Pan:core - "Kithara Kodex"

Brilliant dark experimental electronica (9/10) If you like my music, i would be happy to read some nice words on a postcard. just send it to maik sommer – hechtstr.47 – 01097 – dresden – germany enjoy. Brilliant dark experimental electronica. Thank you, pan:core. At first I didn't like the cover of "Moonlight Sonata", because of the hip-hop beats in the background. But the ending is so powerful and haunting that I had to revise my opinion. The only track I still don't like is "Intro" - it is just tiring, ugly and, in the first place, doesn't fit the rest of the album. It's like a mole on a beautiful face. [mirror @ archive.org] [Artist's website]

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Subterrestrial - "Goddess of Atvatabar, the"

Interesting but too repetitive dark ambient (6/10) The debut album from this San Francisco Bay Area artist, The Goddess of Atvatabar is inspired by the 1891 hollow earth adventure novel by William R. Bradshaw and leans heavily on dark ambient, tribal ambient and middle eastern musical themes. The Goddess of Atvatabar is a self-released web album and is available as a free download. This is an interesting dark ambient recording, although too repetitive for my liking. I like experimenting with dark atmosphere and strange sounds. The drawbacks are the said repetitiveness and absurd sound volume differences, forcing a listener to adjust the level throughout the album. For me the best tracks are nos. 01, 02 and 07, because they are not overly repetitive. If you like highly repetitive type of ambient, you can safely add 2 or 3 points to my rating. I guess using a word "repetitive" in every sentence, when reviewing a repetitive album is somehow repetitive, I mean, is somehow OK, isn't it? Apart from Jamendo the album is available at archive.org on Subterrestrial's own "netlabel" channel - possibly in better quality, because Jamendo is notorious for very low quality of their mp3 files. Please note that this edition is governed by a different CC license: . I guess it means you can choose the one that better suits your needs. [Jamendo mirror @ archive.org] | [Artist's Website] | [Myspace]

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Various Artists - "Newcastle Sampler"

Interesting hardcore techno compilation (6/10)

All Tracks Built In Newcastle, Australia Published By Len & Jen Music (ASCAP) Distributed By Soundbase Music Germany Newcastle Sampler is a compilation released by the label Bastard Loud Records, presenting several acts from the Newcastle hardcore techno scene, recording for the famous label Bloody Fist Records. This is an interesting album, offering quality tunes, and although I personally dig only two tracks out of six, the compilation remains a great insight into the history of hardcore techno. My favorites are Nasenbluten - Treadmill and Disassembler - Ants. They are fast, aggressive, disturbing, but without being too repetitive and without overuse of speech samples - two weaknesses of so many hardcore techno tunes. The other four do not fit my taste, being haunted by the said flaws. They represent the type of hardcore techno, which is totally boring for me, despite its aggressiveness and high tempos. Still, they should appeal to hardcore hardcore techno fans out there. If you happen to be one, you can safely add some points to my 6/10 rating. I guess this album is very rare now, but if you happen to run into it somewhere along the links, be sure to check it out, if you are a fan of hardcore techno. And do not forget to visit the official Bandcamp website of Bloody Fist Records, where you can listen to and buy some other releases from this label.

Xenophobe - "Episode 2"

One of the best bands you have never heard of (8/10)

2nd CD of 4 track recordings mastered to digital compact cassette. Transfered to CD by Brian Lipski in 1997 Very interesting recording supposedly featuring electronic reworking of music by Warfare, a metal band from the 80-ties, completely unknown to general public. Warfare's Myspace profile (yes, they have one!) says they were: "Thrash band from the Jersey shore in the mid 80's. All songs recorded live at band practices through headphones onto cassette..."

If this is true, it is another proof that talent hunters at the record labels are deaf and you need just a massive luck to be accepted. Why? Because these songs are great.

Of course even in these reworked versions you can hear the limitation of the poor equipment and recording conditions. But what counts is that they are catchy and energetic and if these guys were given a chance, they could easily turn them into metal masterpieces.

