Quote: “a peculiar (just trying to avoid describing it as “macabre”) shit which contains musique concrète-hued mourning classical music and essentially obsessive noirscapes, by the way including a cover version of the Pink Floyd`s coolest song Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun.”

Read the full review here.

Seattle’s improv ensemble Aunt Jamamas Big Band Vigilantes may be described as avant garde but their liberal usage of wit and melodic structure makes them quite acceptable to those who tend to avoid the atonal. In fact, their improvisatory meanderings do not sound all that free-style at times, leaning heavily to both jazz and rock. The mix of acoustic ensemble with electronic sampling and effects keeps them interesting throughout this live recording. This is certainly worth a listen. Another fine album from the very eclectic WM Recordings.

Download Live on KEXP Seattle by Aunt Jamamas Big Band Vigilantes here.

“Elegant, soothing, often mesmerising, exotic and vulnerable: Anti-Gone is Barbara De Dominicis, and viceversa, pop electronica and avant-folk meet the greek myths, along the coordinates of early Goldfrapp, Portishead, Zero 7, just to help You to find the way for Her Olympus.

Native from Naples, formerly in underground projects Cabaret Noir, The Body, Exposed, – singer and songwriter, Her music identity turns international thanks to a crew of talented Musicians coming from New York, Berlin, Naples, Paris and so on, until the Netherlands based label, WM recordings.”

Read the full review here.

The Miyazaki Tour E.P. represents some of the best 15 minutes available on the FMA to date. With hip-hop as its backdrop, the production takes on the stutter-step programming of leftfield R&B akin to Timbaland and the Neptunes, which is especially evident on songs like “Crezima” and “NeVe”. “Bonacisi” and “Ouch The Couch” are both packed with a flurry of scratches and cuts over whimsical electronic beats.

Read the full post here.

Below are links to some of the reviews (all in Italian):

- Rock Impressions
- LostHighways
- Revolving Doors
- Loudvision.it

“From the first moments it is evident that this improvising combo is inspired by the free jazz from 60s and 70s. The opening track begins with a long intro, slowly culminating in a hectic brew. Throughout, their improvisations are dominated by drums and percussion. Futaci is a Brötzmann-like powerplayer. Most characteristic and appealing however is Gaglar with his use of electronics and guitar like in “Kaptan Swing”. He is the most virtuoso player of this quartet.”

Buy this CD from CD Baby.

Audio clips are now added to the info page for this release. Listen here.

The Rabbits are the darlings of WM Recordings having released three free online albums in a year’s time. But I’m afraid I really didn’t quite catch onto them until the last release, That Cave of Love, part one. The Toronto band, which is actually Matthew Orzeszek plus friends, have such a casual and twisted style that it sneaked up on me. That Cave of Love seems a bit more twisted than the other album and much tighter in concept. Songs like “Chickeny Softness” may have silly lyrics (My wife is saying “They’re not silly, They’re existential!”) but they are nicely surrounded by some sharp guitar work and more than a little cleverness. There is a indie rock feel mixed with a little Beatles influence and a Bonzo Dog Band wit. The Rabbits’ music may never save the world but it will get us a reprise from the usual daily madness called life.

Read the full story here.

“Vintage Afrobeat from the man who used to open shows for the main man. A mainstay (on guitar and keyboards) of Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 in the 1980s, Keji Hamilton can’t be accused of falling too far from the tree musically in the decade since his employer’s death. This is Afrobeat much as the man himself played it in the latter years of his career, though it lacks the grit and fury that made Kuti such an important musician in the 1970s. It would be difficult to imagine the Africa 70 recording a tune called Forever Live Jesus (Hamilton is now a pastor in Lagos), for example, although Bambiala (Beggars) and the anti-consumerism Designers would no doubt have been given an uproarious treatment. The band is well drilled, the horns and backing vocals wonderful, but there is never the sense that everything is teetering on the verge of collapse. Which might be why Kuti had him around so long.”

You can now buy the Keji album in mp3 format directly from our site!
Just click here and choose ‘add to cart’.

We can also report that the debut album by Keji Hamilton & the Exousia Band is now available from eMusic, iTunes and Napster. More on that soon… on our new website!

Full review on Free Albums Galore.