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.
If I could offer up one electronic album to the world it would be this one, Lusine has always been a wizard when it comes to expansion and beauty, while maintaining the highest quality sound design without it ever being too experimental to drive off any new listeners. Songs like “Stratus” makes you feel like your skydiving in your chair, while “Panoramic” builds up to what feels like your doing donuts in a convertible in slow motion in the desert after the best day with your good friends. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Seattle-based producer Jeff McIlwain’s work has long inhabited the fertile border zone between electronic pop and experimental electronic music — it’s a place that’s home to music that has both a brain and a heart, and McIlwain’s been exploring its boundaries for the best part of a decade now.
The Waiting Room is his third full-length release for Ghostly International under the moniker Lusine, and his first album since 2009’s A Certain Distance. As with all McIlwain’s work as Lusine, this is a record that’s characterized by both diversity and coherency. Its tracks traverse a variety of sonic landscapes, from the widescreen atmospherics of appropriately-titled opening track “Panoramic” through the digital soul arrangement of Electronic’s “Get the Message” and the club-friendly bounce of “First Call” to the slow-building Detroit-inflected closer “February”.
But for all The Waiting Room’s eclecticism, it’s also notable that it plays out as a coherent whole, with McIlwain’s deft production creating the sense of a single, logical journey — an album, rather than a simple collection of tracks. It also continues the excursions into vocal-led tracks that characterized A Certain Distance — exactly half of The Waiting Room’s ten tracks employ vocalists, most notably the aforementioned “Get the Message,” wherein guest vocalist and wife Sarah McIlwain makes Bernard Sumner’s words her own: “I don’t know where to begin / Living in sin,” she sings calmly, “How can you talk? / Look where you’ve been.”
As a whole, this is an album that’s both cerebral and visceral, a record that’s both rewarding of a serious headphone session and also warm and melodic enough to make listening as engaging in an emotional sense as it is in an intellectual one. Many artists flirt with these two extremities of electronic music; few tie them together as well as McIlwain does.
Billerica messaged this to me, really beautifully looped found sound from nature, he does it better than I do.
Lone back to that glossy soothing sound he started off with but with an upgrade, this one glistens in silvers and honey.
Brolin is a new artist thats trying the whole unknown identity thing which I think is a waste of time. Honestly I enjoy this song, it almost sounds like Tracy Chapman over some Sebastian Tellier/Hot Chip moody beat material.
Its more Four Tet, doesn’t need much explanation since i’ve posted almost every leak he’s shared on soundcloud in the last year.
Trying to leave you all with something perfect for the weekend, probably the best go to is Classixx, the most trusted remixers and DJs in the last 5 years. Judging on the recent artwork i’ve seen they might have the best branding for a music in 2013.
TRACKLIST
1. Tangerine Dream – The Dream Is Always The Same
2. Unit Black Flight – Night Raiders
3. Tropics – Give It Up
4. Groundislava – Weekend In The Tropics
5. Human League – Human (Instrumental)
6. —
7. James Welsh – The Way
8. Toro y Moi – Rose Quartz
9. Falty DL – Straight & Arrow
10. Classixx – Holding On (Acapella)/ Aphex Twin – Xtal
11. Madonna – Live To Tell (At Close Range Extended Instrumental)
12. Tiger & Woods – Pitch
13. Mano Le Tough – Take It Back
14. Moony Me – Confused
15. Akufen – Skidoos
16. Presets – It’s Cool
17. Classixx – Borderline
18. Jacques Renault – Back To You (Paradis Remix)
19. Nicolette Larson – Lotta Love
20. Tangerine Dream – Love On A Real Train
A new favorite, recent DaM Funk hasn’t caught my ear until now, perfect timing, definitely playing this tomorrow on Valentine’s Day w/ Lemonade at Cameo Gallery tomorrow.
Foxes In Fiction beautifully covers “Heaven or Las Vegas” by the Cocteau Twins. Pulls off the vocal soo nicely, Warren is in Brooklyn now, this summer should be a great one for him.
Courtship comes up with a dreamy remix for a Sydney-based group, its light and enjoyable to take in, reminds me of that first spring wind on the face.
We all need more Pure X, twaggin’ out for those people that have worn out their Kurt Vile and Real Estate records, this is a refreshing listen.
