Novampb - Too Cool For Words (2015)

Another new artists to Spacerockmountain sent in by a returning label. This time it is the Recife, Brazil-based label, Transtorninho Records. You know, the dudes that released Lindberg Hotel, Amandinho and 151515. So you gotta bet this'll be good too.

Novampb is an electronic artist from the Brazilian coastal city of Maceió. The songs he makes are lo-fi IDM or glitch, composed with an excellent sense of dramatic timing. They come of as incredibly cinematic works on the base and then through a deft use of sampling spoken word audio he's added a feeling of disembodied otherworldliness. I'm told he's putted these clips from youtube, and sounds like a kindred soul spending too many hours listening to sounds pour out of a computer. It takes me back to when I first became familiar with lo-fi electronic music from the artists like Ocelote Rojo, Turning Torso and LAY BAC. Of course all of these have their own flavors and while it can be hard to put Novampb's style into words your ears won't have any issue identifying its unique charms. I recommend giving all of Too Cool For Words for word a listen and don't stop before the end, as the final two tracks are my favorites.

To be had here:
Novampb - Too Cool For Words

Mondrian Loop - LAP​[​WW] (2015)

I really wouldn't know a damned thing about hip hop at all if it wasn't for my brother. He doesn't know about much of it to be honest either, but he does love instrumental hip hops, beats and the more experimental side the whole business. Over the years it's become something we know we can both handle hearing without driving one of us up the wall. Much preferable to him needling me with Fleetwood Mac songs. Therefore, I was very willing to throw on some rose-tinted glasses as I hear Mondrian Loop, but I don't think I needed them.

I was sent literally nothing more than a hyperlink to this bandcamp page, so everything else is pieced together from there. Seems this producer(s) is from Florida and makes stripped down instrumental hip hop. By stripped down I mean that the tracks are not very complex nor long, but rather have a rawness to them that's appealing. It really reminds me of much of the newer forms of lo-fi electronic music usually eager to write-up such glo-fi, vaporwave and so on. One could even throw it one of those 'genres' if you so fancied. Regardless of what you call it, LAP​[​WW] is a spacey, looping affair that makes for excellent late night listening.

To be had here:
Mondrian Loop - LAP​[​WW]

Scenes Of A City, Vol 3: Porto, Portugal

Another addition of the Scenes Of A City series that Amazing Larry has pioneered. It seemed like such a great idea and so much fun to do I was extremely envious that I wasn't doing that shit. So Larry being the nice guy that he is let me in on the action and I hope I his project justice with my first installment. Now, if you haven't heard of Porto before, which I am willing to wager many North Americans haven't, it is Portugal's second city after Lisbon. By that I mean Porto has the second largest population, the second most economical significant city, et cetera. The region that contains Porto is known for its wine, called Port simply enough, and perhaps you've had a wicked hangover or two from that wonderful stuff like yours truly. Moreover, from what I have read the city is known for its music, having furnished Portugal with many of its most popular acts. But we don't do popular here very often, instead you will find us digging around in the nooks and crannies. Found some real gems this time, so enjoy some of the recent releases of Porto.

To be had here:

Cervo - Cervo (2013)

Ambient drone. That really should be enough to sell this. It was for me. Cervo is spares, I am talking stark here. Yet it is some really epic shit, taking its time and slowly seeping into your mind and making you a convert to its gloomy cult. Drone and ambient play a therapeutic role in my life. It is what I prefer to listen to if I am trying to get my shit together when scattered for whatever reason; over indulging, lack of sleep, allergy fueled headaches, and whatnot. Cervo has certainly done that for me today and I'm willing to bet shall again in the future.

Homem Bigode - Homem Bigode EP (2014)

This EP made me smile. I don't know what the fuck is he saying, as it is in Portuguese, but I love how the he is saying it. The delivery reminds me of something I desperately wish I could place. On top of all that the instrumentation side is outrageous. Keys are going goddamn wild on these tracks and the guitar playing is fantastic. It really isn't easy to place this band in a genre, is simply sounds like lo-fi rock and roll, but certainly by musicians who recall then 80s and 90s fondly.

Gonçalo -  Quim EP (2014)

Dreamy psychedelic ambient/electronic music. I'm not trying to go too heavy no the ambient, but I felt there was enough difference in this album from Cervo and it had such merit that I ought to share both. Gonçalo is along the likes of the glo-fi I so often praise with its vague tropical-ness and mixture of sampling, generated sounds and guitar playing. This EP was put out by a Porto-based label, Lovers & Lollipops. They've seem to be doing a fucking excellent job and have much more music that is worth listening to, so I bet you'll see more of them in on
SRM in days to come.

