Aria Rostami - Decades/Peter (Freebies!)

So for the first time, I'm gonna do a two part (see below for the second) review and freebie, compliments of West Virginia based purveyors of diverse electronic psychadelica, Crash Symbols.

The first, Decades/Peter from Aria Rostami is essentially a single artist split release. The front half, Decades, delivers a wonderfully executed mix of dark, alien beat music. Seven tracks that swing like a pendulum from crisply produced and richly populated danceable percussion, to massive swaths of melodic mood music. What struck me as quite fantastic here is the assembleage of robust confident timbres and beefy production. Individual sounds twist and evolve into big, bold, complex synth brought right up front in the mix. On the flip, Peter, the production delves into lush pop tinged dreamlike dance tracks. Joyous vacationalia made challenging with glitchy percussion and echoing pitch shifted vocals. A single sample won't really give you the whole story of what makes this fun, it's the push pull balance from track to track. Every single one is a hit.

Edition of 100, produbbed with digital version included. If you have interest, email me at guidemelittletape at gmail dot com and both this and Log Across The Washer are yours, no catch. First come first serve. Gone to Dave from St. Louis as of 11/15. Enjoy! Or, grab this stuff for yourself over at Crash Symbols.

Log Across The Washer - Pancakes (Freebies!)

The second (see above for the first) in this two part freebie from Crash Symbols comes in the form of Pancakes, from Log Across The Washer. Generally speaking, something like this tends to be out of my wheelhouse, being just a bit over my own self imposed pop threshold. Admittedly after a few tracks this just about lost me (my fault). But, after a clattering smoke screen of horns and percussion cleared what I eventually found ended up being some exquisetly composed, and emotionally honest outsider pop. It's a rambling genre bending emotional mix. A massive 22 tracks, all over the map from complete weirdness to something that feels bluegrass and Americana, to my favorite track, I Like What For Feel, which is nothing short of a great time. Sounds like something too cool to care if it's cool. I need to stop being an elitist and have fun.

You can stream this, and all Crash Symbols releases over at the label Bandcamp. Or, if you're quick you email me at guidemelittletape at gmail dot com, and this and the Aria Rostami tape are your free, no catch. Gone to Dave from St. Louis as of 11/15. Enjoy!

Some Ember - Hotel of Lost Light

I genuinely can't imagine a more stunning solo recording than Hotel of Lost Light from Some Ember on Crash Symbols. It's an album length visceral bleed out of emotion directly to chrome. The closet Darkwave nut in me hasn't been this happy since Wire Migraine from "^" hit my Nakamichi 600.

Not much vocal in the tape scene, and certainly not much of this caliber. A dude by the name of Dylan Travis writes, performs, produces, and most significantly, sings the entire 8 track blazer. A vocal convergence between the intensity of David Tibet and the vulnerable charm of Antony Hegarty, played over something that sounds like early Mortiis. And while I assume that sounds like an overwhelming concoction that would likely yield a confusing result, the most impressive part of Hotel of Lost Light is just how well it all plays together, and in fact by the close, has evolved into a pop influenced 8 bit trip out. An incredible vision finely crafted into an exceptional album.

My first experience with Crash Symbols. Rest assured the physical format is in stunning form. Pro dubbing, J Cards double printed with full lyrics and liner notes. Exceptional work all around.