Sell Out Records - A Music Review Blog

I’m always impressed with new music. Soul Spear caught me off guard, however, as I didn’t know what to expect. The artwork for “Built With Girders” was really cool, but the sound on my computer didn’t come through very well at first. It was because I didn’t plug in my speakers, and that’s my fault. Once I got things working, I was really impressed with the layers of EDM that Soul Spear puts through on this release. It starts with an orchestral solution then moves into a deep entrancing rhythm and flow of sounds that you will absolutely get lost in. Just when you think that you have figured out what Soul Spear is doing with their tracks, they throw a wrench at you and switch up the electronic soundscapes. This record really puts on a showcase of musical prowess, but not without showcasing layers of traditional digital music. There are moments that you swear you heard something before, but right when you try to figure it out, things switch up and you get a new sound, and a new laye...

I’ve reviewed a lot of Figures of Light records in the past, so when this came across my desk I thought I knew what was going to be heard. Then the first track played and it surprised me. Figures of Light once again break the mold and create a lavish display of musical hop scotch. Not satisfied with being put into one genre, the band pulls together influences across EDM, indie, garage, surf, and punk to create a lavish display of music. On “Good News At Last (Mike’s Mix)” you are given one of the best songs ever put to tape from the band. It’s this type of quality that made bands like Minus The Bear’s “Highly Refined Pirates” so many recommendations. Figures of Light’s second track on this release is by far my favorite. It pieces together everything I could want from a song, melting together my love for instrumentals, and the rock concepts that made me such a big Starflyer59 fan upon first hearing. This track is golden, on a record that has several stand out moments. The band do...

Electronic music is always a fascinating landscape. With the release of “Starchildren” Armada Named Sound pushes through the crowded genre to bring you an interesting take on the sound. Mixing several different elements of music, not just electronic, you get a boisterous sound. I love the mix, fusing the best part of several genres into an electric and dare I say eclectic release. You really get a feel for the record with “Afterdrive” which ushers you in to the sound you’re going to get. It highlights good production values, and layered sounds that truly bring out pop and EDM but without relying on just one thing. Often times with electronic music, you get repetition over quality, but not here. Armada Named Sound really pushes several elements together to get you to a sonic boom of cool. I love the way it all fits together. The songs come together like a puzzle, everything having its own place. “Starchildren” really takes on a good cohesive unit through 4 tracks of excellent trac...

I know, my title doesn’t make as much sense as you may have hoped for, but don’t worry, when you actually sit down to listen to the new Secant Prime release, you’ll get it. “Made” the first track that I heard from the release blew me away, as if I was going through a time warp. This electronic release is a wakeup call, and the first good electronic release of 2015 for me. I heard a TON of records in 2014, but this year has started a bit slow for me. I’m glad that Secant Prime’s latest hit my speakers, because it’s definitely a top notch release and you’ll hear it flowing through insane tracks, layered beats, electrical circuitry, and attention to details that you normally don’t get from music of this style. I was impressed with how things moved from frenetic to peaceful, to thought provoking. The record has a good balance to it, and there’s no sound wasted here. It doesn’t just seek to please your ear as much as it is made to create harmony and chaos into a painting that you’ll see...

20 seconds into the latest from Mary Keey, and I’m a fan. I was blown away at 40 seconds in, and may very well have found my favorite electronic record for 2014. As a music writer, I listen to all sorts of music, and electronic is definitely one of the most eclectic genres, but this is something altogether new, and emphatic in the electronic world. This record comes off hard up front, then mellows into a variety of tracks that are unique, and flow through a very unique release. “Electricize Me”, is not a one trick pony, it’s a full scale record that has various inclusions from the world of digital music, and it is perhaps one of the finest mixes I’ve heard in a long time. “Apollo” opens things up in such a heavy manner, that you immediately take note of the record’s presence. After the initial introduction, you are taken through both dance elements, electric elements, and singing that fits right into the mold of EDM, with so much ease. There’s something special here, especially whe...