Tilo Voigthaus – Under the Surface

Out today is the new release from Tilo Voigthaus, Under the Surface. The 5 track electronic album features the title track fragmented into nine parts spread out over the first 3 tracks with a mix down radio edit featured in 4th and ending with bonus track ‘Dream into the Blue Ocean’ to round off the release.

In no time at all during Under the Surface part 1-3 I’m on an underwater journey with twists and turns gently guided through a feeling of depth and colour. Its lush, futuristic and nostalgic in many ways. I’m loving the ambient elements that come and go, the 4 to the floor gliding that occasionally level out the whole trip before floating off to some other place.

I’ve been listening to Tilo’s music for a number of year now and he does have a unique character of sound that… ‘sounds’ pleasantly familiar with every release. It is the Tilo sound, so to speak; an evolving style that is an intricate web of pulsating analogue waves mashed into a liquid like substance of warmth (that is the lovely strings & pads). More so in this new release is an undercurrent of interspersed samples that are clever yet subtle. These sound are especially wonderful during the link overs during the changing phrases.

Bonus track 5 is gem btw, very ambient, very nostalgic, very beautiful …………………

A brilliant release out now over on Bandcamp –

https://voigthaus.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-surface?from=fanpub_fnb

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Mar io – Twilight of Ages

Haunting, minimal and downbeat, such beautiful sounds filling my room…

‘Twilight of Ages’ is a brand new release from German label Broque, whom, Canned Static have covered a few of their excellent releases in the past. I guess I’m taken aback from the warmth of this production, I mean it is analogue warm, feels and sounds like it was recorded sometime in the 90’s although the music itself is certainly in our millennium it does lean to the previous generations of post rave chill and those side rooms for hanging around in the ecstasy starts to fall.

Title track (track 3) ‘Twilight of Ages’ does throw a slight curved ball with the change pace and mood. I wouldn’t put this on during the after party probably because it has a more serious edge with sense of urgency, still a cool track that sits nicely on this release. In reality, all of the tracks are different and contrasting but sit nicely together. I love the bass line on Son of the Morning and the ice cool vocoder that cuts through and interspaces the groove. All clever stuff and the rich variety keeps me plugged in listening for more.

There is a great sense of experimentation throughout the EP, pushing boundaries, exploring different avenues. I love the adventure of the whole thing, sort of a journey with those lovely warm sounds and a retro feel. Very much in the camp of 90’s legends such as the Orb (particularly with the voice samples). I even hear elements of minimal house creep in from time to time.

Mar io – ‘Twilight of Ages’ is a must have download to have in anyone’s ambient electronic music collection. Just great sounds and brilliant beats. Available from major platforms and even free direct from the broque site.

Tracklist.
01. Dimmer02. Come, Take Some03. Twilight of Ages04. Son Of The Morning05. A Part Of Past And Future06. The Space @ Night07. Tune Out

Aili x Transistorcake – Dansu

Treat your ears to a Japanese invasion of the Belgium music scene…

So I’m sat here with my big cans wrapped around my head, listening to the debut single from Belgian/Japanese artist Aili who has teamed up with Transistorcake on the Eskimo Recordings label, resulting in a really cool sounding combination of indie electronica.

‘Dansu’ is a really cool sounding ‘late night after party’ sort of thing, oozing subtleties without breaking a sweat. Vocals come and go in and out of the music in a mixture of Japanese and English. There’s a lovely texture and grain to the whole sound, sort of lo-fi experimental experience in places but the whole thing is glued together with that groovy slowdriving bass line.

I could dance to this sat down, it’s that laid back. I love the dream like vocals that slowly evolve from the back of the mix and spring out on you late on. It has already been released on all platforms so go forth and add this to your play list, it’s a ‘must have’ thing to do, brilliant single…

Dansu is available from – Bandcamp – Spotify – Apple Music – iTunes etc…

Whorl Clock – Compilation Album

Debut compilation release from Three Eyed Cat Records.

Whorl Clock is a collection of electronic artists, each donating a track hoping to raise money for ‘Doctors Without Borders’, an international, medical humanitarian organisation working in more than 65 countries around the world. (Their medical teams work to save people’s lives in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics)…  Cool

It’s a ‘pay what you want’ download with a time travel theme running through the contributions, of which are all really really good. Did I say ‘really really’ twice? (oh yes, it is). Very difficult to pick a stand out track here because the standard is high with the contrasting styles moulding perfectly across the whole album.

Whorl Clock

Opening play is ‘School Night Dreams’ by Chorus 1986. A lovely rolling groove with arps and cool melodic saw, nice vintage feel too. SAZER contributes ‘The 61^st Second’ keeping a certain amount of vintage feel n the mix with a very ‘action thriller’ type sound. Elkingtit’s ‘Reverse Engineer’ bursts through my cans with industrial strength (almost jungle) rhythms and grinding synth bass followed by Spaceman 1981 with ‘One Night On Earth’. Head jolts back in momentary surprise…’Ooh Singing’. I sort of expected all instrumentals until this point and shift moves more in to the synth pop camp. Unexpected but very nice balance and still in the overall theme.

