Eye On New Releases: February 21st, 2012

Today's offerings include veterans of their fields. Disappears continues to do what they do best: rock out. Dirty Disco Youth & Fukkk Offf start the end-of-the-world party 8 months before the supposed apocalypse. And for those of us wondering where winter is (it has rained only four times here in San Francisco since the new year began) bios+a+ic & Tanker reminds us that the cold does exist... somewhere in the world.

Label: kranky
Album: Pre Language
Artist: Disappears
Genre: Rock

Right on cue, the third annual report from Chicagoʼs Disappears has been submitted for your consideration. Following up on the acclaimed Guider album released just over a year ago, and with new drummer Steve Shelley now fully integrated into the group, these songs were again forged into proper shape during live shows before heading to the studio and the tape machine. Never ones to dither or be indecisive, itʼs a full-bore assault from the opening track to the last as Disappears attack these new songs with their usual relentless determination. Itʼs a sinister proceeding - debut Lux was preoccupied with death and endings while follow up Guider with protection - but Pre Language finds the band speaking on, of all things, love. Direct allusions to Philip K. Dick, James Baldwin, and Joan of Arc sit side by side with songs about the lows of life and the characters that permeate it. Recorded in Hoboken New Jersey at Sonic Youthʼs Echo Canyon West studio and mixed with John Congleton, Pre Language finds Disappears at their most potent and focused. The band has finally stepped into their own world and the results are thrilling.

Label: Coco Machete Records
Album: Nuclear War Disaster EP
Artist: Dirty Disco Youth & Fukkk Offf
Genre: Electro House

Fukkk Offf's Bastian Heerhorst and Dirty Disco Youth's Phil Speiser team up to drop a bomb on Coco Machete Records and the world at large. With two equally devastating tracks the Nuclear War Disaster EP delivers on its promise of total devastation. Both tracks attack, drive, squelch and pound in ways only these two artists can only to be released by an overture worthy enough to ride with the Valkyries. I think it's time to head to the shelter!

Label: symbolic insight
Album: froZen
Artist: bios+a+ic + Tanker
Genre: Electronic/Experimental

froZen by bios+a+ic + Tanker was originally released by symbolic insight on March 9, 2007 in conjunction with Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado, as a limited edition of 100 units, which quickly sold out. This epic album sonically documents one of the coldest winters in decades and reflects upon the strange annual festival which exploits a frozen old man. The music is edgy ambient noise and drones combined with field recordings of the artists walking upon the local frozen river and reservoir. It features bios+a+ic's lush effects-laden trumpet, time stretched looping, and minimal sound textures. These elements are combined with Tanker's warping analog synthesizer, pulsing rhythms, and glitched blips. Musician Vince Herman of the legendary bluegrass band, Leftover Salmon, states that this was the trippiest CDs he had ever heard. froZen is a powerful and unique musical statement which takes the listener to a strange and beautiful world which could exist in either outer space or inner Earth. This release was the final musical statement made by mountain man and artist, Tanker, as he left his world the following summer. The album ends with his voice speaking over his synth, may he rest in peace.

Eye On New Releases: February 14th, 2012

Valentine's Day is here, and today's new release pickings are perfect for sharing with your special someone.

Label: Reckless Records
Album: Resurrection Moon
Artist: Audrey Auld
Genre: Adult Contemporary, Country

Hot on the heels of her 2011 album, Come Find Me, Audrey Auld and Reckless Records are proud to announce the release of Resurrection Moon, a 20-track overview of the veteran singer-songwriter’s best-loved songs of the last decade.  It’s been 15 years since Auld issued her debut EP — and 14 since the launch of her own Reckless label. In that time, the native Tasmanian has released 5 internationally acclaimed solo albums of original songs, a live record, an acoustic collection of traditional Australian folk songs, and a duets album with Bill Chambers (1999’s Looking Back to See). But she’s never stopped to catch her breath long enough to assemble a proper compilation of her own best work — until now.  As a collection of the best of Auld’s best (so far, at least!), Resurrection Moon plays like the perfect live set and showcase for the award-winning artist’s eclectic range of moods and styles: from the devastating frankness of “Losing Faith” (winner of the 2006 MerleFest Song Contest) and gorgeous sorrow of “Song for Clax” to the playful swing of “Jellyroll,” the giddy rush of “Love You Like the Earth,” and the tender familial affection of “My Father.”

Label: Kayo Stereophonic
Album: My Funny Valentine Live 1955-59
Artist: Anita O'Day
Genre: Vocal Jazz

This profound collection of rare never-before-heard live recordings of Anita O’Day in small clubs to larger venues captures the essence of the incredible voice of this legend of jazz vocals. Most of us were not old enough to be sitting in the Village Vanguard or some small club in Miami or any one the club dates back in the 1950’s. But...pull up a chair, open a bottle of wine and dim the lights for this warm, incredibly intimate collection that will make you feel like you are front row in New York City, 1955.  The song list is all A+, the best of the standards and Anita’s improvising mixed with the top sidemen make this great collection A MUST for your music collection, and for Valentine's Day.

Label: FSS
Album: Pareidolia
Artist: Tetras
Genre: Experimental

In early 2010 Tetras (Jason Kahn, Jeroen Visser, and Christian Weber) began meeting in studio to develop their sound. Pareidolia documents those sessions.  Tetras take a long-form approach to their music, with live sets approaching one hour or more. The gradual structural development of their pieces blurs the sense of time passing, moving through various fields of improvisation which owe as much to rock (This Heat, Can), as they do to jazz (Sun Ra, electric-era Miles Davis), minimal music (Steve Reich) or drone (Phil Niblock). Aside from their collaborative approach to the music, Tetras also work collectively in all aspects of the production involving a recording. On Pareidolia each member of the group had a hand in either mixing the initial tracks or mastering them for the final vinyl cut before pressing. The title Pareidolia refers to the idea of hearing through the music, to find the many shifting layers of form and interplay slowly manifesting themselves over the duration of the pieces.

Label: Temple Music Group
Album: We Bring The Party EP
Artist: HeatSeekers
Genre: Electro House

Heatseekers is the creative collaboration between Josh Quest and AJ Sorbello, two of Seattle's premiere DJʼs and producers. Both have been involved in the Pacific Northwestʼs EDM scene for over 15 years, playing festivals and clubs while producing consistently throughout that time. Their single “We Bring the Party” features vocals from Seattle native Melakai and includes remixes from the world famous Ron Carroll of Chicago and Seattleʼs The Fender Fable. These tracks are meant to turn up the heat and make the party go off in Heatseekerʼs fashion.

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 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.