OK, but what about these updated versions? Well, they are still merely of a demo quality, because they were recorded in the nineties on cheap analog equipment. Yet these tunes are so well crafted that I enjoyed them very much despite their extremely lo-fi sound. The album starts with an earthquake - an industrial metal riff of the first track "Mad". Equally powerful is the third track "Dawn Of Time". No. 4 is a little slower, as to make some room for handful of strange samples. No. 5 "Phat and Funky" seems to contain a vocal line by Les Claypool of Primus, although the album's description does not mention that. Maybe it's someone else perfectly imitating his voice, though it feels unlikely, when you know how distinct Claypool's voice is. So anyone thinking of using this music commercially, should take double care, because it may contain some copyrighted material.

From the track no. 6 the arrangements change from industrial metal into synthpop / new wave, but keeping their main feature - catchiness. Another stylistic change comes in track no. 9, where we meet hip hop, followed by rap metal in the next tune. In track 11 we go back to metal. The album ends with two crazy renditions of "Wild Thing" (probably still copyrighted too!).

The only weak track is no. 2 "Acoustic Song" - with a primitive melody, and low quality plastic-sounding samples (not that electronic sounds in other tracks are of exceptional quality, but in this one they are truly terrible).

To summarize - this album is a true gem and I recommend it to anyone ready to listen to very good music in not so good quality.

The album has been released by the NoiseCollector netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 and ogg format.

Monsieur Connard - "Du ciel tombent des cierges"

Great experimental electronica (10/10) Careful people remember that few years ago, Switzerland producers from audio - visual collective Audioactivity Sound System (also members of Audioactivity net-label) were visiting Poland with Monsieur Connard on the mothership board. In year 2003 they played with such artists as: Funkstorung (Chris De Luca and Michael Fakesch), RDJ2, Luke Vibert (Wagon Christ), Zion Train or High Tone. Connard being asked about what they want to play answered in a poetic way: Our intention is creating intelligent dancefloor where boom boom is present, unknown melodies and acid sounds comes from nowhere leaving dirt and dark connections still active. We'll vomiting all our musical inspirations… Five years later through the virtual channel vomiting gentleman from France comes back to our country. Du ciel tombent des cierges EP is seven fresh compositions which we present with great pleasure. Cavalcade of nosing beats infiltrates with lissome IDM glitches. Background is full of still changing ambient passages. Admirers of French in touch will enjoy poetical declaims of Connard. Are you wondering how looks Vichy folklore? We have sizable doze for you! Truly great recording. Broken beats and distorted sounds on a noisy ambient background. So much is happening in these tracks that they could easily fall into chaos. But the artist never loses grip and is in full control of his vision and the resulting creation. Well done! Thanks for sharing this outstanding work for free. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format. [Artist's Website / Myspace]

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

Ralp - "Vruoxoil"

8-bit - only partially successful (6/10) Crazy and mad music which will make you feel giddy and totally wired. Sounds emanating from everywhere take you unawares and stick you a new dose of absolutely positive energy. Raül Peix (Ralp). Multifaceted artist member of Device, Lowtoy, Distortled Box, Tricoma, NFFCTS, MicroBCN and NGFX, independent collectives dedicated to audiovisual creations. Under the same name, Ralp takes different paths in music, 3D, motion, graphic and installation. He creates 100% electronic music with an IDMcore aesthetic made with computer, some hardware, circuit bending toys, machines built from zero and 8 Bit productions with Nintendo Game Boy and Commodore 64. During his trajectory he has played in some events and festivals around Europe and in a lots of improvised "mini raves" in the streets. So far he has published sonorous material in some netlabels like Brainstormlab (London), Crazy-Language (Berlin), DexandtheCity (Letonia), 49 Manekinow (Polonia), Noise-Joy (USA), Spoomusic (USA) and Chippanze (Brasil). This is typical 8-bit techno. Unfortunately only partially successful. Some tracks are interesting, well crafted, but others are dull and chaotic, sounding like if samples were placed in purely accidental order. Good ones: 01, 03, 04, 06, 09. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

