Refreshed from a year’s meditation and fuelled by a lethal combination of extra strong coffee and those lotus biscuits with the cream in the middle, Neko, the premier act to emerge from Bristol’s thriving Japanese language post rock/electronica micro scene (population 1) are back with “Windfall”, their second EP, following on from their highly acclaimed 2023 debut “King Louie”.
Like most second releases, it’s a more mature collection of songs than its predecessor (fewer songs about 5 a side football, more songs about complicated IT jobs and desperate attempts to avoid middle aged spread) that sees the band, now with vocalist Yuka Suzuki as a full time member, polish and develop their distinctive sound.
Teaming up again with producer Dom Mitchison, the EP’s four tracks are a vibrant melting pot of styles and ideas. Yuka Suzuki’s ethereal vocals are the one constant, through the dreamy “Stack Overflow” and “Kleshas” to the moody guitar lines and Donna Summer style synths of “Almost Forgotten”. The slow-building title track “Windfall” brings the EP to a pounding, cathartic conclusion.
The band will be undertaking a short tour towards the end of November to promote the release, with dates in Cardiff, London and hometown Bristol currently pencilled in. The “Windfall” EP is available for listening on Spotify and other music streaming services, while officially released on Shoredive Records (on CD) and Mahorka (cassette).
The Mahorka Edition cassette includes a whole exclusive B side of spectacular remixes of the original EP tracks by Asshole Galaxy, Tawdry Otter, Brainquake, popon and Suzuki.
Released November 22, 2024
P&L 2024 under exclusive license to Mahorka and Shoredive Records
Written and performed by Neko, 2024
Lyrics by Yuka Suzuki
Recorded and Engineered by Dominic Mitchison @ Humm Studios, 2024
Mastering of the original EP tracks (Side A) by Shawn Joseph @ Optimum Mastering, 2024
Mastering of the remixes (Side B) by Weldroid, 2024
Neko:
nekoneko.bandcamp.com
facebook.com/nekonekoband
instagram.com/nekonekoband
youtube.com/@nekobanduk
Asshole Galaxy: mahorka.org/artist/asshole-galaxy
Tawdry Otter: suitablybizarre.bandcamp.com
Suzuki: soundcloud.com/suzuki
popon: soundcloud.com/popon_tonichan
Brainquake: brainquake.bandcamp.com
An experiment with functions the composition and sound design take in communicating the idea of music.
All of the tracks share the same lead melodies and most of the patterns, but they use completely different samples.
Which part of the music remains the same? The ideas or the ways they are perceived? If the perception is different, how do you know the ideas were the same?
Part 4 out of 8 from Joy of Creation.
Hybrid Rain and Liquid Paper’s music is a unique blend of experimental and avant-garde styles. With James Hill’s expressive trumpet melodies and Hans Catstrup’s innovative soundscapes, the music explores unconventional sonic territories. It’s a journey through abstract textures and spontaneous compositions, merging organic and electronic elements for a truly distinctive auditory experience.
Released October 26, 2024 as free (cc) digital download and beautiful limited Digipak CD edition.
Hans Castrup – Electronics, tapes, field recordings, studio
James Hill – Trumpet
Carla Worgull – Digital processed voices on track 3
Martin Englert – Mastering at Elektromos Studios
Trumpet recordings at TCAB Studios by James Hill Recorded 2023.
Images by Hans Castrup
Artwork design by Ivo Petrov and Angel Draganov
Hyakunenme EP is the latest release from Gnyonpix, who dives into the world of chiptune in an innovative and engaging way. Combining the retro aesthetic of 8-bit music with a contemporary production style.
The four tracks are a true journey through time, capturing the energy of classic ’80s and ’90s video games, but with an added layer of sophistication.
While chiptune is often associated with instrumental themes, Gnyonpix incorporates vocals in a subtle yet effective way, as seen in the title track “Hyakunenme,” which also gives its name to the EP.
