14 votes

What are your most obscure finds that are musically excellent?

23 comments

  1. asoftbird
    (edited )
    Link
    I've recently found Susumu Hirasawa's music, a Japanese synthpop musician. It's very different from western standards, and it's generally just interesting stuff as the themes are very Japanese in...

    I've recently found Susumu Hirasawa's music, a Japanese synthpop musician. It's very different from western standards, and it's generally just interesting stuff as the themes are very Japanese in origin; very creative storytelling with references to mysticism and technology, and just very much something only the Japanese could do. There's a bunch of albums l've listened so far, all from the 90s, which also invokes some 90s nostalgia.

    I've known this music for about 2-3 months now and l think l've been listening to it nonstop, which doesn't happen often. Already got a vinyl record as well. It's very soothing!

    Some songs are particularly otherworldly. Here's some of my favorites:

    Cambodian Limbo

    Niwashi KING

    Moon Time

    One song that is also very special is Paranesian Island Door, which is fairly melancholic, minimalistic and traditional for the most part, but later transitions into an urbanized, almost cyberpunk synthwavey climax. Highly recommend it. Very moody music.

    5 votes
  2. [5]
    meatrocket
    (edited )
    Link
    While I lived in Germany, there was a record shop nearby that I only managed to get around to visiting just one time before I moved away. In the metal section (my natural habitat lol), I saw a CD...

    While I lived in Germany, there was a record shop nearby that I only managed to get around to visiting just one time before I moved away. In the metal section (my natural habitat lol), I saw a CD with a really cool cover and a Relapse label, so I checked it out. Lifespan of a Moth by 16 is a sick sludge record from the get-go. Funny thing, I had been into sludge metal for years, but I had actually never heard of 16 or their massive influence on the genre until I happened across that record.
    One other more recent semi-example was in Rapid City. The store had an Infest the Rats’ Nest (the King Gizz album) poster out front, and I fucking LOVE that record. One of my favorites of the last year, so I wanted to pick up a CD while I was there. I ask the lady behind the counter and she tells me they’re out of the CDs - but if I want, I can have one of the promo posters that they’re still hanging on to. You’d better believe I have that poster on my wall right now.

    4 votes
    1. everydayanchovies
      Link Parent
      Sick, I don’t listen to metal at all and I’ve saved Lifespan of a Moth to my library halfway though my first listen. It’s currently playing full blast while I get things done. Thanks for that....

      Sick, I don’t listen to metal at all and I’ve saved Lifespan of a Moth to my library halfway though my first listen. It’s currently playing full blast while I get things done.
      Thanks for that.

      King gizzard is absolutely one of my favourite bands of all time. Polygondwanaland is my favourite album of theirs. There’s so much going on and I love the Arabic sounding (I think) tone ladders.

      3 votes
    2. [3]
      cfabbro
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      Just FYI your comment is basically impossible to read (esp on mobile), since you triggered the markdown parser to place all your text inside a codeblock by putting four space in front of each...

      Just FYI your comment is basically impossible to read (esp on mobile), since you triggered the markdown parser to place all your text inside a codeblock by putting four space in front of each line. If you're unfamiliar with markdown syntax, see here for formatting help: https://docs.tildes.net/instructions/text-formatting

      10 votes
      1. [2]
        meatrocket
        Link Parent
        Fixed, thanks. I suppose that's what I get for trying to make my comment more readable

        Fixed, thanks. I suppose that's what I get for trying to make my comment more readable

        1 vote
        1. ntgg
          Link Parent
          If you put an empty line between the paragraphs it might be a little more easy to read.

          If you put an empty line between the paragraphs it might be a little more easy to read.

          2 votes
  3. [5]
    unknown user
    Link
    I regularly gather disparate tracks that stand out on their own, out of random places all over the workspace. I'm guessing they're not so much obscure as they are of their own little corners,...

    I regularly gather disparate tracks that stand out on their own, out of random places all over the workspace. I'm guessing they're not so much obscure as they are of their own little corners, 'cause that's usually how things go with these tracks.

