Monochrome - Monochrome (2020)

This is some story. Once upon a time, there was a shoegaze band called Monochrome who managed to perform only ones at the The Spiral rock club for around 20 people. Then they split up but we can now witness what we lost because of that as the live gig's recording has been found and released as this short EP.

And quite frankly, it's a sad story too. Monochrome's music seems to have been a top quality shoegaze music that could stand out even in its time - it was the early 90s, the peak of the first wave of shoegaze, now legendary, bands. Its slow waves generate such an intensive, nostalgic and immersive atmosphere that it makes me jealous of those 20 people who could experience it live. Not to mention that it is first of all thanks to the violins adding up to the overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. Especially that the vocals here sound like the male version of Slowdive's Rachel Goswell, helped from time to time by female backing vocals (that eventually take the lead) and it's such a good combo. The one track that really stands out is definitely Never Ending Eyes, one I'm going go back to often.

Monochrome costs whatever you want to pay.

Check: Never Ending Eyes

Country: New York, US

Genre: original shoegaze

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Escuelas Pías - Plantas de exterior (2020)

Another dream pop duo this week. This time it's Sevilla-based band consisting of Cristian Bohórquez and Davis Rodríguez with their short but juicy ethereal material on the EP called Plantas de exterior.

As said, the EP is only 4-track-long but still catches the ear of the listener. It is, however, meant to be a preview of four EPs planned to release the following months that will eventually make up an LP. Sounds complicated but the point is that Plantas... works as an album too. It is built on a significant amount of synth keys and electronic sounds. With some industrial flavours in the background while the foreground is dominated by catchy indie pop with very dreamy atmosphere. The vocals change at point as the band invited Erica Pender, the vocalist of Terry vs Tori to join them in La gran revelación but in general the band traverse between denser, more atmospheric parts and light, melodic indie pop (as in the closing Mutismo). Now we have to wait for the EPs.

Plantas de exterior costs 3.5 EUR.

Check: Regeneración

Country: Spain

Genre: synth dream pop

Label: El Genio Equivocado

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Choux - Super Moon (2020)

Canadians Lizzie Carolan and Jordan Gatesmith make up a duo making some good quality dream pop music. Choux, as they called themselves, released their debut album at the end of 2020 on which they follow some traditional, airy pattern while adding up some their own uniqueness.

The thing that stand out the most is Carolan's vocals that, while still being exceptionally airy, evoke some interesting themes of cabaret and opera in Super Moon or carelessness of indie pop in Thirteen only to settle on some very dream pop vibes. The vocals are surrounded by subtle, bedroom pop music that's never too loud or too focused on itself. Though there are chaotic guitars sometimes, they are always in the backgrounds, adding up to the atmosphere.

Probably the most interesting track, except for the opening one, is Samhain, with its interesting composition and backing vocals is able to generate quite an extraordinarily dreamy atmosphere. And this is what the band's really good at.

Super Moon costs 7 USD.

Check: Super Moon

Country: Canada

Genre: bedroom dream pop

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Kegaal - Pillars: Seeds of Ares (2020) EN

Already on his debut album NERATERRÆ surprised me with his love for collab with other great ambient artists. This time he became a member of a real ambient supergroup together with Gabriele Panci (New Risen Throne) and Ketil Søraker who also recently gave us a treat in the form of Taphephobia's new album. This enterprise couldn't go wrong.

As a result, Pillars: Seeds of Ares gives us a huge dose of dark ambient soundscape in the darkness of which you can easily get lost. As could have been guessed, the music here is made of a whole range of whispers, horror movies' mysterious crackling and, first of all, the pitch black soundscapes. And if for someone there's not enough of famous names here, the album hosts also the vocalist Treha Sektori and another artist I adore - Visions from Berlin. Wonderful combo.

Pillars: Seeds of Ares costs 5 EUR.

NERATERRÆ - The Substance of Perception (2019) EN

NERATERRÆ - Scenes from the Sublime (2020) EN

Taphephobia - Blue Hour (2020) EN

Check: Light Devourer

Country: Italy/Norway

Genre: dark ambient

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Kegaal - Pillars: Seeds of Ares (2020) PL

NERATERRÆ już na debiutanckiej płycie zaskoczył zamiłowaniem do kooperacji z innymi znakomitymi artystami ambientowymi. Tym razem wszedł w skład prawdziwej supergrupy tego gatunku wraz z Gabriele Panci (New Risen Throne) i Ketil Søraker, który niedawno przecież uraczył nas nową płytą w ramach projektu Taphephobia. To nie mogło się nie udać.