Wild Apes - Wild Δpes EP (2014)

If this wasn't in a post about Portugal one could be forgiven for not releasing this is a Portuguese band, as they sound like a British indie rock outfit. Yes, sung in English, this band makes that popular version of indie rock that borrows enough from garage rock to make it "edgy." I am not trying to be harsh, as I am a supporter of this, and not everything can be the Mummies (as fucking trippy a world as that would make for) and I like popular stylings of lo-fi rock very often. These cats have the makings for radio hit makers... while the would have in 2001. Still solid listening and the last track gets unexpectedly psychedelic.

Sr Eduardo Urso - Histórias Tristes Ao Pequeno​-​Almoço (2012)

A lovely, cheerful twee-folk EP. It has been too long since I put up anything that could be called twee on this damned blog. While not only does that get fixed here, it is fixed with ukulele. Three little tracks done with that happy tiny guitar and some adorable Portuguese singing. This EP was released by Gentle Records, a label that seems to be putting out an awful lot of strange and good releases and they're all completely free to download. Could be worthwhile to poke around on their site.

Ricky Eat Acid - Three Love Songs (2014)

Rick Eat Acid is a band on the Orchid Tapes label who put of wonderful lo-fi electronic music. I have often praised the label and the artists put out on it, and this review will have some of that same praise, but I think it'll be interesting to dwell on what is so allure about this sort of music for me and others. So time for me to muse on lo-fi electronic/chillwave/glo-fi/sound art or whatever the fuck we'll end up calling it.

The sort of music I am talking about ranges from the sample-based looping of Monster Rally to the dream pop and shoegaze tinged Wizard Oz, Home Alone and Tearjerker to the sparsely done, sometimes spoken-word infused tracks of Foxes in Fiction and Ricky Eat Acid. This is a considerable amount of ground to cover, but I feel the artistic implications of all these musicians is similar in their striving for a mixture of introspection and nostalgic in a melancholic but all too necessary angst of being. Not that this isn't punctuated by intense fits of joy and pleasure, but that those are highlights that gain significance all the greater from the feeling of the rest of the compositions. Now, this could be said of shoegaze, post-rock and slowcore, however I feel what makes this stand out as not only a genre but something I've come to greatly appreciate is the very sparseness of the songs. There are few lyrics often opting for a spoken word sample instead, few instruments beyond the computer and none of the complex polyrhythms and epic building toward crescendo of post-rock or longer psychedelic tracks. Overall, this music seems to share numerous qualities of ambient and sound collage but with a more concise vision as far as I've interpreted it. Perhaps these artists I've cited won't even be considered generically unified in the future, but I have found their emergence not a mere coincidence.

As for Ricky Eat Acid in particular, it is a wonderful album that shows the degree of emotional impact this sort of music can hold. The tracks go from soft, ambient wanders to the techno-inspired sort of oddity that is "In my dreams we're almost touching." I've been putting this album on nearly everyday after work for two weeks and I still feel like it s showing me new parts and ways that it is subtly inching it's lo-fi message of love and longing into my head. Put recalling my young days as a church-goer before my folks just abandoned that idea altogether and every now and then being pulled to a church by a friend was brought back starkly by "In rural virginia; watching glowing lights crawl from the dark corners of the room." Yes, they all have wonderfully long titles like that. I'll end with this, check it out and see how it makes you feel, or you can wait for another loud garage rock album, because I too am looking forward to that.

To be had here:
Ricky Eat Acid - Three Love Songs

Monster Rally - Return to Paradise (2013)

Attempting to get more energy for writing the blog I was kicking around in some of the old posts, and I do apologize that nearly all the links are dead but to keep that shit up would be a full-time job. You should be savvy enough to hunt things down if necessary. The easy and reckless file sharing that was the scene before megaupload's shutdown just isn't coming back I fear... man that shit was cool though. However, I have for today's post something I was praising up and listening to before the even wiped my file sharing accounts off various servers, Monster Rally. Sadly I was neglectful of the new releases that this mesmerizing artist has been putting out in the last year, not unlike my previous post on Nate Hendricks. Return to Paradise maintains the core features of Monster Rally's prior work, lo-fi electronic music with a remarkably talented use of sampling to create a simultaneously nostalgic and exotic mood. It is like a soothing dream version of snippets from 1950s films set in Hawaii, a Bollywood soundtrack and a drum machine. Every bit as brilliant as I remember.

