Ben Frost's 2007 album Theory Of Machines caused quite a stir within the electronic music community, shattering genre conventions with its deft conflation of intensely dark metal, academic electroacoustics and blissful, drone-weaving modern classical touches. By The Throat takes these same principles and develops them into something altogether grander. This is an album of contradictions: during the opening piece 'Killshot', you'll be exposed to music that's both viscerally hard on the ears and achingly beautiful, combining gracefully cinematic dulcimer melodies and mesmeric swells of noise that swirl amid a sea of nerve-shredding electronics. The track segues into a dirge of howling wolves with 'The Carpathians', a piece of doom-laden menace that competes with the grimmest moments of SunnO))) or KTL in terms of intensity. We're only a couple of tracks in so far, but already this is shaping up to be pretty special. Despite opening with a tuneful flurry of string plucks, 'Hibakusja' soon reveals a darker side, collapsing into a horrifying mess of respiratory unpleasantness, as if soundtracking a drowning man trying to keep afloat - the field recordings of someone desperately drawing breath take on a creepily emotive timbre once immersed in serrated noise signals and melancholy string arpeggios. This is no easy ride, yet despite the disturbing undercurrents and horror soundtrack tactics this album never ceases to sound beautiful. Co-produced by Frost and the dependably excellent Valgeir Sigursson, By The Throat also owes some of its sonic prowess to contributions from Amiina, The Arcade Fire's Jeremy Gara and fellow Bedroom Community star Nico Muhly. This formidable and far-reaching body of work might be one of 2009's most singularly impressive listening experiences, and very likely the only record you'll hear this year whose repertoire consists of both luscious classical chamber compositions and the hunting calls of killer whales... A very high recommendation. - Boomkat
Five years have passed since the self-contained 'drake equation'. this ep is also a stand-alone release - a stop between the second and the third part of the nyan trilogy. sal-ocin joined t.m.o. as a full member a few years ago and now the project is a trio with the inclusion of the live concert drummer spike.
this morn' omina created five tracks which combine rhythmic complexity with impulsive power and tuneful depth to aurally express mass and velocity of an object (=momentum). framed by the fast, pulsating floor burners momentum I and II, you will discover the melodic beauty of nuraghi, the tribal, symphonic darkness of ananda, and the slow, melancholic flow of tellurian. synthetic beats, acoustic percussion, sub-basses, atmospheric electronics and energetic vocals result in the uniqueness that this morn' omina stands for.
Endless transformations and experimenting with sound is natural phase that brings Disharmony in their next work. This time fifth stop and mapping of their territory, Disharmony opens their next phase and with their new album opens the gates into the space of electro underground. Combining industrial elements and idm puts Disharmony into the modern, electro revolution and with this opens next phase and possibility to look into the ambiental waters covered into hybrid structures that seconds cinematic moods and lived vocals. Destructive and at the same time beautiful listening. Those who listen to Disharmony from their beginnings will hear a primary root that has put their electrodes into the time depths. Electronic vibrations are pulsating between organic frequencies and beautiful moods. Disharmony has moved one level higher. Intelligent and modern work!!!
Limited to 550 copies.
Comes in a mini DVD package.
Subheim is Kostas K's project ( composer / video artist / graphic designer), a downtempo, experimental project with idm elements, together with female vocalist Katja.
Laid-back as well as complex rhythms, deep reverbs and bitcrushed sounds combined with pianos, cellos, long release keyboards and haunting voices, flirting with post-rock and atmospheric downtempo music.
Inspired by subjects like urban isolation and the outburst of man's deepest emotions, Subheim deliver an ideal soundtrack for chaotic moments filled with melancholy...
The cold electronic side project of Derniere Volonte, a sentimental melancholic journey into the early 80's. The charming voice and the minimalistic dreams will make you move your feet even more than during a Derniere Volonte gig! First eponym album, coming with 8 tracks, to present this first step into the big sphere of surrealism, cold love & lonely despair.
Spectraliquid's second release is the very first full-length album of this incredibly talented artist who experts in combining modern day electronic music with classical music references, while remaining absolutely original.Down-tempo cinematic beats and melodies portrayed in a dark, atmospheric environment moving from fearsome, lonely frames to chaotic feelings of urban self-destruction... Blackfilm has created an ideal soundtrack for film-noir movie scores of the finest quality, delivered in a unique mixture of ambient, downtempo, orchestral music...
The new and wonderful GEOMATIC album entitled "Blue Beam" is now available, this duo based in Amsterdam band offers up a brilliant mix of experimental electronics, tribal percussion and rythmic noise with an esoteric edge that will delight for example all addicts of bands like Muslimgauze or This Morn' Omina. "Blue Beam" contains 11 tracks + 3 additional remixes by Andrew Lagowski, Ah Cama Sotz and Ex_Tension packaged in a 2 panels digipak on matte paper.
Limited to 600 copies.
Packaging: Large black heavy-cardboard box with silver print + inlay and postcards.
