experimental

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Jazz nomad Ido Spak travels the world-over on his ‘Epidemic Adventures’

Thomas

During a global lockdown, Ido Spak found love online. A love of musical heritage, new cultures, and collaboration. From the new relationships he forged with collaborators as far and wide as Syria or Canada, came his new release The Epidemic Adventures.

The album guides listeners on a global journey through cultural and musical influences. Incorporating the melody and rhythm focus of the Middle East; the passion and erraticism of NY Jazz; and the technical prowess of classical, Ido Spak draws on..

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Giorgos Tabakis pulls out all eight strings for ‘hEre nOw theN’

Thomas

Athen base Giorgos Tabakis is familiar with sounds that are of the fringe, especially since he’s the one making them.

Prog, jazz and folk collide when Giorgos picks up his eight stringed guitar. Now, armed with his one-of-a-kind instrument, Giorgos has released his most heartfelt and inventive body of work yet – the 10-piece album hEre nOw theN.

The album’s opening track “Attraction” perfectly introduces viewers to Giorgos’ world. The track is just the first of many balancing acts, as Girogo..

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Wavewulf releases his spectacular celestial album ‘Space Art and Angels’

Carmen Lees-Green

A connoisseur of vintage synths and keyboards, Wavewulf is an experimental artist to watch out for. Smooth production mixed with gargantuan soundscapes make for a unique and exciting take on electronic music. His ethos is just as wide as his music, basing his current album on concepts of the universe and the soul, of life and death and the human condition. He also used the tragic loss of his parents as inspiration, with songs that have all-encompassing feelings of desolation, awareness and poignant sadness, balanced out with songs that feel like a celebration of their lives, showing how much they meant to him. When you know the context it really gives you a whole new perspective when listening again. It hits differently.

Wavewulf really picks up on a variety of inspirations for his music, from David Bowie to Brain Eno. There are also references to video games and movies from the 80s and 90s as well as a particular proclivity for Depeche Mode, whose music started Wavewulf on his path ..

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LearningToDive releases a mountain of sounds with debut album ‘Norwegian Pop’

Carmen Lees-Green

A delightful soundscape of 80’s New Wave, LearningToDive’s ‘Norwegian Pop’ is out now. The debut album is full of atmosphere and beautifully engineered tracks that are chocked full of smooth synths and beats that just make you wanna lie back and relax. Full of references to the passage of time and nature, this album has been a culmination of LearningToDive’s life experiences and his recent years questioning his place in the world; if you are a fan of existentialism, boy is this the album for you.

The first song off the LP is ‘I Stand On An Ice Floe’ with a new music video just out to boot. It reminds me of the atmospheric music from the television programme Heroes, the strings are gorgeous and really meld with the synths, centring the music right to the last note of the beat which gets smaller and smaller, really showing the desolation that this song embodies. The music video, which depicts a single man in ice, matches the scale of the grand and glacial music. It shows a passage of t..

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The Portland-based trio ’87 and The Toys’ have released their new alt-indie EP ‘Japanesy if you Pleasey’

Carmen Lees-Green

The seven track’s show the trio’s affinity with off-the-wall indie artists from across the years, showcasing likeness to Violent Femmes and Neutral Milk Hotel, whilst still staying true to their unique quirky style.

The band consists of Dave on Bass and guitar; Hana on min-drum kit, piano, and vocals; and Patrick on rhythm guitar and vocals. The trio have developed a style which incorporates American and Japanese cultures, especially evident in their songs ‘All you can eat sushi’ and ‘Ramen’ which are both on the new EP.

The band also pride themselves on being completely musically authentic. They record strictly without filters, overblown production techniques or autotune. 87 And The Toys subscribe to the school of absolute musical purity which is part of their commitment to their artistic authenticity.

This is shown in their recording techniques as they use their own DIY methods of production, which includes their new EP being entirely recorded on 8-track via a tiny Tascam recorde..

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SHK Takes Unique Inspiration From MMA Fighter, In Latest Single ‘Undefeated’

Thomas

Pakistan-born singer-songwriter SHK, has released an anthem for all with his new song ‘Undefeated’, A lyrical motivation for everyone to follow their dreams.

Now living in Reading, England, SHK has taken inspiration from a very unlikely source. With his main passions alongside music being poetry, spirituality, self-reformation, and martial arts, SHK takes inspiration from this combination to create an upbeat, empowering tune, which is sure to motivate listeners.

Alongside this track, SHK has ..

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Malcura’s upcoming album ‘Malcura II’ explores vast new musical worlds

Thomas

Melbourne-based flamenco giants Malcura are ready to take us on a thrilling and supersonic journey to new musical worlds with their new spaced themed album, Malcura II.

The album is set to be released on 27th November following their impressive first album which dropped in 2016. But album 2.0 explores an even more expansive musical frontier.

The bands imaginative use of flamenco guitar and a mixture of Gypsy Jazz, Swing, Surf Rock (and even melodic Death Metal), has captivated the Australian..

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Waterflower returns with gloriously extravagant ‘Balta Gaisma’

Carmen Lees-Green

One of pop’s most interesting newcomers Sabine Moore, or Waterflower, has finally released her anticipated third studio album, a piece which will surely captivate and mesmerise listeners.

From the very off, the title track immediately hooks you in, immersing listeners in strange, new environments through audio alone. The sound of this album is incredible, as each track is vastly different from the last but rich in depth and complexity. The Latvia-based singer found popularity due to her ability to create musical tones using plants and flowers, and it is clear that this drive to create atmospheric sounds continues on Balta Gaisma.

Waterflower’s unique experimental brand of pop shines through on the album, with many tracks so distinct and boundary-pushing that the very template of modern pop songs are called into question. Although the album sounds so vast and expansive, there are moments of deep intimacy in which listeners find themselves as witnesses to the artist bearing her soul.

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