Identical Testicle - Galaxy Cross (2012)

"Smoking the best weed, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, hasn't slowed down Beno and Rejoicer a bit - they fire up beats by the minute. One would think that making so many beats in such a short period of time results in a monotonous plethora but on the contrary - many different styles, different BPMs, using many tools of trade such as Moog, African and Swiss percussion, guitars and bass guitars, Ableton Live, Harps, all sorts of old and obscure synthesizers - just to name a few!"

- Alessandro

Onra - Chinoiseries (2007)

"Onra is a French hip-hop beatmaker based in Paris, with Vietnamese ancestory. In 2006, he went on a trip to Vietnam for the first time, and collected 30~ vintage pop vinyls of Vietnames and Chinese origin from flea markets, in poor condition, which he went on to use to construct this album. Chinoiseries is an extremely rich sounding instrumental hip hop album composed of 32 sketches from these vinyls, released in 2007."

Sample: "The Vallee of Love"

- Alessandro

Steel Train - s/t (2010)

Featuring Jack Antonof (otherwise known as 1/3 of indie pop band fun.), Steel Train creates some pretty high energy youthful anthems bursting with both freedom and anxiety, such as "Touch Me Bad," a manic ode to obsessive compulsive disorder. Overall a fantastic addition to any summertime roadtrip playlists of the gayest variety.

Sample: "Bullet"

- Jake

Neutral Bling Hotel - In My G4 Over Da Sea (2012)

Neutral Bling Hotel was an American /mu/core formed in the early 1990's by singer, guitarist, songwriter and notorious gangster Lil' Jeff Swagnum, known by his stage name, Mashed Potato. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and dope beats.
(Neutral Milk Hotel's ITAOTS/Hip-Hop mashup by Psycosis. EXTREMELY WELL DONE GO GET IT.)

Sample: "Oh Dougie"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro

Magical Mistakes - Special Friends EP (2012)

Magical Mistakes is an American electronic artist residing in Japan. Living in a small village in the mountains somewhere in Japan, he's found inspiration and time to further explore production. "Special Friends EP" is a taste of what he's been working on from that inspiration. It consists of six magical electronic tunes that are really worth checking out. You can download it for free on Magical Mistakes' bandcamp, or you can buy one of the 50 CD-Rs that comes with a box of Japanese chocolates and a 'Thank you!' note for 12 U.S. dollars.

Sample: "Lady Lazarus:Via Elysian Fields (Magical Mistakes remix)"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro

Ackryte - Shades (2012)

"Shades" is a collection of Ackryte's favourite tunes that he's created over the past few years, as well as some new material that hasn't been heard before. The album serves as a lead-up to his debut album that'll be released later this year, a chance for you to become more acquainted with Ackryte's work. Ackryte creates relaxing electronic beats that almost sound like hip-hop instrumentals, with jazz/soul/funk samples. Great stuff to actually listen to as well as to have it sort of in the background. Whether that be for browsing, working or whatever you do in your free time. And it's free!

Sample: "Come Naturally"
Download
Bandcamp


- Alessandro

Hail Mary Mallon - Are You Gonna Eat That? (2011)

Hail Mary Mallon consists of Aesop Rock, Rob Sonic and DJ Big Wiz. Aesop and Rob Sonic have a great chemistry going when put together and never have disappointed before this project. When they and DJ Big Wiz got together for their very own project, it wasn't a disappointment either. Amazing lyrics, a lovely combination between Aesop and Rob Sonic's flow and the raw beats that DJ Big Wiz provides the two with, makes for an album that can not be missed in your hip-hop collection!

Sample: "Garfield"

- Alessandro

Grieves - 88 Keys & Counting (2008)

Grieves is a rapper from Seattle that mainly raps in poetic ways about the problems, depression and other things that he's experienced in his life with some singing here and there. The great lyrics he writes and brings with such amazing delivery is heavily complimented by the wonderful piano-based beats produced by his good friend Budo. A hip-hop masterpiece that is way too much slept on.

Sample: "Kings"

- Alessandro

Reptar - Body Faucet (2012)

Hectic, fun indie pop-rock with some wild synths and a permeating beachy feel to it all. Perfect for the summer! Or even the winter, for you southern hemispherers...

Sample: "Natural Bridges"

- Jake

Sleepmakeswaves - In Today Already Walks Tomorrow (2008)

This, dear readers, is one of my personal favourite albums of all-time. It's a musical journey through your own thoughts and feelings. Your own emotions. You'll be confronted with them all throughout this album and you'll make peace with them for as long as you'll allow it. It's got an amazing atmosphere, one that'll make you dream your problems away. The entire world doesn't exist and doesn't matter anymore from beginning to end. Please, allow yourself to let time stand still for about 40 minutes and download this to find your own self.
You're welcome.

Sample: "I Will Write Peace On Your Wings And You Will Fly Over The World"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro

Tortoise - It's All Around You (2004)

I don't know anything about this band and don't even know how this ended up in my music library, but I decided to listen to it and was blown away. The album begins with a jazz-ish tune and some hints of post-rock, and then just blasts into this incredible landscape-like post-rock/jazz journey. It's really, really well done and a huge pleasure to the ears. One of those albums that completely lives up to their cover. Great stuff!

