Slovakia

Don’t be misled by the melancholic name – Autumnist has more energy and rhythmic grooves than you might expect. And “False Beacon” might be the best proof of his abilities yet.

“False Beacon” is a type of record that works from its very beginning. Just listen to its first tones and you immediately get the impression of a Slovak answer to Depeche Mode which is still relevant and even fresher than ever before. When you add a colorful variety of charming guest vocals, you might realize you are listening to one of the best Slovak albums of 2018.

♪♫ Listen: “Sky Full of Scars” + album stream

Autumnist on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, www.

The final proof of his increasing love towards electronic melodies, the debut of EP of Elections in the Deaftown’s frontman Lukáš Zdurienčík is a surprisingly fresh listen that feels like a work of a much more experienced producer.

Blame Your Genes is not afraid to switch genres and experiment with various attitudes in the space of several tracks. His debut came out of nowhere and created a difficult task for every listener – to memorize another strange English pseudonym on Slovak music scene. From 2018 on it is not only Elections in the Deaftown – it is also Blame Your Genes.

♪♫ Listen: “New Kingdom” + album stream

Blame Your Genes on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram.

Although they call themselves a jazz band, they are in fact one of the most interesting lyricists and pop-song creators Slovakia has produced in recent years. Their debut is a perfect combination of jazz-like tunes with lyrics about Instagram, pot smoking and ugly sneakers. And it is just extraordinary.

They don’t fit any category – they would sound too rebellious at a jazz festival and too experimental at a mainstream summer event. But they just do not care and simply turn what might look like an obstacle into a truly interesting advantage.

♪♫ Listen: “Strašne veľa” + album stream

Darkness Positive on Soundcloud, Facebook, Instagram.

Duhan returned this year with an album mixing trip hop, soul, funk and even a bit of drum’n’bass (“United Gravity”). Even though he has a guest on every track (not only on vocals but also turntablist 3ck), he still won’t let them steal the show.

Duhan’s second LP proves his passion for old school served in a hip way. Among the best ones are “Crowd Vision”, which is only a skit but has that soul atmosphere and a crowd moment at the end, and an American 50s soul track “One Day”.

♪♫ Listen: “Promises” + album stream

Duhan on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram.

Self-taught musician Erik Osvald released his 5th album, a sequel to “No Future, Vol. 1” from 2016. During his career Keosz realised, the best for him would be to write music he himself likes. And he ended up producing melancholy electronica with a soundtrack feeling.

“Vol. 2” sounds like space exploration. The first half consists of 12 tracks followed by 13 teasers called “Jedna”, “Dva”… “Trinásť” (One, Two… Thirteen), which might be of 50 seconds in average. There are two guest female vocals among mostly instrumental tracks: “Sto obrazov” with Nora Ibsenová and “Congeal” with Robocat.

Keosz is one of those multitalented artists, he’s also a graphic designer and an amazing photographer.

♪♫ Listen: “Sto obrazov” + album stream

Keosz on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Leto s Monikou is a new project and this self-tited LP is also a debut album. But it’s not Monika Midriaková’s first release as four years ago she released an album as part of the duo Monikino kino.

We could say this 8 track album continues in the same trajectory of radio pop melodies. All of them staying in the mid-tempo rhythm, some more folky some more of an electro-pop vibe. This time Monika wrote all the music and lyrics.

Every song has a message, which is personal and relatable (to young people and especially young women).

♪♫ Listen: “Strácať” + album stream

Leto s Monikou on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram.

The third album of Pkrek (fka ProjektkreK) brings his electronic beats with dark poetry again. Some tracks are instrumental, some feature vocal guests (singers or MCs). Gloomy synths and heavy beats are focused around the concept of the album, which is reciprocity.

Relationships are something that might be an influence for the producer, not only on a social but also on a political level. The track Outcry was written as a reaction to this year’s events in Slovakia, when thousands of people demonstrated in the streets against corruption.

♪♫ Listen: “Sirens” + album stream

Pkrek on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

In Says’ production, the most important things are happening in the background.

Just listen to their debut LP “Recollection” and you will hear a collection of interesting and well-produced sounds that make it a record of world-like qualities.

Says are able to create a song that consist every crucial aspect and still sounds original and atmospheric – just listen to “Over again” which does miracles with the main vocal.

♪♫ Listen: “Peak” + album stream

Says on Bandcamp, Facebook, Insttagram.

Stroon is like a lonely runner on Slovak scene, cos no other producer approaches music and sounds the way he does. “Vice Laboratoryv was supposed to be a personal confession and a therapy with an insight deep into his mind. Either way, we can hear vibes that are typical for Stroon’s music throughout all his career (a metal era, vibraphone, synth walls).

You can fall into meditation during an opening “Blizzard of Storms” to be woken up by a drum passage that comes out of nowhere but fits well. “Ballerina Box” mutates into dancy cacophony mixed with ‘80s inpsired club music. And you also find “Christmas (Lonely Spire)”, and at least a 1200 bpm techno kick like a hummingbird’s heart (“Hummingbird Reaction”).

♪♫ Listen: “Lonely Spire” + album stream

Stroon on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, www.

It took them some time to release their debut album but it only takes a couple of minutes of listening to “Cmyk” to understand why. The Youniverse are a Slovak answer to The White Stripes with production even more pompous than the legendary Detroit duo.

Behind The Youniverse there is also a creative duo – singer Tammy Nižnanská and guitarist Jerguš Oravec. And “Cmykv is the boldest statement of their talent so far. Melodic and sharp, bringing back uncompromising guitar music and huge extravagant personas like they have never really disappeared.

♪♫ Listen: “CMYK” + album stream

The Youniverse on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Youtube, Facebook.