Netlabel Sound System

Tryad - Public Domain

2006-02-25T07:47:00.000-05:00

This is easily in the top 5 Creative Commons licensed full length albums I've heard. Soulful downtempo trip-hop in a mellow vein, to put it concisely. Torrent here.

One of my biggest gripes is that artists pretty much hold back the A-Material when they release a netlabel or CC licensed album and it becomes a situation where the music is as disposable as some would purport it to be. Not here. Tryad puts out sound beats, chilling vocals and solid breaks to keep things interesting. Keep an eye on this one.

MiniReview - Various - Monotonik.x3 [mtcompx3]

2006-01-10T17:18:00.000-05:00

Various - Monotonik.x3 [mtcompx3]

The summary is spot on for this compilation. A great way to become acquainted with the mellow-glitch of Monotonik without having to get all the way in to find great artists. Originally, when I was exposed to Monotonik, I had downloaded the larger compilations with dozens of releases contained in them, loaded the whole thing into WinAmp and let it rip. Finding consistent material was much harder that way. This compilation presents an hour of artists who grow and develop over their releases on the label, but in a direction, so their sound stays "comfortable" without stagnating.

Load it on your mp3 player, kick back, and if you've got a friend who's never heard mellow IDM before, share.

MiniReview - netlabel battle - vinyl release - 2004a (April 18, 2004)

2006-01-09T17:13:00.000-05:00

netlabel battle - vinyl release - 2004a (April 18, 2004)

Yes, I'm cleaning out my queue of built-up mini-reviews of various things that have been floating around the old MP3 player (Thanks again, Curtis!).

This is a solid release of both ambient IDM and somewhat harder bangers. This release, if anything, suffers from slightly schizo packaging. As a split 12", there are two pairs of tracks that I liked very well in the context. I gave it 4 stars.

Definitely worth the download. Here She Comes is already showing up in my mixes.

MiniReview - NodeRecords: Foolcut - Something Like Jazz EP

2006-01-09T17:04:00.000-05:00

NodeRecords: Foolcut - Something Like Jazz EP

To avoid saying the same thing over and over again in a very verbose review:

I liked this very much
Well structured, uptempo, smooth Jazz cut-ups.
Very intelligent.

I liked this a lot. This is an extremely welcome first release from NodeRecords and I look forward to many more offerings from them in the future. I hope everyone else enjoys this as much.

Addisko - Wo Hop

2005-12-28T12:47:00.000-05:00

Archive.org says:

"As one half of the acclaimed Tomorrowland duo, Stephen Baker has become quite expert at fusing low end frequencies with filtered guitar arrangements that evoke expansive scenes cast in warm hues. Now he strikes out on his own with Addisko and the focus is sharper and more synthetic. Each sound on Wo Hop stands in high-contrast to its neighbor and although various strains of dub, hip-hop, synthetic funk, and acid collide, the final impression is of a cogent new sound that is unparalleled."

I very much enjoyed a lot of Tomorrowland's output, so, this was kind of a no-brainer for me to pick up and review. Ann Arbor still produces some of the finest sounds around. One noticeable missing style from the Archive synopsis was dancehall. 'JMZ' was an instant include into my own abstract dancehall playlist and is a great example of how microsound as a style can make its way into al sorts of styles that don't necessarily lend themselves to it. Each track on this album is as precisely engineered as the last, creating a definite trademark sound for the album, while never treading into repetitious and tedious listening.

In short, a definite, but sound departure from the material of Tomorrowland, however, wonderful.