Introduction
Here it is the list of the 2014 Top 50 Reviews on The CerebralRift. This list was compiled by taking all the reviews that had been given at least a seven star rating, weighing the number of views they had received per week, and then weighing the score by their rating.
Overall this accomplished what I perceived to be an issue from looking at the raw numbers: reviews that were more recently published were getting knocked out on the view rankings against articles that had been published earlier in the year. This leveling of the playing field yielded some excellent results as you’ll see below.
2014 Top 50 Reviews
50. Wings of an Angel: The Year I Tried To Kill My Love
Every now and then I find an artist that shatters my preconceptions, and makes me want to break as many rules as I can find to break. Wings of An Angel is one of those artists, and The Year I Tried To Kill My Love is the cause of such passion.
49. ce François Couture: Derrière
I’m impressed by how accessible this piece is. There are just enough elements that you can identify on a first listen that you want to go back again and listen to just to get the full context. And, after a second listen, it becomes the type of
piece that I want to listen to break out of the normal jazz / rock / dub / classical styles that permeate my normal listening. Overall an impressive accomplishment for ce François Couture’s Derrière.
48. PeerGynt Lobogris: Window Eye
Pedro Aguilar Benavente’s releases under PeerGynt Lobogris have been exceptional works for the past seven years. And, even today he is still expanding his repertoire and musicality in many subtle ways. His ability to channel the world around him
into gorgeous melodies, and explore their dimensions through numerous contexts makes his work excellent listening.
47. xQz: Backwards Words
xQz is a 21-year-old producer from the Ukraine who is always looking for new approaches, new angles and backwards words. It’s in the wide range of samples, chilled beats, and his perspective where xQz sets himself apart from many other producers in the downtempo game.
46. Various (aka The Aaahhchestra): Miss You EP
The Miss You EP was put together by a group of musicians that attended the BRAAAHHLITZ 2013 festival. Six original tracks, with the aforementioned intermissions. All of it well crafted pop music, with a lot of fun lyrical twists, and great music.
If I ever needed a reason to go to this festival, hearing is believing. Alas, being in Germany, it’s a bit of a long trip.
45. Rotten Lily: Im Gedenken (Transaltion: In Commmemoration of Something)
Each of the musicians in Rotten Lily is exceptionally talented, and each beings a different set of influences into the group. When combined, the results are far greater than the sum of the individuals. If you don’t believe me, just consider
‘Lullaby for shallot’ and ‘Bell and mandolin’ compared to the rest of this release – this is where their individual influences come out in relation to the rest of the release.
44. Darvillers Ghost: Fake Polarity
This is definitely the kind of work that I believe Brian Eno would say fit perfectly in his model of ambient and generative works. It’s not a stretch to say that these are the kinds of works that anyone in the ambient field should look to when trying to understand how to approach this kind of music. These tracks are uncomplicated, yet very lush; minimal, but not repetitive; atonal but non-alienating; mechanical sounding but not abrasive. Basically, a combination of attributes that is welcome and will win many people over.
43. Crossworlds: Ivana Kupala Night
I was so enthralled by this release from beginning to end, I know that I should be happy with Crossworlds Ivana Kupala Night as it stands. The excellent composition and musicianship throughout this recording is nothing short of amazing. And at least with this release I know that I will want to keep Crossworlds on my radar for any future music from Irina and Alexey.
42. Various: Siberian Jungle Volume 5
I’ve been in love with jungle / drum-n-bass music for a long time. But I didn’t understand why I was in love with it. It wasn’t like anything I had listened too. It seemed there were endless variations of what fit within these sub-genres. And yet, all of them had a common, earthy element to them, and were definitely signified by strong bass lines. Now I hear the Amen in the Siberian Jungle and my love for this music is even stronger.
41. DJ Racy A.J: Prevail
Dj Racy A.J (aka R.A.J) is a Ukrainian producer who is not new to the netlabel scene, This is his fifth release on Dusted Wax Kingdom, which he has also made available via his BandCamp page. But this release is a bit different given the events that have occurred in the Ukraine this year. In fact, between the revolution in January and ongoing conflict with Russia this release was put on hold for several months. However, DJ Racy A.J Prevails and has managed to bring this release into the world.
40. Mystified: Zombie Cowboy
Given Mystified’s proficiency and prolific nature, it’s no surprise that this is one of those releases where he nails his concept right on the head. This is a panoramic soundtrack, focused more on minimalism than on drones (with the one exception being ‘Desert Highway’).
39. Mystified and Daniel Barbiero: Numinous Transmissions
This is quite a departure for Mystified’s work, at least in my experience. It’s a for more transce-like recording than previous works. The addition of Daniel Barbiero and Shane Morris’s work on this release really makes for a new experience. To date, I would say that this has to be my favorite release from Mystified so far.
