Slovakia

A Slovak producer has already been introduced here on beehype and we’re happy he made it to the best of 2016.

His sparkling melodic tunes bring a pleasant company whether you listen to the music in a car or at home. The very important part on this self-titled EP is a vocalist Possimiste, even though the two have never met in person.

Except the voice, you can also hear live instruments: harp, piano, guitar. Analorunner states his music equipment and physical activity as his inspirations. Bright ideas seem to form bright melodies.

♪♫ Listen: “Harp Poem” + album stream (Bandcamp)

Analogrunner on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, Twitter.

“Dýchajúce obrazy” – “Breathing images” – are a set of very lively “tracks that throb and breathe with their messages”. Billy Barman have released their third album last year and they couldn’t reflect presence more accurately. The band manages to keep their original fanbase and gather a new one, so the difference between those two camps deepens.

The most powerful track “Mladým chýba vojna” is a composition of two strong equal tunes. “100 kolies” (100 pills) is both musically and thematically a “clubbing track” with no loss of a guitar sound. And the character of another track “Miletička” is similar: its a collaboration with a hip hop Slovak legend Vec about a cult marketplace in Bratislava.
 
♪♫ Listen: “Mladým chýba vojna” + album stream (Spotify)

Billy Barman on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, www.

Seven track debut EP is a promising showcase of a young trio. Frisky synths and unintrusive guitar are all framed by a female vocal. Just as to listen to their music, it’s the same pleasure to see the band live.

Although Buy Her Sugar is still percepted as a fresh thing, they lack no self confidence neither modesty. “Sugarcubes” here on album are colorful, “Senses” with strings illuminate positive energy and the anthemic song is followed by a darker “Deamons”, while “Waiting” was the first on-air track of the band.

♪♫ Listen: “Waiting”

Buy Her Sugar on Facebook, YouTube, Soundcloud + beehype.

Duhan is a Slovak producer who released this compilation already in 2014 but we thought we could travel “Back to the Future” with him and bring the album to you.

Duhan samples swing with funk and soul and connects foreign influences with local musical specifics. The most thrilling moments of the compilation come when Duhan connects Slovak vocals with world-class production, just like in the track Sused, in which he joined forces with well-known Slovak hip-hoper Strapo.

♪♫ Listen: “Sused” + album stream (Bandcamp)

Duhan on Soundcloud, Facebook, YouTube.

The album was released in June but fits better to a freezing, snowy and cold days. We don’t come across an instrumental music which is not electronic a lot, so Patrik’s release is a very refreshing piece.

Inspired by classical and minimal music, “On The Way To Antarctica” works with absurd and everyday things and tries to capture their hidden beauty in soundwaves.

If you like to let music take you for a trip, this record will get you to penguins, meteorological buyos and cottages with a lovely wall covering. So get your bags and passport ready!
 
♪♫ Listen: “When The Flowers Began To Disappear” + album stream (Bandcamp)
 
I Am Planet on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook, www + beehype.

It’s been quite a long drive since Katarzia’s debut album in 2013. Now that we got “Agnostika” this year, we can see the changes the singer-songwriter went through.

The whole band took part in recording and they also support Katarzia onstage. Yes, the more complicated process for an author brought a more complex sound. On the other hand, the lyrics, rhythm and topics keep their youth spirit.

One of the lines “is there anyone left with no depressions?” would be a proof Katarzia has become not only a part of a local music scene but of our society as well.

♪♫ Listen: “Milovať s hudbou” + album stream (Spotify)

Katarzia on Soundcloud, YouTube, Facebook + beehype.

For a long time there were only two of them. Two years ago they joined forces with their “lost” drummer and became a trio. It definitely did good to their sound. Still, they wanted more and added a string quartet to their live performances later on.

They named the outcome “Suita” and released a live LP in 2016. “Suita” is a theatrical experience of consistent gradation and capacious sound. In its best parts, “Suita” is a masterpiece worth listening to.

♪♫ Listen: “A to je všetko” + album stream (Spotify)

Longital on Facebook, Soundcloud, Twitter, www + beehype.

Last year we belauded their EP “Ü”. It was filled with precisely mastered tunes with various layers and it took a long but entertaining time to discover them all.

In 2016 they released “ø”, a 10-track LP and the story repeated itself. “ø” is a piece of world-class production combined with unorthodox vocals that create another unique layer.

Ospalý Pohyb, the legendary Slovak formation are back and once again thrilling to listen to.

♪♫ Listen: “Problém” + album stream (Bandcamp)

Ospalý Pohyb on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Facebook.

Out of this year’s releases of a local label ajlavmjuzik, Pkrek’s “Back To The Future” is the darkest one. And it’s not surprising at all thanks to his own sound as well as collaboration with local producers like Cabaret Noir Combo or Fat Kit.

Pkrek’s already working on a new stuff and should bring more guest vocals too. In “Chlad” it’s an MC Prezident Lourajder and a Czech singer Monika Načeva.
 
♪♫ Listen: “Chlad” + album stream (Bandcamp)
 
Pkrek on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Instagram.

Last year was without any doubt their best. They played various big festivals in central Europe as well as several showcases in Austria, Germany, Netherlands and the most famous one in Iceland.

Their energic sets were based primarily on new songs from their recent LP “Ornamental or Mental”, which features some of the best tracks of the band.

Over the last two years, The Ills have become the flagship of Slovak music export and we could not wish for more.

♪♫ Listen: “Fire Flies!” + album stream (Bandcamp)

The Ills on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, www + beehype.