Hyakunenme EP is an album that captures the essence of chiptune and 8-bit music, offering a true tribute to the digital aesthetic, but with a forward-thinking approach to the future of electronic music.
An exploration trying to answer a curiosity-driven question – what distinguishes a combination of sounds from music?
Why do we like certain tracks and why do we make them like that in the first place? Experiments with engagement in music, to find out why the enjoyment that comes from listening has nothing to do with the joy itself.
Throughout the album, it becomes apparent that it has something to say. It is a communication.
Part 2 out of 8 from Joy of Creation.
New side project by Insatiable Void.
Album available in lossless format at artist bandcamp:
https://insatiablevoid.bandcamp.com/album/shadows
Released by Dawn of Darkness Netlabel.-
The starting point of musical discovery, using the signature step sequencer of Fruity Loops 3.
Quirky and weird experiments with sounds, with no intent to tell anything at all. A fun activity for a five year old, having no other purpose than enjoying the endless ways to experiment with samples and composition.
The album develops the idea of engagement in music out of enjoyment, which turns the fun activity into something meaningful.
Part 1 out of 8 from Joy of Creation.
Pueblo Nuevo Netlabel se complace en presentar “Campo de Deportes”, un mixtape creado por el productor electrónico chileno El Buga, conmemorando los 19 Años del sello.
Este mixtape es un ejercicio de tomar dentro del vasto catálogo de Pueblo Nuevo, pistas que se puedan llevar al plano de la pista de baile, siendo el baile una de las formas más completas de ejercicio. Desde el dub, al house, la cumbia y el hip-hop, la idea de conectar y poner en valor distintos ritmos es parte de mi exploración personal en la música, lo que me llevó a conectar desde el principio de mi búsqueda con el sello.
Pueblo Nuevo Netlabel is pleased to present “Campo de Deportes”, new mixtape by Chilean electronic producer El Buga, celebrating the label’s 19 years.
This mixtape is an exercise of taking from the vast Pueblo Nuevo catalog, tracks that can be taken to the dance floor, dance being one of the most complete forms of exercise. From dub, to house, cumbia and hip-hop, the idea of connecting and highlighting different rhythms is part of my personal exploration in music, which led me to connect from the beginning of my search with the label.
El Buga
(Santiago, Chile. Noviembre / November 2024)
A new freshman has arrived at MiMi Records. Shikisokuzemu, is a Japanese electronic music producer, and brings us a fascinating album that mixes breakbeat rhythms, vocaloid vocals and otaku influences.
Known for intricate production, Shikisokuzemu’s work here is meticulously, pairing the frenetic energy of breakbeat with voices from imaginary anime series.
With its seamless blend of breakbeat, Vocaloid and Japanese otaku elements, Shikisokuzemu offers a new perspective on electronic music, fusing past and future in a fascinating sonic journey.
A true gem for otaku music lovers.
released November 7, 2024
Nahráno březen-červen 2024 v Richtigmusic studiu v Praze a Tetově
Pavel Richter – el. kytara, kytarový syntezátor, klávesy, samply, elektronika, feeld recording. Nahrávka, mix a mastering.
Foto – Jonáš Richter
Pavel Richter o albu:
Na začátku roku 2024 jsem byl tak trochu osloven pro mě dosud neznámou elektronickou hudbou, se všemi těmi drony, škrábáním, šušláním, praskáním apod. Což mě popravdě nijak zvlášť neoslovilo. Posléze jsem byl vyzván k účasti na projektu, který se však nevyvíjel podle mých představ. Nicméně inspirován, jsem vytvořil tuto nahrávku. Takže vznikl, ne programově, jakýsi pohled z dronu, který se vznáší nad smutnou krajinou. A raději beze slov.
Pouze bych dodal, že se nejedná o ambientní hudbu, ale o hudbu k spíše zadumanému poslechu.
www.abstraktreflections.net/releases/va-vision/
