★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening
What’s it sound like?
Modern pop / R&B. Has a soulful well traveled hip vibe to it that incorporates elements of 80s synth funk.
Thoughts
Why a 5? This album was there for me in the hottest loneliest summer. It inspires hope fear and honesty. I’ll love it til I die.
Dev hynes you rock, thanks for this one.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Blood-Orange-Freetown-Sound/release/9001208
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★★★☆☆ = Good!
Nathaniel Merriweather,Lovage,Mike Patton,Jennifer Charles – Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By
What’s it sound like?
The songs feature Dan The Automator’s signature hip hop with vocals from Mike Patton and Jennifer Charles (elysian fields) singing satirical love songs.
Thoughts
A curiosity from Dan the automator more than anything. It’s always a treat hearing his production, and I’m a Mike Patton fan, so even if the result is uneven it was worth hearing.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Nathaniel-Merriweather-Presents-Lovage-Avec-Michael-Patton-Jennifer-Charles-Music-To-Make-Love-To-Yo/release/129229
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Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzzBvjFnMfE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQECbvT0Yb4
Spotify
★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
Sparkly kinda electro hip hop. Sunny with old soul samples sprinkled throughout
Thoughts
It’s very new school and polished, could’ve used a bit more grit, but very well done.
The record is way too long, only an hour but the length of the tracks and relative similarity in composition and production caused it to feel like a drag. A shame cause I think there’s a lot of talent here and had it been focused could’ve been a really impactful album.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Blue-Sky-Black-Death-Noir/release/2848983
Listen!
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CyzOq3hVOw
Spotify
★★★☆☆ = Good!
What’s it sound like?
lofi synth found sound with vaporwave aspects
Thoughts
I like the production texture, certain haziness at play. Not vaporwave but borrows heavily from that aesthetic.
Seems like recent of vaporwave producers is incorporating more into beats as this has something bumping the whole way through.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/18-Carat-Affair-Vintage-Romance/release/3302455
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★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening
What’s it sound like?
A scatter of modern electro styles: trap, Blood Diamonds / Grimes art-electro, pensive piano bits, confessional lyrics.
Thoughts
Another good one from Ricky, this is the third album I’ve heard of his and I continue to be impressed by his catalog.
The constant change is what makes this such an engaging album. He’s not a particularly good songwriter but strings this together into a great collage.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Ricky-Eat-Acid-Talk-To-You-Soon/release/9302447
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⭐⭐
What’s it sound like?
Pleasant mellow ambient-like electro.
Thoughts
Nothing is inherently bad about the album but it kinda wanders without doing anything particularly well. Lots of good sounding electro bits but nothing memorable and not something I would recommend.
More Info
https://www.discogs.com/Boards-Of-Canada-The-Campfire-Headphase/release/541843
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More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Boards-Of-Canada-The-Campfire-Headphase/release/541843
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⭐⭐⭐
Sounds like a psychedelic Portishead playing Stereolab covers, recommended.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Broadcast-The-Noise-Made-By-People/release/30900
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⭐⭐⭐
Though it’s a watered down version of Trip-hop, and Tracey’s lyrics are missing the wit found on their earlier albums, it’s still a solid collection of sad break-up songs from this lovely duo.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Everything-But-The-Girl-Walking-Wounded/release/96279
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⭐⭐
At it’s best this album sounds like early AIR with a backbeat however the songwriting left me wanting more.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/Fila-Brazillia-Maim-That-Tune/release/7839
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⭐⭐
Checked this out on a random recommendation: pleasant sounding electro that doesn’t do anything for me.
More Info:
https://www.discogs.com/The-Irresistible-Force-Kira-Kira/release/10838277
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