dRachEmUsiK Collaborations (onewayness & Joo Won Park)

dRachEmUsiK recently released two new albums as a part of separate collaborations with onewayness and Joo Won Park.



Immeasureable is a collaborative long-form ambient album by dRachEmUsiK (Charles Shriner) and onewayness (Adam Holquist). This album is based around the brahmavihāras or the “four immeasurables”, which is a series of Buddhist beliefs and practices. Meditative, droney, and contemplative, Immeasurable is a pleasure for the spiritual explorer.



Side Dish Side Affect is the collaborative project between Joo Won Park and Charles Shriner. This is an eclectic and experimental noise album that combines several different unusual elements. Side Dish Side Affect looks to provoke abnormal and unfamiliar emotions from the listener through improvised noise by creating abstract, organic, and textural audio environments.

Indian - From All Purity

From All Purity is the newest release from Chicago, Illinois based Noise Metal band, Indian.



Indian unleashes a scathing and hate filled delivery with the release of their fourth full length album, From All Purity. From All Purity is an intense near non-stop barrage to the senses of decaying putrid noise. Indian forgoes typical songs structure on this album in order to create a uniquely layered atmosphere of vivid darkness, a void. Pulsating walls of paralyzing sound carry on unrelenting yet satisfyingly towards this darkened rift into another dimension.

LORD MANTIS - Death Mask

Death Mask is the new album by the Chicago, Illinois based four piece Noise Metal band, LORD MANTIS.



Dark, deep, and gritty; Death Mask is a superb amalgamation of black, sludge, doom, and death among other genres of metal. LORD MANTIS drags the listener through their inner-most turmoils, grinding them abrasively into a catharsis with the cold earthen ground. Death Mask provides an interestingly progressive composition that continues turning over while adding or adjusting parts from section to section by using non-conventional or experimental song structures. LORD MANTIS has both primal and advanced technological elements present on this album, which allows for substantial depth throughout the entire work.

Black Tongue - Born Hanged

Here is the new EP, Born Hanged by Black Tongue.



Black Tongue is a five piece Doomwave Metal Band from Hull, England. Born Hanged is a devastatingly heavy album as well as being dynamic, well mixed, and high-tech; featuring a compelling fusion of many of the more "extreme" genres of metal wrapped in an Earth shattering sound design.

novemthree - Renewing

A must listen neofolk album. Haunting melodies, chilling ambiance, and mesmerizing rhythms that take you on a dreamy journey deep inside of yourself. Minimal, ritualistic, and soothing. This album will stay with you.

novemthree is a folk project from The Pacific Northwest that emphasizes a humble do it yourself attitude as well as the importance of respecting and living in harmony with the natural world that we are so effortlessly usurping. A quote from their Bandcamp page - "Crafting gently dark and dreamlike tunes of psychedelic-fringed folk music with verses inspired by a longing for a connection with Nature, the sense of solitude and peace in the vastness of the cosmos, meandering reflections on life and loss."

Taiga

New release on Bandcamp from Bryant Clifford Meyer's 'Taiga'. A quote from his Facebook.. "2 new Taiga cassette / digital releases out today via Bandcamp - "Musikecassette III" is the third installment of the Musikecassette series...".

Biomass, Shivasongster, Robert Dorschel, dRachEmUsiK, & More

This review article features sixteen artists from around the world that are involved in the electronic music culture in some way or another. Each artist presented has a unique take on sound and blends their influences together in order to create entirely original styles. The types of sounds that you will be hearing are best described in general as experimental and DIY. It is worth noting that a number of these artists have participated in the annual Electro-Music Festival. Please do check out their network of sites to find out more about EM.

http://electro-music.com/

http://event.electro-music.com/

http://radio.electro-music.com/index.php/

biomass

Biomass is Walter Douglas, who bases this project out of Los Angeles, California. Biomass creates a type of music that puts emphasis on cohesion and immersion with the intent of leading the listener towards extreme and powerful psychedelic trance states. Biomass bases a good portion of this musical direction from Shamanic elements, building an almost catatonic synchronicity within the music, making the listener become part of the actual experience.

"My approach to sound creation is to attempt to develop and process sound that becomes a unique feeling and/or place which is also smooth in its cycling. I usually try to build up layers of sound vertically to a total moment in which everything is going and then deconstruct from there. So there is a buildup, a peak moment is reached and then a break down." says Walter of his composition style. Geometry and visualized patterns play a significant role in the desired effects of the music, taking the listener on a synethesia inducing voyage.

Looping and one's own internal feedback loop play large roles in the music of biomass. The album Energy, a 2011 release, is a complex layering of sounds, textures, and rhythms that Walter blurs together, creating music that is almost indefinable in its nature. In ways it is as if the music almost isn't even there in how immersive an experience it can become. The main driving concept of Energy is to create soundscapes through synchronization that provides the listener with a gateway into another dimension of “energy” itself.

