Pitch Black 'Electronomicon' 20th Anniversary Vinyl Release

First released on 7th September 2000, “Electronomicon” shows Pitch Black developing their deep dubby sound further by creating long and involved song structures that traverse a range of sonic experiences. The resultant album journeys from organic ambience and layered soundscapes to skanking keyboards, cutting acid riffs and thumping rhythmic grooves, with dub being the glue that holds it all together.

“Electronomicon” reached 28 in the New Zealand album charts and led to a sell-out 30-date tour of New Zealand and Australia. It has since gone on to become one of the duo’s most popular albums, regularly finding new fans around the world.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release, the band dug out the original audio files and Angus McNaughton has re-mastered them for the vinyl release. Hamish Macaulay has also adapted the original artwork, creating a brand new collage for the centerfold out of pictures taken at the time.

"Electronomicon" comes out on vinyl only from select stores (see the facebook event for a list) on Saturday 26th September.

https://www.facebook.com/events/251597425946716/

Kick Bong & Zero Cult 'La Nuit' Review

 

Artist:

Kick Bong & Zero Cult

Title:

La Nuit

Label:

Cosmicleaf

Released:

16^th September 2020

After sixteen years two of Cosmicleaf’s longest running artists, that are widely known and respected in the chill out scene, have finally come together in the studio to produce a melodic fusion of post-rock and minimal techno single.

The title track ‘La Nuit’ is a synth driven piece of four by four techno that fuses post-rock guitars with melodic riffs that carries you along a wonderful journey through this night. Whilst surprisingly I found the flipside ‘The Day After’ begins darker and slower, although it’s a builder that contains melodic elements and after a sultry French female vocal intro, takes off with ethereal voices.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/la-nuit

Andrew Heath 'The Alchemist's Muse' Review

 

Artist:

Andrew Heath

Title:

The Alchemist’s Muse

Label:

Disco Gecko

Released:

11^th September 2020

Following on from previous albums Andrew continues drafting together piano notes, guitar drones, synths and field recordings to create what is becoming a signature sound within minimalist ambience.

We get underway with ‘Observers and Airmen’ which combines warm synths with the broken radio samples of airmen and sparse piano notes, immediately setting the atmosphere fans have come to expect. It doesn’t take long till we reach the title track which oozes tranquillity into the ears, with it’s combination of atmospheric synths, guitar drones, gentle piano keys and a wonderful bass clarinet provided by Bill Howgego.

The remainder of the album maintains the general ebb and flow of the music, providing an hour and 23 minutes of audio relaxation. Fans may recall the track ‘The Garden Reveals Itself’ from his 2018 album ‘Evenfall’. Well it’s back (or at least the Night Mix is) and whereas the initial version was bright, with crisp and clear lyrics provided by the poet Maria Stadnika. This version is darker, quieter, with the lyrics whispered in an almost haunting fashion.

Review by Woodzee

Links

https://smarturl.it/alchemistsmuse?mc_cid=555cd4a6ed&mc_eid=aad2749a47

Eguana 'Serenity' Review

 

Artist:

Eguana

Title:

Serenity

Label:

Cosmicleaf

Released:

31^st August 2020

Space is quite often the theme with Eguana productions. This time the emphasis is going by the titles is clearly on the natural world. One of the aspects I like about Eguana that sets him apart from other Space Ambient producers is he doesn’t just set a downtempo four by four beat. Sometimes the drum patterns appear on the surface quite simple, but at times there are often delicate little nuances that are quite intricate. Then there is the ambience that he layers on top which themed with space or the natural world set you adrift on a gloriously relaxed journey.

The first signs of shaking me out of this journey and grabbing my attention is on ‘Wormwood’ where the drum pattern is somewhat like a marching band, or at least a band marching slowly. This is followed by ‘The Smell of Moss’ which is my favourite on the album. The ambience of the track shrouds you, while sparse deep bass notes eventually lead to the plodding drums and laid back piano keys. Although overall every track plays it’s part in the journey another I especially love is ‘Falling Stars’ where trip-hop beats sway like a boat, at times gently and others lifting on a higher wave. While the sound fx spring off those beats in perfect unison

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://cosmicleaf.bandcamp.com/album/serenity

International Observer 'Pangolin' Review

Artist:

International Observer

Title:

Pangolin

Label:

Dubmission Records

Released:

4^th September 2020

International Observer’s productions have been featured on this blog from the early days of it’s conception, and he’s back once more with five fresh dubs inspired by recent events, his wife Lauren Drescher’s Zoonotic print series (the Pangolin is utilised for the cover art ) and our rapacious approach to the natural world. 

https://www.ldrescher.com/zoonotic/

We begin the journey with ‘Chiff-Chaff Dub’ where I’d hazard a guess the bird song featured is a Chiff-Chaff and hence the name. The piece is a wonderful bass heavy plodding fusion of electro-dub and Indian instruments. While the brakes are applied to the vocoder vocal ‘Forty Days and Forty Nights Dub’ there is no compromise on the bass.

