Michael Mayer – Immer

★★★★★ = 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


Schema Info

Michael Mayer – Immer

Description: Album Review of Michael Mayer – Immer


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Mandar – String Theory

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?

Whatever electro

Moods

Filler

Thoughts

It's fine electro but not really feeling it overall. ‘Poison words’ is a bit better but not much happening here.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mandar-String-Theory/release/12001410

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svScti6R3lQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzeFE3GfXnY

Spotify


Schema Info

Mandar – String Theory

Description: Album Review of Mandar – String Theory


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus

★★★★☆ = 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


Schema Info

Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus

Description: Album Review of Kalabrese – Rumpelzirkus


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Pole – Steingarten

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?
Dub influenced German minimal with angular noise

Moods
Womping to the beat

Thoughts

First few tracks have this cartoonish womp to them that took away from the sleekness I typically want out of minimal house. On a closer listen it’s really an incorporation of dub, almost like dub meets German minimal. Tracks are layered with lots of subtleties although on the surface things may seem straightforward. Something about this album stuck with me before I revisited it a second time.

Later tracks improve, Dusseldorf is a keeper and I like the distortion and noise that’s present on most of the record but really utilized effectively on the final tracks.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Pole-Steingarten/release/2807191

Listen!

Youtube



Spotify

Schema Info

Pole – Steingarten

Description: Album Review of Pole – Steingarten


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Keith Fullerton Whitman – Playthroughs

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

Sounds like?
Ambient noise

Moods

Working

Thoughts
Excellent ambient, captures a mood and doesn’t let go. This is all done with guitar, think long ‘held’ notes.

‘Modena’ is an album standout and benefits from a traditional song structure.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Keith-Fullerton-Whitman-Playthroughs/release/73749

Listen!
Spotify

Schema Info

Keith Fullerton Whitman – Playthroughs

Description: Album Review of Keith Fullerton Whitman – Playthroughs


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Deadmau5 – Random Album Title

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Trance/techno/edm

Moods
Big flashy Vegas club

Thoughts
There’s something hypnotic about the trance thump backboning this whole thing. He’s at his worst during the bloated techno but has some good moments when a bit more chilled out.

Kind of tasteless and bland overall.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Deadmau5-Random-Album-Title/release/7165955

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify

Schema Info

Deadmau5 – Random Album Title

Description: Album Review of Deadmau5 – Random Album Title


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Chloé – The Waiting Room

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
Dark diy electro with rock instrumentation

Moods
Can’t remember

Thoughts
A pretty OK uneven record. I like the longer rock numbers like it’s Sunday and brashov. Other tracks felt drawn out and not very strong.

I’ll credit her with creating a distinct character here. Feels raw and soulful; elements often missing from electro.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Chlo%C3%A9-The-Waiting-Room/release/1077374

Listen!

Youtube



Spotify

Schema Info

Chloé – The Waiting Room

Description: Album Review of Chloé – The Waiting Room


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Terry Riley – Happy Ending

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?
Distinctive Terry Riley

side 1: solo keys
side 2: sax takes focus and organ raises

Thoughts
Two very different halves in explorations of minimalism. The keys in journey from the death of a friend is an engaging solo work of Terry riley though it doesn’t cover a lot of ground or offer much to revisit.

Happy ending, side 2, is a prime piece of spiritual jazz with a consistent sax line that’s contrasted against a set of keys and pianos. It changes shape successfully, conjuring up an array of emotions before building to joy when the piano kicks in at the end.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Terry-Riley-Happy-Ending/release/264527

Listen!

Youtube

Spotify

Schema Info

Terry Riley – Happy Ending

Description: Album Review of Terry Riley – Happy Ending


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

John Cale,Terry Riley – Church Of Anthrax

★★★★☆ = Quality release and suggested listening

What’s it sound like?
Experimental 60s psychedelic pop jams

Thoughts
Highly recommended and fruitful collaboration between these two legends. I’d describe this as the Grateful Dead meets the VU at their most experimental.

Top-notch instrumentation and songwriting. While it has a jam vibe it never wanders too far into noodling territory.

I need to revisit this more, seems as if it would reward repeat listening.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/John-Cale-Terry-Riley-Church-Of-Anthrax/release/1363130

Listen!

Youtube



Spotify

Schema Info

John Cale,Terry Riley – Church Of Anthrax

Description: Album Review of John Cale,Terry Riley – Church Of Anthrax


Rating: 4 out of 5

 

Labradford – E Luxo So

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

What’s it sound like?

Post rock

Thoughts

Sparse, slow and boring.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Labradford-E-Luxo-So/release/18227

Listen!

Youtube





Spotify