Reviews

The League of Moveable Type

Typeface has always been an integral part of art... For me it is art. And it is good to see that there are other people out there who think the same way. The League of Moveable Type came to life thanks to two designers, Caroline and Micah, to combat the limitations and raise the standards of the web. It features a collection of some of the highest-quality of typefaces I came across online in a very long time. As a user you are more than welcome to contribute, browse, download, and use the chosen typefaces for free as all of them are subject to SIL's Open Font License (which means that you are allowed to use the fonts for either personal or commercial purposes as long as you give a credit to its original creator).

Abdoulaye Alhassane: Sahara Spirit

Abdoulaye Alhassane is often called a master of the music of the Saharan cultures and languages; from Songhai, Sonrai, to Tamaschek, Peil, Toureg, and Zerma. More than anything else, however, he is an incredibly talented composer, arranger, producer and has been a part of a highly successful Niger based band, Mamar Kassey, which toured the world gathering countless of rave reviews. Although playing mainly guitar, Alhassane's instrumental entourage includes many Central Saharan strings such as Molo and Gurmi and today brings some masterfully crafted sounds further reminding us that instruments... can sing too.

ne:o – direkt (live)

Ne:o is a German band that mixes a whole lot of genres to create an essentially artistic piece of work. The group recently released a live performance compilation to cap off their German tour last 2009. It wasn't meant to be the last group performance but until today it remains to be seen whether the guys will be getting back together or not. The album is available at Aaahh Records as well as on Internet Archive. Ne:o played songs from previous albums, âne:omuzicâ, âmusikkritikâ and the critically acclaimed, âillojâ. Listening to this band is like taking a wonderful, psychedelic music trip where you encounter layers and layers of sound as well as instruments that beautifully harmonize or mingle with each other. Take a listen.

Pterodactyl: The Dark Side of the Moon

With the success of Weezer's 8-Bit Album version, there was bound to be a sequel. This time around, the boys of Pterodactyl have set their sights to cover one of the greatest bands ever, Pink Floyd. The Dark Side of the Moon has always been an iconic record ever since it was released in March 1973. Hence, it was the obvious choice for the next 8-bit rehash. The Pterodactyl Squad has gathered up some of the most prominent names in chiptune talent and made use of old game consoles to create a truly unique but true-to-the-original sound. This isn't just for those who love Floyd, it's pretty much for anybody who loves great music and good old videogames.

Greg Gibbs: The Lights

If you're looking for a relaxing electro indie pop album, you might enjoy The Lights by Greg Gibbs. Compiling 20 great tracks in one record, the singer/songwriter is definitely on a roll with his third release. The singer is currently based in Chicago. He has released two previous albums, 2007's Raincoat and 2009's Hemoglobin, which you can both get for sale at iTunes. This third compilation, The Lights, is filled with beautiful electro pop tracks that would make a lovely background to a quiet, relaxing afternoon. Check out the download by hitting the link towards the left.

Escape from NOM

Escape from Nom is a cheeky pinball type game from Glu. Initially sold, the game is now available as a free download from the App Store and it is among a long list of games released by Glu. The game was initially released back in 2010 and although there were initial mix ups with regards to its price; its been corrected ever since and is now offered absolutely free. Escape from NOM features colorful graphics and a fun gameplay that you can easily enjoy on your break time. There are about 30 levels to the game; providing you with enough entertainment as you please. Give the game a try.

Moses Luster and the Hollywood Lights: I’m The Lion

If you are tired of all the clean cut pop, rock, indie sounds no matter how good they might be and instead crave for something entirely new, somewhat dark and rusty than I'm The Lion is here to help. The lyrics sing of "low life crooks, doomed love affairs and a haunted past", the music comes filled with strong drums, some electronic beats, and that good old hollywood orchestra feel, while the vocals bring back the ghosts of the classics such as Johnny Cash or Tom Waits with just a touch of Leonard Cohen. A sure keeper!

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.

The Appreciation Post: Work?/?Sleep EP

With a penchant for power pop and synth punk beats, The Appreciation Post is bringing in tons of energy with their upbeat sound. The Boston quartet has been around since 2005 and have shared the stage with awesome acts such as Smoking Popes, Mayday Parade, and Anberlin to name a few. Work/Sleep is the third release from the crew and hauls in power pop into play. Their previous records include, Brighter Sides (2006) and Leftovers (2010). The latter was produced by Marc McClusky who's worked with bands like Bad Religion and even indie favorite, Weezer. Armed with catchy beats and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, it's a compilation that can easily become a staple in any college punk rockers room.