The Brooklyn / DC label that is brought us Solar Year & Bam Spacey puts together a playlist showing off their depth and a short story about each artist.
1. Young Athletes League “We Only Feed Ourselves”
Every label needs a first release. A 3 track EP from London’s Young Athletes League was ours. We found YAL through a Phil Collins remix he posted via MySpace which lead to discovering his original works. Thinking about it now I feel really old but MySpace is making a come back right? “We Only Feed Ourselves” is the title track as well as the closing track to that release — 7.5 minutes of lo-fi electronic bliss.
2. Solar Year “Lines”
This is one of my favorite Solar Year tracks. Everything just works here from start to finish. This track, and Solar Year in general, give off this underlining feeling of dread that is at the same time strangely pop leaning and warm. It may just be how I perceive it but it’s perfect in my book. It most likely has a lot to do with the contrast between Ben’s productions and David’s incredible high reaching vocals. The Waverly album is now re-mastered and sounding incredible, this is a stand out from the flip side.
3. Albert Swarm “Aging Out”
Actually haven’t listened to the first Albert Swarm EP in a while, it’s been Wake (his second release) 24/7. Was really nice revisiting this track when putting the playlist together. “Aging Out” is probably one of the very first songs I heard from the Albert Swarm project. I think the track really speaks for itself.
4. The Soft “Mori (Elysia Edit)”
This is where the playlist get a little warmer! Really excited about the upcoming EP from The Soft. Produced by Luke Abbott and David Pye who just did some production for Brolin. “Mori” is an immense pop track we released for free at the end of 2012, this remix was done by Henry from the band under his Elysia moniker. Without much snuff Henry took this track straight to the dance floor.
5. Prism House “Need You (Part I)”
The Prism House project is our very first NYC signing and we just released their debut Reflections EP on March 5. Love the variety of samples clicking in and out throughout this track as a desperate sounding bass line tries to find some sort of footing but Prism House aren’t really letting it happen.
6. Bam Spacey “Dessa brander”
Hard to choose one track from Bam Spacey. I really wanted to put up some of the unreleased/upcoming stuff because it’s brilliant but he probably wouldn’t be too pleased with that. “Dessa Brander” was the very last single we did from the Land EP. Imagery wise it sits somewhere towards the end of Blade Runner just before the end credits roll as Deckard is driving further and further away from LA and headed towards the horizon. This track plays right around that time and I’d like to think Deckard is taking his girl out to the beach because she’s probably never seen one before and romance ensues.
7. Glenn Jackson “You Too”
This has to be one of my favorite tracks we’ve put out to date. Glenn has a knack for pacing a track to feel just right and “You Too” is a beautiful example of that. One of the more positive and uplifting tracks we’ve done so far cause you know… feeling good is pretty important. The build is exceptional — you wait and wait for that drop and when it happens you’re cruising, shades on, not looking back.
Showcase show tonight in Brooklyn, Flyer by: Alex Koplin
We’re honored to be able to share Benoit Pioulard’s new album Hymnal on its day of release, he is probably the blogs most written about and loved artist for many years. Let this one play in full, my highlights include: Reliquary, Excave, Margins and Litiya. Enjoy.
Roosevelt reminds me of chillwave without the lo-fi ala Washed Out & Toro Y Moi, but it goes beyond song writing skills, he knows his production well, he’s the perfect hybrid of how survive and what to make post Neon Indian, did you catch all my name drops?
Mirror Kisses sticks to his guns, keeps perfecting the sound he loves, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Fujimoto Tetsuro fuses together that Sepalcure sound with that beauty of glitch done soo damn right, its funk its light its something refreshing.
Mark Fell’s new project for Editions Mego takes diva vocals into a future dark world being rained down on by icy thin harpoons from digital synths, has that Detroit flavor I love.
Mid May is the release of the new Small Black LP on Jagjaguwar, some might remember them as the backing band for Washed Out early on but we’ve always supported them and their music on ISO50, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
The end of Emeralds means plenty more music from each band member. Mark McGuire is back at prime form with this extend work of a track off the upcoming LP.
I can see Emma Louise working on a Tycho track, maybe its just the mood of the production that makes me think that.
The Purity Ring sound bubble keeps growing with followers and impersonators, I wonder what the rest of this record sounds like?
