October #1

Hello ET readers!

Before I start loading this post up with links, I wanted to take a second to thank anyone and everyone who has supported this project from the beginning – I am inspired every day by seeing artists and collectives still producing and curating amazing content, along with a whole new generation of content creators pulling the underground scene into new directions and uncharted territories.

It is in this spirit that I am announcing a slight shift in the blog format to better accommodate both the current underground climate as well as my own personal habits and responsibilities. Moving forward, I will be focusing on posting “Lists” of recommended listens, opposed to individual “Quick Picks” of my findings. I feel this is a logical step, and also one that will be beneficial to both the readers and the artists featured. So without further explanation or excuse, here is the first list to kick off October 2018 – please enjoy browsing and exploring this batch of recommended underground music!!

 

Last Dayz ov Zummer – by Reflections From Nowhere

Released October 5th, 2018 – DMT Tapes FL

The ever-busy DMT Tapes Florida has graced us with another beautiful, meandering release from Reflections From Nowhere – tinged with a slight melancholy and dystopian vibe, the 13 tracks seem to drip from one to the next, laced with droning synths and keys, dusted with downtempo grooves and textures. The tape on a whole is quite a satisfying listen, as I found myself going back for a repeat listen 2/3 times whenever I pressed play… 🛰

 

Rum River Ramble – by Marcus Eads

Released September 30, 2018 – Self Released

Longtime readers will know that I am a fan of Marcus Eads’ stripped back, “Primitive” Americana compositions – so it is no surprise that I am both excited and pleased with his latest offering, Rum River Ramble. In traditional Eads fashion, the album is a peaceful homage to archaic sounds, featuring vibes ranging from swinging mellow melodies to thoughtful blues. Throughout the record, Marcus utilizes not only the Acoustic Guitar, but a peppering of unique instruments like the Dulcimer and Autoharp! Quite the enjoyable listen for a relaxing morning coffee. ☕️

 

Vault of Glass EP – by Doctor Jeep

Released October 5th, 2018 – Self Released

Dark and atmospheric Drum & Bass from UK’s Doctor Jeep – featuring collaborations with Fixate and Cirrus, with remixes from Hyroglifics and Sinistarr). Wonderfully satisfying dark club grooves with flavors of dub and world sounds. 🌍

 

Mental Disorder – by Hybrid Boy

Released October 5th, 2018 – Self Released

New Belgium producer Hybrid Boy presents us with an energetic and bold 3-track EP as a first release on the scene – each track is packed with atmosphere and energy, utilizing extraordinary drumwork and soundscape crafting. Definitely excited to hear more from this young producer in the future! 🌀

 

• CHOON FINDS – Saint Elsewhere •

“Experimental Trip Hop from Vienna/AT” – Saint Elsewhere strings together chilled electronics, downtempo beats and blissful vocals in a small collection of songs uploaded to Choon. Quite interesting stuff, subtle and worth multiple listens 🤙

Listen: Self-Titled 6 Track Album

The Landing Zone (Live), by Ujjaya

Here is some fresh meditative ambient from French producer Ujjaya. As with his other works, the project is drenched in spiritual vibes and mystical soundscapes. The 9 tracks serve as a window into Ujjaya’s journey, sometimes contemplative and other times simply relaxing. Also good news for producers, this one’s released under a CC license for creative use

You can download the project via Archive.org

Ujjaya is a french ethno-ambient musician with malagasy roots. His music is mainly a reflection of his yoga practice and of his travel through Asia for spiritual purposes .
Before becoming public as Ujjaya in 2011 , Hery Randraimbololona stayed in seclusion for 15 years coming out for pilgrimage and once in a year for a live radio show. The Landing Zone is a testimony of this era.

June Apple & Amazing Grace, by Marcus Eads

As a long-time fan of Marcus Eads‘ work, it’s always nice to see something new pop up on his bandcamp! This time we’ve got a little EP featuring two tunes performed on Dulcimer, June Apple & Amazing Grace. Surely the title of the latter is instantly more recognizable, but Marcus’ version in this take is blissfully slow, to the point where the beat and tempo disappear completely, leaving the track feeling more like avant-poetry than anything! Each track has a delicious warm quality, being recorded both indoors and outdoors. You can grab this along with a ton of other goodies via Bandcamp!

Two traditional songs performed on
mountain dulcimer (C-G-cc tuning)

Recorded at home
December 3, 2016

Track 2 contains a field recording taken along
a stream at Goodin Park in Dayton, MN in
November, 2016

June Apple video:
youtu.be/TqYe-V8AmO4

Thanks for listening

Indigo / Expanse, by 36

I am a long-time fan of UK Ambient Producer 36, I am also a huge fan of melodic ambient, soft techno and anything in between. Therefore, 36’s latest release INDIGO/EXPANSE is absolutely perfect for me. As the artist mentions below in his blurb, the two tracks contained are a bit more uptempo than the rest of his discography, however I feel like it fits perfectly with the blissful melodic ambience of this particular release. Both tracks tackle dub-techno with finesse and character, evoking galactic visions of vast glowing space. And to top it all of, it’s a gift from the artist, you can pick up this project at your chosen price via Bandcamp!

“These tracks were recorded early 2016, immediately after I finished The Infinity Room. They were originally going to be pressed on a limited 12″ white label, but due to various reasons, I never got around to releasing it. Some of you may have heard them in my recent mixlr broadcasts. They’re a lot more uptempo than my usual tracks and because they’re stylistically quite different to what I usually go for, they never quite found a place elsewhere. I like them a lot though and rather than see them go to waste, I’ve decided to upload them here as a digital download, exclusive to my Bandcamp page. It’s a small thank-you to fans old and new, who have supported my music over the years. I’ve set it as pay what you want, but feel free to enter zero if you want to download it for free. Anything you do pay will go towards funding future vinyl releases. Thanks and I hope you enjoy them!” – 36

credits

released November 28, 2016

All tracks written and produced by 36
3SIXD001

[지오 프론트]//[Geo Front] v3.1

The ever-lovely Cats Corp brings us another mix of mallsoft tunes as relaxing as any trip to your local shopping center. Usual culprits here of blissfully chambered sounds, tons of soulful solos and brilliant progressions. Enjoy this 6-track project now at the price you choose via the artists Bandcamp page.

Released November 29th, 2016

No Shiests, by guru griff

Chilled out little beat-tape, some nice jazzy stuff, and its a free download! 

Favorite Track: 6. For the Wave {3}

D E E P S P A A C E, by Stefan Christov

 

So I have been enjoying this album for the past couple weeks, it has become a G0-To listen in the car for long mellow drives as well as kicking around the crib if I want something groovy yet unobtrusive! D E E P S P A C E by Stefan Christov is a psychedelic beat tape with a variety of influences, swirling together to create a lengthy and lovely album.

D E E P S P A C E is a beefy tape, 15 tracks full of ideas! Each one peppered in their own way with delicate melodies squeezed from synthesizers and keys guided along by lazy 808’s. Some songs sport more energy than others, anthemic trap beats soaring above the clouds, whereas other tracks leave us with nothing but ambient stargazing (always a good thing)! Its great to hear producers tackle both, its all to easy to hide behind beats, or simply create soundscapes, but to create both and twine them together is a great task indeed! Stefan Christov proves his abilities with this release, each track maintaining a sense of surreal beauty no matter what the rhythmic backing.

Theres also some lovely sampling on here and some interesting takes on beats, twisting trap and boom-bap around to a steady pulse. Though it is abstract and experimental, it is all easy on the ears! All this makes D E E P S P A C E the perfect summer road-trip album for those late nights coming home or early mornings chasing the sun. It’s got great spacey vibes and you can grab it via bandcamp now and name your own price! Upon writing this I have also discovered Stefan has released another album in the meantime, so I will be listening to that soon! Until then, enjoy D E E P S P A C E…..