Monthly Archives: April 2013

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Atom & Kayus – Strangers

I may be a bit late to catching up to the wonderful sub-genre of drum ‘n’ bass known as neurofunk, but when you get around to unearthing gems such as this beauty, it makes your time already invested in it worthwhile. A collaboration from both sides of the world (Puerto Rico and Hungary I think), Strangers is a deep growling beast of sub-bass, with a flicker of keyboard squeals to keep it interesting.  But around half way through, what makes the track so addictive kicks in. Brutal bass, comparable to taking a jackhammer to the ears suddenly dominates the mix and you start to feel like you have to dance because your life depends on it. A great listen, probably more devastating on a dancefloor, this is definitely a weapon to bear in mind for a DnB set.

Due to the full track not being on YouTube, and Soundcloud being tempermental to deal with on WordPress, I’ll just have to use this link to the full track: http://soundcloud.com/dnb-40/atom-kayus-strangers

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Life’s Decay

Although names say a lot about bands, Life’s Decay doesn’t quite give a voice to the beautifully dark, acoustic dystopia it resembles. The French duo tells the story of a universe set in a future steampunk Paris, weaving textures of industrial, ambient and neoclassical into its unique experimental pop sound, complete with soothing female vocals. The first track from 2008 album Eklaasera serves as a great introduction to this rich, involving world unlike many other you’ve come across with a scattering of violins, jangling pianos and some fairly unconventional sounding percussion.

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Rishloo

From the school of taking a page or two out of Tool’s book was (yes, they are no more *sad smiley face*) Rishloo, an energetic prog-metal troupe with a grasp on theatrics with what they did. Freaks & Animals is that theatrical side on full display, with a phenomenal vocal talent, engrossing guitar work through out and a beautifully evolving journey. Melancholic, beastly and entertaining all at once, 2007’s lead single from Eidolon will leave you aghast for quite some time.

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Schoolyard Heroes – The Plastic Surgery Hall Of Fame

Schoolyard Heroes are quickly becoming a bit of an obession of mine, with their ridiculously catchy guitar work and relentless attitude. Sadly they are deceased as of 2009 and this is making me sadder by the day, but from their final album Abominations is this monster, soothed by Ryann Donnelly’s beautifully theatric voice and the thrashing assault of the boys. Dramatic, over-the-top and on repeat, RIP guys, you left a hell of a catalogue of songs to endure and this is the stuff the edge of your seat was made for.

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Miasma & The Carousel Of Headless Horses

Here’s something a bit different. British instrumental quintet Miasma & The Carousel Of Headless Horses kind of make the soundtrack for a creepy Victorian snuff film, borrowing tastes of Eastern folk, baroque and some psychedelia to make an unsettling sepia soundtrack for that silent movie you really shouldn’t be watching. Although this track is actually called Reddening: Blood of The Pelican (there was a mix-up and the tracklist is backwards in some places) they are an elusive group, with 2005’s Perils being only one of their two albums.

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Ulterior

You’ll soon find out I’m an aficionado for the 80’s, but London’s Ulterior borrows the best bits of the 80’s, and packages it not so similarly as the new Sisters of Mercy. Brooding synths and enough atmosphere to decompress a military submarine, Too In Love To Fuck builds up and punches like a piston-powered kangaroo coated in barbed wire: hard and jagged all over. I have yet to hear the new album The Bleach Room, but if it’s anything like this taken from Wild In Wildlife, it’ll be great.

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The Foreign Resort

Denmark’s The Foreign Resort have a sound buried so deep in the 80’s but for my money, it’d trounce most of the indie factory of mass production of today. Dark, moody, atmospheric: check. Drums to fill a dancefloor: check. Stadium size guitars and vocals: Oh God yes. Judge first track Colleen from their 2011 self-titled EP for yourself. Half (?) of their first album is available for free on Bandcamp, and new album Scattered and Buried is out now.

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The Sade

There isn’t quite a band like Italy’s The Sade that defines trashy roadhouse good time rock ‘n’ roll, that sweats it by the gallon load. Demon’s Heart is a nitro-charged dragster, coming straight for your jugular, knocking over as many drinks, barstools and patrons in its path as it reaches you. 2011 debut album Damned Love is also one of the best albums I’ve heard this year so far, it comes highly recommended (I believe most of it is on YouTube).

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Helalyn Flowers

Start off nice and gentle, Italian electro-rock duo Helalyn Flowers are part of Alfa Matrix, one of the world’s premier underground electronic music stables and deservedly so. Taken from their second album Stitches of Eden, the addictive, dramatic and mesmerising Never Enough continues to be a regular repeater on The Soundshark’s metaphorical mental jukebox.