Review: Bandcamp / Soundcloud / Submissions Round-Up pt 6

Haven't done a round-up piece for ages so here goes:



First up is the new EP from Ummagma. 'Frequency' is released by Raphalite Records in November and is a lovely collection of dreamy shoegaze tracks. The band, a favourite of this blog, are Shauna McLarnon and Alexander Kretov, a married couple who produce some of the most chilled, beautiful music since the Cocteau Twins. The EP is 8 tracks long, 3 of which are remixes of the track 'Lama'. The quality of the remixers is testament to the band and the the regard in which they are held; Robin Guthrie of the aforementioned Cocteaus provides one remix which is as ethereal as one would expect. The other remixes are provided by Mal Holmes (of OMD, and the remix has a suitably 80s feel about it) and Lights That Change. The EP is a delight - hazy dreampop of the highest order. It can be purchased via the Bandcamp page here.





Next up is something a bit different for this blog - a purely electronic album. Tentakel is a one man operation (Pontus Torstensson) whose album is out on Zeon Light. On first listen, I'll admit, I thought this was a techno album, a genre I've flirted with in the past but not really my cup of tea, but then I listened again and was very pleasantly surprised: Tentakel profess to making "cosmic electronic krautdisco" and on listening again I could pick out certain krautrock signatures and even hints of spacerock. It is an intelligent piece of work and I would urge anyone to give this one a chance; it cleverly mixes modern production, dance beats with some Tangerine Dream style synth washes. Good stuff. It can be bought from the Zeon Light Bandcamp page here.



Last up is an album I've been meaning to write about for ages. The Citradels hail from Australia and in May released their 'A Night Of Contemporary Feedback Music'. The title is a bit of a misnomer as the album is mainly acoustic based psychedelia, full of sitar, tabla, flutes, harmonium and mellotron. It is an album that is different enough to be interesting and yet strangely familiar; one can pick up hints of The Beatles, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Pretty Things, Nic Nicely and even The Beach Boys, all put through the Citradels warping machine. The atmosphere it conjures is part blissed out sixties and part bad trip. It is a fantastic listen so go get it on a 'Name Your Price' basis from the bands Bandcamp page