Friday 1 May 2020 marked the second iteration of Bandcamp waiving their fees in order to help support the artists and labels that get us talking, providing some financial relief during these difficult times.
Since we are a collective of likeminded writers – and most importantly music lovers – we have listed in alphabetical order what we purchased on Bandcamp. This is by no means an exclusive list nor representative of all that was on offer on that day, but a highlighting of what struck us as individuals.
ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ – W.S.
Released: 12 April 2020
Picked by Luke Hawkins
W.S. is a digital collection of ambient music recorded in Samara, Russia between 2018-2020 by Russian based 17 y.o. prodigy, ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ aka Nikolay Kozlov.
Carsten Jost – You Don’t Need A Weatherman To Know Which Way The Wind Blows
Released: 30 April 2020
Selected by Tom Durston
Coastal Haze: The Album
Released: 30 April 2020
Selected by Freddie Hudson
Coastal Haze: The Album is a highlight reel of Coastal Haze back catalogue featuring a track from every artist to release on the label with all money made going directly to the artists or a charity of their choice.
Corell – Optimism
Released: 12 April 2020
Picked by Luke Hawkins
‘Optimism‘ is an emotionally diverse musical journey that constantly shifts away from listener’s expectations while still striving to grab the attention. Free for interpretations, ‘Optimism‘ raises the question, is there a chance to escape the utilitarianism these days?
Data Plan – sych2o
Released: 30 April 2020
Picked by Tom Durston
Deepchord – AI-01: Lanterns
Released: 22 May 2014
Selected by Freddie Hudson
Available in digital format for the very first time, Rod Modell presents “Lanterns” – an epic journey through an evolving sonic landscape propelled by the churning momentum of reverb-soaked percussion.
Hope You’re Well
Released: 1 May 2020
Picked by Esme Bennett
HVL – Alignment
Released: 10 April 2020
Picked by Freddie Hudson
Alignment is a 19-track treasure trove of deep techno from HVL.
In Order To Care
Released: 1 May 2020
Picked by Tom Durston
R&S Records compilation curated by Raj Chaudhuri featuring new and exclusive music from an array of label regulars, affiliates and newcomers including; Special Request, Call Super, Peach, Shanti Celeste, Barker, Forest Drive West, Yak, K-LONE, Loraine James, T. Wiltshire, More Time Records. Every penny raised from sales will go to a collective in Liverpool who are raising funds to help supply PPE direct to the NHS frontline staff.
Jabu & Daniela Dyson – Jabu + Daniela Dyson
Released: 12 April 2020
Picked by Freddie Hudson
A collection of music made from 2017-2020 featuring contributions from Sunun, Rakhi Singh & Sebastian Gainsborough.
Hoshina Anniversary – Odoriko 2.0
Released: 1 May 2020
Picked by Luke Hawkins
Hoshina Anniversary re-works the 7 tracks of “Odoriko” for this exclusive bandcamp bonus release. Tokyo-based producer presents a cluster of visually harmonious symbols: Japanese gravestones, foam and tethered objects pieced together with minimal electronics and traditional Japanese instruments.
Liquid Earth – Liquid Earth
Released: 30 April 2020
Selected by Henry Ivry
Kangding Ray – STOCK
Released: 1 May 2020
Selected by Andy Gillham
Musically, the tracks will lean towards psychedelism and introspection, and will be sporadically uploaded, as they are created. Each track will receive a visual counterpoint based on stock photo previews, treated as a ready-made subversive art form. Taken out of context, these generic conveyors of relatable feelings can reveal our insecurities, unfold the mechanic behind the construction of desires, and question the vanity economy we’re navigating in.
Mother’s Finest – Untold / Duckett [remastered]
Released: 1 May 2020
Selected by Henry Ivry
Untold gifts us with a battle mix of 25 exclusive unreleased Untold Tracks pushing boundaries only like the Hemlock Recordings visionary can master. Another story is the studio live performance from Wisdom Teeth’s and Freerotation’s Duckett, steadily pushing experimental in the UK’s underground for two decades now. Expect deconstructed rave and hymns for the apocalypse to sluggering rhythms and mellow euphoria.
Mogwai – ZEROZEROZERO
Released: 1 May 2020
Picked by Zoltán Velkei
Mogwai release this new soundtrack, ZeroZeroZero, available for one week exclusively on a pay-what-you-can basis with half of proceeds going to Help Musicians and NHS charities.
Nick León – Refraction
Released: 1 May 2020
Picked by Luke Hawkins
Recorded in Miami and Los Angeles between November 2019 – April 2020 using generative music methods and borrowed synthesizers.
Parallel Minds – PM002.5
Released: 30 April 2020
Selected by Henry Ivry
Peder Mannerfelt – Live at Berlin Atonal 2015
Released: 1 May 2020
Picked by Luke Hawkins
Originally released on Berlin Atonal Records on vinyl only, this is a live recording from Peder Mannerfelt’s concert at Berlin Atonal in 2015.
SOLIDARITY – SOLIDARITY
Released: 30 April 2020
Selected by Freddie Hudson
SOLIDARITY is a fundraiser compilation of electronic artists in the occupied Indigenous territories that constitute Canada who stand in support of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in their fight against Coastal GasLink’s movement to build a pipeline through unceded traditional territory. The intent is both to raise funds and awareness to the ongoing situation in the Wet’suwet’en Nation and Unist’ot’en Camp. 100% of proceeds raised from the compilation will go to the Unist’ot’en Legal Fund.
Towhead Recordings – New York Dance Music II
Released: 1 May 2020
Selected by Tom Durston
Waswaas – What Remains
Released: 1 May 2020
Selected by Tom Durston
White Material – Days Of Future Past
Released: 1 May 2020
Picked by Tom Durston
A 19-track compilation of unreleased tracks, secret weapons, and lost recordings by the 5 members of the White Material crew (Alvin Aronson, DJ Richard, Galcher Lustwerk, Morgan Louis, Young Male), plus a remix by Spencer Parker.
“Songs made in exile, music recovered from stolen or corrupted hard drives. Listen closely and you’ll hear traces of New York, Berlin, Los Angeles and Rhode Island. What could’ve been, what was, and what remains today.”
Xr/spool: – Void Lands
Released: 13 March 2020
Selected by Freddie Hudson
For his debut album, Xr/spool: paints a dark and mysterious canvas that invites us to pay more attention to the smallest details that may help us to grasp the complexity of this new world we are in.
Yre Den – Inlight
Released: 27 March 2020
Picked by Giulio Cremieux