Eye on New Releases: May 8th, 2012

Explore the wide world of electronic sound this week with Bleep Bloop, Still Going, and Mr. Feathers!

Label: Vermin Street

Album: Wizardry EP

Artist: Bleep Bloop

Genre: Electronic
               
Filled with staggering electronic leads and stuttering, digitally saturated samples, Bleep Bloop’s new Wizardry EP is sure to please fans of the trip-hop and scratch DJ sound.  The first description that comes to mind when listening is:  swagger infused beats mixed from a cartoon sound effects compilation.  Bleep Bloop has managed to craft a thematically unified album - continually referring to certain sonic motifs, such as a chunky clap track, without ever getting stale or redundant.  “Bass Bay Brainiacs,” adds a welcome dash of rap to the hip-hop inspired beats of the rest of the album, thanks to cameos by Alfabetiks Anonymous and Captin Cartoon.  The last four of Wizardry’s nine tracks are actually remixes by Grizzly J, Hypha, The Digital Connection, and Benito, respectively.  Each remix gives a unique perspective on Bleep Bloop’s original tracks; so unique in fact that they take on lives of their own.  Wizardry EP is an unapologetically crafted work with plenty to offer for the fan of urban-spiced electronica.

Label: Still Going Records

Album: D117

Artist: Still Going

Genre: Dance, Electronic   

Still Going’s first release, D117, is a notable one.  With smooth guitar licks, sweeping and stabbing string runs, brightly stricken piano chords, and a soulful vocal by Lizzy Yoder, Still Going hits a refined balance of depth and silky softness.  This release consists of two nine-minute cuts of “D117”, each with a different focus.  The first take puts the vocal track forward while the second emphasizes the electric guitar.  Despite its short eighteen minute length, Still Going’s new-old sound of smooth rock meets techno will no doubt leave you with a good feeling that goes on and on.

Label: Triangle Earth

Album: Knife Cream Sundae

Artist: Mr. Feathers

Genre: Electronic, IDM, Hip Hop

Knife Cream Sundae is an extremely appropriate name for Mr. Feathers' new album.  Its devilish sound satisfies your musical sweet tooth while the twenty-seven terse tracks cut you a new one.  In this last push, Mr. Feathers has achieved a level of diversity here that would make even the deepest of rain forest biospheres jealous.  “Boom Lab Dog Treats” drones, buzzes, and barks in your ears one second, and before you know it “Guitar Wave Symphony” comes along like a deconstructed classical piece on acid.  Experimental and minimalistic at times, without ever trying to lose the listener in a wave of pretentious subtext, this release is an engaging, bass driven thought experiment expressed musically.  Triangle Earth, Mr. Feathers’ label, has expressed deep affection for his originality, and this should come to no surprise to those familiar or not with his work.  Knife Cream Sundae is an eclectic collection of electronic sounds that is right up the alley of anyone with broad musical horizons.

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: February 28th, 2012

It's a leap year, and an extra day in February means more time for more new music.

Label: imbalance computer music
Album: Ghosts
Artist: Monolake
Genre: Industrial, Ambient

Two years after Monolake’s Silence release, Robert Henke is back with a new Monolake album entitled Ghosts. Dark and colorful, with haunting and deep excursions into magic worlds of sound and grooves, held together by a fragmentary story as part of the artwork that indicates a continuation of themes present on Silence: Precisely crafted earthshaking beats, rough dirty noises, wide lush soundscapes and little sonic creatures inhabiting a fascinating planet in which a lot of things go badly wrong and nothing is taken for granted.  Music that augments reality when listening to whilst commuting, music to get lost in when experienced loud in a club. There is nothing minimal in that music, it is bass heavy and full of detail.

Label: Chemikal Underground
Album: Thirteen Lost & Found
Artist: RM Hubbert
Genre: Alternative

RM Hubbert is a guitarist from Glasgow in Scotland. He writes music about love, death, friendship, mental illness and occasionally a dog called D Bone. It’s not as depressing as the previous sentence suggests.  His second full-length album, Thirteen Lost & Found was produced by long-time friend Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand) and features collaborations with some very special artists including Hanna Tuulikki (Nalle), Emma Pollock (The Delgados), Luke Sutherland (Long Fin Killie, Mogwai), Aidan Moffat (Arab Strap), Alex Kapranos and Alasdair Roberts amongst others.  Having found that it was easier to connect with people through music, Thirteen Lost & Found was conceived by Hubbert as a way of reacquainting himself with old friends while making some new ones. Each piece was written collaboratively with the respective artists; with the emphasis placed on spontaneity and experimentation. The resulting collection is eclectic and beautiful: voice, percussion, violin, piano, banjo, accordion, vibraphone and gu zheng all joining Hubbert’s idiosyncratic guitar over the eleven songs.

