So, I’m a little late to the party with this release since it’s been out for a while. However, it’s something I think you need to hear. Gorgeous, softly spoken folk from New Zealand. Really awesome and varied instrumentation. Each track evolves brilliantly and never seems to take a too straightforward route to the end. You can check out a full review from our good friends at inb4track. Highly recommended.
The first two tracks of this EP are smooth instrumental hip-hop with a little jazz influence. Soft beats interspersed with piano and occasional soulful female vocals. It feels like sitting in a smokey, 50s jazz bar that’s been transported to the future. The second two tracks are darker, presenting a tighter beat driven sound and sombre audio samples. These tracks manage to sound deep and unsettling, but work surprisingly well next to the earlier ones. The finisher (+Locks) is almost hypnotic. If you only check out one track today though, listen to Introspection – it’s glorious.
The second album from this fantastic experimental pop duo. Regular readers might remember that I posted their EP a while back here. Their first album, Little Room, is also now available for free from their bandcamp page.
As with their first album, Ennet House have crafted a selection of lush, textural and catchy tracks. However, Sensitive Bends is filled with perhaps an even greater psych-pop intensity. The album is designed to take you on a ‘visual journey’ across four suites, and these guys more than pull it off. The whole album ebbs and flows as each track segues fluidly into the next. The result is amazing and might just surprise you with such a dynamic tracklist. All in all, there’s a hell of a lot of great stuff to listen out for on Sensitive Bends. Highly recommended.
Debut release by this fun indie pop duo. Really upbeat, chilled out stuff that borders on wistful at some points. Without ever becoming too complex, these guys have managed to get a perfect balance of sound, and every track feels really cohesive and well put together. Vocals are absolutely wonderful and give the whole release an almost dreamy effect. In contrast the lyrics can be pretty downbeat, but they never feel at odds with the music. I can already tell Jealousy Monster will be one to watch – highly recommended.
A new project from the mind behind the fantastic Ripple’Field (posted here), that moves away from shining synthpop to a much darker sound. Vouta focuses on black metal, post-punk and goth rock to create something that transcends each of these genres. This is while managing to move flawlessly between rich melodies and raging, violent power. The tracks Short Breaths and Hanged are perhaps the best example of this polarity. The use of clean vocals will no doubt pull in those who are put off by the black metal tagging, but there is enough brute force and muffled screaming here to interest even the most kvlt of music fans.
RAGS is not an easy release to pin down. Free flowing and fuzzy guitar driven rock interspersed with an evolving ambient background, that plays out across two tracks that make up a 30 minute play time. A bit of a slow builder, but once it gets going it is textural and hypnotizing. Very different to anything I have heard in a while, and very easy to get lost in. Highly recommended.
Dense, noisy drone that really benefits from a good set of headphones. Wartime Tapestry makes excellent use of subtle loops and layering, creating the sort of music that you notice something new in every time you listen. A little tense at times, but it is very easy to get sucked into the dark, enveloping sound on Storms. The chimes on Veteran Flying Saucer are particularly brilliant. Whilst it is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, ambient and drone fans will not be disappointed. You can also check out Wartime Tapestry’s previous stuff on his Soundcloud page.
A few months back I posted New Dark Age’s album 2002, an epic beat driven sci-fi concept album. Last month he released BEAT2, the follow up to his earlier release BEAT1. On these seven tracks you can hear some of New Dark Age’s signature brooding beats alongside a more bombastic, funky sound. Awesome use of vocal and music samples (Toto’s Africa is always a worthy addition). Just give the incredibly catchy opening track a listen and try not to keep on through the whole thing. Highly recommended.
Finally we kick off 2012 posting with a self titled release by Shields and Lopatin. Droning, synth heavy electronica that swells and sinks over the 20 minute run-time. Has an incredibly thick sound that really fills your head, especially if you’re listening through ‘phones. Manages to pull off a great sense of atmosphere despite the short length. This is amidst the evolving ambience, subtle guitar sounds and penetrating synth melodies. Definitely an artist I want to hear more from in the future.
Hey guys, since it’s somehow 2012 tomorrow (where did the time go?!) I thought I would post a Polar Sunspots 2011 top ten. These are the albums I’ve posted and found particularly impressive this year. This will give you a chance to grab some great music you might have missed out on since the blog started. You can click through the artist names to more in-depth description. Enjoy!
10) Music For Your Plants – Music For Your Plants
Gorgeous experimental, instrumental rock with a synth twist.
9) Heavy Strife – Synthétiseur
Upbeat synthpop with an occasionally moody undertone and well placed guitar.
Experimental indie rock with post-punk elements that moves between melodic and aggressive.
Spaced out, textural synthpop from one half of the experimental rock duo Airs.
6) Technicolor Lenses – New Eyes
Brilliantly produced hip-hop album that successfully draws from a wide range of genres.
Experimental indie pop with brilliant depth and variety.
4) Underwater Seacreatures – EP
Beat driven chillwave with a dark, punchy edge.
3) Strangelets – Summer Forever EP
Mellowed out Los Angeles shoegaze release with brit-pop influences.
Medieval themed folk with a wonderful synthy touch – it just works.
Wonderfully eclectic album that spans folk, pop and gospel. Gorgeous male/female harmonies. Consistently surprising. Has a charm that makes it more than worthy of the top spot for 2011.
Well, that about wraps it up for 2011. Here’s to a new year filled with even more great music!
