Nero: Welcome Reality (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Albums of 2011

#7 of 10

Year: 2011

Genre: Electro Dubstep

Label: Mercury

TRT: 61:05

This two man DJ group has been lighting up stages and playing sets all over the world for many years, so the expectation for their debut album was pretty high. But I don't think anyone thought this was the album they'd make. Instead of going for the "easy kill" by coupling some nasty drops with some glitch ambient intros (rinse/repeat), they wrote an actual album containing actual songs. You can tell they put a great deal of effort into these tracks, they're not just a handful of club-friendly wubs and wobbles. This album is like the best parts of Justice and Skrillex combined with Nero's own singunature production. The result speaks for its self. Glitchy grooves, catchy hooks and drops that are somehow more "wholesome" than "filthy". This is one that's going to be getting a lot of play from me for a long time.

01 2808

02 Doomsday

03 My Eyes

04 Guilt

05 Fugue State

06 Me and You

07 Innocence

08 In the Way

09 Scorpions

10 Crush on You

11 Must Be the Feeling

12 Reaching Out

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Blue Sky Black Death: Noir (5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Albums of 2011

#2 of 10

Year: 2011

Genre: Atmospheric Instrumental Trip-hop

Label: Fake Four

TRT: 62:41

While they started their career solidly in the realm of instrumental hip hop, over the past couple albums they've been moving more and more in the direction of washed out electronics and trip hop. They've also become more interesting as they mature their sound. Noir is like a warm day on the tail end of summer. Everything seems calm and laid back, but you just have a feeling that a storm is brewing on the horizon, and you can't shake your sense of unease. Like a hallway where there's enough light to keep moving, but not enough to see what's at the far end. Blue Sky Black Death prowls in those shadows, waiting.

01 Our Hearts Of Ruin

02 Sleeping Children Are Still Flying

03 And Stars, ringed

04 To The Ends Of The Earth

05 Farewell To The Former World

06 Falling Short

07 Gold In Gold Out

08 Where Do We Go

09 In The Quiet Absence Of God

10 Where The Sun Beats

11 Starry

12 Fire For Light

13 Swords From Driftwood

14 Sky With Hand

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Arms and Sleepers: The Organ Hearts (5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Albums of 2011

#1 of 10 (Album of the Year)

Year: 2011

Genre: Ambient Electronic Soundscapes

Label: Expect Candy

TRT: 41:01

This duo from New England showed up on my radar sometime shortly after their second full length Matador was released in 2009. I liked it and checked out their first album, and liked it as well, but it wasn't until late in 2010 that I really started to get into their sound. That's what they do. They create lush and layed soundscapes that appear simple on the surface, but become more intricate as you start to pay attention to and pick up on the subleties. When I saw them in April of 2010, The Organ Hearts was slated for release about a month later. After they opened their set with the first three tracks from the new album, the anticipation became palpable, and I bought it the day it was released.

This is their best release to date. Everything I love about their previous releases is here, but magnified. At first blush this seems to be the most minimalistic and ambient material they've created, but as you become more familiar with the music, more and more things begin to pop out at you. Over time, listening to this album becomes like watching a time-lapse video of a mountain meadow as it transforms from winter to spring, and the flowers bloom from the frozen ground.

01 Kepesh

02 Tusk

03 I Sing the Body Electric

04 The Afternoon Child

05 A Smile in Sofia

06 Antwerp

07 Serie Noire

08 Reprise

09 Yesterday's Child

10 Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

11 Atelier

12 Airport Blues

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The Glitch Mob: Drink the Sea (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top "Not Metal" Picks for 2010
#5 of 10



Year: 2010
Genre: Electronic Glitch-hop
Label: Glass Air
TRT: 59:33

I'd heard about this collective before, but never got around to checking out any of their sets. After touring extensively for several years, this is their first official release, and it was received with mixed reactions. Many were let down at the direction they pursued here, because it's apparently quite different from their live approach. Having not heard anything but this album, I came to the table with no expectations and no preconceived notions about what I was or was not going to hear. And if those opinions would have caused me to dislike this, then I'm quite glad of their absence, because this album is excellent.

Every track has something different to offer, and each song has a life and will of it's own, all coming together to form a blissful journey from start to finish. Glitchy electronics drenched in lush production and beats that are, at times, driving and at times simply walking in the background, marry to create arresting sonic soundscapes.

