thomasraukamp's posterous http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com Most recent posts at thomasraukamp's posterous posterous.com Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:42:00 -0800 Jules Verne's Late Soundtrack http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/jules-vernes-late-soundtrack http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/jules-vernes-late-soundtrack

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In its early days in the late 60s and early 70s, electronic music served as the soundtrack of a generation that was ready to conquer space. Neil Armstrong has just set his foot on the moon, and artists like Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze, and Jean-Michel Jarre defined the open horizon of a completely new kind of sonic adventure that was about to become the real "classical" music of the 20th century. The genre evolved into myriads of styles, and most of them are defined as Ambient music these days.

The Italian composer Massimo Ruberti brings back this classic space sound on his latest release "Autour de la Lune"; and if you happen to read a book every now and then, you might already have realized that this is also the original title of the well-known science fiction novel "Around the Moon" by Jules Verne, the story of three brave astronauts, who embark on a five-dray trip to the moon (which they never reach by the way). Massimo Ruberti put their adventures into music, and together with his musical "partners in crime" Fabio Leonardi, Roberto Mangoni, Alessandra Donati, Sandro Nullo Vincenzoni Sainati, and Laura Lo Conte he delivers a breathtaking soundtrack to the book. Warm analogue sounds are everywhere, sweeping around your head and guiding your imagination into space.

But Massimo and his crew don't just pretend to be true to the original spirit, they even used a bunch of classic synths from that "space era" like the Korg Polysix, the Sequential Circuits Pro-One, or the rare Concertmate MG-1. On one track, Massimo Ruberti even plays a Theremin, which is regarded as one of the first electronic instruments of all time - no good (or bad) SciFi movie from the 60s and 70s could do without its howling sound.

"Autour de la Lune" is a masterpiece of its genre and without any doubt one of the best releases of the year. If you're ready for some sonic adventures, you simply can't afford to miss it. Jean-Michel Jarre would kill for it, I'm sure.

Massimo Ruberti - Autour de la Lune | Massimo Rubert's website | Massimo Ruberti on MySpace

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Fri, 29 Oct 2010 23:37:00 -0700 Twitter is the New Radio http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/twitter-is-the-new-radio http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/twitter-is-the-new-radio

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When he closed down one of the most respected netlabels back in 2009, Vincent Fugère was done with the netlabel scene. Putting out new releases in a restless manner, he started to get frustrated over the decreasing quality of the demos he received. Being part of the netaudio movement from its very beginnings, Vincent finally lost his enthusiasm for both of his labels, Camomille and Apegenine, and even decided to say farewell to his musical alter ego known as Muhr. He didn’t know how to go on and where he lost the key to his own sonic universe. So he embarked on a journey to retrieve his passion for music. And now that he’s been reaching a different shore, he also regained his new-old love. Camomille is back. And it’s back for good.

I talked with Vincent Fugère aka Muhr about the reasons for his strategic withdrawal back in 2009, the return of Camomille, and why he pulled the plug of his sequencer.

Twitter is the New Radio - read the complete interview on audiovoltaics.cc

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/537469/portrait_tweeples.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sibBbj2oQgN Thomas L. Raukamp thomasraukamp Thomas L. Raukamp -
Thu, 28 Oct 2010 23:24:00 -0700 More Than Feelings http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/more-than-feelings http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/more-than-feelings

circlesandlines recordings is another shining example of the emerging Russian netlabel scene, which established itself in the past few years as one of the main sources for fine free and legal music. Russia just seems to be bursting with undiscovered talents these days, and especially the electronic music scene holds a lot of them.

Founded back in 2008, circlesandlines concentrates on classic, airy Ambient music and its various more experimental sub-styles. While the label put out its first two releases as a set of limited CDs, it's been transforming into a digital-only netlabel since then, releasing all of its music for free. And while the label's website design might be refreshingly minimal and simple, you'll notice that the makers behind circlesandlines care about the quality of their music simply by the fact that all of their releases are available as "traditional" MP3 as well as improved FLAC downloads. So no matter if you just want to feed your iPod or if you're looking for the highest quality available for your home entertainment pleasure, circlesandlines holds the right kind of package for you.

This October, the Russian netlabel released its 25th release already, so join the quiet celebration by browsing through their fine back catalogue. It's kind of hard to make a specific recommendation, as all of the label's EPs are worth spending some time on, but I surely love Vidasm's "In the Sky EP" as well as the experimental collaboration of Saffron Slumber, Spectra Sierra, and Carl Sagan's Ghost. Another good place to start is the last compilation circleandlines put out in 2009 - "More Than Feelings" will give you a good idea about the label's sound and style.

circleandlines recordings | V/A - More Than Feelings

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Thu, 21 Oct 2010 10:02:00 -0700 All it Takes is Just a ... http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/all-it-takes-is-just-a http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/all-it-takes-is-just-a

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... tweet. I don't know about you, but I'm surrounded by good music each and every day, because I dedicated my life to listen to music, write about music, and even produce music. But when you've buried your head long enough into your own magic sonic sand, you sometimes run the risk of losing out on the really exciting stuff out there, because you're too busy with articles, releases and your drooling digital audio workstation.

Thus I was pretty happy that my friend Eric 'HipGnosis' Young shot a link to a smooth mixture of bouncing Hip-Hop beats and groaning Electronica synth sounds under the name of 'The Wires EP' by an Oregon based guy who calls himself 'The Great Mundane'. And you know just how shallow-brained I am sometimes - I fell in love with the cover artwork and thus gave it a try and was ... a-m-a-z-e-d! And I was even more happy to find out that The Great Mundane trooped his creative super powers once again this very October to release another complete EP called 'This is So You'.

But let's hear what the artist writes about himself, because who could say it any better? "Video game deprived and pop culturally challenged, The Great Mundane grew up in a southeastern Michigan home where TV was made of cardboard boxes, the tree in the backyard was his best friend, and the words “I am bored” were household blasphemy. Aside from occasional piano lessons, he passed time deep in his own imagination and on spontaneous road trips, a.k.a his mother’s famous mystery van rides, that seem to have provoked his current state of restlessness. Itching to hit the road, The Great Mundane left his Hip-hop roots in Michigan to delve into Chicago’s House/Techno scene before arriving in the Pacific Northwest. Now based in Portland, Oregon he takes listeners on a journey exploring the complexities and intricacies of his minimalist and innovative approach to beatmaking. He invents fractured, heady instrumentals laced with lush synthesizer work that navigate the terrain of forward thinking Hip-hop and Electro/House, all while exhibiting genuine emotion and talented production skills. Each arrangement is collaged with friends, found sounds, synthesizers, and samples meticulously programmed to convey what it might feel like to fall in love with a tree, travel through a wormhole, or to never be bored again."

'This is So You' is another mighty proof of The Great Mundane's ever growing creativity. If you're searching for some sluggish yet extremely funky grooves and the fattest synth bass sounds you can think of in a Hip-hop-esque environment with some naughty 8-bit-playfulness and Electronica-style naughtiness, then this is definitely your release. I just love the surprises it contains each and every minute, so you'll never know what's around the next beat's corner. Therefore be prepared to see those six tracks falling apart every now and then, shimmering like a sweet box of jewels, stuttering like your sick Toyota, stopping altogether, only to be gathered again to a frolic bouncing ball of musically weird fun.

And while you're there (downloading your lossless FLAC or ALAC versions of this fine collection of extravaganza), don't forget to explore The Great Mundane's other releases on his Bandcamp page. That's what I'll do right now, and I hope you'll follow me into the direction of more good music.

The Great Mundane - This is So You | The Great Mundane's Website | The Great Mundane on MySpace | The Great Mundane on Facebook

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http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/537469/portrait_tweeples.jpg http://posterous.com/users/3sibBbj2oQgN Thomas L. Raukamp thomasraukamp Thomas L. Raukamp -
Wed, 13 Oct 2010 10:43:00 -0700 The Flagship Strikes Back http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-flagship-strikes-back http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-flagship-strikes-back

Black Era has been one of those bands that dragged me into the uprising netlabel scene a few years ago, and they are one of the reasons why I call myself a Creative Commons evangelist ever since. The motivation behind the Italian band is deeply rooted in a spirit of sharing and collaboration, and Black Era is also one of the few bands on the scene that doesn't shy away from calling itself political.

I had the pleasure to talk to Blob a while ago, who's responsible for the synths, sounds and the recording process within the trio. He confirmed that "the name, the iconography, and most of all the emotions that fuel the band are deeply political driven." But Black Era doesn't want to represent a certain movement or political direction: "Our point of view is quite simply honest and human", he explains.

