Music Test Lab

NETZ - Exit Märchenland

2012-02-25T22:18:00.001+01:00

NETZ offers upp a record built on minimalistic and very cold sound. Some of the tunes on this album contains quite annoying sound. However it's a fun experiment and the obvious influences from Kraftwerk and in some cases i would also guess video game music makes it kinda fun to listen to. It's probably not an album that will make it out on a party or even a club dance floor. However it will probably find its way into some collections since its quite fun to listen to and also a quite interesting and unique album.

Record: Exit Märchenland
Artist: NETZ
Label: Sonic-X
Rating: 6/10

Glenn Love - Delusion Of Reprieve

2012-02-25T22:09:00.000+01:00

Canadian artist Glenn Love gets influenced by many electronic genres. This is quite obvious. The information that comes with this promo does not lie when it sais that influences from dark electro, trance and electro-industrial music is found in Delusion Of Reprieve. Unfortunately it gets to be a little too much, and unfortunately the singing is of the forced and aggressive kind that is often heard in heavier electronic music styles.

Record: Delusion Of Reprieve

Artist: Glenn Love

Label: Sonic-X

Rating: 4/10

Mirrors Of Mind - Dellamorte Dellamore

2012-02-25T21:57:00.000+01:00

Dellamorte Dellamore can best be described as a mix between darkwave and EBM. The music has a nice feeling about it and the lyris, although in Russian, speaks even to me who does not understand a word. Generally Mirrors Of Mind seems quite skilled at delivering their music and their message (even if one does not understand the language). On the other side, it would have been nice if the EP followed some kind of pattern since its only a few songs. Now it skipps freely between low tempo darkwave with an obvious gothic touch to an upbeat EBM song that seems quite malplaced if you consider the band name, album name and even the artwork of the record. However it's not bad in any place and gets a well deserved 7.

Record: Dellamorte Dellamore EP
Artist: Mirrors Of Mind
Label: Synthematik
Rating: 7/10

Spark - Hela Din Värld

2012-02-25T21:40:00.002+01:00

Swedish EBM-group Spark (translates to Kick) serves up a nice concoction of listener friendly and fast paced EBM-music. The music is high in energy and the lyrics flows extremely well. Unfortuately for you readers out there, the lyrics are all in Swedish, but hey, it's never too late to learn. Right? This is a given record to play at any party and will most likely do very well at club dance floors too.

Record: Hela Din Värld
Artist: Spark
Label: Progress Productions
Rating: 8/10

Anouncement

2012-01-28T16:50:00.001+01:00

I'm happy to anounce that I'll be writing some reviews for Brutal Resonance (www.brutalresonance.com). This all because of The Music Test Lab. I was contacted by the person who runs Brutal Resonance with a direct question if I wanted to write for them. The Test Lab will however remain active and alive even if I'll post a little fewer reviews in the future. This also means that I probably will not have time to review all the promos I'll get. I will start to sift through incoming promos and eliminate stuff that I don't like so you'll probably read less ramblings of Hocico style singing and techno ;)

The New Division - Shadows

2012-01-28T16:46:00.000+01:00

The New Division delivers what best can be described modernized synthpop with a hint of influences from more "ordinary" pop music. The light, uncomplicated and listening friendly tunes are performed by obviously skilled musicians and as if that was not enough they have a singer who can actually sing quite good (I usually rant on how this is quite uncommon in synthpop, ebm and so on). The tracks vary from upbeat to more relaxed and calm. Some of the more upbeat songs would probably work on a dancefloor but not all of them. This is alltogether a very versatile album wich suits as well in your MP3-player when you're out and about as it does in your CD-player during a party. Now I've said mine, go get it!

Record: Shadows
Artist: The New Division
Label: Progress Productions
Rating: 10/10

The Neon Grey - Dis-play

2012-01-18T20:12:00.000+01:00

Upbeat and bordering to industrial. The Neon Grey sounds influenced by bands like Rammstein and Rosetta Stone. Some of the sounds used on this production gives a slightly annoying impression as they reduces the feeling of harmony but on the other hand they add to the "personality" and character of the music so it's not all bad. The Neon Grey would easily fit in on the dancefloor of an EBM-club or similar. All in all, this is an interestin production wich stands on it's own legs. Will probably bi liked by many but for various reasons. Will probably be hated by few. Over all: Good stuff!