38. Jenn Kelly: Fervent
It’s the intensity and passion that hits you immediately when you listen to Jenn’s latest release Fervent. From the opening strains of ‘Tongue Tone’ Jenn, Mel Pak and Yoko O.K. hit you square in the ears with a stripped down, direct sound that doesn’t let you escape. This band is here to be in your ears and make you listen to them.
37. Impossebulls: Slave Education
Ten years after it’s initial release, there is a lot that is still applicable in society today. When talking about how college athletes are in the equivalent of a slave system, we might see that as more of the institutional racism that has come to the forefront of social debate (although, unfortunately not loudly enough). Then there is the topic of war, which is still relevant today.
36. Dr. Mindflip: Every Waking Moment
With every waking Mindflip moment the good Doctor takes on a new adventure in his musical landscape. This release sees him move from being a solo artist dubbing in percussion and other instruments as necessary to his work to having a full band backing him.
35. Joe Frawley: Satyrinae
The concept that a moment in time can split, and flutter off as if it were a butterfly emerging from a cocoon is an enticing image, If we consider that there are multitudes of points in time where this can occur, then it’s easy to sense that there could be hundreds, if not thousands of the ghost-time points floating around us, some dissipating into the thin air, while others form their own new events in time.
34. Brokenkites: Birds With Blackest Hearts
brokenkites describes himself as writing “…thematic electronic soundtracks for the movie that you’re living. It’s music for time travelers, space persons, and rogue secret agents.” This is a pretty apt description. His work is cinematic, engaging and has a dark and spacey element to it. This latest release is definitely his best to date. The production values have improved substantially over the years. His composition and arrangements have taken tremendous leaps. I can definitely recommend this music for anyone that loves old school synthesizer music (like Vangelis and Tangerine Dream), but wants to hear a more modern interpretation of that style.
33. Ergo Phizmiz: Spells Trouble
With this release might have the most accurate title ever: Ergo Phizmiz Spells Trouble. Ergo hasthis habit of making some of the most challenging music around, and that can be trouble for many listeners. On the other hand, most his works contain more than tiny doses of humor, which can make them extremely enjoyable to listen to. Which way does this release go?
32. Ralf Behrendt: Cloud State
And that’s why I can’t stay away from this release: the intense artistry that went into producing these pieces. Ralf Behrendt didn’t just put some drones through a mixer and call it a work. There is intense form and structure to these pieces, they are conceptual works as much as they are audio sculptures or paintings. Every note, and every sound is carefully selected and built upon.
31. Plusplus: Psycho
Psycho by Plusplus is the third part of the “Evils Trilogy” which started back in 2008 (however, there were delays in releasing each title, so they didn’t start appearing until 2011). Plusplus is Adam Radmall, and on this release he collaborated with Bryan Styles and Rob Scillitoe to produce a recording that is very earthy and grounded in sound.
30. Corwin Trails: 93EP
The Corwin Trails lead back to 1993 for an exploration of memories and a bit of nostalgia through a series of vignettes, By today’s standard, this could be a considered a lo-fi release filled with sounds that might be considered cheesy or clichéd. However, in the hands of Samuel Vandiver of Corwin Trails they take on a different meaning.
29. Chientaroli Espinal Rave Vitale: Relatos de Terodáctilo
This is a very fine free jazz improvisation recording. The artistry is purely due to the dedication that these musicians have brought to this craft. I will no longer be able to not think of Buenos Aires when I think about Jazz music, especially free jazz and improvisation now. This recording has marked a place in my mind that few recordings do. These are some stories of the Pterodactyl I will not forget for some time.
28. Various: Elephant Bass Vol. 1 & 2
And the positive, smooth vibes flow throughout both volumes, setting the stage for what is likely to be a highly successful dub label. So check these releases out. If you love dub, electro dub, stepper, dubstep and jungle sounds you are sure to find tracks on these releases that you will love. I’m definitely looking forward to hearing more from each of these artists.
27. Cousin Silas & Friends: Silas & Friends Volume 3
This is yet another excellent release from Cousin Silas. I won’t say that I like all the tracks on this release. I probably only like twenty-four or twenty-five of them. I still think the duo of Silas & Hillgraves was possibly the most surprising and entertaining on this release. While I listed a few other tracks that really caught my attention, the overwhelming majority of this release is really excellent. Come, go exploring Silas and friends soundscapes…
26. Ari Porki & Christopher Alvarado: Halla
For their second release, Porki and Alvarado explore Halla, and this time they are bringing a boat-load of guests along with them: Jack Hertz, Cousin Silas, Stephen Briggs, Eyes Cast Down, and Void of Realms. It’s a mystical, expansive exploration that takes the listener through many dimensions.
25. TNKS: Gate One
This is another example of what the music industry is missing today: the kind of musicality and experimentation that puts this release on the edge, but still is a very accessible electronic pop music work. I would give a bit round of applause to all the artists involved in bringing this release into the world: Francesco Palermo, Gaetano Fontanazza and Tony Colina.
24. Various: Quiet Friends: A 30th Anniversary Tribute
Now, thirty years after the release of ‘Structures From Silence’ some of the preeminent electronic and ambient artists have come together to release a tribute to this seminal recording. This is a massive release contains well over two hours of music inspired by ‘Structures From Silence’ without attempting to duplicate the original.
23. The Fucked Up Beat: Investigates Strange Weather Patterns and the UFO Cults of Cold War Nevada
So, here we have a work that is at once a real challenge and yet is extremely listenable. What? How can I say that? Well, the idea of using public domain samples as the basis for a sound collage is not new. The idea of making these sound collages into new pieces by supplementing them with new beats, and using some production tricks and techniques is where this release excels in breaking new ground.
22. Perry Ferya Band: Mantra
This is one of the most exciting recordings I’ve heard this year. A group that is obviously exceptionally knowledgeable of many music forms, and skilled not only in working within those forms, but extending and transforming them with newer ideas and concepts is nothing short of amazing. I’ve been blown away every time I have listened to this recording. It doesn’t get old, it is an endlessly fascinating work that has found itself in a special place in my collection.
21. Phone Booth Robbers: Falling Into One
And that’s why I like this release a lot. It fits in a space for me that many recordings don’t. I can sit here and be mesmerized listening to it to the point of meditating. But, I can put it on in the car, or while I am at work and perfectly focus on the tasks at hand. And, if I am so moved, I can even dance to a few of the tracks. But, you don’t want to see that. It’s not a pretty sight. I’ll leave that to Bastiaan.
20. Pray For Brain: None Of The Above
I can’t help it. Really, I can’t. Every time I see this groups name I think there is a bad zombie joke in there somewhere. But, really there is nothing resembling a zombie in this group, or in this recording. If anything, this release makes me want to Pray for Brain. After hearing it, I think you will too…so, please Pray for Brain.
19. Scott Lawlor & Rebekkah Hilgraves: The Madness That Lurks Within
This work was not only one of those times where I had no problems suspending my disbelief, but I fell into the narrative hook, line and sinker. It didn’t even occur to me that this might not have been a real experiment until after I had listened to the whole piece and wanted to find out more about the experiment (in all honesty, I was looking for a WikiPedia reference to the experiment to use as part of this review).
18. Talk Less, Say More: Violent
There isn’t a song that doesn’t have something in it lyrically that makes you sit up and take notice. Vocal arrangements are also as important as any of the instrumental arrangements in carrying the words across with the right amount of emotion or detachment.
17. Wolfgang Gsell: In The Omnispheres
Some people have claimed that New Age and Ambient works are the new classical music of this generation. This is the kind of work that makes the point very well. There’s no cheap adornments, no throwaway elements of this work. Everything is built and developed on. Each movement represents a piece of the larger whole, and contributes a new set of ideas and themes to the overall.
16. Shamanizm Parallelii: The World In A Drop of Rain
This is one of those releases that I have the feeling people will fall in love with quickly. It has all the elements of a good downtempo or PsyDub release, but there is enough that is different and quirky that make it new and fresh. It’s the kind of thing that makes me excited for the prospects of electronica.
15. Pat Mastelotto & Tobias Ralph: ToPaRaMa
I had the expectation of this being a really good drummers release when I started listening to it. I expected polyrhythms and chops to be full-front and on display. What I didn’t expect was the wide range of musical backgrounds that Mastelotto and Ralph would bring to this release. It’s their wide array of influences that lets them explore drumming in many contexts that many others wouldn’t have considered to explore.
14. Dr. Mindflip: Is Itching To Play
Dr. Mindflip is Patrick McGlynn from Dublin, Ireland. On this release he strips down his production and arrangements to the bare minimum: vocals and piano. Stripped bare of all the trappings of his first release, his talent shines in its purest form, without the trappings of complex arrangements and high-end production. This is Dr. Mindflip in his most simple and direct form.
13. Various: Dub Tentacles Vol. 5
This release features artists from America, France and Romania. This release is proof that Dub has been embraced around with world in many forms and styles. And Dub Tentacles vol. 5 will definitely satisfy listeners that love the boom-bap, deep bass, melodica and horns that are more traditional to Dub music.
12. Cousin Silas: The Sound of Silas
How to summarize the Sound of Silas in a few sentences? Well, the obvious thing to state is that this is an overview of Cousin Silas’s output over the past fourteen years. It really does an excellent job providing the listener a starting place for becoming familiar with his work, but it also has the benefit of letting the listener experience the kind of depth that we don’t see in nearly as many artists these days.
11. Altus: Excursion Three
Mike Carss (Altus) has an interesting way of putting this release into perspective:
Every excursion has a destination.
Whether you stay is your decision.This is an ambient exploration of excursions of all types. As the final release of a three part series it makes a fine conclusion to the overall work.
10. Various: Snowy Compilation
This release contains a wonderful winter mix of pop, electronica, post-rock, hip-hop, trip-hop, and a whole host of related sub-genres. The more I listened through the massive 35 tracks in this release, the more I was in awe at the range of material, and the quality of the performances. While it isn’t specifically a holiday release, it does include one or two Christmas tracks that are true stunners.
9. she speaks in tongues: gloria, G-U-I-T-A-R
While there is a core of feminist idea running throughout this release, it is not the only theme. Another theme is the examination of (in Kate McCandless’s words) “oppressor as lover” based on songs by blues singers like Bessie Smith and Big Mama Thornton. And a third theme is the appropriation of black culture into white culture, as exemplified by rock singers like Elvis Presley. And, if that weren’t enough we come full circle with the concept of transformation of a cultural work by making small (but important) modifications to them, and mixing several together to make a new context to tell a different story.
8. Phobium: Oort Cloud
Phobium has created a recording that is programmatic in structure: the ascent through the cloud that surrounds our galaxy, the Oort Cloud. And it is a well structured audio journey. We get the view of the cloud from a distance, moving through, and seeing sol.
7. Various: Foof Yourself, Vol. 1
Foof Yourself was a compilation released to celebrate the first six months of Foof Records. It made for a really fine showcase of the strength of the artists recording for them. This release was a real surprise for me when I initially reviewed it and I am pleased to set it show up in this end of year roundup.
6. Burnt Palms: The Girl You Knew
Burnt Palms is a trio from Seaside, California. The Girl You Knew is their second release. I was impressed by the raw energy of their music. But, I was impressed even more by their lyrics, which in many cases are rather concise also have the ability to convey complex concepts, such as in the track we are going to hear: My Future, Your Past.
5. Stephen Briggs: Nebbie Mattutine
Occasionally a work comes out of left field to blow me away. This is just such a case. I had expected this to be a shoe-gaze style solo guitar release. What I found instead is a pastoral of varying landscape settings, each evoking their own mood.
4. Gemini Tri: Mirror
This is an album about reflection, contemplation, and introspection. This is the kind of subject matter that might turn some listeners off to this release, but in this case it shouldn’t be taken from a negative perspective. Instead think of it as a quest into understanding ourselves. Looking at our past for clues about who we are, and how are past forms who we are now. This isn’t the kind of release that is dwelling on the past, it’s an affirmation of where we are going. It’s a quest to find that best version of ourselves.
3. Various: Autumn Tram
This is really the style of music that got me interested in the direction of electronic music, and lead me into IDM, Jungle and DnB styles of music. The thing that strikes me about this music is a lot of crossover between jazz, fusion and other styles of music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and the lounge / chillout music of the 2000’s.
2. Michael Bijker: Ways To Travel
This release is a like peering into someone’s private travel journal. Each track is set in a different location, and explores different aspects of that scene. But this isn’t just an album about physical journeys, several tracks are more about abstract, or inner journeys. The concept of travel is a metaphor for where we are mentally, what the listener wants to go, and what they experience on their journal.
1. Kurbeats: Folktronica
I found this release to be one of the most interesting releases of the last year. Kurbeats has blended Scandinavian music styles, especially Joik singing with downtempo and minimalist electronic styles to produce a perfect recording that sounds like very little of the music that is being released anywhere these days.
Conclusion
I can’t believe it’s been a year already. It still seems like it was yesterday when I reviewed Folktronica. But I know it was last December, ad I know that it’s a release that still finds it’s way into my playlists on regular basis.
I am surprised that some releases didn’t do better in the Top 50. But I will save some of those opinions for my “Editors Picks” column.
So can I keep writing as many reviews next year as I did this year? Well, in a way I hope I don’t, while in another way I hope we do. I’ve mentioned several times before, I wold like to have more people submitting articles: reviews, interviews, features, editorials, etc. to the site. If we can build up a resource of people that write something from time to time, it will allow the site to maintain the current level of production, while allowing it to expand into other areas.
