Eye On New Releases: March 27th, 2012

Doing some spring cleaning to your music collection? Replace it with some fresh new music like these!


Label: Silent Parade Records
Album: Bell Choir Coast
Artist: Sydney Wayser
Genre: Indie Pop

The road to Bell Choir Coast started two years ago, when Sydney Wayser found herself in a gorgeous studio with a talented producer, in the midst of a New York winter that made the LA-bred Wayser miserable. “I was working on a record for a while and it wasn't clicking. I felt I needed to take a minute for myself and create the concept behind the record.” Drawing on all of her influences, from summers the French-American Wayser spent in Paris to her favorite artists, Wayser began to give her new territory shape. “Bell Choir Coast is about a fictional land that I made up, because I couldn't leave New York and I had to make my record. So I made up a new world in my head that was everything I wanted.”  Sydney Wayser set about to make an album, and in the end she cleared a path to a world, and found her tribe and her sound in the process. Sometimes the prettiest of things are born of the hardest places. “When we started this I felt very heavy. Going into the studio and recording something that was light and fun and was the place I wanted, it helped solidify in my head what I wanted. At the end of the process, that enabled me to be where I wanted.”

Label: FiXT / Celldweller
Album: Live Upon A Blackstar
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Dubstep

While hard at work on his upcoming sophomore album Wish Upon A Blackstar, Celldweller mastermind Klayton took to the road on his first tour in five years. Now you can share the experience with Live Upon A Blackstar, the new live tour album that features audio recorded at shows in the US, Russia, Canada, and Japan. Live Upon A Blackstar is the definitive document of the 2010/2011 tour, capturing a unique era of the live Celldweller show, which will expand and mutate into new experiences as time goes by. Live Upon A Blackstar features twelve songs from Wish Upon A Blackstar, Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head, and the self-titled debut, all revamped, remixed, and mashed up for an exclusive live experience. Includes an exclusive live recording of “I Believe You”.

Label: Zealrecords
Album: stoalin'
Artist: isbells
Genre: Indie Rock, Folk

Isbells, at least in the studio, is Vandewoude’s one man band and their first, self-titled record, which was released in 2009, caught everyone by surprise.  On Stoalin, Isbells’ second collection of songs, Vandewoude has managed to expand his musical horizons, without letting go of the ingredients that made his previous effort such a magical listening experience. Once more the album offers organic, introspective and somewhat wistful folk rock, built on catchy tunes and embellished with lush vocal harmonies. Like its predecessor it was recorded in the singer’s own studio, set up in a shed next to his house in the countryside. Most of the tracks are coloured with light touches of banjo, organ, trumpet, various types of percussion and gorgeous backing vocals by Chantal Acda (sleepingdog, True Bypass).

Label: Enpeg Digital
Album: Paranoid Nostalgia
Artist: enabl.ed
Genre: Electronic

Paranoid Nostalgia marks the return of Enabl.ed to Enpeg. This 6-track EP embodies everything that makes Enabl.ed such a talented artist to watch/listen for. Glitched beats? Check. Classic IDM melodies? Check. A feeling of nostalgia drenched in a futuristic perspective? Check. Memories heavily influenced by anxiety and fear sonified to surgical rhythms fused together by heartfelt melodic lines and computer deep textures.  Paranoid Nostalgia embodies every element that makes a classic IDM album a classic. Superb production, for sure, but most importantly a sense of humanity within a futuristic digital structure. Beautiful wonderful music.

Eye On New Releases: March 13th, 2012

While many of us are busy at SXSW, the rest of us have time to enjoy the sweet sweet sounds of this week's new releases.

Label: FiXT / Celldweller
Album: Soundtrack For The Voices In My Head Vol. 02 (Chapter 02)
Artist: Celldweller
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Dubstep

The second chapter of Soundtrack for the Voices in my Head Volume 2 expands the scope of Celldweller's instrumental oeuvre with new twists on an established sound. While Volume 01 and the first chapter of Volume 02 exhibited plenty of what we know and love from Celldweller - metal riffs, drum'n'bass beats, flourishes of orchestral scoring, and intricate electronics - this new collection exhibits dubstep-inspired bassplay, Latin-spiced electro, and experimental ambient noise. Cuts like "ShutEmDown" and "Empyrean" will blast apart your speakers with sounds you'd swear came from the voice-box of a cybernetic machine from another world. The snappy flamenco guitar lick that starts off "Senorita Bonita" morphs into a fiery electro dance tune with Moohmbaton overtones, while "Chronus" drifts through a primordial ooze of drones and experimental noise. Also included are an alternate version of "ShutEmDown" and "Distants", an ambient piece originally available only on the limited edition CD of SVH Vol. 02 Chapter 1.

