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Tap: Im Different - great chill-out hip hop and R&B compilation

Valerie — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:01:55 +0000

The Great Society Media Group is a company that serves as a "promotional vehicle for local record labels in NC." CEO & Founder, Tap (Terry Perry) makes his mark by showcasing his unique blend of sound by releasing this latest effort.

Combining a variety of genres, Im Different is an interesting mix of sounds and beats. On one part it's classified as typical hip hop and r&b while on the other, you'll find electronic, acoustic and even jazz influences surrounding the record.

Tap is no newbie on the block. He's a prolific producer and rapper who has contributed to tracks/albums from artists like Asher Roth, Juelz Santanas Ripstar, Chulo and Ya Favorite Lady to name a few.

Im Different is the latest offering from the artist following a series of compilation records and singles released since 2010. Featuring a general laid-back feel; the album is contemplative and moody in places but also includes lovely upbeat sounds every now and then. When you listen, you'll get tracks like Keep Rising ft. Koury Thompson, which is a beautiful mellow R&B single that combines gorgeous lyrics with soulful singing. Meanwhile, several standout tracks include Hair Down, Sublime ft. Deniro, Transition and the bonus cut, Tizzy Bossa Nova.

If you're looking for some chill music that's appropriate for winding down after a hectic day, this is a nice compilation to check out. Tap can easily create smooth tracks that's perfect for relaxing. From electronica, a touch of rock, and R & B; the artist covers the bases and ensures that listeners have a good time while on the ride. Grab the download.

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Stadtmusikantin und Sterntaler (Traveler's Diary): The Traveler and The King

Valerie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:01:28 +0000

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Don't be fooled by the long and complicated looking name, The Traveler and The King is actually a pretty lovely record for many jazz alternative folk lovers out there.

Originally calling themselves, Stadtmusikantin und Sterntaler, the band now goes by the easier to pronounce name, Traveler's Diary.

This is a debut record for the band. It was released in BandCamp on December 2010 and features a whole range of sounds. You can expect some acoustic percussions, a slight touch of prog, jazz and even folk sprinkled on here.

Title track, The Traveler and The King kick things off. The song has a lounge feel while at the same time adding a hint of alternative rock. Although it's not as catchy as I hoped, it still captures the listeners attention and opens the album nicely.

Showcasing their dynamic capacity, the band follows it off with a more mellow track, Strangers. The song has a nice world music feel to it and incorporates odd bits of sound here and there. The third cut, Lies on the Run begins as an instrumental piece filled with trippy Flamenco style guitar playing. It then elaborates into a midtempo vocals infused cut. Perhaps my favorite off the album, Fools is a jazzy single that has lovely vocals and a sweet lounge club sound.

Overall, the album is worth having. There's good variety to be found here especially if you like to explore different sounds.

The Traveler's Diary is made up of trio The city musician - vocals/ guitar/piano/compositions; Daniel Vargas - double bass and Fiete Wachholtz - drums, percussion. Download the album and enjoy.

Moongardening Inc.: A Sky Full Of Killer Whales

Valerie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:01:14 +0000

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Moongardening Inc. might have an unusual band name as well as an album title, but their music manages to stand out and impress. Creating a solid fusion of pop, jazz, blues and a whole lot in between; A Sky Full of Killer Whales exudes a certain charm.

Only downside is that there's hardly anything about the band online except what's written on their BandCamp page and sparse reviews here and there.

Nevertheless, their music can easily take front and center without much background info about them.

Made up of Sarah van der Meer (voice), Munuera Rodrigo Martin (guitar), Fernando Revuelta (Low), Pablo Oliva (keyboards) and Nano Cañamares (drums); the album mixes folk, indie pop as well as jazz and blues in certain areas. There are even times when progressive rock is introduced courtesy of prolonged guitar riffs and trippy vocals.

Speaking of prog influences, the first cut, The Sky, is a short but chaotic mix of guitars, drums, and distortion. Although you'll hear this trait in some of the songs, majority of the cuts are more folkish pop than anything else. Take for instance the third track, To Have or Have Not; the song is a laid back cut that features Sarah's feminine vocals. With a jaunty tune, it's easy to relax to and perfect for perking up your day.

One of my personal favorites from the album is Big G. It opens with heavy guitars which gorgeously complements the female vocals. Towards the middle part, the boys perform some melodic backup singing and it just brings back so much nostalgia of good old 70s rock. They cap off the entire record with a 10 minute opus titled, The Killer Whale. There's a huge blank sound in the middle with only the first and last parts containing songs. They couldn't have capped the record much better since the song evokes an ethereal feel.

A Sky Full of Killer Whales is one record to watch out for. The fact that the band doesn't really stick to one genre makes it even more interesting. You get one enjoyable track after another; something that's a bit rare to see these days. Go ahead and grab the download. It's available at a pay-what-you-want option.