Shivasongster

Shivasongster is a music project based out of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania by Jeremy DePrisco. Jeremy is a multi-instrumental fusion musician who creates experimental music with influences from roots music, rock, and electronic.

“Right now I am trying to bridge the gap between my two primary personas of acoustic musician and electro artist. It's a difficult place to be in some ways as I live in bluegrass country in Central PA, so electro doesn't have a strong audience here. There are a few of us though, and when the planets align occasionally cool things happen. Unfortunately, "electro" to most people (if they understand it at all) tends to mean DJ tracks, or EDM for dancing. That is not what I am really into. I am more into creating sounds, composition, and definitely more narrative work.” says Jeremy of his current musical situation. Shivasongster’s music certainly does present a wide array of influences from old world to new world, as is demonstrated by Jeremy’s amazing and inventive work on his Balkan experiments.

When asked “What are some of your major inspirations/influences in electronic music?” Jeremy says “It all really starts with growing up around electronics, being a computer geek during the dot-com boom, and also my love of recording. I'm a child of the 80s, and that bit of musical history had an irreversible impact. The Dr. Who Theme was embedded in my memory from a young age, and I was also inspired by Hearts of Space and Echoes on NPR. In the late 80s I got a 4-track cassette recorder and fell in love with recording. I really liked playing with keyboards, but I was really not a keyboard player (still not). I was also learning and growing as a singer-songwriter with a guitar so there was material that was suitable for live performance, and there was a lot of other "spacey" stuff that just didn't make sense to bring out to the world at that point. I was also admittedly over-critical of sound quality. As I've learned, a lot of people from that time were just releasing their stuff on cassettes. I wanted to let things incubate a bit longer. Of course, these days people *try* to make things sound gritty and warm like those old four tracks! I did the high school rock band thing, and had some other projects in the folk-rock vein, but was never that satisfied with the experience of live performance. I always kept recording because that was where I could let go and experiment. I couldn't point to any single artists from that period in terms of electronic artists, but over the years I guess I gravitate more toward found sound, musique concrete, and the psychoacoustic work of more mainstream bands like Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and Nine Inch Nails. But these days it can be anything from Bjork to Beck that really inspires me. More obscure stuff like you find at EM (Electro-Music). I like what Mark Mosher is doing, and how Kip Rosser works with narrative. Also really like Joo Won Park's approach. Of course I enjoy most of Brian Eno's work, Vesilene (a fringe artist from a now defunkt netlabel) and I'm inspired by people like Richard Feynman and Tom Waits. In fact, when a friend introduced me to Waits' music, pretty much everything changed.”

Jeremy also performs with his wife, Audra, in a folk duo name Fricknadorable. They perform inspired folk tunes from years past and occasionally original material in the Pennsylvania area with an emphasis on the fun and light-hearted side of music.

Robert Dorschel

Robert Dorschel is a multi-instrumental experimental musician based out of Syracuse, New York. Robert combines numerous influences from all aspects of music to create his compositions, emphasizing his electronic work on softer picture-esque soundscapes.

Robert said when asked of his musical inspirations “I feel I was born at exactly the right time, musically, and technologically. My first two computers didn't have a mouse and I got into MIDI early on (1985). I was brought up on Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix, Early Rush and Police, and so forth, but experienced the New Wave early gothic, punk, and synth movements. It’s a difficult thing to narrow down what my musical influences were, but I do know what sound I strived for: that Peter Gabriel Aura, first and foremost. His sound is phenomenal and has more layers than an onion, not to mention those complex chords. Right next to him on my chart of music-writing goal would be Thomas Dolby. His catalog is quite impressive, once you sift through it. Then comes New Order, David Bowie (mid-70s to mid-90s), and then NIN during all that early shift in industrial synth rock. In the 90s I fell into ambient synth music, not the 4/4 dance club stuff, but the more avant stuff, like The Orb. Somehow everything listed above had one other influence in common though: Robert Fripp and Tony Levin.”

“Ever since Peter Gabriel released the instrumental soundtrack for the movie “Birdy,” and then “The Last Temptation of Christ” back to back at the height of his musical career, it instilled in me the feeling of, “gee whiz, it’s okay to pursue instrumental-only music as my primary love.” That released me into experimenting with a sound palette more so than the musical structure.” says Robert about his specific electronic music inspirations. A lot of Robert’s recent work has gone down this pathway of more cinematic soundscape composition, bringing the listener to meditative and contemplative place that is often relaxing and peaceful yet also melancholic at times as well. That isn't to say that Robert doesn't have much dimension, as he clearly demonstrates quite a bit of musical range in ability through his "Ditty-A-Day" project, where he was quickly creating quality and varied original tracks in a short amount of time. This project shows his ability level on a number of different musical skill sets.

dRachEmUsiK

dRachEmUsik is Charles Shriner, a project based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Charles’ music combines a plethora of nuanced techniques in order to create groovy and meditative soundscapes; giving structure to improvisation. This style manifests itself into an organic and natural composition of a free flowing design.

