Browsing Tag

Avant-Garde Electronica

Tom P Buckley pushed the boundaries of Avant-Garde electronica with his latest single, Try

Posted on 14 March 2023

If you like your leftfield electronica soaked in theatrical autonomy, you would be hard-pressed to find more originality than what floods the mix in one of the recent releases from the Maine-based artist and producer, Tom P Buckley.

Try is just one of the 8,000 songs penned by the prolifically creative artist, who has also put his name to 51 novels and received accolades for his visual art. The extended 7-minute release drifts through everything from cutting orchestral strings to intense electro build-ups that break with a flood of euphoria to lift you from the sonic monotony that is tragically prolific on the airwaves. While we can’t say we’ve ever heard anything like it before, who is to say that’s a bad thing?

Try was officially released on March 2nd; catch it on YouTube.

For more info on the artist, head over to his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

12 Below – Jetsam: Austere art-rock

Posted on 21 May 2021

South Florida’s most avant-garde art-rock artist 12 Below is back with his sophomore single, Jetsam, which pulls together as a dark and discordant mash of industrial, darkwave synth-pop and post-punk.

With an intro that shares reminiscence to Manchester post-punk outfit The Chameleons before the soundscape switches into a phantasmal feat of electro-rock that any fans of Dir En Grey or Celldweller will be familiar with, you’ll be hooked from the first haunted note to the last.

The ethereally ambient soundscape was constructed with effect-loaded guitars and glassy keys in downtempo progressions, for the visceral kick, 12 Below loaded caustic drums and a heavy serving of bass. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear an artist similar to NIN, who also makes the dark electro sound their own.

Jetsam is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

George Sarpola has released their short, sweet and subversively psychotropic release ‘Kids Are Calling It…’

Posted on 17 February 2021

Beat Laboratory Experiments by George Sarpola

New York-residing drummer and composer, George Sarpola’s latest release, ‘Kids Are Calling It…’ will allow you to imagine what it would sound like if Frank Zappa still walked amongst us and found a penchant for avant-garde ambient electronica.

The short, sweet and subversively psychotropic release utilises vintage drum machines and newsreel samples which tease the dread of realism while George Sarpola stays well and truly in surrealist realms. His production style will undoubtedly be a hit with fans of artists as unapologetically eccentric as Otto von Schirach.

Kids Are Calling It… was released on January 17^th, it is now available via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Real Clothes – Taiping Rebellion: Aurally Alchemic Avant-Garde Dark Pop

Posted on 7 August 2020

Brooklyn-based Dark Pop artist and producer Real Clothes is set to release their chillingly hypnotic track “Taiping Rebellion” as part of their 2020 EP “Precaution”.

The EP addresses the instability and authoritarianism which seems to be slowly tearing apart the fabric of our society. The EP was also orchestrated as an outlet for the grief which anyone with an ounce of empathy and compassion is undoubtedly feeling right now.

You’ll find plenty more than just lyrical resolve when you hit play. The indulgent infusion of Dark Pop, Trip Hop and Avant Pop pulls together as an entrancingly immersive single. Around the solid bass-driven beats, the chiming notes add plenty of depth to the instrumentals which Nico Fox’s vocals alluring find synergy with.

You’ll be able to find Taiping Rebellion along with the rest of the artist’s 2020 EP “Precaution” on all major streaming platforms including Spotify from August 7^th.

To keep up to date with future releases head over to Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bayan – Abnormality: Psychedelically Entrancing Avant-Garde Electronica

Posted on 20 June 2020

Breaking Electronica artist Bayan has recently released their debut album “True Conspiracy” containing the psychedelically entrancing single Abnormality which was used as the soundtrack for the Indie film Pop Life.

By infusing elements of Funk, Avant-Garde, and Psych Rock into the electronically mastered instrumental soundscape, Bayan offered a Lynchian level of ingenuity in Abnormality which any fans of Glenn Branca will definitely appreciate.

Your only complaint with Abnormality is that it doesn’t last longer. It dystopically delivers everything that it says on the tin. Debuts don’t often come as hypnotically absorbing as this. We’d strongly suggest making room for Bayan on your radars.

You can check out Abnormality along with the rest of Bayan’s 2020 debut album for yourselves via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast