Sylvan Esso – What Now

by stan · January 18, 2019

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

nu-school electro/synth alt-pop

Moods

Fun

Thoughts

Pretty good overall with some standouts like just dancing. Memorable pop songs with good production, good if you want something easy and danceable.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sylvan-Esso-What-Now/release/10192239

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgPIW8AtdSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effZUjig794

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYeGMw21fgM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-_NNIX8cDA

Spotify

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Sylvan Esso – What Now

Description: Album Review of Sylvan Esso – What Now

Written by: stan
Rating: 3 out of 5

Loft – Three Settlements Four Ways

by stan · January 17, 2019

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Future club

Moods

At the future club they like bass no dance

Thoughts

Didn't dig too much first listen. Filton recal leads things off well – techno but with a chilled out thing going on. Things keep building in intensity and 'out there' kind of techno. Just not really my thing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Loft-Three-Settlements-Four-Ways/release/11091333

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S908T9fWX1A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=472oXxV2ajM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F3LgO1XQu4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWR4PuSW0Ck

Spotify

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Loft – Three Settlements Four Ways

Description: Album Review of Loft – Three Settlements Four Ways

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Hippo Campus – Landmark

by stan · January 11, 2019

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

An indie band with pro production

Moods

Remember that godawful song 'holiday' by vampire weekend? These songs capture that memorable poppy summerness featuring lyrics that are comfortable yet inquisitive.

Thoughts

Hate to keep using other bands to describe hippo campus but this reminds me of early Phoenix with some production flair. Works well, there are some all out classics on that I think a lot of people would enjoy. ‘Vacation’ is probably the best example with it's anthem worthy hook and shimmering mellow vibe like a chillwave version of pavement for today's 20 somethings.

BJ Burton produced this. The more I hear his work I realize he's developing a track record of seriously good music.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Hippo-Campus-Landmark/release/10084727

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3TQKEUne5Q

Spotify

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Hippo Campus – Landmark

Description: Album Review of Hippo Campus – Landmark

Written by: stan
Rating: 3 out of 5

Dauwd – Theory Of Colours

by stan · January 10, 2019

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Chilled out electro

Moods

sorta like downtempo but not as down

Thoughts

Layered intelligent electro with a nice energy. Nocturnal feeling. Tasteful keys at times. Particularly like the energetic haze laid out on tracks such as analogische memories. Drifts into an almost bland territory at times but still great. I come back to this record ever few months and it's holding up.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Dauwd-Theory-Of-Colours/release/10402048

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqhq8vtSfNA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VMoLqPqK6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Eqcee-pUm0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Q0_XEKb0k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjB2koTyujw

Spotify

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Dauwd – Theory Of Colours

Description: Album Review of Dauwd – Theory Of Colours

Written by: stan
Rating: 4 out of 5

Crackazat – Rainbow Fantasia

by stan · December 10, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Sexy electro

Moods

Cheesy modern hotel bar

Thoughts

Aside from midnight in sector seven I found this to be bland. Seemed too buttoned-up and overly polished.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Crackazat-Rainbow-Fantasia/release/11103373

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK4Slc-uSZ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eGeqsOBv4w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLMmbQ8_oYQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUGvJkZEDZ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czXi-Lctnuo

Spotify

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Crackazat – Rainbow Fantasia

Description: Album Review of Crackazat – Rainbow Fantasia

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Vels Trio – Yellow Ochre

by stan · November 27, 2018

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?
Funky modern jazz trio with rock chops

Moods
Couldn’t get into Snarkypuppy so I saw the vels trio instead

Thoughts
Damn this is a tight group. Add vels trio onto the list of recent good modern jazz releases. Has just the right amount of funky keys and rock chops to keep the songwriting engaging.

This feels like a great release to get a friend into jazz as it’s got enough groove for anyone to hook into.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Vels-Trio-Yellow-Ochre-/release/10484847

Listen!

Youtube

Spotify

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Vels Trio – Yellow Ochre

Description: Album Review of Vels Trio – Yellow Ochre

Written by: stan
Rating: 3 out of 5

Charlotte Gainsbourg – Rest

by stan · November 18, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Pop balanced with dramatic string arrangements. Production is very French and feels like a mature Justice meets Sebastian night driving.

Moods
Feeling like a French movie star in a cemetery on an overcast day.

Thoughts
There’s something distinctly French about this album. I really want to like this, and do enjoy the texture and overall vision she’s crafting. I think a lot of that is due to Sebastian’s production which has matured quite a bit since the days of Ed Banger. It’s as if someone watered down Air’s ‘cherry blossom girl’ and added pop focused songwriting.

There’s a few great tracks. ‘Sylvia says’ features big production and personal memorable lyrics. Love the instrumentation that closes the album on ‘les oxalis’, wish that could’ve been expanded upon.

Overall felt it a little dense and serious, stylistically great but the songwriting was lacking in memorableness.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Charlotte-Gainsbourg-Rest/release/11204819

Listen!

Youtube

Spotify

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Charlotte Gainsbourg – Rest

Description: Album Review of Charlotte Gainsbourg – Rest

Written by: stan
Rating: 2 out of 5

Kamasi Washington – Harmony Of Difference

by stan · October 29, 2018

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?
A contemporary and melodic take on a big jazz band

Moods
Classy evening at Zinc bar

Thoughts
A lovely ep with great playing by Kamasi and his band. Compared to other Kamasi releases songs are more chilled out and run shorter. I appreciate the flow with songs merging into each other.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kamasi-Washington-Harmony-Of-Difference/release/10756796

Listen!

Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtW1S5EbHgU

Spotify

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Kamasi Washington – Harmony Of Difference

Description: Album Review of Kamasi Washington – Harmony Of Difference

Written by: stan
Rating: 3 out of 5

Dawn People – The Star Is Your Future

by stan · October 23, 2018

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Instrumental sample / synth based electro with influence from early Beck or The Avalanches.

Moods
Energetic studio adventures

Thoughts
An album of ideas rather than songs exploring rich instrumental productions. I liked the general approach just felt it would have benefited from polishing and structure.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Dawn-People-The-Star-Is-Your-Future/release/11221994

Listen!
Spotify