Very enjoyable prog album full of harmonious guitars that shift in style and intensity, punchy drums and melodic piano/keyboards. Each band member adds a vital element, creating a highly satisfying and uplifting sound.
A genuinely superb release from Floodlights, full of mature pop/rock songs that build and release great emotion. Their arresting sound has increased in musical variety and depth on this album, and the stories they tell here carry plentiful weight.
An album of very solid fuzz/psych rock featuring cool vocals and deep grooves. These eight tracks come together to create a fine experience – no filler here, and each song has its own flavour. Really cool art, too!
A strong live set that is a welcome addition to my collection; plenty of meaty moments with the Hoof's forceful brand of guitar rock, which rarely disappoints. Supported this project via the band's Kickstarter to fund their Las Vegas trip – hope that adventure leads to other opportunities for them.
Super album full of catchy tunes and singalong lyrics – relaxed and spacious in its sound, Horsegirl have found their groove with this 'less is more' approach. The simple song structures and uncluttered production give each track a pleasant and pleasing charm.
Moody and mysterious, this intriguing album fuses slow acoustic strumming, heavier noisemaking, and unconventional soundscapes to produce something rather different. I like it!
Three nice Xmas-themed tunes that, as with last year's similar release, are musically interesting, quietly joyous, and well produced. The variation with male and female voices adds good variety and a different style/texture.
Five excellent instrumentals possessing high energy: each track generates a very positive mood with its composition and playing style, and there are plenty of stirring guitar/drum combos to enjoy. Great stuff!
Two neat tracks from Coldwave. "The Ants" is excitingly angular and at times angry, with plentiful energy; "Italia '06" is a different beast, using spoken vocals and a slower pace to tell its story – yet it still has a rush of vibrancy. Nice!
Sergeant Thunderhoof continue to release powerfully melodic music that never strays from a winning formula: driving percussion, soaring vocals, and monumental guitars. The temperament and depth of sound within each track forms a neat arc full of light and shade – very impressive.
Moody compositions that are high in atmosphere and the ambience of other worlds. I love the sense of dark mystery generated by the extremely cool retro synth sounds; these are tunes to relax with when darkness has fallen.
A dreamy, meditative collection of quiet instrumentals that are simple yet detailed, with warm sounds full of texture. Somewhat short in length, this album provides a gentle break from other 'noise'.
There's a rather vibrant quiet/loud dynamic on this release – it weaves through most tracks and is often quite vigorous, which I like a lot! The songs maturely mix grand atmospherics with reflective vocals, and there's real gravity in the messages they contain.
Sea of Stars presents a very agreeable collection of hypnotic sounds and moods; the songs have great flow and ambience, and a nice variation in their musical identity. Very slow and dreamy at times, but never dull, this album fits nicely with earlier releases.
I love Black Doldrums' hypnotic darkwave/shoegaze style – their sound is both old and new, evoking feelings of longing and regret. This excellent release should please all fans interested in gothic, alternative or drone music.
Nice EP of music containing enticing moods, droning fuzz, and melodic vocals. I'm a keen fan of The Besnard Lakes' approach to songwriting and recording; the rich soundscapes they create rarely fail to excite, as on this release.
Two attractive and very interesting tracks that didn't make the cut for 'A Coliseum Complex Museum'. Great to have these songs easily accessed via digital release – thanks!