Eye On New Releases: March 20th, 2012

Still recovering from that St. Patrick's Day hangover?  Today's new releases will help you through your day...

Label: kranky
Album: Foreign Body
Artist: Mirrorring
Genre: Ambient

Mirrorring is Jesy Fortino, who has recorded under the Tiny Vipers moniker, and Liz Harris, better know as Grouper. The recordings on this album came about through a songwriting session in Portland, Oregon. The resulting sounds are contemplative, reflective, and introspective, creating a feeling as much as a song, a mood as much as a tune. One could try to assess what part of the album each artist was responsible for, but that would prevent one from seeing the proverbial forest for the trees. Foreign Body was recorded and produced in 2011.

Label: Daly City Records
Album: Chicxulub Rebirth
Artist: Mochipet
Genre: Electronic

When we last left the dinosaurs, they had nearly escaped extinction and were headed to a newfound land. Since that time, Mochipet has enlisted the help of his friends Freddy Todd, Sugarpill, D.V.S., s.p.e.c.t.r.e, Papa Skunk, Elfkowitz, Preshish Moments, Smash and Grab, Bass Science, dkon, Profresher Blacklight, Renee Leah and Zen Death Squad in the creation of a brand new feast of sounds for their fans to dig into. Seventeen tracks of stomping basslines and glitchy overtones are designed to make crowds rawr for more!

Label: Coco Machete Records
Album: El Patron
Artist: Stereofunk
Genre: Electronic, House

Stereofunk, The guy from Dresden, is back with a new single on Coco Machete Records called ‘El Patron’. This is the second single from his upcoming full length album ‘Radio Robotic’ due out next month. ‘El Patron’, following last summer’s smash ‘Get Off’ featuring D’ Secret SVC, is all hands-in-the-air, revved up dance floor sensuality for the electro disco generation. Between the funk bass line, rising pianos, italo synths and imperative vocals, ‘El Patron’ just won’t let up until you’re hooked. ‘El Patron’ is the boss. But that’s it for now folks, we hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek, stay tuned next month for more ‘Radio Robotic.

Label: nice + smooth ultramedia
Album: The Moments I Ruined EP
Artist: ICR
Genre: Electronic, Techno, Minimal

Following his mid-tempo and house releases on Chi Recordings, Fokuz, and Orson (including his remix for Howie B), Hungarian multi-genre talent ICR still has undiscovered paths to explore. Now he ventured the stage of techno with such confidence and originality as you would expect. Groovy percussions, bouncy beats with haunting atmospheres in shady tones drives ICR's moody production into something epic yet melancholic 4/4 ; while fellow artist from Budapest, Synus0006 has a unique, stripped-down hypnotic minimal re-take on the title track.

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 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.