Tag Archives: 3

Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

depressing rock with a focus on atmosphere

Moods

A mediocre album for Radiohead fans only

Thoughts

If this weren't a Radiohead record I don't know how I'd feel. I like it overall but I've also given it more listens because I'm a fan of theirs.

There's interesting things happening, the band has become very good at creating an overall vibe, but the songs themselves feel a bit rough. Maybe that's the point: a lot of this is wonderful live and can be fleshed out further into some really engaging live sets. The incorporation of strings reminds me of a smoother version of Beck's string heavy stuff and super furry animals catalog from the 2000's; it's as if Radiohead returns to that period of alt-rock instead of pressing ahead with their own explorations. Maybe they're just getting old, Yorke is pretty lyrical here and I think got divorced right after this came out (might explain the gloom).

Songwriting improves as the album progresses (skip the first three tracks entirely) but this remains a mediocre spot in their catalog.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Radiohead-A-Moon-Shaped-Pool/release/8581632

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2oS2hoL0k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTAU7lLDZYU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti6qhk3tX2s

Spotify


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Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool

Description: Album Review of Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

jazzy rock with heavy electronics and a slight psych vibe

Moods

a positively bumping affair

Thoughts

A true hybrid that shows the capability of genre bending. It's a big and rocking record, with this heavy hum underpinning the songs, showing the 'maximum' sound of dubstep and heavy rock. The sax adds a nice contrast to this heavy sound, cutting through sharply as a welcome texture. With his blistering free-jazz squawk it makes it feel like the whole thing could boil over at any point.

I like the overall style, jazzy without too much exploration. To be fair this is a studio album, a lot of these songs are prime jumping points solos; I'd be VERY interested to see this band live.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Comet-Is-Coming-Channel-The-Spirits/release/13379392

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXH5nv1aQpw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bih6JQzbFY0

Spotify


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The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits

Description: Album Review of The Comet Is Coming – Channel The Spirits


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Locust Toybox – Drownscapes

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

ethereal ambient with bits of melody

Moods

Drifting through sentimental English countryside

Thoughts

At the end of the brainfeeder x compilation was a curious 'classical' soundtrack by a guy named locust toybox. Clicking through to his spotify profile he has an artist playlist called melodic aphex twin tracks; before even hearing a note it seemed like we shared similar tastes.

I was right, this album has some great ambient with tracks that maintain the wide open freeform of ambient while still incorporating melody and structure. These melodic moments give this an overall pleasantness. 'Saptiro' towards the middle changes things directly into left field electro territory, adding some hand drum rhythm. 'Unborn' is an album highlight, with a rousing choral sample and deep bass thump. Probably the most intense moment.

Overall the album is far too long, dragging toward the end. Still worth hearing as there are some gems.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Locust-Toybox-Drownscapes/release/11181166

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if6B3brW67M

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_8zdxYsEy0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWQFk6DpUv4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdWXRX6Me_4

Spotify


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Locust Toybox – Drownscapes

Description: Album Review of Locust Toybox – Drownscapes


Rating: 3 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

 

The Zombies – Begin Here

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

basic mod rock and roll with a slight whiff of psychedelia

Moods

Underrated mod rock weirdos

Thoughts

There's a refreshing simplicity to their sound that's aged well: melodic and just the right layer of keys. Capturing the rock and roll sound of a number of bands of that era (see early Beatles, Stones) but with a genuineness that's a little weird, they feel like unaccepted outsiders. Lots of highlights here, and some familiar covers, which true to the albums title does feel like the perfect place to begin with The Zombies.  

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Zombies-Begin-Here/release/1483789

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g49ckFpRheo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2hXBf1DakE

Spotify


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The Zombies – Begin Here

Description: Album Review of The Zombies – Begin Here


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

 

Sun Ra – Lanquidity

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

large lazy bluesy jazz

Moods

Sun Ra at his most groovy

Thoughts

This kicks off with a bore but picks up quick with 'Where pathways meet'; a swinging jazz track with elements of rock and blues that give it a pretty hip feel. It's got an appealing imperfection, it falls in and out of time as if it's of not much importance.

'That's how I feel' continues the vibe but things get a little sleepier. Rhodes solos take the place of the electric guitar and a nocturnal atmosphere sets in. There's some type of hand drum on these tracks and it sounds like they recorded it by putting the microphone in the drum to get this fantastic tone.

A groovy outing from one of the legends in avant-garde jazz.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Sun-Ra-Lanquidity/release/12601284

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=238Dh6N9GLg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf-OxkoTNp4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_KLSKSX2PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5vRHbQoTlc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtVmUKcI5l4

Spotify


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Sun Ra – Lanquidity

Description: Album Review of Sun Ra – Lanquidity


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

groovy jazz funk rock (fusion?)

Moods

Crack open a can of that smooth 70s groove

Thoughts

polished and slick fusion that's pretty straightforward rock at times. Lots of brass and 70s funk licks. A little too slick and jazzy at times for me to call it a record I love (that might be one of my problems with fusion is that it sits in the middle) but I can dig this groove, that drummer is so in the pocket it's ridiculous.

Love some parts – keys solo on Georgia cottonfield. The chilled out funk on so far away, an album highlight.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Crusaders-Crusaders-1/release/2447492

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J84IiZ6WfGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OahE2GGaGq4

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jXsPUB-Qf0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfSp5gcFf9w

Spotify


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The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

Description: Album Review of The Crusaders – Crusaders 1


Rating: 3 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