Eye on New Releases: May 22th, 2012

 You don't need to wait in "Longlines" to climb to the top of Mount Eerie with this weeks releases!

Label: P.W. Elverum & Sun
Album: Clear Moon
Artist: Mount Eerie
Genre: Alternative

Mount Eerie’s new album, Clear Moon, is a resonant body of work that explores the possibilities of sound depth. Although the genre of this release is “Alternative”, don’t mistake Clear Moon to be just another rock record.  While tracks like “House Shape” and “Through The Trees pt. 2” glow with alterna-rock accessibility, others like “the Place I Live,” and “(something)” are more ambient and contemplative.  Phil Evernum, the creative force behind Mount Eerie, recorded Clear Moon entirely in analog, inside of a church-turned-studio in Washington called, “the Unknown.” The result is a cathedral-like sound where drums, gongs, and synthesized strings echo freely without muddling the hauntingly suspended vocals.  Through its eleven tracks, Clear Moon is dense and rich like an untapped vein of precious metals.  Despite its soft and unobtrusive feel, which make it ideal for background music, the complexity of every minute promises to make this release one worthy of multiple deep listenings.

Label: Moodgadget Records
Album: Longlines
Artist: Nitemoves
Genre: Electronic, Synth-Pop

Longlines, Nitemoves new release, eschews the traditional tropes of electronic music in favor of a slow-cooked digital flavor.  Ditching the high-faluting synths for square and triangle wave dominant leads, “Port Au Prism” and “Tertre Rouge” are guaranteed hits for fans of the lo-fi synth-bop sound. That said, Longlines has plenty to offer to fans of all varieties of electronic music.  Longer tracks like “Broken Cub” and “AMRAAM” are continually evolving biomes of sound, pulsing with life and unbridled character, without damaging their accessibility.  The second track, “Challenger,” is the albums most likely single, with it’s gradually building intensity, danceable beat, and skillfully utilized vocal samples.  To pick a single, however, would be to wrong-headedly separate this release into multiple sections.  Truly, Longlines is best experienced as a continuous whole, and not as a handful of estranged tracks.

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: November 22nd, 2011

Label: Chemikal Underground

Album: If Then Not When

Artist: King’s Daughters & Sons

Genre: Alternative

The ghost stories, murder ballads, and grimoires on the new full-length album  If Then Not When by Louisville, KY's King's Daughters & Sons are haunting, spare and at times explosively unsettling; part William Faulkner, part Led Zeppelin. Given the musical pedigree at play here, it should come as no surprise that every note, drum beat and vocal has been employed with an economy few bands have the sense to muster.  The album itself, clocking in at over 51 minutes despite there being only eight tracks, shows that King's Daughters & Sons are quite happy for the aforementioned ghost stories, murder ballads and grimoires to unfold at their own pace. The album's axis, in more ways than one, is the eight-minute-plus, fourth track, "The Anniversary": a rich cast of characters weave their way through a tale of love, treachery and murder while the music eddies, tumbles and roars in sympathy with the narrator. It's a phenomenal track, explaining the reference to Faulkner in their press release's opening salvo and clearly demonstrating that this is not your average album.

Label: Moodgadget Records

Album: No Body EP

Artist: Beacon

Genre: Electronic, R&B, Ambient

Beacon is Thomas Mullarney III and Jacob Gossett. Their No Body EP explores a combination of deep south bass music and ambient pop melodies, with R&B tinged vocals that accompany warm arpeggiated synthesizers. The EP's atmosphere and narrative recall brooding spirituality in the wake of first love and the allure of the paranormal in teenage romance. Jacob and Thomas’s extensive work in the video production and set building worlds has given them the techniques to produce their own unique vision for the release of No Body; a cheap prom set where real and imaginary moments continually conjure up feelings of love, lust and all things in between.

Label: Coco Machete Records

Album: Remix Your Face Showdown

Artist: Various Artists

Genre: Electro House

Here are the three winners of the Coco Machete 'Remix Your Face' Showdown from late spring 2011. The label offered up all the remix parts to three different classic Coco Machete releases setting them free for anyone to take a shot. There was one winner picked for each track based on quality and his or her own fan participation on Facebook...it can't get any more real than that. These are the ones to watch: Naeleck & Oddity are a production due based in both France and Japan, Sebastian Love hails from Italy, and D' Secret SVC, Coco Machete mainstay came in with a funk break remix of "In Da Club" that is undeniable....Just keep on watchin’!

