Tag Archives: Leftfield

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

 

Bullion – Loop The Loop

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Billed as leftfield, it reminds me of quasi-electro folk acts like panda bear

Moods

Coastal electro

Thoughts

has a reverb beach boys / panda bear thing going on – not quite organic but welcome lines like quick bongo loops on tracks like self catering.

Good stuff.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Bullion-Loop-The-Loop/release/8185731

Listen!

Youtube

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

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Nc5ZsZzMVI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3eyXhdLhGs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWB6OPR6Xko

Spotify


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Bullion – Loop The Loop

Description: Album Review of Bullion – Loop The Loop


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

vaporwave (new age synth and computer Muzak with a cynical twist)

Moods

A vaporwave classic, I'd like to logout now please

Thoughts

I'm not a vaporware historian but I appreciate the genre and it's cultural critique: taking the soothing elements of Muzak and warping them into this anxious soundtrack. This is a definitive vaporwave album and representative example of the genres aim. With just the right amount of maddening cheese, it doesn't feel like it's deliberate satire (well maybe on wifi sushi which is almost laugh out loud funny). He really captures the excitement that once existed about globalization's limitless possibility unlocked by the consumer. In hindsight we can see growth in corporate culture has just led to disappointment and further inequality, revealing an entirely new interpretation of this music.

As art I applaud it, its effective and immediate. To sit and listen to this as you would regular pop? I'm not sure it has that appeal.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/James-Ferraro-Far-Side-Virtual/release/7853044

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ndKlm-G3s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRFn97NyURM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNhP6aoP6XY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w82omu5nrkk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIvR9rqae7Q

Spotify


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James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual

Description: Album Review of James Ferraro – Far Side Virtual


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Brazilian Girls – Brazilian Girls

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Worldly downtempo pop

Moods

Comedown classic

Thoughts

An album I've gotten a lot of enjoyment from over the years. Its effective hybrid music incorporating from a variety of worldly styles (reggae, samba, etc) to add to it's core downtempo electronic base. The changes keep things fun and interesting, doing a lot well and staying true to what makes those genres great.

Nothing very deep but all enjoyable. It inspires a wandering worldly feeling and definitely seems as if they've had a share of coming down from heavy nights.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Brazilian-Girls-Brazilian-Girls/release/396418

Listen!

Youtube

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aVUB0nIONo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6TJULYLRBA

Spotify


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Brazilian Girls – Brazilian Girls

Description: Album Review of Brazilian Girls – Brazilian Girls


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

synth pop with a fragility

Moods

Kissing the screen

Thoughts

I'm not sure why I decided to revisit this after a few years (twin peaks and a track appearing on playlist maybe reignited an interest?). I like it more and find it's aging well. Songwriting is generally straightforward but memorable.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Nite-Jewel-Liquid-Cool/release/8642522

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uISk3sXmSeg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGlPrQ7FwE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl6iyzO0nxE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXLGNsc6PUE

Spotify


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Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool

Description: Album Review of Nite Jewel – Liquid Cool


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

by ·

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

His emotional croon with dark production borrowing from industrial techno at times, ethereal at others.

Moods

A pained story explored through heavy electronic textures.

Thoughts

If you're not familiar with his style he takes his time, drawing things out in a dramatic fashion. It's effective here but on other releases I haven't had the patience to make it through a whole album. Apparently on the Anteroom he's returned to his earlier roots so maybe I need to go back further in his catalog.

The production is fantastic and totally my style with a range of influences that can be hard and dissonant. His songwriting builds towards enjoyable climaxes that fold into other builds. The whole thing flows together, telling some bizarre confessional love story. It feels like he's low in the overall mix providing an obscured feeling where his voice isn't the focal point as in most r&b.

Tracks are highly accessible with some great singles in body fat and non killing. I love the dark suicidal stream of consciousness on July 13th, which is laid out over postal service dntel like production. Follows in direct contrast to the standout nonkilling just before it.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/How-To-Dress-Well-The-Anteroom/release/12732184

Listen!

Spotify


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How To Dress Well – The Anteroom

Description: Album Review of How To Dress Well – The Anteroom


Rating: 3 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

 

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

 

Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus

by ·

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?

Personal fun and funky electro (I guess discogs calls this left field electro?)

Moods

An electro record with feeling.

Thoughts

Reminds me of a slightly off kilter Lumio who shares the carefree fun quality of Koze. That description might sound cliche (and there's for sure a certain cliche cheesiness on these tracks) but there's a love and curiosity of life that's very alive in this music.

These tracks run long allowing you to get into the groove. I appreciate the songwriting, tracks are layered and evolve with a natural ebb and flow.

He’s become my goto artist for Friday late night working sessions in the lab.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Kalabrese-Rumpelzirkus/release/977370

Listen!

Spotify


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Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus

Description: Album Review of Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Hunee – Hunchin’ All Night

by ·

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
New age / world into clubier house tracks

Moods
Obscure for the sake of being obscure

Thoughts
The 80s world pop on the first few songs is OK but things take a decidedly more interesting turn with ‘ritual of love’ where the house vibe is gradually turned up behind a vocal rambling. This transitions into Larry Heard’s burning 4 love, a fantastic house track. Things finish off OK, better than side 1 at least, but overall not anything I feel the need to revisit.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Hunee-Hunchin-All-Night/release/11839108

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify

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Hunee – Hunchin’ All Night

Description: Album Review of Hunee – Hunchin’ All Night


Rating: 2 out of 5