The Quiet Man in the Corner

CanwllCorfe · 10-21-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayleigh.

that song is awesome. the wait was even good.

Indeed! It almost reminds me of prog house tbh

CanwllCorfe · 01-03-2010, 01:47 PM

It's been a long time journal, it's time to update you.

Dark Ambient:

Desiderii Marginis - The Ever Green Tree
Label : Kaosthetik Konspiration
Release : June, 2005 (LP) May, 2007 (CD)
Other Songs : Hibernation, Legends, Stalkinghorse, Hallmark, The Vale of Tears

As I slowly learn about more and more weird and obscure genres, I find that there's a "dark" version of Ambient; a genre I liked when I was younger. Trance was my forte, but I dabbled in other things as well. Desiderii Marginis is a one man band by the name of Johan Levin. His sound is, as you can imagine, quite dark and caliginous in tone. Some songs are more accessible than others, and I find this one to be pretty easy to listen to even if you aren't into ambient. The song begins with a simple piano melody put over bizarre sounds that I liken to moving around a piece of sheet metal. It has a very crisp and defined sound, like slicing instead of banging on something. It's quite mysterious and I have no clue what it is but I like that. Then out of nowhere the piano drops away and you are met with a gorgeous acoustic guitar melody bolstered by classical music. Every now and then you are still met with that bizarre sound introduced in the beginning. Out of nowhere the beauty fades and you are once again met with the very simple piano melody and odd noises. It creates a very anxious feeling as if something is about to happen; an impending event that you can't see coming. It's songs like this I thoroughly enjoy. They're not "pop" and made for thousands of people to enjoy, it's more like true art and expression. I'd say an 8+/10

Electro:

Sound of Stereo - Velcro (off of their Zipper E.P.)
Label : Lektroluv
Release : November 24th, 2009
Other Songs : Zipper, Button

The Belgian duo are at it again. As many know, I'm a huge fan of Electro but my tastes are quite picky. I either need something aggressive and brash like The Toxic Avenger, or something infectious and danceable that will get stuck in your head for long periods of time. This is the latter. The track has a very cheeky sounding tribal melody that sounds like it came out of an Casio CZ-101. "It's not just a synthesizer, it's a rocket launcher". In this song though, it works. I've always loved the tribal sound but never heard it in an Electro song and enjoyed it. I usually stuck to stuff like Randy Katana or something. On top of the weird melody there's also what sounds like some guy saying "WOOF" and a weird, seemingly outdated vocal sample with the cliche words you would expect in a song like this: "turn, turn turn it up". I think this would belong in this resurgence we're having with things that sound like they're outdated, but producing them in a way that you can tell they're current. I usually hate it, but with a song this catchy I can't say no. I would suggest checking out Zipper as well, but Button is not my thing.. way too minimal. Overall, an 8/10

Dieselboy · 01-04-2010, 04:42 AM

That first dark ambient track you linked is fascinating. I can't decide if I like it or not...and I'm honestly not sure I could sit through a full album of that, but I'm gonna give it a shot I think, cause I'm kinda intrigued now. DL'ing that album as I type this.

The Sound of Stereo song was pretty cool as well. The remark about the Casio was pretty accurate I'd say too. I was waiting to see what you were talking about after reading it and then clicking the link, and I actually laughed through a few parts in the song. The whole song does just sound really ghetto, but I guess in a good way, and I think I can see its appeal.

CanwllCorfe · 01-13-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieselboy

That first dark ambient track you linked is fascinating. I can't decide if I like it or not...and I'm honestly not sure I could sit through a full album of that, but I'm gonna give it a shot I think, cause I'm kinda intrigued now. DL'ing that album as I type this.

Yeah dark ambient is definitely not for everyone. It's a genre of music that's good for passive listening. As in, you're not listening to the music explicitly and are doing something else at the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieselboy

The Sound of Stereo song was pretty cool as well. The remark about the Casio was pretty accurate I'd say too. I was waiting to see what you were talking about after reading it and then clicking the link, and I actually laughed through a few parts in the song. The whole song does just sound really ghetto, but I guess in a good way, and I think I can see its appeal.

Yeah I used to hate stuff that sounded outdated but the melody is so unbelievably catchy that I can't help but love it.

CanwllCorfe · 01-21-2010, 08:05 PM

I've decided I'm going to start doing all kinds of reviews and not just Electronic.. because I USED to only listen to Electronic Music. Well.. not anymore. Thanks to this site I have traveled outside of my comfort zone and now listen to all kinds of weird stuff. Well.. let's get on with it!

Shoegaze:

Alcest - Souvenirs D'Un Autre Monde
Label : Prophecy Productions
Release : August 2007
Songs : Printemps Émeraude, Souvenirs D'Un Autre Monde, Les Iris, Ciel Errant, Sur L'Autre Rive Je T'Attendrai, Tir Nan Og

Alcest, a project from a man by the name of Niege, is quite far outside of his other work. Alcest started out as a 3 piece black metal band.. that is until Niege was exposed to Shoegaze and Post Rock. As a child he says he was drawn to "fairy land" which was the main idea behind this album. He left Aegnor and Argoth behind to do all of the guitar, drum, and vocal work by himself. With an exception to some female vocals done by Audrey Sylvain from another project he was involved in (Amesoeurs). The album is beautifully produced.. which is to be expected considering his claims are that it was composed over a 6 year period.

The album opens up with the beautiful and seemingly emotional Printemps Emeraude (Emerald Green Spring), complete with perhaps just a BIT of Black Metal influence here and there (drumming wise). You can also hear Audrey's subtle vocal work throughout the track. Souvenirs D'Un Autre Monde (Memories Of Another World) continues on the same note as the opening but maybe a bit more solemn and cold. At this point I'd like to point out how amazing Niege's vocal work is.. I don't think I could imagine any better sounding vocals to go with the music. So uplifting and oneiric yet still having some substance. Les Iris (The Iris) is on a slightly different frequency from the other two. Still beautiful and such.. but doesn't seem to have the same amount of emotion as the first two. Almost like a well done ambient track! Ciel Errant (Wandering Sky) reminds me of something you would listen to while thinking about the past. It's not as openly emotional as the first two which is a nice break. It has a simplistic feel and has this underlying feeling of hope which is so beautiful and comforting. Sur L'autre Rive Je T'attendrai (On the Other Bank I Shall Wait for You) is home to quite an interesting hypnotic feeling. It also has a bizarre aura of tension or something of the like. As if he can't wait on the bank anymore and can't wait for his love to come back! Or maybe I'm just being a romantic.. who knows. The song also features a little sample of ocean water coming ashore which is fitting when considering the title of the track. This song also features Audrey's gorgeous voice once again. The last piece Tir Nan Og has a weird drumming in it that makes me think of an Enya song. Not that that's a bad thing.. it's actually a very good thing! I would think that this could be played on one of those Pure Mood compilations that were so popular. It has such a clear and clean atmosphere with no sadness or angst.. just beauty!

duga · 01-22-2010, 04:35 PM

i'm a huge fan of shoegaze, so your latest entry immediately caught my attention. i was even more intrigued when i read your review and how this guy came from a black metal band. i started to think about it...and who better to front a shoegaze band than someone who used to play black metal? surely, they would have a good grasp of how to evoke melody from so much dissonance and fuzz. and sure enough, they seem to have done it! very impressed...i'm going to check these guys out more!

jackhammer · 01-22-2010, 04:50 PM

Alcest is quite the MB fave for fans of the genre. Great album.

CanwllCorfe · 01-24-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

i'm a huge fan of shoegaze, so your latest entry immediately caught my attention. i was even more intrigued when i read your review and how this guy came from a black metal band. i started to think about it...and who better to front a shoegaze band than someone who used to play black metal? surely, they would have a good grasp of how to evoke melody from so much dissonance and fuzz. and sure enough, they seem to have done it! very impressed...i'm going to check these guys out more!

Definitely do! They're fantastic

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Alcest is quite the MB fave for fans of the genre. Great album.

Really?? I had no idea! The only reason I even found them was because of Amesoeurs.. who are fantastic as well.

duga · 01-24-2010, 05:07 PM

so i've been playing this alcest album nonstop for the past couple of days. then i find out the new album should be out sometime this year and i get even more excited. thanks for pointing these guys out...man i'm blown away.

have you heard their first demos from when they were still a black metal band? i managed to track them down and they were a BLACK metal band. it is amazing how they changed like that.

jackhammer · 01-24-2010, 05:11 PM

I would love to hear your opinion on this:

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...tml#post789130

01-03-2010, 01:47 PM	#32 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	It's been a long time journal, it's time to update you. Dark Ambient: Desiderii Marginis - The Ever Green Tree Label : Kaosthetik Konspiration Release : June, 2005 (LP) May, 2007 (CD) Other Songs : Hibernation, Legends, Stalkinghorse, Hallmark, The Vale of Tears As I slowly learn about more and more weird and obscure genres, I find that there's a "dark" version of Ambient; a genre I liked when I was younger. Trance was my forte, but I dabbled in other things as well. Desiderii Marginis is a one man band by the name of Johan Levin. His sound is, as you can imagine, quite dark and caliginous in tone. Some songs are more accessible than others, and I find this one to be pretty easy to listen to even if you aren't into ambient. The song begins with a simple piano melody put over bizarre sounds that I liken to moving around a piece of sheet metal. It has a very crisp and defined sound, like slicing instead of banging on something. It's quite mysterious and I have no clue what it is but I like that. Then out of nowhere the piano drops away and you are met with a gorgeous acoustic guitar melody bolstered by classical music. Every now and then you are still met with that bizarre sound introduced in the beginning. Out of nowhere the beauty fades and you are once again met with the very simple piano melody and odd noises. It creates a very anxious feeling as if something is about to happen; an impending event that you can't see coming. It's songs like this I thoroughly enjoy. They're not "pop" and made for thousands of people to enjoy, it's more like true art and expression. I'd say an 8+/10 Electro: Sound of Stereo - Velcro (off of their Zipper E.P.) Label : Lektroluv Release : November 24th, 2009 Other Songs : Zipper, Button The Belgian duo are at it again. As many know, I'm a huge fan of Electro but my tastes are quite picky. I either need something aggressive and brash like The Toxic Avenger, or something infectious and danceable that will get stuck in your head for long periods of time. This is the latter. The track has a very cheeky sounding tribal melody that sounds like it came out of an Casio CZ-101. "It's not just a synthesizer, it's a rocket launcher". In this song though, it works. I've always loved the tribal sound but never heard it in an Electro song and enjoyed it. I usually stuck to stuff like Randy Katana or something. On top of the weird melody there's also what sounds like some guy saying "WOOF" and a weird, seemingly outdated vocal sample with the cliche words you would expect in a song like this: "turn, turn turn it up". I think this would belong in this resurgence we're having with things that sound like they're outdated, but producing them in a way that you can tell they're current. I usually hate it, but with a song this catchy I can't say no. I would suggest checking out Zipper as well, but Button is not my thing.. way too minimal. Overall, an 8/10 __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

01-21-2010, 08:05 PM	#35 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	I've decided I'm going to start doing all kinds of reviews and not just Electronic.. because I USED to only listen to Electronic Music. Well.. not anymore. Thanks to this site I have traveled outside of my comfort zone and now listen to all kinds of weird stuff. Well.. let's get on with it! Shoegaze: Alcest - Souvenirs D'Un Autre Monde Label : Prophecy Productions Release : August 2007 Songs : Printemps Émeraude, Souvenirs D'Un Autre Monde, Les Iris, Ciel Errant, Sur L'Autre Rive Je T'Attendrai, Tir Nan Og Alcest, a project from a man by the name of Niege, is quite far outside of his other work. Alcest started out as a 3 piece black metal band.. that is until Niege was exposed to Shoegaze and Post Rock. As a child he says he was drawn to "fairy land" which was the main idea behind this album. He left Aegnor and Argoth behind to do all of the guitar, drum, and vocal work by himself. With an exception to some female vocals done by Audrey Sylvain from another project he was involved in (Amesoeurs). The album is beautifully produced.. which is to be expected considering his claims are that it was composed over a 6 year period. The album opens up with the beautiful and seemingly emotional Printemps Emeraude (Emerald Green Spring), complete with perhaps just a BIT of Black Metal influence here and there (drumming wise). You can also hear Audrey's subtle vocal work throughout the track. Souvenirs D'Un Autre Monde (Memories Of Another World) continues on the same note as the opening but maybe a bit more solemn and cold. At this point I'd like to point out how amazing Niege's vocal work is.. I don't think I could imagine any better sounding vocals to go with the music. So uplifting and oneiric yet still having some substance. Les Iris (The Iris) is on a slightly different frequency from the other two. Still beautiful and such.. but doesn't seem to have the same amount of emotion as the first two. Almost like a well done ambient track! Ciel Errant (Wandering Sky) reminds me of something you would listen to while thinking about the past. It's not as openly emotional as the first two which is a nice break. It has a simplistic feel and has this underlying feeling of hope which is so beautiful and comforting. Sur L'autre Rive Je T'attendrai (On the Other Bank I Shall Wait for You) is home to quite an interesting hypnotic feeling. It also has a bizarre aura of tension or something of the like. As if he can't wait on the bank anymore and can't wait for his love to come back! Or maybe I'm just being a romantic.. who knows. The song also features a little sample of ocean water coming ashore which is fitting when considering the title of the track. This song also features Audrey's gorgeous voice once again. The last piece Tir Nan Og has a weird drumming in it that makes me think of an Enya song. Not that that's a bad thing.. it's actually a very good thing! I would think that this could be played on one of those Pure Mood compilations that were so popular. It has such a clear and clean atmosphere with no sadness or angst.. just beauty! __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind. Last edited by CanwllCorfe; 01-21-2010 at 09:46 PM.

01-22-2010, 04:35 PM	#36 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	i'm a huge fan of shoegaze, so your latest entry immediately caught my attention. i was even more intrigued when i read your review and how this guy came from a black metal band. i started to think about it...and who better to front a shoegaze band than someone who used to play black metal? surely, they would have a good grasp of how to evoke melody from so much dissonance and fuzz. and sure enough, they seem to have done it! very impressed...i'm going to check these guys out more! __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

01-22-2010, 04:50 PM	#37 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Alcest is quite the MB fave for fans of the genre. Great album. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

01-24-2010, 05:07 PM	#39 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	so i've been playing this alcest album nonstop for the past couple of days. then i find out the new album should be out sometime this year and i get even more excited. thanks for pointing these guys out...man i'm blown away. have you heard their first demos from when they were still a black metal band? i managed to track them down and they were a BLACK metal band. it is amazing how they changed like that. __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

01-04-2010, 04:42 AM	#33 (permalink)
Dieselboy Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 608	That first dark ambient track you linked is fascinating. I can't decide if I like it or not...and I'm honestly not sure I could sit through a full album of that, but I'm gonna give it a shot I think, cause I'm kinda intrigued now. DL'ing that album as I type this. The Sound of Stereo song was pretty cool as well. The remark about the Casio was pretty accurate I'd say too. I was waiting to see what you were talking about after reading it and then clicking the link, and I actually laughed through a few parts in the song. The whole song does just sound really ghetto, but I guess in a good way, and I think I can see its appeal.

01-24-2010, 05:11 PM	#40 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I would love to hear your opinion on this: http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...tml#post789130 __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”