Record: Dis-play
Artist: The Neon Grey
Label: Black I.P Studio
Rating: 7/10

Various Artists - Synthematika Three

2012-01-18T19:51:00.001+01:00

Beeing a synthpop/futurepop afficionado I find this collection as good as it gets. Even if it claims to contain dark electro, industrial and EBM-tracks it never goes far from melodic and upbeat sounds. Sure, it's a compialtion and as usual in that case it contains tracks that one loves and tracks that are not to the listeners liking. In the case of Synthematika Three however, the worst review I can give of any track is that it was a bit boring and flat. This is an absolute must have for all futurepop/synthpop-lovers out there.

Record: Synthematika Three
Artist: Various
Label: Synthematik
Rating: 10/10

reADJUST - Wahre helden

2012-01-08T19:34:00.000+01:00

I have on a coupple of occasions ranted about how horrible I find the "Hocico-style" whisper singing. reADJUST is a band who suffers from this horror. It's not very common for electronic bands to have skilled singers, I know this but really? Angry aggressive whisper-singing? No thanks! I know there are people out there who love this but I'm not one of them. However reADJUST offers some incredible music and the songs would be wonderful if it wasn't for the singing. Come on. New singer, same music. The music saves this production and gives it a rating of a solid 5.

Record: Wahre helden
Artist: reADJUST
Label: Unknown/none
Rating: 5/10

First Aid 4 Souls - Selected electro works Vol 2, Noise 'N' Breaks From Hell

2012-01-08T19:22:00.001+01:00

A selection of songs from First aid 4 souls. Personaly I would rate most of it as techno with a few exceptions. I think the audience for this record will be found among the people who appreciate songs built mostly out of samplings and loops. However there are a few highlights. Unfortunately these highlights are too few to earn this album a score of average 5.

Record: Selected electro works Vol 2, Noise 'N' Breaks From Hell
Artist: First Aid 4 Souls
Label: Electro Arc
Rating: 3/10

Various artists - Net.Ware Years of yearning

2012-01-08T19:09:00.000+01:00

I have ranted on the curse and blessing of compilation albums now and then. You're almost certain to find something you like but also something you hate. Net.Ware years of yearning is a standard compilation in the sense that there are songs I find excellent as well as songs I only find annoying. However most songs are obviously well produced and the amount of good songs is higher than the quota of bad songs so this is all in all a very nice. I think most people will find something in this album since it reaches from more harsh EBM-tunes to space synthish sounding melodies.

Record: Net.Ware Years of yearning
Artist: Various
Label: Electro Arc
Rating: 7/10

LPF12 - Reconstructing a sense of loss

2012-01-08T18:54:00.000+01:00

LPF12 has actually done it. I thought it was impossible to create a remix-album without getting an un-even quality and disharmonious change between tempo and obvious flicks of the remixing artists mind. Reconstructing a sense of loss however is a total oposit of that. The remixes create a general "feelgod harmony" even when they vary some in tempo. The parts wich were actually the downfall of earlier LPF12 album A sense of loss where too suggestive sounds and "trippy" soundscape got the album a low rating, is here completed and supported by the remixes and through that ends up as a fantastic album.

Record: Reconstructing a sense of loss
Artist: LPF12
Label: Ionium records
Rating: 8/10

Ad Inferna - There Is No Cure

2011-12-02T20:44:00.001+01:00

The sound is upbeat danceable synth-music/futurepop but the singing is harsh EBM/industrial. This is really an album where sound clashes and if it were'nt for the singing this album would rate a lot higher. I know that I ramble on and on how bands in the synth/ebm/futurepopgenres often lack some in the song-department. Ad Inferna however, does not lack, it clashes. The music is really cool and nicely organized but is all ruined by song that does not match the general sound. There are short parts where the singer (or some back up vocals) sings clear and shows the real potential of the band. The rest sounds like he really wanted to sing in Hocico. Unfortunately this clashing brings the rating down a lot.

