Mousike Hunter

Indefinite Hiatus?

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:43:00 +0000

Listen. I’m fine now; my ear is no longer plugged. Ideally I should be writing more blog posts because I HAVE been listening to a lot of albums. However, I am questioning this blog’s existence.

Once you dig deep and unravel the nitty-gritty truth of the graveyard-like music shareblog business, you start to doubt whether it’s really worth it. I mean, come on! Is it really worth it?

Thus to explain my point, here is an example:

You write the perfect post. You publish it. Four hours later, BAM! Your post has been deleted. Why? Because of infringing content.

I know that what I post is of illegal nature, but I was not aware that Big Brother is undergoing, day in and day out, diligent surveillance of user content. Now I know; whatever I post, Big Brother knows. And when Big Brother doesn’t like what you post, he calls his trusty minions and shuts you down.

Listen Big Brother. I know of my wrongdoings and as much as I hate saying this: “I surrender”. For now…

Now, guys. This open ended dilemma has left me with two (count them), TWO options. Here they are:

IDEA NUMBER ONE

The ancient [insert ancient civilization or tribe HERE] used to say:

Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day,
Teach a man HOW to fish, you feed him for a lifetime.

I am proud of my abilities to find just about every album, song, EP (and so on) of any artist, thus the idea lies in secretly teaching (via a super secret post) how to do just that, and blog-wise, I will create a new blog in which I’ll only post legal-friendly information about interesting bands in the hopes that you (the reader) will find the material by yourself.

IDEA NUMBER TWO

Shut this whole thing down and blog about something that will never get me into problems, like atheism, abortion, woman rights, racism, North Korea, the Middle East, you know: friendly themes that DO NOT stir up anger and that will NEVER get me into trouble.

So yeah. This blog is pretty much dead and I leave in your hands and those of Bog And All His Holy Angels to either revive a pussy version of it, or let it die a silent death.

So, yeah…that’s it. Bye.

[image via xkcd]

A Few Problems…

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:10:00 +0000

A couple of days ago I received a notification by Blogger about some obviously illegal content posted here which I had to take down. Although I knew it was inevitable it kind of bummed me out.

But the worst thing that’s happened to me lately is that my right ear seems to be “plugged” and I’m not certain of the cause. For what I understand after reading about it, I may have either plugged or inflamed the Eustachian tube, which causes to distort the equalization of the sound. It apparently goes away depending on various causes, so I’m going to the doctor on Monday to get it checked out.

I can however, still listen to music, but on my right ear it sounds as if I mostly hear between the frequencies of 400-2000 Hz. It is very annoying to me as an avid music listener, so until my ear “pops” I’m afraid there won’t be any reviews.

Hopefully I’ll get better so I can keep up suggesting and posting music. See you all later…

“Takk…” by Sigur Rós (2005)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:02:00 +0000

Sigur Rós’ breakthrough fourth studio album not only manages to please more like its predecessor records, but it also shines upon the band a subtle outburst of popularity. Juggling between Icelandic lyrics and “Vonlenska”, Takk… stands out as one of present day’s most accessible representations of the Post-Rock genre.

On this installment, it seems as if the band tears down the boundaries of perception employed by abstraction, and instead flourishes an intense yet delicate sound concentrated by divinely beautiful melodies and arrangements. Utilizing the combination of a surreal and chilly atmosphere, tear inducing strings and they’re trademark falsetto vocals, Takk… emerges victorious from the difficult task of transmitting the emotion brought by minimalism but in a blood pumping rock oriented context.

Get Takk…

Preview Glósóli

“( )” by Sigur Rós (2002)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 09:53:00 +0000

Icelandic Post-Rock band Sigur Rós’ anticipated third studio album was released in 2002 and consolidated the band internationally. ( ), which is often referred to as “parentheses” or “the untitled album” features 8 untitled tracks sung in “Vonlenska”, [a term used by the band] which consists of meaningless syllables in a fashion similar to that of scat singing.