Eye On New Releases: November 1st

Label: Burning House Records
Release: The Cantos ii

Artist: K Serå
Genre: Alternative

Introducing their debut album titled The Cantos ii, K Serå is an unbelievably skilled band with an alternative rock sound similar to that of Muse and Panic at the Disco. With each track varying from rock to melodious piano, The Cantos ii is a record that belongs in any music collection, right next to Fall Out Boy. “The Youth That I Spent” clearly gives off an edgy rock vibe that can easily be compared to Muse, and its great guitar riffs and heavy drums will automatically have one's head bobbing. “Asleep At The Wheel” is another cool track that has a haunting feel to it. The lyrics present the idea of death clawing at one falling asleep at the wheel (scary, but REALLY cool.)

Label: Moodgadet Records

Release: Fantasiarexia

Artist: Jacob 2-2

Genre: Electronic, Synth-Pop

With its electronic glitch sounds and pop tones, Fantasiarexia makes one feel like she were back in the 80s, and Jacob 2-2 is brilliant for capturing the essence of the decade. The first track “Fantasiarexia” is reminiscent of the classic 80's movie The Never Ending Story. It first starts with an insane intro that bleeds into a simple xylophone sound that is purely The Never Ending Story. Fantasiarexia is basically dripping with 80s essence, and one can't help but smile as she is listening.

Eye on New Releases: September 20th

 

Label: Vermin Street

Release: Stardust

Artist: Yoseph

Genre: Dubstep

           

Putting out his new 3 track album Stardust, Yoseph does it again with his insane mastermind sounds of unhinged dubstep style that creates a bass influenced, mellow jungle mix, yet brings in a reggae merengue tone. And pulling inspiration from all musical branches (from IDM- Dubstep- Merengue), his 10 years of experience clearly shows from this album with his crazy ability to move from one sound to the next without missing dub beat.

With his first track Stardust, it begins with a bizarre futuristic out-of-this-world sound, then slowly goes into a head bobbing bass that makes you wish you can break out and start busting moves in your office, car, or alone in your living room. Then the track makes a smooth transition to an upbeat reggae-merengue mix, wishing you were at some fiesta, while still keeping the electronic, futuristic dubstep sound. From this song, one would definitely have this album playing anywhere where there are speakers. 

 

Label: Moodgadget Records

Release: Starfawn EP

Artist: Starfawn

Genre: Electronic, Synth-Pop

This album Starfawn EP from band Starfawn, composed by Misha Mross (Synths/ Production) and Amber Schaefer (Vocals), is purely a dreamlike art with an outlandish mix of electronic engineering synch-pop sound, combined with yelling and ghastly sound as if you’re in some magical-otherworldly place. This album is definitely an album where the music will help you go to and imagine that surreal state.

 Each individual song is ridiculously alluring and magnetic as if one is time traveling through different dreams with each song. With the first track Nothing Dead, gives you the feeling of being in a magical dream that one can’t help but fall deeper and deeper into the dream. With its airy sounds in the beginning leading into an unworldly beat of synch-electronic pop that’s extremely hypnotic and mesmerizing, you really can’t help but to hit REPEAT. The same goes for the song Err, giving you a head bobbing beat with a static-y electronic feeling or the song 12,000 B.C., giving a ghostly spellbinding sound that is bizarre in the most exhilarating way. A wondrous album that’s definitely worth falling sleep to during any night…or day. 

Eye on New Releases: August 23rd

While the sun is setting on summer all across the country, here in SF we're just getting started! Since our weather is like Autumn mixed with Winter and Monsoon Season all year round, we relish the chance to break out the shorts 'n' barbecues and get outside. A perfect opportunity, then, to check out these three hot new titles from IRIS:

Label: Moodgadget

Album: Spiral Style

Artist: D Gookin

Genre: Electronic Pop!

