Zomby

The first time I herd Zomby's song 'helter skelter' it struck me as a cross between an early nes game and a 70s horror flick. Throughout the song I heard a strong ominous undertone, with strong intermittent electronic beats, which for what ever reason caught my ear.

Sleep Thieves

Straight off of Sleep Thieves debut EP It Was Only a Satellite, Osumi combines electronic-pop with infectious guitar progression into a song I'm really appreciating.

High Voltage Humans

High Voltage Humans is an electronic duo hailing from Munich, Germany. Their songs are marked by extremely energetic synth beats, which I've found extremely alluring, causing a very strong thirst to develop.

BLK JKS

BLK JKS is a South African noise rock band who has recently signed with Secretly Canadian. Riding on their recently remaster Mystery EP BLK JKS are currently recording their full length debut album, After Robots, which I am eagerly anticipating.

Wolf Gang

Wolf Gang is the conception of multi-instrumentalist Max McElligott. They're only release, Night Flying, is quickly becoming my favorite pop song of the year and I look forward to their single, which comes out sometime in June.

Liquid Vega

I've come across an absolutely mesmerizing song, Liquid Vega's Black Thunder.  The overall ambience created by the instrumentation is drawn out by the chilling, but eerily soothing vocals.  I eagerly await any future releases, and urge people to check them out.

Note: Click on the title to listen to the track.

Death In Donut Plains

Death in Donut Plains is Enrico Boccioletti's solo project.  I've been listening to his latest EP (click on the title of the post to be re-directed to his website where a free download awaits you) and so far I'm enjoying it a lot.  If you are a fan of electronic music and don't mind spending 5 minutes to download a free EP I'd recomend checking him out.

P.S. Bonus points for anyone who posts what the band's name is referring to.

Things That Piss Me Off: A Fantastic New Series

First off, a little housekeeping, as indicated by the title I'm starting a new series of blog posts entitled "Things That Piss Me Off". Essentially any time something pisses me off to some imaginary point I'll make an entry about it. For the most part this will include very insignificant subject matter, but we'll see where it goes.

A few hours ago I came back from my morning classes to find an unopened email. Now, in order to link songs to posts, I use a site called Box.net, and in short, the email was from their staff concerning a song I had uploaded a few weeks ago and infringement on a previously-held copyright. They informed me that the song I had uploaded received a complaint, which resulted in the file being deleted and a warning that any future infractions would involve the termination of my service.

I understand the reason and I fully understand their response, however I do not understand why box.net was contacted before myself. As I stated in my first post "I will immediately remove any songs at the artist's request.". Now I don't expect whoever contact box.net to read through my archive, but, even as a common courtesy they could contact the owner of the blog before emailing 3rd parties.  By automatically contacting the 3rd party they're essentially calling me an asshole.  Someone who is unreasonable and unwilling to remove the song myself without being threatened by box.net staff.  What pisses me off even more is that my original post was removed, which costs me time and effort and it costs the artists exposer (to admittedly a very small audience).  Now I'd like to think that in the future I will be contacted before a 3rd party, but how often do people listen to me.  Thus concludes the first episode of Things That Piss Me Off.

Death

Death was a mid seventies band from Detroit city, and I cannot, for the life of me, stop listening to the last track from their album '....For the Whole World To See'.  I can't tell whether it is my unquenchable thirst for the bassline or the rhythmically addicting drums or the amazing delivery of some incredibly catchy lyrics or...I could continue for a little while.  As you might have pick up on, I am absolutely in love with this song and have already pre-ordered the album in preparation for it's re-release from Drag City records.

Photo by Tammy Hackney

Note: Click on the title to hear the song.

Hello No One

As introductions go, I am assuming that a) no one cares, and b) no one is reading (which moots point A, but I'll entertain the notion that someone, someday will read these words).  First of all my name is Terry Markle and I am an engineering student at Queen's University.  I spent the first 14 years of my years as an ex-patriot in a variety of countries around the world, and I've spent the last 6 1/2 years in Canada.  About half way through grade 12 my friend began introducing me to independent music, and ever since then I've had a growing interest in the subject, but enough about myself, lets talk about this blog.

As the ghosts of the internet might have guessed this blog will center around music, which I am well aware is entirely personal, but I hope I will provide an opinion, and can hopefully provide some insight and possibly direct some of your own pursuits.  Second this blog will provide an outlet for the miniscule shit I deal with on a daily bases, which will probably make me sound whiny, but hey, I hope it will provide some comical relief.

As far as the technical aspects are concerned this blog will feature foul language, because 'bad' language is still language.  Not to mention I use these 'words' in everyday conversations, and in line with my wired brethren, the internet seems to bridge the gap of the more formal written language and the seemingly casual spoken word, though I do refuse to use emoticons and internet jargon.  On a more, yet less formal note I will be providing sample songs from artists I respect and enjoy.  Since I am writing with no links into the music industry I will be providing these songs with no direct permission from the artist, I will not however, provide songs I do not find from legal sources, and I will immediately remove any songs at the artist's request.

I do thank anyone who had the will go through this statement and I hope you will begin to read my blog on a semi-regular basis.  I will try to post on a regular schedule, but I do have other commitments.