Sample: "Salt The Skies"

- Alessandro

mewithoutYou - Ten Stories (2012)

Probably my all-time favorite band, mewithoutYou's latest album Ten Stories signifies some interesting changes for the band. Foremost, a step away from their former label Tooth & Nail records and releasing this album independently, as well as another departure in sound. 2009's It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream It's Alright may have been a major curveball for fans not expecting the folk-as-fuck direction the band took, but it was definitely a necessary measure: they've returned to the sound they developed through Catch for Us the Foxes and the triumphant Brother, Sister (sorry, A to B fans, if you're looking for the harsh post-hardcore of their debut), but now utilize the lyrical themes and vocal melodies played with on It's All Crazy. Such is demonstrated on opener "February 1878" , while new styles are explored on "Cardiff Giant" which may very well be the happiest song they have ever recorded. Whatever the sound may be, however, Aaron Weiss' songwriting is as strong as ever, telling the story of a trainwreck, releasing circus animals into the wilderness and using these characters as a means of telling introspective parables relating to Weiss' own personal struggles.

The end result is the perfect culmination of how the band has grown for over the past ten years together serving as both a flawless testimony to their music and also the most accessible album they have ever made. Definitely one for newcomers to try out and figure out what parts they liked and where that should take them next in their rich discography. As mentioned before, this is the band's foray into independently releasing music, so I cannot recommend enough that--if you liked the samples or love the band--by all means, support mewithoutYou by purchasing Ten Stories if you can.

Sample: "Fox's Dream of the Log Flume"

- Jake

Shakira - MTV Unplugged (2000)

Marking her crossover to American audiences, pre-Laundry Service, Shakira's MTV Unplugged performance is full of delightful twists, like a full-blown mariachi rendition of her single "Ciega, Sordomuda" or a kicked-up version of "Estoy Aquí" complete with note-sustaining caterwaul. Definitely a must have for fans of the singer, and a standing testimony to late 90s pop-rock

Sample: "Si Te Vas"

- Jake

radex - trip beats (2012)

Radex is a trip-hop/electronic/broken beat producer and "trip beats" is his latest project. The free album consists of exactly what the title implies: trip beats. Boy, these beats are trippy. Sounds like acid-influenced noises with some great sampling and trip-hop/electronic elements to it. With a beat underneath everything to make it catchy despite its weirdness, this album hits like a bomb and makes its stand in the music world, though its voice might not be as loud as it deserves to be. So go get it!

Sample: "trip the beat"

Download

Bandcamp

- Alessandro

Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light (2009)

Dreampop to the extreme. "Still Night, Still Light" by Au Revoir Simone consists of addicting tunes with dreamy sounds and a female voice that sucks you into an entirely different world, singing well-thought lyrics so you can listen to the album passively or actively and be impressed in both ways. Lots of variation throughout the album but doesn't change its pace in a way that it'll bother you. Relaxing as hell.

Sample: "Another Likely Story"

- Alessandro

Björk - Vespertine (2001)

Vespertine is arguably the best album she's released. It's filled with quiet, magical instruments and eargasmic vocals that is mostly whisper-like. It's an electronic downtempo pop-ish album with an experimental tint and a winter-like atmosphere that goes really personal at times. Really unique stuff and I've never heard anything quite like it. The only way to really describe this album is "Björk-ish", so really, just go get it. Your life might or might not change forever and ever and ever and ever.

Sample: "Aurora"

- Alessandro

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - Classic ABBA (1981)

ABBA songs done by an orchestra. Absolutely beautiful, rich renditions of pop classics, even if you're not so keen on the group themselves. Check it.

Sample: "Gimme Gimme Gimme, Summer Night City"

- Jake

Pleq - The Metamorphosis (2009)

The past two nights have been incredible for me. When I laid down in bed I decided to get out my mp3-player and go through the "ambient" category and just click on something I haven't heard before. Pleq came out. Both nights I went to sleep after listening to this in bed and dreamt about childhood memories I totally forgot about and never dreamt of before. This music is so extremely peaceful and relaxing. I guarantee it'll put you in a good, worryless mood in no-time. Amazing stuff to think or relax to and a recommendation to just about anybody.

Sample: "Metamorphosis Pt.1"

- Alessandro

Kool G Rap - 4,5,6 (1995)

"4,5,6" isn't hip-hop legend/pioneer of hardcore hip-hop Kool G Rap's most critically acclaimed album, but was a big inspiration to fellow rappers and also well-received by underground hip-hop lovers. Kool G Rap's flow and lyrics are extremely on point and the beats are great, with  features of MF Grimm and Nas. The album is dark and grimy with an old-school feel to it that every hip-hop fan should have in their collection and everyone that wants to get into hip-hop should have listened to. One of my favourite hip-hop gems. Great album, go get it.

Sample: "It's A Shame"

- Alessandro

The Act of Estimating as Worthless - Amongst These Splintered Minds​/​/​Leaden Thoughts Sing Softly (2012)

I'm not a fan of their bandname or the albumname at all, as I personally find it way too pretentious. And it's not even post-rock! Decided to give it a try anyhow and I did not regret it at all. This album has a folksy, harmonic, relaxed and quiet sound to it with meaningful, heart-breaking lyrics that are sung by two soft voices that blend in with the music just fine. One male vocalist. One female vocalist. Amazing stuff, and free on their bandcamp with an option to donate!

Sample: "Bones"
Download
Bandcamp

- Alessandro