Have a sweet spot for folk electronica music? Happy Song is a Happy Song by Nick Rivera is a compilation you should check out.

The man behind this musical project is Michele Sarti, an Italian singer/songwriter who has a gift for transforming various instruments and sounds into a whole menagerie of quiet beauty. His sound captures elusive and fleeting moments so perfectly that it's hard not to fall for it.

After years spent playing drums for a number of rock bands, Michele eventually sought more experimental and free form sounds. This led to rediscovering instruments like the French horn and exploring a more meditative, free-folk form of sound.

From a mix of acoustic sounds, the French Horn and spacey, synth sounds here and there; opening single Renee Luise starts the mini EP in the best possible way. It immediately immerses the listener in the weird but surprisingly relaxing sound of  Nick Rivera. Despite the mish-mash of instruments, you still get a melodic and hypnotic set that's heightened by the artists' moody vocal work.

It's followed by title track, Happy Song is a Happy Song, which features the more folkish acoustic side of the singer. Again, the musician's capacity to create a concrete image and capture the essence of the tracks makes his sound even more worthy of a listen. Meanwhile, Butter in My Head is a bit more melodramatic with a touch of quirkiness. The vocals lends itself well to the song, adding another layer of interest to the already lush landscape of instruments.

The album is finished off with Horn Y Orgy, an instrumental piece that highlights the artists' love for the French Horn. It's a lovely track that caps the record in a fresh way.

With just four cuts, the EP is quite short. And chances are after you listen to it, you'll want to listen to more from Nick Rivera. Expect the sound to be quite different. There's a lot going on in each song but there's also a coherence and unity to the sound. Overall, this is a great EP to have especially for those looking for a new acoustic, free folk artist to love.

Related Links:
Nick Rivera on La Bel Netlabel
Nick Rivera on Myspace
Nick Rivera on Internet Archive

Questo opera è distribuito con licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 2.5 Italia.

If you're looking to get your progressive rock fix, The Stalactites' Dark Matters could help you in this department. Made up of Johnny B. (guitar),  Rudy Hellio (piano, guitar, programming), and Sophie Hebbelynck (violin), The Stalactites is actually a virtual band; making use of the internet and sending each other recorded files from miles away.

Dark Matters is the second compilation for the group. It was released back in August 2011. Don't expect crazy progressive riffs in here though, the album dwells more on the atmospheric/ambient side, combining hazy guitars with moody violin work and great programming. 

As mentioned, the guys are essentially a virtual band; recording their own parts from different places and combining these into one cohesive track for the album. So far, the formula is proving a success. Dark Matters exudes this otherwordly vibe that's both soothing and relaxing.

From the opening track, Kryptonited, you can sort of guess that you're in for one moody, spacey trip. The song is a bit somber but it does set the mood perfectly for the rest of the compilation. Occasionally, heavier guitar riffs do come into play such as in SOL and Paranoid Bones, but there are also melodic piano work in tracks like Nova. In the end, you get this ethereal rockish sound from the record which is easily likable, even if you're not a complete prog rocker.

Dark Matters is perfect for anybody who has a taste for experimental music. Prog isnt' exactly everybody's cup of tea but for those who love it, this one should be an easy winner. Take a listen.

Related Links:
The Stalactites on BandCamp
The Stalactites on Facebook
The Stalactites on YouTube
The Stalactites on Symbiotic Reviews

Greeting 2012 with a free release, Cut Music is offering a brand new mini EP. Injecting a slightly new feel compared to their usual releases, Miles Apart EP from Existance, slightly exudes a more R&B electronic dubstep feel. This short 3-track compilation features smooth rhythms and hypnotic vocal samples.

Although it's short, the tracks in the record are easily likable, thanks to skillful mixing and just a knack for creating some fine, easy-listening beats. 

