Oliver Arditi

Blog archive

  • The Blackswords: Episode 4

    The Blackswords: Episode 4

    The cabin shutters were closed, slicing the the sunlight into a gridwork of thin lines: thicker verticals at the hinges, or where the two leaves met, and fine horizontals that passed between the boards. Ashurra’s eyes traced the lines across the wall, and abruptly out, around the lean knots and cords of her brother’s chest… Read more

  • Cutleri – We Sink Ships (avant-folk)

    Cutleri – We Sink Ships (avant-folk)

    I never know how much to consider the visual artwork when I’m discussing a release. On the one hand, I don’t want to do the artist a disservice by basing my description on anything extraneous to the music, but then the artwork does unavoidably affect how the listener hears the music, and the visual component… Read more

  • Slabdragger/ Meadows – split LP (stoner metal)

    Slabdragger/ Meadows – split LP (stoner metal)

    The last split release I reviewed also involved Meadows. The rationale behind split releases is obviously to seek a synergy: the artists involved generally have a close stylistic affinity, or their audiences overlap, to their mutual benefit; sometimes I suspect the reason has more to do with the relationship between the artists than any overt… Read more

  • Various Artists – Singles and EPs

    Various Artists – Singles and EPs

    Schoolday nostalgia seems to be a current in many branches of music nowadays. It’s by no means a new thing, but it’s definitely growing. It’s curious how it lends historicity and distance to times that probably don’t seem at all distant to a greybeard like me; my theory is that it represents a re-appropriation, a… Read more

  • Bright Color Vision – Carousel (metal)

    Bright Color Vision – Carousel (metal)

    The language of metal is so fragmented and diversified now that it’s hard to distinguish one sub-genre from another, and many bands build their sound as though they were filling their plates at a wedding buffet, after quite a few drinks. This is a positive tendency in my view, as long as an understanding of… Read more

  • Marley Starskey Butler – Opposites (avant-pop)

    Marley Starskey Butler – Opposites (avant-pop)

    Like all Entr’acte releases, Opposites arrives in a hermetically perfect, vacuum sealed package, simple metallic grey plastic with one colour printing in the exact same typeface and layout as the rest of their catalogue. There is something disturbing about its severity and its integrity; I have never been so reluctant to open an album sent… Read more