Music has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember but I didn’t start seriously listening until I started middle school. Seemingly all at once, I became intensely aware of who I was, how I acted, and most importantly what I listened to. For whatever reason, I was vehemently…

~ fleeting moments ~ is the latest project from DESKPOP, whose creativity shines on compilations like these. To see what I mean, check out DESKTAPE, Summer Solstice (with Galaxy Swim Team), and most recently, CURSED TOGETHER (with Fright House). DESKPOP’s formula works for a couple of reasons. Artists that release EPs and albums  on the…

A couple of weeks ago, I threw together a chart of my top 50 albums. For the most part, they’re in no particular order aside from being lumped together as “Top 4,” “Second-tier classics,” and “Other favorites.” I admittedly had some difficulty compiling this list; the more I dug through my iTunes and Spotify libraries,…

Jan Jelinek and Masayoshi Fujita first worked together in 2010. Since then, they have performed a number of live electro-acoustic shows across the globe. Jelinek and Fujita’s music is almost entirely improvised. Fujita’s setup consists of a vibraphone prepared with various percussion instruments, objects, and toys; Jelinek works entirely with electronics, tinkering with analog synthesizers…

I first heard That Andy Guy on “A Leisurely Stroll,” the opening track to last year’s DESKTAPE and have been excitedly waiting for more material ever since. That track now finds itself neatly woven into his latest project, Oh No, Not That Andy Guy. Oh No comes from DESKPOP, a distinctly unique label that focuses on…

“But I’m disturbed! I’m depressed! I’m inadequate! I’ve got it all!” – George Costanza, Seinfeld Costanza and The Jerk Store are the first two installments in Costanza’s discography and are among the first releases to come out of the Chicago-based Bandcamp label Apartment 5A, aptly named after Jerry Seinfeld’s place of residence on Seinfeld. Costanza’s…

Albums shared by multiple artists face challenges unique to the format of their work. The artists are often expected to have distinct compositional styles while also sharing enough common ground to justify the two being together. buranko dodges the aforementioned obstacles with ease. The first chunk of the album consists of +you’s material, music that’s grounded…

Packaged in a shroud of existential dread, SHARK 3 ネットフリックスとチル is the third full-length installment from G A M E S H A R K™, the recording name for Norwegian producer Echo H. Though previous releases have been categorized as vaporwave, SHARK 3 treads in the territory of self-described “existential IDM.” Echo’s music combines live…

For many emerging artists, a common practice in making albums is to start out with one that is self-titled. Eponymous releases often aim to define an artist’s stylistic tendencies as well as their public image. This way, the music becomes about the artist themselves and allows them to safely experiment without the pressure of trying…

Time Planet is the eponymous debut album from a group of young musicians from New England. The quintet features Alex Quinn on trumpet, Hunter McKay on saxophone and bass clarinet, Alex Han on keyboards, Jason Emmond on bass, and Evan Kesel on drums. One important factoid to note is how young the group is. Everyone…