The 5^th instalment is a familiar name – Humm Bugg who has previously graced our Canned Static pages with ‘Charging the Chopper ray’ (Dec 2020) and ‘Blue Laser’ (July 2020). His 8bit madness returns with over 3 mins of ‘Primordial Ooze’, a lovely quirky bit squeak of wonderment. Petra Dish and the Nicotine Tingles, dish out ‘The Future of Petra Dish’. A nice follow on from 8bit to contorted experimental madness.

Second half of Whorl Clock starts with ‘Timefall’ by Endless Wires, a nice electronic groove that would sit nicely on the back end of sci-fi movie. Murgatroyd’s ‘Derailment’ brings back the experimental fused with chipset mayhem.  ‘Strawberry Galaxy’ by Reddlis reminds me of the  classic movie ‘Never Ending Story’ , it could have belonged in there.

Bitrotator – ‘Quite Simple’ switches genre yet again with some banging EDM/ just in case you’re too relaxed. Nice 8bit inclusion at the end and a great bridge for Creepy Pizza to sound out ‘4D NAUSEA’, an alarm clock of chip tune pop fusion. Aaaaand finally… Moths – Henry Hassel. Pure twisted experimentation just to send you on your way with a warped head.

Whorl Clock is a varied collection of electronic music that does not stick around too long on any of the sub genres. There’s enough here to keep your ears glued for a long time, I know I’ve loved the experience. Download/Stream here at Bandcamp

(Released January 11th 2021)

Tilo Voigthaus – Spacetime Continuum

“I have an undeniable feeling there’s something magical emanating from my speakers at the moment”.

All the way from Germany, Tilo Voighaus (no stranger to Canned Static – Mezza Luna, 17^th  December 2020) releases another wonderful EP on Bandcamp.  Spacetime Continuum is a two track, five part collection of pulsating electronics fused with fluffy warm pads. It’s a soothing, gentle experience guiding you on an inner journey of peace and harmony… At least that’s what is happening in my head space.

Part 1+2 saunters on through a cool rippling landscape of pulsating synths, obscure samples and flanging FX leading nicely to Part 3. Nice touch here having the drums and synth leads completely panned away from one another. My brain feels split in two with only the warmth of the Pad keeping it together.

The final two parts move further on in style and tempo keeping my interest and wanting more. All in, this is a very clever release both in arrangement and the beautiful programming. The intricacies are subtle in ways that you discover new micro sounds on every playback.

I love it, out today 1^st Feb 2021 Bandcamp

Tilo Voigthaus – Mezza Luna

Melting ambience, warming electronics and beautiful sounds sweep across the room as I assume the kick back position and lose myself in the clouds.

Mezza Luna

Tilo Voigthaus, (one half of German due ‘Coral Cave’), releases his latest  lovely ambient single in the form of ‘Mezza Luna’. A soothing and slowly evolving rhythmic journey into deep relaxing space. I get a overwhelming feeling of sensory deprivation as my whole self is consumed within this beautiful cocoon of noise.

There’s no rush to any of this, it is all well balanced in every way. Each sound slowly melts into the next with subtle ripples that rise and fall, floating through the surrounding ambience. The synth textures are so well crafted they ooze so much character.

A truly beautiful piece of soundscape and a lot of it at just short of 12 minutes, so no excuses,  tune in and lose yourself over on Bandcamp, Out Now.

Links –

Tilo Voigthaus Bandcamp

Coral Cave Bandcamp

CORAL CAVE – Erik Matheisen & Tilo Voigthaus

Tilo Voigthaus

Humm Bugg – Charging the Chopper Ray (single)

Back in July 2020, Canned Static reviewed the wonderful Blue Laser album from Humm Bugg. An excellent venture awash with retro bleeps. Sooooo… Megadrive at the ready, Humm Bugg returns to the fray with more 8-bit glitchness(is that a word?).

‘Charging the Chopper Ray’ is a two track single release consisting of said title track with accompanying ‘Marvellous Fanfare’. Although both combined tracks barley reach the 4 minute mark, short and sweet is what this genre s all about.  First few listens and I feel my head is being mashed (sideways) into an 8-bit arcade machine so I just had to try it…. Yeah, I broke out the games emulator and dived into various Sega, Nintendo and Atari classics accompanied by the Humm Bugg anthems. It works, it really does work.

Short and sweet (as singles are), this release is every bit that nostalgic leap into the 8 bit console. Moving between the tracks on to ‘Marvellous Fanfare’ feels like reaching level 2, you know; that level where you just sense there is something lurking in the bushes. Yet again, more fabulously happy chip music from Humm Bugg, very tuneful it is too.