One of the better ways to deal with the confusion of subgenres and scene explanation is video interviews from the rising artists, and Red Bull Music did just that. They’ve recently conquered Alt R&B, Post Dubstep, Cloud Rap, and “Beats“, I think they’re going to keep going, well at least I hope they do. I’m not sure what will be next, honestly its a good series to watch, especially if you’re young and old and make beats. It gives the new generation reason and explains to them some humble beginnings and patience.
Beacon reveals their honey soaked single “Bring You Back” from their upcoming LP The Ways We Separate. What distinguishes them from other R&B acts right now is rare uptempo pace that gives it a slight driving feel while keeping true heartfelt lyrics.
Autre Ne Veut has a more aggressive approach with plenty of classic sensual tricks from R&B fused in heavily with the Art of Noise feel people can’t seem to kick. What makes it sounds new is the spikes of instruments that squeal that reminisce of freak out jazz from the 80s mixing with some Peter Gabriel logic going for itself that I really adore.
Laurel Halo remixes John Cale, not going to try and describe this, all I know is that really liked it.
Throwing Snow always seems to have some great track suggestions on Soundcloud, he’s back at it by sharing this hypnotic cut from Anthony Naples.
Today NPR is streaming the new Youth Lagoon album and tomorrow he does on tour, just going to keep it short, what a great record, enjoy.
TRACKLIST
Through Mind and Back
Mute
Attic Doctor
The Bath
Pelican Man
Dropla
Sleep Paralysis
Third Dystopia
Raspberry Cane
Daisyphobia
TOUR DATES
02-26 Missoula, MT – Badlander
02-27 Bozeman, MT – Filling Station
02-28 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
03-01 Denver, CO – Larimer Lounge
03-06 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
03-13-16 Austin, TX – SXSW
03-22 Boise, ID – Treefort Music Fest
04-12 Indio, CA – Coachella
04-19 Indio, CA – Coachella
04-21 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
04-22 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
04-24 Austin, TX – Mohawk
04-25 Dallas, TX – The Loft
04-26 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s
04-27 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks
04-28 Birmingham, AL – The Bottletree
04-30 Orlando, FL – The Social
05-01 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
05-02 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
05-03 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
05-04 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
05-07 Northampton, MA – Pearl St.
05-10 Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
05-11 Columbia, MD – Sweet Life Festival
05-13 Toronto, Ontario – Great Hall
05-14 Columbus, OH – A&R Bar
05-15 Chicago, IL – Metro
05-16 Madison, WI – Majestic Theater
05-17 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
05-22 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
05-23 Vancouver, British Columbia – Venue
05-24 Gorge, WA – Sasquatch! Fest
06-05 Brooklyn, NY – Barclays Center *
* with the National
Youth Lagoon’s second album, Wondrous Bughouse, is one of the most arresting headphone records you’ll hear this year. Trevor Powers, the band’s sole member, layers strange but alluring synth textures under quirky melodies and simple pop beats, in the process creating an expansive and endlessly engrossing world of sonic curiosities.
As with Youth Lagoon’s 2011 debut, The Year of Hibernation, the songs on Wondrous Bughouse are moody but not melancholy. Thematically, Powers finds himself in an existential spiral, as he asks grand questions about mortality, the spiritual world and his own mental state — which he describes as “hyperactive.” Weighty subjects ripe for pensive introspection, sure, but the music is uplifting, if a bit dysphoric, like an awkward hug for all that is light and beautiful.
Powers, who says he controls his busy mind with music, offers no illuminating epiphanies or profound discoveries on Wondrous Bughouse, out March 5; he says he hasn’t had any. But the songs allow him to assume the identity of Youth Lagoon and sort through all the emotional and mental baggage he, like so many, carries with him everywhere. The album opens a window into our odd little world, with the understanding that life is a baffling mystery, but also a wonderful ride.
Todd Osborn is more known for his Osborne or Soundmurderer projects but his Superstructure is nothing new, back in 2005 I bought his cassette called Clone A which was him completely replaying Radiohead’sKid A on a synth, I loved that tape, I can’t find it anywhere.
Above is a gorgeous stop motion video for Escape and the song for free download, if you love it check out the rest of the EP.