One Lick Less: We Could be Quiet - an intense compilation worth a listen

Valerie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:01:15 +0000

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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.

ASA Trio: A Love Supreme, Live at Cafe Cultura

Natalie — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:01:23 +0000

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Feel like shutting off your cell phone, computer and getting lost in some quality jazz sounds; well than here is your chance. A Love Supreme will bring you just that, a combination of piercing guitars, lush drums, and mood-setting organs all packaged with the stunningly gorgeous compositions.

The album might include only four tracks, however, as each of them is spanning anything between six to nine minutes, ASA Trio made sure to leave you with well enough sounds to enjoy.

A Love Supreme was recorded on October 29, 2009 at Cafe Cultura, Reykjavik, Iceland as a part of the Múlinn concert series; and as a live recording it will surely make you think that you are in the same room as the band, surrounded by fabulous wandering sounds. With a chilling drums slowly taking us deeper into the first track on the record, the Acknowledgment soon stumbles upon a somewhat more lively turn right after it's one minute mark. Here it is the guitar that picks up to entangle you with the melodies all while the soft drums keep on paving the way in the background. This soothing cut will surely put you in the right mood for some of the jazzy goodness; which comes like a thunder in the form of more strong and eclectic Resolution, and Psalm filled with some iconic organ sounds.

A Love Supreme, Live at Cafe Cultura by ASA Trio

It may seem that ASA Trio came together by mere chance, or faith! And it all began when in 2005 the Reykjavik Jazz Festival saw a last minute cancellation. This is exactly when Andres Thor, the guitarist, stepped in to save the day after he was asked to put together a group to fill in the now missing spot.
From there on something clicked, the spark flew and the band was born. And although in the beginning the boys focused solely on compositions by Thelonious Monk, as the time passed the repertoire also grew to include some of the more unlikely artists such as Tony Williams, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Fiona Apple, among with their own original compositions that is.

The album is offered as a free download under the Creative Commons License.
Want more? Head straight to the ASA Trio's bandcamp page for more free surprises.

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Vernon Lenoir: The Rites of Sausage - eclectic party mix

Valerie — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:01:13 +0000

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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.

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Rachel Ries: Without a Bird - beautiful and melodic folky jazz compilation

Valerie — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:01:33 +0000

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Hailing from South Dakota, classically trained singer, pianist, violinist and violist, Rachel Ries astonishes with her brand of music. And although this album is a couple of years old, it's still worth listening to.

Without a Bird, Rachel's second album, is composed of a folk jazzy sound with beautiful lyrics. It first came out back in 2007 under Rachel's own So Dak Records. Her first album, For You Only, was initially released back in 2005 and was completely recorded in a vintage analog system. This second album was also done in analog, thus exuding a beautiful vintage feel. It's the type of songs you'll want to play at home on a laid back evening, relaxing and just taking in the moment.

If you love your vintage 30s and 40s jazz pop, then it takes just one listen to fall in love with Rachel Ries. Her capacity to add a modern touch to these vintage style songs is amazing and that's not even counting her gorgeous vocals.

Mixing her beautiful piano sounds, jazz/blues style vocals, eloquent lyrics and lovely melodies; the album is a delight to listen to. Some of my favorite tracks include Chicago with its Regina Spektor-vibe; Learning Too Slow and its mid-tempo, slightly country sound; as well as When Will You Be Mine which is one of the best tracks reminiscent of 40s and 50s sultry singing sirens.

Overall, this album is definitely a great find. One of the best records I've listened to in quite a while. Currently, Rachel is slowly but surely compiling and preparing songs for a possible album. It's certainly one to watch out for. In the meantime, grab this release. It's available as a free download under Rockproper.com.

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The Ugly Club: Visions of a Tall Girl EP - undeniably good progressive indie rock

Valerie — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:50:02 +0000

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The Ugly Club is one of those bands whose record you hold on to long after listening to it for the first time. Made up of Ryan Egan, Taylor Mandel, Joe Stasio, Ryan McNulty, and Rick Sue-Poi, the group combines different instruments and genres to create a unique sound that impresses.

Visions of a Tall Girl EP is a 4-track record that emanates with an eclectic progressive indie rock sound. It is complicated and intriguing while at the same time easily likable. This is the second release from the group. Their other EP, Sing What You Want, helped pave the way for the band's easy listening sound to gain a wider audience.

Despite calling themselves The Ugly Club, there's nothing ugly about their sound at all. In fact, the compilation is composed of tracks that are beautifully recorded, incorporating clean instrument work, great lyrics and very catchy beats. It's something you can pop into your headphones and enjoy all day. That's what I did.

