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 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: 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.