NTTR - No Time to Review

An extraordinarily inventive but ultimately rather exhausting experimental-pop album, combining elaborate vocal arrangements, contemporary classical structures, gamelan-inspired percussion and fragmented electronic rhythms. Marina Herlop demonstrates impressive compositional imagination, yet the constant stylistic changes, overwhelming density and limited melodic accessibility make much of the record more fascinating intellectually than enjoyable musically. Its strongest compositions reveal a genuinely distinctive artistic personality, but the album's relentless complexity frequently obscures its emotional intentions. With Dja Dja , Marina Herlop delivers an extraordinarily ambitious experimental-pop album, combining contemporary classical composition, avant-folk, electronic production and intricate vocal techniques within a fifty-two-minute musical journey. Following Pripyat and Nekkuja , she expands her already unusual musical vocabulary through gamelan-inspired percussion, orch...

An austere and occasionally beautiful collection of minimalist organ compositions whose delicate interaction between sustained tones, cello and bowed guitar creates a distinctive atmosphere. Kali Malone adopts a more intuitive and melodic approach than on some of her earlier recordings, but the results remain excessively restrained, with limited harmonic variation and few memorable musical developments. The carefully constructed textures are intriguing, although the consistently solemn atmosphere and lack of contrast make the album more intellectually interesting than emotionally rewarding. With Burning Song , Kali Malone returns to the pipe organ for another exploration of sustained harmonies, instrumental resonance and the relationship between musical structure and physical space. Accompanied by Lucy Railton on cello and Stephen O'Malley on bowed acoustic guitar, she presents seven compositions that move between contemporary classical minimalism, drone and atmospheric chamber mus...

An ambitious but ultimately disappointing Brazilian experimental hip-hop album whose political consciousness and confessional honesty are undermined by chaotic production, uneven performances and frustratingly fragmented songwriting. D$ Luqi moves between confrontational social commentary, abrasive jazz samples and deeply personal reflections on masculinity, family and emotional vulnerability. The ideas are often more interesting than the music, however, and the constant stylistic disruptions make the record difficult to enjoy as a coherent listening experience. With UOTOTOGOKA , D$ Luqi attempts to create an uncompromising portrait of political anger, personal contradictions and emotional vulnerability through an unpredictable mixture of experimental hip-hop, fragmented jazz samples and abrasive vocal performances. It's an ambitious undertaking, but one I find considerably more interesting conceptually than musically. The album addresses racism, colonial history, masculinity, guil...

An emotionally intense but uneven exploration of psychological distress, self-destructive patterns and the uncertain possibility of recovery. Feldup's transition towards a full-band sound introduces abrasive post-punk guitars, nervous rhythms and occasionally impressive brass arrangements, creating a more ambitious musical environment than his earlier bedroom recordings. However, the extended compositions, excessive emotional intensity and relatively limited melodic development make the album more exhausting than consistently rewarding. Its most convincing moment arrives in the restrained closing epilogue, where vulnerability becomes more affecting than aggression. With Towards Happiness , Feldup delivers an ambitious but rather uneven alternative-rock album, exploring psychological distress, grief, self-destructive behaviour and the difficult process of attempting to recover. Following Stared at from a Distance , he expands his musical approach considerably, recording with his ban...

An exuberant but excessively busy collection of internet-born electronic music, combining kawaii aesthetics, dariacore experimentation and hard-dance influences within an almost hour-long sequence. Curren's playful personality and commitment to digital maximalism are appealing, but the emphasis on constant stimulation, stylistic collisions and exaggerated cuteness makes the album more exhausting than consistently rewarding. Its originality lies primarily in its presentation and hyperactive construction rather than in particularly memorable compositions. With #Cuteness4U ☆ , Curren presents an almost hour-long exploration of contemporary internet-born electronic music, combining dariacore, kawaii future bass, hard dance and the deliberately excessive aesthetics of digital pop culture. Across fifteen tracks, the producer embraces an artistic identity built around exaggerated cuteness, rhythmic excitement and an apparently endless fascination with electronic manipulation. It's an ...