( ) turns out to be the least album to feature the ice cold ethereal sound, and quite contrary, infuses the songs with an ironically refreshing heat induced barrage of uncontrollable emotions. The album marks its own line, dividing optimistic songs at the beginning with melancholic songs at the end, which proves to be a great formula as it appears to progressively escalate until the record’s final minutes of pure and epic bursts of masterful sound bombarded fireworks.

Get ( )

Preview Untitled #4

“Ágætis byrjun” by Sigur Rós (1999)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:47:00 +0000

Slowly spreading by word of mouth, Icelandic band Sigur Rós’ second album became a hit and is probably well known for introducing to the world the basis for they’re [later more widely known] ethereal sound.

Whereas Von displayed an aural ambient sound influenced primarily by Nordic landscapes, Ágætis byrjun creates a fusion between Dream Pop and the serene and forgiving quality of Iceland’s nature. By utilizing interesting brass and strings (specifically the electric guitar played with a cello bow) the album finally consolidates the band’s sound which feels almost like soaring through Iceland’s skies sitting in a cloud while the cold wind slowly moves an iceberg towards a silent crash ashore.

Get Ágætis byrjun

Preview Svefn-g-englar

“Mil Siluetas” by La Unión (1984)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:49:00 +0000

After impressing two members of Mecano, Spanish Pop-Rock band La Unión finally got signed to a record label and released they’re debut album in 1984.

Although rarely heard outside of the Rock en Español scene, the band has managed to be remembered primarily by a few of they’re singles (especially the ones contained in Mil Siluetas), which generally speaking, boast an overwhelming mixture of musical styles, ranging from New Wave, Electro Rock, Piano Rock and Jazz. To be perfectly honest, the record seems a bit under developed in terms of composition and engineering, but what is undeniable are the tracks catchiness and emotive melodies, which propelled La Union as one of Latin Rock’s most recognizable exponents in the eighties.

Get Mil Siluetas

Preview Lobo-Hombre en Paris

“Closer” by Joy Division (1980)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:44:00 +0000

After the success of Unknown Pleasures, Manchester band Joy Division recorded they’re consummate second album titled Closer. However, lead singer Ian Curtis’ health was failing due to his epilepsy and personal problems; so on 18 May 1980, he hanged himself in the kitchen of his house.

Where Unknown Pleasures established the band as the defining sound of Post-Punk, Closer goes a step ahead and creates a powerful masterpiece that would stylistically serve as inspiration for generations to come. The album was once again produced by Martin Hannett, spawning along with the band a pioneering dark melodic vision with quirky synthesized sounds that would later embody the music of the New Order. Closer is more than just a record, it’s an accurate depiction of Ian Curtis’ morbid mental state; Requiescat in pace Ian Curtis.

Get Closer

Preview A Means To An End

“Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK” by múm (2000)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 07:29:00 +0000

Icelandic Glitch group múm’s debut album went pretty unnoticed when it was released back in 2000, but due to the band’s popularity scaling, it has become a cult classic.

This texture rich Electronic album is a humble and honest Experimental creation by very talented people who manage to entertain you with inventive twists and turns. The music lends itself to various interpretations, but what is truly amazing is that every single sound behaves like its coming alive while they surround you in they’re dreamy aura. Yesterday Was Dramatic – Today is OK is an ingenious production that instead of shoving sounds into your head, it reaches into your deepest memories and gives you the tools to make sense of it all.

Get Yesterday Was Dramatic - Today Is OK

Preview There is a Number of Small Things

“The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan” by Bob Dylan (1963)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:51:00 +0000

Following the debut of his first album, Woody Guthrie pupil Bob Dylan went on to write an album that would feature songs written by him, instead of covering and arranging old folk tunes. Thus, in the midst's of the Civil Rights Movement emerged a true masterpiece of songwriting; one that would position itself among the most important recordings of our time: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.

What can I say about this chef-d'oeuvre that has not been said before? I don’t know, but I will say this: hold this record tight to you and try to understand it, within it lie powerful words that compose an inspirational letter dedicated to all of humanity; a letter that must never be forgotten.

Get The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Preview Blowin' In The Wind

“Von” by Sigur Rós (1997)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:21:00 +0000

After getting a record deal with Sugarcubes-owned label Bad taste, Icelandic Post-Rock band Sigur Rós (meaning “Victory Rose”) released they’re debut album titled Von (which means “Hope”).

Structurally, the album behaves as a minimalist recording, utilizing rock instruments to produce simple melodies that exhale an ethereal sounding representation of Iceland’s landscapes and emotions by taking elements of Dream Pop and Ambient music. Thanks to post production, the record’s supernal sound is magnified by adding another layer of celestial sounds to it, and all of it summed up with lead singer Jónsi Birgisson's trademark falsetto voice.

Get Von

Preview Myrkur

“Unknown Pleasures” by Joy Division (1979)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 09:28:00 +0000

Emerging from The Gig That Changed The World, friends Bernard Sumner and Peter Hook bought musical equipment and started a band. Eventually two more members would join them: Stephen Morris and Ian Curtis (the latter would later achieve an iconic status). They would call themselves Joy Division.

Under the management of Robert Gretton, Factory Record's own Tony Wilson and genius record producer Martin Hannet, Joy Division recorded they're debut LP titled Unknown Pleasures. The most recognizable characteristics of this recording are Martin Hannet’s outstanding control over the general sound of it (specially the percussions), producing an exceptional spacious atmosphere, as well as Ian Curtis’ brilliantly dark and woeful lyrics sung by his own gloomy and expressive baritone vocals to the band's sad and energetic melodies. Unknown Pleasures stands firm as one of Post Punk's greatest recordings (if not the greatest) and inspiring music for generations to come.

Get Unknown Pleasures

Preview Shadowplay

“Life’s Too Good” by The Sugarcubes (1988)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 06:31:00 +0000

In 1986 Icelandic band KUKL’s label was closed off. Due to this the band broke up, but later that year, members from KUKL and surrealist group Medusa got together and created the label Smekkleysa (or Bad Taste). The label had relatively no money, so to bring some income they created a pop group called The Sugarcubes.

They’re debut album Life’s Too Good is insanely good, and I say “insanely” because the music is very very crazy. The album is undeniably pop, however it still manages to behave as a Post Punk recording. The songs are quite imaginative and clever, whacky and sincere. It includes humor, sorrowfulness, and themes that are way darker than they seem; all of it featuring Björk’s erratic and childlike beautiful vocals.

Life’s Too Good is an ingenious tour de force at invention and experimentation that manages to convey the message that anything is possible when it comes to music.

Get Life’s Too Good

Preview Birthday

“The Scream” by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1978)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:18:00 +0000

Right out of the Bromley Contingent comes Siouxsie and the Banshees, who after launching a Top 10 UK single, they finally release they're anticipated debut album The Scream.

The album opens up a vortex of an intense and cold atmosphere which wraps around you and doesn’t let go for the trip ahead. It’s hard, it’s slick and all lead by Siouxsie’s energetic vocals. When the album is finished, you feel as if that undescriptive aura has let you go, but you are still left with the dirty syringe cavities of a sound so rough and penetrating that you are instantly addicted for life.

To this day this Alfred Hitchcock-inspired album is hailed by various people, such as Robert Smith of The Cure, and is also considered by many as the pioneering sound of the Post Punk musical movement.

Get The Scream

Preview Metal Postcard

“Pullhair Rubeye” by Avey Tare & Kría Brekkan (2007)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:56:00 +0000

Pullhair Rubeye is an Experimental Folk album that was recorded by married couple Avey Tare (who is actually Dave Portner from Animal Collective) and Kría Brekkan (who is actually Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir formerly of múm). When the album was finished, they decided to put all the tracks in reverse, and some of them also in double speed.

Although the “reversed” album does have an unusually serene quality, it just seems to be lacking depth and doesn’t offer an engaging atmosphere; and the double speed is just plain overkill.

Now with proper software people were able to edit the album so it would be heard “forward”, which I did. The “forward” version is a lot more pleasing than the “reversed” version. Some of the songs don’t have lyrics, but the ones that do, feature the enchantingly smooth childlike vocals of Kría accompanied by Avey; all this encompassed by an interesting contrast between sad melodies and sweet lyrics.