To be had here:
Monster Rally - Return to Paradise

Monster Rally - Beyond the Sea (2012)

I'm very aware I've been promising and hoping to make more frequent posts and utterly failing to deliver for months, but that's the fucking rub I suppose. However, there's little better reason to emerge from a temporary silence to spread the word about this new LP by Monster Rally. This guy's been written up here and on several blogs I admire for his previous releases and everything that made those so meritorious can consistently be heard on Beyond the Sea. For those unfamiliar with Monster Rally's music, it is a fantastic example of what some term glo-fi, which I think of as lo-fi electronic music with heavy usage of samples and looping to create something oddly nostalgic yet unique. Moreover, all his songs have a tropical exotica theme that makes it absolutely wonderful for listening to while baking under the summertime sun that's been scorching Detroit and various other locales recently. Finally, while the digital version has been released in a "name your price' scheme, there's a vinyl version coming out in June with pre-ordering going down now.

To be had here:
Monster Rally - Beyond the Sea

Peaking Lights - 936 (2011)

Can't believe I missed this album coming out. Then again tons of shit slips right by me. So thanks to Somatose for posting this one up, for I adore Peaking Lights. Listened to this album for the first time right after yesterday's posted band, Treasure Hunt, and I was surprised how similar in mood they were. Lightly droning, ethereal vocals, and echoing cords make quite close. Perhaps naturally enough as they're both lo-fi electronic music. However, this is a shift from Imaginary Falcons, which I posted about just after my old car's windows got bust out in this city I still perplexing live in. 936 isn't as darkly droning. Not really upbeat, except perhaps "Birds Of Paradise Dub Version," but as a whole more psychedelic and otherworldly. I also shared their EP released between the albums, Space Primitive, if you wanna grab that.

To be had here:
Peaking Lights - 936 [192 kbps]

Treasure Hunt - Seatec Astronomy (2012)

This is the second Treasure Hunt album posted on Spacerockmountain. Another of the fresh releases to come out with the changing over to a new year. Seatac Astronomy has a far more mellow mood. I'd easily place this as chillwave/glo-fi material whereas the last album was far more experimental, noisy and frantic in style. Nature sounds (largely chirping of birds), squeaking instruments, and light choir-like vocals fading in and out of the background all add up for a hypnotic listening experience. Mostly I find I'm pleased with the music submitted, but this certain exceeded by expectations for the band. To listen to the changing and developing group of artists that've chosen to repeated send in their releases has proven to be the best part of the blog. Top notch, fellas.

To be had here:
Treasure Hunt - Seatec Astronomy

Teen Brigade - Into The Ocean (2011)

Into the Ocean is an epic album; it plays for nearly an hour and quarter. With only fifteen tracks one can easily imagine there are some real doozies. Electronic soundscapes with long, building, evolving and mood-shifting nature make up the first and third parts, but the middle ha stripped down songs with more guitar. The variety of fuzzed out or warped vocals are really what gives some of the songs personality though, such as "(1). Left The Club Last Night" where hip hop style singing is present or echoey, ethereal voice in "Chaos Reigns." I thought it was awesome that there's a clip of guy calling in about reading up on H.G. Wells wikipedia stuck in the middle of the album. Overall, it is hard to place Teen Brigade into any genre, for arguably many present here, including lo-fi rock, pop, ambient, glo-fi, and more. Perhaps the best way to put it is the Teen Brigade is a fine example of genre isn't anywhere near as important as making good music.

To be had here:
Teen Brigade - Into The Ocean

Grandpa Was A Lion - Seven Songs (2011)

I suppose this works as a full-length release by Grandpa Was A Lion, which is really just the moniker of Justin D'Onofrio. He compares his music to "Bon Iver, David Bazan, Elliot Smith and Julian Lynch" but since expect Smith I haven't fuck all in experience listening to those cats I'll leave it up to you to decide what to do with the info. What I do know is that his stuff is chill, really low-key. This isn't to say that it's not provoking or worthwhile, especially if you're looking for something more ambient. This is some sweetly sung, glo-fi/dreamy pop. Lastly, unlike the previous EP I posted by this artist, this isn't a free release, but is only a small sum of $5 via bandcamp.

To be had here:
Grandpa Was A Lion - Seven Songs

LoOmis - Vellocet (2011)

I believe this band is canvasing blogs rather heavily, but who's to harsh them if they're making something worth shilling about? I'll admit that I know diddling shit about LoOmis but what I read on last.fm of them being from New Orleans and some influences I can't quite make out in their sound. I did really like their album nonetheless. It is a mix of lo-fi electonic and dream pop, sorta halfway to chillwave but still maintaining dreamy vocals and guitar. A good listen for a lazy afternoon, of which I've grown exceptionally fond of since my car trouble have left me grounded often enough. Lastly, LoOmis does seem rather prolific and consistently delightful, including some nice remixes. So be sure to get the other releases available on bandcamp.

