Lunedì 27 Apr 2009, 16:10
I've been meaning to write a note like this for a while. If I feel like it I might make it a weekly thing (look I even have a cheesy title and everything!) This isn't going to be 5 new albums I like, this is just going to be 5 albums I've been listening to that I think others would enjoy, both new and old. Please leave any feedback!
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Realistically where else could I start? Have you ever found an album that you like so much it means you struggle to listen to new music because you keep going back to it? This has been that album for me over the last few years. I've never heard an album that blends together so many different genres effortlessly into one cohesive musical journey. Right from the opening notes of the radio-friendly 'Switchback' through to the minimalistic, ambient closer 'Welcome to the End', Klayton shows an ability to fuse elements of Industrial Rock, Metal, Electronic and Trance into tunes that can be appreciated by fans of all or none of those.
Album Highlights:
The Last Firstborn
Own Little World
The Stars of Orion
For Fans Of:
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Perhaps best known for their use by various companies (in particular 'So Easy' being used in a T-Mobile advert), Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp's third full release 'Junior' is the first half of a 2009 double release (The counterpart disc 'Senior' will be released later this year). It has been four years since the last album 'The Understanding' but the wait has most definitely been worth it. Junior continues along the same line as the previous efforts, including many of the same vocalists. However, the music is also lighter than before, with several tracks being quite club friendly. The first track (and also first single) 'Happy Up Here' sets the stage for the rest of the album with a bouncy electronic vibe and the delicate female vocals over the top 'You know I really like it, I know I'll always be here'. If this album was an animal it would be the energetic puppy bouncing round your ankles. The lyrics always stay playful throughout, 'Tricky Tricky' in particular has the whimsical line 'Six afraid of seven, ‘cause seven eight nine'. Anyone that enjoys artists like Zero 7 or Air in particular should not miss out on this album.
Album Highlights:
Happy Up Here
Miss It So Much
You Don't Have A Clue
For Fans Of:
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I had not heard of Industrial Metal band Sybreed before they were recommended to me a few weeks ago by a friend. Their 2004 debut album 'Slave Design' was a pretty standard Industrial metal album that was by no means bad but hardly broke new ground. The 2007 follow up 'Antares' added a new layer to the sound though, more synthesiser use and more variation between the harmonized clean vocals and the aggressive screamed ones. Sybreed would quite happily fit into a bill with the likes of Fear Factory and Scar Symmetry. The blend between the dark melodies and the forceful guitar riffs creates some amazing tracks, particularly 'Isolate'. Sybreed are currently working on their third album 'The Pulse of Awakening' which should be out this year.
Album Highlights:
Emma Zero
Isolate
Revive My Wounds
For Fans of:
Fear Factory
Mnemic
Scar Symmetry
Skold vs. KMFDM - Skold vs. KMFDM
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Skold Vs. KMFDM is a side project involving Tim Skold and Sascha Konietzko of KMFDM. The album includes two different version of 11 tracks. Each track has a full length version and a shorter interlude version. The album understandably sounds like Skold and Konietzko's earlier short-lived side project 'MDFMK' who only had one release, 2002's 'MDFMK'. This album does not feature KMFDM's Lucia Cifarelli however. The album is a breath of fresh air after the some what stagnant sound of recent KMFDM efforts. Whether this album steps out of the shadow of this years KMFDM release 'Blitz' remains to be seen.
Album highlights:
Love is Like
Bloodsport
Error 404
For Fans Of:
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It has been a long wait for Orgy fans. The band went on hiatus after the release of their 3rd album 'Punk Static Paranoia' in 2004. In 2003, two of the band's members (Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh) started working on more electronic material that they didn't feel was suited to Orgy. 6 years later after several delays fans can finally get their hand on the result of this work, Julien-K's debut 'Death To Analog'. The album is far more electronic-rock than any Orgy album although it retains similar clean vocals despite being a different vocalist. The limited edition of the album features a second disc with remixes of the album. It features remixes from renowned artists including Combichrist, Deadmau5 and Paul Oakenfold.
Album Highlights:
Kick The Bass
Technical Difficulties
Nvr Say Nvr
For Fans Of: