Dashes - Blades of Grass (2004)

artist: Dashes
album: Blades of Grass
release date: 2004
tags: trip-hop, idm, synth-pop
and I'll find my way

1. Thanx / 2. Changing Bodies / 3. Pencil / 4. Scratch-Screech / 5. Cloud / 6. Whales / 7. Scandinavia / 8. Run / 9. Step / 10. Brainfall / 11. Golden Lake

Another hidden treasure, another short-lived band, this time from Switzerland. A heavy dose of electronics and gorgeous songwriting make for a great couple.

Thorn Apple - Datura (2003)

artist: Thorn Apple
album: Datura
release date: 2003
tags: darkwave, trip-hop, synth-pop, ambient
sent message

1. Before / 2. Datura / 3. Mirror / 4. Ice Blue Eyes / 5. Memory / 6. Message Received / 7. Metal / 8. Simplicity / 9. Fall to the Sky / 10. Ice / 11. Mezza Luna / 12. Whispers / 13. Ave Maria / 14. Quiet / 15. Exquisite Corpse / 16. Shattered

One of the elusive never-officially-released albums from the supergroup compromising members of bands such as Hungry Lucy and Axoe (Halou were only on "Crystalline").

Orange Cake Mix - Microcosmic Wonderland (1998)

artist: Orange Cake Mix
ep: Microcosmic Wonderland
release date: 1998
label: audioinformationphenomena
tags: lo-fi, downtempo, synth-pop, electronic
here here

1. Pacific Ocean Park / 2. King of Inertia / 3. I Just Can't Be Without You Again / 4. I Heard You Whisper / 5. Some Sweetness / 6. Wind Painting

In between Another Orange World and Silver Lining Underwater/Dream Window eras, this little EP is pretty well done and is among Rao's best attempts at harkening to the gems of space age pop and such (don't you just love how he wrote on the cover "Jim Rao and his Orange Cake Mix Orchestra"?!). Plus, on the last few tracks, he's flirting again with Frippertronics...