One label that did it perfect this year was Werkdiscs, just solid A+R with a vision and exposed new sounds to the whole industry by unveiling high caliber talent like Lukid, Actress, and their new addition Lone. It really made a hobbyist/music lover like myself get excited about the hunt of music again. What Actress brought to the table this year was eye opening and Lukid’s twist on Dub gave me another record that I could put on and not worry about skipping around.
Lone’s new LP has the charm and playful nostalgia feel like his last LP Lemurian but hits a bit harder on the kicks and just comes off brighter like the sun beams glaring off snow. If you’re a Tycho, Boards of Canada, Flying Lotus, Christ., Washed Out, Neon Indian, etc. fan there is something in this album for you.
On a side note: I kind of want to rock doubles of Karen Loves Kate, just a second there I had this player and itunes playing the song at the same time and it just sounded soo warm and thick, pure goodness.
[audio:klk.mp3] [audio:ggr.mp3]
I have to say… the current trend of AM radio hyper-compression has to go. Bands like Lone and Neon Indian aren’t doing themselves or their songs any favors masking the nuances in slushy, molasses-like digital compression.
Karen loves Kate is a pretty well known porn site… I wonder if that was intentional.
All I can hear is sidechain on these two tracks. I’m going to give the whole album a shot, but I hope it’s not all like this.
My mom always told me “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.” Still, I have to share that I can’t even get w/ the beat in “Lone.” Am I supposed to chill to this? Sorry, my ears must not be as fine-tuned as everyone here.
I think the charm here is the sounds he chooses to make the music, its a different take on what BoC does, its well done at a different tempo. Yes, the sidechaining might make it a bit less headphone music but I think if you like Dam Funk you also like this.
I really have no idea about production or terms to describe what it is im hearing but im guessing what sidechaining is and hating it, spoilimng what sounds like something im really into. maybe its the compression for the mp3 or something but i hope he wax wont sound like this. although the hudmo and nosaj thing records have elements of it.
actress was on fire this year, some crazy stuff on werkdiscs, some a bit too crazy but if he;s behind the thriller alias (i think he is?) then im happy!
this album is taking FOREVER. although i hear it’s out in a week or so, finally.
i hear people mention compression/sidechaining alot with lone. i know what it is, but i don’t care and i don’t understand why others do?
Tardlovski –
to be honest I think it spread like wildfire because one person was like “sidechaining is easy to do blah” then all these musicians started to do it and then music fans found out it was easy to do so they wanted something to complain about so they started to complain about this thing thats easy to do
right. it’s not like his tracks are sidechained like a house track, the mix is more complicated. i dunno, if it sounds good, i’m all for it.
the compression sounds great. its how hip hop should sound which is exactly what this is.
I realy dont know what the problem people have with Side-Chaining. Its become its own style in its own right. Perhaps you should think of it less as a production technique and more of a genre or what have you. Its not for everyone but oftain it provides a unique musical style.
Thats not to say it cant be used to bad effect, it has been. Flying Lotus is another person who uses it alot, albeit a little more subtly than Lone.
Lone realy works for me, I like his offerings.
@skywave agreed, i didnt really even know what sidechaining was until i read this post. now i understand that those flangy drums are sidechained. sounds good to me.
anyway also check out kona triangle if you like this. that’s a collaboration between lone and keaver & brause. its very much in the vein of lemurian. the album’s called “sing a new sapling into existence”
Woah, Scott, you really have good taste in music. First Sebastien Tellier about a year ago…and now this!! This blog is also for music lovers and not only fans of graphic design world!
Best wishes,
Daniel