01 Animus Vox
02 Bad Wings
03 How To Be Eaten By A Woman
04 A Dream Within A Dream
05 Fistful of Silence
06 Between Two Points feat. Swan
07 We Swarm
08 Drive It Like You Stole It
09 Fortune Days
10 Starve The Ego, Feed The Soul

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Zavoloka: Viter (4/5)

Year: 2007
Genre: Electronic Glitch Orchestration
Label: Kvitnu
TRT: 24:34

When this album came up in my listening queue, it had been some time since I'd acquired it, and I didn't remember anything about it or why I had picked it up in the first place. So when I imported it into my media player of choice, I was not pleased to see the pre-loaded tags associated with the album. The ubiquitous and criminally undescriptive: "New Age". I rolled me eyes and cleared the genre and re-tagged the album in the same manner I tag all my digital collection. The song titles did nothing to assuage my doubts, nothing but a variation on that well known pop culture phrase: “Breath In, Breath Out”.

In short, I was already pre-disposed to dismiss this album out of hand before hearing the first sound it contained. The tones of the brief first track seemed only to confirm my thoughts on the matter. But then I listened to the rest of the album, and completely changed my mind. Threw out every assumption I had so hastily made.

Kateryna Zavoloka is a Ukrainian musician, who is always looking for a way to push the boundaries of sound. On this release, she combines glitchy and experimental electronic beats with traditional Ukrainian folk instruments, such as the fiddle and violin, playing in a manner inspired by traditional folk songs from her home country.

The result is a very unique listen, reminiscent of Saltillo’s Ganglion, but darker and with more of the emphasis on the beats rather than the orchestrations, and with a less structured approach.

All in all, she’s created quite a satisfying little slice of digital pie...for a girl.

01 Inhale
02 Exhale
03 Inhale
04 Exhale
05 Inhale
06 Exhale
07 Inhale
08 Exhale
09 Inhale

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2nd Gen: Irony Is (5/5)

Year: 2001
Genre: Progressive Industrial Electro Beat
Label: novamute
TRT: 39:57

I was not looking for this album when I found it. It's almost as if it found me. I'm still not quite sure how I stumbled upon it during a casual browsing of my favorite music-related website (what could that be?).

From the first few seconds of And/Or I was mesmerized. I was bombarded with an onslaught of the cold and mechanical, the grim and calculated. The only artist comparison I can draw is a more beat oriented Azure Skies, though even that is a thin description at best.

It's a shame his follow-up doesn't even come close to matching the ferocity and raw energy found here, but regardless, this is one of my best finds in a long time, and I'm currently obsessed with it.

01 And/Or
02 Slowburn
03 Buried
04 Black Spring
05 Vurt
06 Musicians are Morons
07 Scarred
08 Measurement 9
09 Schism
10 Irony Is

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Telefon Tel Aviv: Immolate Yourself (4/5)

Joshua's Non-Metal Picks for 2009
#9 of 10



Year: 2009
Genre: Electro Synth Pop
Label: Bpitch Control
TRT: 46:16

Having been a big fan of their past two releases, I had very high expectations for this album. Unfortunately, this often leads to disappointment.

While that was initially the case here, [i]Immolate Yourself[/i] was able to make a come back upon multiple listens. Instead of the glitchy IDM of 2001's [Album40458] or the smooth R & B flavored electronic stylings of 2004's [Album111651], we find a more straight-forward sound reminiscent of the late 80's synth pop or new wave movement.

Though not as progressive as their previous work, I was able to really get into their new sound after reading an article about their new methods and goals, where they basically stated that they felt they'd already done everything they could do with their old conventions, and wanted to go in a different direction with this album, and I can certainly respect that. I realized I'd made the mistake of confusing "this is not what I expected" with "this is not good".

Tragically, half of the duo that made up [b]Telefon Tel Aviv[/b] passed away in 2009, so Rest in Peace good sir, you will be remembered through your works for years to come.