To be had here:
LoOmis - Vellocet

Light Leak - Thoughts Of Mirth (2010)

Had a surreal night yesterday, put me in the mood for some soothing electronic music. Light Leak is a glo-fo project I ran across on bandcamp a few weeks back, I do believe the same time I found Turning Torso. It's tagged with "Germany" so I am gonna assume that is where the artist hails from. It is laid-back as all get out, reminding me mildly of Ra Cailum. Thoughts Of Mirth has done wonders for decompressing my weirded-out mind today so I thought it is come due to share. Maybe my favorite part are the ethereal, echoing vocals contrasting with the eccentric beats in "The Morning Sun." Worth a whirl to hear it all though.

To be had here:
Light Leak - Thoughts Of Mirth

Turning Torso - Walker (2010)

About time I took off those lo-fi rock blinders. Turning Torso is Mexico's David Sánchez producing music with his guitar and a computer for sampling, looping and sonic wizardry. I'd say it falls rather neatly into the glo-fi category, yet showing how variable that genre can be it is only mildly similar to other acts like Ocelote Rojo, María y José, or Ra Cailum. Suppose they're more united in methods and overall mood than anything else. Walker is kinda like Boards of Canada or Casino Versus Japan with a much more pronounced role for the guitar. Has a jazzy element to it to it as well that appears in tracks like "Milees" and "Walker." Exactly the sort of sounds that help keep me levelheaded as I submit application after application without noticeable progress. There is also an EP entitled Lo-fi and a B-sides and Remixes to check out if you liked this album.

To be had here:
Turning Torso - Walker

EP Grab Bag vol. 2

Another series of EPs I was sent (for the most part). All these are to be had for free on bandcamp so let's do it to do then, pilgrims.

To be had here:

Moon/Ruin - Ocean (2011)

A lovely psychedelic pop EP coming out of Austin, if the tag on bandcamp is to be believed. The guy that submitted it was also in Liquid Skulls but this is a different beast. The psychpop nature of this makes it irrestable for me not to make an E6 reference, but they're certainly doing their own thing here. Very nice.






The Post Riot Era - On Zero Sum Living (2011)

This is some really chill ambient music. Minimal, experimental and quite atmospheric. Easy to lose track of oneself while listening. Interesting and worth the download for sure.








Seabuckthorn - In Nightfall (2011) [320 kbps]

This was sent in by Bookmaker Records, the folks that released Henryspenncer. However, the UK's Seabuckthorn is of another variety of music. In Nightfall is a 23-minute exploration of instrumental psych-folk. Real mellow and melodious. Give this guys a go and support the label should you like what you hear.







Grandpa Was A Lion - Archaic EP (2011)
or Download via mediafire

This one I found on my own just knocking about bandcamp. Pretty decent glo-fi/dream pop. Very soft and sleepy making it rather suitable for a good evening listen. Like let's say get hit by a bus and you're now among the cloud folk, you might hear something like this.

Ocelote Rojo - Pacarina (2011)

Found Ocelote Rojo on bandcamp when I was poking around. Pretty album art and some interesting tags got me to give it a listen. Pacarina wasn't disappointment. Most assuredly this EP falls into the glo-fi/chillwave that been attracting my and many others attention lately. Therefore this bears similarities to Monster Rally, Lay Bac, and their ilk. However, it is decidedly more gloomy than Monster Rally, if roughly at the same pace. Guessing the musician, Francisco Aravena, is Chilean from the tags, hard to be sure. However, I think the power of suggestion goes a long way in chillwave. For example, images of sunny beaches on the cover art are gonna have an effect opposed to a Mesoamerican city on this one. Variations on nostalgia ultimately, but give the mind a launching point of reference in this often lyric-less genre. Let me know if you agree.

To be had here:
Ocelote Rojo - Pacarina

María y José - Espíritu Invisible (2010) & Kibosé EP (2010)

I am pretty sure these were on Somatose at one point or another, and if I'm mistaken then I'm just thinking it jives with their style. Anyway, as long as I was posting yesterday's "glo-fi" of Lay Bac that I might was well just share both the full-length and the EP by María y José, the project of musician Antonio Jimenz. The tone of these releases are somewhat different, with the Kibosé EP being more synthpop-esque and dancey whereas Espíritu Invisible feels more psychedelic and sample heavy. Espíritu Invisible shares many of the nostalgic themes that Lay Bac, Monster Rally, and Beat Connection incorporation into their songs, but the most notable difference is the punchy tropicália-like beats. Both releases are rather brilliant in part because of this difference, which keeps each a bit more unique when compared. María y José utilizes samples done in Spanish, which isn't wildly unusual as he is from Mexico. However, I find these are particularly enjoyable despite the fact that I haven't clue what they mean, and they're not structured like lyrics anyhow. These songs have been played many times over in the last several days through my headphones, perhaps you might enjoy doing likewise.

