Interspacial - The Befores [VRB013]

Album: The Befores
Artist: Interspacial
Label: www.vorbic.com
Genre: Downtempo / Chillout
Release Date: Sept 2007
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Review:

I was quite impressed with the album. The music is good to chill to and its good iPod food for the mornings, traveling into work. The sort of music that starts off somewhere and leaves you somewhere else. My favorite tracks are 1 & 2 ... both of them have a cohesive sense of randomness? ((a Paradox I know ... but even in the most intense chaos there is always order if you look long enough ;) ))


The style of this release is hard to put my finger on. It reminds me of something I heard many years ago, but i cannot put my finger on it. Believe it or not, i think it was something on a compilation called "Detroit Techno" from the early 90s ... Not the entire album, but just one of the tracks. Ill look it up and let you know if i find it.

But enough with the nostalgia ...

K.D. Expression - Anachromantic [es31]

Album: Anachromantic
Artist: K.D. Expression
Label: http://www.electrosound.ru
Genre: Electronica / Ambient Dub / IDM
Release Date: August 2007
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Review:

Electrosound have been releasing some amazing albums lately and this latest one lives up to all the others. Mainly Ambient dub, but with a good blend of bleeps and blips to keep the foot almost tapping. The album varies a bit and its hard to strictly put it into a single genre. One of the tracks even touches on the land of psytrance where others hardly break the ambient barrier.

This is a fantastic album... Its got a lot of emotion and depth to it, that you don't always find in the mass of music available today. Its highly recommended to downtempo and ambient fans and is also recomeneded for those who dare to keep an open mind to musical possibilities too :)

VA - Aesthetik Label Showcase

Album: Aesthetik Label Showcase
Artist: Various Artists
Label: www.aesthetik-records.com
Genre: Techno / Minimal
Release Date: 13th August 2007
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Review:
a fantastic release covering various forms of techno. From ambient techno, minimal and almost banging techno. The majority being in the ambient techno genre and includes one or two standout tracks from that genre. The album ends off with an ambient IDM track ... interesting stuff and a good way to end an album.

None of the tracks are weak or out of place. Its definitely a great compilation and seeing its a showcase, this netlabel must be good. This is the first review of them on netlabel review and hopefully there will be more pretty soon.

Dreza - End or Fin [kreislauf 024]

Album: End or Fin
Artist: Dreza
Label: kreislauf.org
Genre: Downtempo / IDM / Ambient
Release Date: August 2007
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Review:

This release from Kreislauf is pretty good and was composed by Dreza (Zoltán Deák). The album is a mixture between mainly ambient but also downtempo and IDM. (I guess that would make it IDM but who knows a true definition of IDM in anycase?).

The ambient portions remind me of Pete Namlook & Clive Schultz 's Dark side of the Moog series but then swaps over into bleeps and blips of IDM (with great success i might add). The one track (metonin-met) drops into a really funky downtempo break beat.

The album goes into a IDM groove from there on with loads of electronic sounds backed up by a D&B rhythm without a kick drum beat to fill it up. Its really interesting and i recommend it to IDM fans specifically or the ambient-eers with a taste for variation.

Interview with Phasen

Tonight we have a full interview with Phasen, one of the artists currently signed under the I/O Netlabel. I hope you enjoy the interview.

For the reviews and download locations of his albums, follow these links:
Phasen - Urban Nomad [io026]
Phasen - Yesterday Was Tomorrow (EP) [io023]
Phasen - On Your Way Out [io021]


Afri: Tell us a bit about yourself where are you from?

Phasen: I was born in Orlando, Florida USA in 1989.

Afri: (chuckles) Wow! Now i feel like an old fart!

Afri: I see on your bio you're a student. What and where are you studying?

Phasen: I'm currently a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Although I obviously have a passion for music, I am majoring in Journalism, and I plan on being a foreign news correspondent someday.

Afri: When did you start making music and where does your interest stem from?

Phasen: As a child I messed around on the piano in my home. Then, when I was 11 I started taking lessons for trumpet and eventually switched to baritone. At 14 I taught myself how to play the guitar, and as shown in my music, my drive has remained with that instrument since. After a few years playing alone I took lessons from Jack Stirling of the Legendary JC's. During high school I decided to start making my own music, more so out of curiosity than ambition. I immediately embraced the process of creating my own music, and being able to listen to something I made on my own later.

Afri: So, out of your own albums, which one is your personal favorite?

Phasen: My favorite album I've personally produced is my Yesterday Was Tomorrow EP. Although it's only 15 minutes, I love the sound of the album.

Afri: Thats the album you recorded in "record time" isn't it?

Phasen: Yes, I recorded those tracks in only two weeks and as a result it reflects that specific time in my life. Listening to that album takes me back to a very special segment of my life.

Afri: Name some of your Favorite artists and what have you currently got playing on your iPod?

Phasen: Three of my favorite aritsts are Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, and Black Moth Super Rainbow. I have a rather eclectic taste however, and Lil' Wayne is currently playing on my iPod.

Afri: Yeah, it always good to keep an open mind with music... So do you have any highly regarded "net audio" artists?

Phasen: As far as the net audio scene goes, I love Mark.Nine, Orange Crush, and Austech. Those fellows are a big influence on my music. I often listen to such artists, hear something I like, and then try to recreate it. Every time I inevitably fail, but the result is then something original. A lot of my music is trying to recreate something, and messing up, causing something else I really like.

Afri: What is your opinion on Netlabels and where do you see it going in future?

