Comprehensive Exposition on Innovative New Music Releases

As the calendar rolled-over to a new year, the desire to make 2026 the best one yet is still a fresh possibility.  Pointing towards all that are four unconventional new musical releases given the DaveCromwellWrites deep-dive review.  Each entry here challenge the listener to go on a journey with them through sonic labyrinths.  The overall emphasis is on creative use of ambient, ethereal, dream-pop and drone.

The always busy Tom Lugo does not let much time pass before releasing new music. Running his own label Patetico Recordings out of a home base in Pennsylvania, a variety of collaborative and solo projects arrive frequently. The latest is a seven-track EP “The Edge Of Everything” from his Panophonic moniker. Having tragically lost the recordings fully polished, finalized tracks, the artist was fortunate to still have carefully preserved rough mix bounces (the pre-production) to work with. Impressed with what has been salvaged here, a full track-by-track analysis commences below.

EP opener “Oblivion” commences with rapid-strummed gazey guitar, soon met by a steady snare drum beat and deep-tone bass guitar rhythms. Tom’s voice floats in, creating one more sonic element to the structure. While overall feel is a more forceful dream-gaze, the vocal cadence leans closer to Mick Jones’ delivery in The Clash. At midpoint a tasty percussion lead breakdown adds an unexpected melodic rise.  “Cosmic Intent” rises out of an ambient halo, nudged along by layered electronic beats. The pace is leisurely, wrapped in a glowing sheen. Clocking in at over five minutes, the records longest song provides plenty of space for contemplating the universe.

Syncopated guitar figures, melodic descending bass and complimentary drum beat are the forces powering along third cut “Starless Skies.”  Tom sings with passion, as his quick-strummed guitar aura lifts everything up into the stratosphere.   

“Near Horizon” comes on at a measured, more deliberate pace.  Washes from the void flood the soundscape, as tandem note guitar and bass lines create melody. Cymbals accentuate the beats under this echo-laden guitar and voice presentation.

“Lasting Echoes” drives along at a quicker pace, with a throbbing bass guitar progression as it’s engine. Tom alternates fully sung-out lines with whispered near spoken word ones.  Guitars ebb-and-flow over fragmented time drum beats. 

 A shearing, horror-movie squall kicks off penultimate track “So Out Of Reach.”  Rubbery bass and churning guitar chords set the tone for Tom’s melodic vocal delivery.  That soft delivery runs opposite of the musical chaos churning all around.

Reaching the EP’s final entry, “Starlight In Your Eyes” encompasses all the uplift and romanticism this dream-gaze genre is defined by.  There’s a distinct Slowdive feel to it all, and that’s a good thing.  The perfect ending to an overall rewarding listening experience.

Check out this glorious recording, including how to acquire it here:

Find out more about Tom's entire music catalog and his independent music label Patetico Recordings here.

Two previous DCW features on Tom’s music (among many) can be found here and here

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It was exactly three years ago this month when multi-instrumentalist Matt Catling’s experimental music project Under The Sun received a detailed review here at this site. That three track EP “Ocean Breeze” was an impressive display of ambient instrumental explorations. The artist is now back with a soon-to-be released full length album “Slow Motion Water” on world class Shore Dive Records. With two singles already released, a deep-dive analysis of latest work commences below.

Opening track “Drone F#” picks up where the previous record left off, with it’s gradual moving, meditative instrumental-only offering. A measured back-and-forth between two distinct tones set the initial pace, before a third element of three rising chimes enter in. Other sonic textures soon enter the mix, including steady, sharp singular intonation and percussive strike. Three quarters in, shredding guitar noise joins the fray along with lower register textures adding depth to the overall sonics.

The albums first single “Precious” follows, building off a shimmering flow and distant clack percussion. Under that haze comes vocals buried in true MBV “Loveless” fashion, where being “confident in your heart” leads to happiness and “feeling so beautiful – like you’re in love.”  Matt delivers these lines with William Reid-like tonal register on his more psychedelic entries.

Another more recent single release is the albums third cut “Dream.” What sounds like icy keyboard strikes leads the listener into another lyrically driven composition. Much clearer in the mix, the near-spoken-word story serves as a travelogue of sorts. Name-checking NYC, LA, Turkey, and an Indian Parade, the dream to live and dance in these locales is expressed. A strong percussive undercurrent is enhanced by buzzing guitars and a positive wish for society overall.

Fourth cut “Summer” combines a back-and-forth rhythm laces with bell chimes and more ghostly vocals. A rising hissing texture weaves its way into the mix, along with harsher sonic washes that push everything further, before drifting away into fadeout.    Fifth entry “The Outrun” emerges out of percussive beats and less-distorted, more defined singular notes. The heavier FX’s come on ethereal vocals that float in and out of view. It’s an effective combination of rhythmic clarity and celestial voices. Layered guitars accentuate the overall composition with (first) noise and then softer ambient outro.

Gentle strumming and deep thump beats introduce sixth track “Slight.” Twangy guitar notes emerge along with now-familiar ghostly voices. An undertow of swells rise up throughout, mixing unintelligible vocals within this wafting soundscape. A brief pause at the midway point resets everything momentarily, before it starts up in full once again. The albums seventh entry “A Midnight Oddessy” also served as the b-side to first single “Precious.”  Opening with chiming guitar-string-strokes and industrial percussion, softer elements emerge as the song progresses. Coming with a complete lyrical story where one is “walking along feeling lost,” the liner notes indicate it’s dedicated to recently deceased film-maker David Lynch.  Sonic waves of full-on gazey guitars lift everything further, on out to its conclusion.

