Eli Lieb

Eli Lieb’s debut album succeeds where many fail. It allows the listener to assume an alternate persona – that of an everyday soldier. Lieb’s music helps audiences experience the quiet solemnity that accompanies coming to terms with life’s daily battles. Lieb released his self-titled and self-produced album on October 25. On it he explores a variety of topics including desire, invisibility, disconnection and betrayal rendering it a highly accessible work for listeners. Lieb’s work straddles the intersection between orchestral instrumentation, club beats and pop vocals.

Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble

If Alfred Hitchcock was making films today, he would no doubt recruit The Brandt Brauer Frick Ensemble to write the soundtrack for one of his psychological thrillers. This October the German trio released their sophomore effort Mr. Machine. In their latest work, Brandt Brauer Frick stitches club-style percussion with classical instrumentation. The result: An album as spine-tingling as Frankenstein’s monster and equally complex.

Venice Gas House Trolley

On their May 2011 release Burst Open, Madison’s own Venice Gas House Trolley delivers an eclectic album that blends spoken word, experimental instrumentals and a sheer fearlessness to conceive traditional instrumentation in new ways.

Karsh Kale

Listening to Karsh Kale’s 2010 release Cinema feels like playing laser tag on the beach of a foreign land. Spiraling synth lines and undulations in the album’s flow seemingly trace patterns with each tidal breath.

Ghosts of Laura Palmer

The Ghosts of Laura Palmer are back at it again. And this time, the funk’s on them.

Earlier this year, The Ghosts of Laura Palmer released their debut mix entitled, “Blackbird” (named for the Bay View, Milwaukee club of the same name). Also within the same year, the Ghosts were tapped to play high profile events including fashion shows, private events and more. The whirlwind year proved to be exhausting for the Ghosts as they tirelessly played live in support of their debut while still staying true to their roots and testing more and more analog tracks.

Atomkraft

The thrash metal EP Cold Sweat by Atomkraft is filled with shredding guitar work and dark lyrics. If you’re a fan of hellacious solos and extremely impressive guitar work, this is the EP for you. If you’re a thrash metal fan, the song “Dead Again” will be your favorite by far.  It’s a one minute and thirty-nine second concussion of lightning fast guitar guided by the furious beats of the drummer, accompanied by the bellowed growls of the vocalist. One thing I really like about it is that unlike other thrash metal vocals, is that you can understand them! This doesn’t mean they are weak by any means, because the vocalist still kicks your ass. If this song doesn’t make you want to kick some ass in a mosh pit, check your pulse.