Entry 024 - Manonmars - Manonmars

 

I've almost sold this release at least 4 times. It makes me uncomfortable - its eerie in a way that just sits wrong with me - and that right there is exactly why I have not sold it.

This is hip hop with a strong vocal emphasis, but limiting the description to that would be doing Manonmars a disservice. The way the songs are arranged have this lazy, obscured, and layered feel that feels familiar yet not. Nothing seems out of place, yet it doesn't sound right.

Maybe its the monotone vocals that just drone on. Maybe its because the music feels like it needs a beat but never truly gets one. Maybe its just the layer upon layer of ambience and obscure noises that are buried within the soundscape. It could be any or none of these, after ten plus listens I still don't know.

When I evaluate if something should stay in my collection or not, I ask a couple of simple questions: Does this album provide something that nothing else does in my collection? And do I see myself coming back to it? For Manonmars the answer to both of these is a resounding yes.

Entry 023 - 40 Watt Sun - Perfect Light

 

 

Every so often you come across a release that just hits a bit different, one that taps into a base emotion that you didn't know needed to be adressed.

40 Watt Sun does exactly that with Perfect Light. This album deeply evokes a feeling of veunerability, lonliness, and emotional nakedness. This is raw emotion, pure and simple.

Most of this emotion is conveyed thorugh the powerful voice of Patrick Walker, the sole member of the project at the time of recording. His vibrato/quiver in his voice that resonates with me, and it moves me deeply. This is just a dude with a guitar on a rainy night sharing his heart with a bunch of strangers over a cold glass of whiskey.

This album hits as hard the tenth time its spun as much as the first time. Sometimes you need something to hit hard - an album that just causes you to slow down - pause life - take that glass of whiskey out and just listen.

Top Ten Album 2022

Entry 022 - Symphony of Zeal - Chrono Trigger Orchestrated

 

My introduction to Chrono Trigger is actually rather humerus (at least to me). I had just finished playing Final Fantasy 6 and was blown away by the game. I was looking for new game to invest in (I was 13, this was an investment) and so I decided to look at other games that this company Squaresoft released.

Turns out they had just released a new game: Chrono Trigger. I picked the game up without looking into it at all... and needless to say, I was about to be blown away a second time.

I'm sure many people have similar stories. The game is one that sticks with you for years after playing it - just hearing the name Chrono Trigger reminds me of simpler days and easier times. It has withstood the test of time - in both game play and music.... and oh my the music.

While Symphony of Zeal is not the original soundtrack, it serves as a suitable stand in. The unofficial release of the soundtrack is something that I have long since given up on ever having in my collection, this release helps fill that void.

While I was a little thrown off at first with the music, it has grown on me. I was expecting a genuine orchestra, but was instead greeted by a synthesized orchestral arrangement. Once my expectations were realigned I quickly grew to enjoy this release for what it was. This is essentially a "Chrono Trigger Restored" similar to the Super Mario World and Donkey Kong Country ones that have come out within the past year or so.

Everything about this release just oozes class, the artwork, the materials that went into the jacket, and from what I've played so far the records sound pristine. It's simply one of those records that will make any VGM collection one step closer to completion.

Entry 021 - Spirited Away OST

 

 

Spirited Away is one of those movies that truly captures a sense of adventure. When watching it I get lost in the small moments of the movie. The overarching story means less than those moment to moment details - that is where the true beauty lies.

This aforementioned beauty carries over into the music. Each composition tells its own story, its own moment in time. Its how these small stories come together that creates the true magic of this release - and its all done so effortlessly.

When listening to the soundtrack it brings me to a happier place. The orchestrations have this playful tone to them that just beg the listener to smile. The gentle sway of the strings whisk by like a gentle breeze. The piano brings melodies resembling song birds. When the orchestra swells into a climax, its never overwhelming but more like a leap of joy.

When I need to be reminded of what is good in the world, listening to this album points me in the right direction.

