Tag Archives: 2018

Shit And Shine – Bad Vibes

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

intense electro

Moods

Electroshock dance-punk

Thoughts

booming and slightly brooding electro with weight, drifts into acid house territory at times. A couple tracks (acid and backstage) take a warped vocal sampling approach to hedonistic activities while still holding this catchy dance-punk beat.

All songs are open ended and freeform with heavy repetition on basic basslines. For that reason I'd leave this for slightly more experimental listeners with a tolerance for that kind of thing. It seems like a group that would have an interesting live show with lots of places for improvisations.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Shit-Shine-Bad-Vibes/release/12782873

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ5bLD3JDtc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPj2uqCwS6s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b3KORG031c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F9sH3RYonc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IukyZwcV7bc

Spotify


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Shit And Shine – Bad Vibes

Description: Album Review of Shit And Shine – Bad Vibes


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Shy Layers – Midnight Marker

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

jazzy electro pop rock with vocoder

Moods

A record that puts me in a good mood: chill with a pop, happy but not cheery, loose while tight.

Thoughts

all around enjoyable, strikes a nice balance. Has the precision of jazz and electronic but maintains a loose feel. The vocoder lyrics add a nice touch: never trying to steal the spotlight but adding an accessible hook. This record succeeds with it's songwriting and leaves rewards got repeat listens. It's presented simply but is an intricate production.

Philip Sherburne did a nice write-up for Pitchfork on this:

As before, Midnight Marker’s breezy melodies and lilting grooves make for a nice, chill listen—good morning-coffee music, cooking music, countryside-drive music. But this is nothing like the studied, stoned remove of anything you’ll find filed under “#chill” on any streaming service. His synths have real bite. His drums, recorded with real sticks on real skins, are enviably muscled. Walsh has said that one of his takeaways from both highlife and funk was that the guitar could function primarily as a percussive instrument, and he continues down that path here, backing up more melodically outgoing riffs and runs with plucked pulse and flicker.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Shy-Layers-Midnight-Marker/release/12081230

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYuYnAdVZ7Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFwx4Ay70CU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28GZ8Nomy1w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbCAdmysIT0

Spotify


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Shy Layers – Midnight Marker

Description: Album Review of Shy Layers – Midnight Marker


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Mansur Brown – Shiroi

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

jazz with an electro hip hop vibe

Moods

Hip future jazz for sad night owls

Thoughts

Nocturnal record overall. There's a certain sadness in Brown's guitar playing. On the title track it can be haunting, letting notes ring out into forever; kind of like a technically proficient version of the XX. Other tracks, 'God willing' and 'me up', pick up quicker with an 808 like rhythm. The sound is defined by the bass players prominence in the mix, gives the album a funky urban thump.

It's a great style but as an LP it gets monotonous. I think with some songwriting focus and additional instrumentation this could go from good to great.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mansur-Brown-Shiroi/release/12800537

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOB6Wk22zG8

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tvvCtys708

Spotify


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Mansur Brown – Shiroi

Description: Album Review of Mansur Brown – Shiroi


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Objekt – Cocoon Crush

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

cerebral left field artsy experimental electro with a boom

Moods

Earthworms eating

 

Thoughts

There's this skittering sound he uses that gives it this insect like feel. The blurry line between organic and mechanical nature of bugs,he plays into this with a creepiness.

I enjoyed this the first time through with it's detailed and rich production, lots of little earworms to get lost in. These are songs and it's a testament to his ability as a songwriter (lots of electronic musicians focus only on the sound and develop little in the way of composition).

However after multiple listens I feel it's missing something. I moved past the immediacy of the beauty and found myself bored and thinking about what's next. I can appreciate these songs as singles but as an album it felt too much.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Objekt-Cocoon-Crush/release/12777177

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlW2naIokwA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QwceWXWi-w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqZF0wTEwF4

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zUAoHc4eZc

Spotify


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Objekt – Cocoon Crush

Description: Album Review of Objekt – Cocoon Crush


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Michel Isorinne – Stumhetens toner

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

ambient keyboard music

Moods

Soundtrack for a regretful protagonist in a 2D RPG talking to NPCs in a new town, trying to find his way home

Thoughts

While an ambient record the keys playing gives it this subtle rhythm with little floating sentimental melodies. Could be an RPG video game soundtrack, feeling like a stranger in a new town just trying to find his way home through a life of regret.