In 2011 dRachEmUsiK released the extended play, Speakeasy. Speakeasy is an album drenched in inspiration, thoughtfulness, and a hopeful sense of what is to come. Alive eases the listener into this environment as a combination of funk and jazz are jettisoned into outer space. The track Spider brings the listener to the most contemplative piece in the album, evoking the sense of vicariously observing not only the lives of others but in a way your own as well. It is also worth noting that Speakeasy prominently features creative use of spoken word poetry and odd vocal manipulations.

Ace Paradise

Ace Paradise is a music project based out a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ace rhythmically infuses upbeat and positive atmosphere with fast moving, technical, and organic composition. “WorldBeat” and tribal polyrhythm take deep root in this music while presenting a futuristic blend of synthetic textures with a fairly sophisticated level of production. Using masterful command of subtleties does Ace move the music along in constant change while riding the groove like an ocean's tide.

June Bug is a recent single by Ace, being released last September. June Bug is a very high-energy track. A fun and playful percussive and bass rhythm are most prominent on this piece, which also features more of a vocal dynamic than some of Ace's other pieces; adding a very interesting layer of dimension.

UNA

UNA is a music project by Bryant Clifford Meyer, formerly of the now defunct Post-Rock/Shoegaze outfit ISIS, that is based out of California. UNA takes inspiration from minimalist techno and ambient soundscapes, creating music that is melancholic yet hopeful, dark yet danceable. Pression, released in 2013, is a progressively composed album with some subtle and at other times not as subtle dub influences.

Modulator ESP

Modulator ESP is a music project by Jez Creek that is based out of Nottingham, England. Modulator ESP is highly experimental soundscapes that focus on dark ambiance and abstract drone. The 2013 release, Inner Cosmos, is a lush album with continually intriguing developments in environment designed to surprise the listener through an immersive and subtle flow of spacey noise.

Jack Hertz

Jack Hertz is a music project based out of California. Jack’s music is experimental and ambient in its nature, often incorporating an array of noises and drones. Released in January of 2013, Computer Music III is a monolithic album of computer inspired sounds. Swirling about in a jazz-like fashion with continual shifts of pitch and tempo, this album entrances with a variety of textures; at times more relaxed and others more intense.

Cousin Silas

Cousin Silas is a music project based out of the United Kingdom. Cousin Silas’ music is ambient and textural, often times being calm and meditative while on other occasions being much more dark. The 2013 release, Whisper Falls is an airy, astral, and peaceful album with roots in relaxation and a cinematic visual soundscape.

Neil Nail Alexander

Neil Nail Alexander is a music project based out of Newburgh, New York. Neil makes a wide a range of music but primarily focuses on experimental jazz fusion. The 2007 release, Tugging At The Infinite is an elaborate jazz fusion laden progressive album that is performed by Neil’s group – Neil Alexander & Nail. Catchy rhythm and impressive turns by astounding instrumentalists abound.

Cranial Mythos

Cranial Mythos is music project based out of Asheville, North Carolina by Greg Waltzer. Greg creates lush abstract ambiance through a complex weaving of synthetic noises and samples. Greg along with his wife Hong, together organize and put on the Electro-Music Festival as well as operate electro-music.com.

Onewayness

Onewayness is a music project based out of Erie, Pennsylvania by Adam Holquist. Onewayness is experimental music of a highly progressive nature. The 2011 release, Blue Star Is Freezing is an elaborate and elegant fusion of so many different variants of music, being unusual in the best of ways.

100ss

100ss is Joo Won Park, a highly experimental artist that creates uniquely textured ambient pieces by recording and processing noises. Joo uses a number of unusual sound sources, including most interestingly toys and house hold items. These techniques often bring out abstract combinations of percussive and tonal textures that are far outside the realms of ordinary imagination.

Todd Campbell

Todd Campbell is a multi-instrumental musician that creates electro-acoustic percussive oriented improvisational material. Released in 2010, Translations is a experimental rock and funk infused album; demonstrating superb musicianship.

Tony Farris

Tony Farris is a multi-instrumental musician that plays a wide variety of music styles. Tony works perhaps most notably with the bass guitar, creating some very intriguing organic looped based solo material. Tony's solo ambient work is highly textural and lush, often being drone oriented.