Record: There Is No Cure
Artist: Ad Inferna
Label: Nilaihah records
Rating: 3/10

Xiescive - Nexus

2011-12-02T20:35:00.001+01:00

Kinda typical EBM with some techno-sounding sounds incorporated in the music. It's hard to say anything special about this record since it feels kinda average. It's not bad but it does not make me jump out of my chair and want to dance either. I guess this is one of those records that suit some people very well while others go: "yeah I've heard it and it was kinda ok". I'm one of the "kinda ok"-people. I recommend people to take the time to listen to it though as I think some people will have the opinion that they have struck gold.

Record: Nexus
Artist: Xiescive
Label: Nilaihah records
Rating: 5/10

END: The DJ - Fires on the Shore

2011-12-02T20:22:00.001+01:00

This is an EP with various remixes of the song Fires on the Shore. The sound is clear and dance oriented and the sound vary from version to version from light and synthpop-ish to harsh and industrial. The versions bear names like Angels on Acid version and Erektor version. The whole idea of releasing a record with several remixes is kinda cool as a record company that does so provides DJs with several options suitable for several dancefloors. However it easily becomes a bit boring to listen to several versions of the same song so most people will probably have their favorit version/versions on their MP3 player. All in all, a good tune with some good remixes.

Record: Fires on the Shore
Artist: END: The DJ
Label: Nilaihah records
Rating: 6/10

Kosmodromm - Budet Laskovyj Dozhd

2011-11-06T17:10:00.000+01:00

This album is best described as electronic lullabies. Even though I can't understand a word of russian I get the feeling that the music, and especially the lyrics are very poetic and sincere. The sound is unlike anything I've heard before even if there are some typical synthpop influences. It is possible that it is the downtempo "lullaby-esque" sound that creates this unique and very pleasant sound. However I have to admit some minor problems. As I'm listening to the album while writing I can feel myself getting a bit drowsy so I would not recommend people to listen to this while driving.

Record: Budet Laskovyj Dozhd
Artist: Kosmodromm
Label: Synthematik
Rating: 7/10

M.O.D. - Entzweit Gesicht (Demo)

2011-11-06T16:56:00.000+01:00

Interesting and classical "dance friendly" synth music. The band is described as playing electro, goth and EBM and this is quite correct. The end result is music that is uptempo and fun to listen to with a female singer that sounds like she's been stolen from a goth band, in a good way. As this is a demo I sure hope that some labels out there opens their eyes up for this band soon as they sure have potential. This band is everything that Blutengel could have been if they had not taken their pretentious vampire wannabe image too seriously and focused on making cool music instead!

Record: Entzweit Gesicht
Artist: M.O.D.
Label: Demo
Rating: 8/10

Various artists - Net.Ware Xtreme Xperience

2011-11-04T20:59:00.002+01:00

A compilation with a very wide selection of electronic music. What all the songs have in common is that they are quite easy on the ears and also quite dance friendly. As usual with compilation the "blessing and curse" of a wide variety is in play. Some tunes are magnificent but others are hastily skipped. Wich is wich will most likely vary from listener to listener. All in all this is a quite solid piece of work and should probably find it's way the gigbag of DJs as well as the music collection back home.

Record: Net.Ware Xtreme Xperience
Artist: Various
Label: Electro Arc
Rating: 7/10

Deuxvolt - Horrormx

2011-10-24T19:49:00.002+02:00

The idea alone to make industrial music inspired by horror movie themes is brilliant. To add to all the goodness these four italians are skilled musicians and obviously quite creative when it comes to making music. Songs like The Exorcist, Dracula and The Crow gets speeded up and industrialized soundwise wich gives a F-ing awsome sound to familiar songs. all this without spoiling the tunes or their associated horror. This record is a must have!