Entry 020 - Suffocation - Effigy of the Forgotten

 

 

What album comes to mind when someone makes mentions heavy music? What album stands out amongst the thousands of albums that have been created as something that is truly heavy? Brutally heavy? Crushing, unrelenting... merciless.

For me that album is Suffocation's Effigy of the Forgotten. This album not only redefined what heavy is and can be - its one of those albums that shaped my musical tastes going forward. When I first heard Suffocation at a young age I don't think I was ready for it, it just sounded like noise and chaos.

Some five years later I revisited the band with this album. I was much further into my metal journey at that point and my mind was ready... somewhat. I was more receptive to what was in the album, but that hardly means that I was prepared for the onslaught that Effigy brings.

This album is near perfection, it is violence incarnate. Brutal and unrelenting in its assault. The vocals see Frank Mullen at his very best, the guitars are crushing and destructive without being down tuned to oblivion like so many modern bands do. All this on top of a rhythm section that does not fuck around.

This album is the balances heaviness, brutality, and unrelenting destruction on a daggers point. An album that is so menacing that naming it death metal wasn't enough... a new genre was born: brutal death metal.

Top Ten Album 1991

Entry 019 - School of Silent Illumination - Sea of Monochrome

 

 

This album is in my collection as a result of a deep dive into Bandcamp. I found this under the ambient tag and found the record for 12 euros... 16 shipped, no brainier.

Sea of Monochrome consists of six separate tracks. Each one contains a very distinct sound and mood - yet they all tie together to create a complete album.

Most of the songs are solidly in the drone genre, containing minimal melodies over long and slow to develop passages. The album does offer variety however. Every now and then there will be percussion thrown in (that startled the hell out of me the first time I listened), it adds just enough variety to keep the it from becoming too one dimensional.

Other tracks will vary the pace or add just a bit of dissonance - all elements that are quite welcome. Is this album a game changer? No, it is not - it is a nice album that knows exactly what it wants to be and achieves that with flying colors. For 16 euros this one is hard to pass up.

Entry 018 - 2 8 1 4 - 新しい日の誕生 (Birth of a New Day)

 

 

This is a unique album. I know that I enjoy it immensely every time I listen, however when I'm not listening I can't seem to remember anything specific about it except the atmosphere it provides.

This album is considered by some the birth of the Dreampunk genre. If nothing else it stands as the point where the genre defined itself as a different entity all together from vaporwave.

The first time I saw Birth of a New Day I was instantly drawn in by its cover. The distant city covered in a fog and artificial lights, accentuated by the east Asian characters. It drew me in, made me wonder what was inside.

This is a hazy trip through a neon lit city. People living in close proximity yet every one is lonely... a paradox of modern civilization.

The actual music that is on here is slow and drawn out passages of looped music put through a phaser and drenched in reverb. The music feels obscured, distant, yet so intimately close due to its way of wrapping itself around you. This is truly a wall of sound.

While I struggle to remember the individual components that make up this album when I'm not listening to it, the impression it leaves is lasting. Birth of a New Day gives me a sense of contemplation and tranquillity that is hard to find in modern music - a sense that there is yet more to be discovered, both within the albums folds and in life itself.. Truly a standout album from the past ten years.

Top ten album 2015

Entry 017 - Futurecop! - Voltrana

 

 

When I first saw the description for this album it was advertised as an ambient synth album. The description made me curious enough to listen. What I got was not ambient synth, but rather an enjoyable synth pop album.

Voltrana is the type of album where I can put it on and forget about the world for a little while. Its simple, atmospheric, and catchy as hell - exactly what I need when the mood strikes. While there is nuance to the album, this does not strike me as the kind of album where I would sit down with pen and paper and do a detailed analysis of the music.

This is sugary sweet pop. The melodies are upbeat and happy, the vocals sing about joy and love, the synths have a bit of a sparkle to them, and the whole package just makes me happy. Synth-pop is not something that I dive into often, but when the mood for something gleeful and upbeat hits, this is one of my go to albums.

