Three years in the making, the group was started by Simon Lock, a retired house deejay, when he was looking for a production partner to compliment his dance based ideologies. He was then joined by Isis Graham (another house deejay) in 2010 and singer/songwriter/bassist Adam Gasten in the following year.

The trio is based in Vancouver and Calgary, they are currently working on their full-length album to be released in the spring of 2012.

The beat drops nearly instantly in Love Dub. With a playful vibe its powerful opening uses sporadic drum beats spreading out into a straight-forward techno melody.

Strike follows up with ambient tunes slowly building into a revolution of buzz guitars and edgy beats. Axis, on the other hand, relies more heavily on echoed vocals. The instrumentation on this track is superb. From the intricate beats, the incorporation of horns to the guitar solos, Terrace clearly showed their vast knowledge on their genre.

The album closes up with the brilliant Talk. An immediate favorite, the swirling electric tunes will transport you into a psychedelic roller coaster ride.

Pollen is a dance album perfect for those seeking a steady electronic high. The tracks are well-conceived and the execution is brilliant. One thing I liked about this album is its wide use of different instruments. So press play, listen, and dance your heart out.

Related Links:
Terrace on Soundcloud
Terrace on Facebook
Terrace on Myspace
Terrace on Twitter

The newest release from ambient electronic netlabel, Cut Records, is from Thefft. It seems the artist has been brewing underground for awhile and now he's ready to show off his skills with his EP, The Primer.

Much of the hype is warranted though as the album skillfully intertwines beats, bass and synths to create a delightful fusion fit for some good old dancing in a bar or club.

The man behind all the glorious beats is Jack Robertson aka. Thefft. Although he's not a full newcomer, he's definitely making the rounds this time and causing a stir. Born in London, he's currently based there in New York and hangs out in New York whenever he gets a break, creating and producing sonic tracks that are worthy of a listen.

Opening with No Match for She, the song is a great sample of what you can expect from the artists' sound. It's filled with a catchy rhythm and various bits and bobs that make it refreshing to listen to. Whether you play it in a jam packed dancefloor or simply listen to it over your headphones, you get this distinct sound that's easy to like.

It's followed by Gammy Crazy, an eclectic mix of synths and samples topped with a good bass beat. The short 3-track EP is then finished off by Stares, which starts off with various clicks before slowly transforming into a sculpture of sound.

Overall, it's one short record to check out. Thefft definitely has a knack for creating a fresh spin on traditional electronic beats; making you want to check out more of his work. You can grab most of his works right over at his BandCamp page.

Related Links:
Thefft on BandCamp
Thefft on Facebook
Thefft on SoundCloud
Thefft on Twitter

For times when all you need is a funky and quirky party album, pop over Vernon Lenoir's The Rites of Sausage and you should be good to go. This crazy party album mixes loud beats, 8-bit pixel goodness and a dose of remade pop culture.

The super talented composer/sampling-genius has released several compilations from various netlabels like UpItUp, VM Recordings, and Ego Twister. This time around, he ventures over to Chinstrap Records and unloads his genius samples via The Rites of Sausage.

From the Macarena to Inspector Gadget, the record is a sure mix of funky goodness. 

Even though you're not exactly big on party music, this is one of those records you'd love to have playing at some point in your downtime. The Rites of Sausage is essentially a world born from illusion. It's a world where everyone has gone bonkers and only sees sausages and experiences visions from these same sausages.

Opening track like Zwiebelkuchen, start off the party with a blast. Juxtaposing deep beats with a cartoony sound that makes you wonder what exactly you're listening to. Certain songs like Dwelling, exude a more laid-back vibe; giving listeners a very short breather in between the chaos of the rest of the cuts. Some of my other favorite picks include Augustus featuring Satanicporncultshop and Another Glass of Melonade. Of course, it's hard to resist Makar and its Macarena beat.

The album is definitely eclectic and something you can enjoy if you're looking for some fun. Every song is filled with rich and cleverly done samples that's interesting and worth checking out. You can grab the download over at Free Music Archive. This is worth it.

Related Links:
Vernon Lenoir on Free Music Archive
Vernon Lenoir on Facebook
Vernon Lenoir on Archive
Vernon Lenoir on Chinstrap Music

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Brewing on the underground European scene for some time now, Aucan are finally gearing up to make themselves heard. This trio has shared the stage with some of the several notable performers like Placebo, Tricky, Steve Aoki, Antipop, Dinosaur Jr. and so much more. They've even played more than 300 gigs in various venues all across Europe.