Record: Horrormx
Artist: Deuxvolt
Label: Glory & Honour records & promotion
Rating: 9/10

The Dark Clan - All my ghosts

2011-10-24T19:39:00.000+02:00

Like I've mentioned before the curse of all compilation albums is that there are usually songs you love as well as songs you hate. This curse also applies to remix albums such as All my ghosts. Some of the remixes are very skillfully made but others not as much. However this is a solid production and most people should find a coupple of songs they like as well as some they hate. The rating is a solid 5 and me, I need to find some Dark Clan un-remixed.

Record: All my ghosts

Artist: The Dark Clan
Label: Radio active music '
Rating: 5/10

Dage-Gen - Hoerzwang

2011-10-24T19:28:00.002+02:00

This is a "techno-style" EBM act. 2 of the 3 song promo of Hoerzwang sounds like someone tried to make techno using typical EBM sound. The last one sounds like EBM with som techno-blaring in it. All in all I find it quite uninspiring and boring. The music never really takes off wich is very sad sinc it is obvious that the band members are quite skilled musicians. Hopefully Dage-Gen makes big improvement in the future because there sure is potential for it.

Record: Hoerzwang
Artist: Dage-Gen
Label: Ruhrschall Recordings
Rating: 3/10

Absent one - Places

2011-10-15T18:42:00.001+02:00

Absent one has definitely grown since their debute album Blowback. The music is now a bit more atmiosperic and has an overall better flow. The singing takes its rightful place and this is actually one synthpop band where the singer does not sound more or less like some icon of a 80s synthpop-band. some of the tracks on Places have backup singing from a female singer wich is nice and adds to the cool sound of this album. Absent one has come a long way since their debute and will hopefully continue to develop. I am really curious about what they will do next.

Record: Places

Artist: Absent one

Label: Ionium records
Rating: 8/10

Absent one - Blowback

2011-10-15T18:31:00.000+02:00

This album is best described as interesting. This synthpop/electro act is reallyt hard to get a grip on and thus also quite hard to review. The music is upbeat and dancefloor friendly but the songs lack some hooking power and there is no obvious "getting into" in the music. The album is not at all bad but will probably work on a dancefloor. Howeer itis mostly carried by quie accomplished music and lacks some in lyrics. The 5 is definitely well earned and borders on a 6. It will probably sit very well with certain groups of people.

Record: Blowback

Artist: Absent one

Label: Ionium records
Rating: 5/10

Freaky mind - No more manifests

2011-10-15T18:21:00.001+02:00

I have said it before and I say it again. Industrial music is not really my cup of tea. Writing these reviews however makes me realise that there are industrial acts out there that are really really good. Moscow based band Freaky mind is one of these acts and No more manifests is a really really good album. It will definitely find its way into many a DJs gigbag and it will probably wreck havoc on several dance floors. There are some things that a synthpop afficionado like myself gets irritated on. the song on some of the songs for example are more of a screaming than singing (I would guess some Nitzer ebb influences? Am I Right?). The band also varies between the "screaming-singing" and more regular singing. All and all this is a very cool album that will be filling a lot of dance floors in no time!

Record: No more manifests

Artist: Freaky mind

Label: Synthematik
Rating: 8/10

Various artists - First aid 4 souls

2011-10-15T18:10:00.001+02:00

This is not really my genres. First aid 4 souls is a copilation of psy/trance music and as such it really measures up to what it promises. The music is quite monotonous and quite atmospheric. However there are some tracks that are really really good and even I who don't really enjoy this kind of music finds some songs really enjoyable. The fact that some songs seem to speak to people outside of the hardcore fans is the fact that makes me review it here and the solid 5 it gets here will probably be higher from someone who is a real fan of this kind of music.

