Reviews

Free Machinarium Bonus EP – best flash game soundrack in years

Machinarium is a amazingly simple, yet extremely entertaining point-and-click game created by a Czech independent studio Amanita Design. It's genius comes from sleek & interesting graphics design, smart and engaging puzzle-solving levels and a really relaxing and one of a kind soundtrack. Both the game and the soundtrack are for sale on Machinarium's website, but the studio released a 5-track bonus EP as a free download to the game's fans.

Kirill Kara-Banchuk – Star T – a Creative Commons release from Mixgalaxy Records

Another full-length LP released by Mixgalaxy Records acquaints the listeners with one very interesting author, who works both with music and graphical art. Kirill Kara-Banchuk belongs to Russian idm flow. Being an expert in sound abstractions and experiments, as well as a talented minimalist artist he makes some kind of synthesis of inner images difficult for perception and interpretation, transferring them into sounds and sharing a part of his rich and individual inward with listeners.

Kid Key Lock – keep kids’ (and pets’) hands away from your computer

Kid Key Lock is a freeware which allows you to disable keyboard and/or mouse functions. You can choose to disable all keys, or choose only specific system commands. You can also disable different mouse keys, as well as the usage of all mouse & keyboard inputs. Its primary purpose is to let toddlers or kids play around your computer without pressing unwanted programs and commands. Of course, this can also be useful for your pets who love to sit on your keyboard or who like to play with the mouse when you aren't there.

Bartois: Solo Piano

Bartois or Bart Knol has developed a deep love for his craft thanks to his encounters with revered contemporary composer of the 20th century, Philip Glass, as well as French composer and pianist, Eric Satie. Bartois’ solemn piano pieces remind you of a quiet soliloquy that people do when by themselves. These straightforward classical pieces fit in perfectly into the works of the masters. Although not as complex and engaging, they are enough to conjure some deep pensive thoughts. Music that perfectly fits “quiet evenings and peaceful mornings.”

et_ presents The Agency of Missing Hearts

Electronic trip-hop and down tempo instrumental tracks that make you wish your break was longer than just 15 minutes. Et_ creates rockish, instrumental electronic music that resonates with maturity and great sense of balance. As long as you get over the fact that the title sounds like an up and coming emo band, you'll realize that et_ is really worth listening to. He incorporates fat sounding beats, tucks in a bit of acoustic on the side and some rock stuff to show you what he's capable of when it comes to software and guitars. Not bad for someone who got started in music playing a "half-broken guitar down from the attic."

“Nasty Old People” – free full feature movie by Hanna Sköld

The film's central character is Mette (Febe Nilsson), a rather callous and rebellious 19-year-old neo-Nazi gang member, whose day job is taking care of old and sick people from whom death seems to approach way too slowly each long and painful day. The irony in Mette's icy demeanor and her day-to-day responsibilities creates an interesting series of possibilities that are both amusing and provocative. Mette eventually rediscovers herself and her own restrained longing for love and acceptance as her life becomes tightly intertwined with the varied lives of the old people that she interacts with everyday. They have all become characters in a unique fairy tale world, and as she realizes this, she is changed forever.

“Greatest It” – a free ‘Best Of’ compilation from six great netlabels

"Greatest It" is a brilliant collaborative output of six cool netlabels who decided to work together to dish out a compilation that celebrates free music with each label's crowd of fans. Agreeing that by working together, they can gather up their audiences and introduce themselves to a bigger virtual crowd in the process, the six netlabels came up with 18 chill out, funky rock tracks to showcase some of the best free music ever released for free online.

Dr. Phibes & The Ten Plagues of Egypt – Music of the Gods Vol. II

Dr. Phibes & The Ten Plagues of Egypt - Music of the Gods - Vol. II is the love child of two simingly opposite music styles - classical & heavy metal. It is a crazy and exhilarating mesh of heavy guitars along with classical strings, church organs and lots of noise. The second installment out of a two volume set features mixes of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, and Sonata For Flute, Bassoon And Bass I/II/IV by Antonio Vivaldi, apart from Bach's Fugue.

Comodo Firewall + Antivirus – protect your Windows

Comodo Firewall + Antivirus is a free security suite which allows users to have the protection of both a firewall and an antivirus. There are many options for advanced users, although it is also quite simple for beginners and entry-level users. Comodo is currently available for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows users. However, you have to keep your attention on the installation to opt out of SafeSearch and toolbar options.