The title track ‘Pangolin Dub’ the Pangolin is the most poached and trafficked creature on earth, for use in Chinese medicine and whose meat is considered a delicacy for the wealthy in China and Vietnam. As sad and hopeless the plight of the Pangolin is, the track itself isn’t really melancholic just a stereo-typical piece of dub reggae with a touch of horn accompaniment and tribal percussion.

This is followed by ‘Sit You Down, Father, Rest You Dub’ which begins as a rather pleasant acoustic reggae number, then the bass drops hard and he flirts with harmonica and guitar in places. To see us out is ‘Smash the System Dub’ now whether this refers to the sound system, a political system or both is up to you to interpret. Either way, it’s another piece of bass heavy dub peppered with fx and loops that compliments it’s predecessors perfectly.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

https://smarturl.it/pangolin

After the Rain: A Sun Is Shining Late Summer Sampler

 After the rain:

A Sun is Shining late Summer Sampler

I compiled this selection of tracks I feel represents the ethos of this blog from albums that have been on rotation recently. For those of you who listen I hope you find something that you enjoy and that you will support the artists and purchase their work if you can.

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As this new interface from Google doesn't seem to want to display embedded HTML code for the Mixcloud player. Here is the link https://www.mixcloud.com/woodzee/after-the-rain/

Track List:

1) Matt Coldrick – Uncertain Waves on Soft Shorelines

After Nineteen years Matt utilised the lockdown period to compose the sequel to the Absolute Ambient release ‘Music For A Busy Head’. The concept is simply an album to unwind from the stress we can build in our day-to-day lives in modern times. I selected this track (the longest featured) for the nod towards progressive rock both in the synth sounds, piano and soothing guitar licks, that in my humble opinion achieves the goal he set out to achieve.

2) Erothyme feat. Jessica Borth – Tale of the Misty Veil

Taken from the album ‘Steep Dreams’ and only the second I have brought (or heard) from a number of releases. However, this fusion of glitchy low bass electronics and orchestral strings, is one of two really strong tracks that have pulled my interest back towards his productions.

3) Tor.Ma In Dub – The Dream of Anaho

Taken from the album ‘Among Aliens and Gods’ inspired by his love of Sci-Fi movies, H.P. Lovecraft and the recent birth of his daughter. This track isn’t one of the harder hitting tracks of the release. However, I felt the mood of the piece and its subtle 80’s sci-fi sounds that slowly unfurls and rise throughout the track was apt for this occasion.

4) Entheogenic – Celestial Mechanics

A welcome return with the album ‘Animism’ and for me this is the stand out track. From the moment that Floyd’esque guitar drops in the intro, the piece carries you through a wonderful journey combining guitar and electronic synths perfectly.

5) Kukan-Dub-Lagan – Sufeit of Happiness and Agony

Taken from the album ‘In Search of the Fogbow’ this haunting piece of electronic music rips along slow and heavy tribal’esque drum patterns, whilst the synths build to a wonderful, yet dark crescendo.

6) Terra Nine – Dub Terratory (Kuba Re-mix)

Alongside the Kaya Project this is my favourite from the ‘Eternity Re-mixes’ album, Kuba takes the original (which on it’s own is a good track) and flutters between the sounds of Jamaica and India lifting it to even greater heights.

7) Gaudi meets Prince Fatty – Theremin Dub Mafia

Taken from ‘100 Years of Theremin: The Dub Chapter’ a celebration album where Gaudi plays the theremin (a go to instrument for many classic Sci-Fi movies) alongside some of the giants of dub reggae. This is my personal favourite from the release and really hits the spot.

8) Irfan – Salamander

This is the first of two Bulgarian acts featured here. Taken from the album ‘The Eternal Return’ which isn’t new but I’d been meaning to purchase something of theirs for years and recently found them on bandcamp. Very similar to Dead Can Dance but unlike Lisa Gerrard they don’t invent the words this is the real McCoy.

9) Black Bombay – Rice Field Chant (Shanghai Edit)

Taken from the compilation Shanghai Chill. There is something of a retro feel about this track, where I feel would easily slotted into a Buddah Bar compilation in the past with it’s touches of dub and Chinese vocals.

10) Cosmic Voices of Bulgaria – Retour a la Vie

The second act from Bulgaria and once again this isn’t new. A recent discovery for me that originally featured on Armand Amar’s soundtrack for the 2010 French film ‘AO Le Dernier Neandertal’.