Ranging from subtly mutating drones of Schloss Tegal, to the corrosive noise-ambience of Kuru, to the obtuse electro-acoustic manifestations of Bestia Centauri, THE OUTSIDER is a varied collection. The unifying thread that binds these divergent approaches is a sincere empathy for Lovecraft’s cosmic perspective and relentlessly horrific imagination. Sounds to provoke the Old Ones to stir in their aeonic slumber… Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn…

this is a tribute to one of the greatest horror authors of all time: H.P. Lovecraft, the man who created the creature Cthulhu. In fact, the title of this compilation, “The Outsider,” is also the title of one of Lovecraft’s stories. Though long dead, Lovecraft’s memory lives on in his countless works, and now also in this tribute by a handful of dark ambient, experimental, and noise acts! And, indeed, who better to paint an aural portrait of Lovecraft’s written works than the artists who represent the truly nightmarish genres of music.

• Label: Somnambulant Corpse
• Release Date: ??/??/2002
• Track Listing:
  1. Tugend - Through The Gates Of The Silver Key
  2. Axone - Dreaming
  3. Murderous Vision - The Marching Things
  4. Bestia Centauri - Colours Out Of Space
  5. When Joy Becomes Saddness - Learning With Nature
  6. Post Scriptvm - Crushing The Sleeping Flowers
  7. Schloss Tegal - Technocore (Iteration X)
  8. Hollowing - One Sunlit Decaying Day
  9. Kuru - Feast Upon The World's Dead
  10. Bestia Centauri - Nyarlathotep (Excerpt)
  11. Axone - Degeneration

Hecq is one of the most incredible artists of all time. He’s easily one of my favorite producers, and is surely to be yours after hearing this album. This is an absolutely outstanding mixture of IDM beats, glitchy noises, and overwhelmingly surreal soundscapes. The atmospheres he creates are as dark, if not darker than those you might expect from someone like Bitcrush. He combines “drill & bass” style backdrops with very precise (and almost industrial at times) noises in such a way that you almost cant differentiate between what noises are new, and what noises have been there the whole time.

Now generally, a clash of so many styles has a grossly horrible outcome. But once in a while, when someone good enough tries it… the outcome is to great for words to describe. Hecq is good enough. Hymen Records struck gold when they signed this guy. If you only buy one album this year. Buy this one. If it’s not the most incredible album you’ve every heard, I’ll give you $10.

• Label: Hymen Records
• Release Date: 05/01/2007
• Track Listing:
  CD1
  1. 0001
  2. 0002
  3. 0003
  4. 0004
  5. 0005
  6. 0006
  7. 0007
  8. 0008
  9. 0009
  10. 0010
  11. 0011
  12. 0012
  13. 0013
  14. 0014
  15. 0015
  16. 0016
  17. 0017
  CD2
  1. 0001 (Rekt Remix 01)
  2. 0001 (Rekt Remix 02)
  3. 0003 (Sytrjv Remix)
  4. 0004 (Reanimated By Phylum Sinter)
  5. 0006 (Judas! Judas! Remix)
  6. 0008 (Coniine Calm Remix By Mad EP)
  7. 0013 (Nebulo Remix)
  8. März (Hecq vs. Newt)
  9. Sknss (Hecq vs. Snog)
  10. Dayout (Hecq vs. Ginormous)

I love Milieu. It doesn’t take long to figure out that Milieu has a very unique sense of sound. He (Brian Grainger) somehow managed to find a way to produce software based sounds, while still maintaining an organic sound. The outcome is incredible, and it’s shown in every layer of every track that he’s ever put out. Listening to Milieu is a truly humbling experience and will most likely change the way you listen to music for the rest of your life.

What’s special about Remodelled is that it shows another side of his work. He still has his amazing ambient atmospheres and his normal organic glitchy feel. But this album has the addition of almost hip-hop inspired beats that will make your head nod no matter what your doing. This is one of the few albums I’ve heard that I would almost be comfortable calling “cliq-hop”. The great thing about this album is that you can really listen to it in two different ways. Depending on which way you listen to it you’ll hear something different. You can listen to it casually while working or driving, and end up nodding your head and enjoying the beats more than anything else. If your listening to it more seriously you’ll end up hearing a whole different side of the tracks. The emotive, surreal soundscapes will become more obvious and you’ll be in another world before you know it. This is an A+ album. Another essential.

• Label: Boltfish Recordings
• Release Date: 04/26/2007
• Track Listing:
  1. As Summer Blooms
  2. Thrum
  3. Elep
  4. Cumulus Drones
  5. Auburn Morning Winds
  6. Hidden Paths
  7. Biketrail 2
  8. Glasshill (Gravel Bank)
  9. Blackwood Moth
  10. Lazer Rinq
  11. Pileus (Infinite Edit)
  12. Sway Blue Waters
  13. Forest (Fast Edit)
  14. Snowhill
  15. Rain Metre (Acid Edit)
  16. Smokestacks
  17. Narthex

Snow Robots vol. 2. Incredible. This should almost be called “New IDM That Doesn’t Sound Like Shit Compared to Original IDM”. Granted, that’s a somewhat long name. However I feel like that would give the potential listener a more solid idea of what their in for. You know when you get some new IDM album and you make the mistake of listening to it right after an Autechre album, or a Plaid album, and it just ruins the whole thing because most of the newer artists lack the originality and organic feeling of the pioneers? Well rest assured, that will not be happening with this album.

