GIALLOS FLAME : archive giallo volume one : Rotary Tower (07.04.2014)
Dars: The latest work of Ron Graham, who writes and performs all his own material apart from the contributions of various session musicians, sums up as an essential listening for fans of funky library obscurities, terrifying prog/psych and especially those who enjoy the odd recreational descent into bits of nightmarish seventies soundtrack heaven/hell. 5.9/10
Seven: Heavily influenced by the heydays of Italian horror and high an analog synths, this one here is nevertheless much much more than just a simple nod to (almost) forgotten times. Darkness hardly sounded that funky before. 8/10

 

FENSTER : the pink caves : Morr Music (07.03.2014)
Seven: Things are rather moody still, but “The Pink Caves“ feels like a major transition for Fenster as they’re exploring new musical spaces on their second album. If you’ve ever wondered how a jam session between Broadcast and (early) Grizzly Bear would’ve sounded like, here’s your answer. 6/10 
Dars: A dreamy and subtle affair, this second album from NYC/Berlin project Fenster blends restless percussion with simple synth-lines and sensurround atmospherics that form meditative songs of love, uncertainty and regret. Layers of tremolo guitars, tactile percussion and moon-dusted vocal melodies, anyone? 7.2/10 

 

AVEY TARE'S SLASHER FLICKS : enter the slasher house : Domino (07.04.2014)
Seven: With “Down There“ Animal Collective’s Avey Tare released a pretty dark solo record in late 2010 that shamelessly never received the praise it clearly deserved. Now he’s back in a much better mood - and with a kind of indie-superstar band, to teach the kids of today how exuberant leftfield state-of-the-art pop should sound like in 2014. 8.5/10
Dars: Well, what can I say, I’ve entered and it comes as no surprise that this slasher house got everything it needs to be (highly) respected and, of course, ADORED. 9.9/10

 

CHOPSTICK & JOHNJOHN : twelve : Suol (04.04.2014)
Seven: I guess, it’s a logical progression to deliver an album that’s heavy on the vocals, when you’ve already flirted with this kind of aesthetic on countless EPs and remixes in the past. Still, the debut longplayer of Suol chief-honchos Chopstick & Johnjohn - and Stateless vocalist Chris James - is lacking any kind of element of surprise, unfortunately. It’s a super solid and very pleasant record, but I’m not too sure if its design actually leads to a satisfying pattern that will last longer than just one season. 6/10

 

DAVIDGE : slo light : 7Hz Recordings (28.03.2014)
Dars: Fantastic mix of mellow, heartfelt songs, harder dance elements and mesmerizing sounds by award winning record producer, songwriter, musician and scorer Neil Davidge. Demonstrating the sounds of Bristol beats, electronica and orchestral music wiith a helluva production and a kaleidoscopic sonic depth, this album straddles beauty and darkness with gorgeous balance.“Slo Light“ also features collaborations with some of the most talented rising names of the day including Stephonik Youth, Karima Francis and Cate le Bon. Superb stuff. 7.9/10

 

BEAR HANDS : distraction : Cantora Records (out now)
Seven: A rather weird offering from this Brooklyn band, as some songs are pretty damn awesome while others make me want to punch someone from behind. 6/10
Dars: Might be their most interesting work so far. It is a change in the band's dynamic and a statement from musicians who are not too worried about pushing some musical boundaries and ignoring the rules of genre. “Distraction“ is fun and light at times, and heavier at others, with clever lyrics and catchy hooks to tie it all together. 6/10

 

EAST INDIA YOUTH : total strife forever : PIAS (out now)
Dars: Great album that constantly surprises and leaves you on the edge. Nothing sounds forced or laboured on (sonic experimentalist) William Doyle's debut album, which finds him seeking to warp traditional song structures into an unclassifiable form of weirded out experimental pop music. The album fades and dies in a haze of static, a space age symphony of otherworldly noises and decay. “Total Strife Forever’“ is a glorious collision of musical ideas and styles. 6.8/10
Seven: I would’ve expected you’re giving it a solid 9/10 after what you’ve written, Dars. And while I generally agree to what you’ve just mentioned, the album’s biggest drawback is that it might be bold and highly original, indeed... but unfortunately none of the ideas will stick with you, really. 5/10

