Meat Wave "Brother" (Brace Yourself)

Meat Wave brings forth seven songs of punk rock n roll that can be anything from Trail of Dead and Local H to Foo Fighters.   Elements of Cadillac Blindside can also come out in these songs, which feel like a step above something you'd hear on Burger Records, and it just has that heavier side to it as well, so hence the emphasis on the word ROCK.

Mr Oizo "The Church"

Though this was released digitally in 2014 the CD version came out in 2015 and whatever the date is it doesn't matter because I've been looking for a reason to start listening to Mr. Oizo and this is my- and perhaps your- best way to get into these songs.    They're electronic at their heart but they have so much more than that.    It's audio samplings and beats mixed in ways I cannot describe.

You know, often times when I listen to music it can paint images in my head which in turn makes me think of it being the soundtrack to a movie.   It's hard to think of this as being the soundtrack to anything other than one of his films (I suggest "Wrong Cops") but the fact remains that if you like those films and the music in them then you shall like this as well.   And yes, that works both ways.     Just all around respect for this talented human being.

Raphi Gottesman "Signed, Noisemaker" (fluere tapes)

[$5 to Download // SOLD OUT on cassette // https://flueretapes.bandcamp.com/album/signed-noisemaker]

This was sent to me as a download and I am reviewing it as such because the cassette version of it sold out rather quickly from what I gather.    As I came to find via Bandcamp this is on a label called Fluere Tapes which has released music by Grand Mal, Strange Mountain and a cloudsound cassette I thought I was getting once upon a time, but anyway it is in good company so the fact that this artist reached out to me coupled with the company this release keeps has me interested before I even listen to it.

The music on "Signed, Noisemaker" is quiet and of the FNL variety.   There are mostly guitar notes played with a trumpet on the first song and piano notes later on (some of which have that church organ vibe)   It's calm, serene and soothing but not enough to put you to sleep.   Sometimes a song such as "Older Than Ferns", the last song, can even remind me of The Cancer Conspiracy.

Overall this seems to grow more solemn from start to finish, almost as if to make the end result- a transition into nothingness because it's over- feel like that much easier to take.    This might not be available on cassette any more but you should still listen to this and keep your ear to the ground for Raphi Gottesman who is sure to do more beautiful things following this one.

Nidhamu "Live Electronics & Drones" (supermalprodelica)

[€5 for Cassette // €7 to Download // https://supermalprodelica.bandcamp.com/album/live-electronics-drones]

This cassette is broken down into three different tracks, which two of would have to be on the first side due to length.   It's hard to imagine this being anything outside of its title but here we go anyway.

The first track is the middle in terms of length (neither the shortest nor longest) and it has high pitched electronics which sometimes can come through too sharply for even these veteran ears.   There are only slight frequency changes and as such it's got those elements of drone, which again is what the title claims.   It's almost like whale sounds or some form of sonar but before it ends there are darker tones of drone with some reverberating waves.

The second track is the shortest but is also "Part 2" to the first track so it makes sense they'd go together on Side A in that regard.    This track is full of stomping beats which have ooooh's in the background like a game of Pong.   They almost can turn into sonic booms with an aura of mystery and though it is the shortest of the tracks it does show the most character (That is to say seems the least bit drone)

Finally we have the third and final track which is also Side B and not coincidentally happens to be the same length as the first two tracks combined.    These are dark tone waves and eventually they have some slight beats in them (but ever so slightly, not too noticeable or heavy) and this is just the pure epitomy of what you think of when you see the word drone.

It is somewhat difficult to say anything about this that the title doesn't already sum up in a much more concise manner but I still do enjoy it and for fans of, um, what the title says you'll be wanting to add this one to your wish list as a cassette.

CVBox "What You Hear Is What You Get" (Lunatic Records)

[€11 for Record // Edition of 300 // €3 for Download // https://lunaticrecords.bandcamp.com/album/what-you-hear-is-what-you-get-lun03]

Moderately paced electronic numbers that tow the line between electronica and 8bit music.   Somewhat of The Prodigy or something else I am unfamiliar with and somewhat of the Beastie Boys these instrumental songs will either have you in a trance or make your body dance.

The first of these four songs is actually exclusive to the record release as well, so if you want to hear that one you're going to have to buy the record because it will not come as a download for you.     After listening to this enough times and without the first track I can tell you that having "Hitchhike the Plain" kick things off does seem to help the overall flow of this.

While I realize that a U.S. dollar is not worth as much as a pound you have to think of this download as being a pound per song (which hence is more than a dollar per song, but still) so in that sense it does kind of work out for you but I'd still say you need that first movement for the complete experience and as any DJ in any club can tell you, yes, this will sound most excellent spinning on vinyl.

Boom Said Thunder "Summer Twin"

[Name Your Price Download // http://boomsaidthunder.bandcamp.com/album/summer-twin]

I'm not sure what helped me find these two new songs by Boom Said Thunder, but Bandcamp is dropping the ball by not telling me that they were released.    Much like with their full length album this is just vocals belted out amidst complex rock and distortion.   It's somewhat like K's Choice and yet also somewhat calmer than certain songs found on their full length.    It kicks in a lot though and reminds me of Hum in other ways.

If you've really ever read what I write then these two songs will be a nice companion to the full length you should already be rocking by Boom Said Thunder.    The thing is, these two songs aren't so much like a single as they are an entire EP because they're just full of so much.    But I wouldn't be surprised to see them released as a 7" or cassingle in the very near future.  (Please?)

Dreamghost "Everything Is Alright" (Shoeboxx Recordings)

[Name Your Price Download // https://shoeboxxrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/everything-is-alright]

When I first got the email about a new release from Shoeboxx Recordings via Bandcamp I was hoping that it was going to be Dreamghost and though it is a digital only release I'll take what I can get from this amazing melody maker

These four songs should put you on an electric cloud between their piano and harp riffs that can only be pulled off in this manner by so many artists.    Basically, it's taking something special to do what is happening here without it sounding wrong and Dreamghost is doing just that.

As much as I was pleased with the Dreamghost cassette I reviewed before this I also enjoy these songs which you could be cliche about and say they put you on "Cloud 9", with their uplifting appeal, but I like to think of them more as being on some sort of bliss cloud and, yes, someone should totally make "bliss-cloud" a thing.