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drones, loves, honesties, sounds
CD label sampler 2006 | silber 056 22 tracks, 76 minutes $4 ($9 international, $1 download! (256 kbps, ~136 megs)) |
Reviews:
“drones, loves, honesties,
sounds” is the latest label sampler from Silber Records that features twenty
two tracks from twenty two of the forty Silber releases that have been
released over the past seven years. Unquestionably an ideal way to get
someone well acquainted with this exceptional label, and the fact that
its only $3 only sweetens the deal. Of course many of these bands shouldn’t
be to unfamiliar to Lunar Hypnosis readers since fifteen of these bands
have had there work reviewed here in the past.
What I really like about
this compilation and the Silber Records back catalog in general is that
there are lots of diverse musical styles present yet they all seem to gel
so well together. We get the experimental ambient acoustic guitar drones
from artists like Aarktica, Alan Sparhawk, and Vlor. There’s some more
or less straightforward ambient music from If Thousands, Mike VanPortfleet,
Goddakk, and Kobi, while artists like Black Happy Day, Jamie Barnes, Twelve,
and Heller Mason represent the more folk/acoustic side of the Silber Records
roster.
Even more curiosities come
from Origami Arktika, Tara VanFlower, Clang Quartet, and Small Life Form
whose music doesn’t fit in any clear genre and for simplicities sake can
really only be labeled with the experimental tag. Then there’s the pop/rock/jazz
fusion band Rollerball, the shoegazing bliss pop of Plumerai, the legendary
darkwave sound of Lycia, and Remora the post apocalypse acoustic/ambient
drone band of Silber Records owner Brian John Mitchell is also present.
Another plus side to this
compilation for me personally is that the songs from Mike VanPortfleet,
Plumerai, Goddakk, Remora, Jamie Barnes, Heller Mason, and Lycia are among
my top favorites and are songs I listen to on a regular basis. The songs
from Mike, Goddakk, Remora, and Jamie Barnes in particular are my own unsurpassed
favorite songs released on Silber Records. In particular Remora’s ‘The
One I’ve Been Waiting For’ is a song that always manages to make me feel
really depressed with its exquisite lyrics and Lycia’s Pray, which is one
of the most highly atmospheric and gorgeous songs ever wrote.
So with all that said I
have nothing more to conclude with other than that there are a number of
excellent songs and artists on this compilation that await you and at only
$4 it’s practically free. Go dig under the couch cushions for some spare
change and pick up this excellent compilation today.
~ Joe Mlodik, Lunar Hypnosis
Flipping through my ample
CD collection for something new, I found something I bought several months
ago but hadn't listened to yet. It's a sampler record from Silber Records
entitled "drones, loves, honesties, sounds". I'd never heard of Silber
Records before. It came in a simple cardboard sleeve, and I got it for
a buck as I recall. One of those things I bought on a lark because I was
curious, then forgot that I even had it until tonight. Well, I was gonna
change that, so I popped it into my computer to give a listen.
And man, this is one of
the best examples of a sampler I think I've ever heard . No, every track
on it didn't appeal to me, but it's one of the widest, most diverse arrays
of music put out by a single label I've ever had the pleasure of listening
to. It's got everything: soft ambient, darkwave, drone, shoegazing pop,
folk, jazzy rock, and some stuff that I can only really label as experimental
guitar. It's a neat experience, and I can see myself buying some of the
albums from different artists in the future.
You too can experience
the nifty musical goodness of this sampler for yourself at the Silber Records
website. They charge $4 for the physical CD (or $5.50 if you live outside
the US), or you can download the full album in digital version for one
dollar. That's right, 22 songs for $1. A full album for the price of one
iTunes download. It's a hell of a deal even if you only wind up liking
2-3 tracks.
If you're interested in
getting more listens before you commit your dough, the site has a number
of other options for you. They offer a crapload of free downloads (seriously,
they've got 30 albums, compilations and EPs that don't cost you a cent)
as well as a streaming radio service that lets you listen as long as you
like.
So, take a listen and support
the indy music scene if that's your thing. If you find an artist you like,
nearly all of their albums are available digitally for $5. And if you don't,
well, at least you gave something new a try. :)
~ Retrochick Retroblog