    • Ana by Say Lou Lou. Classy track with a nice atmosphere and excellent composition.
    • Estrelar by Marcos Valle. Someone shared it on Tildes a while ago, and I've been enjoying it ever since. Compared to the usual stuff I'm into – hardcore rock and electro – this is relaxed, calm, and inviting in a friendly way. I'm enjoying the chill vibe a lot. Bonus points for the retro video.
    • Glitterball by FC Kahuna. Minimal electronics and an upbeat mood make this track very much alright. Been listening to it since rediscovering it on a Need For Speed: Underground track list.
    • Supercalifragilicious in death metal.
    • Abrepuertas by Eruca Sativa. Its electronic buzzsaw is iconic, as far as I'm concerned.
    3 votes
    1. TheRtRevKaiser
      Link Parent
      Damn dude, this song goes hard. I know what I'm listening to today. Also, the singer's voice is perfect.

      Abrepuertas by Eruca Sativa.

      Damn dude, this song goes hard. I know what I'm listening to today.
      Also, the singer's voice is perfect.

      2 votes
    2. [2]
      nothis
      Link Parent
      Wow, this takes me back to oldschool Chemical Brothers stuff! I recently dug up some of their old albums, they were my 90s. I'm basically hearing Got Glint, it could almost be the same sample?

      Glitterball by FC Kahuna. Minimal electronics and an upbeat mood make this track very much alright. Been listening to it since rediscovering it on a Need For Speed: Underground track list.

      Wow, this takes me back to oldschool Chemical Brothers stuff! I recently dug up some of their old albums, they were my 90s. I'm basically hearing Got Glint, it could almost be the same sample?

      1 vote
      1. unknown user
        Link Parent
        I can hear the similarities. Sounds like maybe they were inspired by Got Glint?, rather than sampled it straight: it feels distinct enough, whereas sampling is usually more open and present. I got...

        I'm basically hearing Got Glint, it could almost be the same sample?

        I can hear the similarities. Sounds like maybe they were inspired by Got Glint?, rather than sampled it straight: it feels distinct enough, whereas sampling is usually more open and present.

        I got my dose of The Chemical Brothers in the early 00s. Galvanize took me aback when I was at a camp, during one of the dance nights. It feels even better now than it did back then.

        1 vote
    3. everydayanchovies
      Link Parent
      Thanks for introducing me to Say Lou Lou, I dig them. I’ve listened to the rest too, good stuff. Got a good laugh out of supercalifraglicious.

      Thanks for introducing me to Say Lou Lou, I dig them. I’ve listened to the rest too, good stuff. Got a good laugh out of supercalifraglicious.

  4. Akir
    Link
    Cool Cavemen is a French Funk Fusion band that has about 50% of their songs comedic. Or rather they were, as they disbanded a few years back. They have a few albums and pretty much every song is...

    Cool Cavemen is a French Funk Fusion band that has about 50% of their songs comedic. Or rather they were, as they disbanded a few years back. They have a few albums and pretty much every song is excellent in my oppinion. They have enough inspiration that everyone will like at least one of their songs.

    One should also check out the City Pop genre. It's the music that inspired vaporwave, more or less. Why not start with the song remixed the most: Plastic Love

    3 votes
  5. ntgg
    (edited )
    Link
    My two favorite albums of the year so far are THUNDERBIRD by William Crooks and "things happen, it's ok!" by FROMTHEHEART. Both are kinda experimental electronic hip-hop, with "things happen, it's...

    My two favorite albums of the year so far are THUNDERBIRD by William Crooks and "things happen, it's ok!" by FROMTHEHEART. Both are kinda experimental electronic hip-hop, with "things happen, it's ok!" being more bedroom pop focused and THUNDERBIRD being more like emo punk focused. If you just want to listen to one song from each I recommend LOVEYOURSELF from THUNDERBIRD and idontfeelitanymore from "things happen, it's ok!"

    I'm not sure how obscure these are, but the YouTube videos all have less than 10k views as far I as can tell, and somebody else used that as a metric so I'm gonna count it because I want more people to listen to these albums.

    3 votes
  6. Zenith
    Link
    I actually just made a post about it but Japanese hip hop. One of my favourites right now is Dongurizu, they have some delightfully cheesy music with some of the most interesting production I've...

    I actually just made a post about it but Japanese hip hop.

    One of my favourites right now is Dongurizu, they have some delightfully cheesy music with some of the most interesting production I've heard in a long time. These are some of my favourites:

    Powerful Passion

    Domingo

    Promenade

    Another personal favourite of mine is ZETTAKUN, his whole Bed Trip EP is great. Great production, super pretty and surprisingly interesting harmony and some gorgeous vocal lines. Some of my favourites off the EP:

    Parallel New Days

    温泉街♨︎

    The whole world of Japanese hip hop and Japanese not-pop is incredibly interesting so feel free to PM me if you want some more recommendations!

