So the year is winding down and, as is typically the case, new releases are getting sparse. That’s actually a good thing. Thus far we’ve put up close to ninety reviews during ’09 and we’ve hardly been able to scratch the surface. This at least gives us a chance to catch up a little, even though there’s no way we could ever get to everything released over the course of a year within these fickle but strangely fruitful styles. There’s been some really good stuff we’ve missed but hey, we’ve got lives and families outside of CastleDTC so all we can do is what we can do.

Anyway, it ain’t over yet and Tympanik Audio is actually putting out not one, not two…but three friggin’ albums next week. And one of them is the third installment of their obscenely well crafted Emerging Organisms collector’s series. Goddammit. Looks like I’m going to have to skip buying presents for everyone else because I want this shit. There’s also ESA’s hotly anticipated remix album, The Immaculate Manipulation and the debut album of Netherlandian…er, Netherlandic? Netherlanese? Okay, Dutch artist Opposites Exhale. You may want to check that artist out if you’re a fan of piano. While Stendeck’s album is still one of my favorites of the year this one shows promise. As for ESA…what more can I say that hasn’t already been said…by me? Clicky the linky to hear sound clips of the album on the MySpace page.

And EO3? Well…if you haven’t gotten into this series yet you’re seriously missing out. Enormous, endlessly deep and always incredible compilations. It’s metaphorical finger is always on the pulse of the latest in intelligent new music.

You can preorder any of these gems right here. And maybe you should. If you’re the type who actually receives gifts during the holiday season it’s a safe bet you won’t get anything as gratifying as these three offerings so treat yourself.

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. I gotta justify whipping out the credit card somehow, y’know?