Another highly recommended must have choice. Go listen and grab your copy over on Bandcamp

https://hummbugg.bandcamp.com/album/charging-the-chopper-ray

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Game Over

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Querox – How Life Goes On

The Querox full debut album was released back in 2012 and certainly hit a few nerves quickly becoming crowd favourites in the Berlin scene. Life has carried on, so how does it fair 6 years on…

I’m certainly no expert when it comes to EDM, I’m more so the sort who just likes what I hear when I hear it. Once I’m tuned in to something I become slightly obsessed and tend to run with it for a while. This is the case with this little gem of an album. I love it, play it to death, get bored and forget about it. Several months pass, I rediscover…  and so the cycle continues.

Released on Syndicate records, this was Berlin based Tobias Schiermeier’s first full album under his Querox banner. Officially it is described as prog trance but in my limited EDM understanding, I’d give it more of a lean towards prog house with minimal tendencies. It certainly has melodic encounters in Arpy heaven but on the whole it remains minimal scattered with very clever touches that keep you interested.

I first happened upon this release while surfing YouTube looking at trippy Berlin Festival footage. Suddenly this sound reached out and grabbed me. No description regarding said video so it took a little detective work to figure out the song identity. I just love the use of single word and part human expressive noise samples used with such minimal expanse. It has tons of atmosphere with so much room to move.

In a nutshell, I cannot see much wrong with this hybrid of minimal progression other than maybe at certain points it does sound a little samey, particularly around the middle part of the album but this I can forgive. It’s not a bust album after all.

Yes I love ‘How Life Goes On’ all over again and so it continues…

1. Dirty Beat Drop
2. Dancing Angel
3. Go Now
4. Berlin Soundtrack
5. Backstage Girls (feat Monod)
6. Kiss the ground (Voice:Rea)
7. Say Goodbye
8. How life goes on
9. Fly Away (Querox rmx) – Phaxe

Querox – Berlin Soundtrack

Humm Bugg – Blue Laser

Is it a bird, is it a plane…. dunno? we’re in 8 bit so it could be a flying saucer. Yes, 8 bit quirky tunes floating on a backdrop of FM waves, if that floats your boat, be the Commodore and read on…

Very much in the realms of the home-grown; 8-bit music has always had a certain fan base within the experimental scene. It’s an area of music I sometimes drop into with open mind and a little excitement as generally you will never be sure of what you are gonna get. Generally you get the ‘Mental’ in ‘Experimental’.

I certainly let out a “Hmm” when I dropped on the ‘Humm Bugg’ Bandcamp page. Met with 8-bit imagery , the cover of ‘Blue Laser’ is straight to the point. This is exactly what you are going to get. Chip tunes a plenty, short and sweet buzzing, tweaks and mods all the way.

There are 10 tracks mostly a little over 2 minutes with just the one track exceeding 4 minutes (Undiscovered Bird Planet). Very tuneful, quirky as expected from this format. I like the feel, as always from chip tunes. It’s not meant to be serious or deep music, this is fun and should draw a smile.

There are some clever twists along the way showing the programming is much deeper than what appears on this chirpy surface. Call it Sine language (sorry, can’t help myself). Seriously though, some clever stuff going on here.

There is an element of B-Movie horror going on at times. I can visualise opener, ‘Clash Manor’ dropping into an Ed Wood jr tribute. ‘Everybody is Dead Dave’, playing over the Red Dwarf cruising through deep space. The slightly more serious sounding ‘Blood’ accompanying some mad alien doom game.

The shortness of the tracks add to the appeal along with a certain comedy aspect to some of the themes. ‘Blue Laser’ is a happy, feel good experience, although short, it feels a like a shot in the arm, a quick boost of happyness to get through the day.

Currently available via Bandcamp and soon to be released on all platforms –

Bandcamp

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Matthew Dear – Beams (Extended Edition)

Beams of light may shine over this synth pop extension release…

At times you’d be fooled into the era your ears are in. It does have a flashback style of sorts projecting back into the 80’s but in essence has all the credibility of current time and space. There’s also a pace to this, no rush at all, more of a canter throughout with no urgency or direction. It meanders on in a bubble of electronic melodies from one song to the next.

Opening track ‘Her Fantasy’ is the real stand out of all. It clearly transcends the relative polite mediocre that follows. This really is a feast in synth pop heaven, a trip back to times gone by when the original electronic wave collided with pop and all was cool with a chic swagger. Think ‘Fade To Gray’, Soft Cell the heart of New Romantics… Its one cool track.

The rest follows dutifully but nothing ascends the heights of the opener. Its not bad in any shape or form. All quite good really but the hedonistic feel loses ground rapidly and the temptation is to replay track 1. The following offerings take more than on the fly to appreciate as I did on the second and third play.

There is a lot going for Beams and it does grow on you. Excellent production all the way but for me it needed at least another as good as the opener, at least one would have given it shift to another place. A very good album but not a classic, certainly worth the playlist though.