The members of Black Era are also part of a team of dedicated musicians and music lovers who founded one of the finest netlabels around, the wonderful 'A Quiet Bump' label, five years ago. Since then, 'A Quiet Bump' has become one of the leading sources on the scene, focusing on Trip Hop, Dub and Digital Roots. You won't regret exploring their awesome back catalogue, which also holds six releases of Black Era by now, and I can't recommend every single one of them more.

Their latest one brings back the soulful vocals of Dy Darshan, Black Era's wonderful lead-singer. She didn't work with the band on their "Mute EP", which was released almost exactly a year ago. And although the production was as good as ever, I certainly missed Dy's warm, hypnotizing way of singing, which also acts as a kind of counterweight to the electronic arrangements of Blob and Alfuzz, who is playing all the guitar parts on the band's releases.

"How Pierced?" showcases Black Era in top form, celebrating their digital Trip Hop with some dubby and Electronica-esque borrowings, sharp lyrics and deep vocals. Like all of their other releases, "How Pierced" shines with the band's extraordinary drum programming skills and deep, organic bass play. I really like the fact that all of the five tracks reflect an almost traditional songwriting style. Combined with the unique sound programming of Blob (among others, he uses an old Juno 106, whose OSC is broken and thus spits out the weirdest effect sounds you can think of), Black Era's sixth release is a highly approachable yet original piece of music, that perfectly fits into the band's line of works, but also manifests its power to reinvent itself even stronger than ever.

Black Era clearly continues to be one of the flagships of the netaudio movement. Don't miss any of their releases, especially not their latest one.

Black Era - How Pierced? | Black Era | Black Era on MySpace

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Update: You'll find an in-depth interview with Black Era on my digital magazine audiovoltaics.cc now. Please come over!

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Tue, 05 Oct 2010 23:05:00 -0700 What's Up, Chief? - a Netlabel Portrait http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/whats-up-chief-a-netlabel-portrait http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/whats-up-chief-a-netlabel-portrait

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Netlabel-ism is finally reaching Africa. Arising from the South African digital bush, Bushmen Records is to be a platform for underground South African artists to showcase and release their music to the world. I talked with Chief, the leader of a new tribe spearheading the African free music revolution.

Read the in-depth interview over at audiovoltaics.cc.

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Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:16:00 -0700 Get Me Some More of Those Mushrooms! http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/get-me-some-more-of-those-mushrooms http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/get-me-some-more-of-those-mushrooms

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Ever heard of Mathias Stubø? No? Then you're probably not from Norway. Mathias Stubø aka Proviant Audio is been recognized as a kind of musical wunderkind in his home country for some time now. The "Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation" NRK has already named him twice as "Artist of The Week", which is the most prestigious award for unsigned artists in Norway. The real miracle behind it? The first time when he received this honor, he was only 14 years old. Over the last couple of years he has been playing at some of Norway's biggest music festivals with his live band including brass, reed, Rhodes, percussion, drums, bass, and more.

Although Mathias Stubø seems to produce a lot of music really, so far, he only put out two releases in the Creative Commons field, the latest one on Sojus Records, a netlabel which enjoys a long tradition in the scene and has been one of its pioneers back in 1997. Sojus fragmented into not less than four sub-labels since then, in order to differentiate between the styles it caters for. One of those fragments is called "LoopJazz", featuring the finest Nujazz, Chillout, Lounge, and Jazzy House around. So it's no wonder Mathias Stubø found the perfect partner in Sojus Records for some of his works which had been waiting in his drawer since 2005.

Proviant Audio's "Mushrooms EP" is a really marvelous collection of those long neglected five jazzy and grooving tracks full of wild ideas, quirky sounds and a huge dose of humour. It combines glitchy, broken beats with funny, smooth, and melodic jazz samples that'll keep your club bouncing. And even if you groove to it alone at home, it'll light up your night with pure sonic dope coming out of those speakers. If you don't like that smooth and funky sound, you better go and see the doctor.

Proviant Audio - Mushrooms EP | Proviant Audio on MySpace

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Wed, 29 Sep 2010 09:52:00 -0700 audiovoltaics.cc - The Clytem Effect http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/audiovoltaicscc-the-clytem-effect http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/audiovoltaicscc-the-clytem-effect

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Being a part of a successful rock band isn’t always easy. For Marianne, lead-singer of the French Electro-Punk sensation Shane Cough, it meant being trapped in a routine of performing the same songs and vocal style in the same musical context over and over again. So she quit the job in 2006 to lock herself up in the intimacy of her own studio in Paris. After four years of freeing her voice, programming some unique sounds and beats, and writing a bunch of her own songs, Marianne is back under the moniker of Clytem Scanning. And she’s more creative and addictive than ever.
I had the chance to talk with Marianne about leaving a well-established rock-band, developing her own, unique approach to music, and keeping her alter ego Miss Lois Iron in check.

Read the in-depth interview with the French Electro-Rock chanteuse over at audiovoltaics.cc ...

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Mon, 27 Sep 2010 05:10:00 -0700 A Fine Piece of Musical Architecture http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/29070285 http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/29070285

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Dimitar Dodovski is quite a new name to the international netaudio scene. I became aware of him when he released his "Internal Affairs EP" on aeronautique last year. Unfortunately, the Berlin based Techno & Ambient label decided to take down all its past releases from its website, and Dimitar's debut doesn't even seems to be available on Archive.org anymore. This is sad, as it would deserve some more attention.

But there are good news for friends and fans, as the excellent and well-established Tropic Netlabel released Dodovski's second EP some days ago, and the Macedonia based musician proves to have evolved immensely since his 2009 mini-album. There's no doubt "Fiction Makes Sense" is one of the most ambitious releases the team around Daniel Tischer has given life to so far. Leaving behind traditional recipes and formulas of conventional dance music, Dimitar Dodovski melts a bunch of different musical influences including Dub, Electro-Funk, Electronica, Glitch, Techno, and IDM into one interesting and richly coloured sonic universe of his own.

The opener "Nitetime" acts like a summary of what to expect from the following four tracks: Extremely complex and sophisticated rhythmic structures form a dense foundation to wafting thick soundscapes, interweaving themselves to a rarely seen sonic completeness. But Dimitar Dodovski even gets a lot more experimental with "If We're Apart", a track which blends Arabic chants, loops and harmonies into a casual frame of deep Dub chords. Another highlight of "Fiction Makes Sense" is the wavy "Larva, Larvae (false)", showcasing the artist's very original "art of stumbling" with its bumpy beats and warm, lush pads, that wash through your speakers like electronic flotsam.

Dodovski created an extremely fine piece of musical architecture, in which you'll find new aspects each time you put it on. A truly original work.

Dimitar Dodovski - Fiction makes SenseDimitar Dodovski on MySpace

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Thu, 23 Sep 2010 03:35:00 -0700 A Rough Diamond http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/a-rough-diamond http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/a-rough-diamond

NOECHO Records is a London based netlabel, which was established in 2008. Since then the British sonic farm has been releasing a couple of the most interesting productions in the field of experimental Electronica and Ambient music around. Their latest one is by the Factory Kids, a singer-songwriter duo from Glasgow.

Christina Marie and Tim Chaplin put out their initial releases via compilations and blogs, before the self-titled debut album was released through Powertool Records in 2009. They've been pretty productive since then, as 2010 saw not less than three more releases by the Kids, including one remix album of their own material. The title of that album describes the style of the duo best: "Beautiful Distortion". The Scottish musicians might be essentially rooted in the singer-songwriter tradition and even claim The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the "cheesy music of the 80s" as their source of inspiration, but they do their best not to polish their material and rather prefer to put it out in its roughest condition available. If you're searching for an accessible starting point for the exploration of the Factory Kids' art, you should watch the video for their debut single "She Said" from 2009 on YouTube, before you're ready to keep your ears busy with the more experimental side of the two unusual musicians.

Talking of experimentalism, their latest five track EP "Get Gone" moves Christina and Tim even further into new directions of what you might call pure Post-Ambient and Post-Electronica.The rhythmic fundament, the vocals and even implied melodies hide behind a raw shell of muted effect algorithms and dark atmospheres. The best example for this kind of industrial, distant and rustling sound aesthetics is the title track itself, which leaves it to its listener to link up the scattered musical fragments. "Nothing is Reality" brings us a bit closer to the previous work of the Factory Kids, with its monotonic beats and ethereal vocals of Christina, before "Tale of Never" unexpectedly manages to soothe the now roughened ears and soul with an Ambient-ish warming, crinkly melody and production.

If you're up to look behind the unpolished charm of a rough diamond to feed your brain (and in a strange and stealthy way your heart also), give the Kids a try. They already stole my heart, and somehow I still don't have any clue how that might have happened.

