OPM: The Passion of Lovers

Forward Ether – Silent Music

A collection of weird and esoteric instrumental hip hop that defies the “lo fi beats to [blank] to” conventions for a distinctive and unique approach to the genre. For one, it’s not particularly lo-fi. Most of these actually display an almost crystalline sheen, featuring sharp-edged sounds that pop out of the speakers. 

For another, it resolutely does not want to fade into the background. Nearly every one of these tracks is all but demanding your attention, with bold timbres, unexpected turnarounds, and unusual beats. Those are both big points in its favor, even if it means you won’t be hearing these featured in a nine-hour YouTube playlist designed to sleep to. 

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Downupright – Troubleseekers (Original Soundtrack)

A TTRPG soundtrack that goes on a nostalgic journey thru some of electronic music’s most beloved genres, from lo-fi beats to big-room trance. As a gaming soundtrack, there’s a bit of a “games music” vibe underlying all these tracks, and frankly, that is lovely – who doesn’t have nostalgia for some aspect of gaming’s sonic past? 

That said, these aren’t solely, or even first and foremost, old DOS games vibes – there’s IDM and electro pop and ambient and all kinds of weird, cool business on hand here. There’s probably something here for anyone/everyone that’s been a fan of electronic music since 1993 or so. Bonus points if you’re also a tabletop gamer!

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Drug Pilots – Alien Country

Funky, groovy electronic rock instrumentals that feel like a lost record from the late ‘80s. Maybe you had to be there (disclaimer: I was) but there were a lot of odd records of that era that feel like this one – a base of rock and roll, but instead of songs about love and lust, just groovy instrumental jams with lots of nice playing and little spacy touches. 

It’s not quite jazzy enough to be fusion (nor is it trying to be, just offering that as a point of comparison) but it exists in a parallel space. Nostalgia and comparisons aside, there’s a really nice sonic journey thru the relaxed side of instrumental rock to be had here. 

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Phantom West – Executioner Hills

High-drama, high-energy dark synthpop with powerful vocals, from a brooding croon to anthemic shout-singing. Musically we get industrial/EBM, techno and IDM added to the synth-pop mix, along with some wildly disparate moments like the glitchy, piano-driven ambient intro. The dark synth pop is the arguable core of the experience, but the rest certainly puts in some work. 

Some of this is driving and hypnotic, other parts unfold with a slow, careful majesty. All of it is atmospheric and well produced, with plenty of well-executed ideas and nice musical/sonic flourishes. Check it out and don’t be afraid to jump around if one track isn’t holding your attention – there’s definitely something different in the other tracks!

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Logotrope – Crom Cruaunch

Wonderfully goopy and textured set of IDM, weird techno, and generally insane electronica. Adventurous and wide-ranging, without a whole of concern for any kind of genre lines or marketability, this is the kind of out there, wild-eyed electronic experimental music that occasionally pops up. 

It’s quite a singular vision of bleep bloops shaped by what must be quite an idiosyncratic musical and cultural experience. Recommended for fans of the truly unusual and adventurous electronic music out there. Hell, recommended period. (The YT embed is just the first track; whole album is available, for free!, at a dedicated Bargecamp site.)