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.

Disciples of Bob: New Roman Tragedy

Decline and fall of the New Roman empire(s)

It was the band name that first caught my eye: intrigued, I ran a search for "Disciples of Bob" - which yielded a few unrelated and inconclusive results, seemingly having nothing to do with the little musical pearl I was listening to; or, on second thoughts, maybe they were all connected with it in some way. Whatever the case, New Roman Tragedy remained a gripping collection of songs worthy of an attentive listen, or many.

Lunar Bed: Battery Farm

Neal and Jack and a bitter reflection

An acoustic mini album with quite unusual melodies (in which I discovered different things each time I listened to them), interesting lyrics and a beautiful, very distinctive voice.

Arne Pahlke: Heimweh

Subterranean homesick blues

Each album by Arne Pahlke is a new adventure in style and a personal auto da fe. In Heimweh he embarks on a journey of return to his own sources by making direct and indirect references to his first albums, Dunkel and Abgrundtiefen, whose publication marked him as a powerful and singular poetic voice.

Ralph Buckley: Mary Magdalene & The Song of Solomon

An armful of modern protest ballads

In the materialistic, hypocritical apathy of our century, Ralph Buckley is one of those stubborn voices of protest - a modern troubadour of freedom (which in itself has ended up being a fairly relative concept, especially considering the way this world has turned out and what it threatens to become in the future).

Melanculia: maldita

Eternal melancholy

Sensitive acoustic rock ballads with well-written lyrics and this slightly scorched, unpretentiously appealing voice that conveys pure and sincere emotion. The title, Spanish for "wretched one", adds a touch of mystery but also determines the entire album's tone and mood.

Betty Donelly: Alone & No Title

Bella donna of cracked porcelain

As is the case with many fortunate events in life, my discovery of Betty Donelly and her universe was exclusively due to chance. While running a search for songs with the word "belladonna" in the title (for some reason that is of no importance at the moment), I came across one entitled The Belladonna Saucer Eyes. The melody and accompaniment brought memories of Marc Almond back in his glorious Mother Fist & Her Five Daughters days, while the vocals and singing style were reminiscent of The Cure - but still, the originality of the result as a total could account for a really unique musical identity. The voice had something tormented yet powerful in its "texture", the lyrics told a strange, melancholy story, an unexpected melodic twist in the last phrases of the refrain took me completely by surprise. I was hooked.

Melnar Tilromen: Valley of the Withered River

Boris Christoff meets Dead Can Dance

Looking for Celtic/Gothic rock on behalf of a friend (and having received a few very nice recommendations in private, for artists on and outside Jamendo) I discovered this beautiful surprise.

Arne Pahlke: flugUNtauglich

Walking on wings

And just when one might have thought that the variability and perfection of form in Suchen would not be easily surpassed, or even equalled, this new album comes to subvert this idea and give an even more intriguing dimension to Arne's already multifaceted work...

Arne Pahlke: Suchen

Another face of Arne Pahlke

First of all, the cover is wonderful - both the composition and the colours set perfectly the mood for what is about to ensue... And what ensues is one more panorama of Arne Pahlke's familiar themes and stylistic explorations - this time with more emphasis on the voice and the acoustic arrangements, relying on guitars and the discreet presence of virtual instruments for the most part.

EsprieM: EsprieM

A voice, guitars and a small dark world

An almost entirely acoustic album, relying heavily on guitars. The voice is a very beautiful hybrid of Brian Molko and Kurt Cobain (mostly Molko, especially in the way the voice "slides" on the notes in Angel's Fly), with an edge of its own and a remarkable expressiveness and flexibility. The lyrics are some of the best I heard lately, conveying powerful, dark emotions.

Ralph Buckley: cocoa krispies & lucky charms

The cruel poetry of addictions and obsessions

After his rather self-explanatory album Fuck the War (which included a little jewel entitled Butterflies), Ralph Buckley makes a spectacular comeback with an album that bears a deceptively colourful cartoon figure on the cover, and the equally deceptive title cocoa krispies & lucky charms.

fresh body shop: orgamilk

Fragile beauty

A pretty but somewhat disturbing cover, a mysterious title... and twelve beautiful acoustic ballads, with very nice lyrics and a voice that caresses the ears. The fragility of the fallen doll on the cover is reflected in the sensitive melodiousness of the songs.

Turno de tarde: suenos al aire

If Lou Reed sang in Spanish...

Nice voice and lyrics, a good guitar and warm melodies. The style and vocals remind me somehow of Lou Reed.

Kray Van Kirk: Seven Years Light, Seven Years Dark.

Wonderful songs, a stunning voice

This is one of the very first albums I discovered on Jamendo, and one of those that are seldom made any more. Each song is a jewel of rare beauty, combining splendid melodies and a voice of crystalline perfection with lyrics that tell sensitive, nostalgic stories from the distant or more recent past, from the dreamlike world of maritime legends and fairy tales.

deathstar: starlight

Sweetness...

Anyone who liked deathstar's previous album will not be let down by this one - there is a continuity in the style and themes, even references to song titles of hope themselves (another Blue Rose here), but with a somewhat more prominent element of cosmic atmosphere.

Bandidos' Band: Sexo & Orgia

Guitars gone crazy!!

The title predisposes perhaps for something different, but what the creators of this album have in store for the listener is in fact an orgy of guitars: two amazing guitarists demonstrate their talent and virtuosite in improvisations full of passionate madness (or mad passion).

Pivert: Pourquoi pas?

Wistful and sweet

Soft, moody melodies, lyrics combining humor and tenderness and a pleasant voice with potential. I like this expressive way of singing, making each song sound like an interior monologue or an intimate dialogue with the listener.

Arne Pahlke: Abgrundtiefen

Powerful mix of sarcasm and despair

An extremely interesting album from an artist who knows well how to make contradictions co-exist in a far from harmonious, but deeply thought-provoking way. The poetry of the lyrics is cruel but intriguing, while the theatrical singing style reminds me a little of Udo Kier.

Melanculia: Indieca (demo)

Beautiful acoustic melodies

This lovely acoustic demo contains the songs of the Road to Me EP (which is no longer available on Jamendo) plus seven more tracks, with the artist's characteristic musical and vocal style.