Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

robotic g-funk techno

Moods

daft punk lost in deep space

Thoughts

Looking past the cheesy voice and narrative stuff is a set of great electro productions. Maintains a g-funk flavor and techno thing at times.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Space-Dimension-Controller-Welcome-To-Mikrosector-50/release/4343221

Listen!

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Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50

Description: Album Review of Space Dimension Controller – Welcome To Mikrosector-50


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

People Plus – Third Space

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Electro jazz

Moods

Spacey electro jazz – quite nice

Thoughts

A record that is both chilled out and energetic –  ambient down tempo textures meets tight jazz-like instrumentation. Longform instrumental songwriting makes this a record for specific audiences. But it's quite nice overall.

Jungle room has a Radiohead meeting in the aisle vibe. O.S.C.1. is a tropical dub thing.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/People-Plus-Third-Space/release/13594488

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4E8qrwv6wU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cr9GkR_o6w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dY6chQ7Wc

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUy5rDnjwi0

Spotify


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People Plus – Third Space

Description: Album Review of People Plus – Third Space


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

K-Lone – Sine Language

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Gritty hip electro house

Moods

Raw textures compliment strong productions on this hip minimal electro ep

Thoughts

Resident Advisor said it well:

Sine Language features four very different productions, putting K-Lone's versatility on display. The title track draws on a vintage Detroit style, mixing electro beats and hip-hop vocals—hardly a novel idea in 2019. But a sweet, subtly out-of-place ambient breakdown interrupts the flow at the perfect moment, keeping things interesting. "Batacuda" and "Bells" are experiments at slower tempos, something we've seen a lot of from UK-based producers in recent years, particularly those in the Timedance camp. "Batacuda" floats along, emanating a drowsy humidity, while "Bells" is moody and thoughtful, coated in a chiming haze. "Missed Calls," a carefully crafted piece of taught, polyrhythmic braindance, is probably the best track on the EP. With this kind of eclecticism, a producer takes the risk of spreading themselves too thinly, but not K-Lone. He brings an intelligence and inventiveness to everything he does, unifying his work and making it essential listening every time.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/K-Lone-Sine-Language/release/13695712

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erI8pZgHwnc

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTdoBtMea2o

Spotify


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K-Lone – Sine Language

Description: Album Review of K-Lone – Sine Language


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

dramatic art pop

Moods

A theatrical guilty pleasure

Thoughts

Musically it varies from synth pop to theatrical show songs, piano ballad on 'Barricade' is a standout example. The dual harmonies of Torquil and Amy are beautiful and delivered with a poetic sincerity. Lyrical scenes are painted vividly with an erudite literary astuteness.

These earlier Stars albums strike a guilty pleasure chord for me. I'm not typically into lyrics like these – grandiose, overly romantic, so straightforward – but something here works well. When I'm in the mood for that type of thing nothing satisfies like Stars does.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Stars-In-Our-Bedroom-After-The-War/release/3986030

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzSUIxYQI2E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-K05oBku10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5qx_ZMY7tU

Spotify


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Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War

Description: Album Review of Stars – In Our Bedroom After The War


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

MJ Cole – Sincere

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

UK garage meets cheesy house

Moods

A Y2K party in London

Thoughts

An uneven album. The bad tracks feature Elisabeth Troy doing these overly polished house vocals that lack character; would serve well as Muzak at a slightly dated 'hip' hotel lounge.

However the good is REALLY good. These tracks are generally more 'raw' garage like Sincere and Desperado. Memorable melodies that capture a hectic urban pulse.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/MJ-Cole-Sincere/release/146498

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAZwrZ0MFo0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZE3kncX3qU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_JvvALgD9Q

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

Spotify


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MJ Cole – Sincere

Description: Album Review of MJ Cole – Sincere


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Darkstar – North

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

mid aughts uk electro, gloomy synth pop with digital interference

Moods

A mournful synthpop record that explores man's fragile relationship with machines

Thoughts

has that slightly dark quality certain bands can pull off well (think wild beasts, miike snow, spiritualized). It's emotional music but some of the impact feels limited by the reliance on synthesisers. Poetic in a 'ghost in the machine' exhausted-by-technology kind of way but at 10 years old, it definitely feels like commentary from a time before now; when we admired technology before we truly started to fear it's scary data (people) focus.

I think I like the sound more than the overall songs but it's a good record nonetheless. Darkstar utilize this cracking in the vocals that has an interesting effect, I thought my files were corrupt the first time. I interpret it as a commentary on man's role in music, the beautiful imperfection.

Mark Fisher originally brought this to my attention, worth a read here:

https://markfisherreblog.tumblr.com/post/32185314385/you-remind-me-of-gold-dialogue-with-simon

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Darkstar-North/release/2494475

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY8-85U4UWo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1oC0-xx_Hc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osIZ5ETBBeM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHJwtc2qYPU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d7nUgy4_Jc

Spotify


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Darkstar – North

Description: Album Review of Darkstar – North


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Shit And Shine – Bad Vibes

★★★☆☆ = 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

 

Octo Octa – Where Are We Going?

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Energetic electro

Moods

Cerebral yet fun

Thoughts

enjoyable mash of some of favorite styles. Has the energy and flow of a set at times though these are extended cuts. Fleeting moments of freedom brings to mind a fun 'bouncy' dance night out, love the playful loop backs.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Octo-Octa-Where-Are-We-Going/release/10025434

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T4ogb-eWoY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiOz3JQqBgc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM4ssluYUtc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOL4pW-rGZ8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECG3HWEqiF0

Spotify


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Octo Octa – Where Are We Going?

Description: Album Review of Octo Octa – Where Are We Going?


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Anthony Naples – Take Me With You

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

spacey shimmery electro with a pleasant beat

Moods

Cerebral

Thoughts

Upbeat with a downtempo dubby reverb. Has a nice flow. Tracks are short with new ideas ebbing into one another, like this approach compared with other producers who sometimes let an idea play on for too long.

Solid record.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Anthony-Naples-Take-Me-With-You/release/13076529

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Fp2r4eCXY

Spotify


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Anthony Naples – Take Me With You

Description: Album Review of Anthony Naples – Take Me With You


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Mansur Brown – Shiroi

★★★☆☆ = 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