Tag Archives: 2011

Roman Flügel – Fatty Folders

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

cerebral minimal electro

Moods

Memorable melodic minimal electro, a refreshing listen

Thoughts

Nice first-half, on par with any good minimal cerebral IDM (four tet, etc). The improviser is an interesting piece in the practice of tension building song writing. Otherwise a pleasant listen overall that tapers off toward the end.

Peggy Gou cites this as a record that inspired her to seriously start producing music. As this was released in 2011, it's interesting to learn about the recent records that are proving to be influential on the younger generation. It doesn't sound that experimental to me but it feels like a very honest reference.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Roman-Fl%C3%BCgel-Fatty-Folders/release/4558753

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwJEYND3Vwo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB0iD4ZFmF8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3Kr-NYB2MU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHf3wa55fuk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsTTI-NI4iI

Spotify


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Roman Flügel – Fatty Folders

Description: Album Review of Roman Flügel – Fatty Folders


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

vaporwave (new age synth and computer Muzak with a cynical twist)

Moods

A vaporwave classic, I'd like to logout now please

Thoughts

I'm not a vaporware historian but I appreciate the genre and it's cultural critique: taking the soothing elements of Muzak and warping them into this anxious soundtrack. This is a definitive vaporwave album and representative example of the genres aim. With just the right amount of maddening cheese, it doesn't feel like it's deliberate satire (well maybe on wifi sushi which is almost laugh out loud funny). He really captures the excitement that once existed about globalization's limitless possibility unlocked by the consumer. In hindsight we can see growth in corporate culture has just led to disappointment and further inequality, revealing an entirely new interpretation of this music.

As art I applaud it, its effective and immediate. To sit and listen to this as you would regular pop? I'm not sure it has that appeal.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/James-Ferraro-Far-Side-Virtual/release/7853044

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ndKlm-G3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFn97NyURM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhP6aoP6XY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w82omu5nrkk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIvR9rqae7Q

Spotify


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James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

Description: Album Review of James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Atlas Sound – Parallax

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

artsy adult contemporary indie pop

Moods

A dark kind of love

Thoughts

Heartfelt and engaging. The first half is an excellent set of mature chilled-out indie rock. Cox is an excellent lyricist, a natural poet without pretense. His vocal range is limited but he works it well here, changing styles as needed but with a certain drifting casualness. Has a slight twinge of panda bear like psychedelica.

Things drag toward the end, track times get longer and I find it a bit exhausting.

Te amo is a magnificent track.

This album is as good as any great indie album I've heard in the past 10 years. Benefiting from Bradford Cox's steadfast vision rather than a flurry of ideas from a young band. Recommended.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Atlas-Sound-Parallax/release/3650273

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iVRuAUKrds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rY5Uf4E0e4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8YrrkDvZ-8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdBaAGyeKvE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgIGChuG8Og

Spotify


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Atlas Sound – Parallax

Description: Album Review of Atlas Sound – Parallax


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Dense intense synths

Moods

Yesterday’s vision of the future

Thoughts
I enjoyed this but it’s a very specific record. Synths with an intense, brooding repetition that’s intense; tracks have a Bach like heaviness to them.

The particularly dense tracks like genetic and double helix could soundtrack any megatropolis movie of the future.

There’s something striking here if you’ve got the patience or interest.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Emeralds-Does-It-Look-Like-Im-Here/release/10003075

Listen!

Youtube




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHfFZYK81lA
Spotify

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Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?

Description: Album Review of Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Blue Sky Black Death – Noir

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?

Sparkly kinda electro hip hop. Sunny with old soul samples sprinkled throughout

Thoughts

It’s very new school and polished, could’ve used a bit more grit, but very well done.

The record is way too long, only an hour but the length of the tracks and relative similarity in composition and production caused it to feel like a drag. A shame cause I think there’s a lot of talent here and had it been focused could’ve been a really impactful album.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Blue-Sky-Black-Death-Noir/release/2848983

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CyzOq3hVOw




Spotify

18 Carat Affair – Vintage Romance

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?

lofi synth found sound with vaporwave aspects

Thoughts

I like the production texture, certain haziness at play. Not vaporwave but borrows heavily from that aesthetic.

Seems like recent of vaporwave producers is incorporating more into beats as this has something bumping the whole way through.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/18-Carat-Affair-Vintage-Romance/release/3302455

Listen!

Youtube

Spotify

Rubblebucket – Omega La La

by ·

⭐⭐⭐

Overall it’s a nice set of pop songs that are varied in their songwriting. Rubblebucket is a big group with layers of instrumentation including brass and keys. Kalmia Traver’s voice is pleasant, reminds me of Lætitia Sadier from Stereolab (though missing the lyrical genius there). Happiness is abuzz on Omega LaLa with an almost skalike energy. I think the version on Spotify has some distracting sound effects mixed in as it seems different than the version I used to listen to, small slight though.

I listened to this record a lot when it first came out and it doesn’t feel as strong upon revisiting. On a personal level it reminds me of a person I don’t speak with, maybe’s what makes this a strange album to hear again.

More Info:

https://www.discogs.com/Rubblebucket-Omega-La-La/release/5013943

Listen!

Spotify:

Youtube: