Obsessions - "Obsessions" [EP]

A classy rock / punk rock offering (8/10) Obsessions powstał na początku 2013 roku jako poboczny projekt osób związanych z takimi warszawskimi zespołami jak The Black Tapes i Capital. Szybko okazało się, że taka mieszanka osobowości i pomysłów oznacza, że Obsessions wyjdzie poza salę prób i zacznie funkcjonować jako pełnoprawny zespół. I tak się stało. Po debiutanckim występie przed amerykańskim Obits w warszawskiej Cafe Kulturalna zespół wszedł do studia i zarejestrował cztery autorskie utwory, który złożyły się na debiutancki materiał, który wyda Antena Krzyku. Na winylowej siódemce, bo to jest odpowiedni nośnik dla takiej muzyki! Pomyśl o Hot Snakes i przefiltruj to przez całą brytyjską scenę muzyczną końca lat 70. a otrzymasz Obsessions w pełnej krasie. This is a really surprisingly good minialbum from the Polish band Obsessions. I know nothing about them except that supposedly this is a side project of the three musicians connected with another Polish act The Black Tapes. They claim they play punk rock, but in my humble opinion this is just a straightforward rock. It is uptempo and loud, definitely influenced by punk, but lacking punkish aggressiveness. Anyhow, they are good. They know how to play, the songs are well recorded, riffs are great, vocal lines are catchy, the singer's singing manner is adequately slovenly. No genre bending here - pure rock at its best. So keep rocking, boys - it is nice to hear such classic approach for a change. The album has been released on vinyl only (sic!) by the Antena Krzyku label and you cannot officially download it in any digital format. You can buy a vinyl in some online stores for around 7 euros (serpent.pl, seeyousoon.pl). But you have to act fast, as only 250 records have been made. You can also listen to the full album online on Bandcamp, but downloads are switched off. Of course, it is possible to download it anyhow in Bandcamp's preview quality (mp3 @ 128 kbit). No option to pay the artist this way, though. What a pity.

Nymphomania - "Unashamed"

Dark ambient of the highest quality (10/10) From the artist: Earthy meditation loops of processed voice, bass guitar and wind chime, which resound unceasing throughout my new home by the woods. An album for eating nectarines and grapefruits in the early morning. The sequel to "In Spiral Expression". From the label: This is a real trip into mind. The fractal image of the inner self. A kaleidoscope of visions that have a meaning, but you should be sure, because taking the wrong path leads you nowhere. The labyrinth built by one's mind may look confusing, but it gives the hints - just listen. And never touch that green switch! All instruments programmed and played, vocals, music written and arranged by Josh Landry. Artwork by Mike Winchester. Dark ambient of the highest quality. With long drones flowing slowly through time and space. Only sometimes strange sounds of ethnic instruments or tribal chants remind you that you are taking part in some kind of a primeval ritual. This record is hypnotic and repetitive, but never boring like so many bad ambient works. Highly recommended to both ambient fans and people looking for a good introduction to this genre. The album has been released by the artist himself through his Bandcamp store under the "name your price" scheme. You can download it there in a variety of formats, including a lossless FLAC version. This release is copyrighted. It has been also reissued by the Russian label USC (United Studios Corporation), under the Creative Commons BY-SA license. On their website you will find links for downloading the album for free from several file storage websites, but only in 320 kbit MP3 format. They inform that "By downloading our files from links below you directly support artists and label". By the way - they release music on physical CDs too. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation through Bandcamp.

