Oliver Arditi

Blog archive

  • Ernesto Schnack – Worldbuilding (acoustic post-rock)

    Ernesto Schnack – Worldbuilding (acoustic post-rock)

    I’m going to begin this review by talking about myself. This is essentially a very bad habit in a critic, and except inasmuch as it is sometimes necessary to lay ones theoretical cards on the table, I try to avoid it. However, in order to explain precisely on what level this album resonates with my… Read more

  • Present – Triskaïdékaphobie (avant-rock)

    Present – Triskaïdékaphobie (avant-rock)

    If there’s one thing reviewing this album has taught me it’s this: always scroll to the end of the email. When I went back to the message in which this was submitted for review, I discovered that I had also received a link for Present’s second album, Le Poison Qui Rend Fou, which was re-released… Read more

  • Various Artists – Album Roundup

    Various Artists – Album Roundup

    Drug Corpse doesn’t have quite the full-core horror content that might be inferred from the cover and the title, but it sets its phasers to dark from the off, and keeps them there. The lyrical themes are as varied as the contributing emcees (of whom there are thirteen in total), but there’s a good mix… Read more

  • Pannón Melankólikusok – Szerelmedért (chamber rock)

    Pannón Melankólikusok – Szerelmedért (chamber rock)

    I don’t know if Christina Domene and Robert Hofmann were a performing duo before they conceived their love of the Hungarian language, and began to set that culture’s poetry to music. That is the agenda around which this project revolves, however, and they certainly chose its name, which translates as ‘Pannonian melancholy’ on that basis.… Read more

  • Sons of Kemet – Burn (avant-jazz)

    Sons of Kemet – Burn (avant-jazz)

    I often start my reviews by talking in general terms about the schtick of the artist or release; creative practice, methodology, how I theorise the music, what my critical approach will be and so forth. However, there’s equally often not that much to say. A lot of good music comes my way that does things… Read more

  • Various Artists – Singles and EPs

    Various Artists – Singles and EPs

    This music is the brainchild of Michael Woodman, guitarist and vocalist in Thumpermonkey, written using the immersion composition techniques described in The Frustrated Songwriter’s Handbook. The method seems to work. I have no idea what method he employs when writing for Thumpermonkey, but that seems to work too, and for several reasons Eat Your Robot… Read more