Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Eivind Opsvik - Overseas III
Eivind OpsvikOverseas III
Label: Loyal Label
Classic straight jazz turned into an ambient field and then nudged with noise, progressive elements and a few electronica glitches. This Norwegian born and NYC based composer records and plays live with a 4-piece ensemble called Overseas.
• Eivind Opsvik WebsiteOpiate For The Masses - Manifesto
Opiate For The MassesManifesto
Label: Century Media
Well-promoted, catchy commercial pop metal. I guess if you listen to that there hard rock radio, you will have built up a tolerance to this type of music. I grew up on metal, but I cannot stand how ho-hum metal has generally become. Blugnuts!
• Opiate For The Masses Website • Opiate For The Masses WikiOzric Tentacles - Yum Yum Tree
Ozric TentaclesYum Yum Tree
Label: Snapper Music
Certain aspects and members of this band may have changed over the 25+ years of its existence, but their music and trademark sound has never gotten any less psychedelic or enthralling. Founding and final original member Ed Wynne has recently move to the US with his wife and son (who are part of the live lineup) so we will be seeing much more from them!
• Ozric Tentacles Website • Ozric Tentacles WikiOreka TX - Nömadak Tx
Oreka TXNömadak Tx
Label: World Village
Unless you are an avid fan of Basque music, you probably have never heard of the main instrument utilized here. It was banned (along with the Basque language) under the harsh Franco rule in Spain. The txalaparta, (pronounced CHOLL-uh-PART-uh) is comprised of wooden planks laid over trestles and struck with sticks held vertically. Although it sounds kind of like a steel drum at times, the driving duo behind this project pushes the boundaries to include throat singing and other folk infusions in their unique compositions.
• Oreka TX Website • Oreka TX Facebook • Oreka TX WikiOne Man Collective - Soul Product
One Man CollectiveSoul Product
Label:
OMC is the brainchild of Johan Sandqvist. Born in Sweden, but transplanted to LA, he brings us an EP of bubbly dreamy soundscapes flowing with cascades of electronic mysteries and marvels.
• One Man Collective Website • One Man Collective FacebookMagnum - On The 13th Day
MagnumOn The 13th Day
Label: SPV/Steamhammer
This isn’t a ride into virgin territory. In fact, after 34 years and 17 studio albums, this Birmingham-based melodic hard rock band is continuing to build their long lasting and impressive legacy. That said, this is a solid, highly listenable addition to their history and manages to largely avoid falling into the corny kitsch trap.
• Magnum Website • Magnum Facebook • Magnum WikiDJ Sun - one hundred
DJ Sunone hundred
Label: Soular Productions
DJ Sun is known in Houston for his long running radio show, Soular Grooves (Sat 9-12pm on KPFT 90.1FM), so it’s no surprise that this recording artist and DJ shows off a timeless time-forgotten era of soul, jazz and smooth grooves that are equally as nostalgic as they are future perfect. Dusty delights from a jazzy neverland.
• DJ Sun Facebook • DJ Sun WikiTomahawk - Oddfellows
TomahawkOddfellows
Label: Ipecac
After a 6 year hiatus, I was pleasantly surprised to find out their fourth LP briefly hit the Billboard charts. Not sure if that’s due to it being produced by Black Keys producer Collin Dupuis or from the lineup being more stellar than ever with Trevor Dunn (Fantomas/Melvins) on bass and John Stanier (Helmet/Battles) on drums joining Duane Denison (Jesus Lizard) on guitar and the ever phenomenal Mike Patton (too many bands to list) on vocals. The stripped down heavy rock veers to and fro, venturing down dark alleys and introverted assessments, blessed with Patton’s ever morphing and changing vocals while rubbing up against delirious guitar flows and their weirdly urgent thematic repartee.
• Tomahawk Website • Tomahawk Facebook • Tomahawk WikiValient Thorr - Our Own Masters
Valient ThorrOur Own Masters
Label: Volcom Entertainment
Balls-to-the-wall slip sliding stoner sludge metal from North Carolina has never sounded so good! Pulsing and pounding riffs and rhythms spiral and surge, blistering with unvarnished intensity and brilliance. Grab hold!
• Valient Thorr Website • Valient Thorr Facebook • Valient Thorr WikiBanco De Gaia - Ollopa: Apollo Remixed
Banco De GaiaOllopa: Apollo Remixed
Label: 1-2-3-4 GO
While remix albums are diverse and plentiful, the real trick is to get the zestiest musicians to work with the most intriguingly remixable material. Banco De Gaia has been around for 20+ years, releasing excellent ambient world beat electronica, but the Apollo album was his first album in 7 years, so might as well do it up! Remixers here include Desert Dwellers, Kaya Project, System 7, Eat Static, and Gaudi, which is why this is a special treat.
• Banco De Gaia Website • Banco De Gaia Facebook • Banco De Gaia WikiKalya Scintilla - Open Ancient Eyes
Kalya ScintillaOpen Ancient Eyes
Label: Merkaba Music
Memories of futures past are found in the mystical multidimensional soundscapes and tribal journeys generated by Australia’s Kalya Scintilla. An ethnic fusion of electronica and lush healing vibrations give rise to meditative dubstep breakouts, but also chill into meditative paths of ascendant love rhythms, which makes for a well-rounded delightful dose of seductive sonic bliss.
• Kalya Scintilla Website • Kalya Scintilla FacebookOtt - Fairchild
OttFairchild
Label: Ottsonic
Distant warbles of dubtastic goodness are chopped expertly into blissful bubbles of electronica and sizzled with splashes of multi-ethnic relish. Etheric vocals are found amid idiosyncratic wompy bass delicacies and a hyper surreal psychedelic undertow. After a 4 year wait, the English producer known as OTT, with help from a couple dozen or so musicians, has provided us with a wonderful new sonic adventure so we can all explore how to be fairchildren too. (9) ottsonic.net
• Ott Website • Ott Facebook • Ott WikiView More
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