Hazy Mountains-Breeze review

Not all electronic music is created equally.  The first thing a casual listener should understand is that there are several different styles of electronica music, ranging from shoegaze to downtempo chillwave jazz, to house, dubstep, EDM, and so on.  These sub genre tags are somewhat *hazy at best, so it is important to listen to a producer or artist before buying so that you know what you are going to get.  That is one of the great things about blogs.

German producer Julian Prott, also known as Hazy Mountains, has just released a new full-length album entitled "Breeze".  This effort is a follow up to the EP "Lapiz Lazuli".  It is an excellent listen, showing massive improvement from the aforementioned EP.  This is not to say that "Lapiz Lazuli" was bad--in fact I found it impressive.  "Breeze" presents a fuller sound with harmonized samples and electronic noise against an ambient backdrop of atmospheric reverb. 

Distorted and sometimes layered female vocals find their way into the mix from time to time, yet are brief enough to allow the music itself to breathe.  "Breeze" also shows a strong progression toward a more chillwave-oriented sound with low-tuned grooves and consistent drum beats.  Behind the noise, beats and samples lies a well-rounded ambient disc that is packed with more atmosphere than many post rock artists dare to incorporate.  This sound is much more layered, deeper, and more interesting than "Lapiz Lazuli".

If you are in the market for ambient downtempo electronica, picking up this disc is essential.  This is an excellent listen worth of the five Euro download price (via bandcamp, which uses a PayPal setup).  The entire album is streamed below, courtesy of the Hazy Mountains bandcamp page.  Thank you for reading and enjoy!

In Flames-Sounds of a Playground Fading (2011)

In Flames is one of those metal bands that has all but completely abandoned their extreme metal roots, opting instead for a more polished, mainstream sound.  This has been done to varying results, and gradually.  Over their 23-year history and 10 solid studio albums, one thing In Flames hasn't done is create the same album twice.  Since "Reroute to Remain" especially, the band has slowly adapted their sound to a more alternative metal approach rather than the harsh screams and chunky death metal riffing that defined their earlier records.

"A Sense of Purpose" was, by most accounts, and utter disappointment where the band fails to deliver anything of significant substance.  It was this record that caused me to stray from the In Flames bandwagon when before I was a staunch supporter of the band.  I am fond of several of this band's latter albums, so I am not one of those who will only listen to the band's earlier albums.  As a matter of fact, I much prefer the newer records.

This change of sound has both polarized long-time fans of the band and earned them numerous new followers. 

Where "A Sense of Purpose" failed, "Sounds of a Playground Fading" excels.  I never did purchase this latest album, but it is on the list.  This album sounds as fresh as is possible for a band that has been churning out metal records since their debut album in 1991. 

This album shows the band progressing nicely.  This record knows what it is and does not try to stray to unfamiliar regions just to appease the older fan base.  This is very much an alternative metal album that is much more mainstream than its predecessors.  I have not listened to the entire disc, so I cannot give a perspective on the album as a whole.  What I have heard, however, is two tracks worth hearing.  When these tracks begin, you know you are listening to In Flames.  However this album is a digression from their latest records.  Instead of showing a slight return to roots, the band have grown further towards the mainstream spectrum.  Instead of disappointment, this album delivers a a more passionate approach to metal, which makes it a more rewarding listening experience.  I have heard three songs from the "Sounds of a Playground Fading" are both quality productions that should earn the band even more followers. 

If you are fan of In Flames, old style or new, it will be worth your while to check this album out.  Below are two tracks, Deliver Us and Where the Dead Ships Dwell.  Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Brand X Music and Jack Trammell

Good afternoon, readers.  Today's post is going to be similar to our randomness posts where we take new music we have not heard before and give it a quick review.  Today I am going to review two artists whom I have heard before, in a sense.

I first discovered Brand X Music and Jack Trammell when I was listening to Two Steps from Hell and other similar music.  Both of these artists produce epic trailer music.

Let's start with Brand X.  I first noticed the cover of this artists' new public album on Amazon and decided that, based on how much I was digging Two Steps from Hell, I might enjoy Brand X.  I was right.  Brand X is indeed similar, but differs in small ways.  Most compositions on this album, "The Best of Brand X Music", are short epic pieces ranging from sullen and serene emotions to loud, complex and heavy pieces incorporating drums and highly distorted electric guitar.  This diversity shows on the album's first track and carries on throughout a spectacular landscape covering 23 tracks.  The production quality is exceptional and the compositional competency of the writers is breathtaking.  Take a chance on Brand X below.