Modulating pulsing provide counter-melody for the shimmering guitars on eighth cut “Shining Smile.” Voices float in on gossamer wings, only to disappear into the void shortly thereafter. Ninth and second to last track “Soft Focus” combines upfront guitar strumming, wind rushes and steady beats with a return to William Reid-style vocals. A warbly sonic element emerges on top for additional texture. The tenth and final entry “Never Forget” builds around a clean, FX-free beat, clarion chimes, distant vaporous vocals and intensity levels that ebb and flow with the tide.

With a few tracks already releases, the full album is expected at the end of this month.

Connect with Under The Sun here on Facebook and Instagram.

Connect with Shoredive Records via their extensive LinkTree

A previous DCW feature on this artist can be found here

Along with a recent Shoredive review feature here.

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In 2025 Andres Alfonso Lugo Cruz released two separate pieces of work under his solo Los Dientes Hundidos en la Garganta project, that received full reviews here at this site. This ever creative musician is now back with a new five track recording “TRANSFIGURACIONES.” Once again playing everything on these recordings (drums, guitars, synths, noises, bass, and everything else) some significant samples also appear. The artist has put a lot of intellectual thought into these pieces, noting the difference between traditional music’s emphasis on time, while textural drone compositions explore space. The intention is less about entertainment, but rather explorations into our doors of perception.

As if to drive home the intellectual inspiration for these works, it’s opening piece comes with what has to be the longest song title ever for any piece. “Them, they will attain immortality as they will be able to being anyone back to life by exactly assembling atoms to match the same structure that a body possessed before its death” is the paragraph long single sentence title.  What we initially hear is slow and ominous, with a subtle mechanized undercurrent. The movement is deliberate as it carefully reveals itself in a delicate progression and form.

Follow-up entry passage “Dialogues” draws inspiration from cybernetics visionary writer Stanislaw Lem.  Over 60 years ago this sci-fi writer predicted the internet and our current evolution of synthetic minds created by humans.  Andres musical explorations here build around a steady drum beat, indecipherable voices and deep sonic washes.  Despite the infinity loop feel in the repeated sequences, illusive flowing changes keep the listener engaged.

Third cut “Intellectronics” delves further into this artists fascination with capturing that audio “state of waiting and suspension.”  A rough-scratch underlying pulse provides a hint of solid matter to grab on to, while that infinite reserve dissipating all around converge simultaneously.  It’s a transcendental feeling “where any point may connect to any other.”

At ten minutes in length, the albums longest track “Lost Illusions” opens (and closes) with a backdrop of rain and distant thunder amid ambient overtones.  This audio journey into the void exemplifies how creative fluid music is free from linear design constraints.  Based on the concept of a rhizome philosophy there is no distinct tonal center or primary melody, allowing for a continual reconfiguration. Like an impressionistic painting, it opens one up to a meditative state of mind that provides both refuge and space to ponder the cosmos.

Final piece “Theoretical Reasons” builds around a spoken word sample mixed within spacious wind rushes and agitated percussion.  There’s an urgency embedded inside this composition that separates it somewhat from all the tracks previously heard here.  An interesting way to bring this fascinating album to conclusion.

Listen to and find out how to acquire this music here:

Follow this artist on their Social Media     -     Facebook     -     Instagram     -     Bandcamp     -     YouTube

A previous DCW feature on this artist can be found here.

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It’s always a pleasure to discover new music from an email sent directly by a band or their label. Such is the case with the Italian recording imprint I Dischi del Minollo, and the news of progressive instrumental artists Northway latest EP “Impulse, Surrender!”  Working in a genre they self-confess is influenced by artists like Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, this Italian 4-piece have crafted an impeccable recording of delightfully nuanced material. With both compositions coming in at seven to seven-and-a-half minutes in length, there’s much to explore and experience.

First entry “Impulse” sets the tone with a steady bass drum “heartbeat” while open string guitar chords ring out like a clarion bell. Behind that comes chugging rhythm and bass guitar that halts for a split second, before launching into the progression in full. A fluid lead guitar melody line steps out in dominant form, while the rest of the band surge forward with precise rhythmic counterpart. A shimmering guitar undercurrent gives a subtle gazey feel, and exemplifies how a dual guitar powered band can be working on separate levels simultaneously. Two minutes in and a switch is thrown, as hard-edged distorted power chords suddenly command the arena. While that burst of rhythmic power unfolds, a distinct lead guitar melody rides over top.

The mood shifts once more, and a dreamy Pink Floyd-like slow-groove dreamscape unfolds. Descending keyboard lines and guitar melodies criss-cross each other with a gentle touch. One more movement takes hold, and it’s atonal guitar textures have a Sonic Youth quality to them. That morphs into further distortions where the now current guitar tone is slightly off-kilter and warbly. The final passage is clear, clean and spacious, allowing for emphasis on bass guitar, drums and singular lead guitar notes.

The second track on this EP “Surrender” begins with stark piano notes over top of long-held synth pads. The melody is vibrant and tugs on the heart with it’s emotional feeling. Guitars soon enter in, creating a melodic counterpoint to the sentimental piano notes. At two minutes a sonic shift occurs and all goes quiet except for a military-style snare drum pattern. A single tone guitar figure starts on top of that, followed by another guitar weaving filigree textures around it. That continues to build into a fuller movement where uplifting shimmer is held together by the firmness of bass guitar. With everything progressing forward, elements of dreamy distortion emerges underneath, along with pitch-bend guitar figures. A final movement of percussion-accented power chords, dominant guitar figures and keyboard twinkles lead to it’s conclusion.

Check out these two incredible instrumental pieces (including how to acquire the EP) here:

Follow Northway on their Facebook, Instagram and TwitterX

Connect with the bands label I Dischi del Minollo via their Social Media as well: Official Site, Facebook, Instagram and TwitterX  

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