Netlabel Test Tube has consistently provided some beautiful ambient based sounds and scapes. Being a netlabel they are all available for free. If you’ve not heard work from them before then I think it’s about time to look into their back catalogue and this 5 tracker is as good as any for an introduction.

Sinkhole is the 3rd and final instalment of a series of recordings by Canadian artist Mike Matheson as The Sales Department. In a move different to what I know the label for; Sinkhole is a collection of IDM/electro pieces. It still retains the deep, rich and emotive sounds that I associate with the label and takes things further crafting understated melodic electronic beats.

It is a really sublime listen and I for one will most certainly be backtracking and grabbing the first 2 releases. By the magic of HTML hyperlinking you can grab [Sub]ways and A Practical Guide, both for free. My one gripe with this and as a wider point with netlabels is that if you’re going to release music for free then surely release it in the highest quality, which at the very least would be a 320kbps MP3 (this EP is at present only available as a VBR MP3), thou a lossless version is highly preferable.

Bitrates aside, there isn’t much more to add. This is a great EP to put on late in the evenings to relax and wind down from the trial and tribulations of your day.

The Sales Department – Sinkhole
GRAB

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The Sales Department – Distractions (Live Here)
The Sales Department – No plans for winter
The Sales Department – Not what you thought
The Sales Department – Schoolhouse Rock
The Sales Department – Sinkholes