Record: First aid 4 souls

Artist: Various

Label: Electro arc
Rating: 5/10

Cylix - Alpha

2011-10-15T18:01:00.000+02:00

Even if i do not entirely agree on the bands claim that they play Swedish styled synthpop the influences are clearly there. Alpha is an album that is mostly upbeat and dance-friendly there are some lacking in
song and the influences from icons such as David Gahan is quite clear. This however is not a big problem sincce this is so very common in the genre (I have earlier claimed that song is not a forte of the electronic genres). The album has a nice and quite unique atmosphere wich makes it quite enjoyable to listen to. Since this seems to be the bands first release I have to say that I'm really looking forward to what they might cook up in the future.

Record: Alpha

Artist: Cylix

Label: Life is Painful
Rating: 7/10

Guestreview: Na-Hag - Lost Cities

2011-10-02T16:21:00.000+02:00

Not being quite able to compare it to much else, the first thing that strikes me concerning the tunes of this Ukrainian "tribal industrial" project, is that it could as well have been the score of some obscure horror film or possibly as the background of nightmarish scenes of some forgotten war movie or building up a threatening mood in a walkthrough in a this far not made Inside the Chernobyl Sargophagus documentary. The sounds are slow and rhythmic, at times almost hypnotic with sporadic samplings of various kinds as the only breaks from the repetative tracks. Repetative but not monotonous. Even in spite of being several minutes long loops of musical segments, Na-Hag manage to maintain my ushared attention and interest throughout each song, displaying rather originality than someone being lucky with Logic and a coule of synthesizers. There's thought and proper work behind each and every track. However, this can't be claimed to be music for all occassions. Just as you're not very likely to put on Skinny Puppy's Too Dark Park on your grandmother's 70th birthday party, you probably don't want to listen to this when driving your car as it would severely damage your focus whilst ruthlessly and inevitably penetrating your brain.

/KL

My name is Katja Lindblom and you've just read my guest contribution to the Test Lab - a review of the 9 track album "Lost Cities" by the Kiev based one man project Na Hag.

Music is one of my greatest passions and I personally run the very sporadic No Glam Trash Boogie blog (http://the-egghunter.blogspot.com/) where I focus mainly on Russian and Ukrainian music. I also run a more frequently updated blog about Chernobyl (http://chernobylproject.blogspot.com/) where I display notes related to my ongoing research. Toodle pip!

Na-Hag - Lost Cities

2011-10-02T16:19:00.001+02:00

This Ukrainian tribal industry act sounds completely different from everything I've ever heard before. The music has a steady beat and sounds like something you would imagine finding in a tribal ritual. The drums are almost hypnotic from time to time and it's really hard to explain the general feeling that this music invokes in the listener. The general feeling and flow of the music sounds as if classic act Enigma (you know, one of Michael Cretus projects?) is a possible source of inspiration which gets turned into a very unique and personal style when mixed up with som rougher industrial sounds.

Record: Lost Cities

Artist: Na-Hag

Label: Synthematic
Rating: 9/10

Thornfields - The Desert

2011-09-25T16:54:00.001+02:00

Nice and accomplished music made by two experimental musicians. Thornfields make music that will best be described as gothic. There are a variety of sounds used to create a cool and rather unique sound image. For example cembalo (or a synthesizer sounding like a cembalo) is used in one of the songs. All in all this is a very nice creation with a fine mix of songs where none of the tracks is the other alike but without spoiling the general flow of the record.

Record: The Desert

Artist: Thornfields

Label: Ionium records

Rating: 8/10

Noisuf-X - Dead end district

2011-09-18T14:37:00.000+02:00

A dance oriented EBM album is rarely wrong. It's always nice to have a wide mix of more or less famous acts when you DJ. This modern act with something that can only be described as techno influences, offers few surprices and I find the music annoying from time to time as it's full of typpical techno-bleeping noises. The album diserves a solid 5 as it's still a good dance album and it will probably be appreciated on the dancefloors.