Converter's music is often described as 'Power Noise' - which means, in this case, Rhythmic Noise. As for 'Shock Front' this description was spot on. On 'Blast Furnace', converter added a dark ambient styling to the rhythmic rage; which was quite a surprise for the "hit the dance floor noise addicts". However, this combination worked perfectly. After "Expansion" which contained older and brand new material, lots of listeners asked "where does this highway lead to?".
Converter's aural universe was always desolate and sometimes threatening. "Exit Ritual" continues this path but this time around Sturgis uses his nightmarish sound injections in a more subtle way. So, can we still speak of 'Power Noise'? Sure we can !
Sturgis intensified the dark mood and slowed down the beats - it also seems that he explored the roots of industrial. Just listen to 'In Ruins...', a punching, slow loop and harsh metallic clashes which could have been taken right out of an old s.p.k. tune - anyone remember 'Leichenschrei'? Maybe the listeners of Scandinavian 'Death Industrial' will also love this cd? For example, the deep drones and foggish vocal samples in 'Dronr(itual)'.
Yes, this is a rhythmic but listening at home is recommended (for most of the tracks). If you think the entire CD is a 'moody one' then check out 'Order/Creature' and you will march right into volunteered slavery!
Converter still has some hard candy to offer - fasten your seat belts - as you never know where this journey will lead...
Ant-Zen is proud to present Converter's third full-length masterpiece.
A slightly more melodic, sad and obscure side of Flint Glass which still keeps the cold and dark atmosphere that defines its sound. Inspired by H.P Lovecraft novels, coldness and warmth are constantly fighting for predominance and the quasi-total absence of vocals make it an extremely visionary record which would be a perfect match for a number of movie soundtracks varying from post-apocalyptic to foggy northern woods, from lunar landscapes to horror aberrations. Deeply disturbing and yet unequivocally enjoyable and morbidly relaxing.
The album comes in a beautiful 8 page digipak designed by Eyelyft, and includes four excellent remixes by Ah Cama Sotz, This Morn Omina with Empusae, Xabec and Disharmony.
After his last album "Error 404: Metaphorical Loss" Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka Sa-Ocin focused not only on his live performances at all important electronica and industrial festivals but also on his development as a musician in his other projects: This Morn' Omina and Tzolk’in, Project Arctic and as a live member of Ah Cama-Sotz. The result of this progress is found in "The Hatred of Trees", an astonishing and unique piece of dark epic industrial electronica with smooth tribal rhythms.
The music will take you to a journey through dark and threatening places, deep feelings, mystic glades, fallen empires, buried dreams, haunted woods and forgotten old worlds – the soundtrack for your darkest fantasies.
Selections and alternate versions from the forthcoming 4-CD set: "The Seasons Unfold".
Free (and autographed by Tor Lundvall) with any order made through the Strange Fortune website until supplies run out.
Update:
"Following my departure from Strange Fortune, I've decided to put "The Seasons Unfold" 4-CD set on hold for now. I haven't given up hope on this release, but I'll be concentrating on other projects and look forward to announcing these in early 2009. " - http://www.torlundvall.com/
"My (musical) world is a little bit dark. . . a little bit off-center. I think of it as tragically beautiful. That is how I would describe what I love best: tragically beautiful." Angelo Badalamenti
Today's working hypothesis is no composer was ever more important to the success of a television show than Angelo Badalamenti was for his work on the David Lynch televison cult hit "Twin Peaks" (1990-91).
The criteria here is not just coming up with a memorable instrumental theme song (in which case we just pick Lalo Schifrin for "Mission Impossible"), but the scoring of various episodes over the course of several seasons. By that standard what is the competition? Jan Hammer's work on "Miami Vice" got a lot of publicity, but when you think of the soundtrack for that show you are just as likely to think of Glenn Frey's "Smuggler's Blues" and Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" as you are the show's theme song or other incidental music. For me the close second would be w.g. snuffy walden's work on "thirtysomething," but that superb work (especially "second look") never received the publicity that Badalamenti did with "Twin Peaks" (Population 51,201).
Besides the memorable main theme you have the haunting "Laura Palmer's Theme" and the quirky little "Dance of the Dream Man." The former was used in different variations to different effects throughout the series, eloquently underscoring the twists and turns in the search for her killer. Even when David Lynch writes some lyrics for Julee Cruise to sing, the mood produced by the music never changed. It is amazing to me how you could always be aware of what Badalamenti was doing while watching "Twin Peaks," yet the music never becomes intrusive or overwhelming. Instead it is a perfect compliment to the story and pictures. And remember:
That gum you like, it's coming back in style...
The mixture of styles and musical ages. Echoes of 70's electronic, new romantic of 80's (OMD, Numan, Heaven 17, Visage). A bit of industrial, a pinch of EBM, a touch of synth-pop. Second part of the specific interpretation of 19th and 20th Century poetry. This time in more gothic and electromantic "musical sauce". Achtung! No martial nor neo-folk songs. A very last album of Rukkanor.
Limited editon of 600 handnumbered copies in a cardboard box containing D034 (CD1) and D035 (CD2).
CD 1 is in a SmartPac, CD 2 in a special folded cardboard sleeve.
D035 is only available in this limited edition.
