Mariah – うたかたの日々/ Utakata No Hibi

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Experimental new wave rock

Moods

New age meets post punk in this highly accessible piece of experimental music

Thoughts

Yasuaki Shimizu was involved in some interesting music during the early 80's that has held up well to the test of time. Mariah is one of the better entries with easy to appreciate melodic elements and an overall positive energy.

His particular brand of experimental music has a similar sound – part worldly, new wave, post punk, krautrock's rhythmic chug – that weaves together in a rich sound.

'Hana ga saitara' borrows this energetic string bow pull, sounds like a ship and it's sort of disorienting. Lyrics here remind me a lot of some straightforward talking heads songs.

Something about this remains very "future", a forebear to vaporwave but so much larger. The result is magnificent and something that should be heard.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mariah-%E3%81%86%E3%81%9F%E3%81%8B%E3%81%9F%E3%81%AE%E6%97%A5%E3%80%85-Utakata-No-Hibi/release/7490374

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UIBLA-PuUw

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEHL6WBH_qk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4xdyQAq6rs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh2PU74kRXY

Spotify


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Mariah – うたかたの日々/ Utakata No Hibi

Description: Album Review of Mariah – うたかたの日々/ Utakata No Hibi


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Max Graef Band – Dog

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Jazzy punk funk by amateurs

Moods

An enjoyable jazzy dance punk record

Thoughts

The basic but prominent bass work give this an 80s dance punk vibe like the minutemen or that other LES stuff like the ESG. Keys and rhythm provide an accessible jazz funk but it remains grounded.

A great hybrid of those two styles, nothing inventive but it's a fun record with an easy amateur feel that's appealing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Max-Graef-Band-Dog-/release/7837490

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXorVKlYj1Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBDwyynSBL4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9P5lvySQLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TRBQec5A7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8RSUcX2zV0

Spotify


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Max Graef Band – Dog

Description: Album Review of Max Graef Band – Dog


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Mano Le Tough – Trails

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Hip electro

Moods

Electro for cool haircut bros

Thoughtsp

Discogs calls this deep house, if it is it's a very pop friendly version of that if it is; call it radio friendly deep house. His production is top notch with a professional polish and rich sound. Tracks are often built around generic house beat but then he'll add production flourishes with borrowed acid synths and bass lines with a slight leftfield stutter. Songs run a little long and he takes his time opening them up, truthfully it feels at odds with the accessible vibe he's putting on. 'Trails' for instance has a strong celebratory feeling but it lingers too long at 6 minutes and it wants by the end.

Lyrically its weak. Feels forced like he's reaching for profound but it's lacking; I'd prefer a more personal approach.

Overall more bad than good with an impressive amount of consistency. I'm not sure this will be the sort of thing I continue to come back but we'll see.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mano-Le-Tough-Trails/release/7696009

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFFMB89K5yI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIS4Q4TwZG0

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX9EmXkjRqA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOAAjV0GfCQ

Spotify


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Mano Le Tough – Trails

Description: Album Review of Mano Le Tough – Trails


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Florian Kupfer – I Feel You

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

deep lofi house

Moods

Rough LES basement electro

Thoughts

Overall I like the general sound here more than the individual songs. I feel these would work best in mixes, appearing as moments in some type of raw performance setting. All tracks utilize this slight distortion as if the drum pad got a small spill of beer on it and the effects are just slightly warped; things are coming through but something is slightly off. It's rough not so much in tone like industrial productions but in polish as if he's making this live; letting the drum machine go on for too long alone on lemming for instance. It's ultimately effective at building the tension through an uncertainty as it he figuring out how these tracks are going to work.

Really dig the first track with a moody mournful vocal that stood out with that distorted bass thump.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Florian-Kupfer-I-Feel-You/release/7327553

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0LVImlFDyg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNNVR4Q3I2I

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JdqOXhHd3I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1OdwGdo4Jk

Spotify


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Florian Kupfer – I Feel You

Description: Album Review of Florian Kupfer – I Feel You


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Christian Scott – Stretch Music

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Rhythmic contemporary jazz

Moods

Fresh Jazz

Thoughts

Surprised I'm just learning about this dude cause he's right up my alley. This album features contemporary compositions rooted in post bop, incorporating elements of hip hop and rock seamlessly. Other reviews applaud the drumming but I think the varied but always strong songwriting is the real standout: ‘twin’ a rhythmic post bop thing, ‘perspectives’ a quiet piece made engaging by a shimmering layer of keys is the perfect lead into the rocking ‘west of the west’ where rocking electric guitar cuts right through the calm. The later half of the album mellows into more traditional post bop carried by strong playing.

I wasn't left with much memory of his trumpet playing but I think that's a good thing as he thrives in versatility. Utilizing tasteful effects when appropriate or a bit of technical flexing in others. His solos are never imposing like certain bandleaders.