From the first single, Miles Apart; listeners are treated to a smooth mix of sounds. Like a big jigsaw puzzle finding the right pieces, each beat, vocal and synth fit comfortably against each other. It's hard not to enjoy the track even if you might not consider yourself a big electro dubstep fan.

Meanwhile, Uninhabited is a bit closer to tracks previously featured under Cut. The song is a bit dark with an eerie 'walking-down-a-dark-alleyway' vibe. On the other hand, you'll find the last song, Pelennor Fields, a bit more melodic with moody drums, bass and pianos peppering the background.

Each of the three songs have a completely different feel to them but they all resonate with an overall equation; that is a good and catchy beat. You can grab the download over at BandCamp or head over to the Cut Music website. Give this a listen.

Related Links:
Existance on BandCamp
Existance on CUT Music
Existance on Facebook

One Lick Less proves that you can do so much with just drum & bass and the occasional vocals.  We Could Be Quiet contains music that hovers around free-ranging blues, progressive improv and even "spectral math rock."

When you listen, it's not hard to see all this. The album is an intense, sometimes instrumental, compilation full of eclectic bits and pieces all cohesively working together.
The result is impressive, in terms of range and style. It's also something difficult to describe since it's rare to hear such a unique sound.

One Lick Less is made up of duo Julien Bancilhon and Basil Ferriot. Together they create a sound that's trippy and complicated yet pleasant to the ears. Most of the time, it's the instrument work and beat that takes center stage with vocals thrown in the mix. They admit to being influenced by a myriad of artists including Nirvana, John Coltrane, Jesus Lizard, Tetsuki Akiyama and Miles Davis to name a few. As a result, the album is a hodge podge of blues, grunge, and rock all rolled into one.

We Could Be Quiet starts with the upbeat, Alameda. The song is danceable one with a nice blues jazz touch and great guitar playing. It's easily one of my favorites in the record, as it conjures up images of Spanish guitars and dancing to some moonlit campfire in a foreign land. Fuzzy Rats, on the other hand, is among the tracks that feature voice. The melodic, somewhat detached, vocals are accompanied by slow but expert guitar picking and builds up to an uptempo wave of beautiful drumming.

Closing song, Vastly Phial, has a nice haunting, Sonic Youth influence in it. There's the jangly, distorted guitars with chanting vocals that add to the dark atmosphere of the track.

In the end, the album is a unique one that's worth watching out for. Grab the download and take a listen. It's available as a free download over at BandCamp, but you can opt to help out the group by purchasing a physical copy of their record as well.

Related Links:
One Lick Less on BandCamp
One Lick Less on Facebook
One Lick Less on Myspace

One of the many faces representing underground electronica from Munich, Germany; Magentaa releases his latest record, Pulse. This 7-track compilation carefully fuses different elements to create a cohesive album guaranteed to make it the perfect go-to record for midnight parties or quiet lounging at your apartment.

There's not much personal info about the artist online, except that he has released several titles and compilations prior to this one. Most of his songs are an eclectic mix of sounds; with drum machines, electronic pianos, voice and field recordings making an appearance. It's this unusual combination that's making his electronic sonatas quite interesting to listen to.

Pulse opens up with Houche, one of the longest tracks in the record. It runs for about 8 minutes and fills in listeners with what is essentially a hodge podge of synths, electronic, overly auto-tuned sounding vocals and a quirky drum beats. Even though it's a bit long, the sound is pretty consistent and doesn't make you feel like you're swimming under a senseless mix of sound.

On the other hand, tracks like Hazie and Tubb, delve deeper into the dark atmosphere, coating it with generous psychedelic vibes and even a slight touch of hip-hop.

According to the artist, Pulse is "about bits & pieces. Single parts, repeatedly demixed, modulated, filtered, chopped and newly formed into structures. It's music, that functions like a multiple repainted picture. To listen to makes you an adept. The room between abstract sound and concrete noise is measured here. When tones become noise, images will be available, that aren't completely medially tied yet."

Indeed, Magentaa creates a sound that is both mystical and relaxing. Pretty much, you could play this record in the background to whatever it is you're doing and just enjoy it. The album is currently available as a free download. Take a listen.

Worst by Magentaa

Related Links:
Magentaa on Phonocake
Magentaa Official Website
Magentaa on SoundCloud
Magentaa on Techno-Locator

I may not understand full sentences of Spanish but there's something about Deplasticoverde that's quite intriguing and special.

Deplasticoverde is a special project spearheaded by Carolina Espinoza. A young Spanish artist that released her debut EP in 2010 under Ponk Records. Shaped by folk and pop influences, the album undulates with beautiful acoustic guitars and sweet singing from the artist.

Her songs are simple but they abound with meaningful vocals and some spunky attitude which is enough to make you want to listen even if you have no clue what she's singing about.

The album comes with 8 full songs that range from upbeat to quiet. Starting with Todo el Tiempo, the record opens with a melodic number from the artist, showcasing her vocals and  acoustic guitar playing. The song slowly picks up pace as it transitions into a more powerful single filled with drumming and sparkly pianos.

Majority of the songs are in Spanish but there is one track where the singer tests out her English singing skills. Tarea de Ingles is a short, 2-minute single that is perfect for travelling across foreign lands. Meanwhile, final track, Clever, mixes hypnotic percussion with beautiful guitar playing from the artist. The song is a bit dark, taking listeners to a mysterious little trip that perfectly closes the record.

Even if you're hesitant about listening to a foreign album, this is one piece you shouldn't pass up. Once you're done grabbing these, also take a listen to Carolina's latest record, Periodo, over at BandCamp.

Related Links:
Deplasticoverde on BandCamp
Deplasticoverde on Myspace
Deplasticoverde on Facebook
Deplasticoverde on YouTube

Brock Berrigan was hatched in Astoria, Queens some two and a half decades ago… since then, Berrigan has lived a life of seclusion; drunkenly wondering from town to town digging through vinyl, watching cable television, and living off of half empty packs of cigarettes and bottles of beer. Today, he makes his way the only way a creature of his design knows how; through Film Score or landing the occasional Session (Musician) gig for any of the several instruments in his well rounded and highly valued repertoire. As of recently, Brock's "Hip Hop" page was featured on SoundCloud's "Artist of the Day" capturing a quickly growing listener base and demand for more music.

The Portable Cypher Vol.1 is a collection of the year's most highly requested (for use by rappers) Berrigan instrumentals, along with 4 new tracks for Cyphers all over the world. "It seems like every time I drop a new beat dozens of emails hit my in box… 'The Portable Cypher' is an album I want to do every year, keep those cyphers going." says Berrigan, in an obviously inebriated state (but with a refreshingly sincere attitude).

Well, one definitely needs not be a rapper; or even listen to Hip Hop to enjoy Mr. Berrigan's newest edition of this diverse and ever-growing catalog-o-sound. Each beat on 'The Portable Cypher' seems to envelope the listener with an entirely new and inspiringly unique energy; until, before you know it, the album has ended and you can't help but want more. Luckily for us, Berrigan has what he refers to as "a healthy addiction to creating music"… with over 55 tracks on SoundCloud and two other solo albums on Bandcamp: '2001 Beat Tape' and 'April's Neck Brace', plus 3 New Songs on 'Brain Food LP' (available on iTunes); any new listener has a nearly one-hundred tracks to choose from.

What I enjoy most about listening to most Brock Berrigan's music, is the effect it has on my imagination. With so much humor and soul tucked into every detail, each song telling a story through sounds and styles ranging from classical baroque, to afro-jazz and obscure Japanese pop… his music manages to keep me thinking and having fun; which is a rare thing to find in the realm of modern Hip Hop production. 'The Portable Cypher' could very well be Berrigan's 'Moveable Feast', with each new Volume acting as chapter in his development within this modernized bohemian society of artists and next generation beatmakers. How this series of albums will progress and end I am obviously uncertain, but 'Vol.1'; seems off to a promising start, with Berrigan's sound in ever increasing demand, and ever-improving techniques miles beyond the pack.