[Artist's Webpage]

Mikrodepresja - "Static Improvised Soloworks For Non-input Mixer Vol. 1"

Boring glitch-based ambient (3/10) Non-input mixing board improvised series vol. 1 is a new simple logic project. For one day in one week mikrodepresja will be prepared a few pieces of improvised live electronics based only at non-input mixer feedbacks, glitches, failings and defects. No mix, no mastering no re-recordings, cut-up's etc. Pure, static non-input mixing board noises and drones. LISTEN LOUD! or WITH HEADPHONES (also loud)! The owner of the netlabel 49manekinow that publishes Mikrodepresja here must really hate this band. The previous album was packed in a password-protected rar archive (sic!). This one is in wma format. :-/ If you don't like this band - just drop them! ;-P As for the music - this time at least it is possible to listen to them. And it's nothing special, unfortunately (now I understand why the previous album was password-protected ;-> ). It is simple ambient, based on noise and glitch. Totally boring, without any creative ideas, like a recording session of some equipment tuning. Don't waste your time. On second thought, if you're a dedicated fan of noise/glitch, you can check it out. But I am able to find interesting works for me also in this genre. But not this one. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in wma (!) format.

[Artist's Myspace]

Capitalism Is Just Another Dying Breed - "Capitalism Is Just Another Dying Breed"

Very dark and depressive guitar ambient (6/10)

[Artist's Myspace]

If deja vu is a post-experience who repeats itself or is a similar repetitive action in our system so to speak. Then I find this life and its system we are living in, as one big deja vu experience I want to escape..... Today is all about making money and being someone. Companies and humans are killing each other for a name, for profit and land. Someone else are trying just to make a living, because they do not "fit in", in this moneymaking-drowning world. .... This music is about people, oppression and beings who are themselves.. And not tries to be someone else or manipulating for fame. .... Capitalism is just another dying breed is a side-project. Enjoy and download the music for free and leave a comment if you like!
Victor Soldéus.

Obligatory position for everyone who loves Come On Die Young by Mogwai. This is about oppression. This is about molestation. This is about people. This is about fear. This is atrabilious. This is about you. This is about me. This is about us.

Very dark and depressive guitar ambient with traces of noise. Quite captivating, but definitely not for everyone. This is rather difficult music, only for fans of strange sounds. Although, sometimes it gets too calm and repetitive (tracks 01 & 05 are just boring).

The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

Kokkaljos - "Kokkaljos Khronicles"

Insane noise - unlistenable (0/10) Each song took me maybe five minutes to make. I also didn't really know how to growl. It'd be totally awesome if someone decided to release this on a 7" vinyl or something. And people would actually buy it. This is just unlistenable insane noise, without any sense or idea behind it. Pros? It's very short - not much time is wasted. Cons? Everything else. The album has been released on Jamendo and is available for downloading in mp3 or ogg format.

Kokkaljos - "Power Of Pencils"

Senseless noise (1/10) My ode to pencils. I know it's not serious, but it's not funny either... However, contrary to most reviewers of his "works", in my opinion this album is far better than "Kokkaljós Khronicles", which I rate with zero on Jamendo scale. The album has been released on Jamendo and is available for downloading in mp3 or ogg format.

Shema - "Shema" [EP]

Great intelligent electronica (10/10) Piece of melancholic idm, glitch music in xela style straight from Russia. Great intelligent electronica - very diverse and catchy (in a wicked experimental way). What especially catches attention is very creative use of original industrial samples. There is only one disadvantage of this work - it's too short. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

Nuoh - "Roztarte w pyl"

Boring drone ambient / noise (1/10) With great, great pleasure we would like to recommend newest NUOH release. This is music which tell stories you wouldn’t like to hear.. Experimental, Minimalistic Tape music at the highest level. Those records was made in fall of 2003, we think it's a great soundtrack to weather maelstorm in Poland. Boring drone ambient / noise. At least boring for me, as it is not my favorite genre. Still, I find some works appealing. But not this time, so it is only for dedicated fans of the genre. Others will fall asleep quickly. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

