Killwave by Killwave

Synth pop album with some dark undertones. Singer kinda reminds of Bowie. The first two tracks are truly awesome.

Overlord Pt I: The Glorious Rise of Terminus Abruptus

I am not sure how to describe this album. It's rock with the usual guitars and drums but it also sounds quite electronic in the delivery and the synthetic overtones. Maybe it's electronic rock?

groundloopnoise - EP by groundloopnoise

If you like cool rhythms and a nice dose of glitch (Effects such as glitch are cool when they are not predominant and play supportive roles like in this instance.), this little album (aka EP) is probably for you.

Affections EP by Fain

Nice little album that's quite frugal in the arrangement department (It's not a bad thing to have just a few instruments/channels going on at the same time.) but rich in percussive rhythms and ambiance/atmosphere. Of course, it wouldn't be featured here if it didn't have nice melodies sprinkled all around.

Continuum Disturbed by Jake Willard

You don't hear too many concept albums in the world of electronic music. This one takes the whole thing to 11 with a 7 movement piece that's worth to be listened any time of the day.

Early Mornings by Gnarly Stokes

Here's an album made by a young producer with an awesome name, Gnarly Stokes. I was kinda expecting a chiptune or dubstep album but no, it's not that at all, it's pure instrumental, chillout, easy listening stuff. The best part is that it's mostly electric guitar stuff and who doesn't like guitar instrumentals?

Track 1, "Dreamin'", is a bit underwhelming for an opening track. It's got layered electric axes that have a good sound but the melody is somewhat chaotic. Track 2, "Justin Avery", introduces some light drumming on top of the two layered guitars. This is going in the right direction. The tune is quite pleasant to listen to, very relaxing, very chill. The next tracks each feature a (lone) synthesizer to complement the electric guitar, a wise choice, I think. They (tracks 3 to 7) all sound sound good (The melody on track 7 sounds a bit random at times though.)

All in all, it's a good instrumental album. I like the simplicity of it (No tracks with gazillions of instruments.) and I really like the guitar work. I really can't say I would have liked more dynamics in the tunes because, to me at least, this is a chillout album, not a rock (or whatever) album.

Pictures We Take by Parlor Voice

Short album (5 tracks) that should satisfy the amateur of indie (new) folk pop music. Unlike most of the albums reviewed here, this one is not instrumental. No worries, this guy's voice is very nice to listen to ... unlike a lot of indie rock bands around (cheap shot!) Ok, so the vocals are good, but are the tunes worth listening. Well, yes, hell yes. The first two tracks are on the mellow side. Track 2, "Joseph", has a cool retro sounding electric organ and the guy (Parlor Voice) is not afraid to play it. Track 3, "Arc", has the same electric organ to start with but then you have a cool sounding electric guitar that comes into play and that's very satisfying. The tune is also sprinkled with some very appropriate ooh's, which without a doubt adds to its worth. Track 4, "Hospital Nights", has two layers of acoustic guitars that are soon joined by some powerful drumming which adds a good dose of drama. After a while, the electric organ surfaces again giving a feel of unity to the whole album. Track 5, "Dogwood", ups the tempo a tiny bit. Four on the floor drumming and an electric guitar as an esteemed guest. What more can one ask? Too bad, that's the last track of the album.

Very cool album with nothing to throw out. It has my seal of approval. More guitar for the next album please. Distorted if at all possible.

Symphonic Electronic - Originals Vol. II by Orchestral Bits and Bytes

Here's an album that has everything I am looking for in a release: nice melodies, orchestra sounds, and distorted electric guitars. It actually reminds me of the kind of music I like to make. Unfortunately, nobody listens to it. But I digress.

Listen to the first track, "She's Gone Now", and you will get the gist of this album. If you like that track, then you will love the album (Trust me!) It's got cool melodies on all kinds of instruments. First, there's an acoustic guitar, then a bass, and then not just one piano but two. Feeling that the mix is a bit lacking, an electric guitar with a tiny bit of distortion joins the party train. Wait, there's more, a mellow trumpet chimes in to complete the instrumentation. Awesome!

I could go on and on describing each tune (Wait! That's probably what I am supposed to do but I am not getting paid for writing those reviews unlike some other blogs, so let's cut to the chase. My fave tracks in this album are plenty: "She's Gone Now", "Groovy", High Stakes" (The jazz feel is large on this one.), "Breakout" (A super downtempo jazzy track.), "Mystery Hill", "Bass" (This tune is just a bass. Cool!), "Industrial", "Oceanic Blimp", "Bitcrushed", "The Worst", "Of Blue and Gray", "Never Quite Alone" (That sweeping piano melody at the beginning is off the hook, as Guy Fieri would say.), and "Ice Cubes and Ice Creams". That's a pretty long list so here are my faves among the faves: "The Worst" and "Of Blue and Gray" (That melodic hook on the trumpet is unreal. So simple.)

I wish more people would make albums like this one, filled with melodic lines so beautiful that they give you goosebumps or make the hair in the back of the neck stand up (I love cliches.) Seriously, that's a great album and I recommend it to anyone who likes melodies in their music but hate lyrics (It's all instrumental.)