After Geography is a new (and fourth) album from Forest Robots (the musical project of Francisco Dominquez). This artist has managed to crank out high quality releases at an impressively prolific pace, and his latest one is no exception. The album title was inspired by an anecdote where Ringo Starr once jokingly suggested that the Beatles should name their next album After Geography to follow the Rolling Stones’ recent record, Aftermath. However, when reading this old story, Francisco found the title to be genuinely fascinating and thought the phrase was be a good fit for his nature-oriented, ethereal musical content.

The songs on this album are mostly piano-driven and minimalist, but with the ambient backing, still manage to have a full, satisfying sound. There’s a little bit more mystery than on previous Forest Robots releases. The tracks have a delicate, almost intimate quality to them. While the pacing is extremely modest, I wouldn’t call it mellow, because there’s a subtle, underlying suspense that keeps you on your toes. Songs like Glacial Architecture Of The Mountain Corridor remind me a bit of the sort of exploration music you’d hear in a vintage adventure video game, where you might be navigating your way through a fun little forest, yet know there might be something unexpected around the next corner. That particular track is probably my favorite tune on here.

One aspect of this music I really appreciate is how organic and “alive” it sounds. It isn’t just wall to wall cinematic soundscapes templated for big budget movie theater surround sound. For example, Imagining August 1976, Here has a warm, analog vibe and contains delicious audio intricacies and artifacts. In this way, Forest Robots captures not just the spirit of “being outdoors,” but the actual sound of experiencing something real and tangible.

The final track All Across The High Plain After The Storm is probably one of the more musically sparse jams, but I found the piano to have a rather charming, “opera house” aura. It also only starts off minimalist, as it slowly building toward an epic, wonderland finish.

After Geography certainly lived up to the high expectations I’ve developed for this artist. You can tell he puts everything he’s got into constructing these recordings. When you listen to them collectively, they really do psychically take you on a mountaineering journey or leave you feeling like you just wandered through an untamed wilderness.

For more info:

Bandcamp Pre Order Album Link: https://forestrobots.bandcamp.com/album/after-geography

Website: https://www.forestrobots.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/forestrobots
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forestrobots/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestrobots/

Zones is a new single from artist, Ryan Ley. This avant garde release has a classic and authentically indie sound. Featuring analog warmth and subtle tape hiss, this track has an organic, Lo-Fi appeal. Incorporating a hodgepodge of sound samples and snippets into the beat, makes this functionally a danceable collage. This song manages to take the listener on an unpredictable, wild and quite pleasant ride even with its brief 2:06 runtime. This guy has a knack for scavenging interesting sounds and piecing them together effectively to create a coherent ambiance. The best way I can describe it is it’s like if you combined something like Tommy James and the Shondells’ Crystal Blue Persuasion with 90’s house jams and left an old TV on in the background. This is great stuff, right up my alley.

For more info:

https://soundcloud.com/ryan-ley-4

Visions is a new single from artist, Casper Sun. Partially inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, this zesty summertime single seeks to remind us of the dreams we have to look forward to. The song is bright, upbeat and energetic. It’s like a ray of synth-pop sunshine with some groovy guitar action in the mix. It starts off kind of mellow, and for a moment I assumed it might be some kind of nature/folk tune. Then the beat kicks in, and you realize just how psychically powerful this jam is. The beautiful hooks and chord changes make this track an instant pop classic. Casper Sun’s got the right voice for this sentimental style of music, and he’s not afraid to spice things up a bit in the lyrical department. This is an excellent song any way you slice it.

