I'll be out of town for the next four days but I didn't want to leave The Circle Pit hanging. So here's something I set up last week to kill all the memory left on your iPod.
THIS IS THE FREE MUSIC MARATHON!
We've helped promote a lot of free music over time. This is the cream of the crop. And it ranges from big bands to the deep underground. Click a link, any link. You may just find a new favorite. No matter what, you'll find free music and tunes available for the price of your choosing. All of these artists deserve support, so don't be afraid to throw some dollars if something really makes you happy.
This is the first lap of four. 25 links a day. Let's go!
We'll officially be back in full operation on Wednesday.
Welcome back explorers! Today we're heading back to France to discover some awesome, new music.
Remember our last time here? We talked about the best dark progressive / death metal acts coming out of this nation including Gojira, Uneven Structure, Blut Aus Nord, Eryn Non Dae, Hypno5e and Atlantis Chronicles. Aamzing stuff!
But in its multifaceted metal scene, France has a lot more to offer. Today we'll show you some more amazing artists. But instead of focusing on a specific genre we'll be exploring the most interesting music delivered by French solo musicians. That's right. There's so many impressive solo projects coming out of this region and they all deserve a shout. Let's go!
Well, the beginning is easy: the brilliant mind of Remi Gallego, who's beautiful musical inventions flow from his main project The Algorithm! The Algorithm delivers a mix of modern metal and several types of electronic music in some truly devastating and eclectic musical creations. His debut album “Polymorphic Code” came out in 2012. You can read our review here. He has now teamed up with Monuments' drummer Mike Malyan to deliver even crazier live shows. I hope you all will have a chance to check 'em out on stage. Recently, I had the chance to meet / interview both of them before one of their shows in Europe. We'll be posting a video soon!
Another easy one is Auré Pereira, mostly known for being the guitarist of Uneven Structure, but also largely appreciated for his solo project WorC. He brings some truly amazing instrumental metal, with touching atmospheres and creative instrumentations. He released a full-length album “Plychrmatic 0.1” and an EP “When The Day Forms” so far and they are both available for free on his Bandcamp page! Go check him out and don't forget to give a listen to his band Uneven Structure, if you already haven't.
The next one is one of The Circle Pit's favourites, A.I.(d). His human name is Lou Gregoire and he created some of the most insane and possibly even painful (in a veeeeery good way) music I can remember. Especially with his 2012 EP “Solar Feelings”, which is available for a free download here . That alone pretty much destroyed my aural apparatus (and once again, I was really happy of it). It also looks like he's got some new music in the making since he recently uploaded two new songs: “Ballentine's Night” and “Dramatic Lazyness”. So if you enjoy what's below start following him and expect crazy things!
A very talented French man named Clemente Reviriego from Bordeaux just released his new album called “Arid Landscapes”. This is the debut full-length release of his Instrumental/Tech/Prog/Groove/Jazz project Dorthal. All that you need to know about this talented young guy is written in the review we recently posted for his album. So if you're intrested, you can go read it here. All Dorthal's music is available for stream and name your price download on his Bandcamp page. Go show this guy some love!
Some truly surprising stuff is delivered by Nicolas Jeanney, who's artistic name is Tenkan. He partially specializes in delivering metal/djent covers of a lot of unexpected music: from Adele to Rage Against The Machine, from Rihanna to...Lana Del Rey. Ok, I know it might sound a bit strange and weird, or even useless. But believe me, it kicks ass! This guy also has his own original tracks on his SoundCloud profile. So go give him a listen and enjoy. I think I'll be presenting his project properly very soon, since he's also the only one in this post who hasn't already been in the Pit before.
Last but not least we'll bring up Cartoon Theory, wich is one of my favourites, even though it's not exactely a solo project. In fact, there are two members working on it, but it's still far from being a full band and they definetly deserve another shout. They're working on a new release “Planet Geisha” and there will be surely some incredible stuff on it. Give a listen to their previous material while waiting.
There are tons of talented artists creating their music in France and everywhere around the world. So much greatness to discover... life seems too short to find it all. Anyway, we haven't finished with France yet. We'll be back very soon to meet more amazing bands. Stay tuned, explorers!
Only 20 years of age, Clemente Reviriego of Bordeaux, France is astonishingly familiar with what it takes to play the solo creator of an Instrumental.Tech.Prog.Groove.Jazz project. “Dorthal’s” recent release “Arid Landscapes” marks Reviriego’s fourth collection of tracks but is the first full-length album. Mastered by Acle Kahney (Tesseract) “Dorthal” is a well-developed and weighty project, whose lucrative writing style allows the “complete band” feel. Many layers and original flitters cause suspension of belief that “Arid Landscapes” is the opus of a single being.
Primarily a bassist before picking up a 7-string guitar, Reviriego does not shy from his musical roots in “Dorthal.” All of “Dorthal’s” workings are rewardingly bass heavy making him arguably the grooviest amongst the growing grove of groovers, groovies and grooverettes. “Arid Landscapes” includes intricate math rhythms; high in both quantity and quality. The frame of time is melted by “Dorthal’s” toiling amongst progressing arrangements and patterns.
In some of "Arid Landscapes" layout the bass is the overpowering voice, but occasionally falls back into a more traditional bass role, allowing guitar to soar cleanly during leads, classical lines and ambiance. A musical feature that keeps out of sight until being introduced during "Outer-space Lost Shrine" is the saxophone, played by Cyril Prevost. This particular sax lick scurries through a calm but intricate flow of bass where the special strumming techniques remain beyond my grasp of understanding. A bass player myself, "Dorthal" is of maximum appeal in all around tone and creative variation of bass techniques. The drum tracks are not eclipsed by guitars but are slightly shadowed in comparison, which is quite appropriate in "Dorthal." Creative the drums are, especially for jazzy sections, the guitars are the undoubted highlight.
Not counting the cool alien voices, "Dorthal" remains primarily instrumental with exception to the track "Verdure" which is featured twice on "Arid Landscapes," once as an instrumental and once with guest vocalist Remy Pocquet. I love this idea because in both versions there is something new to discover. "Verdure" appears first with vocals and is a magnificent track. I must say I do not think I have ever heard vocals of this style used in djent-groove metal, but maybe I've been kept under a rock. Either way, "Dorthal" transitions from a half hour of instrumentals to the usage of voice rather virtuously. The lyrical version of "Verdure" battles with "Post Apocalypse First Signs Of Life" for my favorite song slot. The latter is a massive track that perfects heaviness, interluded by emotional saxophone. A very complete feeling encompasses these tracks despite a incomplete line-up.
"Dorthal" is for fans of Animals As Leaders, T.R.A.M., Tesseract, Textures and Vildhjarta. Yes. I mean that. And to raise that heart rate even higher is the fact that all of "Dorthal's" music is available for stream and "name your own price" HERE at bandcamp. This includes three E.P.s "Hypothetical Complexity," "eta-Earth," "Cell Regeneration" and the big boy "Arid Landscapes." Below is an old play through of "Illusion of Oasis" where Reviriego casually but fashionably flaunts his musicianship, hat and mustache. Mad props to Clemente! Go show him some love!
I'll be out of town for the next four days but I didn't want to leave The Circle Pit hanging. So here's something I set up last week to kill all the memory left on your iPod.