Get Pullhair Rubeye
(both “reversed” and “forward” versions)

Preview Sis Around the Sándmill (“forward” version)

“Homogenic” by Björk (1997)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 08:06:00 +0000

After the release of Post, Björk had finished her first two albums which were songs she had written throughout her lifetime, and now had to come up with a truly new record; one in which she would produce Icelandic Techno with an aim on nature, which ended up sounding like a mix between Electronica and Trip Hop.

The first thing I noticed in Homogenic is that it may be her most Experimental and academically challenging album to date. Filled with a rich and perplexing amount of percussions and the inclusion of mystifying strings, Homogenic's depiction of nature portrays the hard task of equilibrium between a sensation of rugged chaos and complexity, and that of personal ataraxis and pure emotionally driven love.

Note that there are two versions of the song All Is Full Of Love. The one on the album is a remix by Howie B and has stripped down strings and percussions. The “intended” version is available as a single and is also included as the first track of her Greatest Hits CD.

Get Homogenic

Preview Hunter

“The Dresden Dolls” by The Dresden Dolls (2003)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:09:00 +0000

After meeting at a Halloween party in 2000 and doing some live performances, The Dresden Dolls released they’re self titled debut album. The duo describe they’re music as Brechtian Punk Cabaret, but it is generally considered as Dark Cabaret.

Stylistically, the actual cabaret sensation is very notorious in the record; it is always present yet always mixed around depending on the song, with either Alternative Rock, Punk or Pop. The album boasts a good sense of humor but what I really extol is the diversity in they’re melodies which makes it an adventurous ride where it’s not easy to predict how the song is going to end. There are a lot of things going on but what is undisputable are the tracks catchiness and feminine attributes mixed with a very direct and playful mockery of social and political hypocrisies, all blended cohesively with lead singer Amanda Palmer’s broody, dark and deep vocals.

Get The Dresden Dolls

Preview Good Day

“Post” by Björk (1995)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Post is the second album by Björk and follows up Debut’s concept of recording material of past days. The album was produced by Nellee Hooper, Tricky, Graham Massey of 808 State and Howie B. This entire collage of very talented producers inspired Björk to record slightly more experimental and diverse material, and more predominantly influenced by Electronica and Trip Hop.

Post swallows the shy image she portrayed in Debut by delivering a more adventurous and contrasting vision by wandering of to places and situations that were left unexplored in Debut; places and situations with slightly darker themes located in a more urban context while shifting from personal to global positions; all enchanted by Björk’s beautiful voice and emotion.

Get Post

Preview Hyperballad

“Paper Monsters” by Dave Gahan (2003)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:57:00 +0000

With all of Depeche Mode's members starting projects of they're own it was only a matter of time until lead singer Dave Gahan stepped to the challenge by releasing his very personal debut solo album titled Paper Monsters.

The first thing I noticed while listening to the album is that the songs are quite reminiscing of recordings with Depeche Mode (specially the albums Ultra and Exciter) but offer a chiseled rock sounding ambiance. The true downside is that Dave Gahan is not a great lyricist, however, he gets away with it by deploying his ability to elevate mediocre lyrics to an emotional apex just by merely exhibiting his expressible baritone singing voice and surprisingly showcasing his multi-instrumentalist abilities in the recording session.

Get Paper Monsters

Preview Dirty Sticky Floors

“Debut” by Björk (1993)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 04:56:00 +0000

In 1992 Icelandic pop band The Sugarcubes split up, and lead singer Björk began her solo career by recording the album Debut (which isn't really her solo debut, but that's another story). Produced by Nellee Hooper, the album encompassed songs Björk had written throughout her lifetime.

Debut boasts a mixture of Electronica driven intellectual, dance and love songs, all accompanied by Björk’s beautiful and broad soprano vocals, emotional lyrics and interesting beats. What is truly outstanding is that it’s not Björk’s voice what takes the spotlight, but rather the amount of emotion she is able to convey with it. The entire album is like a little Björk sprinkled all over; you get to enjoy great music while understanding, from various perspectives, themes of love, nature and heritage.

