Brooklyn has a lot of talented musicians, some of them follow the trends that keeps a room of sweaty hip people moving but usually it’s never original or very formulaic and similar sounding. One group that i’ve been lucky to see a handful of times is Body Language which does a catchy amount of soulful harmonic indie dance. The 3 piece consists of Matt Young, Grant Wheeler, and Ang Bess who all share the workload of entertaining us by bringing out old synths, voiceboxes, and xylophones on stage. If you want to see them they open up for Passion Pit and Miike Snow this week in New York.
Cassettes Won’t Listen has been stuck in my head all week long, I am trying to figure out who he sounds like, maybe its what I want video games to sound like or its kind of a mixture of if Eliot Lipp made 4/4 material instead of hip hop and he invited IDM specialist Wisp to help make the music and they had to use studio instruments, I know thats a odd comparison since i’m name dropping but it is what it is.
Proem is just one of those musicians that surfaced during the IDM boom and grabbed a lot of the attention of fans during the mid 2000’s and now kind of goes down in my mind as an important piece of keeping that genre afloat. he has a similar sound to Marumari which is that melodic and dreamy Aphex Twin sound with tons of texture on his notes and each one kind of flutters by kind of like this Arovane song.
Lawrence makes techno poetry as Kompakt calls it and I couldn’t agree more, even if we go back to some of his recent releases the phrase still holds up. Teaser which was featured on his Teaser EP and on the Total 3 compilation on Kompakt has this great slow swing to it and sounds like a huge ship cuts thru a thick night fog while a young women on the ship smokes and speaks thru the song.
I never would of expect a label like Minus to put out something as sexy as this Geometry track, usually we get bouncey, distant, cold minimal techno from them and this track sounds like something Arab Strap or Colder would of made.
I don’t know anything about Tim Toh, I just got the song from a friend and once I heard it and let it play all the way thru I was pretty blown away on how many elements of different styles show up in the song that make it beautiful. The song One crosses over so many genres its unbelievable, a definite necessity for fans of Dial and old Traum releases.
New Go! Team remix of Black Moth Super Rainbow pretty and PBS-ish like an old Stereolab but more on the happy side.
I love the concept behind this release of Casino Versus Japan and Freescha, a split EP with a couple tracks from each artist on a CD. I think more artist should be open to this idea, Daedelus recently started a label that is doing this called Friends of Friends and it looks very promising, also on a side note did everyone know that Freescha did a song for Britney Spears called Heaven on Earth??
I’ve been really impressed with tracks by Nôze, their remix of Franz Ferdinand is a simple yet very effective track for the dancefloor. The combination of that flute, synth and tambourine make me actually like this Franz Ferdinand song.
I wonder who picks the remixers for Moby? Do you think he does? I know he djs a lot in New York but does he play this kind of music? Well this Holy Ghost! remix and the recent Apparat remix are some top choices, i’ll post the Apparat one next week, this one you can add to your weekend night out mix even though its a bit older.
If any of you are in town this Saturday i’ll be djing with Trus’me and Worst Friends at some Circus/Performing Art/craziness at S.L.A.M. Warehouse, i’ve posted a track of Trus’me before awhile back in October, I might like this Drilling track even more now.
I really don’t know what to say about Dirty Projectors, I like the synth part and the girl vocals are growing on me slowly, its definitely a nice change up for radio charting indie pop. I would love to hear your guys thoughts on it.
Last weekend I went to Public Assembly which is a venue here in Brooklyn to hear Alva Noto play but I missed his set instead I caught Byetone which was an amazing show, i’d post pictures but they look kind of crappy. If you haven’t heard much from the Raster Noton label then here is a nice intro of the more gentle side of the label from Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto.
I’ve been seeing more posts on CocoRosie recently which means maybe a new record is in the works? I remember loving this song and playing it at this wine bar weekly every time I DJed, the kitten samples kinda make me laugh, just makes me think if you sat down to make music when would you ever decide to add those to your song?