Continuing on the similar vein of trailer music, we'll take a look at Jack Trammell's new disc, "Pillars of Creation".  The album cover seems to convey a dark, spacey feel to the music, which I think fits accurately.  Similar to Brand X in style, Trammell uses powerful string melodies mixed with distorted electric guitars and drums to bring a hard rock and metal feel to the music, all while maintaining the epic grandeur that defines trailer music as a genre.  Trammell uses vocals sparingly to highlight the contours of the complex melodies and punchy rock rhythms.  Check out the following track from a TV spot for Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2.  Below.  Thank you for reading and enjoy!

Griseus-Aquilus reveiw

Rarely do I find music I find interesting enough to share at No Clean Singing.  I still like that website for the off chance that I will find some entertaining metal, but those moments are growing fewer and further between.  Those of you who know me (or if you haven't guessed yet) know that I'm not fond of 'generic' music at all.  By 'generic' I do not mean that it sounds just like someone else or even dozens of other acts.  What I mean by 'generic' is that it simply conforms too much to the standards of the genre which they choose to perform.  These guidelines get to be much too rigid for too many bands.  And while NCS does cover a wide range of metal, most of it of the extreme category, too much of it is dull and uninteresting in my opinion.

Griseus is a one-man Aussie alternative metal act by Howard "Waldorf" Rosenqvist.  The genre they most associate with is darkened neoclassical folk, whatever that is. 

When I first saw the album cover for "Aquilus", I shrugged, thinking that this was just another black metal band.  Still, I read the review.  And when I did, I was interested enough to listen.  Dabbling equally in post-romanticism, folksy acoustical moments, and atmospheric extreme metal, Griseus manages to convey many different emotions in several styles of music that mesh surprisingly well.

This disc is not your standard fare for symphonic metal.  Most pieces are long, orchestral works with wailing electric guitars and loudly shrieked vocals, which creates a dark and unusually harmonic sound.  This is an album you must hear to believe.  There is no operatic singing, and the metal aspect is less pronounced than you might expect.  This is both a disturbing and memorably beautiful listening experience.  If you do not like extreme vocals at all, there is a chance you won't like this.  However, the vocals are mostly highlights rather than constant roars and shredding howls. 

This record is very unlike anything I have heard.  This project is nothing like SepticFlesh or Mechina or Epica.  It is a beautiful work that stands on its own.  Even if you do not normally listen to music you have never heard before, this might be worth your while. 

For your listening pleasure, the entire album stream, courtesy of Griseus' bandcame page, is below.  Enjoy and let us know what you think.  As always, thanks for reading!

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide

Happy Turkey Day everyone!  If you are like most people, today is the day you drop everything and stuff your face with turkey.  Preferably happy turkey, because morose turkey just doesn't taste very good from what I understand. 

As you are enjoying your day with your family (unless you work at Walmart), we here at ThinkMuzik would like you to remember one thing.  WE SALUTE YOU.  We thank you for reading our commentary and checking out our music every day and following us, even though you might not like every type of music we cover.  Give yourselves a huge pat on the back. 

Turkey Day brings about another unfortunate tradition.  You know the one.  I'm not going to waste this space telling you why I'm beginning to dislike the Christmas season because, increasingly, it is all about 'stuff''.  Literally moments after giving thanks for everything you already have, you run to the nearest store, camp out and brave the insanity to "spend money you don't have on gifts people don't need." [Quote thanks to an anonymous poster over at No Clean Singing]. 

If you are one of the crazies that like to freeze your almonds off in order to get the best deals on 'stuff', here is a guide on how best to get in and out of the store while maintaining a healthy level of insanity.

1. Leave the house early.  We're thinking 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday.  Drive to your big box store of choice carefully.  You don't want a ticket (something to NOT be thankful for) while in transport.  How embarrassing.

2. Park your car between the bollards in front of the doors.  Exhale.  Inhale. Drink some caffeinated beverage.

3. Bring your ipod so you can rock out, preferably to metal.  Metal may be an excessively aggressive musical style, but if you are like me, it soothes and calms while giving you something to headbang to. Something like this:

4. The second the store opens run, don't walk to the wrapping paper section.  You can't possibly brave the crowds without a good weapon at your side.

5. Steal a cart from somebody bolting for the TV aisle.  Avoid stores that use plastic mesh carts as opposed to wire mesh carts.  Wire mesh carts are more stable should an 'accident' happen and are more useful should you need to run somebody down.

6. Stop by the perfume aisle.  Spray yourself heavily with most of them.  It might make other shoppers avoid you, which gives you the advantage.

7. Don't be afraid to get creative.  If somebody is about to stick the last huge plastic monstrosity of a toy for their son, don't barter with them.  Simply tell them that you have an agent parked outside their house, whom you will instruct to take their son if they don't let you have the monstrosity.  Or use some other story.  Avoid pity stories.  This is a highly adrenaline-fueled game, so the pity won't work.