If you're desperately hanging on to the last vestiges of your summer vibe, look no further than the fourth album from D Gookin, Spiral Style, a shiny, happy kaleidoscope of electropop sure to put a spring back in your step. The record is so relentlessly upbeat and nearly rave-like in its intensity that it could easily act as a coffee substitute! Mr. Gookin likes his pop messy, though, so don't expect anything too clean as he shreds a breakbeat on "Unbraid the Knot", pushes his synths into overdrive on massively smiley album opener "Way 2 Grow" or filters his voice through all manner of disguises. Let this album worm its way into your brain when you need a boost - you'll be bouncing around the room in no time!

Label: Demigodz/Dirty Version
Album: Honkey Kong
Artist: Apathy
Genre: Hip Hop

If bumping jeep beats through large car audio systems is more your summer steez, you'd do well to check Honkey Kong, the newest missive from Apathy. The Connecticut-born emcee has been around the block a few times - since his first raps on Jedi Mind Tricks' underground-classic debut in 1997, through his partnerships with downlow legends like Celph Titled and 7L & Esoteric as Demigodz and enough major label BS to make him an indie rap warrior, Apathy has remained steadfastly dedicated to his craft. Over hot production from the likes of DJ Premier, Evidence, DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill), and Da Beatminerz, Apathy's burly raps hurl themselves out of the speakers with inventive wordplay and a forceful attitude. Who needs sun & fun when you can mean-mug down the boulevard blasting these raw joints?

Label: SmartGuy Records
EP: Rat Columns
Artist: Rat Columns
Genre: Pop

Finally, if you're cynical and prone to brooding during summer (like me), this spectacular new EP from Rat Columns might be more up your alley. You know that scene in most John Hughes movies where our humble protagonist sees his dream girl across the room and has his moment of epiphany? "I Wonder" is the soundtrack to that moment.

Delightfully lo-fi, recalling the best of the 80's "college rock" scene, Rat Columns' new EP will satiate your desire for something strange and familiar simultaneously. Sounding like Joy Division as covered by a gamelan orchestra at times ("Glass Coffin"), atmospheric without sounding overly polished at others ("Darkness"), This EP delves deeper than your average indie pop band and comes up with the stuff of summers spent inside, like so many of my own…

Eye on New Releases: August 2nd

This week our new releases are ready to take you to a movie, throw a party and give you a history lesson! There's definitely something for everyone!


Label: Moodgadget Records
Album: End of Line
Artist: Mogi Grumbles
Genre: Electronic, Electro, Soundtrack

Mogi Grumbles' End of Line was made as an intended soundtrack of the original 1981 version of the movie Tron. Mogi Grumbles is completely independent from the movie-makers, but a re-cut of the film has been released as a visual companion piece to End of Line. The visual of Tron pretty adequately describes the listening experience of this album. With song titles like "Tron's Theme" and "Off the Grid Part 1," you can imagine how diligently the album was catered to fit the action of the movie. All 20 tracks on the album are electronic episodes of high-tech sound effects differentiated to fit the changing scenes of the movie in sequence.



Label: Cinderella Records
Album: Hennessey & Redbull
Artist: G-Bolo
Genre: Hip Hop

G-Bolo's Red Bull and Hennessey is a hip hop dance club anthem at its finest. "Errbody in the club sippin henney and red bull," raps G in the main hook of the song which is a single release. The song features an accompanying official music video adding a visual of what else but a party scene. G-Bolo has a very Caribbean sound which he developed early on by "pounding on drums and pans." The single has all the elements of an urban-pop hit including catchy lyrics and a full beat that would make anyone feel like bouncing and head-bobbing.



Label: The Fossil Dungeon
Album: Quintessence
Artist: The Soil Bleeds Black
Genre: Celtic, Gothic, Folk

The Soil Bleeds Black has been around since 1992 and they have stayed true to their medieval influences ever since. They wanted to depict, in detail, every aspect of European medieval life in Quintessence and they were very successful in doing so. The band, comprised of two brothers and a female singer, have a strong ability to bring history back to life. All songs on the album have a very choral, chant-like sound portrayed through angelic harmonies and very Middle Age-esque melodies. Quintessence will take you on a very intriguing journey back through time.

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.