Eye On New Releases: February 7th, 2012

With Valentine's Day approaching, love is in the air. And we looovee these new releases!

Label: Dragon's Eye Recordings
Album: Through Thickness
Artist: Kamran Sadeghi
Genre: Electronic, Ambient

Dragon's Eye Recordings is proud to present Through Thickness, the new full length release by Kamran Sadeghi, a Seattle-based artist, composer, and mixed media artist. His background in music and art is a mixture of self-taught private lessons and academic in music theory, composition and audio engineering. Through Thickness is part of Sadeghi's ongoing "Kha" series that arose from a growing interest in exploring rhythm. "Kha" is a word from the sanskrit language meaning "zero" that was used to denote space in tabular arrangements. Through these explorations, Sadeghi has developed a keen sense of structure and time, and deploys them to create a truly visceral listening experience. Through Thickness slowly gains momentum, moving from timid to temerarious which only serves to accentuate the albums haptic nature. Since 2003 Sadeghi has been an integral part of Seattle's electronic arts community through his extensive live performance schedule under the stage name Son of Rose, and as a producer collaborating with local and national artists.

Label: symbolic insight
Album: monkey with a gun
Artist: entropic advance
Genre: Electronic/Experimental

entropic advance’s monkey with a gun was developed and recorded at symbolic insight studios between 2001-2003 and originally released in 2003. At the CD release show, the project showcased over 20 belly dancers along with original video projections as part of a multi-media experience. The release is their most accessible work drawing from more popular electronic influences such as Bjork and Radiohead. This album also has a very consistent electronic sound, as the core members, bios+a+ic and Noise Poet Nobody, wrote and recorded all the tracks. Evolved EDM, Dn'B, and glitch styles are immersed in elements of ambience, noise, and soundscapes, creating a distinctive stylistic approach. It is a bold sonic hybrid of innovative electronic and experimental music, demonstrating a realized potential of modern sound art. Tracks feature heavy bass with click & cut rhythms, layered with lush effects-laden trumpet, custom processed slide guitar, rich sample textures, unique vocal manipulations, and obscure field recordings.

Label: Definitive Recordings
Album: Definitive Secret Weapons 2011
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronic, Tech-House, Techno, House

After the biggest and best year yet for Definitive Recordings, they have compiled their favorite and most effective tracks that are the "Secret Weapons" in their DJ sets. Although these tracks did not chart, they definitely rocked the party. With high intensity dance tracks from the likes of Olivier Giacomotto and John Acquaviva, you wouldn't want to miss this album. Check the tracks out again and take note of the artists as well, cause they are set to have big breakout work and play for 2012.

Eye on New Releases: January 31st, 2012

If you're audiophiles like us, you know it's that time of the week again: time to treat yo'self!

Label: Tonequake
Album: En Garde!
Artist: Favez
Genre: Alternative

En Garde! started with an email. Producer Andrew Scheps had been a fan of Swiss band Favez for a while, so when the opportunity to work together arose both Andrew and Favez jumped at the chance. A chilly January visit to the band's rehearsal space in Switzerland quickly turned into a deep and creative working relationship. For recording, Favez and Andrew met halfway (well, almost) between their homelands of Lausanne and Los Angeles at Monnow Valley Studio in Wales. They spent an intense 2 weeks recording live, capturing as much of the raw power of the band as they could. 12 days and 12 songs later, En Garde! had taken form.

Label: AudioInk
Album: Out Of My Hands
Artist: Cam Hodges
Genre: Rock

Cam Hodges comes fresh out of the Seattle music scene with his first album release after a successful climb up the ranks of "America’s Got Talent" to the #24 spot. With hundreds of thousands of YouTube fans, Cam's new release Out of My Hands has built-in organic demand. His pop/rock style includes basic rock structures with a subtle use of vocal harmony. The music is mixed acoustic and electric instrumentation with guitar, bass, drums, vocal back-ups, strings and brass. His laid-back style is reminiscent of Jason Mraz and an edgier Jack Johnson.

