Ilevens is the latest brainchild of microtonal musician Brendan Byrnes, of whom we’ve already praised the projects here on this website, and Transmitter is their debut EP. The concept of Ilevens, formerly known as 11ins, was to form a full microtonal pop/rock band, and the chosen system was 22 equal divisions of the octave. After many demos, under both the 11ins and Ilevens monikers, Transmitter is ready, with two brand new compositions – “Solavai” and “Transmitter” – and re-worked versions of their earlier songs. While the uncommon pitches will surprise more than one person, the psychedelic, progressive, pop-rock style in … Read more
Category Archives: Mini-Review
Thantifaxath – Void Masquerading as Matter
Three years and a half after the release of their widely acclaimed debut album Sacred White Noise, Toronto’s progressive, mathematical, atmospheric black metal trio Thantifaxath is coming back with Void Masquerading as Matter. This four-track, thirty-six minutes EP sees the band expand the territories of their bleak kingdom with new ways of conveying rhythmically uncertain black metal. If they didn’t convince you yet with their debut full-length, – then, you’re a madman, but still… – this EP is certain to challenge your preconceived ideas on the genre and, at the very least, pique your interest. On top of … Read more
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Patrick Shiroishi – “The Screams of a Father’s Tears”
Japanese-American saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi, whom we’ve come to spect and respect for his involvement with some of the best and craziest music acts out there – like Upsilon Acrux, Corima, Sewing Circle, and Nakata, to name a few –, is going to release new music under a his solo moniker with the album Tulean Dispatch. The project deals with the Tule Lake internment camp, where his Japanese grandparents were placed during World War II. The album not only reflects on these past events but draws parallels to what is happening today in the world and the USA. It’s a … Read more
Fissures, Ni, Lou Kelly, Playgrounded, Frequency Eater, Golden Hymns Sing ‘Hurrah’, Zenxienz, Cryptic Fog, and Keith Price
Fissures – The Long Winter Demos
You might remember, back in 2013, Slice the Cake’s singer releasing one song – “I” –, under the Fissures moniker; a sort of progressive, atmospheric post-metal track. The rest of it would not be released until 24 October 2017 as The Long Winter Demos, nine tracks and one hour long. The whole album is quite good and really promising as far as being a demo. I suggest you take a look!
Ni – Dedoda
I got really excited when I saw something about a new release from Ni, one of my favourite French … Read more
Gershlauer, Fiuczynski, DeJohnette, Garrison, and Mikadze – Mikrojazz! Neue expressionistische Musik
They’ve done it! Again, perhaps, but Mikrojazz!, with the subtitle Neue expressionistische Musik (New Expressionist Music), is the latest, and arguably one of the first, completely microtonal jazz records to come out. With the combined talents of Philipp Gerschlauer on saxophone, David Fiuczynski on fretless guitar, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Matt Garrison on fretless bass, and Giorgi Mikadze on keyboards, Mikrojazz! has all the fuel it needs to develop xenharmonic compositions for jazz. Does it deliver? Yes, it does, but not without a few criticisms of mine. The players take up the challenge of writing and playing jazz in … Read more