For more info:

https://www.instagram.com/_caspersun/

UP NEXT is a single from Shreveport-based hip hop artist, RayDaYungin. Born in 2010, this prodigious young performer demonstrates a solid grasp of the fundamentals and some slick dance moves. The chorus is catchy, and the track has all the ingredients of a mini-hit. The delivery and timing are on point, and this dude clearly is a natural showman. Production on the track is label quality, with sonic clarity and a nice clean mix. He claims that his main influences are Da Baby, NLE Choppa, Roddy Rich. It’s important to remember that this kid is only around 10 years old, and his skills are more advanced than some rappers 3 times his age. Talent-wise, he’s got a head start and just needs to stick with this. It’s a cool jam.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rVD2zuvQJAcZ70PjXFyiw

https://www.facebook.com/raydayungin/

Things You Don’t Know is a new single from electronic pop artist, KÍTA. Despite a mellow and deliberate pacing, this synth-driven, retro 80’s jam is brimming to the max with a low-level, pulsating energy. KÍTA’s vocals are dynamic and charismatic, as she belts out the lyrics with an impressive vitality. She sings well even at full volume. The minimalist beat manages to punch above its weight, by way of its crisp bass and voguish vibe. This is a very good pop song, which captures the authentic 80’s spirit (take it from me, I was there). Energizing and empowering, this is a track for people looking to get up and get on the move. It will give you the “pick me up” you need.

For more info:

https://www.kitasmusic.com/
https://soundcloud.com/kitasmusic/

The Evolution is a new album from hip hop artist, King C.P The sound has a dreamlike quality, with an ambient backing and deep reverb. King C.P’s delivery style is reflective, and the flow mostly takes on a “stream of consciousness” form. This is truly a full length album, filled with substantive content and emotional introspection. Musically, it’s much more ethereal than typical hip hop releases, with synth-driven beats that could double as “chillwave” tracks. King C.P’s vocals are clear and free of any unnecessary processing. The reverb and delay effects that are employed merely enhance the listenability of his mellow and naturally pleasant tone. The Evolution is a solid effort that feels very satisfying.

For more info:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-evolution/1507768740
https://www.instagram.com/kingc.p/

Fever Pitch is a new single from Bobby Royale. Featuring a fast, fresh and funkified sound, this lively jam is infectiously groovy. Blending elements of gold age hip hop, funk, R&B and maybe even a bit of disco, Fever Pitch is professionally performed and meticulously constructed. The vocal delivery remains tight with the complex beat throughout, even when reaching impressive speeds. The horns add a nice touch, giving the track a classic, organic and sophisticated aura, reminiscent of a lot of the seasoned ska and funk bands I would see in the early 90s as a teenager. Honestly, these are really good musicians that know what they’re doing. I recommend you check out the video for this song as well. It’s a high quality production, well edited and entertaining from start to finish.

For more info:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBzCOp1OMzaQLBXYfKRZMtw

HOPE is a new album from Australian-based artist and producer, BLOOODHOUND. This avant garde gem features ambient synths, light beats and a plethora of samples and snippets to create an eerily entrancing atmosphere. Each song cohesively blends into the next, and before you realized it, you’ve listened all the way through. I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s a recording sample of a famous 911 call that is utilized creatively as a motif. The best way to describe this album is that it’s uncomfortably beautiful. The sound is is very pretty, yet suspense and unease lurk just beneath. What distinguishes HOPE from many experimental and eccentric recordings is that the artist here demonstrates a surprisingly coherent structure and narrative vision, however subtle. There’s a method to the madness. I love it.

For more info:

https://lnk.to/H0PE

In Memory of You is a new album from Honolulu-based artist Layla Kilolu. Intended to honor her exes, the sound is surprisingly upbeat and energetic. This isn’t funeral procession music. Featuring ambient, futuristic synths and bright vocals, the style balances neatly between EDM and pop. Layla’s voice has a naturally sweet tone that manages to convey innocence, vulnerability and sincerity. She can actually sing pretty well, too. Perhaps what’s greatest about the album is that though these songs are about her exes, she never comes across as particularly bitter. This isn’t just someone rattling off a laundry list of grievances. In fact,the track No Games deals with the games men and women play with each other. In Memory of You covers the healthy, full range of emotions one feels as relationships come and go over the years. The production is high quality, and the mix does a nice job of allowing Layla’s vocals to drive the emotional action. This is a touching release that still contains enough electricity to fire up a dance floor if necessary.

For ore info: