Live in easternmost Canada, born in 1972. Mostly enjoy electronic music (listening since '94).
Recent Activity
posted a comment on Steve Roach - A Deeper Silence. 10 months ago
A go-to that's two stars? I don't see the disconnection.
posted a review of Bad Loop - Fragments. over 2 years ago
Brings me straight back to the glorious times of armchair electronic music of the mid to late 90's. Smart melodies and complimentary beats. Melancholic synths. Fine stuff. Tracks 5 & 6 are diamonds among the gold.
posted a review of Beach House - Bloom. over 2 years ago
A spectacular release that entrances me, makes me weave and sway unlike most anything that I have ever heard from voice, keys, guitar, and percussion.
posted a review of Michael Stearns - The Storm. over 2 years ago
A worldly expedition that transports you to lively forests, expansive caves, and ethnic beauty.
posted a comment on Rival Consoles - Sonne. over 2 years ago
I was a little late discovering Rival Consoles. This EP was the first thing i heard from him a couple of years ago. It's chock full of expertly crafted intriguing electronics that aren't overly complicated or experimental.
posted a review of Arovane - Lilies. over 2 years ago
Uwe at his most engaging. His arms will indeed reach out and slap you if you are not paying attention to his electronically gifted displays of sound that are both somber and uplifting.
posted a review of Steve Roach - Early Man. over 2 years ago
One of my most-listened to releases from Steve Roach. Not as tribal as you may expect before listening. An expansive and atmospheric thematic journey of one ancient man. As cool as the single cd version in actual slate may be, it would be a shame to... See full review
posted a review of Yagya - Will I Dream During The Process?. over 2 years ago
I've listened to Yagya since the beginning and really enjoy just about everything he has released. This release though is a step beyond, mainly due to the variety in these tracks. As other Yagya releases may be easy to summarize, there are many facets... See full review
posted a review of Gridlock - Formless. over 2 years ago
Gridlock's send-off was my favorite by far, mixing smart and subtle extended melodic tones with keyboard sweeps and gritty distorted beats. Several top notch tracks here like Return, Song23, Chrometaphor, and the dramatic finale "Done Processing".
posted a review of Hia* | Biosphere - Polar Sequences. over 2 years ago
Sometimes you take the best parts of two artists and they create something even more impressive! Polar Sequences still sounds great today. It's as much as you could hope when two artists come together and bring their separate styles to combine this... See full review
posted a review of Helios - Eingya. over 2 years ago
The music is just so purely beautiful and life-affirming. Acoustics, electronics, and ambience combine for melancholic bliss.
posted a comment on Night Sequels - The Children Of The Night Make Music. over 2 years ago
Such glorious synths! I love the production. I especially enjoy when they let the music do the talking.. it sounds quite unique and original to me.
posted a comment on Anklebiter (2). over 2 years ago
When it comes to Anklebiter, don't be misled by the moniker or cover art. This is powerful & serious electronics without being harsh or glitchy. Melodic sensibilities combine with engaging complementary percussion and tracks are dynamically created,... See full review
posted a comment on Olan Mill - Home. over 2 years ago
Sweeping magnificence that has beautiful strings and choral elements. Glorious!
posted a review of Steve Roach - Mystic Chords & Sacred Spaces. over 2 years ago
One of Steve's releases that I come back to frequently. It's what I consider this be a pinnacle of Roach's work. Spacious and mysteriously tones with layer upon layer of synthesizers. Brief earthly moments midway succumb to shadowy & yes, mystic... See full review
posted a review of Alio Die - Leaves Net. over 2 years ago
I'm taken away to mysterious foreign areas where the enveloping atmospheres can change from enchanting to precarious.
posted a review of Kiasmos - Kiasmos. over 2 years ago
An excellent balance of groove, depth and melody without being too complicated or too simplistic. Smart, listenable armchair techno, though during a couple of tracks you may find yourself having to get up and dance with your kids or dogs.
posted a comment on Steve Roach - New Life Dreaming. over 2 years ago
A complete journey that creates an environment of wonder and peace. New Life Dreaming flows through it's entirety with wonderful intrigue, mystery, and relaxation. It is of the highest quality from beginning to end.
posted a comment on Steve Roach ~ Jorge Reyes - Vine ~ Bark & Spore. over 2 years ago
One of my favorite tribal-themed Roach releases. Reyes adds an environmental and perhaps a shamanistic flair to the proceedings. Atmospheric. Essential.
posted a comment on Phil Western - The Escapist. over 2 years ago
Phil mixing it up here, with some fine results. Some tracks have some guitar and drums, used to great effect. They are usually mixed with a little reverb. Complimentary vocals are found in some tracks as well. Throw is a stomping techno Kent The Fly... See full review
posted a comment on Phil Western - 1221. over 2 years ago
This is about a straightforward approach to 4/4 techno as you're going to get from Phil under his own name. Is it clean or dirty? I think both!
posted a comment on Phil Western - Adoptee. over 2 years ago
Smooth & creative. Don't let the pisstaky cover of a merge of Charles Manson and Taylor Swift fool you. Some top notch PW here, especially the first three tracks.
posted a comment on Miles Tilmann - Xmasep 3. over 2 years ago
Of the xmasep's, # 3 and 2 are my faves. Tilmann has his own take on ambient. He produces tones that I don't hear elsewhere. Swirly drones on this one with both sustain and movement.
posted a comment on Miles Tilmann / Kate Simko - Wiretap. over 2 years ago
All three tracks are topsy techy. Smart beats, complimentary jabby synths. Booty shaking smartness. I think Tilmann brought out the best in Simko.
posted a comment on Miles Tilmann. over 2 years ago
Miles has a way to combine simple elements into something substantial. His synth tones and melodies are uniquely his own. Can do electronics or ambient with equal quality.
posted a comment on 2047* - Infinite. over 3 years ago
Turns out this was my most listened to release in 2017. I love the variety of tracks and the sounds that are within. It's -not- environmental, spacey, or experimental. It's a hard one for me to describe. It's what I hope more ambient sounded like.
posted a comment on Abfahrt Hinwil. over 5 years ago
if you like floaty, melodic idm than this project is for you. They have released consistently amazing electronics. Also, their compilation appearance on 'Everything Is Green' is fantastic as well.
posted a comment on Download - III. over 7 years ago
This is the type of interesting release where people from different genres stumble across it. I'm sure most listeners were first from the EBM/Industrial camp as most Download releases fall under that category when this was first released. I'm sure... See full review
posted a review of Phonex / Sense - One Happy Moment / Frome. over 12 years ago
Sense was a mainstay in electronic music early in the 2000's, and (unfortunately) his best material was released on this little split. Phonex is represented here as one of the thousands of electronic producers who managed to get on a label & release... See full review
posted a review of Proem - Burn Plate No.1. over 12 years ago
This release makes sense when you look at the Proem history of releases. He is getting warmed up & trying some things here. There's a raw, gritty feel throughout this release, and it gives indications of what he would soon refine with the Negativ CD... See full review
posted a review of Zero Ohms - Spacial Glacial Nebulous. over 13 years ago
I would definately not run out and buy this release based on the artwork! What's within however, is quality ambient drone based listening. Most of these tracks are based around long loops and have fairly simple structures, but they exceed the sum of... See full review
posted a review of Secede & Kettel - Perspeeks. over 14 years ago
The A side includes one of the weaker tracks on Secede's full-length 'Tryshashla'. With it's repetitive bassline & shuffling beat, it doesn't match up with the creativity of other tracks from that release. 'Standpeeks' on the other hand would fit... See full review
posted a review of Vidna Obmana - Echoing Delight. over 15 years ago
There are two main ideas here. On tracks 1 & 3 there is the typically sharp, bleak obmana loops that shift & come in & out of the mix. These sounds are similar to the other tracks as well, but on tracks 2 & 4 they are accompanied by terribly... See full review
posted a review of Porn Sword Tobacco - Porn Sword Tobacco. over 15 years ago
Short segments of moody, dusty vignettes. There's ample grainy surface texture throughout this disc to accomodate the stripped down ideas which are complimented by some effective sparse piano, a bass doodle here, an acoustic guitar reference there. ... See full review
posted a review of Lys (3) - Naunuee. over 15 years ago
Lys demonstrates an abundance of talent here right from the get-go. Naunuee is another example of free downloadable music that is superior to most officially released material. This is interesting, floating music that has lofty amounts of atmosphere... See full review
posted a review of André Estermann. over 15 years ago
Estermann easily combines quality melodic elements and for the most part puts them alongside busy, dry percussion. He supplies melodies and counter-melodies, many times overlapping onto eachother in a very satisfying manner. Of note is his... See full review
posted a review of Ovuca - Wasted Sunday. over 15 years ago
This is my favourite Ovuca release by far. I've always considered Ovuca to be a little too flippant & cheesy for my taste, but here he keeps it smooth & easy without abandoning his playfulness altogether. There are some gems here, namely the... See full review
posted a review of Multicast. over 16 years ago
Multicast are definately an artist that are overlooked, as they create some of the most unique listening electronics available.