Factory Kids - Get Gone EP | Factory Kids on MySpace

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Sun, 19 Sep 2010 07:41:00 -0700 The Staging of Counter-Worlds http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-staging-of-counter-worlds http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-staging-of-counter-worlds

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Dominik Paß knows electronic music. He grew up with the emerging scene of the German media capital of Cologne in the early 90s and sporadically publishes both electronic music and phonetic poetry under his real name and various pseudonyms such as Liquid Diffusion, Sapere Aude!, and Serve & Destroy. But he does not only produce music, he also studies the theories behind it and shares his insights in his written publications: on abstract electronic music, on phonetic poetry, and on Break- and Speedcore in his doctoral dissertation.

One of his (way too) rare vital signs in the netaudio scene is the not less than brilliant "Transcendere LP" from 2006, which has been released on the excellent German netlabel Dreiton.net. Although Paß explores known territories like Ambient, Minimal Dub, and Dub Techno with it, he finds uncharted spaces in these genres, opens doors for further investigations and thus paves the ground for thinking artists. It's striking that Paß moves between these different approaches to electronic music, dense rustling soundscapes, lugging beat constructions, and minimalistic harmonies with the most impressive ease, without ever losing the focus on the overall coherent sound of the whole album. And while his debut is a didactic play of precise composition techniques, detailed sounddesign, and the integration of all of these aspects into one harmonic picture, it never bothers its listener with a sterile, an all too systematic or even indoctrinating style, but stays soothing and emotionally stimulating at the same time.

Dominik Paß' "Transcendere LP" sums up the essence of electronic music in its purest form: it perfectly reflects the digital environment of its listener's actualities of life while eluding itself from any secularistic methods of comprehension - and therefore lends itself to the "staging of counter-worlds", as Dreiton itself puts it so very tellingly.

Dominik Paß - Transcendere LP | Dominik Paß' biography on Dreiton.net

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Wed, 15 Sep 2010 04:32:00 -0700 The Art of Listening http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-art-of-listening http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-art-of-listening

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Communication is not only the art of talking. It also defines the art of listening. When it comes to music, a good arrangement is always like a perfect communication. Between the artist and his music. Between the bass and the drums. Between the melody and the rhythm. Between the head and the heart. And between the music and its listener.

Adam Williams aka Model Citizen and Leonardo Rosado aka Subterminal decided to communicate. And they chose the most conclusive language that exists in this universe: They started a dialogue via their music, using their native tongue of piano and electronics. And it turns out they're great communicators, as they both know the art of listening.

Attracted to subtle and minimal arrangements, they develop the most interesting musical dialogue on their joint EP "Take This Longing". While Williams leads the conversation with cautious notes and chords, Rosado illustrates these fine contours with his discrete electronic sounds and field recordings. Both respond to one another, closely observing each other's every musical move, to be ready for the next answers and questions.

"Take This Longing" invites you to spy this dialogue. And you consequently take part in it - as listening is part of the art of communicating.

Adam Williams and Leonardo Rosado - Take This Longing | Subterminal on MySpace | Model Citizen on MySpace

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Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:04:00 -0700 Cohesion and Adhesion of Sounds and Structure http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/cohesion-and-adhesion-of-sounds-and-structure http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/cohesion-and-adhesion-of-sounds-and-structure

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The background catalogue of Helge Tømmervåg is not less than impressive. The Kristiansund, Noway, based musician is producing his own music under the moniker of 'Mind over MIDI' since 1995, when he entered the world of electronic art with a set of two EPs on Beatservice Records. Since then he released numerous albums, CDs and MP3 collections on various labels. A good way to explore Tømmervåg's work is his 'Monopoly' collection from 2006, with which he tries to strike a balance of his creative output over the years.

2010 proved to be an extremely interesting year for fans of the shy Norwegian artist. In January he started his own kind of musical almanac of this year, adding a new track every month. The MP3 files can be downloaded for free, and if you prefer a CD, you'll get your chance to lay your hands on a limited edition that'll be distributed on the excellent Silent Season label in 2011.

2010 also saw Tømmervåg's first free EP under a Creative Commons license on the Lithuanian netlabel Sutemos. His 'Thru EP' is the perfect symbiosis of lush Ambient soundscapes and rhythmic citations of Dub Techno structures. But don't expect stomping bass drums here, as Tømmervåg emphasizes the ethereal sweeping and breathing elements of both genres on his latest release, conciliating the expectations for wallowing sound aesthetics of the one fraction with the desire for recognizable, comprehensible structures of the other. And so the 'Thru EP' shapes up as a pleasant voyage through a DNA of evolving and resounding sonic genes, which constantly fall apart, only to be held together and reunited by their own cohesion and adhesion.

