Wednesday, May 18, 2011

T-Ho: Fit to Mold

A feathery touch of modern nostalgia

In a world where the ease and safety of ephemeral standards imposes a more and more alarming uniformity in artistic expression, inspiration drawn from purer, time-resisting sources can make a notable difference. South Korea based singer/songwriter Tim Haagenson (T-Ho) from Minneapolis proves that when stylistic "loans" and influences from the past are dexterously molded into a modern perspective, they can play a crucial part in the creation of a personal signature.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Nehoryn: Memory's Garden

Tripping down memory lane

A composer of prodigious talent and impressive musical inventiveness, Nehoryn offers a "retrospective" of his earlier compositions in a 12-track collection by the eloquent title of Memory's Garden. It is always exciting to observe how an artist's work has evolved with time, what elements and influences determined its development, which of them were left behind for good and which were the crucial ones to remain and mature into something even richer and more accomplished.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Fanfan l'elephant: Toi

Luminous elation in pastel tones

An appetising single of ambient electro, inviting us to a voyage of the heart and the spirit; the melodic lines, percussions/drums and sound effects form a universe of stark beauty, soothing for the ear and purifying for the soul.

Friday, January 28, 2011

vermillia: under the frozen rain. waiting for a rainbow

The meaning and beauty of sorrow

Vermillia is one of those one-of-a-kind artists who pursue their own vision regardless of genres and classifications. A musical as well as visual concept - concise collections of intensely evocative instrumentals, with very pretty hand drawn covers that depict Anime style female figures and faces.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Oscar Fantoche: Fantoche Orchestra

First and last waltz

An odd, haunted waltz suspended in mid-air through the mist. A slow oriental melody snaking its way along a lazy counterpoint of percussions and bassline. A fragmented, intoxicated march flirting with languorous violins.