Tag Archives: 2018

Szun Waves – New Hymn To Freedom

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Modern atmospheric jazz rock with electronic textures

Moods

Live at pompeii for spiritual robots

Thoughts

A modern spiritual jazz-rock record. Effective  use of synths modernizes things and adds an interesting texture. Perhaps the only true rock element is the percussion which feels like it keeps things moving forward in rock fashion.  Couple of highlights:

Fall into water- spacey and patient.

High szun maybe a bit more rock oriented. Certain tension is maintained with a noisy keyboard layer. Works while patient solos build around it.

Quite enjoyed this release.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Szun-Waves-New-Hymn-To-Freedom/release/12494167

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAO60apkxEo

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdaHQESTu4U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R12-Qn4g72Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txraa21q8FQ

Spotify


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Szun Waves – New Hymn To Freedom

Description: Album Review of Szun Waves – New Hymn To Freedom


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

700 Bliss – Spa 700

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Experimental middle eastern based electronic music with spoken word raps

Moods

Bandcamp experimental

Thoughts

Ring the alarm is damn good. The rest has a militant vibe I couldn't really get into, didn't really fit the Spacey future bass electro production.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/700-Bliss-Spa-700/release/12072616

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCRU9UWGKys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De9WWPYy1Wo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3b677kvS0g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvTAmiZY9ZQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhpJ5ILMRzc

Spotify


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700 Bliss – Spa 700

Description: Album Review of 700 Bliss – Spa 700


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Mandar – String Theory

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Whatever electro

Moods

Filler

Thoughts

It's fine electro but not really feeling it overall. ‘Poison words’ is a bit better but not much happening here.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mandar-String-Theory/release/12001410

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svScti6R3lQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzeFE3GfXnY

Spotify


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Mandar – String Theory

Description: Album Review of Mandar – String Theory


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Ross From Friends – Family Portrait

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Lofi house is a fitting genre name

Moods

Refreshingly original small club

Thoughts

Digging this, had it on repeat straight off the bat. I've seen his name a lot recently so I think he's pretty hyped. Serves as a good middle ground between John talabot and stone's throw though the second half tapers off in quality.

It's a brainfeeder release – all their stuff is worth checking out.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Ross-From-Friends-Family-Portrait/release/12324548

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iFxeDKwdNs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFhOJKzd5X4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7G3-Uu3OsI

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

Spotify


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Ross From Friends – Family Portrait

Description: Album Review of Ross From Friends – Family Portrait


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Low – Double Negative

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Dark distorted ethereal electronic rock

Moods

One of 2018s best

Thoughts

They've taken that distorted sound that borrows from industrial (yeezus, arca, SoundCloud rap) and turned it into something poetic. I think it's best as the succinct ep disarray but it's all good stuff.

Apparently a lot of the sound is credited to producer BJ Burton. There's a playlist on Spotify that samples some of his productions, worth a listen to and someone I'll be keeping a lookout for.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Low-Double-Negative/release/12988816

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m31A4ZGss0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob0CILJ93bA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvEozu4Obfs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Enxzh-O9Y

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

Spotify


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Low – Double Negative

Description: Album Review of Low – Double Negative


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Tropical Fuck Storm – A Laughing Death In Meatspace

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Dense heavy psychedelic punk

Moods

Protesting

Thoughts

Distinct heavy rock with astute protest lyrics. Perhaps too dense for regular listening, I appreciate what's happening here. It's groovy and biting with a passion that's executed well.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Tropical-Fuck-Storm-A-Laughing-Death-In-Meatspace-/release/12457187

Listen!

Youtube

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

Spotify


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Tropical Fuck Storm – A Laughing Death In Meatspace

Description: Album Review of Tropical Fuck Storm – A Laughing Death In Meatspace


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Mitski – Be The Cowboy

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Lush singer-songwriter pop with a ‘big’ sound

Moods

A pitchfork 8.8 record

Thoughts

I don't get the hype on this one, mediocre in my opinion.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mitski-Be-The-Cowboy/release/12384951

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfylNmkR8dw

Spotify


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Mitski – Be The Cowboy

Description: Album Review of Mitski – Be The Cowboy


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Adult contemporary

Moods

OK with how past relationships ended

Thoughts

She sings like ‘something about the girl’ which is a good thing. A variety of pop styles are covered, bubbly in some places. Only listened once but found it lacking memorableness.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Eleanor-Friedberger-Rebound/release/11989814

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmjcSz8aV1Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jRnL4fHQA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7HeLwsAvM0

Spotify


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Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound

Description: Album Review of Eleanor Friedberger – Rebound


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Jono Ma,Dreems – The Dreemas

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Accessible energetic building tasteful techno

Moods

Kind of like jock jams for kompakt records

Thoughts

These are long tracks that rely on repetitive, patient builds. Engaging from the pulse they keep, with ‘love trance mission’ with its chugging core and playfulness; I hear jaguar mas production flourishes for sure.

The later tracks are highlights. Still with that trance-like relentlessness but with more of a focus on melody.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jono-Ma-Dreems-The-Dreemas/release/11382298

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyJBXf6bfEA

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBLl-1ncl5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPyEpmk0WsM

Spotify


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Jono Ma,Dreems – The Dreemas

Description: Album Review of Jono Ma,Dreems – The Dreemas


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Joe Armon-Jones – Starting Today

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Hip modern funky chill jazz

Moods

Feeling cool

Thoughts

I like the instrumentation a lot, groove focused over technical playing (he played keys on that makaya mccraven ‘where we come from’ album I enjoy). Competent bass keeps a hip hop flavor alive, ‘mollison’ is great pure dub revival that I bet is a fun jam live. Vocals really detract on 'starting today' which felt forced but work on 'too far' which reminds me of thundercat in it's melancholic mantra repetition and 'London's face' where the tempo is kicked up a bit.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Joe-Armon-Jones-Starting-Today/release/11972498

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdz9jHg-mWM

Spotify


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Joe Armon-Jones – Starting Today

Description: Album Review of Joe Armon-Jones – Starting Today


Rating: 3 out of 5