When I reviewed the seven volumes of the internet music series Niescencje, I somehow missed Volume 8. This wasn’t a good thing since Volume 8 may be the best of the series. It focuses on music with female vocals which got my attention right there. I’ve always been a push-over for the female voice. The collection gets off to a good start with Kang Kai’s “Pictures” a pretty mixture of electronic glitches and a vocal bordering on Euro-folk and Celtic. However it didn’t prepare me for the strange and child-like “Bizarre” by Beatmaster. There is good variety and a number of pleasant surprises on this album. The trip-hop genre is well represented with tracks by Tomas Fusion and L’Eaves. Indie pop is given a healthy dose of feminine mystique in tracks by Bleep and Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees. My favorite track was the nu-jazz “Loser” by Ant on Wax feat. Loar while my wife leaned toward Cubehog’s “Men are Inferior” (I see a disturbing theme here). This is an good collection of pop, electronica, and indie rock from this exceptional series.

The album is available in MP3 or Ogg Vorbis format.

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Karhu’s first album was recently favorably reviewed at this site. The thirty minute EP is a tantalizing look at a long term project of Karhu’s: an alternative film score for Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. The wait is over and Sinfonia For The Blunt Sword delivers the full over-an-hour work. As good as the promo EP was, Sinfonia is a revelation; somber but varied, dense yet immensely listenable. Nothing seems to be off limit. Orchestral strings, hip-hop, turntablism, industrial beats, and chants all work together to create a complex and beautiful soundscape. This is an incredible piece of work that is even more amazing in that the artist chooses to make it freely available. And just for the record, I placed my DVD of Metropolis in the DVD player, turned the TV volume off and played this album. It works just fine!

The album is available in VBR MP3, Ogg Vorbis and Flac.

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I’m really excited about WMFU’s free music archive which will open in November. Anyone who has listened to the radio station or perused its blog has a good idea about how much great music must be hiding in their vaults. The new Selected Sounds From The Free Music Archives may be just a teaser to what we can expect. Since it is volume one, we might get a few more of these which is fine with me.

Volume one will more than do for now. The offerings are split between cuts from indie produced albums and tracks from live studio performances. The 21 tracks range from punk to experimental rock to world music. In other words, the album is as far-out as the radio station. Most of the artists are obscure so I hope the archive will provide more info on these musicians. It’s hard to pick favorites but Fursaxa’s eerie “Song of the Spindle Berry” sent shivers down my spine which continued with Nautical Almanac’s bizarre take on the children song “Rolling in The Green”. Of the live studio takes, I especially liked New Bomb Turks, Kinski and Citay’s somewhat Celtic “On The Wings”. Of the others, Lucky Dragon does a good job mixing cute with bizarre while Food For Animals w/ Faust provides the only hip-hop track of the anthology. This album will certainly hold you over until the full archive is unveiled in November. Thanks WFMU!

The album is available in separate tracks or a full album zip in varying MP3 bitrates.

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One of the best ways to get a grasp on the variety of music that is available through netlabels is to browse the several compilation series that has been put together by music fans and bloggers. I have already reviewed a few of them including Netbloc and The Silent Ballet. A new kid on the block is the Netmuzyka.com, a humble blog presenting Niesencje, a creative series of online albums bringing what they consider the cream of the netlabel crop. Their focus is somewhat mainstream, meaning no avant-garde, but there is a wide assortment of electronic music, IDM, nu-jazz, dance, introverted folk/pop, and ambient . There are currently seven collections, all having a consistently high quality with all tracks well chosen and each separate album having a listening duration of 40 to 60 minutes. Quite a few of the artists have already been discovered and written about by yours truly including Umma Project, ST, Post Human Era, and Stockfinster. However I am also unearthing a number of other promising artists which I have made a note to check out more thoroughly. These include the new age Virculum, an urban-percussive Skarv, and a exotically Latin Trafficjam. There’s just too many interesting tracks on these albums. Suffice to say, I’m currently listening to Vim’s fairytale of a tune titled “That Smell of Spring Rain” while it is 114 degrees Fahrenheit outside and digging it. All in all, this is a very fine series, nothing too challenging yet all enjoyable and worth checking out.

The seven albums are available in zips of 192kbps MP3.