Suction Records somehow managed to put out a new IDM compilation that still has the same emotive feeling as the classics. For that, I am forever grateful.

One of the first things that I noticed about this album, was the artist line up. Snow Robots vol. 2 has a linup that consists of Lowfish, Solvent, ISAN, and Pluxus. Then I noticed D’arcangelo made an appearance on the album, and it was all over from there. I was sold.

This should be listed as an essential album in any music enthusiasts collection. It brings forward new ideas and sounds while still holding true to it’s explosively vivid roots. A true classic. Congratulations Suction Records, you win.

• Label: Suction Records
• Release Date: 01/01/2001
• Track Listing:
  1. G.D. Luxxe & Solvent - Quiet Life
  2. Solvent - Hergly Bergly
  3. Lowfish - Sieve
  4. Solvent - Hergly Bergly (Less Mad Andy Mix)
  5. D'Arcangelo - Diagram 9
  6. Solvent - Feeling No. 4
  7. D'Arcangelo - Diagram 9 (MAT101 Remix)
  8. Lowfish - Igloo Mux
  9. Pluxus - Ers Majestät
  10. Tinfoil Teakettle - 1982 For You
  11. Brioche Kretzaal - Hi/Bye/Why?
  12. Solvent - My New Film
  13. Tinfoil Teakettle - 1982 For You (Diagonal Zippers Mix)
  14. Pest(e) - Wrinkle (Skanfrom Remix)

Talada has been experimenting with music since 1987, and has since had projects ranging from industrial, to electronic, to death rock. He also runs a Los Angeles based label, called Mechanismz. If there were ever a genre bending album to portray his vast and lengthy experience as a musician… Nailsleeper was it. This is a truley progressive album, bending the rules of what you might call a “IDM” album. Nailsleeper is an incredible combination of glitchy IDM sounds, industrial noise, and acid beats. If you listen hard enough, you can even catch some drone-like soundscapes, and seriously creepy sounds.

“Before you know
it you’re covered in a most diabolically delicious and infectious groove. The narrative nature of marching dynamics is extremely meditative and thus evokes emotional response of wanting to dance/move
with a flow that few musical projects can create.” Says Hymen Records.

Do anything in your power to get ahold of this album

• Label: Hymen Records
• Release Date: 10/22/2007
• Track Listing:
  1. Tapping Intelligent Nature
  2. The Dead Live By Love
  3. Asps
  4. Lashings
  5. Un Fall Able
  6. Them In Salt
  7. Tangible Madness
  8. Mutant Moth In British Smog
  9. Insolence
  10. Nailsleeper
  11. Stoic
  12. Rival System
  13. Dark They Were And Golden Eyed
  14. Our Decadent Sins Will Reap Discipline
  15. Luring Mintmasters
  16. Curing The Wet Mouse
  ,
  1. Tapping Intelligent Nature
  2. The Dead Live By Love
  3. Asps
  4. Lashings
  5. Un Fall Able
  6. Them In Salt
  7. Tangible Madness
  8. Mutant Moth In British Smog
  9. Insolence
  10. Nailsleeper
  11. Stoic
  12. Rival System
  13. Dark They Were And Golden Eyed
  14. Our Decadent Sins Will Reap Discipline
  15. Luring Mintmasters
  16. Curing The Wet Mouse

What do you get when you take Hymen Records spectacularly abstract artist line-up, 8 3″ cd’s, and a sexy wooden box? The most elite collectors edition box set ever made. Mostly because it’s literally, a box. But also because the audio on those 8 cute little 3″ cd’s are so packed full of deep abysses of emotional soundscapes and frighteningly experimental textures that you can just stare at the box and realize that you have, what truly is, a trophy collection.

The artist line-up is as follows:

• Lusine Icl
• Mad EP
• Solarx
• Snog
• Psy Spy
• Hecq
• Lowfish
• Gridlock

What more can you ask for really? The set was released in February of 2006 and is now out of print. A truly amazing collection of everything from IDM, to ambient, to experimental to minimal, along with every combination of the 4.

I Went Out Shopping To Get Some Noise is a 10 in my book. Daniel Myer has released 2 albums under the alias Architect, but is probably better known for his work with Haujobb, the electro industrial-noise band who has been around since the early 90’s. Unlike Haujobb, this album bounces in between IDM and techno quite a bit, as apposed to Haujobbs frequent bouncing between IDM and industrial. This record keeps you on your toes at all times. “Unlike” is full of pianos and whispers, where “Anger Management” is full of hand drums, glitches and darkness… meanwhile “Icl Feelings” has a very glitchy feeling, and ambient undertone but is clearly techno inspired. It reminds me ALOT of Dryft, who you probably know better as the dark, ambient, glitchy producer Bitcrush.

