Shemawound – Come On, Ghost – self released
Shemawound return with “Come On, Ghost,” Even with the first two tracks, you’re given more variety than you know what to do with. We open with a well crafted ambient piece that brings a lot of modern classical samples to a light, almost IDM beat-scape. The second track is glitch, broken and distorted, bringing a very mechanical and almost industrial feel to the surface. By this point, I’m hooked. Things are bit on the noisy side on and off through the rest of the album but they give way to astonishingly constructed ambient scapes complete with unique beats and moods. This album is quite impressive. Hats off to you, Shemawound. You’ve done it again! (4.9 out of 5).
Cybertone – Analog Symmetry – Body Control
Electro infused dark techno goodness! Tid bits of acid and other sweet modular/synth constructions create retrofuturistic dance anthems, fitting somewhere between “Man Machine” era Kraftwerk and early 2000s Aphex Twin. This is some wicked sounds. It seemed once Body Control released the Global Systems compilation, they had it in mind exactly what sort of sound they were after and with each release since, that sound gets refined, matured and expanded upon, creating something new while holding firm roots in classic electronic elements. This is a damn good single. (5 out of 5)
Resting Cell — Cellular Damage – Body Control
Resting Cell picks up right where the previous release via Body Control left off, fusing classic electro with bits of techno, acid and odd uncharted rhythms and sounds. IDM meets a dancehall of darkness, and all I want to do is crank it up louder. I really am enjoying this. It’s creative, progressive and intensely engaging, making for not only a good dance EP but also something killer to blast around the house or to use as a soundtrack to a fast paced dark surreal film. Love it. Oh, Body Control, what artist/release are you going to wow us with next? (4.9 out of 5).
Various Artists – Terminal Window 3 – Terminal / Terminal Window
From the brilliant minds lurking within the FSOL Forum comes the third installment of the Terminal Window series, something I have been looking forward to for a VVERY long time. Here, we have choice cuts from Five Minutes Alone, Noisesurfer, Akkya, Ross Baker, Off Land, NMESH, cubu, and Loose Link, all of which bring their own unique brand of ambient, drone, soundscape and various other forms of musical mayhem to the spotlight, This is a slightly shorter release this time around but it packs a lot of thought provoking sounds nonetheless and I would even argue that in some respects, surpasses some of FSOL’s own material by launching us headlong into wild and incredible new worlds. This is definitely music to put in your surround system or headphones and get lost in. Thanks, guys! Can’t wait for the 4th release! (5 out of 5).
EUS / Mytrip – Split – BLWBCK
Costa Rican ambient composer EUS gets a prime and brilliantly orchestrated piece on this shiny split cassette. This is my first introduction to EUS and even after just a few minutes of listening, I’m very impressed by the mixture of organic sounds and effortlessly composed acoustics (strings, light percussion, wind instruments) that gently constructed the atmosphere while rendered sounds and light electronic effects pull it all together. This release reminds me of a darker Namlook/Ramin release, or perhaps if FSOL ventured a little further into mixing dark ambient and neoclassical. Stunning. Mytrip does not disappoint either and presents a very different sound mixture on the flip side of this cassette. Guitar drones create the rich and dark atmosphere eventually giving way to a very ambient drone, and dare I say almost soothing in parts! This cassette really is an amazing showcase for both artists and I would urge your get a digital copy of one of the 66 cassette copies! GO NOW! (4.9 out of 5).
The Far Out Fox 