It's great and I'm looking forward to checking more out from him. In 2015 I was consumed by kamasi, this is equally as good as the epic.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Christian-Scott-aTunde-Adjuah-Introducing-Elena-Pinderhughes-Stretch-Music/release/7525224

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1JnHCqqu64

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiGfTWngK54

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktU_X7CDaBM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_byDM5lpDlA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8FLvHFUbTY

Spotify


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Christian Scott – Stretch Music

Description: Album Review of Christian Scott – Stretch Music


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Corrina Repp – The Pattern Of Electricity

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

folk inspired americana ( arcade fire) pop

Moods

Reflective moments that conjure early arcade fire

Thoughts

She gives nod to modern pop influences in her own way with well done organic instrumentation and dramatic touches that remind me of a slimmed down early arcade fire.

On revisits I was more appreciative of the electronic flourishes in the productions that I didn't hear initially.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Corrina-Repp-The-Pattern-Of-Electricity/release/7121692

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HWFqp7KsZM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz5C4wNVKtc

Spotify


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Corrina Repp – The Pattern Of Electricity

Description: Album Review of Corrina Repp – The Pattern Of Electricity


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

King Midas Sound,Fennesz – Edition 1

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

trip hop, dub and ethereal electro ( both and neither ) with strings and noise

Moods

Feels like a slow sick day off work where your head is congested and words sounds like their filtered through a cotton ball. But you're warm and cozy with a comforter pulled up to your chin. Everything is bathed in bright white winter light so it's easy to see the dust floating around your room. The stillness is a welcome change of pace, might not be a perfect day but you know it'll pass.

~ Shadowy positiveness.

Thoughts

Reminds me of yo la tengo quiet moments. I can't imagine a whole lot of times when I'm going to put this on in the future but I enjoyed it. The tempo is slow, crawling at times, so this does requires a certain patience or mindset; it's a rewarding listen if you're in it however.

Lyrically tracks like ‘melt’ and ‘lighthouse’ capture a certain beauty in their directness. The production is beautiful, extremely well crafted with strings, ambient , bits of static noise for warmth (reminds me of burial).

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/King-Midas-Sound-Fennesz-Edition-1/release/7573156

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf1DO_SIHTM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC3hXI_nVoM

Spotify


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King Midas Sound,Fennesz – Edition 1

Description: Album Review of King Midas Sound,Fennesz – Edition 1


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Abra – Rose

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Modern r&b with sparse synth / drumpad production

Moods

Feels like wearing a starter jacket in 2017

Thoughts

I like the style but she's kind of lacking lyrical substance. Things open up with a Spacey / subduded band vibe on tracks like rose. I liked a bunch off this.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Abra-Rose/release/7145364

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-qcz47h9zo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhe7CckB05w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1g4dnDtao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSZkeg4T2u4

Spotify


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Abra – Rose

Description: Album Review of Abra – Rose


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

easyFun – Deep Trouble

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

PC Music (ultra pop, borderline satire)

Moods

Candy coated

Thoughts

A watered down PC Music release.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/easyFun-Deep-Trouble/release/6703661

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWGXZI6LC5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgf7cUHiCj8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBHJ0XGZfLs

Spotify


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easyFun – Deep Trouble

Description: Album Review of easyFun – Deep Trouble


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?
Rap with an alt pop lean

Moods
Headphones on and taking in nu-NYC

Thoughts
I don’t know why, call it a natural curiosity, but growing-up I loved the radio and would spend hours taking in anything I could hear. I find pleasure discovering sounds and appreciate art that maintains this same dynamism. It’s reflected in a broader cultural awareness with my generation, whose been raised with the internet and the power of having humanity’s entire cultural output instantly available. So what do you do with it? You take your favorite parts and begin creating something new, sampling in other words.

I find this to be a representative album for today’s sample based culture as Banks, a versatile MC, floats effortlessly between pop and rap on this impressive set of alt-electro productions (think sampling today rather than the past). I appreciate rappers who are able to carve distinct sounds for themselves and feel this is a classic in the marriage of rap and electro.

Listening notes on specific time:
* 212 – immediately and undeniably great
* Idlest delilah / soda is glitchy greatness and a personal favorite
* ‘Gimme a chance’ succeeds as an OK pop song before switching into a gripping latin bit (maybe corny but I genuinely like it).
* BBD, ice princess, Yung Rapunxel take a turn into harder boomy beats that sound a little dated after the edm boom.
* Things drift off towards the end, but she soars on miss camaraderie. Not sure I’ve heard someone flow over edm so well.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Azealia-Banks-Broke-With-Expensive-Taste/release/6728221

Listen!
Spotify

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Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste

Description: Album Review of Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste


Rating: 4 out of 5