Label: ATIC Records
Album: The Daddy Remix
Artist: Niko
Genre: Hip Hop, Jazz, Electronic

Niko is the operating name of US born Nicole Vergel de Dios, who brings her musical narration through pop, electronica, electro-acoustic and experimental composition. The Daddy Remix is the first single from her second album Hate & Love which is due for release on ATIC Records later this year. Produced by Andy Turner (Aim), The Daddy Remix, is a jazz-fuelled, golden-era flavoured hip-hop banger that sees Niko, singing the praises of bad-ass DJ’s everywhere. Joining her on the track are Q-Ball and Curt Cazal (QNC) who bless the beat with their authentic, gutsy approach to flow mechanics.  The Daddy Remix evolved from "The Daddy" which appeared on Gripper's A Life Of Consummate Ease album back in 2006. Feeling that the vocals’ full potential hadn't been realized, Aim and Gripper set about re-building the track from the ground up with scratchy samples from dusty old jazz LP's. Aim took it to the lab to mix and produce, Niko re-recorded the vocals and added fresh harmonies, QNC did their funky thing and the result speaks for itself.

Label: More or Less
Album: Brahaus
Artist: Techno Bro
Genre: Electronic, Techno

Techno Bro is an amalgamation of Detroit suburb collar popping meets Baltimore warehouse hipster heckling. Armed with a Wilson Elite tennis racket, coveted stock picks and moist towelettes, his track production will beat the Lipper average this year. Brahaus is music to Arnold Palmer. It is Detroit suburbs meets  ashington D.C. suburbs. I-696 meets I-270. Oakland Hills Country Club versus Congressional Country Club. "Forlorn" hints at the plush landscapes of high priced foyers and wraparound verandas. "Wicked Slic"e - staccato percussion and first time vocal stylings by long time studio lurker Wife of Bro. "Duck Hook" is serious business. Appregiated basslines, intricate drum patterns and a wonky breakdown give you an eerie feeling like you were left out of your Great Uncle’s will. "Agent of Bro" screams of de-tuned melodic elements which wash over you like that refreshing eau de toilette. Brahaus also includes stellar remixes from Jeremy Blake, Christian Bloch (Thinner, SubTrak, Funque Recordings), and Joe Lentini (Schematic).

Label: Electronic Soundscapes
Album: Giza Giza
Artist: Spiritjack
Genre: Electronic/Experimental

Based in Tokyo, Spiritjack is an established act in the global downtempo electronica scene, releasing music for more than a decade on many record labels worldwide and counting 4 full album releases. Giza Giza is the 5th Spiritjack album release and the album with the most thought out Spiritjack style and production level up to date.  From Tropical Stylish Dub to Beat-Fueled Tech tunes Giza Giza spans over a wide range of cinematic electronica meeting the highest production standards. A sweet cinematic ride through smooth atmospheric soundscapes and tasty downtempo beatscapes introducing a Downtempo Techno Dub hybrid. Giza Giza takes off with the cinematic downtempo “Orcca”, introducing the latest Spiritjack sonic landmark towards the more dominant Dub Techno style of the album, which drops off with “Malana”. The simplicity and minimalism of Dub blends with organic Techno and tropical ambient, riding fat bass lines and refreshing atmospherics on an upwards downtempo journey all the way to dissolving Dub heavy beats for an ideal Giza Giza ending. Suggesting a bass friendly style crossing dub influenced sub lines and techno oriented electronics, Spiritjack offers a unique soundtrack for urban meditation or a hectic downtown ride where technology amalgamates with organic electronica and gravitational effects pan out to a unique ambient dub techno hybrid that pushes the music genres envelope even further.

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 : November 8th

This week's eye on new releases, is almost like a mini journey across the globe.  Take either the  Glitchy Industrial American dubstep, African indie-pop, or Swedish post-punk vessel, sit back, relax, and enjoy the aural ride!

Label: (FiXT / Celldweller)

Release: Goodbye (2012)

Artist: Celldweller

Genre: Dubstep

The multi-instrumentalist producer, songwriter, and re-mixer, Klayton, aka Celldweller, is back with a feverish electronic rock juggernaut, Goodbye (2012).  The well of stylistic aesthetics and influences that Celldweller hybridizes into one cohesive whole on Goodbye (2012), including dubstep basslines, D’n’B beats, electric guitars, precise glitch edits, and ethereal vocal hooks, continues to show the range and diversity of Celldweller, the songwriter.  This latest release by Celldweller is sure to resonate with fans of artists like Prodigy, Nine Inch Nails, and Mindless Self Indulgence.