[Artist's Webpage / Myspace]

Nick R 61 - "Time Ime Me E"

Very good electronica concept album (9/10) The idea of album is time. Tiny, distant sounds represent hours, glitches represents seconds etc... Very good creative electronica playing on theme of time and clocks. Reminds me of Jean Michel Jarre in this regard, although musically it's much more modern, of course. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format. [Artist's Website / Myspace]

Roter, Filip - "Filip Roter"

I didn't like it (4/10) Filip Roter, born in Katowice in 1985. Multimedia artist combining different fields of artistic activities: music, poetry and visual arts into a complementary whole. His work is strongly influenced by the poetic and musical minimalism aiming to maximal limiting of the expression and maintaining the clarity of form. These inspirations resulted in generating an individual style: Expresstronic. Experimental noise. I guess too experimental for my taste. The pieces are very chaotic and devoid of any clear structure. Only for hardcore fans of the genre. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

[Artist's Webpage / Myspace]

Lautaro - "Umercalen"

High frequency noise (1/10) With your eyes closed. Experimental music which tells stories and tries to awaken images. An individual journey through diverse sensations by means of climates and ambient sounds, using high frequencies which, in some way, repercute in the listener. The adequate time and moment, a good sound and begin to levitate. Close your eyes. High frequency noise - great for masochists. And I mean "noise" not as a genre, but as... well... noise. Only for dedicated fans of ear-torturing. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

New Slumber, the - "Cirrus"

Interesting ambient (6/10) second new slumber release at 49manekiow net-lab Interesting attempt at mixing ambient with traces of noise, maybe except for a third track "cumulonimbus", which is simply boring. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

De L Afront - "433"

Repetitive ambient (4/10) 433 - the second ep of our friend from france (De l afront) it`s an over 10 minutes of sad, melancholic, dark, droney electronics and ambient sounds which will take you for a trip in the darkest secrets of your mind. This music is a perfect soundtrack for an black theatre play and it realize its role in Molotov theatre. The young artist one more time proves that the experimental sounds from france are on the highest level. Dark ambient mixed with noise, full of drones. Unfortunately quite boring and repetitive. The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

B - "StrawberryClock is the King of the Portal 2"

Almost as strange as Kokkaljos' nickname (7/10) A crazy blend of experimental ambient and noise. What? Ambient and noise at the same time? I know it sounds crazy and crazy it is. Just listen for yourself. Oh, did I mention that it is completely crazy? I did? Well, because it really is. Yet somehow it is powerful. If someone likes crazy music, of course. It would be perfect for a soundtrack to the next sequel of "Saw". Or "Hostel". Or another crazy horror movie. Oh, one more thing. If you dig it, do not try to listen to his albums recorded as Kokkaljos. They are not good. Very not good. I know that now you'll do exactly the opposite, but you have been warned. My conscience is clear.

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New Slumber, the - "Night Echoes"

Very good ambient mixed with noise (8/10)

newest release at 49manekinow.net in "experiments with 49animals" section.
[49animal002] the new slumber - night echoes [ep] is dose of experimental, ambient, idm and noisy sounds straight from nashville in USA.

The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.

Galaxykidgamma - "First Days On Earth (And What I Found There)"

Nice minimal electronica (8/10)

Richmond, VA’s galaxykidgamma has the spastic attitude that makes you always love ambient music. He covers such a large spectrum in his new ep “first days on earth (and what I found there)” that you forget it’s five pieces of music. Each track effortlessly slides into the next one, and soon you’re starting it over again.

Each track centers around a particular item he found on Earth. The first being a typewriter followed by a guitar, a cellphone, a sampler, and an NES.
---> Read more at Evolve Happy.

The album has been released by the 49manekinow.net netlabel and is available for downloading at archive.org in mp3 format.