Electronic

(Depeche Mode, Orbital, Kraftwerk)

Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break present: Oscillations Part 2

With more than just powerful synths accompanying the very first track of the album, Jus Like Music & Apple Juice Break take no time in properly introducing us to their more recent digital compilation. Released in 2010 Oscillations is a part 2 in series of exciting musical journey through some great hip-hop, electronica, neo-soul, and dubstep sounds. The compilation is putting forward twenty one of the best, exclusive (or at least previously unreleased) tracks just for us. So let's return the favor by turning up the volume.

Great Skies: Summer Moments EP

Cut records is a fairly new netlabel having just started last January 2011. By fulfilling the need to provide great ambient, post-dub sound from unknown but very talented artists; they're fast becoming recognized for churning out quality EPs left and right. Armed with their fifth release, Cut Music is unleashing their latest ambient electronic EP. This time around it's from Great Skies; a 20-year old London native. Despite having a run time of less than 15 minutes, this four track EP called, Summer Moments, compiles what is essentially a short burst of energy mixed with chill music and synths. One of those compilations you can just leave playing at the background without much thought.

Flesh Forest and The Elephant Only Zoo: Scream Dream

Flesh Forest and The Elephant Only Zoo is a hodegepodge of sounds and genres. On the one hand, you get songs emanating with an indie electronic folk rock vibe, but as you progress through the album you encounter a darker, noise rock, experimental sound that leaves you wondering what happened. Well, for one, Flesh Forest and The Elephant Only Zoo are two different bands. Although both hail from Massachusetts, soundwise, that's about as far as similarities go. The former describe themselves as mainly into gothic/psychedelic electronica while the latter dubs themselves as belonging to the acousmatic/ tape music/ visual genre. Despite the differences, this five-track mini record resonates with both individuality and coherence.

Pollux: Rspct

The album Rspct opens up with a track that's proper for its role: Rspct Intro features a thin but layered drone shifting from this direction to that until it renders itself redolent of aircraft sounds, or of spacecraft ones (it depends on your imagination, really) and, consequently, creates the illusion of one taking flight, perhaps toward Pollux – not the artist behind the album, but the brightest star in the constellation of Gemini, from which the musician presumably took his moniker.

MIT Choir: Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana

Originating from 1230 AD, the Carmina Burana is a set of medieval manuscripts consisting of 254 poems and dramatic text. It was an epic piece of text that was created by theological students mainly to satirize the church. Most of the works centered on subjects such as wealth, the nature of life, financial abuses, joy of Springtime and even the pleasure and perils of drinking. The Carmina Burata was translated into an beautiful cantata by German composer, Carl Orff in 1937. The composer's version of the Carmina is now available as a free download right on FMA. Performed by none other than the MIT Orchestra under the direction of Dr. William Cutter (2006.) This is a great piece of classical/medieval music brought to life in these modern times.

Galaxie Junktion

Recently released by Junktion, a New Zealand music collective, compilation features some amazing and hand picked quality dustep, hip-hop, electronic, and ambient sounds from across the world. Featuring talented artists such as Mecca:83, B Lewis, Benny Tones & Mara TK, tom2k, and Ghost, Galaxy Junktion promises to bring in some refreshing beats for just about any type of electronic music lover out there.

Johnwaynes: What Is All About

A little bit of bossanova, electro-acoustic sounds, electropop delight, some disco/jazz influence and great vocals in all the right places; What Is All About is certainly a melting pot for your senses. Released in 2010 by Johnwaynes album (made available for a download by the Optimus Discos Label), brings us five excellent tracks ready to bright up your day with their light and chill out sounds that will not be quickly forgotten.

Graffiti Mechanism: Fueled by Emotion

Proc-Records founder and curator Adam Crammond, a k a, Graffiti Mechanism, picked or conceptualized, whichever the case, a rather curious cover for his latest effort Fueled by Emotion. Archetypal digital illustrations and graphic images come to mind when the subject of electronica album art is brought up, so it only rightly elicits a slight shrug that this release features a low-definition, worm's-eye view photo (with mirror effect) of a tree ostensibly taken during a drought. But looks, as the discerning would know, can be deceiving: the seven solid tracks of the album, which was released by Happy Puppy Records, intuitively belie whatever pallidness the cover may come off as having.

Eskaei: Bits Is All There Is

Eskaei is actually the one-man crew of Stefanos Kourtis. This talented artist has been making his own mix of eclectic electronic hip hop; skilfully creating a lush soundscape filled and inspired by hip hop music. Stefanos is also the brainchild for netlabel, Memory Format. He started it around 2006. He has also released several songs as well as compilations using different monikers in various netlabels. As Eskaei, he focuses more on his love for "electronically generated sounds;" creating a wonderful hodgepodge of elements that are both pleasant, complex yet easy to relax to.