With a past in trash metal and influences spanning from that to The Residents, Doofgoblin offers the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2003 debut "Marblebarrel" in the form of a CD EP, with a track list of 6 compositions of ambient glitch electronics. The quality at hand is definitely remarkable, as this ain't your average "I got a computer so now I can make some noisy music" record. John Gulino, a.k.a. Doofgoblin, comes up with his own blend of rhythmical patterns and sound layers. Borrowing (but not copying or cloning) from breakcore, noise, ambient, dance etc, he puts together an album that isn't really any of those, but much rather something where the sum of all components leads to a new breed of rhythmic ambient. Sloping from one track's warping and warp-ish sounds to the next track's staal-ish digital glitching, Doofgoblin covers all grounds making sure to keep a certain consistency and homogeneous approach, without ever boring the listener. He picked the right format for it and proved that you can do beautiful glitch-core ambientronica with a meaningful structure and a deep soul. Maybe I am going beyond his simple intents, maybe I just found an album in this genre that I particularly appreciate, or maybe he's just ahead of the curve and understood what others haven't got yet.

Whoa! Incredible droning sonatas from an ensemble featuring Karen Stackpole (40" symphonic gong), Bill Noertker (double bass), Garth Klippert (accordion), Tony Cross (violin), Ben Hayes (didgeridoos), and Drew Webster/Die Elektrischen, Dielectric co-founder, here at electric train (!) and mixing, besides being responsible for putting up this amazing big band. The players, who had never played together as a group before (something difficult to believe in, really), improvised in studio, then the sessions were digitally edited. Atmospheres vary from soothing, peaceful moments to menacing sound-masses - the effect is hypnotic and mind-entrancing, and textures are blurred and layered at the same time: instruments are both heard in their individual playings and dissolved into the misty collective soundscape. Think of the very best in acoustic-generated drones: the Deep Listening Band, Organum, Pelt, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Annea Lockwood... This 2-cd set is a joy to the ear, don't miss it.

Dutch dance DJ Armin Van Buuren has enjoyed a discretely successful career so far, with the release of his debut album "76" on United, a bunch of readers poll top ten rankings and other nominations. Although he releases stuff on his own laben Armind and landed a deal with AM:PM in 1999, his new double disc comes out on the NYC Lower East Side based label Ultra records, and features mixes by Mark Otten, Solid Globe, Whirlpool, Three Drives, Airwave, Kyau vs. Albert, Fictivions vs. Phynn, Perpetuous Dreamer, Active Sight, Super 8, Oceanlab, Robert Nichson, Perry O'Neil, Valentino, Michael Burns, Peter Martin presents Anthanasia, St. John vs. Locust, Remy & Roland Klinkenberg, Solar Stone vs. Scott Bond, M.I.K.E. presents Fascinated, Mono, Envio, True Form, Artic Quest, Terry Bones vs. Fred Baker present Water Planet + a track he wrote himself featuring Justine Suissa.His dance/trance sound is made up of long pads backed by strong beats and relies heavily on ethereal atmospheres and airy synth layers. You can hear influences of the maestros of ethereal voyaging trancey music such as Tangerine Dream, Jean Michael Jarre, Sasha, Chicane, Paul Van Dyk and other declared influences such as Ben Liebrand and Digweed. Of course this album is custom tailored for the tribes of dancing folks on acid but works on the radio as well and is easy to listen and groove to. The album comes out today and Armin will launch a North American tour on April 1st. Queue up.

Audioplug almost did it! Did what? They almost did the perfect album by releasing their first CD titled X-POSED. The members of the trio already had previous experiences with other bands (if it wasn't this way we could almost mention the word "miracle") and probably this helped them making this really good album. The eleven tracks have got as reference point the latest melodic e.b.m. of the likes of Apoptygma Berzerk or Icon Of Coil as well as old bands like Evils Toy. All this without forgetting electronic icons like Gary Numan (listen to the vocals on "Acidify Me") and without forgetting their cultural background! You've got to know that they are coming from Greece and the lyrics they used on "Hyperion Sun" are taken from the Homeric hymns for Zeus, Gaia and Sun. In my humble opinion this is a really good thing as they did an album of electronic music without "cloning" other people's ideas. All the album is really full of catchy sounds and melodies and I was amazed since track one. The band is able to blend power, melody, rhythm without being too fashion. Innovation isn't the right term thinking about this album but all the elements that help to make a good one are there and this make Audioplug get a four stars and half!

Although Kaskade's latest album is almost too pop for die hard "alternatives" like Chain D.L.K. crew members and readers, I'll gladly give this a shot because it is equally well done and exciting as it is easy listening. Due for release on May the 18th, "In the Moment" follows his critically acclaimed debut album and hit single "It's You, Its' Me" as well as a few nominations and respectable chart placements. The album is beautiful and goes from dancefloor-ready anthems to lounge chill out atmospheres and from lush pop tunes to gorgeous electronica compositions. On of the strongest point of this album are the string arrangments ("Maybe" or the masterpiece "Soundtrack to the Soul"), but a vast array of guests including Brett, Becky Williams, Colette, Amy Michelle, Joslyn, Rob Wannamaker, Anthony Green, Andy Caldwell and Amanda contribute to the greatness and the variaty of "In the Moment".