Solar X / Kalashnikoff Bullet Bath EP / Defective (12")
The really cool thing about Solar X is that he's Russian and part of an unquestionably remote techno scene (how many Russian techno acts can you name?). The result of this is music that is wonderfully fresh. Many of the sounds on Kalashnikoff Bullet Ballet are from "exotic" Russian synths that are not heard in the West. As far as comparisons go, these tunes are reminiscent of Aphex Twin, particularly in the intricate (and in-your-face) drum programming. The biggest treat on the record is track 1 of side B, "Koraleva (Solaremix)" -- where else can you get impressive synth programming blended with what sounds like a drunk Russian mumbling to himself in a stupor? --
Bran Van 3000 / Glee / Capitol (CD)
I think Big Evil Major Label Capitol had...what's the media term..."positioned" Bran Van to be their Beck (too bad Deconstructing Beck put the capper on that scene). Clearly, this neither happened as desired, nor should have been expected to. Bran Van's mixture of trad hip-hop, techno, white-boy slacker hip hop, funk, sample manipulation, alt-rock and alt-folk is actually pretty entertaining, especially when it's at its most tongue-in-cheek. They manage to slip in a Tom-Tom Club homage ("Old School") and a Quiet Riot cover ("Cum On Feel the Noize") -- what a pity that the radio stations that usually jump all over eighties covers were jumping elsewhere that day. --
Various Artists / Pretty in Pop / Endearing (CD)
This is one of those projects that you just can't go wrong with. Grab some indiepop bands (think Sunday, Darla or Sarah Records) and have them cover music from John Hughes films (think The Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink). Along the same lines as Double Agent 1980, these five tracks recycle well-known songs from the '80s while leaving all that slick new wave production behind. --
Metroschifter/Shipping News / Split Single / Initial (CD)
Metroschifter does post-Hüsker rock, alternately desperate and sullen. The vocals hide deep in the mix until "One Cloud in the Sky," when they come out in earnest force. Shipping News have a lean, live-recording sound. Their use of instruments like the anklung, hydraulis and carnyx make for striking, bass-dominated music. Both bands are worth investigating further. --
Sanjiva / Radiance / Ninetysix Sounds (CD)
With bits of eerie aerial countenance, Canada's resident ambient-philosopher lays out five pieces of varying length and intensity. Radiance combines spiraling and hypnotic transcendentalism with familiar beats that are as intense as they are attractive to the ear. Perfect for music-induced relaxation, or just as effective for extraneous environmental sound impedance. --
The Clay People / The Clay People / Slipdisc (CD)
The Clay People's entry into the hard rock/industrial arena could have easily been overlooked, but the band has a few tricks up their sleeves. Foremost of these is the cool liquid-sounding bass effects they employ -- check out the sound clip of "Plug". Played live, this'll rupture your spleen. The Clay People aren't all about gimmickry, though -- the ability to alternate between ear-pleasing near ballads like "Fade Away" and balls-to-the-wall rockers a la "Raygun Girls" speaks volumes about the band's range and abilities. --
Straight Faced / Conditioned / Epitaph (CD)
Here's another release from the ultra-tight, mega-heavy Straight Faced, who are sure to bowl you over with their desire for speed and ferocity and start/stop rhythms. Take late-era D.R.I., blend in some Entombed and add some hardcore reverberations, and you'll have Conditioned. What'll make or break the band for ya is the lead singer's screeching-nasal voice (remotely like RATM) that howls over crunching guitar riffage. --
Why? Things Burn / Symbols / T.O.N. (CD)
If straight-ahead rock 'n' roll is what you're after, give Symbols a try. Why? Things Burn remind me a lot of Blind Melon -- they do that same kind of mildly countrified rootsy rock. Perhaps you'll hear an element of prog rock in them as well -- "All I Ever Want" gives fleeting glimpses of Rush. Listen to our convenient sound clip and tell us what you think. --
Snowpony / The Slow Motion World of Snowpony / Radioactive (CD)
Any band that features ex-members of My Bloody Valentine, Stereolab, Moonshake and Rollerskate Skinny has an above-average chance of being good. Add production by John McEntire and an eclectic range of latter-era sample sources, and you've got a brain-battering chunk of drone-y, dreamy pop. The Slow Motion World... might not be as immediately striking as the band's pedigree would seem to promise, but you can't expect a classic every time out. --
Bonfire Madigan / ...From the Burnpile / Kill Rock Stars (CD)
With a punk rock ethos at heart, Madigan arms herself with an acoustic guitar, powerfully emotive voice and distinct cello playing and adds dabs of a backing band (Bonfire) to produce From the Burnpile. While the cello provides a different sonic dimension, it battles Madigan's awe-inspiring voice, with each jockeying for the primary focus in the mix. While there are some admirably melodic tunes, the confusing mix results in intermittent aural points of attention. --
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