Started this week with posting updates again to New Album Releases as well as Podcasts.
For the time being there will not be any photos posted in the Podcasts updates, as my online gallery is not back up to 100% usability yet. So if you enjoyed seeing random artist/club photos, either go to my personal facebook page, or hang in there till I get a change to fix it.

Going through the code of the website this past weekend has made me realized just how much behind the scenes code got lost in the crash. Maybe for the best, as it will put a new light on what I really want this site to do, and how I’m going to go about doing that.

Mechanical Nation is back from the ashed of a server failure. Not without some scars however.
The backups I had of the site were a month old, so the info since the end of July has been lost.

Also, the New Ablum Releases don’t update anymore. This is because the fix I implemented in the first weeks of August to fix this issue the first time, got lost so I’ll have to re-write some code. :(

Next week, the podcast tracking will continue.

A better backup strategy is also being implemented in hopes to avoid this kind of downtime and data loss.

Artist: Cellmod
Album: Nanomáquina
Lablel: Independant – Free Download
Review by: Outsider

At only 5 tracks long this release of moody, dark and sometimes stompy creations makes for an amazing instrumental album with a unique history.

Subtle elements of dubstep, trance, and ambient are mixed into this electro industrial release, which only add to the uniqueness of the sound. The lack of vocals is understandable considering the limitations the artist had and yet doesn’t take away at all from the over all experience.

When Cellmod lost access to his studio space he set forth to produce an EP on his iPhone 4 and Blip Interactive’s NanoStudio app. The album is amazing in it’s own right, but to know it was made entirely on an iPhone, one can only amaze at the artist’s dedication, as well as how far software has been pushed on a hand held smartphone

Artist’s blog entry regarding using his smartphone as a the only audio editing tool.

FREE DOWNLOAD LINK

The “Album Preview” is now up and running. It’s in early ‘beta’ stages but it’s usable. Just be aware that functionality may break at any point while I refine the code.
Speaking of breaking functionality, please let me know (either by comments on the site or through email) if you experience any problems with the “Album Preview” feature. This feedback is important to fine tuning the code.

While on the topic of updates, there will now be less new albums posted. I’ve implemented a filter to only post albums that are either a CD format or a file (mp3) format. Discogs posts albums that are LP’s, CDr, cassettes, (yes, it would seem people still release albums on cassettes!) and other formats that do not translate to a meaningful format for most of the world. And so they will get filtered out.
CDs are more then likely albums that can be purchased, and files (mp3s) are for the most part available somewhere on the web for download, which is why I choose to only post these two formats from now on.

Thank you for your patience as we fine tune the little mice that run the innards of Mechanical Nation.

As you all love the “New Album Releases” feature of the site, in the near future it will be getting even better. Did you ever wonder what the new artist or new album sounds like? But you don’t have infinite pockets to buy everything that comes out, or you don’t have the time to search for the music online to find a site that will let you listen to a sample so you can decide if you should buy?

Well worry no more. Soon you’ll be able to preview the new album releases (courtesy of Amazon.com) right on the website.

That’s right. Preview the album right here, and if you like it buy it from Amazon.com (in either mp3 or CD format).

Stay tuned for further updates on this.

The good folks at Metropolis records have put together a FREE 8 track record showcasing some of the industrial bands on that label. The album is a free download at Amazon.com.
There’s tracks by Electric Six, 16 Volt, Front Line Assembly, Funker Vogt, :Wumpscut:, And One, Covenant and Meat Beat Manifesto.

Give it a download and a listen. The price is certainly right.

DOWNLOAD LINK

Artist Aliceffekt out of Quebec, Canada has released a new album. This is a compilation of the tracks he played live at the Kinetik Festival on May 23, 2011. As with all his albums, they are free so grab your copy today.

If you loved his earlier material, you will love this album. The infusion of live cello and guitar in some of the tracks brings a brilliant fusion to his electronic edge.

Download your copy here.

Since I’m taking photos at this years Kinetik Festival, I will share with you a sampling of the previous night’s happenings.

Kinetik Fetival : Day 1