Usually downbeat, with interesting themes of summer melodics or western heat-drenched guitar atmospheres. The music is... See full review
posted a review of Steve Roach - Core. over 16 years ago
This sounds more like Vir Unis and his self-proclaimed "Fractal Grooves" than it does a Steve Roach CD. Roach did collaborate with Unis on their 'Body Electric' release, and Roach has been credited with some production on Unis material.

Some of... See full review
posted a review of Portland - Distal. over 16 years ago
Clinical, digital idm. 'Distal' is pattery with pads and mostly has a cold, detached feel. The thuddy percussion leads a lot of the tracks, and fragments of melodies appear (especially the last half of the disc). Nothing groundbreaking here, but... See full review
posted a review of Jochem Paap - Vrs-Mbnt-Pcs 9598 II. over 16 years ago
The only thing that saves this disc is the first track, which is a great build & fade ambient loop with depth & simplicity.

The other two tracks extend long beyond their welcome, as the main overlapping notes wander on without much intrigue for... See full review
posted a review of vidnaObmana* - Tremor. over 17 years ago
This is Vidna Obmana's foray into mysterious environments with consistent tribal influences. Almost every track includes rolling tribal percussive drumming and intense shifting drones & ambience. Heavily reverbed cavernous flutes appear on some... See full review
posted a review of Spectac - Rabbid. over 17 years ago
Lots of varied styles to be found here. Spectac has no trouble going from experimental, to jazz, to idm, to electro to broken beat at the drop of a hat. Some work and some don't, but the production is excellent. This disc is lacking a little... See full review
posted a review of Deru - Pushing Soil. over 17 years ago
Chilled downbeat mixes from a good mixture of artists. Lusine Icl. plays it safe and keeps the original "Soulik" base intact, while Lowgreybeam uses the vocal flows from the original and hints of glitch to a very chilling effect. Xela floats along... See full review
posted a review of Steve Roach - The Lost Pieces. over 17 years ago
This is a great disc if you are unaware of where to start with the mass of Steve Roach's releases. It's hard to imagine that a lot of this material never found a place on another release initially, as it contains some of the best material ever put to... See full review
posted a review of ML - Everyone Looks Like Somebody Else. over 17 years ago
From beginning to end this is quality listening music. ML come together to form a variety of ear-tingling tracks, and all of which sound different from one another. The compostitions are varied, creative, and interesting. This disc has tons of... See full review
posted a review of While - Even. over 17 years ago
Yawn. This release is very samey from start to finish with locked-in trudgy beats and boring pads. On "Even" they seem to be content to aimlessly putter about for 5-8 minutes with not an exciting moment in sight.
posted a review of Vendor Refill - Stable LP. over 17 years ago
Very sterile electronics, semi-melodic & bone-dry. Some of the tracks work fairly well, including the thematic patter of "9th Crush" and the jamming, bleep groove of "Slack".
posted a review of Am-Boy - Floridian. over 17 years ago
This definately has it's references to Boards Of Canada, with it's keyboard drones and innocent melodies. There's lots of little beatless vignettes here too. Am-Boy seems content to just play his keyboards and be patient as to when the percussion... See full review
posted a review of Mouse On Mars - Glam. over 17 years ago
The three 'bonus' tracks that come with this re-issue were already included on the initial CD versions of this release. The LP version on Sonig excluded tracks 3, 4 & 14 that are found here.