01 The Birds
02 Your Mouth
03 M
04 Helen of Troy
05 Mostly Translucent
06 Stay Away From Being Maybe
07 Made a Tree on the Wold
08 Your Every Idol
09 You Are the Worst Thing in the World
10 Immolate Yourself

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Clark: Totems Flare (4.5/5)

Joshua's Non-Metal Picks for 2009
#4 of 10



Year: 2009
Genre: Progressive Electronic Music
Label: Warp
TRT: 44:59

When a torrent notification popped up in my inbox, I was a little confused. Last year's Turning Dragon was fantastic, and the Growls Garden EP had already been a pleasant surprise in 2009.

Well, turns out that was an extended single for Growls Garden, and what do you know, Christopher Clark is releasing high caliber albums in back to back years.

Totems Flare is really the next logical step for Clark to take, blending the textured elements and subtle atmospheres of 2006's Body Riddle with the more aggressive tone and timbre of Turning Dragon. All with his signature impeccable production.

The result is nothing short of beautiful, and if you're at all in to electronic music, you really need to check it out. Clark is leading the way to music of the future.

01 Outside Plume
02 Growls Garden
03 Rainbow Voodoo
04 Look Into the Heart Now
05 Luxman Furs
06 Totem Crackerjack
07 Future Daniel
08 Primary Balloon Landing
09 Talis
10 Suns of Temper
11 Absence

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Sin Fang Bous: Clangour (4/5)

Jonathan's #16 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Morr
Genre: Psychedelic Indie Pop
TRT: 43:31

I heard this album really early in the year and I really liked it then...but as the year went on it started slipping back behind other recordings. I still really like it as it has made my list, but I've also heard it enough to form a solid opinion. For a one-man operation it is definitely well executed and there are a lot of interesting sounds going on. I like his tasteful use of heavy reverb in certain areas....also his smooth voice gives the entire recording a reserved mellow feel. I personally would have liked a little more variation in the beats made for this record and his vocal runs sound very similar to each other....but I can imagine that this was all part of the vibe he was going for. It's a good listen to come back to every now and again.

01 Advent in Ives Garden
02 The Jubilee Courses
03 Catch the Light
04 Sinker Ships
05 Melt Down the Knives
06 Clangour and Flutes
07 We Belong
08 Carry Me Up to Smell Pine
09 A Fire to Sleep In
10 Fafafa
11 Poirot
12 Lies

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Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #7 out of 20 Album of 2009



Year: 2009
Label: Domino
Genre: Psychedelic Electronic Pop
TRT: 54:05

I'm not a big fan of electronic music so for this to make my top 10 this is a huge exception. Textures should be the title of this album. The cover itself has some pink/purple photo or something under the neon green moving (optical illusion) pattern. The music has so many great layers of sounds from tamborines > stick clicks > claps > bells > and other random noises tweaked with echo or delay. This recording has some flourishing harmonies that I wish the guys could pull off live [from most of the videos I've seen they're always off key]. But, no matter how they sound live...this recording is pristine and perfect in structure and the moods created.

My favorite thing about this album is that I can put it on and without taking any substances...I kind of feel like I'm tripping. So go dream (day-dream or otherwise) to this recording.

01 In the Flowers
02 My Girls
03 Also Frightened
04 Summertime Clothes
05 Daily Routine
06 Bluish
07 Guys Eyes
08 Taste
09 Lion in a Coma
10 No More Runnin
11 Brother Sport

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Tim Koch: Faena (4/5)

Year: 2006
Genre: Atmospheric Electronic Glitch
Label: Merck
TRT: 59:30


When I first got a hold of this release in 2006, it made an impression on me, and ended up barely missing a spot on my top ten list for the year.

After revisiting it a great deal of late, it startles me how much more I like it now as opposed to then. Very lush textures composed of interesting electronic beats, with a warm and inviting atmosphere accented by a healthy dose of glitch. Brings to mind Telefon Tel Aviv, or a more ambient and less spastic Autechre.

it’s a great album to listen to start to finish while driving or performing some other task.

01 Introduct
02 Distantamount
03 Ellermanstraat
04 Groove 90
05 Take The Stairs
06 Attery Bop
07 Intensive Porpoises
08 Blue And Grey
09 Shalike
10 Macrome
11 Gulf Streams
12 Seven Ate Nine
13 Kilteroff
14 X_To_M
15 Truth Sinks In
16 Waiting Room
17 Cutcut

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Snake River Conspiracy: Sonic J!had (4.5/5)

Year: 2000
Genre: Industrial Goth Rock
Label: Morpheus
TRT: 45:55

I went through a huge industrial goth phase in my teenage years, especially when it came to female fronted ones.