Label: Greenskeepers Music
Album: La Vendetta
Artist: Casino
Genre: Electronic

The two (sometimes well dressed) guys of Casino are about to deal a flush round of cards with their debut EP La Vendetta. A five track body of work that cruises on a brand new speed boat passed the lost paradise islands of: Isla Balearica, Isla Italo-Housia, Isla Bonita and La Isla Synth-Popia. Why such a vengeful title for a debut EP you may ask? No they are not aggressive super agents (even though they sometimes pretend to be), but the single "La Vendetta" is a soundtrack and script to a story of love, passion and indifference. The extremely catchy chorus is guaranteed to be one that you find yourself humming days later.  Other notable tracks include "White Water" - immediately the chord swell may remind you of a Frankie Goes To Hollywood vibe, but it soon swells into a dreamy white wash of the ideal analog Synthtopia. "Echoes" - think 2012 tropical balearic synth pop written for Madonna if she was still a virgin. "Dreams & Dragons" - a summer sing-a-long that is the perfect companion for driving down the highway on a hot summer night with the cabriolet roof jacked back 180 degrees. "Flight To Nowhere" - a piano and arpeggiator driven Italo-disco-ish’ inspired club fire cracker, which manoeuvres late into the night with its roller coaster build ups and synth melodies.

Eye on New Releases: January 24th, 2012

From fast, dance-y electro house to something more slow and mellow, this week's new releases will put you in the right mood.

Label: Coco Machete Records
Album: Bitches From Ostblock Pt. 2
Artist: Ostblockschlampen
Genre: Electro House

They came from the deepest woods of the former UDSSR!…AND THEY WILL BOMB WHO THEY WANT!!! Ostblockschlampen, “THE BITCHES FROM THE EASTERN BLOCK” is Markus Lange and his cohort Vanilla, two electro terrorists that have been rocking the boat and kicking in doors across the nation. Bitches From Ostblock, a two part release, features a who's who of upstart producers including Modek, Stereofunk, Faites Leur la Danse, Ill Saint M, Boylerz, Frederic De Carvalho, & Phantom's Revenge...bass bass bass...but you say who??? Wir sind die Bitches!

Label: Cosmicleaf Records
Album: Discovering Eguana
Artist; Eguana & Side Liner
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo

In 2011 Cosmicleaf and Side Liner discovered Eguana: a very promising talent from Russia who knows how to please with his multi chill out sounds. Discovering Eguana is a compilation of tracks carefully selected  for your ear pleasure, from downtempo lounge to trip-hop. Cinematic sonic environments detailed with wispy and organic synthesizers, nimble vocals, and a warm, welcoming low end, elevate listeners into an intimate involvement within their own senses. Discover Eguana!

Label: symbolic insight
Album: Leaving Palestine
Artist: entropoic advance
Genre: Electronic/Experimental

entropic advance’s Leaving Palestine release is a collection of improvised sounds and textures recorded at symbolic insight studios by the founding members, Noise Poet Nobody and bios+a+ic, from 2002-2004. The original release was a limited edition of 50 copies, packaged with a handmade paper insert stamped with only the projects logo, which is now sold out. The album sounds like a epic soundtrack for a film about the trials and tribulations of the Palestinian people. Minimal pulses, glitches, metal percussion, and tribal rhythms are layered with lush ambient tapestries and deep dark drones. Beautiful, haunting trumpet, morphing slide guitar, along with inspiring synthesizers, carry the sound into space. The music expresses an emotional intensity, while maintaining a mellow vibe, allowing the listener to experience a journey to the unknown regions of the mind. There is a therapeutic ambient flow in this reflective journey, which ultimately leaves one with feelings of hope, love, and empathy for the human condition.