Label: Galapagos4
Album: Volume 3
Artist: Maxilla Blue
Genre: Hip Hop

Solidifying in 2006 and releasing its debut album less than 2 years later, Maxilla Blue remains as a well preserved tribute to the classic raw hip hop combo of one producer, one DJ, and one emcee. Bolstered by each component's instrumentals and intricate cut work with power poetics, the Maxilla crew is perhaps most known for its affinity for captivating live audiences.  Led by the cue of DJ TouchNice, powered by the production of Aeon Grey and anchored by the vocal illustration of Asphate Woodhavet, the Des Moines based trio provides listeners with a dense, immovable, and often somber or "blue" bite of this reality as well as the next. Hailing from an often overlooked and undernourished locale, Maxilla's creative approach has found it unnecessary to bend to the common trends and popular evolution of rap culture. As a result, the crew's intepretation of music remains intact amidst failed fads, and followers of the work understand the natural encouragement to bend the enigmatic sound illustration to their own interpretations, adding to the timeless quality of each piece.

Eye On New Releases: November 29th

 

Label: sonaBlast! Records

Release: Fire Escape Promise

Artist: Peter Searcy

Genre: Indie, Rock, Pop

sonaBlast! Records introduces Fire Escape Promise from singer/songwriter Peter Searcy, a former bandmate of Squirrel Ball in the 1980s, Big Wheel in 1989, and Starbilly after which he began performing solo. He has shared stages with a wide range of artist including Bob Dylan, Dido, and John Hiatt. Based on his influences as a teenager, he was “gravitated towards the more melodic, aggressive music at the time.” Fire Escape Promise has songs that are euphonious and authentic to hear. With influences like the Husker Du and The Replacements, his music incorporates their styles with his own.

Label: F5 Records

Release: The Sweetest Revenge

Artist: Black Spade

Genre: Soul, Hip Hop

St. Louis producer-rapper Black Spade releases his new album The Sweetest Revenge, a collaboration between him and DJ Crucial, co-owner of F5 Records. The Sweetest Revenge is a two-record release that includes a regular album and an EP that presents soulful vocals liquefied with rhythmic and affluent hip hop beats. Spade’s taste in music from Radiohead, Prince, J. Dilla, Bloc Party and others demonstrate that his rapping style can stay relaxed like Common and fluctuate like Pharoahe Monch.

Eye on New Releases: October 18th

 

Label: Infinita Records
Release: Elevation

Artist: Lawson Rollins
Genre: World

The title of this album definitely describes what you feel…Elevation. The latest album from the talented guitarist, Lawson Rollins, Elevation is sensational with a mixture of Latin jazz, samba and salsa rhythms, and a harmonic blues melody that calms and soothes your mood and the atmosphere around you. The first track, “Elevation” delivers a warm sound that makes you want to be outside relaxing in the sun or be cozied up in a beach home. The third track, “Persian Night,” is sensual, starting off with Spanish guitar and then a flamenco flare that’s undeniably hot. The fourth track, “Parisian Rhapsody,” is a good-morning feeling song that gets you right up to start your day, and the sixth track, “Daybreak,” is one song you will definitely have playing while cooking Sunday breakfast. Honestly, this album is amazingly good, because now… I want Sunday breakfast.

Label: Galapagos4
Release: Dreastronaut
Artist: Dreas
Genre: Hip Hop

Three letters to describe the album Dreastronaut is WTF?! Because if you are not listening to this album, you'd be asking yourself, “WTF?! Why am I not listening to this?” First, just to put it out there, this album is… realistic, but surreal in so many ways. Dreastronaut by Dreas, the founder of Heardrums Records, makes you feel like you are moving in slow motion…as if you are an astronaut…in space…on the moon (crazy, right?). Some tracks really standout from this album like “Floating,” which gives the feeling of one being both consciously aware of their surroundings. “Michiana Noise,” gives a feeling of being in the woods around a campfire, but with beautiful violin and orchestral sounds. Even “ Solo Capacity” brings you a jazz hip hop flare that could easily remind you of the song “All I Need” by Method Man featuring Mary J Blige. This is really good album that you’d for sure want to sit down and listen.

Label: Environ
Release: I'm Not What You Want
Artist: Kelley Polar
Genre: Electronic, Alternative

Imagine traveling through time and you come across leg warmers, members-only jackets, shoulder pads, acid wash jeans, crazy hair, cool Ray-Bans sunglasses, and music that is undeniably “bangin'.” Yes, that’s right. I’m talking about the 80s! (Totally wearing an “I Love the 80’s t-shirt right now). And it turns out, this brand new album I’m Not What You Want by Kelley Polar, is screaming 80s! You’d want to go back to this era after listening to this album (sorry 90s babies, you can come too.) The first track “I'm Not What You Want” has a cool upbeat tempo that brings you back to Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go For That.” With the second track “Nocturne,” this single release will bring you back. Definitely take a listen, especially, if you’re going for the 80s look this Halloween.