Category Archives: Uncategorized

https://liquidlibrary.bandcamp.com/album/music-for-sleeping-cats Genre: Shoe Gaze Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp August 6, 2021 Sounds sort of like DJ Screw was messing around with his My Bloody Valentine records. This approximately nine minute EP deserves to be applauded for its brevity in this age of digital foreverness for almost everything that isn’t pop. That said, these groovesContinue reading “Music For Sleeping Cats by Cascading”

https://homenormal.bandcamp.com/album/bloom Genre: Drone Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp August 5, 2021 Water is one of my favorite instruments. It’s no wonder that the sound of it is so appealing. Thales believed water is alive and the original principle of nature. 2700 years later, the more we learn about matter, life, and consciousness, the more incrediblyContinue reading “Bloom by Ian Hawgood + Stijn Hüwels”

https://mysticalplace.bandcamp.com/album/kot-bayun-fairy-tales-vol-2 Genre: Hip Hop Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp August 5, 2021 Weird and dreamy dungeon synth with Three 6 Mafia Memphis style raps sampled (?) in. I couldn’t actually identify any of the samples or who’s rapping – maybe I missed the identifiers I don’t know. What I do know is flow and thisContinue reading “KOT BAYUN – Fairy Tales Vol.2 by Mystical Place Records”

https://handdrawndracula.bandcamp.com/album/ep4 Genre: Dream Pop Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp August 5, 2021 This is a four song EP which is really equal parts trip hop / dream pop. There are certainly echoes of Portishead but in many places it’s more gothic. The songs lean heavy into their genres for composition which is much better thanContinue reading “EP4 by Praises”

Available on Spotify Genre: Hip Hop Rating: 3/5 Released 2021 Lyrics sample: They ain’t scared of catchin’ the corona like Magic Johnson (You did)Is it real? Is it fake? I don’t know, I know shit sadPeople dyin’ from it off some shit that they been hadThey said Trump had it but I think he wasContinue reading “Don’t Come Outside, Vol. 3 of by Uncle Murda”

https://leabertucci.bandcamp.com/album/a-visible-length-of-light-2 Genre: Ambient Jazz Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp April 16, 2021 The way I digested this record I’m taking it as jazz in the tradition of In a Silent Way. The sound is soft and thick. It also, and this is reflected by the cover art as well, this is not music of illusion.Continue reading “A Visible Length of Light by Lea Bertucci”

https://jeffoster.bandcamp.com/album/brothers Genre: New Age Rating: 3/5 The good news is this is a quality new age release. The bad news is that it doesn’t extend beyond that. Ackerman’s playing is top notch but compositionally it leaves a bit to be desired and doesn’t reach his past standards. The songs are good but they’re not especiallyContinue reading “WILL ACKERMAN, JEFF OSTER, TOM EATON, Brothers”

https://drowse.bandcamp.com/album/cold-fronts-planning-for-burial-bryan-manning-drowse-jonathan-tuite Genre: Dark Ambient Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp July 20, 2021 This is a compilation of ambient music that I might call Dusk Ambient instead of Dark Ambient because it avoids the cliches and trappings of most of the Dark Ambient releases from the last, maybe, three or four years. The bandcamp notes suggestContinue reading “Cold Fronts (Planning for Burial/Bryan Manning/Drowse/Jonathan Tuite) by drowse”

This is a very deep dive into Carter’s brain. Most of it is very serious criticism but some of it simple adoration for the composers he loves. Thank God we live in the digital age and I could break and sample the music he’s writing about. I’ve spent decades listening to contemporary classical music andContinue reading “Book Review: Elliott Carter: Collected Essays and Lectures, 1937-1995”

https://sleepmovies.bandcamp.com Genre: Naval Gazing Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 2, 2021 It’s always more surprising to me when someone can create a decent pop song than any other musical feat. It can’t be studied curated or taught. The frequencies must be picked out of the sky. You’re either a muse for the masses orContinue reading “Melt Transmission by Sleep Movies”

https://svenwunder.bandcamp.com/album/natura-morta Genre: Smooth Jazz Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp June 11, 2021 A big band ensemble creating an extraordinary lush old school in the best way sonic landscape. Lambchop comes to mind as a comparison. It’s sort of like if they had decided to make a jazz record instead of Nixon. I’m late to theContinue reading “Natura Morta by Sven Wunder”

