This Andrés LP came out last year and i’m sure its still on a lot of peoples record players. The record was produced with Kenny Dixon Jr. on Moodymann’s label Mahogani Music, it touches on House and Hip Hop from the center of Detroit, MI. This is a record for the people that live and breathe this sound, after a few listens I realized one of the only ways to truly enjoy it is playing the LP in full so you can lock into the sound. Its a very rewarding and solid listen if you enjoy J Dilla, KDJ, and most Detroit deep house but it also touches on the slow edit world like Mark E and Rub n’ Tug.

Found these simply edited photos by Anatoly Zenkov pretty appealing to my eye, reminds of some album cover that I can’t remember but that might not be the case, it could be just a good idea for an album cover that hasn’t been done before.

Above our some screenshots from the Syntaks videos that i’ve posted below, beautiful visuals that i’m sure many of you will be happy to see. Syntaks is Jakob Skott from Denmark who collaborates with Anna Cecilia, the music hints at calm instrumentals by Cocteau Twins and all the way to the more melodic work by William Basinski.

Wow I don’t have the guts to put out what Tune-Yards does but i’d love to try and make this kind of music, raw and loopy with plenty of passion behind every note played.

Pictureplane and Teengirl Fantasy seem to be both on the same boat, sounds like re-edits of pop songs but with additional melody and lo-fi backing. Teengirl Fantasy has hints of what seems to be Throw Some D’s by Rich Boy(great song by the way) accompanied with a lullaby like melody and calmed noise while Pictureplane takes the classic Seven Wonders by Fleetwood Mac and give it a harsh crunchy swing backing beat, its a pretty nice edit, I wouldn’t of gave it its own name though I would of just called it an edit, still a great listen.

Syntaks – “Twentytwohundred” Video from Ghostly International on Vimeo.

Syntaks – “Blue Sunshine” from Ghostly International on Vimeo.

Tata Vislevskaya has some incredible pictures of the Swiss Alps. This is something I really enjoy; shots of epic landscapes like this, paired with this style of processing. I love seeing the blacks turn to purples and blues (especially in the mountains on that first one). The rest of her series, especially the ones of Iceland, really spurs the travel bug in me. I’ve always really wanted to go to Reykjavik.

via TSA

I know I know i’m on a Swedish post rock / dream pop kick recently thanks to 800Beloved and some recent suggestions from the very informative ISO50 blog commenting community. The Mary Onettes recently released their Islands LP, below our a few of my favorite tracks by them, a really odd creepy Swedish video and some US dates. Also, if anyone at Labrador or from The Mary Onettes reads this then you should consider 800Beloved as an opening act for your NY or OH shows, just sayin’ since they let me know about you.

The Mary Onettes ‘Puzzles’ from Labrador Records on Vimeo.

US TOUR DATES – The Mary Onettes
Apr 19 Marathon Bar Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 20 DC 9 Washington, Washington DC
Apr 21 Mercury Lounge New York, New York
Apr 22 Great Scott Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 23 Summit Columbus, Ohio
Apr 24 Schubas Chicago, Illinois
Apr 25 Sunset Tavern Seattle, Washington
Apr 26 Holocene Portland, Oregon
Apr 27 Rickshaw San Francisco, California
Apr 28 Soda Bar San Diego, California
Apr 29 Viper Room Los Angeles, California

A few killer works by Justin Allen LaFontaine. I had the Up North one on my blog a while back, but forgot how cool it was until today when I was perusing the electronic basement as it were. I wonder where that photo was taken.. Would love to see some recent work by Justin!

Found these aerial photos by Jakob Wagner really enjoyable to look at while I pick music to DJ a shoegaze night.

Post punk/dream pop darlings 800Beloved have just released their first single/4 track EP from their upcoming album Everything Purple which includes a shorter/popper album’s single. This upbeat track oozes dancing and falling in love at the same time, I love it so much I asked the band if I could give it away for FREE and they said yes so download it here for FREE.

If you don’t follow indie labels like I do then just understand that if your LP comes out on Domino or French Kiss then your golden, press will pick you up and you’ll definitely get a proper chance to be loved since their A+R know what their doing. Recent signings Local Natives are catchy and talented, I like how the drums are mixed, they seem to sound a bit more upfront which works really well for this track.

I found Sambassadeur a few weeks ago only after searching for some post rock Swedish bands that aren’t just The Mary Onettes and The Radio Dept. They have a Cranberries/The Sundays feel, this was the only track I picked up but after a few listens I definitely want more.

I have been really hooked to listening to music behind every commercial on TV during the Olympics and this Xx usage was one of the best i’ve heard to date, such a perfect match with AT&T I think it was.

Just finished up this amazing sandwich and doing some final prep work for my talk tomorrow morning at FITC here in Amsterdam. I’ll be talking from 11:15-12:15 in the Felix Shaffyyzaal room. If you weren’t able to make it out to this one I will also be speaking at FITC Toronto in April.

Here are some clips from the first couple days of FITC Amsterdam:

Matthew Lyons is an incredible illustrator. Just about every blog in existence has written a piece about him recently — and it’s no surprise — his work is absolutely stunning. As I mentioned in my post, the combination of his vast imagination and impeccable eye for color and composition begets some really exciting work.

I asked Matthew if he would prepare a short process description about one of his recent works. What follows is Matthew’s description of how he created the piece you see above, The Snide of a Scoundrel Man. Take it away Matthew!

(more…)