Posts in Music

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Onuinu new single “Happy Home” had me looking for his album just one minute into it. Too bad the LP doesn’t drop until August, he’s on tour with Yacht on these dates. Its like a upbeat Black Moth Super Rainbow is backing Toro Y Moi for an encore at a outdoor roller disco, everyone is dancing.

New Gold Panda dropped today out of nowhere, Derwin comes with a full sound that ramps up and builds like a classic Telefon Tel Aviv track but has hints of Caribou but pitched down an octave, an amazing follow up for recent releases that will be hard to beat. One thing I have to say is something that I learned from Mux Mool is that Derwin puts a lot of punch into his rhythm section thats what separates him from most of his following producers plus there’s a perfect level of brightness added during mastering.

If there’s any label to be excited about it should be Tim Sweeney’s Beats In Space, they’re already on release #3, sounds like original indie-disco(I don’t know if thats even a thing) Erlend Oye material, 12″ ships May 22nd I recommended picking this one up.

Time to drop it out and go a little deep, heavy beauties from Conforce, if you missed their latest album later year then I guess I just feel bad for you.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVSiwMVaKe4

I don’t usually go too deep trying to interpret films and videos simply for the fact that I’m not good at it. Can you really ever truly determine the intentions of an artist? True, some are pretty forthright and wear it on their sleeves as a sort of art-form in and of itself, but for the most part art and expression are purely personal exercises, the products of which can’t be expected to be faithfully interpreted by others. And that’s the beauty; that others are free to take the form and mold it to their own experience, to derive a more personal meaning from it. I for one hope that the majority of people who consume my work perceive it in a completely different way than I do. I know that by and large that’s not the case, but I’d like to think it could be if properly framed.

But this video struck a chord with me as an artist and as a human being in general. How can we reconcile our passions and goals with the biological imperative and our desire to find true meaning in life? Is our work the true meaning? On your death bed will you praise yourself for the things you’ve achieved as an artist, be fulfilled because you followed your “dream”. Or will you be thankful for the the relationships you’ve forged and the lives you’ve touched? Hopefully both. But as I grown older and learn more of myself and my work, I begin to fear these goals are mutually exclusive in some respects.

Curious to hear other’s thoughts. And I’m not missing the lighter side of this, it’s downright hilarious in it’s own way. But on a more serious note I think this is outlines some conflicts we all must face as artists striving towards our self-oriented goals.

Electric Guest – This Head I hold Directed by Keith Schofield

Via Dusty Brown

Before too many electronic musicians start thinking they’ve started a new genre i’d like to keep sprinkling IDM in playlists every month to remind them that IDM came and went and it was a beautiful time, this Nautilis was a recent dig up, a pretty rewarding 2 minute listen.

I love Four Tet’s sequencing style, its like a swift kick to pop musics balls.

Really into this Indian Wells track, it looks like it his first release, he’s really into tennis, tried to find some info and it was just some more tennis so I gave up writing about him and just posted his track.

Would love some edits from Nacho Patrol, Tom Croose or Daphni of this Shah Marg cut, proper psychedelic bliss.

Just catching up on Neil Krug’s recent work, I don’t think enough people saw the stunning video work he did for Gonjasufi along with the latest book he has coming out in June.

Designed as a companion book to the LP-sized “Pulp Art Book: Volume One”, this much anticipated second volume builds on the first, introducing several new characters and vignettes, while solidifying Joni Harbeck and Neil Krug’s position as the hippest ex-Kansans in the contemporary art world. Poliziotteschi films were a major influence for Volume Two, in particular with the “Heist” series, which introduces Farrow, Patti and Tash. Jackie, Mystic White Flight, SummerLovers and other favorites make their appearances as well. Taken together, the characters and imagery in this fresh new collection take Pulp Art Book to a new level.

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER, EXPECTED JUNE 2012.

These photos above by Neil i’ve been swapping as screen savers, contrast and saturation done very tastefully, its pretty thin line.

Trying to put together one of those summer mixes for a friends party, this track by Crazy P is the perfect wind down cut to place towards the end, almost the best reflection selection if your playlist was disco heavy, I hear a Rod Stewart vocal if i’m not mistaken.

Detroit Techno classics are popping up everywhere these days again, this is a must have, i’m actually surprised i’ve never posted it yet. I remember when I first heard it in a Detroit warehouse when I was probably even too young to drive, I didn’t know how to ask the DJ or if it was even okay to ask what was playing.