The EP is quite short which is a bit frustrating after you've developed a taste for their sound. Nevertheless, the few tracks it features is enough to convince and make a convert of any indie rock lover of the band's capacity to entertain. The FrostWire promo incudes one more bonus track from "Sing What You Want", so you can enjoy the band just for a little longer.

Starting with Visions Part I, you get a peek at the groups' slightly melodramatic side. It's a slower track compared to the rest but it has that charm, much like early Coldplay songs where they stay stuck in your head for a long time. It beautifully transitions into a full-blown indie rock love affair with Parks. Don't be fooled though, by the 2 minute mark the eclectic side of the band kicks in and the song takes on a more punk rock route instead of the easy-listening indie it started with.

Visions Part II continues the formula, starting out strong with pockets of slower indie pop and jazz sprinkled in between the single. The fourth track, Hope We Survive, is my favorite. The boys strip it down for this one, incorporating percussion, tambourines, acoustic guitars, melodic vocals and an amazing steady beat. They lyrics are quite charming as well.

Overall, this is one EP you really shouldn't pass up. It's been awhile since I've listened to a free record that I could enjoy from beginning to end. (It's mostly just a selection of few songs.) However, with Visions of a Tall Girl, it was easy to fall in love with the tracks. Really top quality compilation if you ask me. Check it out for yourself.

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Freeky Cleen: Acoustic Blues Jams - clean and catchy acoustic blues

Valerie — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:01:21 +0000

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Blues has always had a special place in my heart so when I found this really cool record from Freeky Cleen, it definitely made me smile. Acoustic Blues Jams is a laid back and simple guitar driven blues jam from a one man band.

The project began back in 2004 when Ilya Polishchuk and Alex Okhrimenko decided to create their own recording studio, complete with instruments and systems that they created themselves. This was a big challenge but they managed to succeed. After taking the plunge, Ilya recorded a couple of original tracks which would eventually lead to Freeky Cleen's debut record, Infertility, back in 2005.

To date, this is the sixth release from the artist. Acoustic Blues Jams is exactly like its title. It's a hodge podge of beautiful blues jam sessions accompanied with Ilya's country style vocals and clean acoustic guitar playing. The album contains 15 tracks including 3 bonus singles.

Royalty free music for professional licensing

Starting with the catchy Married Man Blues, the song laments temptations besetting well...a married man. Featuring great guitar skills and a very laid style, the song is instantly likable even after just one listen. The vocals and backing voice lends itself to the song and definitely add that touch of sincerity to the lyrics. Other tracks like Feelin' Low Down, echo a more rhythm and blues vibe reminiscent of various blues artists who pretty much spearheaded the sound. Elements of hard rock, country, bluegrass and even boogie woogie dominate Freeky Cleen's sound; providing audiences a chance to enjoy this long-forgotten sound especially in today's pop-driven music world.

Overall, the record is a great one to have for those who know how to appreciate acoustic blues. It's a beautiful and relaxing compilation that makes you want to find yourself a bayou somewhere with guitar on hand and singing the afternoon's away. You'll find the record in Jamendo as well as on the band's official website.

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Kursed: Like a Coffee - indie grunge and more from French rock trio

Valerie — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:01:59 +0000

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The cover for Like a Coffee might look like one of those bossa nova records you see lying around in the Starbucks counter, but fact is, this compilation is far from anything bossa nova. The record is a tipsy, indie grunge rock affair from three guys from Montpellier, France.

Kursed has been around since 2003. Thanks to their art rock/experimental sound they're easily winning listeners left and right. This is the second record for the band. Their first album, Psychotic Lowland, was a success; obtaining great reviews from listeners in Jamendo. Like a Coffee is much like their predecessor, only a bit more tighter and incorporates more experimental sounds in the process.

Like a Coffee is a teaser of sorts for the full album. The actual 15-track record is available for purchase only but the boys were kind enough to give their listeners a taste by handing out this 6-track compilation absolutely free.

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Opening with Perfect Mean, the song begins with a coffee jazz vibe that's a bit misleading since it essentially transforms into an indie hipster affair in the next few minutes. This is one of the stronger tracks on the record, involving whispery rock vocals and a really cool beat. The boys mainly sing in English too, allowing their French accents to add a nice touch to the song. On the other hand, second single, Abort Me, is more experimental and trippy. For this one, the boys pulled back and showcased their slow, melodic side. It reminds me of The Verve in several instances what with the drawly vocals and the somber atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Generation and Matafuka, clearly expresses the bands love for grunge. They turn the volume up a notch; sound off jangly guitars, heavy drumming and warbly/incoherent vocals with these two songs. They cap this short teaser album with Not Hidden. Kursed switches it up again with this one, incorporating a gypsy folk, country fair sound.

The album is quite interesting. It mixes a lot of different elements yet making them all work as if they were meant to be paired together in the first place. I just hope their full record is just as intriguing. Give this one a listen.

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