This band is/was comprised of two people, Tobey Torres (that's a chick) on vocals, and Jason Slater (former bassist of Third Eye Blind) on everything else. I think they added a guitarist later.

Unlike their musical contemporaries (Collide, Kidneythieves, et cetera), most of thier lyrics are self-satirizing and tongue in cheek. Very entertaining. This, their lone album, also contains two of the best covers I've ever heard, Love Song (The Cure) and How Soon is Now (The Smiths).

I keep hoping that one day a sophmore release will appear out of no where and blow me away, but for now, I'll just have to be content with what is available.

01 Breed
02 Casualty
03 You and Your Friend
04 Lovesong
05 Act Your Age
06 More Than Love
07 Strangled
08 Oh Well
09 Somebody Loves You
10 Vulcan
11 How Soon is Now?

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Saltillo: Ganglion (4/5)

Year: 2006
Genre: Trip-Hop IDM
Label: Suspicious
TRT: 52:17



Glitchy IDM Electronic music is sweet.

Glitchy Electronic music with an orchestra is even better....

01 A Necessary End
02 Giving In
03 Remember Me?
04 A Simple Test
05 A Hair on the Head of John the Baptist
06 Blood and Milk
07 The Opening
08 Backyard Pond
09 Grafting
10 Praise
11 I'm on the Wrong Side
12 002 F#m

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Clark: Turning Dragon (4.5/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#4 out of 10 (tie)


Year: 2008
Genre: Electronic Dance Glitch
Label: Warp
TRT: 46:35

Combining schizophrenic glitchy electronics with big beat dance floor beats, Chris Clark has created the perfect amalgamation of experimentation and control. Unashamedly Infectious and unabashedly catchy, it’s hard to name an album that’s more fun to audit.

01 New Year Storm
02 Volcan Veins
03 Truncation Horn
04 For Wolves Crew
05 Violenl
06 Radiation Clutch
07 Ache of the North
08 Mercy Sines
09 Hot May Slides
10 BEG
11 Penultimate Persian

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Flying Lotus: Los Angeles (4/5)

Joshua's Top 10 Non-Metal Albums of 2008
#9 out of 10


Year: 2008
Genre: "Trip-Hop"
Label: Warp Records
TRT: 43:17

I regrettably neglected this album for quite awhile, but from the first listen I knew it would be getting hours of play. People call it “trip hop”, but I’m not really familiar with the ins and outs of this genre. All I know is that I adore the atmosphere created by the static-drenched glitchy beats, so warm and inviting and fresh upon each new listen.

01 Brainfeeder
02 Breathe . Something/Stellar Star
03 Beginners Falafel
04 Camel
05 Melt!
06 Comet Course
07 Orbit 405
08 Golden Diva
09 Riot
10 GNG BNG
11 Parisian Goldfish
12 Sleepy Dinosaur
13 RobertaFlack (feat. Dolly)
14 SexSlaveShip
15 Auntie's Harp
16 Testament (feat. Gonja Sufi)
17 Auntie's Lock/Infinitum (feat. Laura Darlington)

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Jim Noir: Jim Noir (4.5/5)

Jonathan's #4 out of 20 Album of 2008


Year: 2008
Label: My Dad
Genre: Psychedelic Electronic Indie Pop
TRT: 57:37

Jim Noir (real name Alan Roberts) is an English singer-songwriter from Davyhulme, Manchester. This is his sophomore release and I have to say he just keeps getting better. Roberts goes deeper into his electronic side which normally I don't like too much of, but everything that goes on through-out the album just continues to uplift me. The harmonies are reminiscent of The Beach Boys but they have such a great tone that I never really caught myself thinking that until now. Honestly, this reminds me the most of the writing style of Caribou, because not only are the harmonies, electronic, and guitar wonderful, but the percussion on this album stays on par with all the other instruments. I'd have to say there is no lull in this album, everything continues to flow until it is finally over.


