CTRL - Lost In Signal
"Lost In Static" not only makes you smile, it also grows on you and it's a keeper, having a song for almost every mood. A very solid and engaging piece of songwriting talent and accomplished musicianship, it certainly has potential to be one of the most played albums in 2009.
Read more

Bella Lune - Abstracted Visions
Pleasant and quirky as it may be when one begins to listen to it, halfway through chances are that the listener will get a nagging feeling of déjà vu. And here lies the main problem with this release, a definite lack of variety - something which might not be such an issue if this had been released as an EP.
Read more

Connect_icut - They Showed Me The Secret Beaches
Over the course of his several releases Macklin has developed his own sound, utilizing instruments processed through Max/MSP. He has become adept at making the electronic sound and feel very organic which is why, in a world of plastic-sounding computer music, this is something very refreshing to listen to.
Read more

Flatline Skyline - All Sound / No Vision
A multifaceted album that confronts listeners with pop tendencies, taking inspiration from the sharp beats, brimming bass and lyrical delivery of indie rock's more electronic leanings, and similarly finds substance with a blended new wave versus old industrial feel. Flatline Skyline overall benefits from its oddly familiar genre-bending forms and passionate articulation.
Read more

Rubik - Carrion EP
"Brevity is the soul of wit" is a saying that also applies to small bite-sized releases like this limited edition three-track 12" by the relatively obscure London-based artist Rubik. "Carrion EP" is one of those things that have a touch of the unexpected, hinting at a lot of potential and quite a few ideas, but pretty much stopping short of giving away the artist's failings.
Read more

UberByte - Dos
"Dos" may not be clever, it may not be original and it may not be the best production quality available in an oversaturated genre, but it is fun. This is musical entertainment for those of a darker bent, but not too dark to preclude having a sense of humour.
Read more

Kreuzer / Surma - Viltis
As far as dark ambient music goes, "Viltis" is perhaps one of the most exciting and stirring releases in recent times, despite the relative freshness of the two talented producers it showcases.
Read more

Orchestramaxfieldparrish presents ÆRA - To the Last Man / Index of Dreaming
Themed around memories and dreams respectively, this double pick up on themes from Fazio's Orchestramaxfieldparrish neo-classical ambient project, with an emphasis on the droning, textural electronic elements of his music; both discs exhibiting short spells of more immediacy and anxiety, appropriate for the differing moods and emotions that can be associated with memories or dreams alike.
Read more

Totakeke - The Things That Disappear When I Close My Eyes
The most (guilt-free) enjoyable aspect of this album is its use of dissonance (whether intentional or not) and of atonal arpeggios. At its stronger moments "The Things That Disappear When I Close My Eyes" has a slight Anton Webern feel to it.
Read more