Record: Dead end district
Artist: Noisuf-X
Label: ProNoize (Promo via Promo fabrik)
Rating: 5/10

Straftanz - Mainstream sellout overground

2011-09-18T14:26:00.000+02:00

This album kicks ass! I am never the one to admitt that I like industrial music very much, but as I listen to the tracks from Mainstream sellout overground and find myself shouting along with Turbo (blut, geld and so on TURBO) I have to confess that this is excellent. It will fill dancefloors and each song of this promo breaths the air of the typical body music dancefloor and you can almost hear the sound of hundreds of Doctor Martensboots stomping the floor. on this 4 song promo the tracks range from ok via good to excellent with the emphasis on excellent. If the rest of the songs keep up the same standard, this album is really a must have!

Record: Mainstream sellout overground
Artist: Straftanz
Label: Scanner (Promo via Promo fabrik)
Rating: 7/10

Autodafeh - Act of faith

2011-09-18T14:11:00.000+02:00

With Act of faith, Autodafeh manages to release a nice and classic EBM album. The songs offer a steady beat and would absolutely work on any EBM-dancefloor. The music in general offers few surprises but lets be frank, the fans of this genre often ikes the classic sound and too much experimentation might not be too welcome with the fans. Overall this is a good sounding work and if you like classic EBM you should definitely check it out.

Record: Act of faith
Artist: Autodafeh
Label: Scanner (Promo via Promo fabrik)
Rating: 6/10

Whitar - Equilibrium Path

2011-09-18T14:03:00.000+02:00

Industrial music with what I can only describe as a lot of heavy metal influences. This record is probably the one that will unite fans of heavy industrial and death metal music. For me this record has a sound that I find very inharmonious. I was never much of an industrial fan and unfortunately this record sounds a lot like a noisier version of standard industrial music wich boots it down from the average 5 rating to a solid 4.

Record: Equilibrium path
Artist: Whitar
Label: Synthematik
Rating: 4/10

Deied - Tales of Sodenliah

2011-09-18T13:54:00.000+02:00

This is a very interesting record. The promo release states the group to play industrial/experimental music and to that I agree. The music is experimental in such a way that it has a sound that in many way sounds something like harshened up synthpop mixed with influences from good old C64-music. The synth/industrialgenres can rarely claim to have extraordinary singers and Deied is no exception in this case. When it comes to electronic music some lesser focus on vocals is to be expected and there are few bands out there who can claim exceptional singers so I don't really find this to be a big problem. The only real drawback on this record is that the band has chosen to have "whisper-singing" a la Hocico on some tracks. Personally I could never stand this kind of singning so this is a very personal remark. Overall a good record, the tracks that do not feature the whisper-singing are really good.

Record: Tales of Sodeliah
Artist: Deied
Label: Ionium records
Rating: 7/10

Ainm - Zero

2011-09-05T17:00:00.000+02:00

Ainm is a one man electronica act who does downtempo music. This far, all good. However the sound and general flow of the music is very wierd and it sounds more like som hallucinogenic ambient with shamanic aspirations. There are some very annoying sounds in some of the songs. For example something reminding of an indian flute shows up in one of the songs and accompanies the muffled singing.

This will probably only sell to really die hard fans of this exact kind of music... and maybe pot heads.

Record: Zero

Artist: Ainm

Label: Ionium records

Rating: 2/10

Engelsstaub - Nachtwärts

2011-09-05T16:26:00.000+02:00

It is fun that some bands keep up the use of folkish instruments in modern day music. Engelsstaub has a very old and folk music-ish sound wich is mixed with the sound of modern day synthesizers creates a cool and melancholic gothic music. I'm not sure but there are probably instruments like the hurdy gurdy in use on this album. It's definitely a cool sound and fun to listen too. It's not a dancefloor record, I don't even think it's a party record but it will definitely find it's way into some peoples home, especially if they like a folk music touch on the music. It's good work made by skilled musicians. Absolutely worth looking into.