Get Debut

Preview Human Behaviour

“Confusion is Sex” by Sonic Youth (1983)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:22:00 +0000

NYC's own Sonic Youth formed in 1981 and right away they affiliated themselves with the No Wave movement. They're debut album was recorded with a low budget but still showcased they're proto-Noise Rock and Alternative Rock potential by redefining what an electric guitar can do thru unusual tuning methods.

Being truly honest, the album is all over the place, the singing is somehow out of tune, the whole recording sounds improvised; it is an experimental mess. However, within it lies some sort of hidden dark power that without permission grabs your attention and obliges you to think and try to understand the message behind it. It is not a message of hope, it is a message of despair; an indicator that pop ruined all and that they’re just trying to rebuild from the ground up a body of work from a dismembered and rotten corpse.

Get Confusion Is Sex

Preview Shaking Hell

“Apparat Organ Quartet” by Apparat Organ Quartet (2002)

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:41:00 +0000

While it took three years in the making, Apparat Organ Quartet's sole debut self titled album is a rare Icelandic gem. It features a delectable ensemble of electronic organs that are both catchy, clean sounding and emotionally conveying. They refer to they’re music as Machine Rock & Roll but essentially the album sounds like recordings of Electronica pioneers Kraftwerk but under the influence of prescription drugs, utilizing organs and playing darker and more sinister electronic beats. They’re music is structured quite intricately as they compact very complex ideas into simple tunes that dare to showcase an alternative side to progressive rock.

Get Apparat Organ Quartet
(Password: musicstoretr.blogspot.com)

Preview Romantika

Suggestion Box

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:33:00 +0000

I will use this place as a suggestion box for artists, albums or genres you think I should explore that I haven’t featured yet. You can also make general suggestion as of the general layout of the page, features you would like to be seen, or other problems.

If you want to make comments or suggestions of a particular post I advise you do it there.

Note: If you suggest an album specify the artist. Thanks in advance.

POST SUGGESTIONS IN COMMENTS!

About

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:15:00 +0000

I listen to a lot of music. I recognize a lot of songs. I’m walking on the street and all of a sudden I remember and start humming or singing a tune, riff, beat. I’m a walking and living jukebox.

Around two years ago I started composing Computer Music, pretty shallow I'd say, but it would later evolve by implementing vocals and inclinations towards various genres and artists.

So my plan is to learn about great music from various styles and backgrounds in the hopes of falling in love with foreign sounds, and if lucky, it will inspire me to make better music.

In conclusion, this is a blog about this journey; every recording or film I encounter from now on that is related to music I will post here. There is however, the matter of the path I choose to take: my path or the suggested path. My path are recordings I encounter by myself and the suggested path are the ones that you may want me to feature. Your opinion is always welcome.

Now, every post cannot simply be the name of a recording; thats would be stale and boring. So to spice things up I will include the following (in that order) in every post:

Picture of the artist/artists.
Picture of the record’s cover art.
A short review of the material, including brief historical facts.
The link to the full recording for evaluation purposes.
A preview of the recording. This may be one song or a snippet of a song.

Hopefully you get the idea of what I’m going for here and help me to get this thing going.

~Sincerely, V.

Disclaimer

noreply@blogger.com (V.) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 01:41:00 +0000

Mousike Hunter is a music discovery blog and aspires to collect and present in it music that is either relatively unknown or that its iconic value is so important that it deserves more recognition. Mousike Hunter does not host any files within its own server. Mousike Hunter does not even have a server, therefore all the music presented in this blog is gathered from third party sources that I have no control of.

I respect the choices of artists regarding the way they want they’re music to be heard, either distributing they’re music freely through the Web, only snippets of some songs or none of the methods mentioned above. If the artist or the artists authorized agents advise me that Mousike Hunter is linking to an illegally posted song, or any illegally posted material of the artists, I will remove the link to the specified material.

If you are the copyright owner of any music material linked in this site, I urge you to recognize that the link or embedded material is not the music file. The link only points to a location of the file in the Web. If you want to take down the file, you can contact me at v.mousike@gmail.com so I can give you the specified link of the third party that is hosting the file.

Note that the links I post are for evaluation purposes and I encourage my readers to buy the original content as well as linking my readers to the artists official site.

If you still have any questions I advise you to contact me at v.mousike@gmail.com.