William Basinski - el camino real (2007, 2062)

El Camino Real is an historical road of 966 kilometers, in California, (built between 1683 and 1834) that makes the junction between Sonoma and San Diego. Along this road were placed distinctive bells.

Sleep Whale - little brite (2006, Western Vinyl)

First ep for this instrumental duo from Denton, Texas, compositions floating somewhere between folktronica and post-rock between Helios and Balmorhea. They mix electronic and acoustic sounds, Joel plays guitar and cello, and Bruce plays violin.

Mount Moriah - the letting go (2010, Holidays For Quince)

First ep for this new project of Heather McEntire (guitar voice), concurrently with Bellafea and Un Deux Trois. With Jenks Miller at the guitar and James Wallace (percussions), she explores here a mix of americana and country, which follow the path opened by Jason Molina these last ten years and more.

Mick Turner / Tren Brothers - blue trees (2007, Drag City)

This is a compilation of rare tracks of two side project of Dirty Three. A split between the Tren Brothers - Mick Turner (guitars, melodica, harmonica, keys and loops) and Jim White (drums and percussion) -, and Mick Turner solo. It's Dirty Three's post-rock style explorations but less the violin of Warren Ellis. Strangely the first track, “Swing (part 1 & 2) is figuring another violinist, Jessica Billey, for almost 10 minutes of peaceful contemplation of late summer landscapes.

It's a nice record but without real coherency, without major standout tracks but with a good number of nice sounding ones. So it is more for fans of these musicians than for newcomers who plan to discover the band, as it compiles various singles.

It works perfectly as a background ambience, distilling quietness and authenticity as time flows while your mind is occupied by various activities.






http://www.myspace.com/trenphantasma

The Sandwitches - duck duck goose! (2010, Secret Seven / Empty Cellar)

Big departure for the Sandwitches from their album “How to make ambient sandcake”. They are reduced to a duo here, the drummer has been sent back home. Reverb has been invited and a whispered folk attitude has replaced their previous indie rock style. It's like discovering a totally new band embracing with talent a melancholic songwriting with debts towards 70's folk (Bridget St-John, Nick Drake, Pearls Before Swine), or more recent explorers of slowcore like Movietone, Scott Tuma, Rivulets or Tara Jane O'Neil.