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Niesencje Vol. 1
Niesencje Vol. 2
Niesencje Vol. 3
Niesencje Vol. 4
Niesencje Vol. 5
Niesencje Vol. 6
Niesencje Vol. 7

Don Hill’s music project Porteur de L’Image is both strange and inspiring, sort of a “Dark New Age” to coin a phrase. It appears that most consider this to be post-industrial, a description I will grudgingly concede. Through a Glass Darkly, which has the subtitle of “Electronic Sounds of Faith”, was originally released in 2003 from Epiphany records as a limited release but is now available as a free and legal MP3 album. Often surreal and chant-like, Hall’s electronic soundscapes are hypnotic but disquieting. The first three tracks are interesting but it really didn’t grab me until the mesmerizing “Take This Cup from Me” and the following “In Mercy Broken”. Each track has its own unique sound environment and bears attentive listening.

The album is available in 192kbps MP3.

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I briefly mentioned Listen when I featured Tryad’s first creative common licensed album. At the time Listen was not available except by bittorrent. Since then, Jamendo has incorporated direct downloading of its albums so it is time to feature this exceptional online release.

Listen continues Tryad’s lush mixture of trip-hop, jazz, and techno. If anything, it has a more consistent feel as the band perfects its already intriguing sound. The music is a bit more commercial and that is not meant to be a critique. In fact This is the type of high quality commercial sound you will rarely hear in the current state of top 40. Listen to “Beauty”, “Alone” or the title track to hear what I mean. I recommend this album for its lush tones and modern beauty.

The album is available in VBR MP3.

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Phantom Channel is a new net label specializing in non-commercial, uncompromising ambient music. Phantom Channel Presents: Part 1 is what appears to be the first of a series meant to spotlight their artists. The music is minimalist, meditative and, for the most part, on the slightly disquieting side. While the seven tracks feature different artists, each work segues into the next soundscape offering a continual listening experience and making it a good album for deep relaxation. This is a nice debut of a promising netlabel.

The album is available as an album zip in 256kbps MP3.

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The oddly titled 833-45 is a musical project from the prolific sound artist K.M. Krebs, whose works under his own name had previously been reviewed here. The music of 833-45 is a amalgamation of industrial drones, radio signals, and electronic noises that may perplex some but fascinate others. Tunguska is more of a post-modern industrial sound sculpture than a musical composition. The title is taken from the 1908 explosion in Russia, probably caused by a small comet or large meteor, and the recording has a similar post-apocalyptic desolation in its sound. I find it strangely calming. Whether you find it calming or disturbing, it is definitely worth a listen.

The album is available in 320kbps MP3 or FLAC format. If you enjoy the music, you can find out more about this project from Krebs’ 833-45 blog.

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Downliners Sekt has resurfaced with their second full album, The Saltire Wave. Those who enjoyed the first album’s dark trip-hop may find the newer album substantially on the rougher side but will still find plenty of the complex instrumental interactions and nuances that makes Downliners Sekt so worth listening to. There’s more of a rock music vibe on some tracks, especially on “Point Omega”, “School Daze” and “Panic! Sonic Monk” but cuts such as “Kaidan” and “Blackstock News” reveal nice down-tempo interplay within the artists’ array of guitars and electronics. I especially like “Soltices” ending mixture of sci-fi electronics and fuzz tones that left me musically buzzed and waiting for more. While there is no one astounding track, like Statement of Purpose’s “Weather Underground”, the overall quality of Downliner Sekt’s new album remains high.

The album is available in 320kbps MP3.

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Mexican Electronic music artist Vate just keeps turning them out. Here are two more free internet releases, Volt and Porno Pixels, and they have the same high quality as his others. Volt, not to be confused with the earlier Volk, is a parade of high energy techno . Most of the album have a danceable don’t-stop-the-beat quality. I miss the more obvious Nortec influence of his earlier albums but the Techno music aficionados will still find a lot to like.

Porno Pixel has some of that Nortec sound plus a little R-rated extra. The title tune and its remixes are certainly a clever mixture of melody and vocal sounds. I especially like the Free Tour mix of “Porno Pixels and the rather funky “Idolos Pop”. It is another very listenable combination of IDM and breakbeats from this talented musician.

Volt and Porno Pixel are available in Flac, Ogg Vorbis, and MP3 formats from from the links below or you can download them, along with many other albums and individual tracks, from Vate’s web site.

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Volt
Porno Pixel

The upright acoustic bass is the most steadfast of instruments, It has a consistent sound while it is plucked away in a jazz combo or bowed reverently in an orchestra. If the electric bass is a rowdy teenager the upright would be good old wise and reliable Grandpa.

But there is always a black sheep in the family and this one comes from the strange electronically altered contrabass of Vincent Guerin. The album Free Juke Box by Guerin’s project Schizoid Bass is full of bizarre and unclassifiable sounds coming from this Frankenstein monster of an instrument. Ranging from dark ambient to funky industrial and between, it never alienates the listeners but lulls them into these bizarre soundscapes. I’m never sure how much of these sounds are from the bass only and what is electronically added but that is part of the pleasure. To know where sound comes from is boring. To hear these combination of sounds and wonder where and how they originated is both the mystery and the joy.