Scott Patire

Scott Patire is an multi-instrumental musician that creates progressive infused ambient pieces. Scott’s music is an interesting blend of ambiance and progressive rock with splashes of folk and multi-cultural influences, providing an intriguing throwback feel to new school methods.

We would like to thank all of the artists that participated in the interviews, it is greatly appreciated. If anyone has questions, comments, or concerns about this article please feel free to contact us.

Written by Ryan

Edited by Ryan & Sarah

Year In RRReview - 2013

We would like to thank everyone that has visited our little blog in this inaugural year. I plan to on a yearly basis briefly go over some of our "top" reviews and review an album that was released in the year that we thought stood out from the rest.

Next month we will be putting out our sixteen artist article of "underground" electronic projects. You can preview all of these artists HERE.

Favorite Album 2013 - 'Runaljod - Yggdrasil' by Wardruna

Written by Ryan

Wardruna is a Norwegian music group that was founded in 2003 by multi-instrumentalist and composer, Einar Kvitrafn Selvik. After releasing their acclaimed debut, 'Runaljod - gap var Ginnunga' in 2009 Wardruna has released in 2013 their much anticipated follow-up, 'Runaljod - Yggdrasil'. Wardruna uses a unique array of instrumentation, recording, and production techniques to achieve their sound; incorporating complex and harmonious vocalizations, diversified and very well played folk instruments, computer sampling of field recordings, and what sounds like mild use of a soft synth. Wardruna also ties all of these elements into Nordic folklore and spiritualism, thus drawing inspiration from ancient knowledge and traditions.



Fehu leaps into a pounding rhythm and mesmerizing chant after a brief ambient prelude. Staggering vocal developments are made quickly, layering the groove with melodious increments. Drum propulsion evolves the song further, compelling the listener to move and sway about without care; which happens to be a common occurrence throughout 'Yggdrasil'. Solringen is a deeply touching and healing composition, opening with wood knocking, meditative drones, as well as a beautiful bird song. The preceding portion of the album seems to be a building up to this breaking down as a hopeful sense of melancholy pervades. The vocal crescendo haunts for a long time to come. 'Yggdrasil' concludes with Helvegen, a powerful song with perhaps the most complex musical arrangement provided. This track has a more prolonged ambient entrance compared to the rest of the album, featuring sounds of thunder, birds, and other natural ambiance along with what sounds like could be a soft synth from the computer program. Helvegen has the most diverse textures found throughout the album with a unique combination of ambiance, vocal harmony, and tribal drumming; building into an incredibly uplifting rhythm near the midpoint of the song and ending in a deeply contemplative vocal outro.



'Runaljod - Yggdrasil' is a truly enchanting and rejuvenating piece of music. The level of depth is near incomprehensible even to the most perceptive of music enthusiasts. Something about this album will lift your soul out of your body if listened to properly.

Top Reviews

Follow the embedded links for full reviews.

Izalith

"Izalith is a music project based out of Seattle, Washington specializing in creating uniquely textured soundscapes and atmospheres. Their music flows in a very lucid way, engaging the listener and taking them on a journey through waves of sonic emotion. Featuring an array of musical techniques blended in a refreshing and satisfying way, Izalith’s music certainly does not come out and blurt its “message” in your face but rather expresses their meaning through a building, cascading, and relenting of subtleties. There is a certain dark quality about their music that conveys an almost disturbing pain, which becomes deeply resonate to the listener."

eleven tigers

"Eleven tigers is an electronic based music project from London, UK. The most recent release by this solo act slash collective project is the astonishing full length release entitled, 111. With this album, eleven tigers have created one of the more nuanced pieces of music in recent memory, composing a piece that is simply best described as real."

The Algorithm



"From Montpellier, France, THE ALGORITHM presents the album, Polymorphic Code. Combing numerous different modern music styles and production techniques, this record has a persistent and immersive flow that is heavily groove textured. Dynamic diversity reigns as the main staying point of this album, creating a level of textural atmosphere that brings the advanced level technology present on this album to the forefront of observation."

Wardruna

Can't say enough about the work being done with Wardruna. A combination of textural ambient with field recordings of nature, tribal rhythms, chanting (as well as singing), and Nordic folk/spiritualism based on the Elder Futhark Runes. The lead vocalist is Ghaal, formerly of Gorgoroth but don't let that make your mind up about what kind of sound you are about to hear.

Here is one of my favorites from Runaljod - Yggdrasil.



And the entire album.

Khaldera

Khaldera, has released a new free (name your price) album entitled Relief. Mixing on this album was done by Aaron Harris, formerly of ISIS. Khaldera is an instrumental trio from Switzerland. Shed Light on The Unbearable is in an intricately woven progressive song with a prominent dark psychedelic nature.