“Inner Landscape” is a solo work by cellist Daniel Levin, released on Clean Feed Records and consist in 6 recordings – landscapes/soundscapes. Tracks 1 and 2 were recorded May 24th, 2009 at Brecht Forum, New York, NY by Robert O’Haire, while tracks 3 to 6 on July 14th, 2009 at The Chateau, Chicago, IL by Brian J. Sulpizio.
Ed Hazell in his liner notes for “Inner Landscape” wrote: Daniel Levin is “a samurai with a calligrapher’s brush in his hand instead of a sword.†And well, Daniel Levin brings six improvising pieces, lead us through moments made of light touch to brutal noise, from abstract fantasies and introspective searches to contorted and abrasive explorations.
It’s definitively not an easy-listening, but Levin delivered a sparkling and glowing experiment. Read more Daniel Levin – Inner Landscape (2011)
Reviews
DJ Mitsu the Beats – Midnight Roses (2011)
Sleazy, easy and smooth, this might be the perfect background music / soundtrack for some nighttime action, or as the Juno Records PRs put it in different words “the best pulling pants and head off” (music).
DJ Mitsu The Beats is widely regarded as one of Japan’s finest mixing wizards, he’s still largely unheralded in Europe outside the nu-jazz and downtempo hip-hop scenes. Mainly instrumental, but also incorporated pieces cuts from Ceefax, Tony Hart’s Gallery and Barry White, this is a nice, soft and quite refreshing melt-down into the smooth universe of slow-dance, soft-focus jazz-funk, nu-jazz and downtempo, still very classy and subtle, “Midnight Roses” is a joyful trip – preferable for two. 😀 Read more DJ Mitsu the Beats – Midnight Roses (2011)
Jumping Jack – Cow & whisky, EP (2009, re-issued)
Jack… Jack… Jack. 😀 AC/DC anybody? Who’s got the jack? 😀
Well, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, recording on “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” began during the “Beggars Banquet” sessions of 1968, but it was not released on that album, although it was released as a single same year. “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” has been featured in many films, including Martin Scorsese’s “Mean Streets” (1973), in Ron Howard’s “Night Shift” and at the end of Terry Gilliam’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, and on several Rolling Stones compilation albums.
On the other hand, looking at the CD cover it’s no way not to think of “Old No.7” – sure you know what I’m talking about…
These guys are not from Tennessee, but from Nantes, France. Read more Jumping Jack – Cow & whisky, EP (2009, re-issued)
The Bunny The Bear – If You Don’t Have Anything Nice To Say (2011)
I’ve got only and exclusively nice things to say (write) about this album. Erik Kogut and Amber Kogut – guitars, Matthew Tybor – The Bunny and Chris Hutka – The Bear – vocals, Derek Anthony – bass and Brian Dietz – drums are draws from many quite different genres of music including extremes such as electro-pop and death metal to deliver their own and quite unique blending of post-hardcore/metal.
It’s true, there some other bands as well tried to merge dance music with metalcore, but these guys from Buffalo, NY, managed to create a striking, fresh and catchy blending of these styles.
Read more The Bunny The Bear – If You Don’t Have Anything Nice To Say (2011)
Gevolt – AlefBase (2011)
Yiddish Metal? Yes! Taste quite like Rammstein, still it has its own perfume and aroma, Gevolt on their second full-length album delivering a powerful blending of classic and modern metal with traditional Yiddish and Russian musical textures, strong riffs and hypnotizing violins. “AlefBase” it’s available as digital release at their official site for FREE DOWNLOAD. Still, you can donate some through PayPal or can buy the physical release for only 12.90 USD (shipping included).
After the international break-through of Orphaned Land, the Israeli heavy metal scene delivered another exciting progressive metal act.
Read more Gevolt – AlefBase (2011)
311 – Universal Pulse (2011)
Being around for 23 years; released ten studio albums, one live album, four compilation albums, four EPs and four DVDs; achieved triple platinum with their 1995 self-titled album, which reached #12 on the Billboard 200 and achieved platinum with one more album and gold with other two; and finally, but not at least, selling over 8 million records worldwide, 311 seems to be a quite successful recipe. Generally labeled as an alternative rock band, they are also classified as rap rock, rap metal, funk rock, funk metal, ska punk, pop punk, reggae and even jazz fusion. Their ten, and up to date shortest album – only 8 tracks -, “Universal Pulse”, will not clarify further their style and genre, it’s another colourful album, while some might even say, this is the same 311 album they’ve already heard it nine times before.
This is a summer album. Read more 311 – Universal Pulse (2011)
Jasta – Jasta (2011)
Jamey Jasta (born James Shanahan) best known as the lead vocalist of Hatebreed and Kingdom of Sorrow, owner of Stillborn Records, and also the “rock themed apparel” line called Hatewear, released his first solo album featuring guest appearances by Phil Labonte from All That Remains, D. Randall Blythe and Mark Morton from Lamb of God, Tim Lambesis from As I Lay Dying, Zakk Wylde and Mike Vallely, and the album will be released on July 26th, 2011 via eOne Music and Century Media.
And “Jasta” is a modern, colourful metal album with different aromas, but full of intense metal riffs and hardcore attitude. Read more Jasta – Jasta (2011)
Tess – St. Charles – DVD Data Discography (2011)
32 titles, 46 videos, 1375 photos – “St. Charles” is the collected retrospective of this French band formed in 2006 and by two new, previously unreleased songs, it’s also a looking into the future. After a first EP entitled “D’un battement d’ailes” (Of a beating of wings) released in April, 2006, it is in April, 2008 that the band delivers its first album, “La dame de Coeur” (The Queen of Hearts) recorded by Yann Klimezyk ( MyPollux). In summer, 2009, Tess records his second album, more aggressive than never, definitively more in a post-hardcore mood, “Les autres” (The Others).
The band will record in September, 2010 two new tracks – “My Very Own War” and “Le Menteur a Dit” – which complete the list of the tracks included on “St. Charles” released on 28 March, 2011. Read more Tess – St. Charles – DVD Data Discography (2011)
Sicfaist – Road Unknown (2011)
Bill Friese – vocals, Eric Britt – guitar, Ken Campbell – drums and Darren McClelland – bass bring to the surface pieces from a shattered universe, while their music have roots back to bands such as Deftones, Tool, System Of A Down and Korn. Actually, they name as their influences bands such as Mudvayne, Tool, Killswitch Engage, Incubus, Gojira, Deftones, Lamb of god, Sevendust, 40 Below Summer, Meshuggah, Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Anyway, these American guys from St. Louis, Missouri, delivering some dark, contorted and sometimes quite strange, but sparkling and beautiful, still heavy enough, modern metal. Read more Sicfaist – Road Unknown (2011)
Vampires On Tomato Juice – VOTJ (2011)
Trevor Le Doux (Vocals, Creator), Ben Wolf (Vocals, Creator), Lucius McCoy (Guitars), Donovan Crane (Guitars), Lord Daryl Khedora (Drums, Background Vocals) and M.Art.S. Lucrezia di Bathory (Bass, Background Vocals) want to notice the world they are here, so this “VOTJ” is available for free download on their web site. What they sound like? Imagine System Of A Down playing Helloween songs from the 80s or vice verse, the 80’s Helloween playing System Of A Down compositions. It’s goddamn serious, but it’s pretty funny. 14 songs plus intro, seems to be hell of an effort, the SOAD parallel persist through the whole album, maybe it’s a little bit too obvious, too conscious this influence. And maybe 14 songs it’s too much. Less songs and more carefully selected themes might worked better. I would stick to 10 songs. Read more Vampires On Tomato Juice – VOTJ (2011)
