2018 Top 3 – Readers List

This is a short recap of what our readers enjoyed most on Hipodrome, a top 3 of the most appreciated albums, compilations, mixes and other stuff.

Albums

Vakula – Metaphors [Leleka]

The most appreciated album by our readers is ‘Metaphors’, the album from the Ukrainian master Vakula. ‘Metaphors’ is slightly different from some of his full-length excursions, focused as it is on the gently unfurling, head-in-the-clouds world of ambient music. Of course, much of the music is still gently rhythmic but the vibe remains thoroughly horizontal throughout.

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Continue reading “2018 Top 3 – Readers List”

2018 Top 3 – Readers List

VA – Quare Groove Vol. 1 [ACQG12X1X2]

All City spent years putting together this superb compilation, which shines a light on Ireland’s previously unheralded underground and alternative music scenes of the ’70s and ’80s. It’s packed with obscure and lesser-known gems covering a myriad of related styles, from the jazz-funk inspired soul smoothness of Pumphouse Gang’s “Welcome Back Into My Life” and dub-fuelled, post-punk synth-pop brilliance of Natural Wild’s 1985 cut “Hot & Sexable (Mega Mix)”, to the slow and intoxicating, delay-laden throb of Stano’s “White Fields (In Isis)” and the Stiff Records-ish cacophony of Micro-Disney’s “Leper”. In other words, it’s a great example of a compilation that not only tells a previously untold story, but also includes some genuinely must-have tracks.

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VA – Quare Groove Vol. 1 [ACQG12X1X2]

The Smoke Clears – S/T [ACTSCLPX1]

The Smoke Clears is the abstract ambient project of producer John Daly. He debuted this alias with an eponymous LP in 2013 on Further Records and this is a part 2. Following up his 2013 LP of the same name, this record builds upon it’s predecessor’s ambient abstractions while adding another layer of nuanced melodic contemplation. Kicking off with “Fathoms” a deceptively calm track but with a paced sense of urgency which is evident throughout the LP, belying it’s calm undertones. Continuing at this pace for the rest of the first side the LP takes a side turn with the lush “Slipstream” melting into the only vocal track of the LP – the dubbed out bliss of “Oh My Days” featuring Cian Finn. Showcasing a side that might not be so familiar, this is lush downtempo machine music equally as at home cranked up one louder soundsystem style, or for late night home listening.

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The Smoke Clears – S/T [ACTSCLPX1]

Machine Drum / Sun Ra – Views Of Saturn Vol 3 [ACSR12X3]

https://i0.wp.com/imagescdn.juno.co.uk/300/CS472073-01A-MED.jpg

Machine Drum applies his spur of the moment style to the 1979 Sun Ra classic Door Of The Cosmos. A slightly different take from the previous two, but equally as experimental in its own right, his trademark frenetic psychedelic high speed beats are at work here for a truly unique interpretation of one of Sun Ra’s most recognizable works. All the covers come with bespoke cover art via Stephen Serrato and photographer Simon Wald-Lasowski and this looks like their best yet.

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Machine Drum / Sun Ra – Views Of Saturn Vol 3 [ACSR12X3]