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]

Various Artists - "Newcastle Hardcore Vol. 2"

Interesting hardcore techno compilation (7/10)

Bloody Fist Records was an independent record label based in Newcastle, Australia. Bloody Fist was one of the most prolific labels involved in hardcore/gabber, industrial, breaks, noise, and related genres. Founded by Nasenbluten's Mark Newlands (formerly known as Stigs/TDU) in 1994 as a platform for local artists, the label initially began distributing cassettes and moved on to become a major label in the hardcore techno scene. Newcastle Hardcore Vol. 1 & 2 [1994] was a first vinyl release of this label, presenting a compilation of artists from the local Newcastle hardcore techno scene. Vol. 2 supposedly contained 7 tracks from 6 acts. The version I had a chance to listen to included only 5 tracks: a1 - The Shaftman - Shaftman a2 - Xylocaine - Luftwaffe a3 - Pendulum - Uncle Sam b1 - Overcast - Rougher b2 - Syndicate - M'shit Hardcore

The album is very interesting, as they all are quality offerings, and although I personally dig only two of them, the compilation remains a proof that the guy behind Bloody Fist knew what he was doing right from the start.

My favorites are Pendulum - Uncle Sam and Overcast - Rougher, two fast pieces reminding me of The Prodigy from the Experience period. Even if they are not the most original songs ever recorded, they are catchy, energetic and never venture near the border of plagiarism.

The other three do not fit my taste, being comprised almost exclusively of samples from other songs or speeches mixed with extremely fast techno-style drums. This is not creative, this is not catchy, this is not original, this is not anything interesting - for me this type of hardcore techno is totally boring. Still, I guess all three acts are good at what they are doing, so for the purpose of such a compilation they are suitable.

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 / breakcore. 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.

Various Artists - "Newcastle Hardcore Vol. 1"

Interesting hardcore techno compilation (6/10)

Bloody Fist Records was an independent record label based in Newcastle, Australia. Bloody Fist was one of the most prolific labels involved in hardcore/gabber, industrial, breaks, noise, and related genres. Founded by Nasenbluten's Mark Newlands (formerly known as Stigs/TDU) in 1994 as a platform for local artists, the label initially began distributing cassettes and moved on to become a major label in the hardcore techno scene. Newcastle Hardcore Vol. 1 & 2 [1994] was a first vinyl release of this label, presenting a compilation of artists from the local Newcastle hardcore techno scene. This is an interesting album, offering quality tunes, and although I personally dig only two tracks on each of the two records, the compilation remains a proof that the guy behind Bloody Fist knew what he was doing right from the start.

My favorites on the Volume 1 are Pendulum - Feel The Pain and Syndicate - Lower Level. The latter reminds me of the early The Prodigy from the Experience period, but while the inspiration is very clear, this is not a blatant copy. The former has great disturbing dark atmosphere. Both songs are catchy, energetic and just pure fun to listen.

The other six do not fit my taste, being comprised almost exclusively of samples from other songs or speeches mixed with extremely fast techno-style drums. This is not creative, this is not catchy, this is not original, this is not anything interesting - for me this type of hardcore techno is totally boring. Still, if they are typical for 1994 Newcastle hardcore techno scene, they fit this compilation.

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.

Moving Sand - "Secret Garden"

Jazzy P.J. Harvey (9/10) Le genre est plutôt multitendances, un peu de jazz, de folk de blues, la toile de fond est intimiste .le groupe est composé de quatre musiciens venants d'univers musicaux très différents.La toile de fond du groupe est la création d'une ambience intimiste. I don't know where others hear folk on this album. It's ridiculous. I feel as if I listened to a different recording. It's a jazz rock album without even smallest traces of folk. Nevertheless, it's really great rock album. Instrumental parts are very fine. The singer reminds me of P.J. Harvey and I love such dirty way of singing. So much is happening throughout each track that you want to listen to it again immediately after the album ends. Well done! [mirror @ archive.org] | [Artist's Myspace]

Royalty Free Music - Stock Music Library | Jamendo PRO

Nationale2 - "Painful Experiment"

Intelligent minimalistic electronica (8/10) Painful Experiment is a resolutely electronica album. It was entirely composed with a Roland MC-303, a vocoder MAM VF-11 and a speak and spell. Painful Experiment is probably, to date, the concept of the more intimate Nationale2. Folded back on itself after the loss of two years' compositions, because of the crash of a HDD, he began a return to the source with the machine's most controversial by the purists when it was released. Intelligent minimalistic electronica. When someone is creative, he does not need much equipment. Thank you for sharing your work. [mirror @ archive.org] 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 - Stock Music Library | Jamendo PRO

Moving Sand - "Gray Cell"

Dolores O'Riordan meets P.J. Harvey (9/10) Album a tendance accoustique mettant en avant l'harmonie du chant et les textes. Creé dans un petit home studio avec du matériel plutôt sommaire.Vous souhaitons un beau voyage dans le monde de Moving sand A very powerful recording. I recommend it to every fan of intelligent rock music (I do not like a word "alternative" - who said crap is "regular" and good music is "alternative"?). I love the way everything is mixed on this album - an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, great percussion work, a Jew's harp, great female vocals, traces of jazz, instrumental improvisations. Oh, and one more thing - this whole "folk" thing. This album has nothing to do with folk music. Use of an acoustic guitar and a Jew's harp does not turn something into folk. I wonder if these "folks" ;-) that tag it as "folk" listened to a single one folk album in their life. I doubt it. [mirror @ archive.org] | [Artist's Myspace]

Royalty Free Music - Stock Music Library | Jamendo PRO

Nationale2 - "19901999"

Nice straightforward techno (8/10) The album entitled 19901999 is a compilation of songs composed between 1990 and 1999 that were never marketed. N2 has selected titles that took the most heart and not lost any of their power despite the passage of time. Nice straightforward techno - minimalistic, but not primitive. Just check it out. [mirror @ archive.org] SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ARTISTS If you like this album and you can afford it, consider supporting the artist by making a donation.

Royalty Free Music - Stock Music Library | Jamendo PRO