Entry 016 - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Mega Man Selections

 

I debated long and hard about posting this one. After thinking about this it for a while this is ultimately a blog about what is on my table and this album has been on my table for a few hours now.

This album was initially one that I was initially planning on passing on. However Smash is my son's favorite game of all time and it would be a disservice to him to not get one of his favorite characters. So here we are.

This album does a good job of capturing the smash versions of the mega man themes. Do I prefer the original 8 bit versions? Hell yes I do. That said this is still a fun album and a nice remix of some classic tunes. Most importantly its a bonding point between me and my son, and for that it is priceless.

On a side note, I am messing with different filters on my phone to see if it captures the cover any better, not sure if I like it or not but it does have a cool effect on the background.

Entry 015 - Obijuan - Wilton House

 

This may be one of my favorite "happy little accidents." I picked this album up on the cheap from Discogs without hearing it, it was less than 10 bucks... I used to put my order over the top to get free shipping and thought nothing more of it.

When I put this record on for the first time I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. Obijuan uses a variety of sounds and influences to create the music found on Wilton House. Elements of lounge, lofi, jazz, field recordings, and ambient are all tied together by half spoken/half rapped vocals and expertly produced beats.

Side one is the full album front to back. Side two contains the instrumental versions of the album. I can't express how much I love this format for the release. As much as I love the vocals there are some times where I just want to sit back and relax to instrumental hip hop. Wilton House lets me choose my experience.

It's hard for me to put into words why I enjoy this as much as I do. I think it comes down to the way everything flows together. There are breaks between the songs - its just the way that the album weaves in and out of them is just done to a masterful level. It's short enough that if I want to listen multiple times I can just re-queue the record and drop the needle again. This album is simply a joy to listen to.

Entry 014 - Stray Theories - This Light

 

 

Stray Theories play post-rock, a genre that I was mildly interested in back in 2005 or so. My interest faded shortly thereafter, and the genre went on the back burner for many years. Fast forward to 2021 and I get reintroduced by one of my good friends.

This Light has an atmosphere of pure unadulterated warmth. Everything song, composition, and note on the album is slow and deliberate yet undeniably comforting quality to it. Like coming home after a long journey.

While there may not be many memorable moments in terms of the notes played here, what the album does provide is a deep, emotionally moving atmosphere. While there are certainly more melodic parts than others, the stand out parts for me is the whole - the state of mind that this album puts me in.

Delay and reverb are used in such a strong degree here that they could be the defining characteristic of the band. The music utilizes guitar as the driving force, however there are multiple layers added behind and sometimes above them to create a "wall of sound" texture to the music. Its easy going on the ears and invites repeated listens.

Post-rock is quite different than what I remember from years past. The genre has evolved, and this highly ambient and atmospheric side is something I can see myself exploring more of in the future.

Entry 013 - First Fragment - Gloria Eternelle

 

 

I think I was a bit hasty in my initial post. My excitement for the album got the better of me and I don't think that my thoughts truly reflect why I enjoyed this album to the extent that I do.

With Gloria Eternelle, First Fragment have created a technical death metal album that distinguishes itself through exceptional song writing, unexpected yet interesting changes within the song structures, and a strong display of technical prowess while still writing listenable songs.

The song writing throughout the album really stands out because it never forgets one of the most important things with music: is it listenable. The trap that so many tech death bands fall into is this "more notes more better" mentality. To my ears this just becomes a collection of notes and technical demonstration while losing the essence of anything musical.

First Fragment avoid this trap by keeping their technicality in check by balancing it with melody and interesting interplay between the instruments. Its one thing to play a lot of notes quickly - and First Fragment excel at this - but its another thing all together to structure them in such a way that it grabs your attention and draws you in.

Throughout Gloria Eternelle, the band draws in influences from classical music and Spanish flamenco guitar. The song writing is typically linear, with sections rarely revisited. With the longer songs this takes the listener on a musical journey rather than just a verse/chorus/repeat format. There are surprises at every turn, just listen to the first two minutes of the title track to get some sense of what is to come.

