Net-Label Review

Connection issues

2009-03-31T00:16:00.003+11:00

Hello everyone...

Will you please let me know if you cannot access the new site? (www.netlabelindex.com) I have been trying to pinpoint a problem with the new server and it seems to work for some and not for others.

If you cannot connect, please send me an email or just drop in a comment.

I just want to get an idea of how big this problem is!

Beta? is up

2009-03-28T16:35:00.004+11:00

The site is up!!! It is still in a beta phase and there is still some major changes on the way. There might be some outages whilst we sort out some of the enhancements. (Just so you know its in a Beta testing phase)

But we thought we would let you know you can visit http://www.netlabelindex.com

If you are a netlabel and wish to have your details listed, please send your request to netlabelreview@dodo.com.au . You can have any level of detail listed so let us know

Levels:

Only your label information,
Label + Artists
Label + artists + albums
Optionally song information.

The site is still undergoing a lot of changes, so if something is "broken" let me know but any feedback is also appreciated.

To all the netlabels that have already signed up who is not on the listing yet... Please bare with us, there is a mountain of data to add! Keep your eyes on the listing, it should be there soon.

(Did I mention the site is still in testing phase??)

Calling all Netlabels!!

2009-02-24T20:47:00.003+11:00

Hey guys & girls!

As you might have noticed the site does seem to lack updates in the past few months. I have been busy on a side project and its finally starting to take shape... Well enough shape to be released in the not too distant future.

At this point it is still under wraps and I cant give out any details. The site is still under development too and A hope to have a first version out within the next few months ...

I am now at the stage where I need input from Netlabels out there. The project's success will hinge on the cooperation between myself and netlabels, but this should not be a problem!

So to all netlabels out there who read this, PLEASE email me if you want more information and if you are interested in working with me...

To all Artists who are signed with a netlabel PLEASE get your label to contact me for further information.

I hope this project will create more awareness of the good music out there and make it more accessible for everyone looking for alternative and legal ways of getting amazing music.

My email is netlabelreview@dodo.com.au

Regards,
Afristralian

Quick Mentions

2009-02-16T20:42:00.003+11:00

Hey, thanks for all your suggestions to my previous posting. I have downloaded some of the albums and will listen to them soon.

Thought I would use a new format today. Here are some highlights that I am currently enjoying.

[GMIX30] Domovoy - Summer in Soul (download)
Label: www.deepindub.org
Genre: Tech-house, Minimal House, Minimal Techno
Comment: Nice mix with some seriously funky free tunes. Its highly recommended.

[RAR33] Waveform - Atmospheric Trip EP (download)
Label: www.randomaccessrecordings.com
Genre: Ambient Tehno, Ambient House
Comment: Some good chill or "come-down" music. Seriously spaced out stuff, but good non the less.

More on the way

2009-02-12T22:30:00.001+11:00

Hey guys ...

Hopefully will have some more reviews up soon. Just cannot get back into the swing of things lately.

Do you guys have any recomendations perhaps? What are your favorite free albums current and past?

Send them along, i am very interested in hearing from you!

Ciao
Afri

DML & Holger Leger - Tropical Split EP [gft net 004]

2009-01-29T23:29:00.004+11:00

Album: Tropical Split EP
Artist: DML & Holger Leger
Label: http://gruenfeld-label.net/blog
Genre: Techno / Minimal / Tech-house
Download

Review:

Just sat down tonight to go through the past couple of days downloads and I was pleasantly surprised to find this album in the masses of zip files.

This release is a good solid almost laid back techno album. Back in the old days we would have branded it as "ambient techno" (techno with a more trippy edge). I love the delayed bongo's and the background sounds that fill the tracks. All these sounds are backed up by deep kick drums that keeps you on your toes (so to speak).

Something about the tracks on this album reminds me of opening sets on a cold winters night. Or even the opening tracks to a new DJ's set, building up to something, slowly but still funky enough to keep you moving while you wait for the payout. Its a sort of lazy-funky ... this is what ambient techno should be, mellow, pulsating and trippy.

I'm really enjoying listening to it and its going into my "to keep" folder. Its 3 tracks that are worth downloading.