Eye on New Releases: January 17th, 2012

Label: Moodgadget Records
Album: Lemondrop
Artist: André Obin
Genre: Electronic, Synth-Pop

Careening through the lanes of an endless musical highway, Boston native André Obin’s sound is not easily categorized. Genre-bending and shape-shifting are standard fare; taking risks is part of the fun. A musician, singer and producer, André draws inspiration for his songs from a deep emotional well. The music unfolds simultaneously with life itself. The results can be as dark as a forest under a new moon or as bright as a summer sun reflecting off the skyscrapers of a bustling city. His new single "Lemondrop" falls along the lines of the former, offering elegantly haunting tunes that form the base of 18 Carat Affair's and Teen Daze's dreamy remixes.

Label: decibel nyc
Album: Don't Break It
Artist: Mista A
Genre: House, Deep House

Mista A follows up his massive release Mental Health Hotline with an even hotter ticket for the new year. Don't Break It showcases the mature face of Mista A: still solid with the heavy beatdown arrangement and low ballin' groove that will make you stomp a hole in the floor. Three solid remixes from some of Decibel NYC's finest. DJ Locgroove offers up a severely pumped rendition, packed with filtered grooves and an overdriven rhythm, which is undoubtedly going to be a crowd favorite in the big rooms. Taking it one level up the sophistication ladder is a masterpiece done by the legendary Herbie James. His knack for blending old school and new school is certaintly a recipe to send all kids back to school. Done with live instrumentation and trained skill to make the deepness match the intensity of the big room mixes, be prepared to be sandwiched into an aural paradise. Last and certainly not least, Mr Soul Fabulous graces the Decibel NYC catalog with his supremely deep and melodic take of this work. Assigning the beatdown to his blend of caribe melody and overtones, you might find it a departure from his prior deepness, but not too far. Keeping true to the original, house heads will be pleased with the universal club appeal and mainstream approach to such an underground production.

Eye on New Releases: January 10th, 2012

Happy 2012!  What better way to start the new year than with new music? Today we bring you releases from some of the finest dubstep artists. Seems like dubstep will be the trend this year...at least, we hope!

Label: FiXT / Celldweller
Album: The Complete Cellout
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Dubstep, Electronic Rock


Watch out Skrillex, the dubstep scene is about to be taken over Celldweller's hybrid fusion of aggressive electronic, orchestra and rock.  Celldweller is excited to finally releaseThe Complete Cellout Vol. 01, noting that most of the tracks that aren't remixes from other artists are versions of completely reworked from the ground up for the Celldweller 2010/2011 Live Show. Although he has put a lot of time into the remixing and reproduction, Celldweller also credits Drivepilot, Bare, Blue Stahli, J Scott G, Joman, Josh Money & Toksin for helping to turn the release from being "pretty good" to being "totally badass". Known for pioneering new sounds and methods for creating his tracks, Celldweller continues to generate bangin' music that one can shake her booty to, clearly evident in The Complete Cellout Vol. 01. 


Label: Vermin Street
Album: Vanquish
Artist: Bobby Tank
Genre: Dubstep, Electronic


London's Bobby Tank is a flag-bearing 80's icon, a mad astrophysicist, and a hip hop kid from the future freshly fallen through a wormhole to our present day and age.  He's recently dropped tunes on the Aisuru Compilation and the Finest Ego & Project Mooncircle Compilation. He has a forthcoming release on Prime Dubs and now this, his debut EP, Vanquish. The Bobby Tank sound is one of nostalgic synths repurposed for the present, complimenting soulful, blenderized cut-ups reminiscent of days to come.  Delicately woven leads and atmospheres trickle down from the skies, tickling the ears with tantalizingly tasteful treble, while thick pulsing bass will shake that ass like a coked-up stripper at a Miami club circa 1983. This release comes replete with a gamut of remixes of the title track: 813's dope Dubstep lick; Kid Kanevil's seductively slow 808 mix; Jon Phonics' smooth space funk refix and Darkhouse Fam's fresh wonk-hop version.