I'm going to have to revisit this album a few more times to truly determine if it is as good as my initial impressions, but as it sits now it has certainly stood out in an extremely positive way.

Possible top ten album 2021

Entry 012 - Wordclock - A Greater Bliss

 

 

If there is one album that can sum up my ever evolving musical tastes it is likely this one. It has a rare combination of genres that come together in a way that is musical bliss to my ears.

What Wordclock has done on this album (and Heralds before it) is combine dark ambient with jazz and unusual instrumentation for the genre to create an atmosphere that hits nearly every single button of my musical tastes. Is it dark? Yep. Is it complex? Yep. Does it warrant repeated listens? Yes. Does it use the instrumentation in unique and more importantly interesting ways? You bet. Is it good? Damn straight it is.

A Greater Bliss takes a basic dark ambient approach and layers acoustic instrumentation above it. Subtle jazz hints are thrown in via infrequent uses of both a trumpet and saxophone. The song structures can also be attributed to jazz when they are there. This combination is not often heard and when I do hear it I'm instantly sucked in - when this record hits my table its days before it leaves... it may be one of the first records that I have to replace due to overplaying in quite some time.

Both sides tell a slightly different story, side 1 is more subtle and laid back in its approach. Side 2 is much more dynamic, including spoken word and even full choirs into the mix while never really leaving that acoustic driven dark ambient.

This album certainly inst for everyone, however if you find your taste in music to be on the darker and more subtle side then A Greater Bliss is certainly worth a listen.

Top ten album 2021

Entry 011 - Awakened Souls - Night Songs

 

What a lovely little record. One of the more apt album titles I have heard in a long time.

Night songs is simple droning ambient with just a hint of post rock mixed in. The instruments are simple and gentle. There are some beautifully sung/hummed female vocals sprinkled throughout... not really saying anything - merely adding to the ambience.

This is the perfect kind of record to sit back with and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while listening to the rain.

Entry 010 - Deus Ex - Human Revolution OST

 

 

The first Deus Ex game has been and will remain one of my favorite games of all time. It offered such an interesting array of choices and play-styles as well as a deep engaging story - a perfect marriage of RPG and first person shooter.

For many years there was only the first two games... I never could get into the second game so it was just the first one for me. Then Mankind Divided came out and it recaptured some of the magic of the first game.

Where this game excels above its ancestor however is in the music. Before I was heavily into game music there were only a few soundtracks that I would seek out and listen to on my own time - this is one of those soundtracks.

This soundtrack elevates itself above many other soundtracks by being more than just a collection of pieces to fit scenes. This feels like an album - there is a theme and continuity built into this release that moves the songs to create something greater than the individual parts.

The tracks are a beautiful combination of electronic and analog. The interplay is what makes the music alluring - deep synth lines accompanied by strong female vocals. Acoustic instrumentation paired with deep synthetic heartbeats. The dichotomy of the synthetic married with the organic - a central theme of the game that is reflected perfectly within the music.

Entry 009 - Ghost in the Shell - OST

 
 

When I consider adding a record to my collection one of the most important aspects is simply this: what does this record bring that I don't already have? Will it add to the completeness of my collection or will it be redundant with what is already there?

Ghost in the shell will forever be a unique addition to my collection. There is no other music that I have heard to this point that sounds like this release. It uses silence just as effectively as it uses any instrumentation, and its this dynamic that drives the sound and atmosphere found on this album.

The soundtrack is primarily composed of percussive instruments and... nothing. The percussion instruments are struck and then their sound is allowed to decay and resonate in such a way that the notes fully develop and fade for the listener to take in. The end result is a whole new take on minimalism, there is so little going on here that the silence is almost its own instrument.

Its this use of "negative space" that increases the allure of the music. It is just as important as any note that occurs - and arguably it adds more to defining the music than the instruments themselves do.