Yasume takes me back to the more geeky IDM music that had substance and still kept the warmth so it never felt too digital, really nice to hear on a nice system and not my 70USD Altec Lansing computer speakers.
For some of you that don’t know Bleep is the digital retail store for the label Warp Records that carries specific labels and artists that they hand select. They just released a great compilation called “Showcase Vol. 1” and here’s the best part: its only 1£ or $2(USD) for all 11 songs! So I went ahead and picked 4 of the songs that i’d alone just pay a buck each for, don’t worry there isn’t ever going to be a pack rat issue in your iTunes so just pick it up.
When has Bibio ever wronged us on this blog? never has and never will, the man honestly makes some of the most gorgeous originals and remixes and this one is no different than the rest. Just think maybe we can get him to do a Tycho remix?!
I have a feeling i’ve already post this Bullion song but it was unmastered or ripped from vinyl and muffled. If you haven’t heard of Bullion then you should know that he kills it by mashing up Beach Boys and J Dilla.
Om Unit reminds me of the classic Aphex Twin track Didgeridoo but just a great edit in 2009, if you can get into this you’re definitely a friend in my book.
Kelpe does that sound that I still don’t how to make because I just feel too white, its that sound if I had to show you visually it would look like im playing with a Jacob’s Ladder toy and its getting stuck once in a while in its own ropes.
I know, it’s been way too long since we updated the Playlist, but the third installment is finally here. It’s sort of all over the place and I tried to add in a few extra tracks to make it worth the wait so there should be a little something for everyone. This will be the last one I personally compile for a little while, we’ve got some guest playlists lined up for the coming months and they should drop more punctually than this one (once a month or so). Also still working on the recall feature so you can go back and listen to past playlists, I’ll post on that when it’s ready. For now, sit back, relax, and click “Play” at the top of the center column (RSS readers must visit the site). Enjoy!
800BELOVED – GALAXIES
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART – YOUNG ADULT FRICTION
GRIZZLY BEAR – CHEERLEADER
THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE – 1517
BIBIO – AMBIVALENCE AVENUE
DEERHUNTER – AGORAPHOBIA
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT – UPPER EAST SIDE
BULLION – LONG PROMISED – ORIGINAL MIX
J DILLA – GOBSTOPPER
MUX MOOL – NIGHT COURT
ELIOT LIPP – BEAMRIDER
MODERAT – A NEW ERROR
DEASTRO – LIGHT POWERED
MAX TUNDRA – WHICH SONG
NATHAN FAKE – SUPERPOSITIONS
ROYKSOPP – HAPPY UP HERE
DAMN ARMS – DESTINATION PT. I
EVERYWHERE FT. MARTINA TOPLEY-BIRD
FEVER RAY – WHEN I GROW UP (VERSION BY LISSVIK)
TIM HECKER – SEA OF PULSES
TYCHO – COASTAL BRAKE MANUAL REMIX
PANDA BEAR – I’M NOT
A SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW – WATERY (DROWNING IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR BEING BURRIED ALIVE UNDER WATER)
AIRIEL – CINNAMON
SHIGETO/A SETTING SUN – POLAROID ROMANCE
ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI – FOR KATE I WAIT
CHRIST – PYLONESQUE
In a foggy new england town there comes a distant yet constant bump from a poorly lit dive bar. This rumble comes from the only turntables in the village spilling out the Detroit house and electro pulse. The youngsters flock towards this other worldy distant sound inviting them to flail their bodies to the demanding rhythm.
Behind these turntables stand a couple of fledgling producers named Matt Young and Grant Wheeler. Their pop remixes crafted for each week’s set provided only a hint of their direction in this world of visceral music. However, once combined with the angelic soul stylings of Angelica Bess, a sound took form they could call their own, a sound as instinctual as their own body language.
Just as they uttered their first musical words together, the sound of this small new england town started to fade. A new mechanical rumble came from the earth that was the sounds of New York City. With these city sounds, emerged a voice that spoke volumes of new influences. Body Language was quick to respond, and offered a five song EP aptly titled, Speaks which will be out June 16th and i’ll definitely be sharing a few tracks from on the ISO50 blog.
