Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

“Circle Round” sold me on Rasplyn’s release. “Scenes Through The Magic Eye” filled my office with music that seemed to drive me into a circle of artistry, I had been pining for all day. It hadn’t been a great day here at Sell Out Records HQ, but as soon as I started to pay more attention to Rasplyn’s release, I was drawn into a world of beauty, art, and magic. This compelling first track is an exciting introduction into a world of musical clarity that should not be ignored. On this release of 7 tracks, you get layered musical instrumentation, compelling and artistic vocals, with a “world music” vibe that is hard to narrow down. It’s not really “one” thing, as it is pure art. There’s bits and pieces from all sorts of sounds, instruments, and elements that are very much artistic in nature. From far off lands to symphony inspired notes, to beautiful landscapes of musical creativity, you’re really taken on a journey through time and space. “Priestess of the Goddess” for example, is a t...

Phillip Presswood creates music that is absolutely different than what you may expect from artists today. It’s pop, but not in a traditional sense. There’s an orchestral sound that comes through the music, and when the vocals come in, you get a sense of a greater genre, one that is transcendent. It’s easy to peg this as one thing, but there’s so much complexity here, it’s quite fascinating. You’ll find that the prolific artist has created a number of records, and songs that all capture the emotion and raw power of music at the core, and then unleash an artistic spin that is missing from a lot of today’s music. It’s with “At The Water’s Edge” that you first get a glimpse of the power of Phillip Presswood’s production quality. The track comes from “Beauty For Ashes”, his latest record coming soon. It’s a viscerally charged track that will absolutely floor you with a sense of musical integrity and composition that is just vital to your ears. I found it had moments of great power, pres...

When I was learning how to play piano, I thought that one day I could do something as incredible as what Olivier Zberg has created with the release of “Nostalgia”. I wanted to put my ideas into simple song, pieces for piano that could change the way a person felt, or inspire though, tears, or something else. I failed. I don’t know what happened, but I somehow left the music world only to return later on and then give up after my hands couldn’t take it. That frame of reference for me still gets inspiration from music that is stripped down, and showcased with true emotion and simplicity. The piano pieces found on “Nostalgia” are short, inspired, and artistic on levels that you will be absolutely surprised by.It's the kind of record that you are going to want to listen to again and again, or you will miss some of the notes. There's so much here, and yet it's so simple, one man, one piano and creativity waltzing through a lot of connections. It's the simplicity that shine...

One of the most compelling aspects of music for me is the performance. I tend to review a lot of punk, hardcore, and ska music, but jazz and classical is where I first started to appreciate music. Learning to play chimes, piano, and then bass guitar, I am a fan and a player of the art form. The beautiful music that can be created with classical tuning and instruments are incredible. It’s with that love of music that I can truly say that Nina Kotova’s release of suites for cello by J.S. Bach is incredible. Nina Kotova is an international sensation, and has been heralded as one of the most iconic soloists in the world. She has appeared with some of the biggest names in symphony music, and performs with a certain essence that will completely change the way you hear music. There’s something profound about her work, and with this release she does something that others have tried, but haven’t really done with such precision. On this release, you will get full suites for Cello by J. S. ...