Author Archives: birddog

https://cryochamber.bandcamp.com/album/back-to-beyond Genre: Dark Ambient Rating; 4/5 released on bandcamp May 4, 2021 It’s been a while since I’ve listened to a Cryo Chamber release but I found myself in the mood this morning. Mostly, it’s the formulaic dark ambient sound that Cryo Chamber pretty much owns at this point. But some of it drifts intoContinue reading “Back to Beyond by Alphaxone & ProtoU”

https://joechester.bandcamp.com/album/carolan-cage Genre: Classical Guitar Rating: 5/5 Chester is a very talented guitarist that plays these pieces with sharp precision and perfect tone. Turlough O’Carolan was an Irish composer who lived from 1670 – 1738. He is still deeply revered in Ireland but somewhat under appreciated around the rest of the world. This is a goodContinue reading “CAROLAN/CAGE by Joe Chester”

https://globalpattern.bandcamp.com/album/how-scissors-feel-to-the-hair Genre: Ambient Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp September 21, 2021 The orange cover and interesting title caught my eye when I was digging around for something to review. If you read my reviews you might notice I seem pretty generous with the ratings. Well to be honest, if I’m not digging it, I don’tContinue reading “How Scissors Feel To The Hair by Elatope”

https://boguscollective.bandcamp.com/album/s-u-p-e-r-n-o-s-t-a-l-g-i-a-v-a-p-o-r-l-i-g-h-t Genre: Atmospheric Vapor Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp October 1, 2021 Genre wise this is very difficult music to put your finger on. Melodically it’s not very abstract at all but it’s placed in a very space oriented sound effect setting. The central theme is a moving piano hook with cinematic flare. It’s aContinue reading “s u p e r n o s t a l g i a_v a p o r_l i g h t by m e m o r y p o l l u t i o n”

https://altusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/hypoxia Genre: Dark Ambient Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp October 1, 2021 I’ve been shying away from straight dark ambient recently having ingested quite a bit of it over the past few years. And this is pure traditionalist dark ambient. It’s not pioneering but if you’re familiar with my reviews I fine with that. IContinue reading “Hypoxia by Altus”

https://listeninginstruments.bandcamp.com/album/the-quarantine-concerts-live-naturesound-stream-presented-by-experimental-sound-studio-pt-fwd Genre: Field Recording Ambient Rating: 5/5 released September 3, 2021 This is a live performance that was streamed live on the Experimental Sound Studio’s Quarantine Concert series that can be watched live on their Twitch channel. Check here for loads and loads of fantastic stuff: https://ess.org Besides listening to this on bandcamp, if youContinue reading “The Quarantine Concerts – Live #NatureSound Stream – presented by Experimental Sound Studio & pt.fwd by @a.braidwood”

https://natbirchallmusic.bandcamp.com/album/ancient-africa Genre: Spiritual Jazz Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp August 27, 2021 Nat Birchall is one of the most under appreciated and extraordinarily talented figures active in the world of jazz. Please note the following quote from Discogs: “Recorded By, Mixed By, Mastered By, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Piano, Drums, Percussion, Photography By,Continue reading “Ancient Africa by nat birchall”

https://badaband.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-rolfstorp Genre: Space Rock Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp August 11, 2021 Somewhere in the outer reaches of Spaceman 3 and sometimes with a compositional style that reminds me of Jean-Michel Jarre these four tracks are fantastically psychedelic hypnotic rock’n’roll that probably woke up Bockstensmannen. And it’s on YouTube. What a cool place for aContinue reading “Live in Rolfstorp by BADA”

Genre: Hip Hop Rating: 5/5 If you’ve read anything that claims this is anything less than the genius… that you’ll hear a better hip hop album from 2021… anything that’s not gushing praise… consider yourself lucky that you came here for the truth. I was going to do a double review with Hitler Wears HermesContinue reading “Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B by Westside Gunn”

Sun Ra Perhaps it was because Sun Ra was disgusted with humanity that he rejected the notion that he, himself, was human. Not only did he refuse to participate in WWII but he told the judge, if sent, he would kill the first high ranking officer he could. He understood that monotheistic religions worship evil.Continue reading “Sun Ra”