The album is freely available from Dog-Eared Records in 192kbps MP3.

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Fanfare please.

I am proud to present the one thousandth featured album on Free Albums Galore. Paragon Black is a mysterious musical project manned by the equally mysterious Wings of an Angel and Agent Smith. Their music is a tantalizing mixture of hip-hop, acid jazz, ambient and new age. There is a distinctly spiritual aspect to this music, stimulating yet soothing, thoughtful yet meditative.

Their self-titled album has a cinematic feel. It could be called a soundtrack to a state of mind. Poetic rapping reveals a very philosophical theme that makes you pause and think. Throughout it all are exotic beats and dreamlike instrumental backing. The opening track “Kourakan Prayer” is a good example of how all this comes together. Other tracks like “Rhythm of The Universe” and “Traveler’s Opus” explore world music. However I prefer the deft mixture of hip-hop and new age in “Chasing Angels” and “Borne of The Ether”. Paragon Black is a fascinating journey into the old and the new.

The album is available from the Dusted Wax Kingdom net label in 192kbps MP3.

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The French duo Planete Sauvage creates lush and surreal soundscapes that are securely in the realm of new age music. Their two albums are freely available on their web site.

The first album is self-titled and is a 31 minute EP of four tracks. The opening track “Cecilia” starts like a tentative dream and blossoms into a beautiful guitar-based melody. “La Saison des Puies” and “Resonances” have a similar dreamlike quality but with a middle Eastern influence. “Extension 9″ breaks from the pack with a rock tempo but has a lot of interesting twists and turns before the ten minute track concludes.

Planete Savauge II is a full length online album, clocking in at almost 42 minutes. I find it the better album if only because there is more of it. With only one of the seven tracks being under six minutes, Planete Savauge takes their time setting the mood and exploring the possibilities in their well-crafted compositions. The opening track, “Melancholia” is somewhat dark, a femme-fatale of a song. Some of the tracks combine a running dialogue such as on “The Dead Rose’s Monoloque” which I find distracting. But when the song is entirely instrumental, it is easy to get lost in the musical fog. Whether Planete Savauge is new age, ambient, down-tempo, or progressive rock is immaterial. They simply make beautiful music.

Planete Savauge is available in 320kbps MP3 while Planete Savauge II is in VBR MP3 at around 230kbps. You can also download either album in FLAC format.

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Planete Sauvage
Planete Sauvage II

Karlheinz Essl’s free online album SNDT®X is one of the more exciting releases in the electronic/electro-acoustic field that I’ve heard in a long time. Surprisingly easy to listen to yet avant-garde, it is a primer on experimental electronic music complete with drones, found sounds, sampling and much more. The title alludes to the cinematic texture of this sound art. Most of these tracks were created to accompany a film, performance, or art piece.

The opening track, “Father Earth” is a pulsing mix of guitar and electronics reminding me of a subway or train station. I am also reminded of Glenn Branca’s minimalist walls of guitars at some points. The 13 minute “Action Rituale” combines computers and religious chants into an intensely spiritual experience. As mentioned before, some works such as “Carl Mayer Scenar(t)ist” and “Balkonszene” are soundtracks meant for films or art performances. While most of these pieces are droning or minimalist, “PENDENTE” stands out for its melodic beauty. “Sonnez la Clochil” is based on the sound of a bell while “Decontructing Mozart” does exactly that, pulling apart the composer’s music into a post-modern nightmare. The tracks go on, each one giving new insighst to the state of organized sound. This is an excellent example of the experimental and avant-garde and much more accessible than the novice might think at first listen. Give it a few tries. It will grow on you.

The album is available as either separate track or album zip in 128kbps MP3.

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Bryn Jones aka Muslimgauze was one of the more interesting underground techno artists of the 90s. Although he had never been to the Middle East and was not Islamic, he had a life long infatuation with the area, the culture and, in particular, the plight of the Palestinians. He created instrumental music using analog electronic equipment and Middle Eastern instruments that remains innovative. His life was cut short in 1999 but he left an surprisingly large output for such a young musician.

Wish of the Flayed is from a cassette of a one day session in June of 1996. It is the only known recording of that session. The owner of the tape, with the permission of the Soleilmoon record label that handles most of Muslimgauze recorded material, has placed it on the fan site Arabbox v1.0 as a free and legal download. This is music from the later years of his life when the sound has become very percussive and post-industrial. The Middle East sounds that make most of Muslimgauze’s music so unique is more in the background than usual, often drowned out by the unrelenting beat. A delightful exception to this is “Muta Safvid” where a female voice is accompanied by a strong bass pulse. While this is far from Musilimgauze’s best, it is still an intriguing recording and recommended to those who are already into the artist and those who enjoy noise/industrial music.