Upcoming NY Shows:
• 6/10 w/ Mux Mool, Bluejay @ Public Assembly
• 6/17 w/ Giantess @ Piano’s
• 6/19 w/ Passion Pit, Bear Hands @ Bowery Ballroom
• 6/20 DJ Set w/ Miike Snow, Macabees @ Williamsburg Music Hall
Volume 1 – Body Language Soul Influences – DOWNLOAD
Intro / Roy Ayers – Everybody Loves the Sunshine / Pretty Purdie – Don’t Go / Air – Le Soleil Es Pres de Moi / The Temptations – Just my Imagination / Otis Redding – Sitting on the Dock of the Bay / Marvin Gaye – That’s the Way Love is / Percy Sledge – You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me / Jimmy Hughes – Steal Away / Martha Reeves and the Vandellas – Jimmy Mack / Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered / Raphael Saadiq – Love That Girl / The Marvelettes – Heat Wave / Ray Charles – I’ve Got A Woman / Diana Ross and the Supremes – Come See About Me / Jamie Lidell – Multiply / The Commodores – Brick House / Patrice Rushen – Hang it Up / James Brown – The Payback / Nina Simone – Don’t Let me be Misunderstood / Beach Boys – Don’t Talk
Volume 2 – Body Language Disco Influences – DOWNLOAD Roy Ayers – Running Away / Daniel Wang – Like Some Dream I can Stop Dreaming / Escort – Starlight / Hercules and the Love Affair – Blind / Indeep – Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (Mirage Remix) / Evelyn Champlain King – Love Come Down / Kerrier District – Lets Dance and Freak / Marvin Gaye – Got to get Down / Kano – i’m ready / Prince – Controversy / Giorgio Moroder – The Chase / Metro Area – Seduction / Michael Jackson – Off the Wall / Ian Preece – Superfuzz / Panthers – Goblin City (Holy Ghost! disco dub) / Motown Sounds – Bad Mouthin’ / Black Devil Disco Dub – The Devil In Us
Volume 3 – Body Language Detroit Influences – DOWNLOAD Mr Fingers – Can You Feel It / Move D – Quit Quittin / The Other People Place – Let me be me / Joey Beltram – Energy Flash / Adonis – No Way Back / Jeff Mills – Automatic / F.U.S.E. – Substance Abuse / Drexciya – Water Walker / Inner City – Good Life (Magic Juan Mix) / Morgan Geist – Detroit (Carl Craig Remix) / Green Velvet – Shake and Pop / L.F.O. – LFO / Laurent Garnier – Crispy Bacon / Dopplereffekt – Sterilization / Detroit Grand Pubahs – Sandwiches / B12– Hall of Mirrors
You may know Daniel from the group Judah Johnson or you may know the original of Does Not Compute by Prince but this is the official debut of his Bulbz EP which includes 3 covers of Smokey Robinson, Kanye West and this cover of Prince. When I hear Daniel’s production it reminds of Jamie Lidell’s singing style meeting up with Radiohead’s spastic breakdowns and somehow Daniel pulls it off and makes that marriage work. Please excuse the PG-13 cover we got going on today, don’t worry they’re a couple that read the blog so its nothing scandalous.
Dirk Leyers maybe better known for his work on Kompakt as half of Closer Musik which is a very seductive minimal house project which is located in the recent playlist on our blog. The song Wellen has this nice swing to it right from the start and the long synth melody can easily be burned into your memory.
We’ve had Jim O’Rourke already on the blog before and I think the other song was actually off this same EP but I needed to post this track because it came up on shuffle last night and I think the horn parts are perfect and maybe you might agree.
Canada’s The Mole might be one of most smiley DJs i’ve ever seen play, I remember seeing his performance at MUTEK years ago and him just really enjoying himself almost to the point that I thought he might be watching something funny while playing LIVE off his laptop. Knock Twice has a strong simple groove which is almost appropriate for any dance set you can think of.
