Derek Carr — Binary Son –18th November 2013 — Limitation: 100
Eagerly following on the heels of his successful album, “The Digital Space Race,” Carr offers up some soulful techno on this shiny new record. It’s a nice slice of Detroit styled techno, bringing bits of ambient and some light hints of house to the table, making me think of Derick May and Juan Atkins – I know I’m not alone in thinking that, the press kit I got with this bundle mentioned that as well. There is definitely a bit of early 90s mixed into this beauty and by god that makes me so nostalgic. Granted, this album is not a rehash of stuff we’ve heard before; it remains fresh, new, engaging and fun while being familiar. Great stuff! (4.7 out of 5)
Geisha — Further / Closer — 28th October 2013 — Limitation: 100
This is a travel themed album, visiting places on Earth and across the universe itself. The tracks reflect this with many of them starting off with a certain theme and then changing completely a few minutes in. This does not make for a disjointed or scatterbrained feel but rather creates a very thought provoking journey. We get mixes of ambient, trip hop and a salad of other genres, slicing and dicing up nice portions of the organic and the synthetic, creating a dish with immense flavor. This a definite masterpiece. Everything on this album works and fits perfectly and leaves me aching for a follow up. (4.9 out of 5)
Joel Fausto & Illusion Orchestra — Illusion Orchestra at the Gloomy Club – 200 Copies
Ambient, jazz and post rock collide with a very dark and entrancing result.. This album combines dark ambience with organic jazz elements: sax, slow beats from the set, guitar and a vibraphone give birth to a deep stormy whirlwind. Occasionally we get vocals, letting a haunting specter of post rock lurk in the background. I keep saying we don’t get enough jazz here at TITO and I am reward with perhaps the darkest bit of it I’ve heard in a long, long time. It’s like a soundtrack to the most tripped out and dark noir film ever conceived. Wild! (4.7 out of 5)
Off Land — Tidewater Pulse — Limitation: 200
Our old friend from the FSOL Forum returns with a new release on Psychonavigation. This follows on the heels of “Circadian,” and “Overlook.” And while “Circadian” felt mysterious, this album sends us drifting in a gentler direction. This is quite an ambient album but it also touches a lot more on modern classical elements. The piano and strings create a shimmering light and shadow effect, sending me floating into dream like states. This emphasizes lighter and darker moments on the album exceptionally well. There are some voices here and there floating in the mists, whispers and textured echoes that to some might find it haunting while others may find it enchanting. All in all, Out Land does not let us down and gives us another brilliant deep and spaced out jam. (4.7 out of 5)
The Far Out Fox 