Highly recommended

LeftKicks - Seidensha Funk [vrb040]

2009-01-28T00:03:00.003+11:00

Album: Seidensha Funk
Artist: LeftKicks
Label: http://www.vorbic.com/
Genre: Downtempo / Chill / Acid Jazz
Release Date: 25 Jan 2009
Download

Review:

Its been a while since i have reviewed anything from Vorbic. They started off with a bang a few years ago and seems to have gotten better with age. This release from LeftKicks is a solid downtempo album with nice breakbeats and chilled out tones. Perfect for a lazy afternoon. Funky foot tapping rhythms, Lazy e-piano and deep rolling basslines just make it a pleasure to listen to.

yip, this is a recomended release by every sense of the word...

Download, enjoy and share!

Geschwister Schumann - Your Way [sm016]

2009-01-24T11:49:00.003+11:00

Album: Your Way
Artist: Geschwister Schumann
Label: www.symbiont-music.com
Genre: Minimalist, Electro, tech-house
Download

Review:

This is only a 2 track EP, but I thought I would highlight it purely from the fact that it sounds a little like Booka Shade ... And I like it!!

Minimalist tech-house, dirty synth basslines and well constructed beats make this worth a recommendation. To top it off the well placed female vocals in the track just adds the X-factor it needs. The sound is funky, harsh, melancholic and engaging, it comes recommended.

Nienvox -Sign [foot090]

2009-01-22T21:33:00.002+11:00

Album: Sign
Artist: Nienvox
Label: www.bumpfoot.net
Genre: Jazz, Downtempo, chill
Release Date: 18-Jan-2008
Download

Review:

a Great blend of downtempo and trippy beats flow throughout this album. Smooth flowing ambient sounds, pads and sweeps start you off and is contrasted by Jazz piano, deep bass, downtempo beats and even a few bleeps and blips here and there. Some of the tracks have a real Ninja-tune-acid-jazz-trippy-style very much in the same line as Funki Porcini. But overall the mood ranges from somber to very busy and almost improvisational jazz, where beatiful piano is juxaposed on fast drums and guitaring.

All I can say is that I really enjoyed listening to it ... If you like Jazz give this one a spin.

Our Ceasing Voice - Steadied Stars In The Morphium Sky (EP)

2009-01-21T21:24:00.006+11:00

Album: Steadied Stars In The Morphium Sky (EP)
Artist: Our Ceasing Voice
Web address: http://postrockcommunity.blogspot.com
Purchase: http://ourceasingvoice.bigcartel.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ourceasingvoice
Genre: Experimental / Ambient
Download
Archive Password: postrockcommunity.blogspot.com

Review:

I downloaded this album and have given it a good few listens. I am very impressed with the quality of the work. The music is very down, slow moving and in the true spirit of ambient music makes the mind wonder when you listen to it. It slowly fills the void of silence with sound effects like reverberant guitars and echo's, generally building up to rhythms and melodies and at times breaks into intense rock grooves (Emotionally moving stuff) . Its definitely something you can listen to when you have some time alone to reflect, concentrate on work or do something artistically (or maybe need a good cry). The bottom line is that its really beautiful music.

The album was recorded in a home studio by the 3 band members and was mastered professionally. It is an intense album that invokes memories of Brian Eno's music for airports and similar works and i can definitely recommend it to ambient lovers.

a Very limited amount of these (50 copies) are available for purchase from http://ourceasingvoice.bigcartel.com. Apparently you will receive a hand made package in the shape of a 5.25" floppy disc, complete with liners, photos ,CD and more. From what I understand the packaging on its own is worth the price and it might just become a collectors item one day. So even if the music is free under creative commons, its still well worth supporting these artists (and others) with a financial donation.

The rar archive might be password protected, so please use the above password if you need to extract it.

Deef - Lebensbegleitende Musik [rec72 - 013]

2008-12-18T19:29:00.002+11:00

Album: Lebensbegleitende Musik
Artist: Deef
Label: http://rec72.net
Genre: IDM, Glitch, Downtempo, Chill
Release Date: October 2008
Download

Review:

Yip its been a long time since i have updated the blog. Indeed i have just been too busy to keep up with all the music. I am quite sad as i am sure i have missed a lot of good stuff this year. I keep all the submissions that you guys make and try and keep up as much as i can. So please keep sending them in ... I doubt i will be able to get to all of your requests, so hopefully there are no hard feelings. I hope to get back into it in the new year, so if this is my last post for the year, i just want to give all of you my best wishes for the time ahead.

I received a request for review this morning and for some reason i decided to give it a listen. I think the music just caught my mood perfectly and i found it quite moving in a sense. I cant help but get a feeling that i have missed out on soo much music.

Well, lets give this album a review shall we??

As I mentioned I was thoroughly surprised by this album. (Might be because my life is just so hectic at the moment). The smoothness and blissful ambient electronica fused with glitch, IDM and classic instruments (piano, and other orchestral sounds) has a almost serene feel to it.

This is a soulful album with a lot of heart in it. Albeit sometimes a little "out there" in composition but the rich textured sound really makes up for anything that might not be "perfect".

It might just be my mood as I mentioned, but I really think this is a superb album and well worth the download to any IDM, Chill, Trip-hop or downtempo fans.

Mark.Nine - In Memories EP [io034]

2008-04-13T09:17:00.003+10:00

Album: In Memories EP
Artist Name: Mark.Nine
Label: I/O Netlabel
Genre: Downtempo, Chillout
Release Date: 4/2008
Download
Reviewer: Ryan

Marcus Gutierrez is a talented man. He runs his own netlabel, produces a heavy output of music, and does some very nice web design and visual arts, too. All of this and he's still in high school.

As Mark.Nine, Marcus has released hours of music since 2006 on his own I/O Netlabel. Some of you may have enjoyed his last release, Artificial Horizon (April, 2007). His newest creation, In Memories, is an EP of a very similar style. The lo-fi drums, reverb-laden synths, bright, swirling chimes, and pleasantly unusual basslines are all back again for another showing - only this time, better.

>From the moment I started the opening title-track I knew I was going to have a pleasant half-hour of listening. This EP is the epitome of Mark.Nine. I could spend much more of your time discussing the minute details of this EP that astound me, but I digress. Rather, download it and see for yourself.

If you like melodic, downtempo electronica, this is for you. My only complaint is that there's not more of it!

Afristralian:
I Fully agree with Ryan's assessment, this album is (once again) a standout performance from Mark.Nine. It's VERY laid back and sometimes you lose track of the music almost like having a moment of sonic unconsciousness.

The music is really good and its recommended to all lounge and downtempo lovers.

Freezan - Sune EP [FPR018]

2008-04-06T13:00:00.002+10:00

Album: Sune EP
Artist: Freezan
Label: http://www.fresh-poulp.net/
Genre: Downtempo, IDM
Release Date: 3/27/2008
Reviewer: Ryan
Download:

Every now and then I sit down to play an album, almost without thinking about it. Only after I hear how good the music is do I really get excited about it. That was the case with Freezan's latest offering on France's Fresh Poulp Records.
The album opens up with "Sometime", an exceptionally diverse song featuring metallic drones, tinny sampled voices, and harmonic basslines, all blended with glitched beats. The next track, "Untitled" grows from a single piano part to a complex plethora of layers, all coming together to very good effect. This track has an almost psuedo-dub feel; imagine if you could take lounge music and make it grimy, yet polished.
This four-track EP is finished out with "No Name" and "Ending", two tracks which are both soothing and unsettling, because of the calming melodies and warped, scratchy sound, respectively.
I was very impressed with Freezan's EP as a whole. This young Kazakhstan native proves himself to be quite skilled in creating his relaxing brand of piano-based electronica. This EP is a must for anyone looking for a way to unwind.

New Team Member

2008-04-06T12:55:00.002+10:00

Greetings everyone!

Its been a while since the last review. We have been hunting for some more people to help out with the workload and we are very pleased to introduce Ryan to all of you. Ryan is a released netlabel artist (who's music we have reviewed too!).

His first review will follow shortly, so keep you eyes open for more!

