Bachelorette - S/T (Particle Tracks)
Bachelorette is the solo project of formerly Christchurch based musician Annabel Alpers. She creates haunted electronic tracks with a lonely orchestra of keyboards and effects. This was her final album under the Bachelorette name as she looks to explore different projects in the future.
Hertta Lussu Ässä- S/T (De Stijl)
HLA released an awesome cd-r a few years back called "You are such an pretty sucker" - in fact I think each edition had a different name and cover picture. It was really great and this album is even better. It's still playful, but has a lot of depth and layers to it. It's quiet, dark, fluid, colourful, strange. An album of contrasts and textures. Merja (Islaja), Jonna (Kuupuu, Olimpia Splendid etc) and Laura (Lau Nau) create amazing and quite different music in their respective solo projects and together they come together to create something quite unique.The titles of the songs "cocktail of life fluids" and "juicy bones" for example are really evocative of the music.
Tsembla - Fauna (Ikuissus)
This is the first full length album from Marja Johansson after a 7" last year. She creates really intriguing and evocative electronic based music.
Tomutonttu - Elävänä planeetalla (New Images)
Jan Anderzen played an amazing show in Christchurch between earthquakes last year - it remains one of my favourite live music experiences. It was short but he seemed to pack everything into it - just like he does on this album.
Jon Brooks - Music for Thomas Carnacki (Cafe Kaput)
Jon's music is so detailed and intricate both as The Advisory Circle and under his own name (also maybe (?) as D.D. Denham, though the secret identity of that artist remains under wraps). Each release was breathtaking and created it's own self-contained world, whilst also linked nicely together. This soundtrack was imagined for a ghost story by Thomas Carnacki. It makes a perfect soundtrack in it's own right. It's nineteenth century yet also so so modern.
Jon's music is so detailed and intricate both as The Advisory Circle and under his own name (also maybe (?) as D.D. Denham, though the secret identity of that artist remains under wraps). Each release was breathtaking and created it's own self-contained world, whilst also linked nicely together. This soundtrack was imagined for a ghost story by Thomas Carnacki. It makes a perfect soundtrack in it's own right. It's nineteenth century yet also so so modern.
Moon Wiring Club - Somewhere a Fox is Getting Married (Gecophonic)
This album was Moon Wiring Club's tribute album for the Royal Wedding. I can't imagine any other Royal tribute album quite like it. Moon Wiring Club's music is very funky, yet about as far away from dance and club music as you could imagine. I hope Kate and William enjoyed it as much as I did.
U.S. Girls - U.S. Girls on KRAAK (KRAAK)
Megan Remy's music is a ghostly shadow of pop music and it makes you really want to luxuriate in those shadows.
Lady Gaga - Born this Way
So much has been written about this album - I really love it and Gaga. I know some critics don't get Lady Gaga - they are the ones who missed out on a wonderful album with memorable tracks such as Marry the Night which was one of my favourites as it seemed like the 21st century pop version of No New York.
Part Wild Horses Mane on Both Sides - Sixth Samovar (Rayon Records)
Pacsal Nichols and Kelly Jones are creating some of the most interesting experimental sounds to come out of the UK. The Sheffield scene was a WIRE article a year or two ago. Their music is still present and astonishing.
Pacsal Nichols and Kelly Jones are creating some of the most interesting experimental sounds to come out of the UK. The Sheffield scene was a WIRE article a year or two ago. Their music is still present and astonishing.
Miaux - 7" (Ultra Eczema)
I can't wait until Miaux releases a full length.