Label: Zealrecords

Release: Self-Titled

Artist: Cape Coast Radio

Genre: Pop

Cape Coast Radio is fronted by Nick Berkvens (ex-Transit) and brothers Wouter and Lode Wlaeminck (tomán). However, the album chronicles the experiences of their alter-egos – Ed the Vulture, Ned the Rhinoceros, and Ted the Mandrill.  As the story goes, Ed, Ned, and Ted are three friends from the Luangwa Valley in Zambia who’ve creatively infused the influences of the African savannah into a cheerful and memorable indie-pop record.  The album’s end result is as vibrant as it is catchy, and it is aptly embodied on tracks like “Daytrip to the Zoo,” and “Giant Jungles.”  If you’re wondering how these three majestic animals create pulsating and winning safarian pop anthems, check out Cape Coast Radio!

Label: Vendetta Music

Release: The Black Album

Artist: The Exploding Boy

Genre: Alternative, Post-Punk

North America, are you ready? Vendetta Music is proud to introduce Swedish post-punk-synth-pop sensation, The Exploding Boy, to the States with their third full-length release, The Black Album.  Their 2009 album, Afterglow garnered tremendous success in Europe: Belgian magazine Dark Entries and Swedish magazine Zero called the release “Album of the Year,” and tracks “London,” “Heart Of Glass,” and “40 Days” all charted within the top ten on the official German alternative chart (DAC). The Black Album, with its dark and robust blending of post-punk timbres, melancholic vocal hooks, and dark alternative rhythms, is sure to please fans of Interpol, Joy Division, and The Mary Onettes.

Eye on New Releases: July 26th

Black Rob is back and so is 1982! We had a blast with this week's releases and we know you will too!




Label: Duck Down Records
Album: Game Tested Streets Approved
Artist: Black Rob
Genre: Hip Hop

Black Rob, whose biggest hit single "Whoa!" has recently been sampled in B.O.B.'s "The Biz" and Girl Talk's "Let It Out," is back with a brand new album of his own. Black Rob dropped his first album Life Story in 2000 while signed to Bad Boy. It instantly debuted at number three in the Billboard top 200 and number one in the rap chart. Now he's back and better than ever! His new album Game Tested Streets Approved features production work from names as big as Jay-Z and his long time Bad Boy friend, Diddy. "The biz is reefer, I sold more of that s*** than Wiz Khalifa," raps featured fellow Duck Down artist Sean Price on the album's last track "No Fear." Track 14 is the only with a vocal guest appearance but the album is so good, it didn't need to be sugar-coated with a multitude of guest artists. Definitely a must-listen for hip hop lovers.




Label: FiXT
Album: RED (The FiXT Remixes)
Artist: Cell 7
Genre: Electronic Rock

After Cell 7's last album RE: COGNITION reached number one in FiXT store music sales and was named one of FiXT's "Must Have Albums," the track "Red" was selected to be remixed by FiXT's online community. The result was RED (The FiXT Remixes). The album consists of the original version of "Red," as wells as eight remixed versions and two different mixes of the previously unreleased track, "Splinter." The two western Aussies, Nick and Paul, that comprise Cell 7 have a very unique musical chemistry. Their sound is genuinely unlike any other. If you can imagine scene-metal vocals and guitar over electronic house music with bursts of industrial sound effects, you may be getting a pretty close idea. Oh, who are we kidding? The sound is indescribable. This is definitely worth hearing for yourself.





Label: Moodgadget Records
Album: Vintage Romance
Artist: 18 Carat Affair
Genre: Electronic, R&B

Time to break out the acid wash jeans, color block tee's and AquaNet because the '80s are back in full swing in 18 Carat Affair's Vintage Romance. These 14 tracks of throwback lo-fi synth-pop will have your bangs standing up on end. Even the music video for the track "Pretty Girls I Don't Know Anymore" screams 1980s in everything from the apparel to the video quality. The album hops back and forth between long, lyrical songs and short, instrumental interludes. Nonetheless, it keeps a very chill-wave consistency all the way through. Time to break out your favorite '80s movies and reminisce about the Vintage Romance of the days of Top Gun and Dirty Dancing.