If you follow Mark E closely you’ll get edit treats at the same quality as Todd Terje, this one is my latest discover even though its older, the tempo has been perfected, looking to debut a DJ set in SF if anyone knows of any spots? I think this would work nicely early into the evening.

Alright on the other side of the tempo spectrum comes a classic from DJ Hell, don’t even waste your time with the song, GO DIRECTLY TO THE MUSIC VIDEO AND WATCH IT BEGINNING TO END, thank me later.

Tropical Space Juke? i’m not sure what to call it…does it matter though, the man cares about melody and unique direction and split for upbeat relaxation and dancefloor, pre-order this 2LP its going to be one that you’ll revisit plenty this summer.

I should be suggesting more Soundcloud accounts to follow, the top of my list has to be Wisp, this track below is just the tip of what this man does, not one idea Reid Dunn has had has ever bored me.

RxGibbs is keeping me still interested in the hazy wave of ethereal dream pop, its hard to hate something this charming.

This Four Tet cover of Black Sabbath will bring some people back and some others even further back, this is Rounds era.

I’ve been digging deep into Actress’ sound for a while but after looping some of the newer cuts off his recent album R.I.P. i’ve found a small connection between his work and what I think the newer Heathered Pearls material might become especially in the tracks selected. The decay and hiss added makes tracks like Ascending so damn beautiful.

If you’re on Soundcloud 18 Carat Affair is a must follow because he’s always giving away his work and recent experiments.

The new Kyson EP Patience came out today, full of delicate dub, the first track is free to download below.

Photo by Ana Cabaleiro

Only maybe 2 people on this whole blog could probably do this successfully and know their records while nailing tricks but it would be a great time just fooling around with it. What i’m more interested in is ambient type music with this and adding delay and reverb.

via DjTechTools

In early May Datassette will hit us with ‘People Without Mouths.’ The 12″ EP will be available on Shipwrec records and the digital version will follow two weeks after with bonus tracks and a a remix by Ilkae. He was kind enough to share the track ‘Don’t’ with us, and it’s a smooth, tingly gem of a track. Sprinkled with vocal stabs and bent percussion. Really stoked on this EP, head over to datassette.net for plenty of other goodies.

On my recent visit to Austin, TX I was lucky enough to catch Missions perform a set. He was surrounded by vintage equipment, a control center shrouded in synth. ‘Darrk/Blakk’ is the A-Side of his upcoming 7″ via Pau Wau Records. It sounds as what I assume an early 80s’ Depech Mode demo would sound like via a walkman running dangerously low on batteries. Haunting vocals seem to sit between towering walls of synthetic goo slowly dripping into your ears. Looking forward to more from Missions.

‘Don’t Open The Door’ from VHS Head was released on a Benefit Compilation for Japan on ICASEA. Contained within is the signature VHS Head sound. He is the master in mining the depths of pre-certification video. ‘Don’t Open The Door’ is a droopy eyed jam, it brings to mind the river of pink slime in Ghostbusters II, and what I might be like to slowly sink into that warm, murky mess. Quality track.

Innergaze just dropped their second LP ‘Mutual Dreaming‘ on Cititrax. Hailing from Brooklyn, this synth wielding duo pants a perfect picture of early dance music. ‘Is This Your Love?’ really had me floored upon first listen. It’s a slightly grey journey inward, highlighted by glittering arpeggios and synthetic stings. Topped off with vocal stabs that seem to pull you in and press you back out. ‘Mutual Dreaming’ will get some heavy rotation from me.

Music Provided By: Com Truise

You may remember Smithson Martin as the guys who made a splash a while back with this crazy monstrosity touchscreen DJ controller which smacked of vaporware.

Well apparently that thing was real and now it’s even realer because they have released a beautifully designed desktop version that’s infinitely more practical. Unfortunately it’s like $5000 so it’s not happening. But one can dream. Personally, I still haven’t figured out whether touchscreens are my thing for live performance. I got an iPad with the hopes of incorporating it into my live workflow but it still hasn’t happened. I personally don’t like having to be constantly looking down at gear the whole time and I need the tactile feedback of knobs and sliders.

Still not sure if I’d dig the Emulator for live music, but I think it would be great in the studio. And not just for music either, I think this would make a great Photoshop or Lightroom controller if set up properly.

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg7iktvYOY4