Tag Archives: Electronic

Michael Mayer – Immer

by ·

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

Minimal house

Moods

One of the finest minimal house mixes ever is now on YouTube!

Thoughts

Michael Mayer's immer and fabric mixes were eye-opening to me in terms of what mix is capable of. Taken alone the tracks on Immer aren't anything special – bit of bounce here, bit of ambiance there – stitched together they become this incredible cohesive entity. The subtle shifts are perfectly timed and show a mastery of songwriting even when it's all borrowed sounds. I love the sparse emptiness of minimal, there's something so alienating yet comforting about it. Immer has a sound I can only describe as grey, like the weather in Berlin or the film tone in those Nordic crime dramas.

Mayer's skill here is largely reliant on his tasteful selection and vision for this mix which is executed perfectly. Kompakt is an impressive label but Immer is in a league of its own, forever indeed.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Michael-Mayer-Immer/release/34646

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PeTIa1yGao

Spotify


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Michael Mayer – Immer

Description: Album Review of Michael Mayer – Immer


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Actress – Splazsh

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Accessible experimental electro

Moods

Deep dank dark club music

Thoughts

this isn't gunning for the dance floor but it would work really well in certain 'dance' settings. Thinking smoke machines, deep, rhythmic.

It conjures up bad sound systems with tracks that have this bloated bass like you're listening to a dj through the basement floor of a club. Maybe that's the point: It's club like music presented out of context, from far away. Detached as an observer. The whole thing feels hazy, like it's filtered through something. weed maybe… i dunno but there's a separation between the listener and the music.

He's pushing electronic music forward in his own way, I suspect this will age well. At 10 years it still sounds relevant.

 

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Actress-Splazsh/release/2281630

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0FmZReUWXU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcnRT-m9MYo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqUzSq1MVh0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0bJUbcBP_c

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

Spotify


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Actress – Splazsh

Description: Album Review of Actress – Splazsh


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Anthony Naples – Take Me With You

by ·

★★★☆☆ = 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

 

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

 

Objekt – Cocoon Crush

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

cerebral left field artsy experimental electro with a boom

Moods

Earthworms eating

 

Thoughts

There's this skittering sound he uses that gives it this insect like feel. The blurry line between organic and mechanical nature of bugs,he plays into this with a creepiness.

I enjoyed this the first time through with it's detailed and rich production, lots of little earworms to get lost in. These are songs and it's a testament to his ability as a songwriter (lots of electronic musicians focus only on the sound and develop little in the way of composition).

However after multiple listens I feel it's missing something. I moved past the immediacy of the beauty and found myself bored and thinking about what's next. I can appreciate these songs as singles but as an album it felt too much.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Objekt-Cocoon-Crush/release/12777177

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlW2naIokwA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QwceWXWi-w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqZF0wTEwF4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj-kgypzFnU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zUAoHc4eZc

Spotify


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Objekt – Cocoon Crush

Description: Album Review of Objekt – Cocoon Crush


Rating: 2 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

 

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

 

Kettel – Smiling Little Cow

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

IDM

Moods

Like an unpretentious aphex twin record

Thoughts

quick but not aggressive. Intelligent but fun. flirts with drum and bass but never goes there.

A representative album of golden age IDM – electronic music with folk sensibilities. Taken as a whole it drags, too over blown without appropriate variety.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kettel-Smiling-Little-Cow/release/46619

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43ayL6PpzCI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6G7vC_T860

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isUkpMY3AIw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpGxO9bj6_4

Spotify


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Kettel – Smiling Little Cow

Description: Album Review of Kettel – Smiling Little Cow


Rating: 2 out of 5