[Artist's Soundcloud]

Various Artists - "Fonoteka 7 (Remixed)"

A quality compilation from a Polish retro netlabel (7/10) Związek Kompozytorów Polskich i Zakład Nagrań Dźwiękowych Estrady informuje: koniec z szeroko propagowaną akcją popularyzowania ckliwych serenadek czy wesołych uwerturek w rytmie polskich tańców ludowych. Istniejące i powstające nadal kompozycje rażą szablonem, banałem oraz żenującym poziomem artystycznym. Nie chodzi tu wcale o tytuły granych pozycji – bądź ich brak – ale o styl interpretacyjny, który nawiązuje najczęściej do najgorszych tradycji muzyków estradowych. Wśród nadesłanych do nas materiałów niewielu kompozytorów pokusiło się o wykroczenie poza zwykłą przeciętność, co najwyżej poprawność, graniczącą jednak z monotonią, szablonem i sztampą. Postawa wielu wykonawców trąci abnegacją i rutyniarstwem. Wieje nudą i szarzyzną. [...] Przed państwem ci, których wszystko co napisaliśmy nie dotyczy. [Read more --->] This is a quality compilation of contemporary club music: from electronica and nu jazz through hip hop to disco, all with a nice retro feeling, typical for productions coming from Estrada Nagrania netlabel. The retro feeling is strengthened through masterful mixing, blending modern tunes with sampled fragments of Polish radio programmes from the 1970s - often to very funny and surreal effects. Only several of these tracks suit my personal taste, hence the rating of "7". However, trying to adopt a more objective view, I have to admit all of this material is top class and should satisfy a more club-music-oriented listener. And for people longing for "good old times", ready for a nostalgic time travel back to '70s - this should be a masterpiece. If somebody is interested in my choice, here is the list of my favorites: 04 - Symbiotic Sounds - 1987 08 - 2 Pac - Thug Style (produced by ylaib) 15 - Printempo - Szarosc poniedzialkowego popoludnia 17 - Ortalio - Cynematyka 19 - Graf Cratedigger - Lotniskowiec 21 - Sawersky - Spectral Type 1 22 - Synnc - Nights Of course, the clear winner is the one and only Printempo, whose new track is equally fabulous to the material from the debut album of this act, which I reviewed earlier. The album has been released by the Estrada Nagrania netlabel and you can download it for free in mp3 format. The lossless version is available in the netlabel's Bandcamp store under the "name your price" scheme. You can also listen to the full album online on Bandcamp. Of course, if you like this album and you intend to keep it, I encourage you to make a donation (purchase) through Bandcamp, even if you need only a free mp3 version. After all, "name your price" means any amount you can afford. PLEASE SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS.

Embolism - "This Means Fucking War!"

Speedcore classic (7/10) Early Embolism speedcore action! 6 tracks built on an Amiga 500. released 15 December 1995 Written and produced by a 14-year old Ryan Leeman in his bedroom on an Amiga 500 running through a small television speaker, whilst bunking off school in mid-1995. Originally released on 12" vinyl December 1995. A speedcore classic written by then 14-year old Ryan Leeman, one of the pioneers of hardcore techno, recording for the famous label Bloody Fist Records. It is not a secret that hardcore techno is not my favorite genre of electronic music, because of its repetitiveness, monotony and overuse of irritating sampled speeches. Yet this album is another proof that with enough talent, one can write great tunes in each and every style. Only the final track Pillow Talk suffer from these weaknesses. All the rest is great - original, creative and catchy (in the wicked "hardcore techno" sense of this word), while still being fast, aggressive and uncompromising. And it was made by a 14-year old kid on an Amiga 500 computer. Wow. The album is available on Bandcamp for 6 Australian dollars in a variety of formats, including a FLAC version. You can also listen to the full album before making a decision on purchase.

Sinewave - "Zombastic? Fantastic!" [SP]

Catchy instrumental rock single (9/10) Sinewave, the one-man studio project of Vancouver's Mark Wiebe, has been on the cutting edge of underground Canadian electronic music since the 2001 launch of Interplanetary Ridicule, an album of "weird space lounge", b-movie samples and finely diced drum-and-bass beats. It caused an instant sensation on campus radio stations across the country, closing out the year as the number one album of 2001 at University of Manitoba's UMFM, placing eighteenth on !earshot's top 200 of 2001 and receiving airplay around the globe on Solid Steel Radio. [Read more --->] Music from the game Zombie Minesweeper. A catchy little song that is used in the very enjoyable free online flash game Zombie Minesweeper. The disturbing atmosphere corresponds well with the game's theme and the way of playing. For those that played the game extensively it may be a little bit too much to hear it again (and again and again...), but all the others should definitely check it out, because it is a very fine piece of electronic rock. The album is available on Bandcamp for USD 1 (yes, for one dollar!) in a variety of formats, including a FLAC version. You can also listen to the full album before making a decision on purchase. [Artist's website]

