This is something I've wanted to do for a while though wasn't exactly sure how to approach it. Did I want to extensive reviews of one album at a time or smaller reviews in groups? Well, I decided on bite-size reviews in groups of 3 at a time. I hope you find these useful.
Abstracode "Cocaine Ways" (Electrosound) - Thoroughly enjoyable dark trip-hop with many bits of glitch and dust sprinkled to give the whole release a terrific electro-acoustic feel. One of the best album "outros" I've heard. Rating: ★★★★☆
Triplexity "Between Light And Shadow" (Independent/Jamendo) - A terrific mélange of jazz, trip-hop, acid-jazz and electro. From the excellent electro-jazz cover of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" to the funky "Honky Fonky"… this is "listening pleasure" defined. Rating: ★★★★★
NanowaR "Other Bands Play, Nanowar Gay!" (Independent/Jamendo) - For any Metal-head this is both hilarious and a headbanger. At face-value this is a parody of the many Heavy Metal clichés that exist (look at the album cover… Village People meets Judas Priest). It's also a tribute to Metal because it's pulled off so well. The guitars crunch… the drums are big… the vocals are over the top! There are takes on Judas Priest and Helloween styles as well as the more fantasy-driven strain of Metal. Keep your ears open for the cover of Master of Puppets in the background of the "Pino" skit. These guys are no joke… okay… maybe a little. All hail the one TRUE METAL… NanowaR! Metal…la la la la!! Rating: ★★★★★
Ratings based on rounded average of individual 5 star ratings of each release track.