To be had here:





Espíritu Invisible [320 kbps]











Kibosé EP [320 kbps]

Lay Bac - ooo kokomo (2010)

This artist popped up among my recommended ones from last.fm because I'd been circling around it with other artists I been enjoying and posted on here such as Ra Calium and Wrestling Club. This album is some dreamy electronic music like Ra Calium, but has this warm mood like a tropical breeze that leads me to compare it to Monster Rally. Pleasant is probably the best word to use to describe it, though I bet this is another case where those strange new genre names like chillwave and glo-fi could be applied. What I like about it is how the music seems to be fade in and out at times and drop into prolonged hazy ambiances. Wish I knew more about the artist, but I am throwing this up now while I'm eager so all I know is they're on the very neat Trembleface/Sanddagger label and from Austin, Texas. Lastly, the album is free via bandcamp like the most of the others mentioned today.

To be had here:
Lay Bac - ooo kokomo

Ra Cailum - Leaving EP (2010) & Walkabout (2010)

More of this glo-fi, or chillwave as I've seen it alternatively referred to, that has intrigued me. Ra Cailum is the moniker for a Midwestern electronic musician, taken from the popular anime show Gundam as far as I can tell. The music is synth-heavy and involves liberal samples of vocals and retro-sounding effects. Almost seems like the sort of music one might here in a Gundam-like show or a old sci-fi film but made far more appealing through deft composition. Ra Cailum does seem to be on the mellower side overall, at least compared to bands like Beat Connection or Neon Indian. Leaving EP fits well as a set up to the longer ablum, Walkabout. In fact, a track called "Evergreens" on the EP was a titular follow up on the full-length in "Evergreens (pt. II)." This makes sense, as they were release quite close to one another and contain the same mood throughout them. I know that Walkabout is being given out for free by the artist on last.fm and other places. I assume the same is the case for the Leaving EP but throw him a bone and see him live should you get a chance if it ain't too much trouble.

To be had here:




Leaving EP [320 kbps]













Walkabout [256 VBR kbps]

Beat Connection - Surf Noir EP (2010)

I'll begin with my disclaimer, I can't remember how I got this album. Just know it was near the top of my recently added songs, and after giving in a listen I was sure it needed to be posted. I mean, how could one pass up such a thing as an EP called Surf Noir? Luckily, the music lives up to the name. Beat Connection has succeed in making electronic music that provokes imagines of a beach side party that wouldn't have Corona. Not too long ago I posted a similar description of Candy Claws, and it is true that the two bands are quite alike. If anything Beat Connection is more dance-orientated and a bit less ethereal than Candy Claws. Another reason I was all worked up to post this band is that it was the first time I saw the term "glo-fi" and those of you that have been regular readers might recall that I think new genre names are fun and cute. Indeed, glo-fi is a good as term as any string of terms I might assemble for what Beat Connection sounds like, especially if you read the good description of glo-fi on last.fm. More or less it is lo-fi electronic music that infuses a good deal of retro or nostalgic elements into it. If Beat Connection is any indication of what this route can yield, I'll be clamoring for more.

To be had here:
Beat Connection - Surf Noir EP [320 bkps]

Monster Rally

So yesterday I broke my computer's screen. Real bad like, so I could not see a damned thing. It being a macbook this is a major set back, especially considering my renewed unemployment. Regarding the blog here, the issue is that only that computer can easily access my collection of music, therefore I cannot post anything that would require me to upload it myself. However, it just gives me an excuse to spout off about something neat from bandcamp. Monster Rally has three free releases on bandcamp, and the other day I downloaded them all and was rather impressed. The name does sound familiar, so I recognize that is how they could have caught my eye and it could have been a blog I follow that posted about them. Anyway, they make some dreamy, breezy tunes that quite intentionally summon images of old films about pacific islands laden with beaches. Some of the tracks even feature the added element of the warm crackle and pop of vinyl and skipping sound to which the medium is prone. The songs are calm and elegant and I've found them a nice way to enjoy these waning summer days. I can't resist saying I was shocked to see what seems to be the Uniroyal giant tire on the album art the Color Sky 7" as that really sits along Interstate 94 to the west of Detroit and my grandparents met each other while employed at that company (it no longer exists independently).

To be had here:




Color Sky 7" (2010)













Palm Reader (2010)












EP (2010)