Silence Industry, the - "Edge Of Illusion, the"

Songwriting skills vs production skills (7/10) The 4th release from The Silence Industry. This time The Silence Industry can be heard refining their unique sound which combines elements of post-punk, industrial, noise, dream-pop, psychedelia and goth-rock. "The Edge of Illusion" is a reference to our dispossession and our struggles to overcome it: a theme that runs throughout the release. It is sad and frustrating. Because this band truly knows how to write great gothic rock/metal songs. Even if they borrow heavily from Fields of the Nephilim, these tunes are so good that it would not be a problem. So why is it sad? The reason is all the work and talent they put into songwriting is wasted because of lack of production skills and/or equipment. This album sounds like recorded in a bucket full of water, but with the mikes placed not only outside the bucket, but also in another room. The mix is flat, with all the instruments forming an undistinctive mass of dull sound. The vocals are particularly awful, unintelligible and buried deep in the background. Yuck. I pondered how to rate this work and I am giving it 7/10, but only because the songs themselves deserve 9 or even 10. The quality of sound deserves 2 or 3. One could say it should not matter - Jamendo is not for professionals and I should rate only the quality of songwriting. But what if poor production makes the recording almost unlistenable? Should I award 5 stars to the album that I can barely listen without my ears aching? No way. That is not going to happen. Re-record this album, guys, and I will be happy to give it full 10 points. The album has been released on Jamendo as well as by the now-defunct netlabel Ekleipsi and is available for downloading at the following locations in mp3 and ogg formats: Jamendo / Jamendo mirror at archive.org / Ekleipsi mirror at archive.org You can also download it directly from the artist at Bandcamp in a variety of formats, including a lossless FLAC version. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation at Jamendo or Bandcamp. I would choose Bandcamp to support sharing lossless music.

[Artist's Myspace]

Printempo - "Printempo"

A masterpiece from a very strange netlabel (10/10) Debiut Printempo można uznać za wyraz nostalgii za czasami, gdy muzyka instrumentalna była muzyką popularną. Pomimo dużego rozrzutu pod względem doboru utworów, płyta jako całość jest niezwykle spójna – elementem scalającym jest indywidualność muzyczna artysty, którego bez wątpienia uznać można za jednego z najbardziej obiecujących instrumentalistów i kompozytorów młodego pokolenia. [Read more --->] Estrada Nagrania, the netlabel that released this album is very mysterious, indeed. They do not have a regular website. They use a blog instead, where they publish not only their releases, but also Polish videoclips and articles on music from the 70-ties. The blog's design is stylized to resemble Polish record companies from that period. If only Internet existed in the 70-ties, one could think this is an archival website, not updated for the last 30 years. Very well done indeed - browsing their blog you feel almost like a time traveler. Previously Estrada Nagrania released only top quality compilation albums of Polish music from the 70-ties. So this album is not only Printempo's debut, but also the netlabel's first contemporary music release. Now to the point. This album contains instrumental downtempo / nu jazz. And the execution is just superb! If only you like the genre, this is simply a must-have. It sounds natural, with a classy lo-fi tint here and there. All instruments sound like... instruments, not cheap artificial samples. The melodies are interesting, there is a perfect chillout atmosphere. Someone in the other review compared it to Bonobo and this is a very accurate comparison. Not exactly because of Printempo's derivativeness, but because of top quality of this music. Get it ASAP! The album has been released by the Estrada Nagrania netlabel and you can download it from the netlabel's Bandcamp store for PLN 15 (~EUR 3) in a variety of formats, including a FLAC version. You can also listen to the full album before making a purchasing decision. Please note, however, that Bandcamp release has been probably made from mp3 files (at least according to AuCDtect). Because Bandcamp requires sending them lossless material, the result is that when downloading mp3 version you end up with files that have been recoded into mp3 twice! Do I have to say what influence should it have on the quality of the music? So if you are going to buy this release, I recommend downloading and keeping a FLAC version - bearing in mind, however, that this is not true lossless, because the files are made from the mp3 source.

[Artist's Myspace]

Laufer, Daniel - "In Between" [EP]

Very good electronica (7/10) If you like to support the artist, you can buy this album for a few bucks on Bandcamp (with slightly better quality). However, if you prefer to get it for free, you can still download it here. It's your choice, really. Enjoy the music. Very good electronica - nice melodies, good sounds. The only thing I don't like is track no. 6 "Shadows Of The Past". The singing is very very weak, with a terrible accent. I would recommend the author limit himself to instrumental music or hire a different singer. If you like trip-hop and/or downtempo - check it out. You can also obtain a lossless FLAC version of this album from Bandcamp for as low as 4 euros. [Artist's website]

Royalty free music for professional licensing

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation.

Coma Stereo - "Binary Endings"

Very good post rock (8/10) "Binary endings" is an over 50 minutes of a very spatial, a bit nostalgic and melancholic sounds evoking such a bands as the silver mount zion, godspeed you! Black emperor, trans am and explosions in the sky. Sometimes ,when the forlorn vocal is present( "obsessions and a tulip"), it may be associated with xiu xiu, no twist or even The Cure. Four musicians from Slovenia take us in a imaginative trip arousing a full scale of perceptible emotions and associated with their memories. A light electronic and an extensive passage created by guitars intertwine with mind-blowing, sometimes a bit brutal and dramatic mood. It`s a great challenge for a post-rock band to achieve a balance between an experimental guitar formulas and electronic-ambient threads. Coma Stereo gives it to you and for this reason it is an obligatory position for connoisseurs of the style. Binary endings gives you a 50 minutes of sound which is a perfect connection between hypnotic and magic motives and dose of field recordings. So if you like to listen music full of sadness and filled with pain but with a ray of hope at once, don't hesitate to download this album. It's perfect music to listen in the dark and alienation. Very good post rock album. Great gloomy atmosphere, depressive melodies. Highly recommended for fans of dark guitar music. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format. You can also download it directly from the artist at Bandcamp for free in a variety of formats, including a lossless FLAC version. [Artist's website / Myspace]

dK - "Electroglamour And Infinite Sadness"

Zuppa Romana (6/10) First album published by Karmasutra (then [dK]) in 1999. songwriting > [K] arrangement - programming - editing > [K] guitars on the guilt - breaking off the fight - alms - ordinary state of grace - best pain > [captain] guitars on karmastate - in front of River - the ethics of River > [jp] mixing - mastering > [K] I've got mixed feelings after listening to this album. What are "mixed feelings"? There is this popular joke: "mixed feelings are when you're watching your mother-in-law drive off a cliff in your new Ferrari". Well... Maybe. But for me it's also "hearing great music spoiled by a bad singer with a terrible English accent". Why on Earth so many people feel they have to sing in English, even if they lack skills? Somebody kidnapped your mother-in-law and threatens to throw her off a cliff, if you start singing in your native language? Ooops! Bad example. Anyhow... Everything else, apart from the vocalist's work, is at least good on this album. Great dark atmosphere, catchy melodies, very fine distorted guitars, nice electronic effects put in just right places. Just listen to these three instrumental pieces: 06, 08 & 12. Very interesting dark electronica, isn't it? Only maybe production is not up to par on several tracks, but not below my level of tolerance. And then... the singer. His voice is weak and from time to time he is almost out-of-tune. I could tolerate it, if this was his only problem. But the true disaster is his English accent. Why not to sing in Italian? Somebody told them only italo-disco is permitted in Italian? OK, the sound of English is great, it is an easy language to sing and write lyrics, but it makes sense only if the vocalist is able to learn a decent accent! Otherwise, just stick with your native language and the effect will be infinitely better. Because for now, it's just "Zuppa Romana". Of course, I can recommend this album to people who don't know English, or are unable to hear differences in English accents, because the instrumental part is very good. What's the genre? A dark synthpop / electro with industrial feel to it - a mix of Depeche Mode and Oomph! for me. By the way, speaking of Oomph!... Somehow they are not ashamed to sing in German. Instead of embarrassing themselves with "Änglisch"... Apart from Jamendo, you can also download it directly from the artist at Bandcamp for free or for a donation in a variety of formats, including lossless FLAC version. Strangely, this release is governed by a different CC license: .

Royalty-free music for professional licensing [Artist's Myspace / Website]

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation through Jamendo or Bandcamp.

K-not - "Prodigity"

Classy electronica (8/10) Long awaited second album of young producer from south Silesia - K-not is at least available! We can write voluminous review here but there is no need to do it. Two words is enough: BIG PROGRESS! Classy electronica (mostly breakbeat and dubstep). Diverse and entertaining. Highly recommended. By the way, people who want to use this work commercially should be warned that the track no. 7 "Black Fog" contains a sampled vocal part from "Good Girl Gone Bad" by The Herbaliser. It is so distorted though, that's it's almost impossible to recognize. Apart from Jamendo, this album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format. Strangely, this release is governed by a different CC license: . You can also download it directly from the artist at Bandcamp for free in a variety of formats, including lossless FLAC version. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation or buying a lossless version.

Royalty-free music for professional licensing [Artist's Myspace]

K-not - "Sinfinity"

Quite interesting electronica (6/10) K-not is an amateur artist from Silesia (Poland). When he was only 8 years old his brother buy a CD The Prodigy - Music for the Jilted Generation and then K-not change his mind about music at all. The same effect K-not have when he saw on Viva Zwei Premiere video for Aphex Twin - Come To Daddy. At the beginning when K-not can only buy some CD's or Tape's, in his region there's no music like IDM or d'n'b so he listen to some bands like Deftones, Slipknot, Soulfly, Tool or Nine Inch Nails. First computer, first internet, first Fruity Tracks/Loops and K-not started to create some very acid tracks. In Years 04-07 he do about 60 tracks in simple selection...vol.1, vol.2, vol.3 and vol.4. The inspiration of his first three volumes in mostly range are acid d'n'b and idm artists like AFX, Autechre, Squarepusher, Photek, Future Sound Of London. Vol.4 became more oriented on Experimental Techno cause by artists like Orbital. Now when he create his first solo project Sinfinity, he started to think about professional aproach to music but he don't know any professional musicans or producers so he decided to place his music for free. Quite interesting electronica, although not every track is good. Some are influenced with primitive house, dance and hip-hop (3,4,6,9,11). Also the cover of "Missing" is dull. All tunes are also slightly too repetitive. By the way, "Missing" is of course copyrighted, so CC license does not apply here. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format. You can also download it directly from the artist at Bandcamp for free in a variety of formats, including lossless FLAC version.

Ana Never - "Ana Never" [remastered and rereleased]

Depressive post rock (8/10) At first, we would like to say THANK YOU for Goran and all Ana Never crew for makeinkg possible to show this beautiful release in Poland. You'll find some more info in a release booklet. It's great pleasure to have a chance to re-realase and distribute this album in Poland ... few more words about release soon ... now just enjoy with listening this stuff. Extremely sad, deep and anxious dose of experimental, post-rock, ambient music from Serbia. This is depressive atmospheric post-rock of really high quality. Perfect as a soundtrack for suicide attempts. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format. You can also buy it directly from the artist at Bandcamp for as low as $3.60 - no money goes to the fuckin' RIAA. If you like the music - do it! Support the artist. A lossless FLAC version is also available. The version released by 49manekinow contains two bonus live tracks:

[Myspace]