“They say that life's a carousel. Spinning fast, you've got to ride it well/The world is full of kings and queens who blind your eyes and steal your dreams/It's Heaven and Hell.” - Black Sabbath
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| Horns Up |
New Horizons
It’s a bold move using a lyric from a famous 80’s pop song as the title for an album and an even bolder one referencing the late, lamented Fight Amp for your band name, but this Bay Area group know what they’re doing. Playing music that retains the controlled chaos of math rock and noisecore without the jarring inaccessibility of either, this debut LP rewards the listener on each spin.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
JG Thirlwell/Mivos Quartet – Dystonia
Former enfant terrible/Foetus mainman JG Thirlwell has had an unsurprisingly prolific side career as a composer. While the title refers to a medical condition that causes involuntary contractions of the muscles (very Thirlwell) the same applies to this record where the strings alternate between the tense, the melodic, the atonal and the abrasive. Not one for the classical purists.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Madrelarva - Tierra de Silencio
Described in the press notes as being “…a project of Spanish electronic musician Julio Tornero, who has been producing minimal techno, IDM and experimental music since 2015” also recording as “…Dark Tibet, Oceanic Alpha Axis, Sequences Binaires…”, this release gloriously melds glitchy IDM and euphoric techno with psychedelic landscapes and analogue DIY. Beautiful.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Look To the North - A Shadow Homeland
A drone-folk combo of David Colohan (Agitated Radio Pilot, United Bible Studies) and Zachary Corsa (Nonconnah, Lost Trail, Yearlings), this is less of a release and more of a ritual. Spoken word vocals about hollow promises and a benign, turning sun are soundtracked by radio samples, synth noises, acoustic pianos and drones that combine to sound like an alternative soundtrack to A Simple Plan.
The album can be streamed and purchased here.
Golden Oldies
Released in 2010, this record cemented
Dublin’s finest dirgecore outfit as one of the finest acts to emerge from this
county. Lyrically bleak and musically relentless and claustrophobic, it’s an
acquired listen. But for those who like their hardcore and metal twisted and
dripping with a nihilism that cannot be faked, And So Our Troubles Began is
an experience you won’t forget.
Bison B.C – Lovelessness
Dead Can Dance - Anastasis
Another album filled with elements of world
music and their trademark ability for devastating melodies. Put the headphones
on and take yourself off to another universe. Arabic melodies with a Gothic
atmosphere. Lisa Gerrard pushes her voice further than normal, so it becomes an
instrument to further the melancholic vibe and Brendan Perry’s lyrics are as
mysterious and spiritual as ever.
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