8. When you have everyone on your list taken care of and you are making your way to the registers, people diving out of your way by now (and others simply lying by the wayside because they did not get out of your way) go to the express check out lanes.  No matter how much stuff you have. The 12 items or less is more of a guideline than a stone-cast rule anyway.

9. Get back in your car.  Squeal tires on pavement to scare away the bury tattoo dudes you pissed off.

10. Lock yourself in your house and vow to never again to be stupid enough to go shopping on Black Friday (or Brown Thursday, as some Target employees are starting to call it). 

Repeat next year.

Kate Havnevik and Keith Urban

Today for your listening pleasure I have my two favorite artists begin with the letter K.  I have chosen Keith Urban and Kate Havnevik.  These two artists are amazing and they write two completely different types of music.  I would first like to start with Kate.

Kate Havnevik is from Norway and released her first album in 2006.  If you are a fan of Greys Anatomy you will have heard her music.  She has three or four different songs that have aired during different episodes.  She writes all of her music and plays many different instruments including the melodica.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a little hand held piano that is played by blowing air through the mouth piece and then fingering the keys.  She is a very talented lady.  The first song that I have chosen to play for you is Grace off her album off the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack.  She wrote this song exclusively for the season 2 finally.  This song is amazing.  The vocals are beautiful and music is simple and intriguing.  I also really enjoy the vocalizing in this song.  Please check it out below.



The second song that I have chosen is Nowhere Warm.  This song is featured on her CD Melankton.  This song is great again because of her vocals but I love the beginning with the violin.  I really think the strings add something fantastic to this song.  I also enjoy the piano in this song.  I just think that it is amazing that she can create such an outstanding song using mostly her voice.  The vocals are so soft and addictive.  Once I start listening to her I can't stop and of course I have to sing along.  Check it out.



The second artist I have chosen is Keith Urban which most of you will groan at.  I know that Country music is not at the top of most of your must listen to genres but here at think music we know that the best music library is one with many different types of music each appreciated for it's own reasons.  I enjoy Keith Urban, first of all he is Australian.  That in and of itself is fantastic and he writes his own music.  Keith started writing and performing music in 1991.  He has released a total of nine studio albums and has fourteen number one hits.  The first song that I picked is When Summer Comes Around off his album Defying Gravity.  I love this song.  I like the guitar intro and the sounds of the carnival in the background.  I think that it makes the song relatable.  I can picture exactly what is happening as he is singing.  I am sure all of us have been in this position where you fall for someone and you only have one season with them and you always wonder if they will come back and see what happens next.  I like Keith's voice in this song because you can really feel how heartbroken he is.  See what you think.



The second song I have chosen from Keith is I told you so.  I wanted to pick up the pace a little bit.  I told you so is found on the album Love Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing.  This song starts out with some violins and the guitar.  Yes I'm going to say that I actually don't mind the banjo in this song.  I can't believe I just admitted that.  I enjoy the middle of this song to because you get to hear some rock elements which is becoming more common in today's country music.  I hope that you will give this song a chance.  Thank for reading and enjoy-Kristy

Two Steps from Hell-SkyWorld review

It is no secret that we love film music here at ThinkMuzik.  As I have said numerous times, there is no such thing as bad classical music.  And while film music isn't necessarily classical, the same rule holds true. 

Two Steps from Hell's new public album "Skyworld" is not even film music per se.  There is a little-known genre called 'trailer' music, which is a category "SkyWorld" fits in nicely.  Most tracks are short compared to typical classical pieces and composed specifically for film, television, and video game trailers.

The compositions on "SkyWorld" merge the old with the new, leaving no stone unturned for new ways to make contemporary music fresh and exciting.  These tracks are soaring and epic orchestra pieces that incorporate guitars, horns, cellos, percussion, vocal melodies, and choral performances.  In the world of contemporary music, this album is as eclectic as they come. 

A start-to-finish listen of this album conveys varying emotional and thoughtful reactions from the profound to the somber and everything in between.  Including a track or two here does not do this disc its proper justice.  This album as an incredible and rewarding listening experience.  If you like contemporary and/or film music at all, this record is a must-purchase item.  It is exceptional in every way possible.  It surprises at every turn.  The musical styles and tempos are virtually boundless and each track relates a unique visual and emotional perspective.  The clarity on this disc is outstanding and the production is massive. 

All I can say is that my list for best albums of the year has just become a little more crowded.  This is indeed top-ten worthy and will earn its keep nicely on any film music playlist.  This album is available for purchase at iTunes and Amazon for a decent price.  Don't bat an eye, because this album contains a whopping 22 tracks.  Please enjoy the two tracks I have embedded here, and as always, thanks for reading!!