And please don't just copy this release to your music folder without exploring its goodies a bit deeper - you'll find some excellent accompanying photography by the artist himself you wouldn't want to miss.

Mind Over MIDI - Thru EP | Mind Over MIDI

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Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:14:00 -0700 Songs From the Little Rascal http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/songs-from-the-little-rascal http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/songs-from-the-little-rascal

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"There he goes again", I hear you say, "enthusing about that bloody Peppermill Records again!" Well, it's true - I've been reviewing two releases from this fine netlabel here already - but as long as it's great music, I could go on and on. If this sounds like a threat to you, you better close your eyes and ears now. Well, but if it sounds promising, stay tuned.

Benjamín Z is one of those extremely headstrong artists you can find a lot of on the Canadian label, and be sure he has some real humorous surprises for you up his sleeve. The information he holds on his MySpace account about his musical project Volumina is a perfect example for this: "Volumina does not exist!", he pretends, "This profile was created by agents of military intelligence to spy on people. The music was taken from old 'top secret' files found by the NASA in one of their early expeditions to the moon in the middle of the cold war and the pictures had been taken to an automated robot called 'Benjamin '. The plan behind Volumina can't be revealed because the content is frightening, no one knows what is going to happen, the only sure thing is that nobody will be able to stop the power of Volumina even the allied forces."

Talking about a pretty original sense of humour, you'll find lots of it on Volumina's debut EP "This is Our Home, Please Come In", also. The music ranges from quirky Folktronica ("My Best Friend"), over ultra-harmonious Beatles-esque gems of songwriting ("Hide and Seek", "Love"), to squeaky Indietronica ("Rock & Roll Spa"), and even odd experiments on a cheap little portable keyboard right from the 80s ("Study For a Pop Ban"). But all songs on this highly entertaining 8-tracker share the same kind of friendly, heartwarming charm and a fluffy lightness, that rascally hide the thoroughly sophisticated compositions and ambitious production skills behind an impish smile. Benjamín himself puts it much simpler: "I tried to remember all those important moments in my life from my childhood to these days and also I learned how to make a record by myself without dying or killing anybody in the attempt."

I bet you'll have as much fun with these songs as I have. And I hope you forgive me, when I say, that this was surely not the last time, that you heard me rejoicing about the damn fine Peppermill.

Volumina - This is Our Home, Please Come In | Volumina at MySpace

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Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:38:00 -0700 Epic Soundscape Rock http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/epic-soundscape-rock http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/epic-soundscape-rock

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It's always great to discover new music on the net - and it's sometimes sad as well, when you learn that the band or musical project you just happened to love no longer exists. But nothing's lost the moment it's on the web, right? And although Mathyas Anderson decided to put his musical alias "Hollydrift" on hold, his brilliant music continues to available on some fine labels like BFW recordings.

BFW recordings is an independent netlabel based in Manchester, UK, which unlike many other labels doesn't focus on a special musical genre and puts out a wide selection of music from Ambient and Shoegaze over Indie Rock and Glitch to experimental Electronica. It's a really good idea to bookmark their website, as BFW puts out something new almost every week, so there's something new to discover on a regular basis.

One of their best releases so far is Hollydrift's "Wreath Of Algoma". The first thought that came to my head when I listened to this five track EP was "epic!". And believe me, Mathyas Anderson really managed to create a massive, voluminous sound on this release. Almost every note has been bathed into large amounts of reverb, which turns the whole release into an incredibly consistent, impressive sonic experience. The drums stand at the heart of every track, marching like a whole army of breathing, rich beats. Impressively thick soundscapes are cleverly interwoven with heavily processed guitars, making it impossible to separate the instruments. The dark vocals are rather used as an additional instrument than as a typical element of songwriting, and they fit perfectly well into these massive walls of atmospheric luxury.

Interestingly enough, Anderson describes himself not as a musician, but as "an artist making music". And it's surely this artistic, experimental approach to sound which makes "Wreath Of Algoma" such a complete and deeply satisfying experience. This lavish way of creating music might not correspond to everyone at first listen, but it's for sure a satisfying alternative draft to the addiction to minimalism so present in the netaudio world these days.