Mixing ambient dubstep with some generous helping of electronic triphop; Aucan is one of those bands that capture your attention from the moment you take a listen.

Black Rainbow is the third release from the group and features a more refined yet still very catchy hypnotic electronic dub.

Their previous releases include DNA EP (2010) which was a bit more darker compared to their first self-titled release. In Black Rainbow, the boys go deeper into electronica while infusing hip hop and trippy dub into the mix.

Opening track, Blurred (Extended Version) features the hauntingly sweet voiced singer, Angela Kinczly. As opening track, it can be a bit misleading for fans who expect the rest of the compilation to exude a Sneaker Pimps/Portishead electronic pop after hearing this first cut. The rest of the compilation is actually much heavier and lean more on ambient dub with a rock alternative edge. If anything, the first 2 or 3 songs are the closest you'll find electronic pop in the record, the rest is pure rocking, bass-thumping goodness.

Cuts like Storm and Embarque take you into a deeper, experimental route. These two songs also stand on opposite sides of the poles. Storm features heavy bass and a synth trippy beat while Embarque, is exclusively composed of melodic acoustic, low key stringed instruments. Both of the songs have their own feel and the clever mix of instruments, various bits as well as beats are quite easy to get lost in.

Although the entire album is a haven of pure triphop, electronica (even melodic) pop, it's the wonderful and dark corners of the record that seals the deal for me. Away! is among my favorite tracks. When I first heard it, I immediately thought of Asian Dub Foundation during their Fortress Europe rein, only to find out in the liner notes that they indeed have a former member of ADF, Spex MC, help them out with the cut.

Overall, this is one album that's definitely made its way to my favorites list this year. It has a little something to satisfy different music lovers' taste, from a pop, hip hop to pure electronica and dub; Black Rainbow is certainly a record that deserves attention. Take a listen.

Aucan - Black Rainbow [2011] by Aucan

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

Related Links:
@_AUCAN on Twitter
Aucan on Myspace
Aucan on Last FM
Aucan on Facebook
Aucan Interview
Aucan on NoData
Aucan on AftricanTape

Testing out new waters in their latest EP,  London native John Purcell from Azoora, has teamed up with the sweet voiced Montreal siren, Graciellita, for this new compilation.

Apart, is the 7th EP released under the band's name. The record incorporates the resident electronic, trip hop sound of Azoora with the angelic voiced singer's lovely and fresh vocals.

There's an atmosphere of softness as well as one of brooding intensity present in this 5-track compilation. With beautiful piano accompaniments, lush loops and catchy beats floating in the cuts; the record is an easy candidate for your favorites list.

Azoora is one of those acts that'll change your mind about trip hop and electronica even if you aren't particularly fond of the genre. Their sound is reminiscent of the heydays of Brit dub and triphop during the middle to late 90s.  With their latest album, this intriguing sound is still quite prominent and more likable then ever.

Azoora feat. Graciellita "Episodes" Apart by FrostClick

Accompanied by the fresh vocals of Graciellita, songs like, Motionless, gain a whole other dimension. The song features lush instrument work, with sounds emanating from all four corners. Thanks to Graciellita's vocals seamlessly flowing in between the rich textures, the cut becomes an instant favorite and perfectly opens up the compilation. Second track, Episodes, is more moody. Azoora's sound is a bit more darker on this one but it still manages to enchant listeners.

The last two tracks, Ugly Weather and Bit By Bit, are also more intense compared to the opener. Ugly Weather starts with a brooding sound then slowly introduces a hypnotic and dark drum beat. Graciellita's vocals add a whimsical touch to this otherwise meditative single. On the other hand, Bit By Bit, caps off the record with the same moodiness and reflective vibe as the former. Out of  all the cuts, this song is one where Graciellita's voice closely echoes Kelli Dayton from the Sneaker Pimps. Even the entire atmosphere of the song somewhat reminds of the old trip hop crew.

Overall, Azoora has created a compilation that both pushes their original sound while still retaining the charisma that attracted their fans in the first place. With the addition of female vocals, their sound sounds richer in a lot of ways. The band and Graciellita are definitely two genuine artists and together they've created an awesome trip hop record worth raving about.

Related Links:
Azoora on 23 Seconds Record Label
Azoora on Last FM
Azoora on Jamendo
Azoora on SoundClick
Azoora on Myspace

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Released in 2010 by Johnwaynes album (made available for a download by the Optimus Discos Label), brings us five excellent tracks ready to bright up your day with their light and chill out sounds that will not be quickly forgotten.

Johnwaynes have been around for a while now. They have been performing and producing new gorgeous melodies since 2005, and it seems that the end is nowhere in sight.

What Is All About is one of over 15 records that the band has released over the years, yet it's mix of vocals and wide range of musical influences sets it wide apart from the rest of mostly instrumental, minimalistic acid house classics the fans are use to hear.
The album starts off with one of my favorites cuts, The One. This part electronic, pop, jazzy tune is filled with mood lifting, playful melodies and hypnotizing female vocals (which for some unexplained reason made me start thinking of Morcheeba); add to it the lovely music video, which you can watch below, and you have yourself a clear winner.

But aside from The One, the album comes with a number of other great tracks. What Is All About starts off with a tropical beats, progressing into a jazz piano bits, and amazing lyrics combined with vocals that on some level make me feel like I should be watching an old Hollywood classic. The last track, Mindbreaker, on the other hand, is a more disco influenced piece which starts off with a lovely piano solo and more chilled electronic additions.

The greatest strength of What Is All About is certainly it's diversity of sounds; it's unique combination of different genres, electronic beats and instrumental work. And it's quality production only adds to the positives. So go ahead, click download, and give this one a go.

Related Links:
JohnWaynes on A Tromp A
Johnwaynes on Resident Advisor
Johnwaynes on Facebook
Johnwaynes Official Website

Spearheaded by Javier Elizondo, Priscila Orfanos, and Gerardo Gamez, Mind Cinema is a Monterrey/Vancouver band that creates surreal, numbing soundscapes, perfectly capturing the ambiguity, chaos and beauty of the subconscious. Their sound carefully touches on electronica, ambient and shoegaze indie rock.

Sun Beat is the group's first EP. It comes with 8 tracks tinged with dreamy sounds that crosses between the unpredictability of The Flaming Lips and ambient landscapes of Sigur Ros. Listening to the record is like getting blown away into a dreamland where beauty and madness mix freely and are emanating from the same source. It's a record worth having. The group also has several cool videos on Youtube, check those as well. They perfectly capture the band's unique sound.

Even though the members of the group created and recorded this compilation being a couple of hundred miles apart, Sun Beat still resonates with a coherent and enchanting sound that emanates from a group of individuals who clearly know and understand each others psyche. The sound is sonic and cerebral, stubbornly anchoring itself into your brain.

Opening with the catchy Downsides of Freedom, this upbeat electronic rock single mixes beautiful vocals and lovely beats. According to Javier, the group aims to "create a laid-back mood and soundscape for the listener to get lost into.” True enough, listening to this track is like floating away in space, surrounded by lovely, colorful stars and galaxies. It definitely gets you "lost" into an infinite sonic landscape.

Title track, Sun Beat, is an electronic pop affair that reminds me of being stuck on Groundhog Day, repeating yourself over and over again, yet knowing that everything is being repeated. It's a mindboggling track that plays on your senses. It's not exactly my favorite but it does win props for being a very cool cut that you can probably play if you're feeling lazy and moody. Meanwhile, speaking of favorites, Monkeys, definitely claims top spot on my list. It's a gorgeous, quiet track that effortlessly eases your discomfort and lets you plug into a relaxing world. The cut has a moody appeal that makes me think of sweet Monday mornings  basking in the soft glow of early sunshine as well as a busy NY street with crowds of people.

True to their goal, the album does manage to bring listeners into a whole new world. Allowing them to drift on and become lost in the swirling guitars, sweet vocals, and electronic/synth vibes. Go ahead and download this EP today. It's well worth it.

Related Links:
Mind Cinema Official Website
Mind Cinema on Facebook
Mind Cinema on Twitter
Mind Cinema on The Side B
Mind Cinema on YouTube

Fauve! Gegen A Rhino loves to experiment. Their sound is a mixture of unusual sounds, guitar distortions, weird chimes and occasional haunting/cryptic vocals. This is the second official release from this three piece Italian crew.
Made up of Andrea, Matteo and Riccardo, this eclectic, electronic noise rock trio have members that are all in their early 20s. Despite the young age, they create a sound that is unique and encompasses a multitude of genres.

