The EP begins with ‘we’ve never met but, can we have a coffee or something’ a track which opens with some layered piano and delicate water sounds before the introduction of looped vocals and percussion. As far as this kind of music goes, it’s definitely on the blissful, serene end of the scale.

‘flowers’ again pairs subtle piano with beats, the vocals this time provided by nori, while ‘sorry for not answering the phone, i’m too busy trying to fly away’ samples all kinds of sounds, gentle birdsong and the tinkle of coins and undistinguishable hums and whirs. It feels part organic and part not, as if a whole load of natural things have been gathered up and cobbled together to make a coherent pattern, the rhythms of nature mimicking the mechanical, electronic elements. Finally, ‘we were friends’ brings everything together, little crackles and pops like steady rainfall on a porch awning, effect-distorted vocal loops, elastic synths and a beat underneath it all.

let’s go is available on cassette (shipping in May), or as a name-your-price download, from the Z Tapes Bandcamp page.

Cover art by Snnn

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[Disclaimer: I say this every year, but only because it’s important] Thanks to the generosity of these wonderful artists and indie labels, you can get all of these releases for free if you wish, but there is often the option to make a financial donation. For those of you that can afford it, a few pounds/dollars to reward all the hard work that goes into making a record seems like a fair deal. Plus, it really is a win-win situation as most of these independent bands put the funds they raise towards touring or making new music. So if you like an artist’s music, give a little something and they’ll make even more music for you to listen to, or even come to your town/city and play it for you in person.

That said, we know times are tough and albums many. Remember, money isn’t the only way to reward someone. If you like an artist and can’t afford to give them some money, why not write to them? Send an email or a tweet or whatever you can to say that what they’re doing makes you happy or sad (in a good way) and thank them very much for being so lovely/amazing. Better yet, spread the word too. Tell family and friends and strangers about them. It doesn’t take five minutes to write a nice message or share an album and you can really make someone’s day. Remember it feels really good to make someone else feel good – kindness makes the world go round after all.

We will be posting part of the list each day this week. As in previous editions, the music has been alphabetized by artist. In an attempt to reduce loading times and technical issues, we have decide against embedding a track from each release. But fear not, each post will include an 8tracks mixtape with a song from each artist, so all you need to do is press play and see what takes your fancy.

If you are an artist who makes great free music, or fan of an artist who you think should be included, why not get in touch? Perhaps we will decide to feature your music in the new year.

Part one – A – D
Part two – E – H
Part three – I – M
Part four – N – R
Part five – S – Z

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Vision in Furs continues in the same vein of chill, ambient electronics and hazy beats. Bozella uses a lush cacophony of synths, guitar loops and instrumental samples to create a swirling, slightly mysterious, sound. Some of it sounds like the It also has this faraway, nostalgic feel which I really like a lot. It sounds like dance music shot on slo-mo, soaked in euphoric reverb. If that’s not clear, the album covers and press shots are a pretty good visual summary. If you like your ambient music with a hint of hip hop, some smart electronics, all shot through with shimmering psychedelica, then this is an album for you.

You can get Vision in Furs on a pay-what-you-want basis over at Bandcamp.

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Intro/Extra is the project’s first release and so a chance for Zarola to set out his stall, to lay down his themes and ideas for the project. He says that Gatsby’s Estate represents the “contact between grandeur and the subtle, social and recluse”. The aim of the project is to present the “decade of excess through a shadowed lens”. Such contradictions are at the forefront of the EP. Why is it, at a time of great material excess and moral freedom, that everyone feels so lonely? Obviously this is where the project’s name comes in. For all the pomp and splendour of Jay Gatsby’s lifestyle, for all the beautiful people who attend his famous parties, he is ultimately unhappy and alone.

You can download the EP via the Gatsby’s Estate bandcamp page, for however much you feel like giving.

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The act is comprised of a duo from Milwaukee, so while that is the location I should be relaying to you, it hardly does justice to the diversity of places that have influenced the album in question. Night Singers was written and recorded when the duo were separated, with Eric Osterman relocating to Brooklyn and Ryan Weber with the Peace Corps in Kenya. The whole thing was put together thanks to the internet, a solid symbol of our advancements in the information age.

The reason I’m telling you all this is that I have a tendency to blank out when listening to shoegaze/electro-pop, the ebb and flow of the music having some sort of hypnotic influence that means, while enjoying it, I sometimes fail to appreciate exactly what is happening. It’s almost another meaning for the dream pop label, the passing of an album in an agreeable but hazy period that doesn’t stick in the memory for too long afterwards. However this time, armed with the curiosity spawned by the unconventional writing and recording process, I made an effort to really listen, and I found a great little album waiting to be heard.

Night Singers is an amalgamation of styles carefully knitted together with the familiar reverb-heavy vocals that featured on their previous release All Those I Know (which we featured here). Opening track ‘What I Say’ is reminiscent of M83, with glimmering electronic sounds framed with cascading drums to create a sprawling epic pop song. ‘Psycho’ is similarly large, with a quick tempo and crescendos around every corner. Others, like ‘Épingles et Aiguilles’ and ‘We’re The Ghosts’, are much slower and restrained, the electronics glittering behind soft vocals like dust in evening light.

Poor metaphors aside, the effect is a superb album. There are a number of feelgood pop songs that should satisfy those looking for that summer single, but those that listen to the entire LP in order are rewarded with something that stretches in a number of different directions, a cycling of speeds or focus that make the album like one long shoegaze hit, complete with hushed lulls and screaming crescendos.

Night Singers is out on the 23rd July on Perfect From Now On and you can buy it here. If you are impatient you can stream it now thanks to AllMusic.

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Opening track ’願望’ (which Google translate informs me is Japanese for ‘Desire’) is the perfect introduction, with chillwave-y atmospherics and some rather catchy beats.

‘Yumii (It’s Now)’ comprises of some nice guitar work over breathy vocal samples (and even some birdsong), before having this weird wobble at the end and getting all surreal and dreamy. ‘Fashion House’ opens with tropical beats before warm and languid guitar stroll in on top. The word “chill” comes to mind.

The entire album comes in at just 15 minutes so it certainly does not outstay its welcome. In fact I found myself wishing for more, which is always a good thing.

Slow House Virtual is available for free download over at Bandcamp. If you’re a fan of Rem’s Floating Chandelier, or of experimental, dreamy electronic music in general, then I highly suggest you check this out.

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“I know chillwave is a dead horse; people are already sick and tired of talking about the merit of the genre, and whether it will last and all that. With that being said, I know what these tracks are, and I know what label or genre they’d fall under. But when I listen to these tracks, I hear my friends: I hear Persona La Ave and Blackbird Blackbird; I hear Memoryhouse and Aidan Knight. I hear my influences: I hear J Dilla and Madlib; I hear Baths and Star Slinger. So call it chillwave, call it beat-hop, call it whatever. Just think about what, and who, you hear when you listen to it.”

It’s available for free over on the Cultus Vibes Bandcamp page.

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