Reverbaphone, Our Heart Beats With Joy (The Curved World Outside) [Benbecula – BEN026, 2004]

The more I listen to this release the more apparent it becomes to me that there’s a direction within electronic music that focuses on the acoustic parts in an increasingly unbalanced electronic/acoustic mixture. And now it seems like, quite surprisingly I might add, that the Scottish label Benbecula home to among others the talented and… Continue reading Reverbaphone, Our Heart Beats With Joy (The Curved World Outside) [Benbecula – BEN026, 2004]

Various Artists, Region Zero [Boltfish Recordings – BOLT007, 2004]

The title “Region Zero a Boltfish recordings sampler” is self-explanatory. Boltfish is a relatively newly started record label and they’ve already reached their 7th release. It’s a good compilation of electronic music from their roster of artists. The common denominator of the collected tracks, if any, is the fact that many of them are quite… Continue reading Various Artists, Region Zero [Boltfish Recordings – BOLT007, 2004]

Cheju, As the Leaves Turn [Boltfish Recordings – BOLT006, 2004]

On this MP3/CDR release from the Boltfish label, Cheju delivers four tracks of well-executed programming, melodic construction and quite a lot of atmosphere. The nostalgic factor is high, so is the production quality, high that is. The opening track “Shinchon” has qualities that any electronic music listener can appreciate. “Dragon head rock” builds along the… Continue reading Cheju, As the Leaves Turn [Boltfish Recordings – BOLT006, 2004]

Myrakaru, Tammetõru [Expanding Records – ECD16:04, 2004]

The latest full-length offering from Expanding, which release is immanent (Sep 2004) and is signed Myrakaru is entitled “Tammetõru”. It is yet another debut album on Expanding and it seems they’ve made yet another find. The CD contains 13 tracks of rhythmic excursions fused with beautiful melodies and basslines. Just what you would expect from… Continue reading Myrakaru, Tammetõru [Expanding Records – ECD16:04, 2004]

Myrakaru, Klutic Reso [Expanding Records – EVS4:04, 2004]

Number four in the second evs-series features the latest signing to Expanding: Myrakaru. You get well-composed rhythmic bliss in “Klutic Reso” and “Kimalnu” on yellow ultra-thick 7-inch vinyl packaged in thick opaque PVC with print. The b-side “Kimalnu” is also featured on their debut album “Tammetõru” soon out on Expanding (Sep 2004). It’s the evs-series,… Continue reading Myrakaru, Klutic Reso [Expanding Records – EVS4:04, 2004]

Bauri, Have No Fear [Expanding Records – EVS5:04, 2004]

Bauri releasing on Expanding a stroke of genius? Bauri re-assumes his release schedule with a fantastic contribution to the evs-series. Warm and lush and this time maybe downplaying the Hip-hop influences displayed on his latest New Speak release “Everything is going to be OK again” a bit. Regardless, Bauri delivers to gorgeous tracks “Have No… Continue reading Bauri, Have No Fear [Expanding Records – EVS5:04, 2004]

Ludvig Elblaus, Furious Styles [New Speak – NSPK005, 2004]

“Furious Styles” is a superb 6-track release by Ludvig Elblaus out on New Speak (Hey, whatever happened to EDr?) and also his first release as a solo artist. (As you may or may not know Ludvig Elblaus is exactly one half of Frank and Bill.) One recurring trade or pattern is Elblaus’ strong focus on… Continue reading Ludvig Elblaus, Furious Styles [New Speak – NSPK005, 2004]

Various Artists, Skåne Revisited [New Speak – NSPK004, 2004]

It should be a project doomed to fail, a 12 track remix compilation of the same unreleased song. But “Skåne Revisited” is all but a failure and it works like a charm. The fourth New Speak release is just that a compilation CD with twelve remixes of an unreleased Komp track from 1998. As it… Continue reading Various Artists, Skåne Revisited [New Speak – NSPK004, 2004]

Funckarma, Smizm EP [DUB Recordings – DUB30, 2004]

The supreme masters’ are back on vinyl as well as on DUB recordings. Complex beats, plenty of bass, as you would expect from the outstanding and untouchable Funckarma. A bit darker sounding this time around, but as with all their previous releases it is simply brilliant and it doesn’t get any better than this (well… Continue reading Funckarma, Smizm EP [DUB Recordings – DUB30, 2004]