Three different versions of the jazz standard Indian Summer: Frank Sinatra – Vocals Johnny Hodges – Alto Sax Piano – Duke Ellington Arrangement – Billy May Recorded in 1967 Sinatra was 52 at the time. There’s some mention online that he was already struggling to hit the high notes. Maybe. But you either hit themContinue reading “Indian Summer”

Genre: Drone Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp September 27, 2021 You never know, but I think I hear a William Basinski influence here. To be specific, tracks 4-7 feel more electronic compositional and the others more disintegrating tape loopy. Whatever the case, on all the tracks an effective mood is created that stand above theContinue reading “A Flare for the Turning by Micah Frank”

Brian Ferneyhough is definitely a more is more kind of composer. British by birth, now a long term resident of California, this former UC San Diego and current Stanford professor is credited as the father of a genre known as New Complexity. As soon as the genre was tagged with a name it started toContinue reading “Brian Ferneyhough”

https://riothomas.bandcamp.com Genre: Hip Hop Rating: 4/5 Modestly brief and beautifully soulful. Fantastic musical texture to rap on top over and the raps live up to the production. Smooth. Borrows heavily from 70’s era soul and recaptures the spirit for 2021. A tasty musical treat.

https://astraldoberman.bandcamp.com Genre: Free Jazz Rating: 5/5 I’d like to think this band is on the cusp of a Last Exit Style breakout. If not Last Exit then Fire! Orchestra or does this have a comparable presence? Anyway, the name drops are just hey if you like that try this if you haven’t. This is oneContinue reading ““everyone is rolling down a hill” or “the journey to the center of some arcane mystery and the entanglements of the vines and veins of the cosmic and unwieldy millieu encountered in the midst of that endeavor” by Crazy Doberman”

https://paleowolf.bandcamp.com/album/paleoshaman Genre: Neoclassical dark wave Rating: 3/5 released on bandcamp September 25, 2021 This is really well done. If you like Dead Can Dance there’s no reason you shouldn’t like this as well. It’s ambitiously (and perhaps unnecessarily) long as it slowly transitions from one tribal theme to another. This isn’t the kindest thing toContinue reading “Paleoshaman by Paleowolf”

https://humanhoodrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/your-own-working-class-will-bury-you-suburban-observances-volume-four Genre: Experimental Rating: 4/5 First off, the bandcamp notes from this STEM middle school teacher are very amusing and well-written. And the title is obviously fantastic. This is ambient adjacent experimental. It’s not “nervous music” music – that’s what this drummer I used to know once said to me: “You always listen to nervousContinue reading “Your Own Working Class Will Bury You (Suburban Observances Volume Four) by Howard Stelzer”

https://brucerussell.bandcamp.com/album/the-delta-blues-suite-sonaten-aus-opus-60 Genre: Experimental Rating: 4/5 This is a solo release by a very important boundary pushing musician from the noise punk scene of the past three decades. If you’re uninitiated a good place to start is Vain, Erudite And Stupid: Selected Works 1987​-​2005 by The Dead C https://badabingrecords.bandcamp.com/album/vain-erudite-and-stupid-selected-works-1987-2005 I’m just going to leave that formattedContinue reading “The Delta Blues Suite (Sonaten aus Opus 60) by Bruce Russell”

https://boguscollective.bandcamp.com/album/shoreline-recollections Genre: Vaporwave Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp September 25, 2021 Very short vaporblurbs. Songs this brief might seem undeveloped outside of punk but it definitely works here. I think part of it is being an experienced listener. Can you catch what’s being conveyed here? Like the short stories of Raymond Carver. It’s carved downContinue reading “Shoreline Recollections by Slime Era”

https://deberengieren.bandcamp.com/album/less-is-endless Genre: Jazz Rating: 5/5 This is great jazz band with a proud history that includes a collaboration with the brilliant Susana Santos Silva. This release is part free and part third stream. I wouldn’t call it fusion but it still makes me think Weather Report. It’s driven, great composition, fantastic musicians. In a wayContinue reading “Less Is Endless by De Beren Gieren”