up their sleeves. Some days its retro, other times its funky and today its just beautiful.

This release, produced by a Russian duet and apparently one other contributing artist is another one that stands out above the rest. It's a mixture of ambient and lofi downtempo beats. It contains some piano pieces which are haunting and sets an almost uneasy vibe ... spooky in a sense.

Personally i liked the first track Reset the most and its staying in my collection. Its got a nice tribal rhythm in it which reminds me of a starry night at home.

Its recommended download for all ambient heads out there.

Niteffect - Fragments [kreislauf 013]

Album: Fragments
Artist: Niteffect
Label: http://kreislauf.org/
Genre: Downtempo / Breaks / Lo-Fi
Release Date: April 2007
Download

Review:

What an enjoyable album. Every single track is outstanding and superbly created with a lot of funk and amazing rhythms. Its funky, lo-fi break-beats with loads of ambiance to keep you interested all the way through. Its another album that just flies past you without you realizing that its over. It might have something to do with the fact that all the tracks are exactly 2:08 long (Yip ALL of them).

The album is really outstanding and all the tracks are very entertaining. If you like Break beats / acid jazz / vinalystics or any genre in between, this album is right up your alley.

I dont know if this is just a sampler album? I really hope to hear more from Niteffect and want him to add an additional 1 or 2 mins onto his next batch of tracks. Please?

Mark.Nine - Artificial Horizon [io018]

Album: Artificial Horizon
Artist: Mark.Nine
Label: www.ionetlabel.com
Genre: Downtempo /Ambient / Chillout
Release Date: April 2007
Download

Review:

Mark.Nine is another one of my favorite artists. His previous release in October last year was an outstanding piece of audio art and its with a great big smile that I review his next work.

The album contains a lot of vintage analogue synthesizer sounds, and it really brings an eerie sense of nostalgia with it. Artificial Horizon is a combination of a few contemporary "chilled out" genre's (Chilled out in the broad sense). It contains downtempo, Lo-fi, ambient, IDM and other elements beautifully blended to create a cohesive and well executed album that once again raises the bar to a new level for Mark.Nine and for other net-Artists out there.

Enjoy

If you enjoy his album, please visit his website http://www.marknine.com and make a donation to him via paypal. In return he will ship you an album of your choice. You can contact him too, he generally responds within a few days and he is really a great guy to boot.

Anyone interested?

Its been 4 days again since i have updated the blog. I just dont have the time at the moment to listen to all the music. To be honest, im not sure where i got the time for all my previous posts!!

Well the time has come and i am now looking for someone to help out with writing reviews and updating the blog.

If you are interested, please send me an email about yourself and include things like your age, your musical tastes and also let me know what you feel you can add to the blog?

Keep in mind that we are always trying to highlight the better releases out there and that they cover a VERY WIDE range of genres. So if you've only been listening to the latest Gabriel & Dresden remix for the past two weeks, please dont bother!

Also keep in mind that you will need to download a lot of music to find, so broadband is a requirement.

Please email me at netlabelreview@dodo.com.au

QX#55 - 6+6=12 [foot037]

Album: QX#55
Artist: 6+6=12
Label: www.bumpfoot.net
Genre: Ambient / IDM
Release Date: 2 April 2007
Download

Review:

Beautiful melodies move the air around you when you listen to this album. What a pleasure it is. Pure ambient ... soft, relaxing, quiet, soothing all come to mind when listening to 6+6=12.

There are a few very quiet tracks which i didn't really catch. Sort of missed my eardrums almost, but every now and then a beautiful melody slips in and you cant help but smile. Its like Boards of Canada on rohypnol. Almost childlike at times. Later on in the release QX#55 moves away from the pure ambient and the album gets a little more rhythm with varying success. a Lot of Drum and Bass elements which lean towards IDM. There are a few tracks which i didn't enjoy too much, and only two or three which i didn't appreciate ... (might just be the mood im in though)

Rob Hunter - Rob Hunter EP [12Rec038]

Album: Rob Hunter EP
Artist: Rob Hunter
Label: http://www.12rec.net
Genre: Easy Listening / Lounge / Chillout / Acoustic / IDM
Release Date: March 2007
Download

Review:

Some lounge vibes mixed up with funky IDM beats and rhythms, some acoustic guitars and you have an extremely pleasant listening experience.

The overall vibe might be chilled out but the music really contains some quirky yet funky elements. Its all fun and very easy to listen to. This is a sunday morning vibe at its best and sometimes gives me the same feeling of DNTel (anyone know his work?)

Personally i think this is a stand out album blending elements which is not commonly found in netlabel electronica.

Its highly recommended to any fan of chilled out vibes.

Endorphin - Reset [io017]

Album: Reset
Artist: Endorphin
Label: http://www.ionetlabel.com
Genre: ambient/ experimental / breaks
Release Date: April 2007
Download

Review:
Warm ambient electronica thats well worth the download and has a few good moments in it. I found the music to be enjoyable, funky and at times a little obscure (i like weird too). The stranger parts might not appeal to everyone in the general population, but its a good listed overall.

Another great release from IO.

BronZe - Dreamer EP [GCAF007]

Album: Dreamer EP
Artist: BronZe
Label: http://www.groovecaffe.com
Genre: Tech house / Techno
Release Date: March 2007
Download

Review:

This 3 song EP is not bad at all. It is quite mellow, especially the first 2 songs. The music is very easy to listen to, it will also be great background music but still keep the blood flowing. It will also work on a dance floor or in a dance mix too. I find that there are some parts that are a little to stretched, but nothing so bad that it damages the overall feel of the music. The third song has more energy than the first two and the songs form a good combination for an album.

Its a good release and worth the download.

(Thanks Nova)

Tails - Drugs Prescriptions [kreislauf012]

Album: Drugs Prescriptions
Artist: Tails
Label: http://kreislauf.org
Genre: Techno / Minimal / Techhouse
Release Date: April 2007
Download

Review:

We are back! and to catch up the first thing we are going to do its review something worth downloading! Kreislauf have sent all of us who appreciate the more toned down style of dance (ala Minimal) a heavenly album. Drugs Prescriptions by Tales is a very funky and extrmemely enjoyable piece of audio. Its got all the elements of a top of the range minimal techno and enough energy to rival some house albums out there. Fast the halfway mark the album moves more into the purist techno realm, but its all good ... Enjoy!

And there's the bell for round 2

Im sure you noticed that I havent updated the blog in a while. The end of march just ended up killing all my time and energy. I can tell you all about it but im sure your not interested in hearing about my work, that my dogs have been taking up all my time or that I've had the flu for a few days.

But I'm all better now and I will try to catch up over the long weekend.

Once again, send me your details (netlabelreview@dodo.com.au) if you want me to give you a review!

Ciao
Afri

Dalt Wisney - Lifetime Psychedelic Dance Lessons

Album: Lifetime Psychedelic Dance Lessons
Artist: Dalt Wisney
Label: www.mooshymoo.com
Genre: Breakbeat / Acid Jazz
Release Date: March 2007
Download

Review:

This is Mooshy Moo's debut release as a netlabel and I hope this is a sign of things to come. Its a solid release and you might just like it too ...

You like some really zany music? Seriously off center stuff? This album is made for you! Its fun and pretty damn interesting to listen to. Mr Dalt Wisney (?) created a very interesting fusion of Jazz, break beats and loads of samples. All blended together is pretty funky and personally i found it enjoyable to listen to.

Once again we have a release which leans towards the Ninja Tune style of samples and beats. If your someone that doesn't enjoy drinking from the mainstream, this is a must have album. It comes highly recommended.