Phasen: I think netlabels are a great way for people to discover new artists and genres that would otherwise go unnoticed. The fact that a large majority of netlabel music is free also encourages people to take a listen.

Afri: Was there any benefit to releasing under a Netlabel, as opposed to releasing independent?

Phasen: Being associated with I/O Netlabel garnered not only attention and exposure, but a plethora of downloads and opportunities. Just knowing that people listen to my music and enjoy it, relax to it, and share it with friends’ blows my mind. It puts a smile on my face to think that I can make at least one person's day a little more enjoyable every now and then. That's why I make music.

Afri: So now to the lame questions ...

Afri: If you could meet one person who would it be and why?

Phasen: I'm going to have to cheat on this question. I'd like to meet two people at once-Marcus and Michael Sandison-the sibling duo that is Boards of Canada. They are the two people who initially sparked my interest in electronic and experimental music. Their music never gets old to me; each new listen reveals something new I didn't notice before. It's that balance of simplicity and complexity that I strive to form when I make music. I feel they are pioneers of a new genre, and are responsible for influencing a multitude of artists - including myself - a great deal.

Afri: If there was one thing you could change about the world, what would it be?

Phasen: (laughs) Well I suppose that's not a very realistic question?

Afri: True but it might tell us a little more about you …

Phasen: I guess it wouldn't hurt to have all humans be more open-minded, more accepting, and more respectful of others. Things we don't understand scare us. I feel as though a lot of the world's problems would be solved if humans of different backgrounds took some time to put each other in other's shoes. See the world in the eye of our neighbour, without being too quick to judge.

Afri: Phasen thanks for your time. I wish you all the best and hopefully we will see another release from you in the not too distant future!

Phasen: Thanks to you as well and I can assure you a new release is very close.

Singing Crane - The Rising

Album: The Rising
Artist: Singing Crane
Label: Singing Crane Productions
Genre: Electronica
Release Date:
Download

Review:

This album contains a fantastic blend of ambient, trip hop and other styles. Its really well produced and has some very interesting moments throughout. Some of the tracks make me think of names like DJ Shadow & Amon Tobin (although a bit lighter than Tobin).

Its really a gorgeous final result when the mood swings from ambient to trip-hop / breakbeat and back again. The 3rd track "Threatened", gets a distorted edge to it which creates a paradox with the rest of the track's mellow instruments. The 4th track "Steady Climb", has a EMB style synth-line that gives the track a much more "Edged" feel (think Covenant / VNV Nation - [with no vocals]).

Overall the album gets two thumbs up from me and is getting stored in my "to keep" folder for general enjoyment whenever I need some beautiful music. The blending of styles make it hard to classify into a single genre, so file this under "E" for Electronica.

Note: This is an album that is released independently by Singing Crane Studios. So its not strictly published under the same copyrights as most of our other reviews [[see the included readme.txt file for details]].

The guys are happy to share this music with you, so if you like it ... drop them an email and let them know what you think.

Ambient Selection

Tonight I've assembled a grouping of some of my favorite Ambient & Chill tracks that I've had the privilege to review on the blog.

Shouts go out to these artists and labels.

Juno 6 - 100 (from the album Queue on 1-Bit Wonder)
Juno 6 - Seecond (from the album Queue on 1-Bit Wonder)
Juno 6 - Kind 14 (from the album Lipsia on Hippocamp)
Loafeye - Drinking Rosewater (From the album drinking rosewater on Archaic Horizon Records)
Endorphin - Reset (From the album Red EP on Bumpfoot)
Aquarell - Reminder (From the album lateral position on Kreislauf)
Modul - Sum.Yellow: Complete (From the album Cutting Edge on Electrosound)
Modul - Win.Blue: Tea 22 (From the album Cutting Edge on Electrosound)
SM - Ekaterinburg: EM (From the album A Place to Live on Electrosound)
Modul - Krasnodar: Aurora (From the album A Place to Live on Electrosound)

I really have a lot of respect for all these and other artists out there who publish their music on a free to share license. I really wish them all the best and hope that they all achieve their individual goals. It must be difficult to work so hard on an album just to give it away.

These are just a small group of my favorite's and if i had more time i would mention about 10 times as much. Ill see if i can set up a list every so often, just to highlight some of the best tracks out there ... well, in my opinion in any case.

To all the artists and labels out there ... thanks for all your hard work and efforts.

You guys rock.


I've updated this ... all the links are in place now :)

PinoCchio - Hoffnung EP [KPMP3-006]

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Album: Hoffnung EP
Artist: PinoCchio
Label: www.konsum-productions.com
Genre: Drum n Bass/ Downtempo /
Release Date: Aug 2007
Download

Review:

First review from me for Konsum Productions and its looks like its going to be a pleasant review too. The first track starts off mellow, but soon the ambiance is replaced by fast paced DnB drums. Its not a bad track and its a quite good DnB track.

I was expecting some good things to come from the other three tracks and it caught me off guard. I was expecting more of the same "pumping" DnB, but instead was (pleasantly) surprised to find it to be more laid back DnB? By the third track the album slipped into a very mellow Downtempo style track. This is midnight on a Saturday, so it just hit the right vibe i think! What a track ... just the stuff the Doctor ordered. The fourth track just topped it off with pure bliss ...

Really a top notch recommendation for this one from me. My only moan is (once again) that its a damn EP and its not enough to satisfy my insatiable appetite. Oh well, off to the next album i suppose.