The album is available by a full album zip in 192kbps MP3.

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Candy Chang’s clever electronic dance pieces may be a little sparse but they make it up in wit and humor. Typography/Gestalt consists of four tracks from a previously released 12″ and some unreleased material from 2000-2004. Chang manages to combine techno with funk and disco but still kicks in with a few moves of her own. The tracks are instrumental except for the collection’s highlight, “Rochenko in my Bauhaus”. It is a witty and funky number that reminds me of a clean version of Peaches. Well, maybe not totally clean, but at least Chang knows the meaning of ‘double entendre’ .

The album is available in 160kbps MP3.

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Nikmis plays retro electronic music. How retro? Oh, about 350 years.

Eine Kliene Nekopanmusik is a delightful collection of Baroque and Classical sounding original compositions. These tracks remind me of the now quaint synthesizer arrangements of Bach pieces by Wendy Carlos. Yet the little courtyard dances and fugues resonate with the contemporary wit of Bach’s cousin, P.D.Q. Nikmis’ compositions are light and cleverly acrobatic pieces that are meant to make you smile. The first track “Metter” prances around like a demented concerto while “Deck” sounds like a march for hyperactive mice. The final track, “Kopp” is a slower but charming work that reminds me of carousels. This is a charming collection of clever compositions that may sound a bit like novelty pieces but will give you little surprises with each listen.

The albums is available from the Spoomusic netlabel in 192kbps MP3.

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There seems to be a renewed interest in the music of Dmitre Shostakovich these days. The great Russian composer’s popularity has been up and down in the past years and now it is in another upswing. For those who have not yet experience the music of Shostakovich, this previously reviewed piano quintet is a good place to start.

Brasswork Agency is a DJ and sampling artist living and working in Los Angeles but raised in Chicago. He has taken short samples of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 as played by legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and turned them into his own remixed tribute of the composer. This album is also a salute to Rostropovich who passed away last year at the age of 80. Brasswork Agency’s work has four parts, each corresponding to the four movements of the concerto. The first track starts with a recognizable sample but soon turns into the sampler’s own creation, a sort of minimalist techno beat marvel. Whether or not you know the concerto, this is a very interesting example of the remixing arts. In my opinion, the fourth and final track holds the most interest. It is a calming track that tends to preserve most of the beauty of the fourth movement it is based on. Both classical music enthusiasts and electronic music fans should find something here to respect.

The album is available in 192kbps MP3 from the Auxprocess netlabel.

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Owltree’s Tender Pecking is another fine release from the Lo-Kiwi netlabel. Owltree specializes in chilled tempos combined with a smooth jazz sensibility. The result is a laid back sound that will please both ambient music fans and those who like their jazz on the quiet side. Check out the opening track “Head Swirlin” as an prime example of the cool vibes. Other favorites include “The Owls are Not What They Eat” and the well grooved “Sudden Dusk”.

The album is available as separate tracks or album zips in 192kbps MP3.

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I’m not surprised to discover that Peruvian artist Sebastian Alvarez, aka Spirit Elevating Brains (SEB), is more of a visual artist specializing in performance art than a musician. The title of his free online album and the album cover attest to an artist that is fluent in the visual and the poetic.

This is not to say that the music on Raw Adventures of The Strident, Harsh and Sweet Returnee is any less realized. In fact, SEB’s music is a complex sound painting made of samples, complex beats, and mesmerizing melodies and riffs. Partly collage, partly world beat, and partly electronica, this is a very enjoyable and surprisingly accessible journey into the artist’s mind and travels. As busy as his beats and glitches are, none of it is filler. It all comes together like a well wound watch. This is SEB’s first album and it marks him as someone to pay attention to.

The album is available in 320kbps MP3 as either separate tracks or album zip.

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Ghostown is a Anglo-French hip-hop project headed by rapper/lyricist/keyboardist Rael. It is a hip hop style that borrows strongly from both trip hop and euro electro-pop. Rael’s influences include such diverse artists as Brian Eno, Talking Heads, and Tom Waits. His songs exhibit these influences in their almost anti-pop stance. This is music on the artist’s own terms complete with dark moods and rough beats.