 

NEW BUMS : voices in a rented room : Drag City (out now)
Dars: Sounds like the sketches of several good ideas hastily thrown together and executed quickly at times, but their somewhat lethargic, yet enrapturing harmonies eventually convinced me. With their sound of old drunk America and rootsy, bluesy, glorious carelessness to the melody, this album is guaranteed to have a little something for every acoustic/folk lover for sure. 5/10
Seven: Opening track “Black Bough“ is a real gem, but this duo - consisting of original members of Skygreen Leopards and Six Organs Of Admittance - is running out of ideas way to soon. At the end of the day it’s a charming and unagitated little album, but that’s about it. 5/10

 

MARISSA NADLER : july : Sacred Bones (out now)
Dars: Alternative folk acoustic songwriter Marissa Nadler has stepped back from the more flashy aspects of her musicianship and concentrated on involving instruments such as strings and percussion. Providing a more peaceful ambiance, it flows quietly from track to track, and leaves you in exactly the mood that Nadler intended to induce. On that basis it’s a real success, but for exactly that reason the whole thing seems quite ephemeral to me. 4.5/10
Seven: When I first listened to it, it was freezing cold outside and “July“ was imparting just the right amount of comfort to get me through this season. A month later I already had a first drink in the sun and the album slightly starts to feel a bit irrelevant to me. Needless to say that Ms. Nadler’s output always will be way above the average. almost 7/10

 

CHET FAKER : built on glass : PIAS (11.04.2014)
Dars: Somehow I have a little bit of trouble dealing with Melbourne-based crooner Chet Faker's unique vocals and jazz and soul elements. I really loved the stunning video he delivered for the first single “Talk Is Cheap“ though. But, hey, it’s an overall fine listen and there are certainly worse ways to spend an hour! 5.1/10
Seven: It’s kinda frightening how big this guy got within such a short period of time... especially since his ultra-polite blend of pop, R&B and blue-eyed soul isn’t special at all, really. It’s not bad at all either, but somehow I missed the meeting where people decided that this is something clever and truly beautiful. 4/10 

 

LOOPS HAUNT : exits : Black Acre (07.04.2014)
Dars: This one pretty much left a haunting, looming sensation on me. Whiring, polynomial synths less rhythmic as they are hypnotic in their twisting, figurative hooks. And throughout, with semi-tribal drum pads tempting the mood to turn frightfully more darker, sci-fi screeches of accompanying electronics and boney instrumentation carving out infectious  grooves. I just wish this would be much more smutty and ballsy, or is it just me? 5.7/10
Seven: Yes, it actually is. 7/10

 

TRUST : joyland : Arts & Craft (04.04.2014)
Dars: Formerly a duo, Trust is now the solo project of Toronto’s Robert Alfons. “Joyland“ is a cleaner, more rhythmic take on Trust’s dark gothic-electro-pop, with consistently strong songs combining moody synths and pulsing house and techno rhythms with Alfons’ haunting, elastic vocals ranging from a gloomy moan to eerie falsetto. 7.4/10
Seven: The press release states that “Trust is a pop hit factory buried deep in the mud“, and, yes, this actually pretty much nails it. 6.5/10

 

PILLOW TALK : je ne sais quoi : Wolf + Lamb (17.03.2014)
Seven: Who would’ve thought that a mix of synth pop, house, psyched-out funk and a tiny bit of rock and R&B could be so much more than just a guaranty for feel-good party tunes? You will first hate yourself for humming along, but trust me, you’ll get used to it. Oh, and it actually comes as no surprise that DJ Tennis is involved in one of the standout tracks once again. 8/10