If you love electronic pop or pretty much anything that can be characterized as an odd combination of sound, noise, bits and bobs - take a listen.

The songs resound with a chaotic mix of sounds, from breakbeats to funky guitars to weird samples. Everything comes together to create an interesting piece that's hard to confine to a single box. A cut like A Velvet Heart, beautifully opens the compilation. It's a cerebral track that reminds me of Radiohead's OK Computer foray. One of those tracks that you can listen to for the rest of the day, like it, but still don't actually "get it."

Another cool track to listen to is the mind numbing 11 minute progressive, electro-experimental noise cut, Parousia. The guys manage to create an explosion of texture and sound in the song. It's one of those tracks you could leave at the background as you work or go about your business; leaving you with an interesting tune to fill in the silence.

Some of the influences that the members cite include the Aphex Twins, Animal Collective, Brian Eno and My Bloody Valentine to name a few. They certainly have their sound mapped out. It's a great compilation for anybody interested in electronic experimental noise.

Related Links:
Fauve! Gegen A Rhino on Italian Embassy
Fauve! Gegen A Rhino on Myspace
Fauve! Gegen A Rhino on Last FM

Feel for Bumps is the fourth EP released under indie netlabel, Cut Records. This four track compilation circles around hip hop, drum & bass and dub beats.

The mastermind behind this EP is none other than Bristol based producer, Bryn Thomas. His brand of music explores various elements of hip hop and electronica, creating a wonderful sonic experience. He carefully mixes these to generate a nice, laid-back menagerie of sounds.

The album is available as a pay-for-what-you-want download on BandCamp. It's a refreshing piece that's perfect if you're looking for something to play on your chill house party or simply something to relax to. 

Even though the record is a bit short, you can get a great feel of  the artists' skill. The songs in the album, as mentioned, dwell more on hip hop influenced beats. From soulful R&B rhythms to straight up dub with thumping bass lines; songs like Feel For Bumps And Grinds would become an easy favorite for hip hop lovers everywhere.

It's not just this affinity to hip hop that makes this 4-track record a great compilation to chill to. Bryn also manages to titillate with his skillful mix of synths and samples. For instance, songs like Cruising for Toy Boys as well as Firing Blanks are both sexy and melodic.

Overall, the record definitely a great find. Cut Records states it best "this EP has four short excursions that despite being different in style, very much hang together through emotion, melody and above all, beauty and simplicity."

Related Links:
Bryn Thomas on Cut Music
Bryn Thomas on BandCamp
Bryn Thomas on Hush-House
Bryn Thomas on Soundcloud

Tracing Arcs is the brainchild of British duo Fran Kapelle (vocal/lyrics) and Paul H. Addie (synths/programming). Their previous record, Fin, met with plenty of positive responses and was also featured right here on our blog.

Eye See You Too (Remixes & Forbidden Fruit) is a followup to their 2010 release, Eye See You Too, from German netlabel, iD.OLOGY. This second album features "remixes of songs from some of the finest artists in the netlabel scene, as well as Tracing Arcs themselves."

Their music is a mix of electronica, trip-hop, jazz and a deep drum and bass sound that exudes plenty of cool and moody beats.

Tracing Arcs actually started creating music together back in the 90s. In fact, both members are established musicians on their own, having worked with various alternative bands. They've also written for theater and have worked with other artists like  Mary Coughlan, Plaid and Ian Shaw.

Eye See You Too (Remixes & Forbidden Fruit) is exactly what you hoped to expect from the formidable duo with the help of various artists from different netlabels. Like their previous record, this remix comes equipped with mesmerizing tracks guaranteed to hook you from the getgo. The songs vary from slow-tempo electronica tracks like opener, Pebbles & Weed and Wildworld; to jazz-influenced tracks like Rosegarden and even to hardcore deep bass/big beat cuts like Recovery, Icefloes and Deepbreath.

This ambient compilation is certainly worth checking out. It's not just the moody and soothing rhythms that make it work but the enchanting vocals also help to add to the atmosphere of each cut.

This compilation is the first one released by the band under 23 Second Netlabel. You can find their previous work under iD.OLOGY, MixedMode or even Dusted Wax Kingdom.

Related Links:
Tracing Arcs Official Website
Tracing Arcs on Facebook
Tracing Arcs on Last FM
Tracing Arcs on 23 Seconds Netlabel
Tracing Arcs on SoundCloud

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