Available on Spotify Genre: Dark Ambient Rating: 3/5 Although there’s probably no way to really know it, at least from the sounds, this is a live album taken from the tour following the release of the original Cylene. François J. Bonnet is Kassel Jeager ( https://kasseljaeger.bandcamp.com ) and the author of The Order of SoundsContinue reading “Cylene Suisse redux by François J. Bonnet & Stephen F. O’Malley”

https://yesandmusic.bandcamp.com/album/yes-and Genre: Ambient Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 23, 2021 This definitely surprised me. Completely unpretentious, at first I thought this was going to be a very well done new new age record and it is but it’s also a lot more adventurous than just that. The dissonance is used sparingly but it’s definitelyContinue reading “yes/and by yes/and”

https://andrewheath.bandcamp.com/album/drawings-from-imagined-cities Genre: Ambient Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 23, 2021 This is the second of Heath’s releases I’ve reviewed. Here’s the first: https://birdboyblizzard.music.blog/2021/03/27/how-to-breathe-like-a-stone-by-andrew-heath-anne-chris-bakker/ How To Breathe Like A Stone by Andrew Heath & Anne Chris Bakker also received a 4/5 rating. Conceptually, I wish Heath would push the field recordings aspect of his workContinue reading “Drawings from Imagined Cities by Andrew Heath”

https://regionalbears.bandcamp.com/album/legends-of-american-theatre Genre: Field Recording Ambient Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp June 3, 2021 Well… I’ve found another shoo in for the 2021 albums of the year list. Legends of American Theatre successfully accomplishes the most laudable goals of contemporary field recordings. It is frighteningly of our times. This music feels like an audio extension ofContinue reading “Legends of American Theatre by Vanessa Rossetto”

https://dirkserries.bandcamp.com/album/recloose Genre: Ambient Drone Rating: 3/5 released on bandcamp July 23, 2021 I very rarely review things I don’t like so 3/5 is my default lowest rating. There’s a handful of 2/5’s but in general unless there’s a real cause for it I don’t listen to it if I don’t like it. And it wouldn’tContinue reading “Recloose by Dirk Serries”

Genre: Chill Wave Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 16, 2021 (no longer available on bandcamp) This is a surprisingly good vapor release. Nice grooves that are very easy to slip into, good production and arrangements. It’s surprising this hasn’t made more inroads into the mainstream because it seems to me like it should appealContinue reading “Eternal Melancholy by Manicurés”

https://ilusorecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-sword-still-hangs-upon-the-wall Genre: Instrumental Prog Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp July 23, 2021 This is the third release by Domene this year but the first one to make its way to my ears’ vibrating hair cells. As usual I’m going to draw comparisons to put the music in context: Adrian Belew, Steve Howe, and Stephen O’Malley.Continue reading “The Sword Still Hangs Upon The Wall by Álvaro Domene”

https://falt.bandcamp.com/album/die-akustischen-konzerne Genre: Experimental Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 12, 2021 If I were stuck in the mud while kayaking I’d listen to this while I waited for the water to rise. Lots of good sounds. Holds the promise of the unknown. Isn’t that what we went out to experience in the first place?

https://siddhatthagotama.bandcamp.com/album/- Genre: Black Metal Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 16, 2021 Hard hitting sincere black metal. It’s banging alright. My only complaint is I wish it was recorded with more high end. It sort of sounds like in the eighties when Dolby came out and all it did was ruin the sound by mutingContinue reading “पुनर्जन्म भाग १ by गौतम बुद्ध”

https://lyndsiealguire.bandcamp.com/album/the-night-is-in-my-mouth Genre: Ambient Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 14, 2021 When she vocalizes it’s almost art pop. And sensual. It strikes me like a perzine almost it’s so intimate. As ambient, it’s unique an oddly melodic comfortably separating itself from the herd. Relaxing and engaging and everything it’s supposed to be but with somethingContinue reading “the night is in my mouth by Lyndsie Alguire”

https://mobile.twitter.com/desertsandvapor Genre: Slushwave Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp July 19, 2021 This is the second review I’ve written up for desert sand feels warm at night as I also reviewed the comparably remarkable 我思う、ゆえに我あり. Both received the maximum 5/5 rating but the other review is quite short. My original intention was short and sweet butContinue reading “ピアノの独り言 by desert sand feels warm at night”

https://fullspectrumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/catalogs-sound-pieces-with-text-and-10-unrealized-scores Genre: Experimental Rating: 5/5 released on bandcamp July 15, 2021 I listened to this outside, in a light drizzle nighttime Florida electric storm and damn if that isn’t the right setting for this amazing collection of sounds and words. This is the best thing I’ve heard this month and sure to be on myContinue reading “Catalogs: Sound Pieces with Text and 10 Unrealized Scores by Andrew Weathers”

https://faienceknife.bandcamp.com/album/- Genre: Dream Pop Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 13, 2021 Well-crafted dream pop songs by this Russian band. Obvious comparison is the Cranberries. It also has a touch of a psychedelic component slightly reminiscent of the great Japanese female psychedelic band Angel’in Heavy Syrup.

https://hiemalambient.bandcamp.com/album/leaving-the-stars-behind Genre: Drone Rating: 4/5 released on bandcamp July 14, 2021 This band has 87 releases and and I’ve listened to a lot of them and they are consistently very good. We shouldn’t take them for granted.