Hollydrift - Wreath Of Algoma

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Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:23:00 -0700 Cold Walls of Sound http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/cold-walls-of-sound http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/cold-walls-of-sound

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Not only Netlabels discovered the power of free releases to promote their artists, there are also more and more established 'conventional' independent labels that put out free music on a more or less regular basis. One of the them is the US label Tympanik Audio, that has been launched in 2007 by Paul Nielsen. The Chicago based artist collective has been praised for its excellent output of Dark Electronica, Hard IDM, Techno and Post-Industrial, and their back catalogue already contains over 50 fine releases. Tympanik describes itself as "a vehicle to promote innovative new artists in the electronic music subculture", and signed worldwide musicians such as Integral, Access To Arasaka, and Ad·ver·sary.

A great way to explore Tympanik Audio's music are their 'Approach Lights' compilations, the latest one dating back to 2009. While most compilations more or less give you a rollercoaster ride of good and bad material and oftentimes simply fail to develop a central theme that keeps the listeners attention alive over the span of a whole album, Tympanik has done a great job selecting only the finest material of some their best releases of that year. 'Approach Lights 2009' holds not less than 15 amazing tracks, which are connected through their cold, mechanical and innovative, yet hugely emotional sound aesthetics as well as their sharp production. The release covers almost all of the label's preferred genres and speaks to almost everyone who has a heart for top-of-the-edge electronic music.

So if you're ready for some new and amazing names, you shouldn't miss this mighty fine release. I am already eagerly awaiting Tympanik's 2010 sampler.

V/A - Approach Lights 2009 | Tympanik Audio on MySpace | Tympanik Audio's Blog | Tympanik Audio on Facebook | Tympanik Audio on Last.fm

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Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:02:00 -0700 audiovoltaics.cc is up! http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/audiovoltaicscc-is-online http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/audiovoltaicscc-is-online

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After three months of dedicated work, audiovoltaics.cc is online. It's about digital music. Arts. And culture. Please stop by.

http://www.audiovoltaics.cc/

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Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:34:00 -0700 Come to Switzerland, Bring Your Creativity! http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/come-to-switzerland-bring-your-creativity-wit http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/come-to-switzerland-bring-your-creativity-wit

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The netaudio world is full of surprises, and you'll usually always find something new if you're free minded enough to look into different directions. To Switzerland for example, where the small, charming netlabel lalamusik is based. They released two EPs so far, one in August of 2009, the other in March of 2010, both from artists who moved to the Alpine republic recently and brought their creative input right with them.

Katharina Kabel was born in Vienna, and the remarks accompanying her "Still Films" EP claim her to be "the founder of the Austrian lesbian liberation front", who went to jail afterwards. While I can't verify this dubious story, because I didn't find out almost anything else about this interesting artist, I can attest Katharina's definitely got a head of her own, in which one of the most interesting electronic releases I came along for some time was born. "Still Films" is a collection of eight tracks of awesome minimal Electronica, full of genuine ideas.

While the opening track "The Slip" contains some of the quirky sounds and hopping beats of classic video games and chip tunes, "The Anxiety" opens up the doors for a Ambient-ish dive cruise through experimental and mysterious sonic morphings. "The Pills" shows another aspect of Kabel's very own approach to electronic music, combining a string of German state descriptions (whose series sometimes make sense, while seeming to be only the loose result of random experiments some other time). Another highlight is the rumbling "The Director", combining stumbling beats with warm analogue dottings, groaning basses, and dark vocals. This one will work on dance floors as well, if your audience is ready for some innovative new music. "The Champagne" brings us back to some frolic chip sounds, combined with Katharina's own voice and a pulsing pop-esque forwardness.

"Still Films" is one of those releases that'll stay on my playlist and in my thoughts for quite some time. It's clever and it's fresh, artistically satisfying without being too head-ruled. Not to be missed at all.

Katharina Kabel - Still Films

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Wed, 25 Aug 2010 03:53:00 -0700 A New Day For Indietronica http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/a-new-day-in-indietronica http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/a-new-day-in-indietronica

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Parting is never easy. It ain't easy to leave behind a long-time lover. It ain't easy to say goodbye to a good and fruitful decade. And it surely ain't easy to bury a band, especially if it has been as glorious as German Indietronica showcase combo Monomatik. The Cologne based musicians released some of the finest music in the intersection of Pop, Rock, Dance, and Electronica. Their 'weapon of choice' in all the years since their first EP 'Sefton Park' back in 2004 has always been iD.EOLOGY, one of the finest netlabels around, which shares the bands' roots in the pulsing media capitol at the Rhein.