    3 votes
  7. Steerpike
    Link
    A list of playlists seeded by some of the artists in this thread. Generated by something I threw together recently with the help of music-map and last.fm. Might help you find some other...

    A list of playlists seeded by some of the artists in this thread. Generated by something I threw together recently with the help of music-map and last.fm. Might help you find some other interesting artists and songs that are similar to what you like.

    Feel free to create a playlist yourself for an artist you like at http://playlist.hallofbrightcarvings.com.au/
    Let me know how it goes for you. Hope you find something awesome.

    3 votes
  8. Kuromantis
    (edited )
    Link
    Not exactly sure what qualifies as 'musically excellent', but I found these while looking for a background song in a Vox video and they all have less than 10k views. Matt Walden: Finally alive A...

    Not exactly sure what qualifies as 'musically excellent', but I found these while looking for a background song in a Vox video and they all have less than 10k views.

    Matt Walden: Finally alive

    A song written if you need help to cope.

    Matthew Perry Hancock: Finally alive

    Ian Lecheminant: Mounting tension

    The kind of song you would play while running in a horror movie or abstract setting.

    James Warburton: Midnight movements My personal favorite, not much else to say.

    2 votes
  9. krg
    Link
    Pandora was great for this back when my tastes were taking a deep dive in the more experimental pool. Most of the stuff Pandora recommended me was mostly under-the-radar and pretty good. Stuff...

    Pandora was great for this back when my tastes were taking a deep dive in the more experimental pool. Most of the stuff Pandora recommended me was mostly under-the-radar and pretty good. Stuff like Praise the Lard by Godzik Pink really tickled my fancy.

    2 votes
  10. luc
    Link
    probably the candy claws - two airships / exploder falls ep, the super sleeper hit from an already underground shoegaze / dream pop band or the brave little abacus live show bootleg, which is a...

    probably the candy claws - two airships / exploder falls ep, the super sleeper hit from an already underground shoegaze / dream pop band or the brave little abacus live show bootleg, which is a great collection and cut of their final live show

    2 votes
  11. Arshan
    Link
    While I wouldn't necessarily call it most obscure, but I consider Isak Danialson's Power to be underapprciacted. It is about an abusive relationship, just as a warning.

    While I wouldn't necessarily call it most obscure, but I consider Isak Danialson's Power to be underapprciacted. It is about an abusive relationship, just as a warning.

    1 vote
  12. [2]
    asoftbird
    Link
    Obscure only outside Finland; found Viikate a long time ago. It's Finnish rock/metal with a very distinct surf rock style added to it. They also have very melodic songs which easily stick around...

    Obscure only outside Finland; found Viikate a long time ago.

    It's Finnish rock/metal with a very distinct surf rock style added to it. They also have very melodic songs which easily stick around in your head. It's partially Motörhead-ish as well, sometimes with Finnish tango elements. Very warm and cozy sound, in general.
    Pretty cool stuff, the Finnish language sounds pretty nice as well but they never do concerts outside Finland, sadly enough. Would definitely go if they attend closer countries.

    Some favorites:

    Unholan Urut
    Viina, Terva, Hauta
    Karmiini juhlasali
    Kerran
    Kaunis Kotkan Käsi

    If you want to get started listening this band, I highly recommend the album Unholan Urut to start with, that's probably my favorite so far.
    They're fairly hard to find, so you might need to order CDs or find their stuff uhh, elsewhere.

    1 vote
  13. reifyresonance
    Link
    Way more people should be listening to Jetty Bones. My favorite album is titled -. (The album is actually called "-" I had to pad the link text) The entire album slaps. It's poppy and upbeat,...

    Way more people should be listening to Jetty Bones. My favorite album is titled -. (The album is actually called "-" I had to pad the link text) The entire album slaps. It's poppy and upbeat, deals with tough topics well (cw: sexual assault), and has a lot of memorable refrains.

    In a very different direction, Kollektiv Turmstrasse's Rebellion Der Träumer.. It's slower, mostly instrumental.

    Also, TATSUYA MARUYAMA - NEW HOME. It's just a dude playing his guitar. Super easy listening. Feels comfortable.

    Are these musically excellent? I don't know. I like them.

    1 vote