From Middle Earth to Outer Space: The Phoenix Foundation - "Hitchcock"

One more lucky find. It was posted on the channel presenting short films, which it is indeed. But at the same time this is a video to a song by a New Zealandish band The Phoenix Foundation. I've never heard of them, but judging from this song, this is a mistake I have to correct as soon as possible. This is a truly brilliant video, combining very original animation with perfectly corresponding music. It was directed (or in this case rather "made") by Reuben Sutherland, a visual artist specialising in mixing up live action and animation. And the music is also original. I guess it could be labeled "post rock", but it wouldn't do justice to this great piece. This is a combination of atmospheric instrumental rock fueled by prominent guitars with electronic sounds straight out of Jean-Michel Jarre's most "cosmic" tunes. The result is something I would call "space rock". OK, enough talkingwriting. I have to book a ticket for a nightflight to Venus.

The Phoenix Foundation - "Hitchcock"

A higher quality version can be found here.

Abogix (J.K.), the - "Friends"

Work of a genius - a feast for the ears (8/10) Dieses Album ist eine widmung an die Leute,die Freunde die sich jetzt seit längerer zeit auf Jamendo "rumtreiben" und immer schön fleissig mitschreiben in den foren. Das sind dann auch die Menschen die dafür sorgten dass endlich mal leben in die "Bude" kam und man(n) sich nicht mehr so einsam fühlte wie es ne lange zeit der fall war. Die idee zu diesem Album kam aber erst als mehrmals das thema eines treffen in Deutschland zu sprache kam...und noch immer im gespräch ist! Dauernd schwebten mir Bilder im Kopf wie denn ein solches treffen aussehen würde und während dem ich mein neues "Album" produzierte merkte ich zumindest dass schon der anfang meines stückes diese gedanken noch verstärkten...also war schnell ein titel und eine neue idee geboren. Eigentlich sollten da noch einige titel mehr zu hören sein,aber mir fiel auf dass diese titel nicht hier zu diesem Album passten. Also entschloss ich mich dass dieses Album nur zwei, ein sehr kurzer und ein langer titel haben wird...naja, wenigstens kein 1:22 Album LOL!!! Ich hoffe ihr könnt iergendwie meine gedanken beim zuhören dieser musik verstehen und raushören. Thank's for....everything! The Abogix (J.K.) alias Reznamor alias Jean Kops Abogix is a genius. Or he sold his soul to the devil. How else could you explain the fact that this man composes and records three perfect albums in half a year?

Royalty-free music for professional licensing [mirror @ archive.org] [Artist's Myspace]

This record is one of his best. It's a great mixture of electronica, rock, jazz, even some traces of industrial. All is perfectly blended and flawlessly produced. It's simply a true feast for the ears. The music is beautiful, intelligent, original, surprising - everything is perfect on this album. I have only two complaints: first of all - IT'S TOO SHORT!!!!! ;-). And secondly, I don't like long tracks. And this one could have been cut very easily, as it comprises of several different tunes. Of course I don't mean putting silence between them - they are perfectly combined and it is great, but each tune could be just put in his own track. It would be easy to find one's favourite part, repeat them, compare different melodies and so on. Oh, and I love the cover - very funny and perfectly corresponds with the mood of this album. But this is also usual with Abogix - covers of his albums are always great. PS. Why on earth I wrote all the above? I could just write: "Just another album from Abogix." and everything would be perfectly clear. ;-)

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Abogix (J.K.), the - "Welcome in my dreams!"