Released on Hymen Records, this is pretty much what you would expect to get, but in my opinion is perhaps more than you would expect from Daniel Myer. Not to say that as a bad thing, but I feel like this album is more organized and perhaps better executed than some of his other releases.

• Label: Hymen Records
• Release Date: 03/15/2004
• Track Listing:
  1. Anger Management
  2. Belgian Connection
  3. ICL Feelings
  4. Colorado 6AM
  5. Unlike
  6. Dievorce
  7. Colorfusion
  8. Grand Diesel
  9. Fifth Puppy
  10. Unlike (Reaktor Version)
  11. Charles B
  12. Beyer Dynamic
  13. Moonshine (Live Version)

Anish Music is a true gem. Not only is its creator, Ane Oestergaard, one of the few females to delve into this style of production, but it’s also just an overall amazing album. Band Ane is one of those few producers who is so dialed in with her own style, that you really cant tell who her influences are. She lists both Aphex Twin and Squarepusher as influences, but I have a feeling people will be listing her as an influence if she keeps putting stuff out there.

Alot of reviews mention the use of “childrens music”. To be perfectly honest I have no idea what their talking about. I’ve listened to the album probably 8 or 9 times now and aside from certain noises that are perhaps remind full of noises made from childrens toys, I’ve found no usage of childrens music what so ever. She certainly has a playful of up-beat vibe to her music, but at times you’ll be surprised to find some really dark soundscapes and down right harsh noises.

The great thing about this album is that you don’t have to listen to it more than once. You know you love it as soon as the first track starts. Her melodies are thought out and solid, and her vocals are strong and relaxing. Every track is a different experience, and delivers soundscapes and moods just as well as the last. Band Ane has a very unique way of cutting up her bleeps and glitches which makes them almost feel alive while they bounce around from layer to layer. She also has a large background as a pianist and you can really tell just how talented she is in tracks like “Wood Delivery” and “Undoubtedly”. It’s hard to find a real copy of this in the states. But it’s available for download from places like Juno.

This is an A+ album from all sides and shouldn’t be overlooked for any reason.

• Label: Jenka Music
• Release Date: 10/02/2006
• Track Listing:
  1. Too Busy With Music
  2. Lala
  3. Wood Delivery
  4. Craptelly
  5. Atmos Halioss
  6. Nonesuch
  7. Undoubtedly
  8. Krible
  9. Alfons
  10. Three Things To Remember

“I’m not sure what I expected a winner of the Danish Arts Council award for young composer of the year to sound like, but it wasn’t this.” - Boomkat

Over time this album has become one of my favorite up-tempo IDM albums ever. And not just because from a distance, Karsten Pflum looks oddly like a young Andy Dick. The varying styles of melodies and atmospheres in this album is really quite impressive. To me, it sounds quite a bit like Squarepusher, but remains very much original. The overlying tone throughout the whole album is always positive and up lifting, which I think is rare in IDM albums. Generally speaking, when you think of IDM you really don’t tend to think about sunshine and green grass. Occasionally he’ll throw in a rain storm here and there, but all in all, it’s the San Francisco of albums. Always sunny, always 70, and always something new to see.

• Label: Jenka Music
• Release Date: 01/01/2005
• Track Listing:
  1. Ube 1
  2. Rottefar
  3. Blfonk 1
  4. Blfonk 2
  5. Rullemarie
  6. Musik Til Skitur
  7. Krap SL
  8. Benk Retric
  9. Musik Till A, ver
  10. Tobbe Fra Sverige
  11. Stjernetur
  12. Ube 2
  13. Kpstyle

Anyone who’s already heard Ceephax Acid Crew knows exactly what to expect from this album. If you’ve never heard Ceephax before, than you have no idea what your in for. It’s a simple as that.

Ceephax has a unique way of continuing the style of experimental and acid that Richard James (aka; Aphex Twin) made popular (or as popular as it could be) in the mid 90’s. One of the most refreshing things about Ceephax is how he progresses the noises and composition of the music, but your still able to hear it’s roots and influences. It’s quite rare that you can listen to a newly released acid album and be reminded of hanging out in coffee shops with your friends listening to old DMX Crew, Aphex Twin, U-Ziq, and Cylob.

I highly recommend a listening session of this album to anyone well versed in this style, or a new-comer alike. It’s a killer album and it was more than I hoped for.

• Label: Rephlex
• Release Date: 07/24/2007
• Track Listing:
  1. LW Traveller
  2. Snifter's Acid
  3. Scary Pollution
  4. Acid Schroeder
  5. Acid Breezer
  6. Vulcan Venture
  7. Cold War Acid
  8. Ice Rink Acid
  9. TX Ogre
  10. Loner D+B
  11. Ravenscar