01 Welcome Commander Jameson
02 All Right
03 What U Gonna Do
04 Don't Worry
05 Ships and Clouds
06 Happy Day Today
07 Look Around You
08 Good Old Vinyl
09 Same Place Holiday
10 Day by Day by Day
11 Welcome CJ
12 On a Different Shelf
13 Forever Endeavor

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Emilie Simon: Végétal (Japanese Import): 4.5/5

Year: 2006
Label: Barclay
Genre: Sextronic Dance Rock
TRT:


A classically trained musician, Emilie Simon tried her hand at jazz and more tradition rock music until finally finding her niche in the world of electronica. What you'll find on Végétal is a cute French girl singing in both her native tongue and English, while playing her compositions about plants and flowers with flawless grace and undeniable appeal. Imagine Bjork doing an album with Air. Fun, catchy and sexy, with just a hint of a darker side. You'll keep coming back for more.

This special Japanese edition contains two bonus tracks and different artwork than the original French release.

download part I
download part II

01 Alicia
02 Fleur de saison
03 Le vieil amant
04 Sweet Blossom
05 Opium
06 Dame de lotus
07 Swimming
08 In the Lake
09 Rose hybride de the
10 Never Fall In Love
11 Annie
12 My Old Friend
13 En Cendres
14 Papillon*
15 Ferraille*

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Merzbow & John Wiese: Multiplication (4.5/5)

Year: 2004
Label: Misanthropic Agenda
Genre: Harsh Noise/Power Electronics
TRT: 61:14

I was addicted to noise as a genre for a period of time, and it changed my perspective on many things, not all of them music related. I had been deeply entrenched in noise for about a year when I picked up this cd. I bought it because I knew of Merzbow, and had tried to crack open his massive discography to no avail. Also, the sweet digipack had a hand in convincing me to drop the $10.

I was a bit aprehensive, having been let down by previous material, but Multiplication sucked me in from the start. Furious sonic assault and swirling stridency combined with immense texture and the mass of a black hole converged on my senses, pushing me past the point of resistence, and into the warm pool of numb wonder beyond the wall.

John Wiese & Merzbow collaborated through the internet to create this masterpiece, with the former covering the first five tracks, and the latter the sprawling closer. I don't listen to noise on a regular basis anymore, but when I do, this is one of the handful of albums I go to for my cacophonic fix.

01 Bonanza
02 Luxor Skyship
03 Spell
04 New Wave Dust II
05 Erotic Westernscape
06 Multiplication

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Mago: Definition of Raw Moments From a Different Perspective (4.5/5)

Year: 2002
Label: Ad Noiseam
Genre: Atmospheric Steller Dreamscapes
TRT: 71:29

Another album I took a chance on based off the meticulously beautiful packaging and artwork. Again I was rewarded. Definition... really takes you on a trip, a soujourn really, through the spaces between time and space. Delicate a caressing, sometimes pushing sometimes floating but always well thought-out and perfectly executed. After falling in love, I found out that one of the individuals involved is also Sanctum and half of Azure Skies. Go figure.

Pick a copy if you are able to do so, this is the sort of album to pass on to your kids one day.

01 Tumbling Down the Rabbit Hole
02 Like Sand Slips Through My Fingers
03 Your Mind Blew Across the Grass in Ripples
04 Enlaced by Ropes
05 Spaceships and Piles of Mud
06 Thought There Was More to Come
07 Sing Me to Sleep
08 Inbetweenworld
09 Infinite

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M83: Digital Shades Volume I (4.5/5)

#8 out of 10
Non-Metal Album of 2007

Year: 2007
Label: EMI Music France
Genre: Electronic Ambient Glitch
TRT: 35:39

Not a "typical" M83 album, but the first in a series of electronic ambient albums to be released under the moniker. Digital Shades Volume I is an incredibly dense and indellibly beautiful journey. It's warm and atmospheric, remaining on the outskirts of conscience, while at the same time, when allowed, dominating the senses. A balanced mesh of Harold Budd's melodic flow and Brian Eno's knack for textured soundscapes. While not eclipsing either artist, this cd still delivers fulfillment listen after listen. I look forward to hearing the subsequent installments in this serise.

01 Waves, Waves, Waves
02 Coloring the Void
03 Sister (Part I)
04 Strong and Wasted
05 My Own Strange Path
06 Dancing Mountains
07 Sister (Part II)
08 By the Kiss
09 Space Fertilizer
10 The Highest Journey

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