Related Links:
Brock Berrigan on BandCamp
Brock Berrigan on SoundCloud
Brock Berrigan on iTunes
Brock Berrigan on Last FM
Brock Berrigan on Tumblr

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Animator, artist, filmmaker and musician, JT Bruce, is one tough act to follow. He describes himself as having an "eye for the bizarre and an ear for the unusual" and this clearly shows in his music.

For The Dreamer's Paradox, Bruce creates a complicated yet hypnotic compilation where progressive music resonates. This is the second record for the artist. The album itself is a bit old, about 5 years today but it still manages to impress plenty of listeners out there.

His first album, Anomalous Material, gained quite a response and this one is no exception either. However, the artist noticeably takes his sound a little deeper, creating more diversity and layers to his instruments unlike before.

The Dreamer's Paradox is an epic compilation that is filled with JT's signature guitar solos and pure rock and roll aesthetic. Starting things with Plunge Into Hyperreality, the song makes me think of Racer X since it seems to fit nicely in their musical catalog. The fast, near marathon beat gives the track a good pace allowing listeners to take in much of the guitars without overkill. There are moments when the tempo slows down in the middle and more melodic instances take over; giving it a lovely balance.

Like any good prog compilation, you also get the more "subdued" tracks apart from the ones that feature crazy guitars and drumming. Some of the more mellow ones included here are The Verge of Illusory Light; and the Fantasia-like soundtrack, A Skeptic's Hypothesis. Both songs are perfect if you like having relaxing prog music serenading your quiet moments.

Although there's a lot going on in some of the songs, each one is always exciting and doesn't bog listeners down. It's like a nice busy street where you take pleasure in seeing/watching people with different fashion tastes and styles. Worth the checkout if you have a soft spot for prog.

You can grab the download along with Bruce's other compilations over at Jamendo. All of them are offered for free under a Creative Commons license.

Related Links:
JT Bruce on Jamendo
JT Bruce Official Website
JT Bruce on Last FM
JT Bruce on Twitter
JT Bruce on Facebook

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Generic License.

If you are looking for a soulful, rich, and inspiring instrumental sounds that will help to smooth out your day, then we have something just for you. Stefano Mocini's A Cat Playing is one of the most melodious piano only compilations I have stumbled upon in a long time.

With each track outperforming the previous one, A Cat Playing is one of the few albums where pin pointing the favorite song is nearly impossible; even after few long listens. The melodies brilliantly flow and connect each of the tracks; and all this is managed with just a single instrument.

Stefano Mocini succeeds, without a doubt, in brilliantly fusing different types of piano pieces into one stunning performance, where listeners will never come across a monotonous tone.
The album oozes out relaxing tones, sweet optimistic melodies, and lots of passion; perfect for those romantic outings or a relaxing evenings at home.

The variations used in the album include Ballades, Mineuts, Sonatas, Fanatsaies, just to name a few and will certainly leave a spark of love with any true romantic at heart, especially after hearing cuts like Calm Before or Against Fate. Another track worth mentioning is It Hurts where the piano work alone makes an incredible job of 'playing' pain; very heart-warming track for the wintertime.

In the words of an artist himself:

"I tried to reload my best songs with perfect sound (the volume is low to preserve the quality of the recording).
But in reality I cannot play the piano in a perfect way because I have played it for just only one year..."

I must mention, the guy has a very funny side to him when you read on further.

Overall it is a great album, a great compilation, great tracks, and relaxing music. Its a thumbs-up from me and I hope it will gain some new instrumental music fans.

Related Links:
Stefano Mocini on Jamendo
Stefano Mocini on SoundCloud
Stefano Mocini on Facebook

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