W rezultacie na Pillars: Seeds of Ares mamy więc potężną dawkę mrocznego ambientowego soundscape'u, w którym ciemność bardzo trudno czymkolwiek rozproszyć. Tak jak należało się spodziewać mamy do czynienia z całym arsenałem szeptów, tajemnych trzasków rodem z horrorów i przede wszystkim soundscape'ów czarnych choć oko wykol. A jeśli komuś za mało głośnych nazwisk to na płycie udzielają się również wokalistka Treha Sektori i kolejny artysta, którego bardzo cenię - Visions z Berlina. Znakomite połączenie.

Pillars: Seeds of Ares kosztuje 23 złote (5 EUR).

NERATERRÆ - The Substance of Perception (2019) PL

NERATERRÆ - Scenes from the Sublime (2020) PL

Taphephobia - Blue Hour (2020) PL

Sprawdź: Light Devourer

Kraj: Włochy/Norwegia

Szufladka: dark ambient

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Dagmar Gertot - Os Lacrimale (2020) EN

First time I heard about Dagmar Gertot while posting about Darja Kazimira's album last year. It quickly turned out that the two artists are a perfect fit and their fascinating approach to the art in general inspires me all the time. The Russian released a new album and it has to be said that Os Lacrimale fits so well to their unique style.

It's difficult to describe the artist's music. For sure there's something from the Balkan and Roma people folklore there, certainly a lot of dark ambient and folk the liveliness of which is washed out so only the extremely strong atmosphere prevails. A lot of experiments with vocals too because the compositions here are as minimalist as can be, except of various forms of vocals, there's only single instruments playing in the backgrounds. But those are widely represented, from accordion to Bosnian folk batalo.

Gertot's music is not a simple one - there's tons of improvisation here with this very theatre-like mood with grotesque, unsettling and art in general. The artist's experiments, just like it is in her visual art works, is well though through and extremely unique. This atmosphere of the higher artism is her characteristic trait.

Os Lacrimale costs 8 EUR.

Darja Kazimira & Dagmar Gertot - Ο θάνατος του Ταύρου (Death of The Bull) (2019) EN

Check: Nude Metamorph

Country: Russia

Genre: experimental dark folk

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Dagmar Gertot - Os Lacrimale (2020) PL

Pierwszy raz o Dagmar Gertot usłyszałem podczas pisania o płycie Darji Kazimira z zeszłego roku. Szybko okazało się, że obie artystki dobrały się idealnie a ich fascynujące podejście do ogólnie pojętej sztuki zadziwia mnie cały czas. Rosjanka wydała nową płytę i trzeba przyznać, że Os Lacrimale jest tak bardzo w ich unikalnym stylu.

Trochę ciężko opisać muzykę artystki. Jest w niej na pewno coś z muzyki bałkanskiej i romskiej, na pewno mnóstwo dark ambientu i folku wypranego z ludowej dożynkowości a zamiast niej a podkreśloną arcymroczną atmosferą. Dużo eksperymentów z wokalami bo przecież kompozycję są tutaj minimalistyczne do głębi, poza wokalami w przeróżnej formie, mamy do czynienia z aranżacją na pojedyncze instrumenty. Tych ostatnich jednak jest cała gama od akordeonu zaczynając na bośniackim batalo kończąc.

Muzyka Gertot nie jest prosta - mnóstwo jest tutaj improwizacji i bardzo teatralnej atmosfery z groteską, niepokojem i artyzmem na czele. Eksperymenty artystki, tak jak jej twórczość w sztukach wizualnych jest przemyślana i ekstremalnie oryginalna. Taka atmosfera wyższego artyzmu to jej znak rozpoznawczy.

Os Lacrimale kosztuje 37 złotych (8 EUR).

Darja Kazimira & Dagmar Gertot - Ο θάνατος του Ταύρου (Death of The Bull) (2019) PL

Sprawdź: Nude Metamorph

Kraj: Rosja

Szufladka: experimental dark folk

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