Monomatik demised after their fabulous 2008 release 'But We Made it So Far', but the dust has settled, and two-thirds of the band has decided to go on together. But not everything changed: Feran and Asbo Kid asked iD.EOLOGY to be the label behind the very first album of their new project Ghazed again, and the name of these first musical vital signs comes under the equally optimistic and sarcastic comment 'We'll Turn Into Gold'.

And they added a third member to their sonic collaboration again: Entertainment For The Braindead is indeed a very well-known name for everyone who has been following the netaudio scene over the last couple of years and hasn't had his head in the sand. It's a wonderful and interesting chance to hear Julia Kotowski's enticing voice in a totally different musical environment, far away from the former folk-esque songwriting on her solo releases.

The best things happen by accident, as we all know, and this unusual, but top-class combination proves to be one of the most positive surprises of this year - not only in netlabel-ism. The powerful, massive drum works, the heavily distorted guitars, the partly raw vocals, combined with the ethereal voice of EFTB, positively remind me of the glory days of Phillip Boa And The Voodooclub, sometimes claimed to be the inventors of what we call Indietronica today. Although the production is full of pressure and satisfies with a very present sound, Ghazed was very clever not to polish every note and beat to its ultimate as they have done on their Monomatik releases. This leaves the album in a very raw, almost pure state of production, and the overall sound of the album enormously benefits from that decision.

'We'll Turn Into Gold' is already one of the best releases of this year without the slightest doubt, and it deserves every attention it'll get. So download it, play it (loud!), and spread the word. Can it get any better? For me, it already doesn't have to ...

Gahzed - We'll Turn Into Gold | Gahzed on MySpace

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Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:54:00 -0700 The Outcry of a Bleeding Soul http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-outcry-of-a-bleeding-soul http://thomasraukamp.posterous.com/the-outcry-of-a-bleeding-soul

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Be sure to be close to the volume control of your stereo while listening to the music of Sébastien Biset aka Sepia Hours. While some of his rather minimal collages of field recordings, whispers, and howls might only create some kind of distant noise between your speakers, his outcries of a bleeding soul might as well crash your amplifier. The Belgian musician created Sepia Hours as "an Indietronica, experimental and post-modern songwriting project, an emphasis on fragmented forms, and discontinuous narratives."

I began to notice Sébastien music while exploring the experimental and Ambient art of Neuf Meuf, with whom Biset collaborated on a track for 12rec's "It's Cold in Space". I was instantly intrigued by Sébastien's vocal performance on the track "Unrest Unsave". I hadn't heard such an emotional outcry before, especially in Electroacoustic or Ambient music, and so I had to learn and hear more. And I was glad to find out that Sepia Hours has indeed been very active in the netaudio world before, putting out some releases on fine netlabels such as Polymorphic Music and Beat is Murder. You'll find his complete back catalogue on Sébastien's website.

While his debut EP "Five Thousand Steps" presents Sébastien closer to the typical Indietronica or even Folktronica style of songwriting than his successive releases, these first signs of his musical life from 2004 still make a great entry for your own exploration of Sepia Hour's music. While being far from easy listening, it is also Sepia Hours' most accessible release so far, as he is getting more experimental with his following works. Some of them sadly seem to be lost, like "Naive Curse to Leave a Mark", because of the demise of the label, others can only be found by digging through Archive.org's rich catalogue. But they're worth the effort, trust me!

My favourite release by Sébastien Biset has to be "Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing" from 2006, because it paints a perfect picture of what Sepia Hours is all about: melancholic songwriting as the basis of every song, processed guitars as well as shredded vocals acting as musical sandpaper, cleverly interwoven field recordings as well as experimental walls of sounds to calibrate the depth, height, and width of his music, and a versatile emotional spectrum you won't find anywhere else. And not to forget an underlying disquieting and even oppressive resonating atmosphere connecting all of the tracks.

This might not be the kind of music you want to play on your kids' birthday parties, but if you're ready to open up your heart and soul, it might the most touching you've heard in a long, long time. It contains all the pain, all the lousiness, and even all the horrors of this world we live in. But it also serves as a catalyst to sweat out all these hardships. At least it does for me; I hope it holds the same power for you.

Sepia Hours -  Sometimes Making Something Leads to Nothing | Sepia Hours | Sepia Hours on MySpace

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