Systems are a hardcore/skramz/post-punk group from North Carolina. To date, they've only released one album, 2011's 'Ghost Medicine'. I noticed they played some shows with Circle Takes the Square, and perhaps some similarities run between the two aesthetically; vocals are often quick and enunciated, blurred in a cacophony of screams and sings. They also have a very strong ambient lining throughout their song writing, though to the former perhaps venture even further from the heart of their sound. Really cool stuff, definitely spring for the vinyl if available (a few weeks ago they posted on their Facebook that 30 copies remain), definitely worth it for the meticulous artwork alone. The band is still active, so hopefully their 2nd release isn't far behind.
New Zealand's Gatherer (based in Melbourne, Australia) were formerly the hardcore trio This City Sunrise. They changed names and brought on a member's younger brother to venture into a more experimental direction, while still incorporating their gang vocals and bombastic song-writing that made This City Sunrise stand out.
'So Be It' was their first full length in 2012, paving the way for their soon to be released second album. Fans of old will feel right at home with tracks like "Elvis Horizon", and anyone else will get a refined introduction to one of music's more unique takes on experimental hardcore.
Scattle is the man mainly responsible for the sleekly flavorful Hotline Miami soundtrack(s), and at just 21 years old, harbors an immensely bright future for his dark electronic sounds.
When Scattle isn't making music for one of the coolest game franchises around, he's releasing his own solo works (and developing games), much in the vein of his work for Hotline Miami with his adrenaline-fueled, bright & grimy synthed-out surges. When Scattle really stretches he includes vocal samples and chops them around, showing that he not only directs great beats, but also ornaments them with equal panache. Hotline Miami 2 drops this March, and if unfamiliar, his latest EP 'Street Heat' is a great starting point for plugging in.
'Vital Error' is the follow up full-length to Keisuke Ito/Broken Haze's electronic/glitch debut, 'raid system'. Just like said predecessor it features a few remixed works of his own tracks by other artists (like Machinedrum), a slice of some futuristic hip-hop/rap cameos, and predominantly an instrumental/electronic/dance foray into the future. Some of the sounds and loops this dude does are unlike anything I've heard, and while his first album had more blasting bass, this seems to highlight more of shifting synths and effects. Personal fave so far is "Raid System Tokyo", or the opening track "Loading", but all of this is nice. Expect newness in 2015.
Bongley Dead are a three (sometimes 4) piece from Italy who play a jolting mix of alternative rock/pop that teeters about punk sentimentality. 'Demo #3' is their latest nine-track album demo, and big ups to whoever in the band passed this my way. It has a familiar sound that doesn't swing too far in any direction, and the result is a nice, cohesive sound that immediately clicks from start to finish; just solid musicianship all around.
Shing02 (Shingo Annen) is a bilingual Japanese rapper/producer (also raised in England & attended Berkley for schooling, before moving back to Japan in 1996) who made his debut in 1998. Since then, he has released multiple albums and appeared on numerous features, reaching his mainstream stride with his rapping alongside producer/DJ Nujabes for the theme-song to the hit anime series "Samurai Champloo" in 2004 (six years before Nujabes' unfortunate passing). I'm way late on discovering his eclectic discography, while still being in the know (and not knowing) through his collaborative work. I then stumbled upon a Youtube track to his 2008 album 'Waikyoku', which immediately hit me with its layered and epic instrumental direction/production. I have yet to hear the rest (which will be right after this post)...but digging to find where the track came from led me to these insane album credits:
Motoki Yamaguchi – drums
Ayumi Takeshima – violin
Kakushin Nishihara – biwa, vocals
Philip Gelb – shakuhachi
Wesley Ueunten – sanshin, vocals
Doc Max – keys, programming
Dawgisht – programming
David Boyce – saxophone
David Ewell – upright bass
Cave – keys, bass, trumpet
Junzo – guitar
Yoshihiro Sako – bass
Mr. Buckner – bass
Goro – didgeridoo
Fukashi Adachi – acoustic guitar
Myokei – bells, vocals
Eiji Kachi – khoomii
Tetsufumi Saito – trombone
Tetsu Nishiuchi – saxophone
Kentaro Munechika – sound effects
KND – koto, steel pan
Shuichi Sugimoto – dub
Ras Takashi – melodica
CHIYORI – vocals
Emi Meyer – vocals
Tamurapan – vocals
Fuyu – vocals
Bobimon – vocals
Ajo – vocals
ASANOTADANOBU – vocals
I thought I'd share because I can guarantee this will be quality, prompting you and me both to dig into the rest of his dense discography. I have no idea what to really expect past the title track, but those album credits should be an indicator that he means business.
Japanese progressive/Zeuhl instrumental masters Happy Family have re-formed and released their first album since their hiatus in 1998, marking their official 3rd full-length release, 'Minimal Gods'. The new lineup consists of Kenichi Morimoto (keys), Keiichi Nagase (drums), Takahiro Izutani (guitar), & Hidemi Ichikawa (bass). Slightly different direction from their work in the 90's, but none the less some instrumental greatness.