Phantomatics (V1.02) is the best of his two good online albums, both available on Jamendo. Rael’s rapping is tight throughout, easily inviting comparison to the work of Tricky. Electronics are always accenting the words and beat, never drowning it out. One of Ghostown’s signature sounds is the use of gypsy music and traditional instruments that can be heard on “Traditionz”, “Red Dog” and “Moy Moy Moy”. The song “Big Moustache” shows off a little of that Tom Waits influence. Perhaps the best track is “Johnny Marr”. Rael states Phantomaticsis not “a real album” but a taste of what is to come. If this is so, we are in for a treat when the “real album” is released.

“Johnny Marr” also shows up on Culture Vulture but the rest of the songs are different. While not as tight and focused as Phantomatics, it is still a good album with some nice surprises. Standout tracks include the moody “Raingods” and “Pecking Your Eyes” which recalls the past Bowie/Eno collaborations. But my favorite is the closing track, “Wild is the Wind” an imaginative, if loose, cover of Nina Simone’s beautiful song which was also covered by David Bowie.

Both albums are available in VBR MP3.

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Phantomatics(V1.02)
Culture Vulture

While most of Bob Ostertag’s music is already freely available under a common creative license, his 2007 release marks a new milestone. wOOt is his first recording to go directly to free internet download rather than initially on a CD . The distinction is fitting as the composer created this 50 minute work by using only samples from 18 computer video games including Legend of Zelda, Myst, and World of Warcraft. The fragments are cut, pasted, looped, mashed, overlapped…pretty much everything is done to them that is possible except to bake them at 350 degrees in the oven. The piece starts with a single theme which evolves into a virtual fugue of video game sounds. From that point the work changes constantly making it an aural roller coaster ride. Ostertag’s best works, such as Sooner or Later or All The Rage have strong personal and socio-political themes. wOOt appears to have no purpose but to dazzle you with what can be done with a few primitive sound samples. While not the best of Ostertag’s creations, it is still a very witty and entertaining 50 minutes of music.

The album is available in 160kbps MP3. If you enjoy the music, support the artist by buying his CDs.

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The electronic music of General Fuzz is easy listening of the best kind. It’s bright but quieting, calming but with a beat, and tastefully structured. The artist offers all his music for free and there are currently four albums.

The newest and best is Cool Aberrations, a collection of collaborations with other artists. General Fuzz mixes his electronic musicianship with various instruments such as tabla, flute, cello and others with usually excellent results. “The Grenadier” is the funkiest with some nice guitar and bass. The other songs tend to be more reflective. Actually the variety of moods is quite impressive. I especially like the flute and trumpet tracks, “Flow Tater” and “Cream” respectively.

On his own, General Fuzz still produces some nice vibes. His self-titled album generates a smooth jazz feel best exemplified in “Dream Together”. Inner Sunset has a lot of variety from a retro synth “Burnt Popcorn” to an keyboard driven “Friday on Thursday” that is soft and charming. Lastly, Messy’s Pace seems a bit more beat oriented but I may be wrong. I certainly think it the most dancable of the four albums. Give “Red balloon” and “Bars of Parmar” a try.

All four albums are available as separate tracks or full album zips. The file format is VBR MP3.

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At first, Lunar’s Hybrid Awaken sounds like the usual ambient/IDM affair of melodic riffs and soft beats but, as you listen to the first track “Floodlights”, you realize the beats are becoming harder to the point of Drum N’ Bass. The melodies are lush and keyboards become more prominent until the music takes on a cinematic feel. Lunar has lots of tricks to immerse the listener in the music and isn’t afraid to use them. He is not afraid to experiment and mix styles while managing to create his own unique sound. Each track has its own joys. I especially like the groove laden “Lazy Dog Funk” and the rhythmic but very orchestral “The Unknown”. This is music you can really get into.

The album is available in a full zip of 192kbps MP3. You can also freely download an advanced zip of his album Wall of Sound for a limited time. Better yet, support the artist by buying the CD when it is released.

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Here is another excellent album of Nortec electronica from Mexican sound artist Vate. I understand Vate is currently living in Barcelona. It may be my imagination but I could swear I’m hearing a little European and Spanish influences leaking into his electronic compositions. What is clear is that he still makes highly listenable state-of-the-art music.

Cachonda is his newest release and the tracks, both originals and remixes, are more developed and reveals a highly individualized style. “Diablo” is an especially nice work, being very atmospheric and distinctive. “Extranjero (Sin patria)” is snappy and dancable. Most of these track falls firmly into Nortec but Stravinsky (variaciones)” hints of that turn to European influences I mentioned. All in all, Vate has become one of my favorite independent artists in this particular genre.

The album is available in separate tracks at 128kbps MP3. The artist also offers a number of other download options including bittorrent and eMule. If you enjoy the music support the artist by buying the better quality sound CD.

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