Aside from the percussion the vocalizations used on the album add another layer to the album, again adding to its individual character. The choir used brings an otherworldly quality to the music that can only be described as haunting.

This soundtrack needs to be heard to truly be appreciated, preferably on a good sound system. It is timeless and will remain a part of my collection likely for the remainder of my life.

Entry 008 - t e l e p a t h テレパシー能力者 - 現実を超えて (Beyond Reality)

 

 

Oh boy here we go! Many people that know me know of my tenuous relationship with this artists output. For years now I have tried to get into their music with limited success - only one or two albums have really clicked with me.

I've had friends link me "masterpieces" from this artist and I've tried dozens of times to listen to them and just cannot find the appeal. It just doesn't click. That is until I found this album.

Most of the albums I enjoy from telepath are their early works, where there was minimal slushwave influence. On this album however the slush is in full force, so much so that this could be pointed to as a defining album for the genre.

Slushwave is a microgenre that lives up to its name. The songs are excruciatingly slow, drawn out, and almost lethargic. Most of the genre is based on samples, however many artists have more recently started using original sound design. So why is all this important?

Slushwave sounds a LOT like classic vaporwave, a genre that I just cannot get into - I have tried with many of the genre classics over and over again and it just is not for me. What is surprising to me with this release is how similar it sounds to classic vapor (albeit slowed down even further than that genre is), yet I still truly enjoy the music that here.

I'm not sure if its the way that the songs are structured, or the sense of mystery that permeates every second of the album. Maybe its the fact that each song has its own identity rather than all sounding like the same song slowed down over and over? Maybe its the fact that I can't place any of the samples (if they are actually samples) used in the songs? Maybe this album just has the 'it' factor that I was missing in so many other of telepath's releases?

Whatever the reason is I've honestly given up on trying to figure out why THIS is the album I ended up really enjoying and just sitting back and enjoying it. There is something to be said for when an album/artist/genre finally clicks, and I am very happy that it finally happened with telepath. Finally.

Entry 007 - Emra Grid - Shay's Vacation House

 

This record is one of those pleasant surprises. I forgot that I had this in my collection and I found it last night when organizing. Not remembering anything about it I spun it.

Shay's Vacation House is solidly a dark ambient album. There is no percussion here, it is largely devoid of melody - it is merely a collection of sounds layered in such a way that it evokes vivid imagery. This album could easily double as a soundtrack to a classic horror movie.

The instrumentation used here seems to be mostly analog in origin. This is purely speculation as I can't find any information about what was used to record the album. It just has that analog "feel" to it, something that digital instrumentation just hasn't quite replicated yet.

It's always fun discovering a forgotten album in the collection - in this case it was something that I will likely revisit soon.

Entry 006 - Emperor - Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk

 

 

Until this point today I have had little desire to listen to music, I was in a bit of a funk. There are only a few albums that can bring me out of such a musical funk. I call them re-calibration albums. The albums I listen to when nothing else seems to speak to me, and at minimum they get me back to enjoying music for musics sake. At best they rekindle my love for and passion for all things musical.

To say that metal was formative in my music tastes would be a disservice to how much I have enjoyed and still enjoy the genre. There are a few albums that solidified metal as a mainstay for me, and this is a prime example of such an album.

With Anthems... Emperor would write one of the most complex and intricate black metal albums ever created. From the first notes of Alsvatr to the triumphant climax of With Strength I Burn there is not a weak moment on this album - it is simply perfection.

I don't say stuff like this often or lightly. Anthems has been a mainstay with me for well over 20 years at this point... closing in on 30. The speed is blisteringly fast for a majority of the album. Tasteful breaks are inserted to give the listener a tiny bit of respite (such as at the end of Thus Spake the Night Spirit). The riffs are barely controlled, they are like mathematical chaos, controlled but just barely, swirling all around the listener and threatening to devour them if your guard is let down.