Valek Kambala - Underground Protection

2008-01-19T16:47:00.000+11:00

Album: Underground Protection
Artist: Valek Kambala
Label: http://www.pharmacom-productions.de
Genre: Electro / breakbeat
Release Date: Jan 2008
Download

Review:
This is a two track release with the first track "keys and passwords" being a standout track. a Bit wild and noisy, but funky in other ways!

More on the way

2008-01-17T23:14:00.000+11:00

Just downloading masses of free music at the moment, but if you leave your name and number...

More reviews on the way soon! watch this space

Vate - Volt [V10]

2008-01-16T17:17:00.000+11:00

Album: Volt
Artist: Vate
Label: http://www.vate.com.mx
Genre: Electronica / IDM
Release Date: 2007
Download
Or
Torrent Via Jamendo

Review:
Aaah, the first review this year and its of an album released last year. I have a large number of recommended albums in my mailbox from last year and i will do my best to get to all of them. I will have to balance reviewing 2008 and these recommended titles from 2007.

But back to the review...

This release from Vate is really top notch stuff. I dont know if its just cause i have been out of contact for a while, but this really just hit the right note with me. The first track ("Turismo") is just really trippy and really reminds me of the "trancy" stuff from the early 90's with a 2007 overhaul. The second track ("Orient Stress"), which is also featured on the previous release from Vate, has a pulsating tribal rhythm with growling basslines set to a slamming breakbeat. Almost industrial in some aspects. These billowing basslines continue through to the next track which is also a standout track.

"Hertz" drops into a more minimal-IDM style and it slowly progresses into more distorted IDM sounds from here onward.

Overall the album is fantastic and its highly recommended. Even if its just for the first few tracks as not all of them will appeal to everyone.

Starting up

2008-01-14T20:40:00.000+11:00

Hi all,

Thanks for all the great wishes over xmas! I really appreciate it.

The blog has been quiet for a number of months and i need to catch up with all the great tunes that i have missed. I have just over 100 review requests in my mailbox and hopefully i can get to some of them soon.

I am looking to expand the writers for NLR and I am currently "recruiting" some co-writers to help with the sheer volume of the releases. Its hard for me to keep up with it all and still have time for my own music and family life.

But enough whinging for one day, Keep your eyes open there should be some reviews up soon.

All the best,
Afristralian

Interspacial - The Befores [VRB013]

2007-09-20T19:05:00.000+10:00

Album: The Befores
Artist: Interspacial
Label: www.vorbic.com
Genre: Downtempo / Chillout
Release Date: Sept 2007
Download

Review:

I was quite impressed with the album. The music is good to chill to and its good iPod food for the mornings, traveling into work. The sort of music that starts off somewhere and leaves you somewhere else. My favorite tracks are 1 & 2 ... both of them have a cohesive sense of randomness? ((a Paradox I know ... but even in the most intense chaos there is always order if you look long enough ;) ))

The style of this release is hard to put my finger on. It reminds me of something I heard many years ago, but i cannot put my finger on it. Believe it or not, i think it was something on a compilation called "Detroit Techno" from the early 90s ... Not the entire album, but just one of the tracks. Ill look it up and let you know if i find it.

But enough with the nostalgia ...

K.D. Expression - Anachromantic [es31]

2007-09-11T22:24:00.000+10:00

Album: Anachromantic
Artist: K.D. Expression
Label: http://www.electrosound.ru
Genre: Electronica / Ambient Dub / IDM
Release Date: August 2007
Download

Review:

Electrosound have been releasing some amazing albums lately and this latest one lives up to all the others. Mainly Ambient dub, but with a good blend of bleeps and blips to keep the foot almost tapping. The album varies a bit and its hard to strictly put it into a single genre. One of the tracks even touches on the land of psytrance where others hardly break the ambient barrier.

This is a fantastic album... Its got a lot of emotion and depth to it, that you don't always find in the mass of music available today. Its highly recommended to downtempo and ambient fans and is also recomeneded for those who dare to keep an open mind to musical possibilities too :)

VA - Aesthetik Label Showcase

2007-09-09T16:32:00.000+10:00

Album: Aesthetik Label Showcase
Artist: Various Artists
Label: www.aesthetik-records.com
Genre: Techno / Minimal
Release Date: 13th August 2007
Download

Review:
a fantastic release covering various forms of techno. From ambient techno, minimal and almost banging techno. The majority being in the ambient techno genre and includes one or two standout tracks from that genre. The album ends off with an ambient IDM track ... interesting stuff and a good way to end an album.

None of the tracks are weak or out of place. Its definitely a great compilation and seeing its a showcase, this netlabel must be good. This is the first review of them on netlabel review and hopefully there will be more pretty soon.

Dreza - End or Fin [kreislauf 024]

2007-09-09T16:07:00.000+10:00

Album: End or Fin
Artist: Dreza
Label: kreislauf.org
Genre: Downtempo / IDM / Ambient
Release Date: August 2007
Download

Review:

This release from Kreislauf is pretty good and was composed by Dreza (Zoltán Deák). The album is a mixture between mainly ambient but also downtempo and IDM. (I guess that would make it IDM but who knows a true definition of IDM in anycase?).

The ambient portions remind me of Pete Namlook & Clive Schultz 's Dark side of the Moog series but then swaps over into bleeps and blips of IDM (with great success i might add). The one track (metonin-met) drops into a really funky downtempo break beat.

The album goes into a IDM groove from there on with loads of electronic sounds backed up by a D&B rhythm without a kick drum beat to fill it up. Its really interesting and i recommend it to IDM fans specifically or the ambient-eers with a taste for variation.

Interview with Phasen

2007-09-04T22:06:00.000+10:00

Tonight we have a full interview with Phasen, one of the artists currently signed under the I/O Netlabel. I hope you enjoy the interview.

For the reviews and download locations of his albums, follow these links:
Phasen - Urban Nomad [io026]
Phasen - Yesterday Was Tomorrow (EP) [io023]
Phasen - On Your Way Out [io021]

Afri: Tell us a bit about yourself where are you from?

Phasen: I was born in Orlando, Florida USA in 1989.

Afri: (chuckles) Wow! Now i feel like an old fart!

Afri: I see on your bio you're a student. What and where are you studying?

Phasen: I'm currently a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Although I obviously have a passion for music, I am majoring in Journalism, and I plan on being a foreign news correspondent someday.

Afri: When did you start making music and where does your interest stem from?

Phasen: As a child I messed around on the piano in my home. Then, when I was 11 I started taking lessons for trumpet and eventually switched to baritone. At 14 I taught myself how to play the guitar, and as shown in my music, my drive has remained with that instrument since. After a few years playing alone I took lessons from Jack Stirling of the Legendary JC's. During high school I decided to start making my own music, more so out of curiosity than ambition. I immediately embraced the process of creating my own music, and being able to listen to something I made on my own later.

Afri: So, out of your own albums, which one is your personal favorite?

Phasen: My favorite album I've personally produced is my Yesterday Was Tomorrow EP. Although it's only 15 minutes, I love the sound of the album.

Afri: Thats the album you recorded in "record time" isn't it?

Phasen: Yes, I recorded those tracks in only two weeks and as a result it reflects that specific time in my life. Listening to that album takes me back to a very special segment of my life.

Afri: Name some of your Favorite artists and what have you currently got playing on your iPod?

Phasen: Three of my favorite aritsts are Boards of Canada, Aphex Twin, and Black Moth Super Rainbow. I have a rather eclectic taste however, and Lil' Wayne is currently playing on my iPod.

Afri: Yeah, it always good to keep an open mind with music... So do you have any highly regarded "net audio" artists?

Phasen: As far as the net audio scene goes, I love Mark.Nine, Orange Crush, and Austech. Those fellows are a big influence on my music. I often listen to such artists, hear something I like, and then try to recreate it. Every time I inevitably fail, but the result is then something original. A lot of my music is trying to recreate something, and messing up, causing something else I really like.

Afri: What is your opinion on Netlabels and where do you see it going in future?

Phasen: I think netlabels are a great way for people to discover new artists and genres that would otherwise go unnoticed. The fact that a large majority of netlabel music is free also encourages people to take a listen.

Afri: Was there any benefit to releasing under a Netlabel, as opposed to releasing independent?

Phasen: Being associated with I/O Netlabel garnered not only attention and exposure, but a plethora of downloads and opportunities. Just knowing that people listen to my music and enjoy it, relax to it, and share it with friends’ blows my mind. It puts a smile on my face to think that I can make at least one person's day a little more enjoyable every now and then. That's why I make music.

Afri: So now to the lame questions ...

Afri: If you could meet one person who would it be and why?

Phasen: I'm going to have to cheat on this question. I'd like to meet two people at once-Marcus and Michael Sandison-the sibling duo that is Boards of Canada. They are the two people who initially sparked my interest in electronic and experimental music. Their music never gets old to me; each new listen reveals something new I didn't notice before. It's that balance of simplicity and complexity that I strive to form when I make music. I feel they are pioneers of a new genre, and are responsible for influencing a multitude of artists - including myself - a great deal.

Afri: If there was one thing you could change about the world, what would it be?

Phasen: (laughs) Well I suppose that's not a very realistic question?

Afri: True but it might tell us a little more about you …

Phasen: I guess it wouldn't hurt to have all humans be more open-minded, more accepting, and more respectful of others. Things we don't understand scare us. I feel as though a lot of the world's problems would be solved if humans of different backgrounds took some time to put each other in other's shoes. See the world in the eye of our neighbour, without being too quick to judge.

Afri: Phasen thanks for your time. I wish you all the best and hopefully we will see another release from you in the not too distant future!

Phasen: Thanks to you as well and I can assure you a new release is very close.

Singing Crane - The Rising

2007-09-04T21:25:00.000+10:00

Album: The Rising
Artist: Singing Crane
Label: Singing Crane Productions
Genre: Electronica
Release Date:
Download

Review:

This album contains a fantastic blend of ambient, trip hop and other styles. Its really well produced and has some very interesting moments throughout. Some of the tracks make me think of names like DJ Shadow & Amon Tobin (although a bit lighter than Tobin).

Its really a gorgeous final result when the mood swings from ambient to trip-hop / breakbeat and back again. The 3rd track "Threatened", gets a distorted edge to it which creates a paradox with the rest of the track's mellow instruments. The 4th track "Steady Climb", has a EMB style synth-line that gives the track a much more "Edged" feel (think Covenant / VNV Nation - [with no vocals]).

Overall the album gets two thumbs up from me and is getting stored in my "to keep" folder for general enjoyment whenever I need some beautiful music. The blending of styles make it hard to classify into a single genre, so file this under "E" for Electronica.

Note: This is an album that is released independently by Singing Crane Studios. So its not strictly published under the same copyrights as most of our other reviews [[see the included readme.txt file for details]].

The guys are happy to share this music with you, so if you like it ... drop them an email and let them know what you think.

Ambient Selection

2007-09-03T21:34:00.000+10:00

Tonight I've assembled a grouping of some of my favorite Ambient & Chill tracks that I've had the privilege to review on the blog.

Shouts go out to these artists and labels.

Juno 6 - 100 (from the album Queue on 1-Bit Wonder)
Juno 6 - Seecond (from the album Queue on 1-Bit Wonder)
Juno 6 - Kind 14 (from the album Lipsia on Hippocamp)
Loafeye - Drinking Rosewater (From the album drinking rosewater on Archaic Horizon Records)
Endorphin - Reset (From the album Red EP on Bumpfoot)
Aquarell - Reminder (From the album lateral position on Kreislauf)
Modul - Sum.Yellow: Complete (From the album Cutting Edge on Electrosound)
Modul - Win.Blue: Tea 22 (From the album Cutting Edge on Electrosound)
SM - Ekaterinburg : EM (From the album A Place to Live on Electrosound)
Modul - Krasnodar: Aurora (From the album A Place to Live on Electrosound)

I really have a lot of respect for all these and other artists out there who publish their music on a free to share license. I really wish them all the best and hope that they all achieve their individual goals. It must be difficult to work so hard on an album just to give it away.

These are just a small group of my favorite's and if i had more time i would mention about 10 times as much. Ill see if i can set up a list every so often, just to highlight some of the best tracks out there ... well, in my opinion in any case.

To all the artists and labels out there ... thanks for all your hard work and efforts.

You guys rock.

I've updated this ... all the links are in place now :)