Things take a more menacing tone in the second half where tracks have a brooding machine like intensity, as if these are electro b-sides born from Floyd's 'welcome to the machine'

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Isorinne-Stumhetens-toner/release/12922932

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6eHdaKX-_Q

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOnEHQIX16k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD5V9Tfu0rA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAqJbt6J7U0

Spotify


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Michel Isorinne – Stumhetens toner

Description: Album Review of Michel Isorinne – Stumhetens toner


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Various – Brainfeeder X

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Modern alternative electro with a strong influence of hip hop and jazz.

Moods

An exploratory dive into the wonderful brainfeeder

Thoughts

It's incredible to hear what brainfeeder has become. In my mind I continue to associate  the label (incorrectly) as a 1 trick pony built around flying lotus' wompy LA g-funk. The label is so much more and the brainfeeder roster has expanded on this in directions I wasn't aware of: alt hip hop, chilled out funk, ambient, glitchy house, live jazz.. it's all there and more.

I won't spend too much time getting into the album as sound vary but it's all quality. The first half is devoted to the past, whereas the second half is forward looking with unreleased tracks. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with an exceptional label.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Various-Brainfeeder-X/release/12899152

Listen!

Spotify


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Various – Brainfeeder X

Description: Album Review of Various – Brainfeeder X


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Sam Gendel, Sam Wilkes – Music For Saxofone & Bass Guitar

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Abstract bedroom smooth jazz

Moods

Hangs around like steam rising after a summer downpour.

Thoughts

Bunch of rough ambient sax and basic supporting sounds like a drum machine or bass line. At times it's like they're boiling modern r&b to its most basic form with looping finger snaps or whispery beatbox. It's a bunch of sketches, not really an album. There's a lot of ambient background noise, effective as another texture like burial. Has an improv vibe.

Gendel is a good sax player, really hear his rich sound on the solos ( track one is a good example).

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sam-Gendel-Sam-Wilkes-Music-For-Saxofone-Bass-Guitar/release/12194261

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enX9Fr-I8MA

Spotify


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Sam Gendel, Sam Wilkes – Music For Saxofone & Bass Guitar

Description: Album Review of Sam Gendel, Sam Wilkes – Music For Saxofone & Bass Guitar


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Owane – Yeah Whatever

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

jammy prog rock with nu-jazz chops

Moods

guitar wanking

Thoughts

Progs not really my thing. I admire the technical prowess on display ( this album is impressively precise) but it lacks heart and songwriting. It veers heavily into wanky jammy stuff, making music for the sake of making music; not sure what purpose it serves.

There are moments and talent but I think you can find a better album to turn on.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Owane-Yeah-Whatever/release/11900528

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNjiQt1GbH8

Spotify


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Owane – Yeah Whatever

Description: Album Review of Owane – Yeah Whatever


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Overmono – Whities 019

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

rhythmic leftfield electro

Moods

accessible experimental electro

Thoughts

As good as anything that's been produced by interesting leftfield artists in recent years. A good example is the dueling percussion lines on track 1: skittish like aphex twin, but also has a hip and appealing vibe.

Really solid on further listens, tight EP.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Overmono-Whities-019/release/12867498

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtT4LktJmWg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9fOHmPA4qU

Spotify


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Overmono – Whities 019

Description: Album Review of Overmono – Whities 019


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Tirzah – Devotion

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

DIY R&b

Moods

Somewhere in love

Thoughts

The unpolished rawness defines this album, the beats are sparse and highly repetitive with just a drum machine and synth short loop for each song; almost like a modern acoustic album. Her natural singing voice is subdued and focused on love; often in big statements but never too excited. I guess it's a testament to her songwriting that this works as well as it does.

It's an intimate listen, definitively British and at times ghostly like early James Blake.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Tirzah-Devotion/release/12415861

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZPP38OVT-M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA6c0WXGKjU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2EIDPpzXUE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KFvEvRAjyw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWUODt6LJ0Y

Spotify


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Tirzah – Devotion

Description: Album Review of Tirzah – Devotion


Rating: 3 out of 5