Tag Archives: 4

Neneh Cherry – Broken Politics

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

alt pop with a production style that borrows from trip hop

Moods

Abstract introspection

Thoughts

This got a lot of play from me. I really enjoy the personalness of this album, feels like you're getting very close to neneh. Instrumentation seems to consist of a small band with piano and percussion (xylophone, maracas, marimba) featuring on a number of tracks. Trip hop, especially the ones that feature del naja, with dark electronics in certain places.

Tracks like synchronised devotion and poem daddy really contribute to the personal vibe with their slow poetic confessional delivery. She's at her best when she's really swinging for it with currents of trip hop like long and deep vein.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Neneh-Cherry-Broken-Politics/release/12672312

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6ivBXh1zGQ

Spotify


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Neneh Cherry – Broken Politics

Description: Album Review of Neneh Cherry – Broken Politics


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Drake – More Life: A Playlist By October Firm

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Drake's signature pop-rap and r&b with production that incorporates uk grime and dancehall

Moods

Mature and well traveled

Thoughts

I'm not a Drake fan. He does his thing, and I respect it, but it's too smooth and that drawl is tiring; I've never been able to make it through one of his albums in the past.

His production.. that's something else. Noah Shebib's dark, ambient production has been a major factor in Drake's success and fits his  'sad’ vibe perfectly.

On More Life we're treated to a great selection of tracks that show how he's pushed the incorporation of global dancehall into pop music. This sound had been straddling the breakout point for years but I credit Drake for pushing it over. He does so with a plethora of guests and features that works well in as an overall collection.

Best of all he's not always front and center so that drawl doesn't wear and you can appreciate his honest quality in appropriate doses.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Drake-More-Life-A-Playlist-By-October-Firm/release/9999158

Listen!

Spotify


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Drake – More Life: A Playlist By October Firm

Description: Album Review of Drake – More Life: A Playlist By October Firm


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Eddie Ruscha – Who Are You

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

spacey ambient new age guitar electro

Moods

Floating on a groove

Thoughts

Positive vibe: both ambient and pleasant space rock.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/E-Ruscha-V-Who-Are-You/release/11661002

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4kfGw7agMg

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

Spotify


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Eddie Ruscha – Who Are You

Description: Album Review of Eddie Ruscha – Who Are You


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Emily Sprague – Water Memory

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

wide open ambient made with modular synths and winds

Moods

Observing water shimmering on a wall

Thoughts

Quality ambient with a relaxing atmosphere, reminds me of masters like Eno. A patient listen (or as background, it's ambient after all) is engaging through movement, both in individual songs and on the album as a whole. Ambient while generally pleasant can often feel monotonous and stale, she finds just the right balance.

 

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Emily-A-Sprague-Water-Memory/release/12014380

Listen!

Spotify


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Emily Sprague – Water Memory

Description: Album Review of Emily Sprague – Water Memory


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

The Books – The Lemon Of Pink

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

String acoustic sample electro experimental

Moods

There's a creative thread here that's awesome to watch unravel, I love revisiting this album

Thoughts

I've come back to this album a lot over the years, why? Partially because it sounds lovely: an intimate folk album that incorporates just the right amount of sample based electro elements. I particularly love the first few songs but always find myself staying for the entirety.

The primary reason I keep coming back is due to an inspiring feeling that isn't easy to capture in music. It's almost as if you can feel the creative push at work, forcing themselves to explore new territory.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Books-The-Lemon-Of-Pink/release/196682

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiXpi5u5Vu8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiuC8A8eKu4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC0jSezdwTU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1irbhY_dgY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku-g3LiBxmg

Spotify


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The Books – The Lemon Of Pink

Description: Album Review of The Books – The Lemon Of Pink


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Peak McCartney songwriting

Moods

A car driven by guitar

Thoughts

Fun rock with a moving energy. Paul covers a range of styles from Golden age rock and roll on ‘smile away’ to a Beatles like medley on ‘Uncle Albert’.

This is good chord driven pop at its heart by one of the world's best songwriters. Lyrically things are a little freewheeling and goofy at times but it works.

I found this to be seriously good on my first few listens, might become a personal classic if given enough time.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Paul-Linda-McCartney-Ram/release/4561199

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5qymNPUb1s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2eWWS0QMlc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Swl9Iqh6DQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrthE_waCV8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8pulOnIE5Q

Spotify


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Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram

Description: Album Review of Paul & Linda McCartney – Ram


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

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

 

Dauwd – Theory Of Colours

by ·

★★★★☆ = 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


Rating: 4 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

 

Magic Sam Blues Band – West Side Soul

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Electric blues

Moods

Chicago:

The Cubs

Deep dish pizza

Magic Sam

Thoughts

Electric blues, you know what you're  signing up for here.

Solid record. More ‘pop’ focused than I typically like my blues but it's damn near perfect.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Magic-Sam-Blues-Band-West-Side-Soul/release/4808401

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZTkj8dgGNE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83rkEm7s5es

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSc6-0xBcjE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iwoj1hUMmg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3jPsCdZgn0

Spotify


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Magic Sam Blues Band – West Side Soul

Description: Album Review of Magic Sam Blues Band – West Side Soul


Rating: 4 out of 5