Record: Nachtwärts

Artist: Engelsstaub

Label: Musique Indépendante Noire, promo via PromoFabrik

Rating: 7/10

Various artists - Syntension alpha

2011-09-05T16:07:00.001+02:00

Syntension alpha is a electro industrial futurepop trance compilation and the only thing I can say about it is... Yes it is! I think many a DJ within the above mentioned genres and probably some spacesynth, techno and house people too might find this album a nice addendum to their record collections. This album consists of 13 tracks, mostly instrumental (except for some samples) and you can find tunes for more or less any kind of dancefloor you need to get going except for maybe the most pop-ish ones. However the instrumental and quite beat/dance-focused music will probably not make it a hit amongst non DJ people who are not very much into the techno/trance/spacesynth wich kicks down the grade slightly. This is obviously a compilation made for DJs and as such it is a damn fine one!

Record: Syntension alpha

Artist: Various

Label: Synthematik

Rating: 9/10

Digital Factor - Trialog

2011-08-12T22:34:00.003+02:00

EBM sounding quite much like EBM should when made "by the book" the four song promo I recieved of the album Trialog has the for EBM required dance friendly beat. The song Links Rechts Links also sprouts characteristic EBM words like amboss, arbeit, takt and so on. Overall I like this and even if im not a full blown rivethead this will most likely find it's way into my gig bag.

The music has a nice flow and none of the songs seems out of place. However this review is made from the four songs in the promo. The actual record holds a total of 15 songs but hopefully the quality of this record is through and through good.

The music has obvious influences from classic EBM but still manages to create "their own thing"

Overall a nice experience, one drawback is the fact that I was only able to review 4 out of 15 songs.

Record: Trialog

Artist: Digital Factor

Label: Black Rain Records. Promo via PromoFabrik

Rating: 7/10

LPF12 - A Sense Of Loss

2011-07-18T19:29:00.003+02:00

A Sense Of Loss is an electronic ambient production wich according to the release notes tell a story of "hope, loss and sadness, of anger, reconciliation and love". I can't claim to be a big fan of ambient music for everyday listening. However A Sense Of Loss is quite easy on the ears and the music would probably make a good movie soundtrack or background music for relaxed social activities i.e. roleplaying games or such.

I have some problems with the album. For exampel: The music sometimes lack the emotional "touch" that the composer seems to have strived for. The effort is obviously there but sometimes it seems like too much thought was put into the making of the music. There are also some songs that have some sound wich makes them a bit hard to listen to and somewhat breaks the "flow" of the music.

However I would say that the album is slightly above average. The highlight of the record is track number 10 wich not only has a magnificent sound image but also the beautiful voice of American singer Karra Russell.

Record: A Sense Of Loss

Artist: LPF12

Label:Ionium Records

Rating: 6/10

dAVOS - Tender Loving Care

2011-07-07T14:07:00.003+02:00

I have to admit that I had never heard of dAVOS before I got the promo of Tender Loving Care. However I would say that it was a pleasant new discovery as the music is my taste exactly. This maxi single/EP has a very nice flow in the music and besides some small flaws like an annoying intro on one of the songs (wich is actually a remix so this might not apply to the original) this is a great synthpop record. The sound is "typical synthpop" and there are some influences of futurepop like Culture Kultür in dAVOS's music and I would say that it is suitable for a dancefloor.

Over all this is a very good record wich should be listened to by anyone who likes synthpop or futurepop.

Record: Tender Loving Care (MAXI single/EP)

Artist: dAVOS

Label: Ionium Records

Rating: 8/10

Born///Evolve///Progress///3

2011-06-26T20:22:00.000+02:00

Label samplers are really a doubble edged sword. On the good side you get a nice overview of most (but not all) artists currently attached to that label. On the bad side there is almost always one or more artists that one does not like. Personaly I really like samplers. They often contain enough good songs to be price worthy and provide a nice blend for your gig bag if you DJ. B///E///P///3 is no exception here. I'm quite sure that most people will find several songs that they really like and one or two that gets skipped everytime the record is played. However, B///E///P///3 has a very nice flow in the music, and none of the songs feels malplaced. It's also a nice touch to focus on remixes where some is previously unreleased. There is also a song from the newest member of the Progress family, Henric de la Cour wich is very nice surprise and serves as an excellent teaser.

Record: Born///Evolve///Progress///3

Label: Progress productions

Rating: 8/10