This album sits at number 3 in my all time top ten - it is simply the best black metal album ever written.

Entry 005 - Therion - Vovin

 

I don't even know where to start with this release. I've been waiting for this to come out on vinyl for many years, so many I've lost count.

Therion is one of the bands that broadened my understanding of what metal can be. Vovin showed me that metal was not just as fast or as brutal as you could get - there is true beauty in this release.

The album mixes rock, power metal, choir vocals, and a string quartet to create something truly wonderful. This is the true break from Therion's death metal past and where they finally found the sound that would be theirs from this moment forward.

The violins and vocals are truly the heart of this record. Their interaction with each other as well as the guitars is what elevates this release from many of its metal contemporaries. They drive the album in a calm yet definitive manner that builds a growing vision of enchantment and wonder as the album progresses.

Nothing else in my collection sounds like this, and likely nothing ever will. Truly is a timeless album.

Entry 004 - Tonebox - Last Encryption

 

 

I have a mixed relationship with this artist and synthwave in general - some material is excellent and other material just is not for me. I bought this on a whim about a year ago and forgot about it. It showed up at my door step yesterday and I decided to give it a few spins today.

This EP is the perfect example of my relationship with Tonebox's music - its a tale of two sides. Side digital skeleton (picture on the center label) is much slower and brooding. Whereas, side digital lady is much more up beat and engaging of the listener.

Side digital skeleton has quite a bit of trap influence and outside of a few select moments generally does not do much for me. The songs are well produced and the sound design is top notch, however the songs just don't have much going on in them. This side has a disproportionate emphasis on the percussion and little else - and in doing so loses my interest about half way through.

Side digital lady has a lot more going on in it. There are simple melodies that play and weave around each other - its much more engaging for the active listener. The songs still maintain that brooding atmosphere that the other side has, but it actually develops the songs and evolves them. The trap influences are also largely dropped on this half of the release.

This is an interesting listen, one that I may come back to sometime in the future - and for at least half of it this is some well done synthwave.

Entry 003 - Gunnar Spardel - Simplicity in a Complex World

 

 

I was given this as a bonus record from a recent band camp order. I had no idea what to expect but what I got was pure beauty in audio form.

Simplicity in a Complex World isn't just an excellent title to an album its exactly what is found throughout this record. This is minimalist neo-classical that evokes a maximal emotional response while using as little instrumentation as possible.

Every note of the cello or piano just bleeds with sorrow yet somehow hope at the same time. The accompanying instruments provide a warmth to the recording that makes the sound feel like I've come home after a long journey.

This is a combination of classical and electronic music done to a masterful degree. One of those albums that gives you pause... lets you take a deep breath and reconsider what the true priorities are in life.

Entry 002 - Absu - Barathrum: Vitriol

 

Absu is bizarre band, every album being different from the next. On Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L. they display a raw death metal style in stark contrast to the black metal they would develop on later albums.

This release is as experimental now as it was when it released. The riffs are raw but intricate, the vocals are a mid range growl (distinctly different to the much higher shrieks the band would evolve into). Orchestral arrangements, female vocals, dark ambient sections, sparse keyboards, various sound effects - all are added in at seemingly random intervals. It should be an awkward mess and yet somehow it works.

The album is just over 30 minutes long and that is about perfect for the haphazard style they have on display here. Anything longer would likely overstay its welcome very quickly. Not the strongest Absu release - and by far my least listened to. Still an interesting listen from time to time however.

Entry 001 - Bloodbourne OST

 

 

 

Entry 1: Bloodbourne

Bloodbourne is a Victorian era psychological horror game - one of my favorites on the Playstation 4. Brutally difficult in both presentation as well as its gameplay - especially the bosses.

The music itself is a perfect pairing with the look and feel of the game. Fully orchestrated, it is nearly entirely devoid of melody - adopting instead a rhythmic and primal tone.

Tapping into the more base part of the human psyche the music - mourning, fear, paranoia, and most of all visceral violence.