Thursday, 28 February 2008

shoosh reviews

 




Shoosh, the trio of Ed
Drury, Neil Carlill and Craig Murphy, have a different approach to their
music. More guitar-based than Cheju, Shoosh features a love-it-or-hate-it
vocal style. Their track “Elastic Soil” is predominantly guitar-based but
also features some soaring electronic textures underneath it all. Their
second track, “Come in from the Cold,” is weirder still vocally and
features shimmering electronic swirls and acoustic guitar. The first of
their tracks sounds like Bowie meets Genesis P Orridge while the second is
more like Dylan; both sound like drug-addled psychedelic folk - uniquely
blissed out weird psychedelic folk excursions.



Igloomag




Shoosh are a different proposition altogether, combining the talents of
Craig Murphy (synths, programming), multi-instrumentalist Ed Drury and
former Delicatessen frontman Neil Carlill, who provides rather unique
vocals. A starlit chime introduces “Elastic Soil” but will not prepare the
listener for the intergalactic journey they are about to embark on.
Murphy’s spectral drones provide the template for Drury to weave a
beautiful Spanish guitar arrangement atop, while Carlill delivers his
indecipherable yet strangely alluring vocals. Spell-bindingly inventive,
shoosh construct an exclusive brand of ambient, space-folk.


Reverb Mag


Shoosh’s ghostly alluring ‘elastic soil’ is an off centred though
numbingly beautiful work of ethereal psych-ambi-folk, pining celestial
sheens, crooked and dust ridden stumbling acoustic flamenco strums serve
as deliciously spectral montages underpinning the ether driven wandering
vocal mantras - all at once hazy and disquieting though magically
omnipresent the individual parts coalesce and caress like heavenly
apparitions weaving in and out of view imagining Animal Collective centre
stage in a celestial gunfight setting amid supernatural serenades sourced
from Neil Young’s ‘eldorado’.


Losing Today


While other shoosh compositions come across like a space-age version of
Pink Floyd, “Elastic Soil” finds them exploring a different plain
altogether. Carlill’s vocals immediately pique the interest with its
multi-tracked and warped out of shape tone. These are cushioned by a
galaxy of spectral drones and superb Spanish guitar work to create this
highly inventive piece of music.


Angry
Ape



Of more interest, I thought, was the music of Shoosh, a three piece
group of Ed Drury (guitars), Neil Carlill (vocals and lyrics) and Craig
Murphy (synth, programming). In 'Elastic Soil' they sound like an
electronic version of Current 93, with a strong similarity in the vocal
region. In 'Come In From The Cold' things turn even more down and moody,
with sparse electronics, ending in total ambiance.


Vital Weekly


The guitars are Iberian and the wooze is warm and writhes like animated
spaghetti. It's quite a nifty little late night stoner track, phased vox n
all, would be very much at home on any number of old Tyrannosaurus Rex
albums. IS IT ANY GOOD? Yeah, it wont be featured on a chart show near
you, but that's not the point, is it?


Unpeeled


 

Ambidextrous Records

Ambidextrous Records is a small label, focusing on the digital download market and short run CDs who possess a strong DIY ethic. All of our artists are responsible for their own releases in every respect, from promotion to manufacture and everything in between. In return they will benefit from having their music released through a traditional and recognised channel. More importantly, they will also receive all money from sales and learn about the business side of releasing music at the same time. We are here only as a focal point for their releases and as a platform that enables them to get their music out. All of our releases are available as 192kbps MP3s and you can choose to buy our digital releases safely and securely from Paypal, or download them for free. It's really your choice!



Friday, 22 February 2008

Igloomag Review

Igloomag

"...Cheju produces two crunchy melodic electronic tracks while Shoosh offer uniquely blissed out weird psychedelic folk excursions..."

Paul Lloyd, Contributing Editor

(02.22.08) After a lengthy hiatus, UK-based label Awkward Silence makes a welcome return to the electronic music scene. Having previously released a series of acclaimed split 7” singles featuring artists such as Arovane, Lowfish, Skanfrom, Sybarite, Bauri, Novel 23, The Marcia Blaine School for Girls, Maps and Diagrams and Isan to name just a few, the label resumes activities with split single from Cheju and newcomers Shoosh. Limited to just 300 copies, the single comes housed in a sleek little m-lock CD case complete with its familiar black and white Awkward Silence styled artwork. Picking up where they left off, the label continue their ongoing series on limited edition 3” CDr's which allow them to include up to 21 minutes of music with each split release. They have also introduced a digital format.

Cheju is UK-based electronic musician and producer Wil Bolton who co-owns respected electronic music label Boltfish Recordings. A prolific artist in his own right, Bolton has EP, album and digital releases for labels including Smallfish, Rednetic Recordings, Static Caravan, Boltfish, October Man Recordings, Kahvi and Camomille (to name just a few) and also has collaborative projects with Mint and Zainetica. For his two tracks on this release he sticks to what he knows and does best; melodic electronic music. The first of Bolton’s tracks, “Moody Copy,” is a melodic flowing track with gently cascading guitar, discrete little reversed effects and crunchy, slightly metallic beats. His second contribution, “Drogo,” is again resplendent with smooth flowing texture, harpsichord-like melodies and precise snappy beats. Of the two tracks, “Drogo” is the darker and more reflective but by no means melancholic.

Shoosh, the trio of Ed Drury, Neil Carlill and Craig Murphy, have a different approach to their music. More guitar-based than Cheju, Shoosh features a love-it-or-hate-it vocal style. Their track “Elastic Soil” is predominantly guitar-based but also features some soaring electronic textures underneath it all. Their second track, “Come in from the Cold,” is weirder still vocally and features shimmering electronic swirls and acoustic guitar. The first of their tracks sounds like Bowie meets Genesis P Orridge while the second is more like Dylan; both sound like drug-addled psychedelic folk.

Awkward Silence’s return produces two distinctly different tracks; Cheju produces two crunchy melodic electronic tracks while Shoosh offer uniquely blissed out weird psychedelic folk excursions. It is good to see that Awkward Silence are willing to experiment with pushing boundaries and introducing something a bit out of the ordinary to listening public. Look out for more releases from the label in coming months, who knows what they will come up with next!

Friday, 15 February 2008

Sonic Frontiers Compilation

Sonic Frontiers

Sonic Frontiers
Volume 2: Reveries



Download

Released: February 15, 2008

Volume 2: Reveries marks the second installment in the Sonic Frontiers compilation series, and is quite a departure from the heavily agressive and brutal tendencies featured on Volume 1. This release instead serves as a reclusive yet introspective sibling to its predecessor, lulling the listener into an other-worldly sonic experience. Compiled as a two-disc set, the first disc features an extraordinarily diverse lineup of artists from the many facets of instrumental rock, shoegaze, downtempo electronica, and everything in between, while the second disc provides a reflective exploration into the world of minimal ambient soundscapes. Just hit PLAY and lose yourself admidst some of the world's newest and most creative sounds.

Tracklist

DISC ONE
1. Beautiful Lunar Landscape - "Eternal Beginning"

2. This Will Destroy You - "Threads"

3. Monsters Build Mean Robots - "Chimes Break Through Light To Reach Us"

4. phon°noir - "invisible at last"

5. Soulwire - "Refractions of Yesterday"

6. Plutonium Jukebox - "Eolomea"

7. This Specific Dream - "A Slight Intermission"

8. Jumpel - "Rainday"

9. I Am David Sparkle - "All There Is To It"

10. EARTH - "Omens and Portents I: The Driver"

11. The Allstar Project - "Lasers Through Monkeys"

12. Holoscene - "Sleeping in Fields"


DISC TWO
1. EL Heath - "Cloud Sculptures"

2. Weird Fields - "Distant Star"

3. Parhelion - "Midnight Sun"

4. Stray Ghost - "Flight"

5. Slow Dancing Society - "Never Ending"

6. GP~00 - "All The Little Remnants..."

The songs included in this compilation are distributed under expressed consent from their respective owners. Reproduction and redistribution of these tracks without adhering to each artist's and record label's respective copyright policies is prohibited.

Monday, 4 February 2008

Ambidextrous Records

Hello,

Ambidextrous Records is a new venture set up by Craig Murphy & Chris Weeks, to showcase their multimedia projects including music, film and graphic arts.

The music previewed on the site is either available as free download, or Hi-Fi streaming from Last FM. The albums or tracks that are clips only, are currently licensed elsewhere.

Vist the music section to grab some free albums.

cheers
craig