Reviews of Music, Movies, Anime & More

Pure Bathing Culture’s music does contain that ’80s vibe that’s all the rage thanks to chillwave, etc., but these songs are more than exercises in musical nostalgia.

Kveikur makes me feel like I’m listening to Sigur Rós for the first thrilling time, and after nearly fifteen years, that’s a true pleasure.

The Low Drone of Earth may be Tholen’s darkest album to date, but it’s also one of his most successful and well-realized.

With 7.25.2148, Makeup and Vanity Set have crafted a darkly beautiful synthesizer journey.

An impressive and haunting debut thanks to its remarkably mature degree of restraint and control.

The trio’s debut album is lovely ambient folk-pop perfect for the coming winter.

The album’s more atmospheric pieces provide a perfect example of Projekt’s “vintage” darkwave sound.

Their despair was once captivating and even invigorating but now it just feels like they’re taking the piss out of folks.

The album continues Tholen’s streak as a fine purveyor of weird, fascinating music from the fringes of Christendom.

Duncan Sumpner’s first album in five years proves just as beguiling as his earlier releases.

Sleep Experiments’ delicate, unassuming take on ambient dreampop and slowcore consistently conjure up autumn’s chillier climes.

It’s difficult for me to listen to these songs and not imagine that I’m listening to music culled, in some fashion, directly from the duo’s long-lost childhood memories.

Northern Valentine’s latest conjures up massive, ominous soundscapes that beckon to be explored by patient listeners.

RIYL Hammock’s guitar-based ambience, Robin Guthrie’s solo recordings, and Stars of the Lid.

A solid debut, as well as one of the best and most gripping shoegazer releases I’ve heard in months.

A fascinating paradox has been at work in the heart of lovesliescrushing’s music for two decades now.

Language of Landscape’s final release is a graceful, evocative end for the duo.

Tholen’s latest is another fine example of his “Christ-centered chipwave.”

Easily become much greater than the sum of its parts.