Just Abogix (8/10) Hier ist es nun...mein 5. Album! Wieder hat es mir sehr viel spass gemacht beim produzieren dieses Albums und hoffe es macht euch genau soviel freude beim zuhören!!! Dieses Album ist diesmal etwas fröhlichergeworden,nicht so dunkel. Es sollte gute laune verbreiten und hört sich auch teilweise lustig an. Es geht weiter Freunde...und es ist kein ende in sicht! Wer meine Musik liebt,der darf sich ruhig auf viele weitere Alben von mir freuen...denn in meiner fantasie...in meiner Welt...gibt's noch viel viel mehr zu entdecken! Das Cover zu diesem Album wurde von "ducadidoom" gemacht! Ich find's toll!...tausend dank!!! (Ach...muss das schön sein von Bergen umzingelt zu sein und gesunde Luft einzuatmen...seuftz!) Schönen gruss an meine Familie....Mom (Mi-Schops)...Dad (Pirat) (Sean Connery)... Jim (J.P.) & Sandra & Lou...Steve (MonChichi) & Cindy The Abogix (J.K.) Just Abogix. Anybody need more recommendations? For those who didn't listen to his other albums yet: electronic sounds arranged with talent. Very atmospheric tunes. However, I must say I prefer his darker compositions. "Tales of mystery and imagination" are the best. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation on this page - use the button "Donate" in the upper left corner.

Royalty-free music for professional licensing [mirror @ archive.org] [Artist's Myspace]

Abogix (J.K.), the - "Fantasmagoria"

Good psychedelic electronica (8/10) Mein viertes Album. Hypnotized Part II und III sind die nachfolger von Hypnotized aus dem Album "Signs". Wiederum zwei stücke die extrem psychedelisch klingen und ...wer weiss, auch eine Hypnotisierende wirkung haben? Wake up!...bringt euch dann wieder zurück aus der Hypnose. ;-) Ich hoffe es wird euch gefallen! The Abogix (J.K.) Abogix doesn't drop below a certain level (a very high level for many others). However, I consider this album to be weaker than "Tales of mystery and imagination" and "Signs". I don't know why... Maybe there are too many elements that distract you and you cannot simply drift with a melody. Or maybe some of these elements just don't fit...? But still - 8 points. And of course I still recommend it to all fans of intelligent electronic music. SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation on this page - use the button "Donate" in the upper left corner.

Royalty-free music for professional licensing [mirror @ archive.org] [Artist's Myspace]

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]

Tuta, Jakub - "Jakub Tuta"

Nice melodies - terrible mix (3/10) Album nagrany w pewną cichą noc. Zapraszam do słuchania. Jakub is a talented musician, his tunes are very atmospheric and this album would be great if not for the mix. Or the lack of. Both channels contain completely different tracks - you have a melody in one ear and an accompaniment in the other. Maybe it can be listened on speakers but on headphones it's a real pain. It's frustrating and disturbing. It's definitely not something one could call "stereo" - "double mono" would better describe the experience. So the only way to listen to it without grinding one's teeth, would be to downmix it to mono. I think Jakub should consider mixing this album properly and updating the tunes on Jamendo. These are good songs and it's a pity one cannot listen to them with pleasure. The album has been released on Jamendo and is available for downloading in mp3 or ogg format.

Tuta, Jakub - "Fuck Me"

Good compositions - bad production (6/10) Jakub has a composing talent - his tunes are catchy and atmospheric and would be great. Unfortunately, he lacks production skills. Completely. He has a lot to learn, before his songs will be fun to listen. As for now, bad production kills all the fun, so 6/10 rating is all I can give. So learn hard, dear Jakub, or hire a producer. Oh, some progress can be seen already - this time he at least managed to mix channels properly.

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

Tataman - "Moody" [EP]

Not fun at all (1/10) One of the tags chosen by the artist says "fun". Well... For me it wasn't "fun" at all. Unless we are talking about making "fun" of the artist... This short album contains guitar-based instrumental rock and could be maybe acceptable, if not for drums. Terrible clicks and buzzes pretending to be drums are so pathetic it hurts. They totally overwhelm the guitar wailing in the background and are so ugly they raise the urge to immediately push the stop button. It sounds as if somebody stole guitar demos of the artist and added these "drums" to discredit him. Stick with guitar work, man. Or hire a drummer. Or a producer. Or change a hobby. The album has been released on Jamendo and is available for downloading in mp3 or ogg format.