Label: Yerba Buena Discos
Album:  Then You Smiled
Artist: Homero Espinosa feat. Allegra Bandy
Genre: Soul, House, Deep House


Yerba Buena Discos is happy to bring you the latest collaboration between Homero Espinosa and Allegra Bandy. Then You Smiled pairs up Homero’s deep, skipping instrumentation with Allegra’s buttery vocals. On the remixes, San Francisco’s legendary David Harness and Chris Lum team up for the Harlum Muziq remix, entrenching Allegra’s singing in their trademark soulful production. YBD’s own Allen Craig displays his international influences with a deep but drum-friendly Afrotech-style remix, while Chillin Music’s Rob Slac gives us a hypnotic, bass-heavy, dubbed-out remix. Of course, the release wouldn’t be complete without a dancefloor-friendly dub from Homero Espinosa himself.

Eye On New Releases: December 20th, 2011

Happy Holidays from the consciousness of IRIS Happenings! As you wrap packages and sip egg nog this week, make sure you tune in to some Zombie-inspired electro from Eastern Europe, or Minneapolis' mid-tempo electro-disco dance party.

Label: Coco Machete Records

Release: Bitches from Ostblock

Artist: Ostblockschampen

Genre: Electro House

The latest offering from Coco Machete Records, Bitches from Ostblock, is the mastermind of two infamous Eastern European producers: Markus Lange and Vanilla, aka Ostblockschampen. Ostblockschampen translates from German “bitches from the Eastern Block,” which includes countries like Poland and all those from the Czech Republic to Russia. The six tracks that compile this release feature the original mix of “Bitches from Ostblock” plus 5 other remixes from upstart producers like Boylerz, and Frederic De Carvalo. The original is a bass-heavy hybridization of groovy electro, glitchy percussion, and infectious propulsive electronic timbres that are reminiscent of great dance party artists like Felix Da Housecat. As Ostblockschampen professes to dance floors across the world, “they will bomb who they want.” Look out for the complimentary release to this record dropping January 10^th, 2012. 

Label: Nyte Traxx

Release: Super Nova EP

Artist: Nyteowl

Genre: House, R&B, Pop, Electro

Minneapolis-based electronic pop artist and R&B producer Jeremiah Conlon, is back with his latest release under the moniker of Nyteowl. Picking up where his previous effort Tokyo EP left off, Nyteowl’s sonic stamp—soul inspired vocals, disco aesthetic, and smooth electronic music—has expanded with the addition of mid-tempo funk and house influences that give Super Nova a groovier edge. Nyteowl explores the delicate balance between new wave basslines and classic electro-disco vibes on “Feeling it (Again)” and “Super Nova”; tracks that compliment each other nicely. The last track on the record features of remix from Jimmy Edgar (K7 Records/Warp), a mix of “Love U” that’s sure to leave listeners busy on the dance floor.

Eye On New Releases: December 13th

 Label: Blue Canoe Records

Release: XYZ Factor

Artist: Joseph Patrick Moore

Genre: Electronic, Jazz

Blue Canoe Records introduces the new release XYZ Factor, a three song EP of electronica and jazz from bassman, Joseph Patrick Moore. Moore is a skilled bassist, producer, composer, arranger, educator, author and the founding partner of Blue Canoe Digital, an entertainment company focused on delivering the best in jazz music. His music and inventiveness is known to echo the spirits of Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, and Herbie Hancock. With his production of XYZ Factor, it’s apparent that Moore has crafted an incomparable recording that would entertain both electronica and contemporary jazz fans equally.

Label: Electronic Soundscapes

Release: Lightscapes II

Artist: Sol Tek

Genre: Ambient, Electronic

Not needing to loom any longer, Sol Tek has released their new album Lightscapes II, an awaited sequel to Lightscapes I released in January 2010 from the label Electronic Soundscapes. Originating from Amsterdam, Albert Borkent, creator of Sol Tek draws inspirations from Tangerine Dream, Arvo Part and Klaus Schulze, who have influenced the distinct Sol Tek style of combining electric and ambient music. With tracks like “Floral Melody,” “Monodrone,” and “Celestial Sea,” Lightscapes II is an album that combines classical music structures with the latest electronic production skills and has atmospheric and drone works featuring carefully selected gems for urban tranquility and mind relaxation.